Hope you get a giggle out of this!

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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

Guys Have Got to Learn to Pay Attention! (fun-ny)

Are you interested in starting or growing your existing blog? Renegade University through iContact is offering classes to help you with just that.

Starting October 7th, you can begin this class on blogging that will teach you the basics on starting, managing and growing a blog successfully for your business. If you’ve ever been interested in doing this, now is the time to get started.

Best to all!

Post from: EveryJoe

Fri-Deas: Blogging Classes

OK, so a lot of people like the McCain/Palin mix for different reasons. Many women are just politically intoxicated with the idea of (potentially) having a female in power in the White House. After all, a woman in the White House means a lot for Women’s Rights, Civil Rights and perhaps will even change or level the playing field just a bit for the females. But one thing still bothers me…

This post that I made recently about the questionable process under which McCain chose Palin got a few folks ruffled, which I do respect other’s opinions, but then I still have to question McCain’s view on equal right’s for women. As some of you may already know, McCain does not/did not support the legislation that would remove unfair practices towards women and the practices governing their pay. In other words, McCain’s vote towards the move would have allowed women to be paid equal with men (think: Lily Ledbetter Act). However, McCain simply did not support this and his action makes me wonder just what was he trying to prove then by selecting a female as his running mate? I’m just saying…

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other anti-discrimination laws to clarify at which points in time discriminatory actions qualify as an “unlawful employment practice.” According to the legislation, unlawful conduct occurs when: “(1) a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted; (2) an individual becomes subject to the decision or practice; or (3) an individual is affected by application of the decision or practice, including each time compensation is paid.” The law further states that individuals may receive back pay as compensation for discrimination that occurred up to two years preceding the filing of a charge.

Source

My thing is this: you either support women’s rights…or you don’t. Sure, there are divisive issues, but the line drawn in the sand should be definitive enough. Women have struggled and fought for years for equal pay, equal rights and a chance. As a woman in business, I simply want to receive the same thing(s) that my male counterpart would receive for doing the same amount of work. That’s all. Is that too much to ask for Mr. McCain?

“They need the education and training, particularly since more and more women are heads of their households,” he explained. Source

When I read about issues like this in the news, and even when it happens locally or specific to an industry, it really does make me wonder if we have come far enough. Sure business women have a long ways to go and more hurdles to jump, but I think it’s acts like this (McCain’s) that can potentially set us farther and farther back. And, it also makes me wonder what response he gives his wife (a female), Governor Palin (another female) and other females on his staff in relation to the “why’s” and “what for” in his political moves. Do you think he owes them or any other female an answer? Do you think he’s justified in his vote? Why or why not?

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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

Hater? Why I Think John McCain Is Outdated And Not In Touch

(Disclaimer: This post is NOT meant to ignite or offend any particular political party or opinion. It is simply meant to shed light on and analogize the correlation between politics, business and women)

Pimp -noun
1. a person, esp. a man, who solicits customers for a prostitute or a brothel, usually in return for a share of the earnings; pander; procurer.

[Image Source: sxc.hu]

Whenever a woman allows herself to be exploited in any manner or for any reason, she is selling out, or rather “pimped out” and her pimp gets a huge chunk of the revenue, giving her a small token. The pimp sees multiple benefits in having this woman do his bidding, finding the highest bidder for his wares (her). He convinces her that she is valuable, but the only way she will excel is if she lets him control guide her towards success.

But is it ok if she likes it?

Pimps have nothing to lose in the pimp-nating(?), but everything to gain. The pimp always fares well, coming out on top, while the pimp-ed does not, come out on, well, not on top. (clearing throat).

I can remember a time during my aspiring professional career when I worked as a manager for a staffing firm. Well, before I became a manager, or rather when I was offered the manager’s position, I was told that they wanted to “shake things up a bit.” They felt like I could do some shaking. They felt like a change was necessary, with a fresh perspective and a fresh focus. You see since I was a woman and a person of color, the national staffing firm felt that the double-dagger-duo-description would look great for the corporation and wonderful in the local community. The change would (potentially) skyrocket sales and attract new clients. I was even asked specifically to go to with the sales manager to visit a client that they had been wooing for a while but couldn’t crack. I was asked to accompany her because I was “Black and could help them get a foot in the door.” What !! Well, I did take the job. I got a “promise” in getting a salary pay raise once the numbers were up (2-4 months), an expense account, my own office, an administrative assistant, flexible hours and a voice in decision-making. I loved it! Although the promise of ‘later money’ made me pause, I shrugged it off, knowing that I could increase sales with my marketing savvy – - or would it be because of my Blackness? Or my womanness?

