work/life strategy for the working mom

coming home

2009-03-07T15:13:00.001-05:00

Everyone I run into in the meetings world seems to be stressed about sagging attendance at their meetings, or about what they expect to be sagging attendance at their meetings. I, admittedly, am quite stressed out about this too.

The thing is, when you are feeling down and out about your work (or anything in life, for that matter), where do you want to go? Who do you want to talk to? Most likely, it’s people who either are going through, or have been in, the same situation you are. You want people who understand, and who, maybe, just maybe, might have some good ideas about how you might get yourself out of whatever mess you’re in.

My theory is, if I can show my members that not only can they find some comfort, but also some hope, in coming to our meeting, that might be the ticket. Obviously, we don’t want a pity party, but by sharing the experiences of what we are all going through in a specific context of our lives, maybe we can find the hope we need to get through. Maybe, if we talk enough, listen enough and think hard enough, maybe we can even come up with something better than what we have.

I think associations have the power of community at their back. Now it is time to leverage it.

this economy sucks

2009-02-15T20:38:00.003-05:00

A sentiment shared by many I'm sure. It's challenging at home too since my husband lobbies in the financial services industry. I find myself frequently pelting him with questions just to get a better handle on what and why things are happening. Recently, I asked somewhat rhetorically, "When are the people who got us into this mess going to suffer the consequences of their actions?" Maybe it was an elementary question, which is probably why I got a deer-in-headlights look back from my husband. I know the answer is never, and that the blame could be spread amongst such a vast amount of people that there's simply no logical way to dole out justice, but it just doesn't seem right.

I was talking to a friend recently who said she had to believe that there is something greater for all of us to learn from this experience. I agree. I also think there is a terrific lesson to be learned in discerning our wants from our needs. But I think it also needs to be tempered with a plan-for-the-future-but-live-like-tomorrow's-your-last-day perspective. I'm not sure how you teach that kind of balance though.

new year's resolutions

2009-02-15T20:08:00.004-05:00

I've never been one to make a list of resolutions, mostly because I'm leery of trying to tie change to a time of year. There are two things that I've been wanting to work on though, this year, that I started thinking about well before the new year.

The first item was something I've wanted to do a long time - cut soda out of my diet. There's nothing good about soda - the sugar, or artificial sweetener, citric acid, chemicals, etc. I had a health instructor in college who said, "If you wouldn't take a shower in soda, why would you shower the inside of your body with it?" Sure, you could apply that to a number of things, but that mental image has stuck with me for the last 13 years. Obviously, this has been a long time coming.

So far, I've done okay. Three times, I've succumbed to the craving - usually after watching someone consume it in my house. Once, I had one at a party - it was the only thing available. Six weeks into the new year, I'm doing pretty well.

My other resolution was to reach out to people more. I have a lot of acquaintances and new-ish friends that I really want, and need, to get to know. For those who don't know me, this is really hard. Once upon a time, I would easily come up with excuses not to do something. I started to break out of my shell when I was asked to be on a steering committee at church. The commitment thing, and the God/calling thing, kept me going as hard as it was. From there, things picked up. I met my husband, a very social person, and started beating back my fears and insecurities. I became more involved with my professional association. I forced myself to go to networking receptions, as scary and painful as they initially seemed.

So here I am today. Many of my closest friends live far away. I'd like, and I need, to build some relationships closer to home. Since New Year's Eve, I've managed to schedule and follow through on three meetups with friends/acquaintances. And the great part about it is not only how much better I feel after actually doing it, but also the good feelings that emanate simply from having connected with others. It's incredibly fulfilling and a real accomplishment for me. I'm setting a goal to do this at least once a month.

some really cool blogs

2008-06-18T09:44:00.002-04:00

Yeah, I've been delinquent. I know. But I'm gearing up again.

Wanted to share these great blogs from some of our youngest advocates on Capitol Hill. Read about their adventures as they lobby their congressmen and senators:

Cedric Walker's blog, HSC Pediatric Center, Washington, DC

Anna Ives' blog, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, TN (this one includes some video posts too!)

Our advocacy blogs were featured in a recent issue of Associations Now. Just a really cool project I wanted to share.

conference content created by you

2008-02-07T08:47:00.000-05:00

I had a general session speaker back out for a conference later this year, and have spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how I am going to fill it. Inspired by the Technology Conference, I'm considering having the attendees create the session themselves.

