TRIPLE PLAY!
3 Winter 2021
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Women who leveled their playing fields.
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Table of Contents
9. PROVING YOUR COMPETENCY
Sell yourself as perfect for whatever you’re going after
10. WHY IS MY ROOMMATE SELLING HERBALIFE?
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A look at multi-level marketing jobs
12. MAKING THEIR MARK AMONG MEN
Three women share their experiences working in male-dominated industries
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15. PHILIPS AUTOMOTIVE
Meet Columbia’s dynamic fatherdaughter duo
17. MARKETING THROUGH A PANDEMIC Promote your business without busting your budget
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18. WHAT’S THE COLUMBIA CHAMBER DOING FOR ME? Help and support for the small business community
19. FINISH STRONG IN 2020 5. THE WONDER WOMAN MYTH
Why would anyone think they can do it all?
6. BOOK REVIEW: THE QUEENS OF ANIMATION
End it with a bang and get a jumpstart on 2021
20. GET IT WRITE: LESS OR FEWER?
Women who left their mark on Disney
When quantifying matters
6. NOW WHAT?
21. ADJUST YOUR SAILS:
Staying financially healthy in an unhealthy world
7. ABLE SOUTH CAROLINA
The Americans with Disabilities Act turns 30
8. SILVER TONES: AGE DISCRIMINATION
Stand your ground with wisdom and grace
LICKING THE BLUES Animals vs. Anxiety
22. MAKING THE MOST OF QUARANTINE
Now’s the time to up your game
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Editor's Letter Publisher and Managing Editor Anna Gelbman Edmonds Design and Production Kristina Parella Assistant Editor Julie Blevins Betsy Montgomery Contributing Writers April Blake Julie Blevins Karen Campbell Martie Cowsert Streit Carolyn Culbertson Henri Baskins Ann Ellliott Sylvie Golod Karen R. Jenkins Alysia Kehoe Haley Kellner Bland Lawson Nancy Tuten Sheila Tutweiler-Dawkins Photographers Tonya Palmer Sally Scott The F-Suite (Volume 3, No.1) is a free quarterly publication. Copyright ©2021 The F-Suite LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the opinions or comments of the authors or the subject matter of advertisers. Advertising rates are available upon request. We welcome your comments and questions by email at info@thefsuite.com or mail to The F-Suite LLC, 317 Bradford Lane, Columbia, SC 29223. Tel. (803) 216-1902
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FIGHTING FEAR WITH FAITH AND FORTITUDE Has every conversation you’ve had in the past I-don’tknow-how-many months begun and ended with COVID? Ugh, right? Nearly all these conversations are laced with fear as we head into 2021. Not knowing what the future holds is always scary and can lead our thoughts down grim paths. I think we can all agree that most news organizations are biased. This is an industry originally built on objectivity that’s really lost its way. In college, I wrote a paper entitled “Media Consumption: You are What You Eat.” (I got an A.) Here’s an interesting snippet: "We are bombarded daily, if not hourly, by news from print, broadcast and digital media sources. Who is monitoring the quality and substance of the images, words and sounds the media feeds us? Just as a diet of unhealthy food affects our health, the quality of the news we consume also affects our lives. Think of news as brain food. The press is responsible for what’s on the menu, but consumers are responsible for making healthy, nutritional choices. This is known as media literacy." Even I, a professional journalist, have difficulty finding credible, objective news sources. So, months ago, I chose to turn off the news since most is simply untrustworthy noise. This includes stepping away as much as possible from social media. It’s too difficult to weed through most of what’s being presented as facts. I check in quickly to make sure we’re not at war or being taken over by zombies, and then go about my business at peace. It feels great! This magazine and its growth are the result of me forging ahead undistracted. This isn’t the first time the world was shaken by frightening, life-changing events. My father and grandmother escaped Hitler’s reign of terror. The rest of the family was lost to violence or in Nazi death camps. However, both Grandma and Daddy went on to lead productive, full lives despite the loss of their family, nationality and property, and the damage to their psyches and hearts. The world came back from the 14th century Bubonic plague, Italy survived the fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland eventually overcame its potato famine, and Jews (and other so-called “undesirables”) survived the Holocaust. Were your ancestors slaves? Did someone in your family rebuild after Hurricane Katrina? Did you have a relative in one of the Twin Towers the day they fell? We made it through the 1000-year flood of 2015. We’ll get through COVID, scarred but stronger. People who overcome such circumstances typically have a foundation of faith in something that gives them hope. From somewhere deep inside they know this too shall pass. Try turning off the hope-robbing news and go about your business. We’re here to help you with that! Sincere best wishes for you, your family and your business in 2021 and beyond!
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. – Hebrews 11:1-2
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Attitudes & Etiquette
THE WONDER WOMAN MYTH
You weren’t born with superhuman strength and speed or the ability to fly. By Ann Elliott
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M
any of us believe we can do it all. Not only that, but we believe we MUST do it all. To compound the problem, we believe we must do it perfectly, but it must look effortless. Can you relate? The cost of this belief and behavior is enormous. It is not unique to women. However, it seems mostly women who subscribe to the Wonder Woman myth in order to measure up. To be enough. This is the currency 1. Running on an empty tank because of prolonged stress and unrelenting demands 2. Being spread thin so nothing gets done at 100% 3. Taking care of everybody else first 4. Feeling guilt and shame 5. Adopting the belief that I am at fault because I cannot get it all done to perfection 6. Concluding I am not worthy 7. Putting myself last and the cycle repeats We drank the Kool Aid Regardless of how talented or willing, it is unrealistic to expect anyone to do it all. Most importantly, it is unrealistic for YOU to expect this of yourself. Women must do the same as men and then some. Where did these ideas originate? The ideas of perfection and doing it all came from Hollywood, the beauty industry, institutions, advertising and religion to name a few. How do you break the cycle? Dig deep in your courage. Recognize you are worth taking care of yourself. You matter. It is lazy to say “yes” to everything. Why? Not being willing to clarify what is important to you makes it easy to say “yes” to everything. You are allowing someone else to dictate your priorities. You are spending your precious creativity and energy accomplishing
ARe you ready?
what is important to someone else. I do not know about you, but this is enough to make a person irritable, right? To live full out without regrets, take these steps: • Clarify what is important to you. What are your values? • Invest your time and energy in what really matters to you. • Do less but do it better. This is how you make your highest contribution. WARNING: You run the risk of annoying people who are accustomed to having you help them achieve their goals at the risk of neglecting yours. I can practically guarantee this will happen. Your happiness and fulfillment are an inside job. Your willingness to question the Wonder Woman myth frees you to experience more fulfillment and joy. No one can do it for you. And that is the good news. You have the power. You are in total charge of your beliefs and your actions. What is a must that supports what you value? What do you need to release that does not support this value? Do less but better (not perfect) in areas important in your life. Wonder Woman is a myth that does not serve you. Ann Elliott, a recovering perfectionist, is founder and president of The Berkana Company, which provides guidance to entrepreneurs to save money, create efficiencies, and improve profits.