In the political environment sparked in the last couple of weeks over McCain’s choice for Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential running mate, are we seeing a pimp in process? Are there multiple benefits to others besides Palin for her name and presence being on the Republican ticket? Has she been made promises that will materialize later if she just gives it up and says what her pimp party wants to hear? What happens if she doesn’t cooperate? Does she get replaced with another willing vessel? Or, will she stay on, baited with promises and a chance to win the (client) over with her physical description?

Going back for a moment to me being a manager: I took the job with all of the perks and promises, but was disappointed much later and saddened to make several discoveries, although not surprised:

1. Clients did not want to do business with me soley on the “because I’m Black” qualification. They wanted to know about my experience, my sales background, my marketing strategies, my conversion rates. You know, important business factors. Well, I had none significantly to speak of. The only experience that I had prior to taking the job was managing a small client base with about 15 employees.

2. Never wait for a later promise of compensation. If you can do the job without the money, then they can do the job themselves. This screams of pimp-dom because the pimp gets to enjoy benefits of your added-value (increased sales, more voters, etc.) without having to pay for it.

3. You get what you pay for and you pay for what you get. Bottom line. If you invest quality, you reap quality. As a staffing manager, I was only able to offer my charm and charisma. Apparently that was not enough as I failed to deliver everything that I had promised in my executive management plan. I reaaaallly wanted to show them what I could do, but it just wasn’t there. I simply was not ready.

4. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, why would you think it’s a cat? If it seems shady, it most likely is shady and there’s nothing you can say to justify it. It just is what it is. I felt like I was being used by my staffing firm. Had lots of suspicions, but chose to ignore them in lieu of their phenomenal promises. We shouldn’t be so naive.

So, if a woman knows she’s being expolited for what she has or who she is or what she represents, is it wrong if she likes it? I mean, if she doesn’t protest to it and actually helps herself along, is it wrong? If it’s not wrong, it’s not pimping then is it? Perhaps a business transaction maybe?

Without delving too deeply (or deeper) into my obvious political undertone ranting, I will say this: Often in politics, candidates try different “things” in an effort to sway voters their way. Sometimes controversial, sometimes palatable, often obvious, political parties try whatever they think will work in their favor. It’s not necessarily “wrong” but it does call into question motives, sincerity and genuine intentions. So if a political candidate or a woman in business knows or suspects she’s being used, she has a couple of options:

1. Work it girl! Get into the game, play hard and find your rhythm. If you don’t do it, they’ll just find another female who will, right?

2. Pointedly, unequivocally and decidely object to the very idea of being used. And become (possibly) unemployable and unemployed.

What’s a girl to do?

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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

Pimped Out Politics: Is It OK If She Likes It?

I tried homeschooling ONCE about seven years ago when my then oldest child was in preschool and my husband got this **bright** idea that it would be neat to have homeschooled children. He had seen a spelling bee on television that weekend and “had given it a lot of thought” and decided that the Wright children, in fact, would be a homeschooled bunch, by golly. Yeah, right.

Well, the first week was uneventful with the usually mild-mannered toddler whining that she wanted to play with her friends and go outside. I explained to her that her daddy had decided that she did not need any friends because she would have a Harvard education. And, going outside was only a necessity to be enjoyed by who suffered through *gasp* public school all day long and needed to run and skip in order to break free of the mind control mechanisms that institutionalized education had thrust upon them. With a dazed look in her eyes, my daughter decided that I had in fact thrust some sort of mind control on her and she didn’t know or care about what the heck I had said. She wanted to go outside.

After a brief period of telling my toddler that she had to learn her ABC’s and that she could count if she only tried, she and I just could not take it any longer. On day number six, I immediately went back up to the pre-school and beeeggggggeeeedd them to take her back into the program. No luck. They had just filled the position about two days before with a family that had homeschooled, but decided that it wasn’t for them. They wanted mind-numbing public school education. Good for them.

During the time that I was a home-schooling work-at-home-mom of a four year old and a six month old, I did not get any significant work done. My life was a daily conondrum of lesson plans, breastfeeding, cleaning, cooking, coercing, convincing and cajoling us towards becoming a happy and well-rounded family!! We were so happy, that I decided I couldn’t contain the happiness any longer. It was too much for me and I had to let it out. I let it out so well, I almost became a single mom, if you get my drift.