I am thinking about starting a wiki that would ask members and attendees to contribute their best ideas on the conference topic. Visitors to the site would rate them, and those that are rated highest would be asked to present during this general session.

The risks in doing this are: a) no one will participate in the wiki; b) no one will vote on the ideas; c) attendees won't know which ideas are going to get presented at the session, and won't stick around for it; d) there is no precedent for this in our association and it will take a lot of time to get this off the ground - more than I have; e) this will be wildly successful and we won't have created the proper infrastructure to support it.

Fortunately, of all of our conferences, I think this one has the audience that would most likely participate in this exercise. And, I have more flexibility in designing this conference than other programs. I just have to figure out how to make this work, and how to sell the idea.

today's quote

2008-02-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

"It's only an 'uh-oh' if it is an accident."

if you're not energized, you might be living under a rock

2008-02-06T17:42:00.001-05:00

Whatever your persuasion, if you aren't energized by the engagement of the American public in the political process this year, you might want to check your pulse. Some stats I've heard in the media today:

More than three times as many Americans under age 30 in Georgia voted yesterday than did in 2004.

Five times as many New Yorkers under 30 voted yesterday.

More people voted yesterday than on Super Tuesday 1968 - the last time that we saw these historic levels of voter turnout.

Imagine what we could accomplish if only we had this kind of engagement more than once every 40 years.

best quote heard in my house in a while

2008-02-06T17:24:00.000-05:00

Dad says to our daughter this morning...

"Nooooo.... don't eat THAT cheerio. We don't know if came out of your diaper!"

live posting/commenting

2008-02-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

Maddie's questions make me think of those scrolling message displays sometimes seen at concerts... (yeah, as a new mom, I haven't been to one in ages, but I do occasionally live vicariously through concert goers on TV).

What if the conference had a scrolling chat display at the sessions (ALL the sessions) that allowed participants to comment on the presentation as it happens?

Putting my conference planner hat on for a moment...

I'd test run that in a session or two first... but it could be fun.

are you ready for web 2.0?

2008-02-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

I just listened in on a session about this topic, where the presenter accurately noted that it's not about the technology you use, it's about the value it brings to the members. Not surprisingly, the question came up, "What if someone says something bad about you on your own association's blog?"

I didn't get a chance to answer that question, and quite frankly, I didn't feel like yelling from the back of the room, so here is my response:

1. I'd rather have someone criticize me on my blog, than to start a blog elsewhere and criticize me. At least I'd know right away, and I'd be positioned to do something about it.
2. No one, trust me, no one wants to read a glossy, glowing, triple-proofed blog about how great your association is. Controversy and intellectual discussion will drive people to your site. Dissent is useful! And it raises the bar...
3. Your members and your readers will have much more respect for your association if you allow - dare I say - encourage, diverse points of view on your site.
4. Encouraging diverse perspectives on your blog may actually help you do something about the lack of your diversity in your association (an issue that many, many associations face, but don't know how to address).

I think ASAE's Acronym blog is an excellent example of how this works. And works well.

can you see me now?

2008-02-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

I became a Mac convert just this past year and have since discovered Skype. It's been wonderful for communicating with family members who live in the U.K., thanks to the Mac's built-in webcam. It's the first time I've made routine use of a webcam. And it's been a blessing to have this with a young daughter who rarely gets to see her extended family, and vice-versa.

So, in a conversation at lunch about virtual offices, it occurred to me that much of the objection to telecommuting seems to exist because managers can't see that you are working if you are working from home. Never mind that they can't see that if you are in your office with the door closed. But what if virtual workers all had webcams installed? Not only would that help telecommuters with the internal relationship building, but it would also provide the capacity to conduct visual conversations with members. You could even put something like this to work for you.

how productive could you be?

2008-02-01T10:56:00.001-05:00

Being a mom, I have a whole new understanding of productivity. And a new method of prioritizing my schedule. I'm always looking for tools that allow me to accomplish more in less time.

I was intrigued to listen to a presentation by Erica Driver of Forrester Research this morning. She discussed the seven tenets of the information workplace. One of the statistics she presented was that approximately 40% of organizations are considering evaluating the roles of information workers to determine how their needs differ based on those roles.