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Book Review THE QUEENS OF ANIMATION:
The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History by Nathalia Holt In 1937, the year Walt Disney Productions released its groundbreaking feature-length animated film “Snow White,” the creative side of the studio’s production was almost exclusively the work of men. To be sure, more than a hundred women labored in the Ink and Paint Department, tracing and coloring the (male) animators’ drawings on the transparent cels that were photographed to make the animated film, but this could scarcely be deemed creative work. Nathalia Holt’s “The Queens of Animation” is the story of the pioneering handful of women who broke into the creative side of production at Disney. Along the way, they endured belittlement and only rarely received on-screen credit for their contributions. Among them were Bianca Majolie, who joined the story department in 1935 and played a key role in research and development for “Bambi,” “Pinocchio,” and “Dumbo”; Retta Scott, the first woman promoted to a full-time animator position; and Mary Blair, who served as the concept artist for many productions and the art director for “Cinderella.” Alongside the narrative of these women’s careers, Holt presents the fascinating story of the Disney studio’s rise and development. In the 1930s, it was the rough equivalent of a present-day Silicon Valley startup, innovating on the fly and occasionally with uncertain finances. The storyboard process, now standard to most film production, was developed at Disney, and the studio was an early adopter of technologies, such as the multiplane camera, which created a sense of depth in animation, and optical printing, which allowed the combination of live action with animation, as seen in films, such as “Mary Poppins.” Indeed, occasionally the history of Disney outstrips the story of the female animators as the book progresses, but the reader is left with a strong impression of the still undervalued contributions these women made to animation history. —Bland Lawson, Richland Library Business & Careers Department 6 |
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Finance
NOW WHAT?
Practical advice for finding financial certainty in uncertain times By Shelia Tutwieler-Dawkins
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he pandemic has certainly created an unprecedented level of change for everyone. As women, we have been challenged with a wide assortment of new and different roles while we continue to provide for our families. We have become secondary educators, social planners, and restaurateurs, just to name a few! Women in particular face a variety of social and economic inequities because of income loss due to companies downsizing, businesses closing, and industry shifts. Whether you are working for someone else or for yourself, now is the time to be honest, create a plan and work that plan to navigate these difficult financial times. Be Honest: This is an excellent time to look at your job situation and determine if your current profession is viable. Some industries are hurting because of COVID-19, like hotels, restaurants, travel, and retail. So, you may need to find a new vocation or strengthen your current skills. LinkedIn Learning and Google offer some excellent career path courses from becoming a customer service specialist to a digital marketing guru. Additionally, Udemy offers some low-cost courses (most courses cost less than $20), ranging from beginner to expert in various industries. Upgrading your skills can increase your chances of expanding your options; an expanded skill set is a great tool for now and the future. Create a Plan: Creating an effective plan begins with a clear purpose and goals. Your objectives should be specific and measurable, fit within your life plan and have definitive dates. Knowing what you want to achieve is essential. Can you routinely add new or additional
things to do in your schedule? Are you creating mini-tasks to keep yourself motivated? Do you have contingencies (Plan A, B, or C) if you need to adjust your original plan? An example of this would be “I want to increase my monthly income by $500 in the next three months by adding new skills to my resume.” Therefore, over the next 60 days, I will take three free courses to build my administrative skills, and I will reach out to three employment agencies to find new employment. By completing each course, you will have mini-gains to keep you motivated, and each step moves you closer to your destination. If your goal is to start a new business, the steps may be slightly different, but the approach is the same. Work the Plan to Survive Difficult Times: Over the next couple of months, look at your budget, tax implications and future endeavors. Reducing your expenses is the first step to improving your finances. Eliminating non-essentials can increase cash flow. If you received unemployment benefits, your tax liability might increase because unemployment is taxable unearned income that can decrease your earned income credit. On the other hand, if you decided to enroll in college, you may receive educational tax credits. If you owed taxes last year, this is an excellent time to talk to a tax professional about future endeavors. This year has been challenging, but the pendulum will move in an upward motion soon. Understanding where you are today and planning for tomorrow will give you purpose. It is possible to find financial certainty in uncertain times! Shelia Tutwieler-Dawkins is a manager at Clark Eustace Wagner, PA where she assists clients with tax and accounting needs. For more information email stutwielerdawkins@cewcpas.com.
Leadership
ABLE SOUTH CAROLINA
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law, not a suggestion By Kimberly Tissot
T
he disability community celebrates an Independence Day outside of July 4th. That day is July 26, 1990, the day President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. We call this our Independence Day because, for the first time, it provided Americans with disabilities equal access and rights in society. The ADA gave us the same rights that non-disabled people often take for granted, like the rights to live in the community, work in integrated environments, access public services and information and so much more. The ADA also provides rights to a wider range of people than many realize. The law protects anyone with physical, psychiatric, visual, hearing and/or intellectual disabilities as well as anyone with a health condition (like HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes or asthma). It also protects anyone with a record of having a disability, even if they currently do not, and anyone who is regarded as having a disability. All of this is to say that the ADA encompasses a large portion of the population (almost 20%, to be exact). While we have so much to celebrate every July 26, that celebration comes with a certain sting: people with disabilities still face discrimination every single day—from businesses, from employers, from healthcare providers and more. It’s easy to think that with the passage of a law, the work is done, that accessibility is resolved. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Many businesses and organizations discriminate against people with disabilities without even knowing it. That could look like a storefront with only a stair entrance or ramps so steep or
narrow, they do not comply with physical accessibility standards. That could be an employer refusing to accommodate an employee who needs adapted equipment to do their job effectively. That could be a press conference that does not include an American Sign Language interpreter or live-captioning. Discrimination also occurs with attitudes. People with disabilities are often judged solely by misperceptions of what others think we are capable of. What others don't know is that people with disabilities are capable of a lot when our rights to access and accommodations are respected. The problem isn’t our capabilities; it’s the barriers we face everywhere in society. This problem is two-fold: the ADA is only enforceable upon complaint (meaning someone has to notice that you are violating
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the ADA and report it to the Department of Justice); and many companies think accessibility is a suggestion or a luxury, not a basic human right. This line of thinking from noncompliant businesses and communities just perpetuates unfair stereotypes and normalizes the discrimination of disabled people. Claiming lack of awareness or knowledge of the ADA can no longer be an excuse for not adhering to it when it has been around for over 30 years. On the 30th anniversary of the ADA, the disabled community is saying, “Enough is enough.” Government, businesses and the community around us have had 30 years to respect our rights. Disability is one of the largest minority groups in the country, yet we struggle daily just to access the businesses and services we need to survive and thrive. We still have to fight daily to be seen as more than an inconvenience. Actually, it’s an inaccessible society that has been the inconvenience all along. Please think about accessibility as you go about your day. Once you start noticing barriers to access, you’ll start to see them everywhere. With awareness comes change. Change the world with us. Kimberly Tissot is the executive director of Able South Carolina. Learn more at able-sc.org.
