get to know co-workers

Top 4 Tips to Get to Know Your Co-Workers

I’m having a hard time getting to know my co-workers. They all have known each other for a long time and it’s hard to feel included in casual conversations. How do I get to know them better? – Mona in Tuscaloosa, AL  Answer: Getting to know your co-workers follows the same path of forging any new relationship. You start with …

Vegan Meals

How to Enjoy Business Lunches Despite Vegan Dietary Restrictions

I often need to attend business dinners and lunches, and often do not have a say in the choice of restaurant. I’m vegan, and many restaurants do not have food options that I can eat. How can I participate in these professional meals without going hungry or looking impolite? – Danielle in Lancaster, CA  Answer: Everyone with a dietary restriction, …

How to Attract More Woman Business Owners

How to Attract More Woman Business Owners

I work for our city business development commission. What advice would you give to a city looking to attract more woman business owners?  – Maggie in Big Bear Lake, California Answer: Female business ownership is an important component of working towards gender equality. Owning a business is a huge investment and opportunity for financial growth, but only 36 percent of …

Superficial Networking

How to Trade Superficial Networking for Real Connections

I feel like the networking events I go to are superficial. People swap business cards and never hear from one another. What am I missing? How can I get past the superficial networking and make valuable connections? – Melissa in Davenport, Iowa  Answer: When you hold a preconceived notion about a situation, it’s far more likely to be fulfilled. You’ve …

How to Avoid Triggers and Stay Out of the Spam Dungeon

How to Avoid Triggers and Stay Out of the Spam Dungeon

We are a small business and send out a regular monthly newsletter to our clients and prospects. We have seeded our list with several team members’ personal and professional email addresses. However, we find that our company newsletters end up in our team members’ spam folders – both the personal and professional email addresses. We are worried this is impacting …