I was a little surprised and disappointed by that statistic. With the rapid changes in technology that are changing how we work, it seems like this should be a higher priority for most organizations. The fact is, the integration of productivity enhancers in the work environment can accomplish multiple goals. More work gets done, in less time, expanding the opportunity for innovation. Communication between workers is accelerated, and can happen from just about anywhere - which has its own implications for reducing overhead through telecommuting, making (some) employees happier, reducing the environmental impact of commuting employees. And frankly, if I have the information I need to do my job, or at least what exists, it makes me a happy employee. And I wonder, if we were doing a better job of this, would we be better positioned to maximize our staff's talents?

wikis + strategy = a good idea

2008-01-31T11:01:00.000-05:00

I am attending ASAE's Technology Conference today and tomorrow and had the opportunity to hear Anthony Williams, coauthor of Wikinomics. I thought one of the ideas that was presented was particularly interesting - the idea of using a wiki to design corporate strategy.

Think about it... strategic planning is usually left up to senior staff. And that's probably for a few reasonable (though not great) reasons - the time to integrate everyone's opinion can be prohibitive, and in some cases, maybe the senior staff have an insider's view into the industry (and the correlating connections) that enables them to more quickly assess the needs of the organization and industry. You could come up with a host of reasons.

Using a wiki to develop strategy would allow you to engage the minds of staff who are engaged and enthusiastic about the mission of the organization to have a hand in the direction of the organization. Using a wiki would allow you to diversify the voices that are influencing the direction of the organization. Using a wiki... you would never stop - your strategy could continuously evolve.

I love, love, love this idea.

eight things...

2008-01-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

My pal Ben tagged me ages ago (in blog years...) with this meme. What don't you know about me? Geez... let's give it a try.

1. I love to bargain shop. Maybe that is clear from my Facebook page, but I even clip coupons occasionally for groceries. I think my husband thinks I'm nuts, but it's like a game to me.
2. I can be very competitive, which seems to surprise people often - I have no clue why! Of course, you, my dear reader, probably figured that out from #1.
3. I was the editor of my high school newspaper. While I'm not perfect, misspellings drive me crazy. I can spot 'em a mile away. My flaw? Commas. I overuse them.
4. I can now make up verses to "Wheels on the Bus" on the fly. I've gone as many as 12 without repeating!
5. I was totally bummed when Bob Barker left The Price Is Right. I always wanted to get on that game show.
6. Some of my early career jobs included working in drug rehab clinics, mental health clinics and hospitals and a hospice. I learned a lot.
7. My favorite wedding gift, besides my amazing husband, was my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I find baking to be therapeutic.
8. I have been kissed by Richard Simmons. Yes, it's true.

growing pains

2007-12-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems I'm down to just one post a month. At least it's for good reason. Working on this graduate project is sucking every last bit of extra energy I have. Keeping up with a 15 month old, school, and full-time work leaves about 10 minutes every day to play my new addiction, Scrabulous on Facebook. (And if you're a fan, feel free to start a game with me - I'm always looking for distractions!)

More important, though, I'm discovering, is the opportunity to take what I have learned over the last 4-5 years about organizational development and apply it to a consulting project. I can't disclose the details of the project... yet. I hope to someday. But it is incredibly fascinating to apply OD theory to this project. And to finally have a good reason to read the literature I've wanted to read.

But it is painful. It's painful to take my daughter to daycare while I sit at home on my Mac at the dining room table pecking away at a 30+ page proposal. It's painful to look at the living room strewn with toys. It's painful to refuse opportunities offered to me so that I can finish school. It's painful to have to schedule a date with my husband weeks in advance. It's painful to not spend the afternoon at the park. It's painful not to spend Sunday afternoon cooking dinner, instead picking up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store.

I hope the pain is worth it. I don't know yet that I'm going to do anything specific with this degree - like becoming an OD consultant. I've found the curriculum to be incredibly useful in everyday work. I think I'm becoming a more effective team leader, boss, employee, association executive, with my OD skills. Everything leads to something, that's for sure.

But I sure can't wait for an afternoon at the park, followed by a big homemade lasagna dinner. Soon.

rock on lisa!