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Silver Tones
Arming Yourself Against Ageism ➣ Learn the new technology. This is critical when interacting with younger employees.
AGE DISCRIMINATION By Sylvie Golod
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often say “life happens” when consulting women who are experiencing sudden, negative triggers that persistently tug at and ultimately pull the proverbial rug right out from under them. The pandemic is one trigger that we all have in common. Even prior to COVID-19 many people struggled with a job loss, unplanned retirement, hostile work environments, divorce, empty-nesting, illness, spousal deaths and/ or becoming a family caregiver. All these situations are compounded with health challenges and the additional hurdles of ageism and sexism. Whether trying to maintain present employment or pursue newly redesigned opportunities, be it fulltime, part-time and/or to supplement our income, the reality is that Silver Tone women face a daunting, uphill obstacle course. For example, a good friend of mine with an established work performance and reputation in corporate banking, garnered a position as vice president at the age of 53. No ageism and sexism barrier issue here within this male-dominated industry, right? Wrong. As my friend entered her early 60s, she
began noticing the signs, which began with not being seated on any of the bank’s new project committees. These roles were largely filled with younger employees who the bank thought needed grooming through new challenges and inclusion to take on future managerial roles. Then, inferred and unsubstantiated remarks regarding her performance goals began being directed to her. “I knew it was an attempt to encourage me to retire. I took an assertive yet professional approach and started documenting incidences in preparation to disprove the many unfounded allegations.” The opportunity to defend her case came during varied evaluation meetings, which included, at her insistence, the executive vice president. Her approach caught her superiors off guard because they underestimated her quiet manner as belonging to someone who would simply acquiesce rather than face confrontation. She remained with the company for 12 years, added value as one of the highest producers and eventually retired on her own terms. How ironic that the wisdom of an older woman in the workforce was a powerful remedy against ageism that resulted in respect. (Can you hear Aretha Franklin singing in the background?)
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➣ Be a mentor to younger co-workers. Since most of today’s business is done on the computer, the younger generation is eager to learn business development skills honed by their more mature peers. ➣ Interact socially on some level with all peers and coworkers. ➣ Communicate well with your manager(s) to stay abreast of the key issues going on with your employer and convey your ongoing contributions. ➣ Work on any weak areas pointed out in a performance review. ➣ Remain a top producer in all measurable categories. This is a powerful deterrent to ageism and serves you well if litigation results. ➣ Document your experiences so you have data to reinforce your evaluations. ➣ Consider starting your own business, preferably while you are still working in your industry.
Marketing
PROVING YOUR COMPETENCY
Here’s a simple tool for selling yourself or your company as perfect for the job
Compe tency G rid
Your N
ame
By Alysia Kehoe
N
ow more than ever, securing the bid, getting the project, or attracting the customer is crucial. So, how do you make your company rise to the top when it comes to customers looking for what will help them the most? Developing a competency grid can serve as your interview script that includes your Personal Positioning Statement. It tells the client what you do and how you do it better than the competition. As a strategic development coach, I help individuals do this when transitioning to a new career or trying to get a new job, but it also works when trying to win a project bid or a customer. How to develop your personal positioning statement Briefly write a sales pitch that accurately reflects who you are and what you or your company can offer a potential customer. This format, using the acronym PETS, should help you get started: •
Sample
Adaptab le p event co rofessional with Phone # experien ordinatin ce in g, construct Email ion to un team building, an marketing and o Li nk ed iversity liv ffice adm In Profile environm inistratio ing and le d process analys ent, find n is , with arnin ing cr . In Compe tencies eative solutions, an g communities. Stredustry experience expertise in d strategi ra ngths incl zing with ude crea nges from Event C diverse gr ting a po oordina sitive oups. ting Marketi Organized ng the compa display an ny’s boot HR/ d h Rese Culture Office arched ne golf tour giveaways at expo /Incenti naments w s, ad ve ev rtising, vizing aluated , and jo b fairs
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Created even Murder M ts like Jazz Night , ys Used soci and Kaya tery Dinner Party, al king on th and Face media like Twitte e Ri get 300 re r book to cr Created sidents m ver to eate bran awarenes an incent ore involved d s and draw ive system “Brownie on campu customer more , Points” / s s to com co m pa pe ny websi ted by ea Roommates Prepared te atte rn agendas, ing points ndance at presenta for events/c tion, room Cultivated lubs , and othe materials relationsh r fo over 200 ips with meetings r weekly team local insu Changed rance agencies the form at of mee in order Directed ti to make and coor meetings ngs and educ dinated th timely timing fo at ional e r the phot Customiz o commun ed brochu icating be shoots by res, flyer and othe tw multiple s, r handou Fostered photogra een ts to reac an d educat a positive phers an sport team h e d more B2 environm by creati 10 cont s at a tim B ng a ent acts e fr idge, whe “Proud Mom” Planned re positive events w re vi customer ews, com ith budget ranging fr pliments s om $50 to positive BS Degre , and othe $3,000 things on e in r team post Marketing Business ed / Responsi Marketing Studies focused bl e for on em Techniqu ployees at onboarding new es, Research Aided th photo sh , and Stra e lo hands-on oots with tegy Club in ho cal Toastmasters tr ai ni ng and st supervisin Helped bu recruiting ing an Open Hou g ild w se indow di event to catch splays peop Redesign draw them le’s attention an ing perfor d appr into the mance aisals to chocolat boutique make them e in France useful to more both em ployee an employer d Kehoe
Profession: “We are a _________________...” Consulta (State your profession, level or major area of nts LLC • alysia @kehoec onsultant focus.) s.com • www.keh oeconsul • Expertise: “ ... with expertise in _____________.” tants.co m • (List key functions and abilities.) • Types: "We have worked with_________________.” • (List types of organizations and industries you have worked with.) As seen in the example, the Competency Grid is only one page • Strengths: "Our strengths include with the Personal Positioning Statement on the top portion of the ____________________.” (List unique professional qualipage, followed by the grid. This is a visual that contains your quanties/accomplishments.) titative and qualitative stories in each grid block. When you hand this piece to a prospective client or hiring manager, they begin to ask Here’s an example of putting it all together: “We are a you questions off the grid, rather than the conventional interview family-owned business that has been in the community for 20 questions. Since you wrote the grid, it becomes your script for these years, specializing in technology services and repair. We have conversations, rather than depending on questions formed from a worked with major companies like IBM, Intel, and Computer brief scan of your resume. Because you already know the answers Sciences Corporation. We were recently featured in Fast Comto their questions, you can ace the conversation with the prospective pany magazine. Our strengths include listening to the client client or hiring manager. with laser focus, same day turnaround of customer calls, and Are you ready to reinvent your potential for attracting more solutions to your technical issues in hours instead of days.” customers? Try the using the Competency Grid. And let me know Once you have composed your Personal Positioning Statehow it goes. ment, work on the rest of your Competency Grid with Competency Headlines, success stories of satisfied customers, and a Alysia Kehoe is a strategic business coach and the author of Reinventing Yourself: nine-second verbal pitch of what you do best and how you can Transitioning into Your Passion, Purpose & Encore Career. Learn more about her help your customers meet their goals. and her book at kehoeconsultants.com facebook.com/TheFSuite | 9
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CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES • Length: 250 to 750 words. • Articles should be written in layman’s terms and free of industry jargon as much as possible. • Please include a suggested title, 1 to 2-line bio, and headshot. • We reserve the right to edit all submissions for content and length if necessary. Revised copy will be returned to the author for approval prior to publication. SUBMIT ARTICLES AT
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WHY IS MY COLLEGE ROOMMATE SELLING HERBALIFE?
