Dealing with Professional Change

In our professional lives, we go through two types of changes: those that we bring to ourselves, for example, a change in workplace or a change of career, and those that are brought to ourselves, for example, a new supervisor or a layoff. Due to the ever-changing work environment in the United States, imposed change is more common now than ever. In one of her ICCM newsletter columns, titled “Rising to the challenge of Change,” Lori Bocklund (2002) stated, “Change can also be revolutionary, not evolutionary, such as going from a single media to multimedia, shifting from a service focus to revenue focus, or undergoing complete process, technology, and organizational change” (pg. 1).

Companies downsizing, outsourcing, merging, and going global, technology upgrades or switch of infrastructure: all of these, among others, make our current work environment less stable. Even so, companies that have an environment of growth, take change as a positive step towards goals. The truth is that in order to improve, things must be done differently, so different results are obtained. In a 2002 study of 327 companies, the number one issue that they will like to improve on is that of “change management” (Bocklund, 2002, p. 4).
Professional changes that are imposed by our workplace must be managed in two ways: from the source of the change and the person receiving it. Companies must have a plan of action in order to create a receptive attitude toward the change. For example, honest and open communication, training, follow up and feedback are effective ways for companies to incorporate change in their employees. Finally, recognition and awards are strong ways to reinforce the change. Bocklund (2002) stated that, “Successful change starts at the top, and you must educate and communicate down the line” (p. 3).

Applying War Concepts to Business

A few books can create the lasting impact like Sun Tzu’s The Art of War have created for centuries. Not only has it transcend languages and times, but it has also transcend in meaning – as even though its main focus is to describe the implications of war, its concepts are applied to business and personal lives. Is my belief that, If viewed with a literal meaning, its concepts can be mistaken by contradictory as Sun Tzu beautifully interjects spiritual principles with warfare.

The first theme discussed by Sun Tzu is that of “laying plans.” This is a pretty self-descriptive theme as the concept is used constantly in the business world. In order to reach goals, a plan must be put together and followed thru. Without a strategic plan, the best leaders or the best employees couldn’t work together towards a common goal. Just like war, the more people involved the more planning needs to happen.
The author repeatedly mentions the ability to carefully evaluate our competition, where he invites leaders to use this knowledge for their advantage. By acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, we can pinpoint our own weaknesses and strengths and use this information to gain a competitive advantage.

As Sun Tzu explained (2003), “If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose. If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.”

SmallBIZLatino Forms Marketing Partnership with Fundación Empresarias Hispanas to Promote "Flor de Papel: A Society without Violence"

Campaign Will Feature Three Art Events in Queens, New York on June, 2010

New York City (April 27, 2010)— PressRelease/ -- SmallBIZLatino (www.smallbizlatino.com) announced today strategic partnership with Fundación Empresarias Hispanas (www.empresariashispanasus.org), providing pro bono services to increase publicity for the Flor de Papel social awareness campaigned. The initiative, officially launched on Thursday, May 13 in the Met Life building in New York City, aims to be the voice self-imposed violence against the body and emotions and non-acceptance of their reality that compromises the health of all individuals and families. Flor de Papel will feature three community events next month in Queens, New York, where social awareness is expressed via visual art, created and developed by artists, celebrities, students and civil community in general.

Jacqueline Montoya, Executive Director of Fundación Empresarias Hispanas (www.empresariashispanasus.org) that, “Flor de Papel aims to spread the negative effects of violence through cultural events and highlight this reality that excludes us and seeks to generate awareness about all forms of physical, sexual, emotional, gender and voice against the physical and emotional abuse suffered by women, men and children."

SmallBIZLatino (www.smallbizlaitno.com) will support Flor de Papel campaign by utilizing digial public relations, social media and website consultation to help generate awareness of the program within the Hispanic entrepreneurial community in New York City. Anllelic Lozada, founder of SmallBIZLatino, stated that, “We are proud to support the Fundación Empresarias Hispanas (www.empresariashispanasus.org), where we share the same vision of empowering the Latino community through the entrepreneurial audience. SmallBIZLatino (www.smallbizlatino.com) will also provide “Professional Makeover” certificates to attendees in the three art events in Queens, New York:


Events:
Flor de Papel “ For a Society Without Violence”


Create a Drawing

June 12 2010

Campaign Queens Art Express Creating a drawing for Flor de papel

“For a Society Without violence an invitationfor the comunity to make a drawing for this cause. Queens, The Coalitión of the Heart of Corona and Corona Action Network will Present Corona in Corona Plaza, a full day of Gastronomy, history and culture of Corona. Tours guiados por artistas recorrerán las diferentes opciones gastronómicas en nuestro barrio during lunch time; and at noon time tours around históric, cultural sites and it’s diverse places for meetings in corona.