2007-11-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

And it happened so fast! Thanks to Lisa Junker, ASAE's Acronym blogger - whom I have yet to meet face-to-face, but with whom I have interacted frequently online. Lisa is my 100th connection on LinkedIn. I look forward to the day we meet!

nearing 100 in my network...

2007-11-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

Following in the footsteps of my friend Ben Martin, I took the challenge to build my Linked In network. And now I'm just 2 away from crossing the 100 threshold! If you know me, link to me!

being thanked

2007-11-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, we should all be giving thanks... it's probably coincidental timing though that this morning I received a thank you note from ASAE. It congratulated me on 10 years of membership and thanked me for my contributions. Yes, I joined, fresh out of college in my first association job, at the encouragement of my then-CEO Barbara Belmont.

Given that so few of us actually stick around in a job for 10 years, it was nice to know that someone noticed my longevity in the association space. This is such a great idea. And easy! Have you thanked your members lately?

caring for others

2007-11-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

In an internal workshop on generational diversity a few weeks ago, our speaker, Jamie Notter, discussed an example of a generational conflict in the workplace. In essence, the example illustrated two coworkers at odds - one who valued "talk time" and one who wanted to get down to business. There was more to it than that, but this is the piece that spoke to me.

I've always seen myself as the get-down-to-business type. Yes, I think I'm pretty good at socializing when I need to, but my patience for chit-chat when a business agenda is at hand is pretty marginal. There's a lot of value in getting to know your colleagues, but I think there's a time and a place - usually on the periphery of work. And, even more, I was taught that you just don't discuss personal topics with coworkers - you never know when it might come back to bite you. And now, with a baby at home and school after hours, my preference is to just focus on work at work.

Recently, I've discovered just how much other people value that kind of engagement. I've struggled in relationships with people who place a lot of value on interpersonal relationships and exchanges. But, I realized that it's not so much about sharing personal information; it seems like it's mostly about demonstrating that you care. When you ask questions (not of the too personal type, of course) about other peoples' lives, you show that you care about them as a person. When you share your life, you show that you are human. It seems quite obvious, but it was an eye-opener for me when the light bulb switched on. And, thought it's early to judge, it has seemed to make a significant difference in my relationships when I recently made an effort to take an interest in others' lives. I think it may even make life easier when conflict arises with those individuals.

Something to give thanks for this week.

(Oh, and by the way, Jamie's presentation was terrific!)

a resource that worked

2007-10-24T07:37:00.000-04:00

I am way overdue in sharing the big wins from our annual meeting. One of the most well-received things I have ever done at a meeting was this year's onsite program. We called it a learning guide. We slimmed it down, page-wise (to reduce waste), cut out speaker bios, spiral-bound it, added in note-taking areas for each timeslot and, best of all, put the schedule-at-a-glance on the back cover. Over and over, attendees remarked to me and our staff about how much they loved the new piece. I've even had two attendees email me post-conference lamenting their loss of the "workbook" on their way home.

When was the last time someone actually noticed a publication you did?

Interested in seeing it? I provided it to ASAE's Knowledge Center as a resource. Search NACHRI from their Web site. It's the top result.

The last lecture of Randy Pausch 1

2007-10-22T16:38:00.001-04:00

in case you need a reminder

living now

2007-10-22T16:14:00.000-04:00

I'm listening to Oprah and being reminded of an important life lesson that I learned quite early in my own life. It's something you hear all the time... live in the present, be present, don't worry about the future, etc.

I was fortunate enough to have the great experience to work in an inpatient hospice facility early in my career. Of course, I met many people who had lived long, full lives. But I also met many people whose lives were full, but short. The image of one patient has forever been etched in my memory.

She was a young woman, in her early 30s. She had a daughter, probably 6 or 7 years old, and an infant, less than a year old. She had brain cancer and the front quarter of her skull was gone, almost as if it had caved in. The kids came to visit in the evenings, but I will always remember that Sunday afternoon when her brother came to visit. She sat in the recliner at the end of a long hallway which opened up onto a garden. It was autumn and the warm golden sunshine filtered in through the big windows. And he played the guitar and sang to her. And the next weekend she was gone.