A look at the decades-old relationship between working women and multilevel marketing By Haley Kellner
I
n the midst of putting together this article, a Facebook friend messaged me “Happy birthday.” I was surprised to say the least, given we’ve never spoken, but regardless, I thanked her. It wasn’t until she responded with a deal on her NuSkin products that I realized what was 10 |
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really going on. It’s a familiar scenario for most people these days–friends, family, and coworkers alike reaching out as distributors for Amway or Herbalife. Whatever product they’re hoping to sell, more often than not, it’s a woman behind the unexpected offer in your inbox. “Women and multilevel marketing
makes money by having a distributor do the leg-work of selling in their area, building a broader base of clientele. The trouble comes when MLM companies have questionable requirements of their distributors--large start-up costs, recurring fees, pressure to overbuy stock, and stress on recruiting others. That demand for recruitment creates the suspiciously pyramid-like structure, while also saturating the market. MLMs may not care. The more distributors, the more people buying product from the company. Even if there’s no one left to sell it to, the company’s money is already made. While these kinds of red flags serve as warnings, the testimonies of direct sales women themselves do the opposite. Kionna, a distributor for It Works! Global, had glowing reviews of her three years with the company, which became her main source of income after six months. “I went from working 55/60+ hours a week to ‘I sit down and work my business for two hours a day,’” she said, six days a week. Meanwhile, she says she gets to visit family whenever she wants, work with a supportive team and empower fellow women as clients and distributors. This kind of feminist rhetoric is common in the MLM biz, branding as a source of agency for women with promises like schedule flexibility and promotion opportunities. Why? They know there’s a market for it. Despite progress made, women still struggle to find equality in the workplace today, be it (MLM) companies have gone together since Tupperware and Mary Kay launched in the middle of the 20th century as ways for housewives to make money and get products to women in rural areas,” says Laura Richards of the Washington Post. Fast forward to today, and that relationship hasn’t dwindled. Women made up 74% of direct sales as of 2019, despite their now normalized presence in the office. More importantly, these statistics exist despite the common perception of MLM companies as scams. The internet is teeming with incriminating stories and statistics, including a cautionary page by the Federal Trade Commission. Most MLM distributors make little to no money, the site reads. Some even lose it. While their use of person-to-person or direct sales is what sets multilevel marketing companies apart, that’s not what causes distrust. Just like McDonald's makes more money by having local franchisers, an MLM
the wage gap, the promotion gap, expectations to bear a heavier domestic workload, or safety in the office. According to the Center for American Progress and 2018 census data, as of 2018, Hispanic and Latina women made $0.54 to the White man’s dollar, Black women made $0.62, and White women made $0.79. Meanwhile, despite holding 48% of entry-level positions, only 72 women are promoted for every 100 men, according to Marianne Cooper for CNN Business. Working women can’t even count on safety in the office. A minimum 25% of women experience workplace sexual harassment, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. One woman I spoke with actually left her job to join an MLM not long after being sexually assaulted by her boss. So why are women still investing themselves in potential scams, given the myriad opportunities afforded them? Maybe it has something to with these workplace inequalities still going strong. While many women put up with their boss’s misogyny or being overlooked for promotions, others, maybe tired or frustrated, might seek an escape from that disparity in an MLM’s bright, shiny promises. And it could be that seeing some of these basic needs better met in the workplace means less women ditching conventional jobs for a shot in the dark at something better.
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Inspirers
MAKING THEIR MARK AMONG MEN Three Columbia-area business women working successfully in male-dominated industries By April Blake, Haley Kellner and Julie Blevins Photographs by Tonya Palmer
e tend to marvel at girls who play on their high school football teams, women who fly fighter jets, and female astronauts and firefighters. They go head-to-head with men in ways that require strength and stamina not typically associated with women. But women often break ground working amid men in less visible male-dominated arenas, fighting stereotypes, misogyny and harassment, or simply working harder than their male colleagues to get ahead. Suzanne Brunnemer, Lasenta Lewis-Ellis, and Stephanie Vokral each achieved success among male peers in her own way.
