Changing our Expectations

People often inaccurately predict how an event will make them feel. For example, researchers found that when people are questioned about their predictions afterward, they tend to revise their recollections to better reflect their actual mood. In essence humans don’t like to be wrong so we unconsciously self-correct. Humans also want to be happy and generally remember events as positive.  Problem vacations end up being repeated as learning experiences or adventures instead of the problem of negative experience they were. Isn’t great what the mind can make up do and believe.

Women and Work

I personally have difficulty with this topic. I am not currently a mom but hope to be one someday. However, I love my job, I love going to work and I care about work as a measure of my personal worth and success. Balancing children and work seems almost impossible without help and even at that (as a psychologist) I want to be the one adding in the development of my children not someone else. So, recent research from the University of North Carolina concerned me even more. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 69 studies and found that going back to work within a child’s first year can lead to behavioral problems and lower academic performance later in life. However, mom’s that went back to full time work after three years had children with academic excellence and decreased performance problems (income level does effect this too). Unfortunately, I don’t live in Spain where maternity leave can last as long as you need…so how do woman do this.

Anticipated work-family conflict: effects of gender, self-efficacy, and family background.: An article from: Career Development Quarterly

Understanding Leadership Barriers for Women

According to the White House Project Report 2009 women earn 60% of all degrees and make up 57% of the nation’s college students but only represent 26% of executive level positions. The Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology is working to change this statistic by promoting positive changes in institutional and organization life. One important way to make this change is to find or act as a role model and/or mentor to other women. Building experiences is another great way for young women to break through the glass ceiling. These experiences will build on leadership skills.


Trotman Reid, PhD presented several key activities for women to work on:

• Set you own goals and remember to dream

• Develop your skills and your network

• Adapt a few mentors and cultivate advisers

• Volunteer and self-nominate

• Act like a leader, because perception often becomes reality

• Know the rules and learn the history

• Lean how to share the work and the credit

• Seek balance and live by your priorities

• Make a life, not just a career

The Dad Effect

Can you take control of the board room, keep your cool in stressful situations and successfully manage your peers and direct reports in the office? If so, you may have your Dad to thank, according to recent research that suggests that strong father-son bond forged during childhood may help men deal with everyday stress and relationships later in life. Mallers, PhD examined men about the quality of their father/child relationships, as well as stressful events over several weeks. Mallers found that men who reported a good relationship with their fathers during childhood were less affected by stressful events than those who had poor father-child relationships.

RICH DAD, POOR DAD by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter discusses the importance of mentoring your children into successful careers and relationships. Although I agree that this is extremely important, Mallers research indicates that you can start today by simply wrestling with your kids. Maller suggests that rough and tumble play stimulates and challenges children and can even improve problem solving skills.

So put down those flash cards and build a future leader with some rough play.

Does your email really say what you mean?

A new download from Microsoft called ToneCheck will scan outgoing email messages and flags wording that could be interpreted as harsh, angry of offensive. It will flag obvious swear words but will also detect aggressive statements or starting too many sentences with “you”.

TWO TEN Hosts Leadership Panel



LuAnn Via

 Two Ten offers Financial Assistance, Counseling, Community Resources and Scholarships to those working in the footwear industry. They are committed to strengthening the footwear community with financial, social and educational support and services while nurturing community building and volunteerism. On October 14, 2010 Two Ten hosted a Leadership Town Hall in NYC for emerging leaders in the footwear industry. This remarkable panel included 5 footwear presidents (LuAnn Via of Payless Shoe Source; Scott Savitz of Shoebuy.com; Mike Shirley of Nina footwear; Jim Salzano of Clarks Companies; Jay Piccola of Puma) and leadership expert Dr. Ann Beatty.




Jay Piccola

 The 90 minute town hall was a smooth flowing conversation between the audience of emerging leaders like the young leadership director, Alison Muskat of Deer Stags and the comfortably seating panel. The panelists were questioned about key leadership traits, techniques used during the economic crisis, ethical leadership, and recommendations for future leader. The panelist all agreed that one of the keys to success in any leadership position is communication. Each panelist discussed different approaches within their organizations including town hall meetings, newsletters and informal walk throughs. However, the most surprising element of the panel for me came at the end of the discussion when the panelists were asked to give future leaders recommendations. Almost all of the panelists recommended in some way that future leaders live a more balanced life than the panelists currently were. They almost all said they wish they would spend more time with friends and family and feel this would ultimately increase they work performance. In response to questions regarding the economic crisis and up holding integrity within their organizations and the industry LuAnn Via said it best…”you need to model and live what you are telling people. Honesty and integrity are one thing on paper but another in action.”

This is just an idea of the interesting conversation that took place in NYC on Oct. 14th. Two Ten continues to bring footwear leaders – join in the fun at http://www.twoten.org/.

Cleaning the Web- Air

The economy is slowly coming around and you are out there applying for jobs. The key to getting a job may be in your past or what’s not there. Almost 80% of recruiters surveyed in a recent Microsoft study checkout out applicants online, and 70% of those eliminated candidates based on what they found. Before you apply to that new position google yourself. If you find junk in orbit look into one of these companies working to clean the air. These companies can tell you what’s out there (for your entire family), push positive info to the top of searches and even delete information you don’t want floating around.


Reputation Defender, Naymz, Schakra, Brand-yourself