It's a memory that I reflect on from time to time... a powerful reminder to me of how anything can happen to anyone at any time. I know that when I live with intention, in the present, I feel much different. I'm glad to be reminded today.

getting back to business

2007-10-18T07:37:00.000-04:00

Back in the office after our annual meeting - so yes, I am alive. One of the things I try to do right away following the conference is hold debriefings for staff. It gives us a chance to figure out what we did right (and therefore, should keep doing) and where we can make some improvements. It always fascinates me how these discussions often fall on the side of how we can improve. Why is it so hard for us to see what we have done well?

I know I face this challenge in my own life. For instance, I received two papers back from my instructor on Tuesday night. The first thing I did - look at the grade, and then look for any comments that provide insight on what I can do to improve. I knew I was doing it as I was doing it.

So, how can we focus on the positive? I am very familiar with the appreciative inquiry process, so I realize there are techniques, ground rules, etc., that can be used and established to drive this process, but I wonder what it is that is inherent in our personalities that causes us to focus on what's wrong? Wouldn't we feel so much better about our work and our selves if we focused on everything that we've done right and looked at our shortcomings as opportunities for improvement?

an opportunity for help

2007-09-28T07:44:00.000-04:00

I'm on the hunt for a client. Is there a project you've held off on because of a lack of resources?

I am finishing up my master's in organization development at Johns Hopkins this fall. For my final project, I must perform field work that consists of diagnosing an individual, group or organizational problem, recommending an intervention, assisting a client in implementing the intervention, and evaluating the results - an estimated 120 hours of work.

I would like to work with an association in the Washington, DC area on this project. I am particularly interested in the areas of knowledge management, employee wellness and engagement, social networks, communities of practice, leadership development/emerging leaders and large scale organizational change.

The benefit to you and your association? This work would be performed gratis, by a CAE, under the supervision of OD experts, with the backing of Johns Hopkins. You can't beat that!

The tentative timeline for this would be:

November 2007: agreement on project scope
January 2008: complete plan for intervention/begin work
April 2008: project completed

Post a comment if you are interested in exploring further. Even if you're not sure if your idea is a fit - I can help figure that out. In addition, there are a few other students in my class who are also looking for clients - so even if your need doesn't fit me perfectly, I may know someone who can help!

the anxiety is beginning

2007-09-27T19:52:00.000-04:00

I'm just a little bit torn. I'm heading out to our Annual Meeting next week, so I'm excited. In fact, I have a tendency to hum "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" around the office around this time of the year. I think some people find it annoying - if for no other reason than that I have no business singing anything. I'm eager to see this event come to fruition. I get a lot out of seeing the results of my work. In this business, though, you have to work on something for year(s). That's a really long time when you have a short attention span.

On the other hand, I hate that I have to leave my daughter behind. We've never been separated for more than one night - and this will be a week. This is going to be tough - probably moreso on me than on her, I'm sure. But I hate, hate, hate it. The logical part of me knows that she won't forget me, but the sentimental side of me is certain she will. Oh, this is hard.

I probably thought of a dozen ways to make it work - by bringing my husband, or my mom, or my MIL. Or by hiring a local babysitter. The thing is, the reality of the hours I keep at the meeting mean it just won't work. I'll be working from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days. I wouldn't even see her awake.

So, like many things I've learned, I've got to look at the upside of this. There's going to be plenty of daddy-daughter bonding. Dad may even learn a few new parenting skills. Hopefully, dad will get to see the other side - what life is like when he is out of town for multiple days at a time. A learning experience for him - and for me. What it's like to be away for so long...

be the example

2007-09-24T07:54:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons I make an effort to volunteer is because I ask the same of my members. When I had the opportunity to blog for a conference, I took it because I knew I was about to ask my members to do the same. I agreed to help start a community because I had asked my members to do the same. I have attended networking events as a host, because I ask my members to do the same.

That's not to say that is the only reason I volunteer. I do it because I believe in the organization. I enjoy meeting others in my profession. I learn a lot.

Here's what I haven't been able to figure out... where are the groups for working moms? I know I could learn a lot. I probably have something to share, though I'm new at it. Aside from connecting with the moms in the office, I have to believe there is something out there, some resource or network or community, that can help. I've found a few grassroots efforts out there - some locally based (DC Urban Moms), some entrenched in the politics of parenthood (I mean politics in the literal sense) (Moms Rising). I've even found a Yahoo! group for DC working moms. But there's virtually no community that solely addresses the daily challenges and opportunities that face working moms. What are they thinking about? How are they making choices? How do they deal with time constraints?