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The Family Mann Suzanne Brunnemer might have started out as daddy’s little girl, but she’s now the Mann in charge at West Columbia’s Mann Tool and Supply. Brunnemer has been serving as the president of the power tool supply store since 2012 and is finally starting to feel like she’s truly in an executive role, despite growing up in her family’s business, one that has been around longer than she has been alive. Her grandfather started the business in 1944 as Mann Electric, and the company has morphed over the years as the family and the needs of the building community changed, and it has been family-owned and operated from the beginning. The company changed in the 1970s from being an exclusively motor-focused company, and since the 1990s has been about 50-50 electric motors and power tools. Brunnemer didn’t originally plan on going into the family business. In fact, she headed to college with plans to become a band director. “I found myself at work more than school, which is how I ended up here,” she said. “I changed my major to marketing and kind of created a role for myself here while still doing the menial tasks I always had.” Starting full-time at Mann Tool at the age of 22, she struggled a little bit with the transition from working for dad in the summers to supervising the same people who used to be her work buddies. “That,
The Construction Model Lasenta Lewis-Ellis entered the construction industry wanting to build her mother a home. It was her dream and, focused solely on the education needed to accomplish that dream, she says she didn’t really care about anything else. “I didn’t think about what that meant--being a woman or being a Black woman,” she says. “I just knew that it was something that I wanted to do.” So, she set out to do it, facing obstacles as they came, making space for herself where there wasn’t any. Lacking guidance and role models in the industry, Lewis-Ellis found mentors in books and workshops, by watching those she admired from afar. And when she struggled to find work despite having three college degrees, Lewis-Ellis created a job for herself. “I got tired of struggling and not having enough money to take care of my family,” she said. Rather than waiting for someone to recognize her skill set, Lewis-Ellis stepped out on faith to start her
of course, isn’t a gender-specific problem, but sometimes it’s hard for people to take someone’s little girl seriously, whether it’s from a coworker or a client relationship,” Brunnemer said. Being taken seriously was one of the few bumps in the road on her way to becoming president of the company, but she pointed out that sometimes confidence comes with age and wisdom. “My dad never told me I’d have to work harder [than a man] to succeed in this business,” she said. These days, you can find Brunnemer in a wide variety of roles around the business, even out on the sales floor discussing the specs of a chainsaw with a customer. But mostly she spends her days using her marketing degree to work on the website, digital projects, anything IT and social media. She also oversees the accounting function of the business, and has a big role in purchasing products and interacting with vendor reps. Mann Tool is still very much a family affair, too. In addition to continuing the family business herself, she has a cousin who will be her successor down the line, and her husband serves as the general manager. “He treats me like a rock star, and makes sure I can just get to work,” she said. “He’s a huge support to me.” One big thing that Brunnemer feels she brings to the company now is her unique leadership style and her commitment to constructing a company culture where every employee recognizes that they can do anything they set their minds to. “I can’t pin down if it’s gender-related or generational — in Dad’s generation, gratitude for a job well-done was a paycheck at the end of the week, and career fulfillment wasn’t thought of like we do today,” she said. “As a woman, it’s important to me to be satisfied in the workplace, and I want my people to want to come to work every day and be just as satisfied when they go home.”
own business. Today, LLE Construction Group, LLC provides general contracting, project management and facility maintenance throughout the community, working mainly with local school districts and more recently on residential projects. Lewis-Ellis became the business leader she is today by facing these challenges, and she wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. But she doesn’t see why those new to the field shouldn’t benefit from lessons she’s already learned. While other professionals seem to shrug at those struggling alone, Lewis-Ellis believes, “It’s okay to share those mistakes with other people, so that they don’t go down that same path.” Support like this is key to the future Lewis-Ellis envisions for the construction industry. A world where competitors become collaborators, where large companies work with small businesses without extra incentives, and where women are welcomed and supported. It’s a vision Lewis-Ellis sees not only as realistic, but beneficial to the community as a whole, given that businesses working together can better offer the best services possible. Once again, Lewis-Ellis isn’t waiting for this dream to magically appear. She leads by example, and she enlists other women to do the same. Already, she says, the few women in construction support one another. “We give each other advice. We call each other to see how we're doing.” And for every woman she’s mentored, Lewis-Ellis hopes a trickle-down effect has begun, building on itself “until eventually we have a good collaborative community” for all.
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Financial Fitness Stephanie Vokral, founder of The Financial Knot and a certified financial planner, knows money. “What I didn’t know at the time of my divorce in 2004 was ‘divorce money’ and how divorce impacts your future,” she said. Vokral has been a licensed financial advisor since 1998 and spent the last seven years focusing on helping clients navigate the financial complexities of divorce. She has completed a specialized educational program in professional divorce analysis as a certified divorce financial analyst practitioner. She evaluates the tax implications of dividing property and the financial impact of various settlement options for dividing marital property. She can assist clients in completing their Financial Declaration, assist in mediation, advise on property settlement issues, and more. Early on in her career, Vokral’s father, who was a stockbroker, encouraged her to choose a financial career at a time when the field was dominated by males. “I wanted to help people,” she said. She faced significant resistance from men early in her career, dealing with everything from blatant sexual harassment to a branch manager who clearly did not want women in an advisor role and actively prevented them from opportunities to advance. Today, her expertise is not questioned. “I’m here to help women during transitions like divorce,
retirement, death of a spouse or a job change,” said Vokral. “If a woman has not been the CFO spouse during her marriage, she may be blindsided by the decisions she must make,” said Vokral. While the majority of her clients are women, Vokral also works with couples as a financial neutral to settle their financial affairs amicably. “We are dedicated to providing a kinder process for all involved, particularly children. My divorce gave me a passion for families going through divorce and helping them survive it financially. Empowering my clients is rewarding work.” She also aims to keep more money in her client’s pocket instead of wasting money on the litigation process. “In the end, it all comes down to negotiating. The goal is to keep both parties at the table to help them avoid prolonged litigation, if possible.” Vokral recognizes that women are emotionally overwhelmed during divorce and are reluctant to reach out to a financial professional. “The perception is that you have to understand your financial picture and be able to communicate it, but you do not. It is our job to gather the data and advise. Women can also be uncomfortable discussing fees and money. We understand because we are women. We help our clients navigate these discussions with grace,” said Vokral. “A woman should consult an attorney to understand her rights, but they are not always the best party to negotiate your finances. Hiring a CDFA and/or a CFP to help protect youself financially is a wise decision. It is not the role of your attorney to tell you how the decisions in your divorce will affect your financial future. These decisions can impact women for the rest of their lives. We provide advice on what assets will assist them the most to meet their goals.” You can learn more about Stepanie Vokral at thefinancialknot.com.