Time: 11:00 am 5:00pm.

103rd st y Roosevelt Ave



Cocktail: Un Grito Al Silencio


July 6 2010

Time 10:00am 12:00 m

Art Museum Gallery

Queens Museum of Art

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Building

Queens New York City, 11368



Exhibitión: Papering New York


July 16 , 2010

Exhibition of Artpaintings of the Queens Community for the campaign “Flor de Papel Flor”For a Society without Violence”

And Friday a History Passport to Hip Hop in Ecuator and Colombia

A Dedication sowe can explore what Youths create through music. Músical and Artístic presentations.

Time12:00m 6:00 pm

Queens Museum of Art Building at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Queens Museum of Art Queens New York City, 11368



For more information, please visit: www.empresariashispanasusa.org





About SmallBIZLatino
SmallBIZLatino is the marketing one-stop solution for Latino-owned biz. Based in New York City and locations in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida – SmallBIZLatino’s mission is to “empower the Latino community with the Web and marketing…one entrepreneur @ a time.” The company sprinkles its marketing expertise into website development and professional makeovers for “latinopreneur”s who are starting a new business or trying to making their existing business prosperous. For more information please visit www.SmallBIZLatino.com or call 305.215.0442.



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Media Contact:

Anllelic Lozada

Founder, SmallBIZLatino

alozada@smallbizlatino.com

305.215.0442

National Small Business Week: May 23-29, 2010

National Small Business Week

Small Business: Driving America's Economy
May 23 - 25 Washington, DC

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes this special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. In 2010, National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.

http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/

Yet Another Leadership Lesson

Kouzes and Posner (2007) mentioned, “Leaders foster collaboration and build trust.” (p. 21-22). In my current leadership position, I’ve realized the value of collaboration and the fact that trusting your team can be overpowering for all parties involved. For me, as the leader, it gives me the peace of mind that my team can handle the job without me having to be involved in every step of the way, thus providing me with more time to work in strategy.
According to Kouzes Posner (2007), "values such as quality, service, respect, freedom, creativity, and responsiveness don't exist in nature but rather have to be defined in concrete terms." Even though the authors made this statement in a leadership context, isn’t these words what we, as humans, also seek to possess in our personal lives? Our two main institutions for self-development an early age: the family and school, teach us values that we carry all throughout our personal lives. As the authors explained, we cannot say we have these values, but we must act them in order to be believed by people who surround us. Kouzes and Posner (2007) stated, “Exemplary leaders are able to envision the future, to gaze across the horizon of time and imagine the greater opportunities to come” (pg. 105).

TEAM-Building: The TARGET Way

Recognition is one of the most cost-effective approaches of showing appreciation to employees without a raise or promotion; when an individual is recognized for a job well done in front of an entire team, it means a lot to other team members. At Target, rewards are motivational to ensure talent is allowed to develop and competition among staff by acknowledging individuals achievement and giving appropriate recognition to highfliers.

Target believes that teams can alter the individual’s motivation or needs and can influence the behavior of individuals in the organizational setting. The aspiration for need satisfaction can be a strong motivating force leading to group formation. Therefore, Target implements team building activities to continue individual development into better leaders and more effective team members; team building activities differs according to needs and objectives. To accomplish the goal, Target offers training leadership classes for employees throughout the year where they learn how to contribute to get goals accomplished, to satisfy personal needs, and facilitate communication during conflict, and, most important, how to lead large teams with diverse backgrounds and ethics to accomplish a goal.

My Philosophy of Success is Ever-Changing

It hasn’t been until the past two years that I, rather slowly, learned two realities: First, I and only I will be responsible for my own definition of success and how I’ll achieve it. Second, thankfully, I’m living a successful life right NOW. Wow – how enlightening! It really has taken out a lot of pressure. Instead of focusing on the intangibles, I’m now focusing in the intangibles, what really matters: family, friends, well-being, spirituality, health, peace and love. These intangibles make up my synonym for success: happiness! The reality is that if you feel truly happy, the law of attraction leads you to be a “magnet” for all good things for you: a great career, where you love what you do, and thus receive monetary rewards; valuable relationships (co-workers, friends and family); stability and purpose in life. In a nutshell, THIS is my current philosophy of success. It may vary years to come, but I hope I never fall in the “trap” of believing otherwise.