I wonder why. Is it a lack of time? Is it because no one out there has started it? Who will be the example? Can we formalize what appears to be an informal network among moms, made up of friends, neighbors and family?

I'd like to meet other moms in the same position. I bet I'd learn a lot.

i have been discovered.

2007-09-24T07:48:00.001-04:00

Now I have motivation. It seems as though I have been discovered by my friends at We Have Always Done It That Way...

I commented on David's post and promised that I would update folks here. At 4 weeks out from our conference, we are still up 18% in registration. That's the great news. But, I've learned a lesson. All those early-bird registrants saved $125 bucks on their registration... which means our revenue hasn't really increased much at all. I won't have data on that until much later.

Still - 18% beats my personal goal for growth in attendance. Not too shabby.

1 down, 17 to go

2007-09-17T13:09:00.000-04:00

That's my husband's latest catchphrase. We made it one year! The big shindig happened yesterday - lots of family and friends came by to wish my beloved daughter a happy birthday.

I was catching up with a dear friend this weekend whom I haven't spoken to since I was six months pregnant. In terms of learning and development, I really think that becoming a parent is the most significant, life-changing thing you can do. The learning curve is, as one of my friends would say, "ginormous." The personal growth that results is tremendous. And the catch is, you simply can't procrastinate on it - when baby calls, you must answer. I really do feel like a different person. Life has new meaning, new depth.

It all sounds a bit cliche, I suppose. I just wonder if we approached other parts of our lives with the same passion and enthusiasm, what would be possible? What would it take? And if we can't find that passion and enthusiasm for those other aspects of life, what should we change?

click!

2007-09-06T20:31:00.000-04:00

My friend Betsy wrote a blog post today about being a full-time work-outside-the-home mom. In her post, she discusses the blurring of the line between work and home - i.e., checking the Blackberry while cooking dinner, changing diapers (impossible, I agree), talking with DH, etc. The one thing I have discovered since becoming a mom - I find it nearly impossible to even think about work while I'm home nowadays. Pre-baby, I easily could have obsessed over a coming meeting or deadline for the entire evening, up until I arrived at work the next day. Now, it's like a switch. I get in the car at the end of the day, and click, I'm in mom-mode. Some of that is because I have so much to manage at home. Some of it is because I'm so in love with my daughter.

This is new territory for me, a classic type A personality, perfectionist, over-achiever. It makes me feel like I'm not doing all that I should as an employee. A seasoned executive I used to work with said something very interesting to me a few months ago... she said she put a lot of emphasis on hiring working moms - she said they were the most efficient employees she knew. A working mom can get the job done. Ever since that lunch, I wonder if I'm living up to that expectation.

back to school

2007-09-05T20:14:00.000-04:00

I went back to school last night for the first time in nearly 18 months, with the goal of finally finishing my master's degree. What a scary experience. I felt so out of it. And I was simply terrified after reading the assignments in the syllabus. I am so close to dropping out. But if I want to graduate, I have to take this course - and the next one. But then, I'd be done. I read the first case study this afternoon and nearly had a heart attack. I can't even figure out how to begin to answer the questions. Of course, I'm waiting for my textbook to arrive from Amazon. Perhaps once I've done the reading, I'll be able to analyze the case.

9 more classes to go. I have an entirely new level of respect for parents who go back to school. This is going to be a real struggle for me. Another mom in the class said to me last night, "One step at a time." She's right. I have to do this one assignment now. I'll worry about the rest when the time comes.

One step at a time.

what's new at our meeting

2007-08-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

We're working on a slew of new projects for our upcoming Annual Meeting... including:

A "greener" meeting - no more photocopying zillions of slides, most of which don't mean much to the listener. Instead, speakers get to develop a meaningful one-page handout for listeners to use as the follow along... in combination with...
Speaker training - we've conducted training (with Jeffrey Cufaude's assistance) to educate our speakers about adult learning principles, the principles of good slide design and how to create effective, useful handouts
A blog - yes, we're starting a conference blog. I'll post a link once we've got a few posts up.
A learning guide/workbook. We've reformatted our final program into a workbook, incorporating notes fields following every session, so that learners will be encouraged to use it as a reference.
Updating the "schedule at a glance." I shamelessly stole this idea from Mike Mason at Communicatio... We got it down to one page, on the back cover of the final program.
Targeted marketing... see my earlier posts.