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Inspirers
PHILIPS AUTOMOTIVE
This father-daughter team is having its best year in the company’s history By Carolyn Culbertson Photographs by Sally Scott
W
hen Nicole Rountree was in college, she went home for a visit, jacked her car up, and learned to do an oil change. Dub Rountree, her dad, says her college friends thought he was “the worst dad in history” because he owned a car dealership and made her change the oil herself. But Dub’s point wasn’t to embarrass Nicole, it was to make sure she knew the basics of the everyday heavy machinery that so many of us take for granted. “I treated her no different than
I did my son. I can tell you one thing about Nicole right now,” he says. “She doesn’t need to rely on anybody for anything.” Dub is the sole owner of Philips Motor Company Inc., a car dealership and service center on Two Notch Road that has been locally owned and operated since 1983. When Dub retires, Nicole will take over ownership of the business. He has complete confidence in her. “If I leave this world this afternoon, I know she’s got this,” he says. Nicole started in the car business at a franchise dealership on Greystone Boulevard and became the number one salesperson after a year. The company sent her to finance school and moved her to Raleigh, where she worked as finance manager. After a short stint returning to the dealership on Greystone, Nicole was then moved to Alabama where she worked as a used car manager for two and a half years. Nicole spent time honing knowledge and experience in the automotive franchise business so she could circle in on her home base, like a plane making tighter and tighter circles as it prepares to land. She accepted a position selling cars at Philips Auto in 2017. Even though 85% of all car buying decisions are influenced by women, only 7% of all top dealership positions are held by women, according to a study by CDK Global. This includes front-line dealership management, sales, and service advisor jobs. Nicole faced the gender-specific challenges to be expected by any woman in a field where she is outnumbered by men. In her franchise jobs, her male counterparts made up rumors that she only did well because she smiled to get what she wanted, got special treatment because she was a woman, and slept her way to the top — nasty talk meant to rob Nicole of the accomplishments she had earned on her own merit. “The fact of the matter was, we didn’t have to be at work till 9 and I was at work at 7:30 walking the service lane, talking to everybody, making sure I did what I needed to, and then I went into my sales manager's office and practiced how to talk to people, practiced techniques on how to sell properly. And then I went to the sales meeting that started at 9. So they didn’t see the extras I put in,” Nicole says. As someone who has spent his entire profacebook.com/TheFSuite | 15
fessional career in the automotive industry, Dub says he has seen very few women interested in working on and selling cars. With the nationwide shortage of mechanics widening each year and the knowledge that women can do the same things men can, Dub believes women who take advantage of opportunities in the industry can reap great rewards. “In this industry, it is a strength to be a woman. You have power,” Dub says. “Whether it’s working the books, whether it’s selling cars, whether it’s buying cars, whether it’s fixing cars, writing up cars, washing cars– every position in this industry is wide open for female occupation.” So if there are opportunities for the
taking, how do you get more women through the garage doors? Nicole thinks it will take one step at a time. “It’s going to take women that are already in the business who can get another woman in the business and another woman in the business. It’s going to be a cycle and a long cycle before you can have more women,” she says. Although few women aspire to work in the car business, those who do tend to be very successful, and Nicole is proof of that. She is smart, self-sufficient and persistent. Influencing each other’s opinions, she and her dad make a harmonious team alongside the rest of the Philips staff, several of whom have worked for the company for more than 25 years. In 2020 — the year
so uniformly devastating that some people carved its digits into pumpkins as a Halloween scare — Philips Automotive had its best year in company history. “The proof ’s in the pudding. Okay, Nicole came in 2017. We’re sitting in 2020. We’re having our best year ever,” Dub says. Nicole has no time to gloat about her success. She plans to pay her good fortune forward to anyone who is aching to break into the car industry. “I want them to be able to grow as individuals, I want them to grow with their money, I want them to just continue to grow and get better and better,” Nicole says. “That’s the only way to stay successful in this world is to teach the person underneath you that’s willing to learn.”
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Marketing
MARKETING THROUGH A PANDEMIC
Budget-friendly ways to boost awareness of your business, products and services By Martie Cowsert Streit
M
ost companies, large and small, have some sort of marketing plan. Some plans are formal and rigid while others, most common to small business, are casual and often consist of ad hoc activities following an as-it-comes-up approach. Large or small, formal
Vehicle/ Channel Suited For
or casual, all businesses have adjusted their plans this year as we continue to navigate the unprecedented conditions under which we operated in 2020. While reconfiguring a marketing strategy presents its challenges, for some local businesses it has opened doors to new opportunities that include new ways of doing business—new vehicles of communication, new channels, new revenue streams—and as a result they have discovered simpler, less expensive ways of marketing their products and services. Several examples of how some in South Carolina have adapted during the pandemic were included in the previous issue (“COVID-19: How Local Businesses Have Pivoted,” Fall 2020). Below is a general guide to marketing channels and activities that businesses can take advantage of at little or no cost that can help boost traffic, create awareness about the business, products or services, and even provide additional sales avenues. This Small Business Guide to Marketing is not only relevant during a pandemic. In today’s digital world small business owners will want to regularly engage in some or all of these activities even in a thriving business climate.
Content Type
Success Measurement
Expenses
All Businesses
Description of business, product & service offerings, sales & promotions, team profiles, location & hours
# of clicks – Google Analytics is free to use with your website to analyze traffic, behavior and demographics # of Sales if conducting business through the site
Domain name & host You can find no-cost templates that can be tailored or purchase premium designs, widgets and plugins. Look for the free ones first – they may suit your needs!
COLLATERAL
All Businesses
High-level information about company and offerings
When made digitally available or promoted online, number of clicks and downloads
If hard copies are needed: professional printing, copy paper, printer, ink
PRESS RELEASES
All Businesses
Communication of topics of interest to general public or targeted group of readers
Number of media pickups
No cost if business writes and submits to media PR firms charges $20,000 or more per year for this service
All Businesses
Information about products, services, company – with a call to action
Number of opens/reads and responses to calls to action
Marketing automation applications start at ~$100 per month.
Corporations
Awareness about company, products, services and promotions
Number of engagements and/ or responses to calls to action
No cost to establish a business page
All Businesses
Quick-hit communications
Number of engagements and/ or responses to calls to action
No cost to establish a business page
All Businesses
Photos of products, promotion announcements
Engagement volume through likes, comments and follow
No cost to establish a business page
All Businesses
Videos to demonstrate products, tell about company and/or service offerings
Number of views, likes and shares
No cost to establish a
All Businesses
Photos of products, promotion announcements
Number of views, likes, shares and responses to calls to action
No cost to establish a business page
Businesses targeting the millennial and younger generations
Short informational videos about products, services, promotions
Number of views, likes and shares, sales
No cost to establish a business account
Best marketing available because it is generally achieved by making customers happy!
Congratulations – your customers are happy and marketing for you!
No cost
INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE FACEBOOK SNAPCHAT/ TIKTOK
SOCIAL MEDIA
WEBSITE
WORD OF MOUTH All Businesses
business channel
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Leadership
WHAT'S THE COLUMBIA CHAMBER DOING FOR ME?
