Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Post

So important- understand WHY in business

Ever find it hard to make a decision?   You hear me talking a lot about making great decisions because well-informed decisions mean great outcomes, which means great wellbeing. (and we all want great wellbeing don't we)?   And by well-informed I mean knowing what is important to you (your values) and using that as a benchmark to make your decisions.   So if I know how to make great decisions why did it take me 2 years to make the decision to join Old Bond Store! 🤔   I knew from my very first visit the value OBS would offer me. I totally got the concept of working on the business rather than in the business. (and that's not an easy concept in the early years of running a service based business when YOU are the business).   But I also know my core values and how when they are fully aligned to make a decision, the outcome is great.   So I made the decision when they were fully aligned and that is absolutely the outcome of joining OBS, GREAT!   Over the past 4 or so months I have not only enjoyed a great working environment but also found a work home. OBS is a place full of support, encouragement, inspiration, honesty, fun, realism, hard work, hard times, great ideas and spontaneous conversations that spark new thoughts and new ways to move forward.   It’s not about the time it takes to make the decision, but making the right decision at the right time. Making an informed decision to not do something is equally important as making a decision to do something.   If you want to know your values so you can make great decisions follow the link - you may be surprised what's important to you!   https://lnkd.in/erUMntg4 And if you think OBS might be a great place for you too, let's talk and I can tell you about it. Or follow the link in the comments and come along to the next new members session tomorrow!

I hope you all had a lucky St. Patrick’s Day this past weekend wearing your green! 🍀 A lesson in luck from Mort….the pot belly pig. I got this grand idea that Mort was going to help me with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration picture, but EJ (husband, realist, joy-sucker  and photographer) did not think Mort would cooperate.  And dang it, I hate when he is correct! I put the St. Patty bling on him and he instantly activated “rodeo pig”. You might ask, “what is a rodeo pig?”. Well, it is when the pig runs around as fast as they can while snorting and bucking—it is a sight for sure! So, you might be wondering how I ended up getting this adorable picture? EJ, trying not to bask in the fact that he was right, suggested a treat. In keeping with the St. Patrick’s day theme, he even suggested a green treat of a pear. I noticed that Mort has the same reaction as we do in the workplace when the right incentive is in place. Want a motivated team—find what motivates them. As soon as I had that treat, Mort did an immediate sit, and opened wide for the treat.   When we want more from our teams, or even a different output we need to think about if the right incentive is in place. If we are wanting creativity or ideas on a better process, why not have a contest? Everyone comes to the table with their new idea and whoever wins gets the “treat” plus bragging rights! Check back next week for our March blog that talks more about human behavior, and as always, peoplezest is here to help find the perfect candidate to bring your team the luck of the (pig). https://lnkd.in/ezsq4aVb PS…the pigs are really EJ’s pets—yes all THREE! #peoplezest #multifamily #executiverecruiter #studenthousing #leadership #motivationtools #motivation

We launched #CreateGreaterThan in 2018 as an employee-lead culture collective with the action that #ConvosCreateChange Since 2018, we've worked to cultivate an inclusive culture where people and creativity thrive Leo Burnett. We are guided by an ideal of creating a culture of greater than so that no one feels less than again. #WordsMatter is a platform launched this June. When Florida’s  #DontSayGay law was introduced, we got to thinking about words. How what we say matters. What we don’t say matters. That we have a choice about what we do and don’t say. Words Matter was born out of a desire to acknowledge the power of our words and to use our power as #CultureCreators to intentionally shift our language. There is a film inspired by Noah Michelson story in the #HuffPo, we're building a #glossary to continually educate each other on shifting language and to help us all use more #InclusiveLanguage and we've partnered with Trans Lifeline All proceeds of sales of our #CGT t-shirts benefit #TLL This article provides links to them all https://lnkd.in/gmcpYYZW To say it is a privilege to work alongside folks that show vulnerability, empathy and intention in everything they do is an enormous understatement. I am so proud of the work that was created, proud of the process we took to get here and even prouder of the folks that created it Kerri Soukup Lisa Ivy Rachel Schneider Annie Sandford Brian Chaidez Catherine Kesman Brandon Lee Cox Zak Kiernan Tomek Kelsey Eliason Craft Michelle Mahoney Peggy Walter Zach Basten These #Changemakers have enormous hearts and incredible talent and they are a gift. I also want to acknowledge my agency and agency leadership who support Create Greater Than and make space for us to create programs like this. That matters too. Read the article: http://tiny.cc/gedavz Get the glossary: http://tiny.cc/hedavz Support TLL: https://rb.gy/t7ds3

“We can’t be afraid to succeed, because the world needs changing.” -Kristen Cavallo   This week I had the honor of being a part of an intimate conversation with an absolute powerhouse, Kristen Cavallo, thanks to the erica samadani and the momternship program at MullenLowe U.S.   As someone who has been pushing to work at the intersection of advertising & impact, these words spoke to my core. Advertising does more than sell products, it shapes culture. There is so much value to utilizing media in a positive way. What could the world look like if we do? What could be possible if we succeed? How can we promote inclusion and build a kinder world?   The advertising industry has not historically been known for being the most supportive of women, especially mothers. Often we hear about the long hours, the travel, the burnout. This week I got to hear a different story – a story of someone who navigated the industry in a way that worked for them – rising to the top, all while also being a mom, AND using her position of influence to make the industry more inclusive for all.   A few of the other gems of wisdom Kristen dropped along the way, that I hope can inspire other working moms along with everyone else:   ·     Stop negotiating against ourselves ask for what you need (both at work and at home!) ·     It’s never too late to do the right thing. ·     If we only do what’s been done before, we’ll never make progress. ·     Progress over perfection (as a recovering perfectionist, this one is hard for me, and a great reminder that we don’t need to wait until we’re 100% ready or know 100% of the answers.)   Grateful to Kristen for showing us there is another way, and for being a bright light and an inspiration.  ✨