I'll report back on how these go over with the attendees, but I'm pretty excited about the changes!

guess i should explain...

2007-08-24T07:45:00.000-04:00

David asked me about the crazy idea - and I realize I never did tell the details. We decided to segment our marketing to our target audiences for the conference. I identified three sessions that each of our audiences would be interested in attending, put them on the cover of our brochure along with a statment such as: "We've designed the following sessions for chief executives like you!" Then we mailed that cover to our CEOs and COOs. We did it for 4 distinct audiences and then a generic for everyone else. We intended to personalize but that became cost prohibitive. (And maybe we didn't even need it!)

Is this rocket science? No, not really. But a big, big step forward for us.

that crazy idea....it is working.

2007-08-23T07:48:00.000-04:00

I am absolutely thrilled that my cockamamie idea in June that caused me and my coworkers so much stress has apparently resulted in an 85% increase in registration for our meeting over this time last year. Truly phenomenal. Some folks have suggested that may not hold through the rest of the reg period. Frankly, I'm just happy that something in our marketing mix is working. Heck, not just working, but kicking butt. If nothing else, we've gotten 85% more people to commit to our meeting earlier than ever.

Can't beat that. It wasn't so crazy after all!

what is the bigger picture here?

2007-07-03T22:04:00.001-04:00

Got a lot of things on my mind, this 4th of July-eve. I've really been bugged by the whole working mother thing as of late. Lots of attention in recent months on breastfeeding and working mothers - and breastfeeding in public. It's a shame in this country that we are among the worst of industrialized nations when it comes to how we treat new mothers. After 12 weeks of leave - half of which was unpaid, the other half paid, thanks to vacation leave I had accumulated and a bit of short-term disability - I was just beginning to get my feet on the ground. Thank God that I was able to extend my leave through the winter holidays. It really felt like a very cruel thing to do, to have to return to work, as I was just beginning to get to know my daughter.

Obviously, their are serious considerations for employers - it would be quite an effort to accommodate a year of leave for every woman who gets pregnant. On the other hand, I wonder what we are giving up? What are we sacrificing? As we continue to witness more painful things in our society - an obesity epidemic, violence, bullying, helicopter parents - I wonder if we started out right, what that might do for us as a society. No, a year of maternity leave won't solve any of those problems. But I have to believe that valuing motherhood - parenthood - that might be a good start.

still here...

2007-07-03T21:54:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am. Still here. Been caught up in an unexpected challenge over the last few days at work. You know when you have a great idea, but then reality smacks you in the face and you realize that your great idea is about 10 times the work you thought it would be? Yeah, that's what happened. It was the right thing to do, but it cost a lot of my time and my coworkers time. I'm pretty lucky that they haven't completely lost it with me.

This has prompted me to consider, once again, what it is that drives me, us, to continue to try to improve. Occasionally, I find myself down in the dumps... in despair... looking for a way out. Whatever it is. Work, school, life. I just get frustrated, tired, bored, irritable. Maybe my attention span is much shorter than it really should be. But I always find a way out of the slump. There's this strange inner force. A force that drives me to keep trying - sometimes even when I know inside that it's probably a futile effort.

Today's project? Well that was no futile effort - it was completely worthwhile. But heaven knows I was ready to give up. Yeah, if it goes well I should see a nice bump in revenue come this fall, but more importantly, if it goes well, the right people will come to my party - my conference - enriching the experience for the rest of the attendees. Not unlike a dinner party, where you really want to find the right mix of folks to sustain a rich, intellectual (heck, just fun would be fine) dialogue all night. If I get all the right people at the meeting - then yes, it'll be like a fantastic dinner party - one that lasts three days.

starting a blog

2007-06-23T06:30:00.000-04:00

Colleagues of mine have been urging me for months to start a blog. Here it is. I'm curious to see how this evolves over time. I've become a frequent reader of blogs. I'll be sure to list my favorites as time goes on. My hope is to explore the intersection of work and life from the perspective of a working mom.