Thoughts from a chamber executive By Henri Baskins
Historic Highlights of the Columbia Chamber 1917: A group of local businessmen on behalf of the Columbia Chamber raised $50,000 to purchase a tract of land to be used in a future Army installation base. That land is now called Fort Jackson. Why does this matter? Today, Fort Jackson has an economic impact of $2.1 billion in the greater Midlands area. This is transformative for our area and the Chamber leadership saw that potential more than 100 years ago. 1938: The Columbia Chamber
A
t this point, it’s a known fact that we are living in a historic period of time. Businesses of all sizes are becoming accustomed to working and staying afloat during this pandemic. Getting outside of our comfort zone is becoming normal. Likely, many of us now have space in our wardrobes for a collection of masks. The overarching question is: what lessons have we learned (personally and professionally) that will help us be better leaders and more effective communicators? Recently, we queried attendees of the Columbia Chamber’s Small Business Council and Northeast Connection breakout session. Here’s a sampling of what they said: “We need to leverage the Chamber to bring agencies together for the sake of small businesses. We need to hold people accountable to work together for the good of the members. Facilitating working together to grow businesses, especially the small ones, is what it’s all about.” “There is so much information in Columbia and at the Chamber, that people can come and get the information they need from the Chamber to share with others and keep things moving.” “Utilizing the services and information of the chamber is one thing, but being involved with the Chamber is phenomenal. The connections I have made through the Chamber are invaluable to my growth.” The Columbia Chamber was formed in 1902 and the general premise of why chambers of commerce exist has fundamentally remained unchanged. What has changed, and must continue to change, is the “how” chambers serve their members. We unpack that for you and mix in some local flavor in the sidebar. Chambers throughout history have helped small businesses weather the storm… whatever storm comes our way. This has not, and will not, change. We will continue the fight for legislation that impacts business. We’re at the table to be the “unified voice of business” so that you can focus on running your business. As we prepare for 2021, our thoughts for our valued business community are this: • Be willing to take a leap of faith. • Trust in yourself. • Trust in us. • Be optimistic. We invite you to join us in creating a prosperous and healthy time ahead. Visit us to learn more at columbiachamber.com. Henri Baskins is the executive vice president of the Columbia Chamber. Her passion for business and strategic planning guides her role here at the Chamber where she provides managerial and public policy direction. 18 |
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suggests establishing the Columbia Zoo. It was 36 years later in 1974 that Riverbanks Zoo first opened its gates. How’s that for vision?
1964: The “Committee of 50,” a biracial advisory group designed to promote interracial understanding and ease of transition towards an integrated society, was born out of the Chamber. This committee organized formally as the Greater Community Relations Council (CRC) which is still in existence today. CRC promotes harmony, mutual respect and justice through dialogue, education, programs and resources. 2020: We are living through one
of the worst pandemics in history. Nearly eight months ago most businesses were forced, rather abruptly, to work remotely. The Columbia Chamber pivoted as well to provide helpful information virtually. We held 15 Impact Webinars led by subject matter experts on topics like “Labor issues surrounding the coronavirus” or “5 things to do to be effective selling during and after COVID-19.” Our president and CEO, Carl Blackstone, started a “Coffee with Carl” where Partners could gather virtually to talk, ask questions and hear the latest news that we were hearing. To date, he has held 30 episodes.
Entrepreneurship
FINISH STRONG IN 2020
Our job is to make you look good!
and get a good jumpstart on 2021 By Karen R. Jenkins
E
ntrepreneurs and small businesses are facing unprecedented times. We’ve always faced various challenges and leveraged our commitment, tenacity and resilience to succeed. These times are no different and will require the same level commitment and then some. Despite all the challenges we have faced in 2020, we can finish strong and get a strong jumpstart in 2021. This requires acknowledging the changing landscape. Changes occur in our lives every day. Most are so subtle that we barely notice them. When we are faced with significant change, fear normally causes us to pause or deter our forward movement. Adapting to change is a critical component to our success. It is within our human nature to resist change. And what we resist will persist. Our ability to recognize that change is inevitable, particularly during a crisis, will allow us to create the required pivots and actions needed to ensure our survival. Today we find ourselves reacting to the COVID-19 crisis. Our ability to strategize and plan positions us to be responsive to these changes versus reacting to them. How do we effectively adapt to change? Assess your current environment In every crisis, new needs arise that must be filled. Although your previous offerings may have become obsolete or limited, you may find that an even bigger opportunity is available for you to embrace. The key is to monitor your environment and stay in touch with your clients and the community at large. Listen to what they are saying. Determine what challenges they are now facing and note what solutions you can provide to meet their needs. There are endless possibilities for those who are open to embracing the challenges and finding the opportunities within them. Identify what you need to start, stop and/or continue After doing an assessment, identify what you need to start doing that you were not doing in the past. Identify those things that you were doing in the previous environment that you need to stop doing going forward. Know what things that you must continue to be successful. This is all part of your planning process that will position you for success going forward. Develop your strategy With your new mindset to embrace change, the assessment of your environment and your plans of what you need to start, stop and continue, you are now ready to lay out your plans for the future. This plan will need to include your vision. Identify where you see yourself going in the next six to 18 months. List specific goals that you need to accomplish in order to achieve your vision. How will you know if you are on track to accomplishing your goals? Be sure to include key performance measures so you can gauge your success along the way. Keep in mind that your mindset will dictate your reality. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” Karen R. Jenkins is the president and CEO of KRJ Consulting, a full-service consulting firm providing companies and their employees with the skills and resources to become more committed to their performance, empowered to affect change and be prepared for the journey ahead.
COPYWRITING EDITING PROOFREADING WRITING COACH
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Owned
2REDPENSEDITING@ GMAIL.COM
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Marketing
amount, not a number. Despite this modern-day distinction between less and fewer, Merriam-Webster's points out that English speakers and writers have been known to use less for countable nouns as long as the language has been in existence. Webster's also notes that a few uses of less for countable nouns are widely accepted even today, such as in the expressions “an essay of 250 words or less” and “one less worry.” More often we hear “one less thing to worry about.” Very few of us would say “one fewer worry” or “one fewer thing to worry about,” especially in informal situations. Somewhere along the way, the idea that we should use fewer for countable nouns took hold, and now most style books advocate the use of fewer to mean “not as many” and less to mean “not as much.” Read the full article at getitwriteonline.com/articles/ less-or-fewer/.
TEST YOURSELF
LESS OR FEWER?
Count on these tips for reducing errors in quantifying quantities By Dr. Nancy Tuten
W
e need to look no farther than the express check-out lane at many grocery stores to see a common example of this usage confusion: should the sign welcome patrons with “10 items or fewer” or “10 items or less”?