So here I am, several prescriptions of Zoloft and cases of Red Bull later, children in institutionalized education, a messy house and me happily consulting and freelancing to my heart’s desire. So, when you ask me if I think homeschooling and women in business go together, all I have to say is can I get a refill on my Zoloft?!

Post from: EveryJoe

Can a Biz Chick HomeSchool?

Ideas are a dime a dozen right? Maybe not. Maybe they’re $10,000 for one.

Ideablob has a monthly contest each, well, month to see who can submit the BEST business idea ever. The winner wins $10K and all bragging rights. What would you do with your winnings if you had that kind of money?

Me? I’d dump the whole thing into a marketing campaign for my business(es) and reap the rewards. But of course, in order to win, I’d have to come up with a novel business idea. The devil is in the details, isn’t he?

Go here to find out more about the contest and to enter your business idea. I am. Good luck!
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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

What Would You Do With $10K?

[Photo Source: Getty Images]

Tonight’s speech by Michelle Obama will be a defining moment for Obama’s campaign. It will be a time when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign will be further defined – - by Michelle, the woman who has been often herself been branded as being “deflating” and “humiliating” to Barack by referring to him as a “regular man.”

Tonight will be Michelle’s chance to convince voters why we should or need to vote for this “regular man”.

What to watch for tonight: Things could start off with a bang. Tonight’s primetime speaker is Michelle Obama, who will be tasked to sell her husband to the public. She was one of Obama’s best surrogates during the Dem primaries, but Republicans and even some Democrats believe she won’t sell with swing voters. So definitely pay attention to her remarks. Also on tap for tonight is a video tribute to Ted Kennedy, but NBC’s Ann Curry reported on TODAY that Kennedy is in Denver and might make an appearance at the convention. That could be a nice moment for the Democrats that has nothing to do with Obama or Clinton.

Full Article

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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

Watch Michelle Obama Tonight!

Here is a cute article that I found written by a stay-at/work-at-home mom who “manipulated” her resume. What can you add to the list?

Wendy Surber
123 Hair Torn Out Ln.
Premature Gray, Ca. 43210
Phone: (805) IAM-INHELL

Objectives:
To get through at least one day without the uncontrollable urge to runaway from home! To improve communication gaps. Such as figuring out what part of “no” and “stop fighting” don’t the understand.

Employment/Experience Summary:

Current Employment
As of July 21, 1999
Stay at home mom of three beautiful little monsters!

December 12, 1996
Gave birth to a screaming cat!
Nursed every hour and a half
Used as projectile vomiting target after nursing sessions
Helped her find her thumb when Binky wouldn’t work

December 20, 1995
After 4.5 hours of pushing, got her big fat head out!
Functioned on only 4 hours of sleep
Multi tasking

Additional Experiences

Line cook
Maid
Chauffer
Referee
Toilet Trainer
Doctor
Appointment Setter
Outfit coordinator
Safety Captain
Crossing Guard
Nightly Lock-Down Warden
Activities Director
Kisser of Boo-Boos

Education

I have learned:
Showers on a daily basis are possible, when to aim an over nursed infant at the floor, eat after they go to bed, always make sure to have the snuggle blankets in the car. If not, then plan on turning the car around. The sound of a joint popping can and will wake a sleeping baby, no such thing as peeing alone, a bored child is a destructive child, children are drawn to puddles like gold diggers are to rich men with weak hearts!

Skills:
Can get all three to adjust to routine changes, know when a stormy fight is going to start (my knee starts acting up), bathe a baby, make dinner, and do the dishes all at the same time.

Personal interests:
Researching the nicest Looney bins to commit my fried and weary nerves.

Blog Link
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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

How Many Jobs Do You Have?

Suzanne is our new eBay guru here at the b5media network. She will be blogging about the eBay life over at E-Shop Owner and giving excellent tips on the eBay seller’s life. Suzanne works from home and has been in business for herself for quite some time. I don’t know if you saw it, but I did this interview with her last month.

Suzanne is a pretty cool business woman and manages several verticals of her entrepreneurial empire. Go on over and visit her. For any of you who are thinking about doing the eBay thing, she’s definitely the go-to person. I thought about it for a while once, but was really only interested in it to see if I could find some designer handbags at stealer prices.

Welcome to b5 Suzanne. Biz Chicks Rule…again!!

Post from: EveryJoe

Welcome to the New Biz-Chicker at eshopowner.com!