Life is a journey. We often refer to difficult times, or periods of growth, as a season of our life. But how often do we talk about the preseason? The preseason entails everything that we do on a daily basis to help our lives flow smoothly. Developing an ABA clinic requires a preseason. It’s not enough to have the financial support. It’s not enough to secure a lease. It’s not enough to buy a few toys and throw them in a room. It’s not enough to hire RBT’s. We’re dealing with real lives, in real time. We have to work hard during the preseason in efforts of ensuring a smooth ride for everyone involved. We’ve been building Limitless for almost one year (with the assistance of mentors) to ensure we cross our t’s and dot our i’s. We’ve given it our all to combine compassion, clinical quality, and business. When our doors open, when your child is well cared for, when our staff is thriving… you’ll know we worked harder in preseason.

I think the business model that Saskia and Lisa have developed is worth a close look. Who says work has to be 8-5, all year, fixed, rigid, etc? Doing things the way that works for you, your business, and your employees means listening to yourself and creating something special - looking forward to reading this soon!

Most people don't realize the complexities of balancing a high-profile career with launching a startup. As the youngest General Counsel for a major pro sports team and the highest ranking female top executive in Dallas Stars during my tenure, I've navigated unique challenges in sports law and business operations while navigating motherhood and starting my own company. I'm getting a lot of DMs from female professionals seeking advice on career growth and starting their own companies. So, I've opened up 5 exclusive 1:1 mentorship slots on @Intro. What can we cover together? ✔️Tips on legal counsel in sports ✔️Guidance on business operations ✔️How to start a fashion brand ✔️Best practices for executive leadership Honored to be on Intro alongside world-class experts like Dave Winslow (Founder, CMO w/ 4 exits from $5M to $4B), Matt Kovacs (President of Blaze PR), Melissa Butterworth (Founder, Managing director, and President of Advanced Strategic Partners M&A firm), Radoslav Albrecht Albrecht (Founder & CEO of Bitbond) and Ben Parr (VC & Co-Founder of Octane AI). Comment “interested” and secure your spot now: intro.co/alanamatthews

This week at Tory Burch Foundation we were graced with the presence of 50 Force founders who are part of our Fellows program. They descended on New York City from all over the country to support and learn from one another and the experts we convened. Our goal was clear: providing the community and insights to help women entrepreneurs accelerate their businesses. Here are my top lessons for all of us: 1 ) Asking for help strengthens relationships. We often hesitate to ask for what we need because we don’t want to impose on others but Michelle Stevens,  Founder of The Refill Shoppe, pointed out the scientific research that shows people will like you MORE if you ask them for help. No one is served by you denying people the opportunity to contribute to your success. 2) You can’t lead by telling people what to do. Soraya H., an operations leader at Squarespace, stated a Chinese proverb: We cross the river by feeling the stones. The best change management leaders (and also the best parents) set clear expectations then allow individuals to find their way. 3) Invite the next chapter. In exploring her decision to close her brick and mortar store and pivot to online and pop-ups, Myya Founder Jasmine Jones asked herself a game-changing question: “What am I seeking by holding on to THIS version of my business?” Just replace the word “business” with any other aspect of your life–marriage, career, identity–and it will strengthen your own decision-making. What I personally most needed to be reminded of came from Deepa Gandhi, Co-Founder and COO at Dagne Dover. In responding to the question, “What would you tell your one-year-old founder self?” She encouraged all of us to BREATHE and appreciate the wins. #ToryBurchFellows

Lost Time. I once gave a motivational speech to 100 or so employees at the G-III Apparel Group in New York (I have a personal relationship with this great company – something I’ll expand on in a future post). For these kinds of speeches, I like to tell some of the more down-and-out stories of my Brooklyn childhood; basically, I’m saying “If I can do it, so can you!” The talk went well and when we were done, I asked if there were any questions. One person asked: “If you could go back in time, is there anything you’d do differently?” This was one of those questions that had dozens of right answers. It could be a talk all by itself! There are so many things I would have done differently, but I decided on two. When I give advice to people, I always like to start with “Two things…” One isn’t enough to be very effective and three is too many to digest. The first thing I would have done differently is to have spent more time learning about banking and finance; to have paid more attention in my accounting classes at Syracuse and maybe to have taken some additional finance classes. That way I could have better understood the ins and outs of borrowing money, and cash flow. Being more on top of that side of the business would have taken a lot of pressure off me when I was building Steiner. As it was, I was operating from check to check in those early years. That brought out my entrepreneurial creativity, but it also brought the agita. The second and more important thing is that I wish I had made it home for dinner with my kids more often than I did. And on the nights when I did make it home for dinner, I wish I had been on time more often. And I wish I had paid a little more attention. As I took my daughter down to Austin for her freshman year at the University of Texas, it really hit me that I’ll never get those nights back. I’m specifically thinking of this five year window at the end of the 90s and the beginning of the next decade, when I was running around a mile a minute to make Steiner Sports really stick. During that period, I signed Jeter, Rivera, Peyton Manning and many other important athletes, and we finalized Yankees-Steiner and some other big deals – and of course, I had my family in mind through all of that. But I ended up spending too many late nights in the office because I didn’t want to leave any loose ends for the next day; I had to return every call, had to send every email. Now I realize that realistically, some of it could have waited for the next morning. But I was so concerned about not taking my foot off the gas, that I didn’t see that. I was so busy trying to make it all work, that I lost sight of what I was working for – namely, two young kids. Now that they’re both out of the house, I realize how special it is just to get your family together for dinner. It was a miss on my part. What about you? Do you ever drive so fast that you fly right by the exit you’re headed to?