Keeping these two adjectives straight isn't difficult once we understand the difference between them and recognize a few exceptions. Fewer describes nouns that can be counted: We say “fewer people attended the meeting” and “the report contains fewer pages” because we can count people and pages. A brand of chips has “fewer calories,” not “less calories,” because calories can be counted. Less describes nouns that cannot be counted: Food and beverage items will advertise “less calories” but should instead tout “fewer calories” (though fewer calories often result in less taste). We say that a certain beer is “less filling” or that we have “less water in the bucket” because filling and water cannot be counted. In both cases, we are talking about an 20 |
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1.
mistakes on the test
2.
deductions on his tax return
3.
room for error
4.
cause for alarm
5.
money
6.
dollars
7.
time
8.
days
9.
problems
10.
headaches
Answers: fewer = 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10
Your words matter when marketing through web content, emails, newsletters and social media posts. Every issue of The F-Suite offers writing tips to add to your professional toolbox.
Which word, less or fewer, is the better choice in front of these words?
Adjust Your Sails
ANIMAL ASSUAGEMENT
Magical furry and feathered ways to cope with winds of change By Karen Campbell
F
Photo: Maria Wooten
or many of us, pets are family. By and large, businesses accommodate them, parks cater to them and yoga classes include them. Animal-assisted therapies can be used in PTSD rehabilitation, patient recovery, aiding those with special needs and in providing emotional support. Literature dating back to the ninth century and recent studies confirm the positive effects that these charmed pets and creatures have on our wellness. It seems they possess a sorcery, able to cast a spell of unconditional love and calm during periods of anxiety, depression, loss and uncertainty. Even in good times, they remain willing and ready to offer affection and companionship. It’s well documented that our beloved dogs and cats—the most common pets—help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and loneliness, and elevate mood. But, abracadabra, even a tank full of fish may have hocus-pocus! This non-threatening, hypnotic stimulus can elicit calm. Studies have found that aquarium-watching can reduce stress and anxiety, increase relaxation and decrease heart rate and muscle tension. These benefits apply to contained domestic reptiles, too, which may offer appeal to those who have (furry) pet allergies. The more time spent indoors, the more depressed and anxious we can become. Masks, mandates and being relegated to our homes
may have created situational depression, and this calls for a little magic. Take the reins and head to greener pastures. “Horses have a sixth-sense. They recognize and adapt to us as if we’re part of their herd. Riding can provide a very relaxing relationship, and it’s a great way to unwind and have fun with these gentle animals,” said University of South Carolina Head Equestrian Coach Boo Major. She suggests lessons or trail riding, especially for beginners. If saddling up isn’t for you, birdwatching provides a change of scenery, and an opportunity to connect with nature and activate your mind. Research shows people who interact with nature and who have the ability to watch birds also have a lower risk of depression, stress and anxiety. The same applies to butterfly watching. Apparently, wings even disperse a bit of magic dust. If you can’t own a pet, don’t fret. Even without a pet at home, there are ways to be enchanted by our non-human pals. Consider volunteering at a local shelter, offering to pet sit, visiting the zoo or a park, arriving early to a dental appointment to be mesmerized by the fish tank or simply patronizing a local pet store to sit a spell. A little pet therapy can relieve stress, maintain calm, and help us adjust our sails when the wind does not blow our way. facebook.com/TheFSuite | 21
Attitudes & Etiquette
MAKING THE MOST OF QUARANTINE Use your time wisely and turn lockdown into learning By April Blake
T
here are plenty of reasons to be anxious in the year 2020 (and into 2021 as well) during this pandemic-lockdown-quarantine-social distancing phase of our collective lives. Many people are freaking out, and some are turning to self-care and comfort activities, while others are learning new skills and expanding their brains. I’m engaging in a range of all three, depending on the week — or day or minute. But the one truth I know is that I have a little more free time on my hands, thanks to working from home. Removing commutes, lunch breaks, coworker chitchat, and even just getting dressed up for work offers me more time on my hands and greater mental capacity. Home is not a bad place to be, so instead of scrolling through Pinterest looking for directions on how to make macarons, I’ve decided to expand my work skills. In a world where nothing is certain, your own knowledge is something you can count on. This decision to improve myself came 22 |
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about when I was indulging in a little anxiety about having to ever go back to an office and wear hard pants. Many places are making remote the new norm, but many traditional, non-tech companies are saying “when,” not if, about returning to the office. Even if your goal isn’t to be able to stay in a work-fromhome position, you probably want to earn more next year, right? Move into a more challenging role when it comes along, be promoted, or even start your own company? All of these scenarios involve learning things you didn’t know before. You know when the best time to learn new things is? When you’ve got a clearer mental outlook because you aren’t stuck in traffic for 1/12th of your day. Deciding what to learn is going to depend on what you want to do and what you need to learn to get there. Be honest with yourself and be ready to do some free thinking with no inhibitions. Do you desire a certain lifestyle? A new salary level, or simply an air of influence, perhaps? Do you need to learn accounting to keep proper books for your future company because you definitely lack
that skill? Thinking critically about yourself isn’t criticizing yourself, so take some time to think creatively about yourself, your lifestyle and how you want it to evolve. Maybe cracking open a beer at your desk at 3 p.m. is part of that lifestyle. Dream however you want about how you want to live. For most of us, living includes working. The internet is chock full of ways to learn once you’ve narrowed down your needs. Richland Library offers its cardholders access to Lynda.com classes, or you can purchase a subscription directly. Google has and is creating tons of programs, including project management and digital marketing certifications you can add to your resume. Do 15-minute increments each day on Duolingo to brush up on your elementary school Spanish language skills. You can learn other non-desk related skills too—my friend, who lives alone, taught herself to recreate her entire kitchen from plumbing to tiling and cabinet-making from resources on YouTube. Look at the plethora of ways that the world is at your fingertips. If you sometimes point your mouse to educational resources instead of Netflix, you might find yourself emerging from a strange year into a new version of yourself.
Women in Business Directory ALEXANDRA'S CAFÉ & ART This gem is an all-in-one café/art studio offering art classes and works by local artists. A tranquil place for coffee and art lovers.
803-724-2771 cafeartcola.com
LIFETIME INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC We protect your family and business with personal insurance products such as life, income protection, health and long-term care insurance.
803-781-9173 ltins.com
MODERN EXTERMINATING COMPANY, INC. Full-service pest control serving the greater Columbia, SC area. We offer pest, termite, and mold/ moisture solutions for residential and commercial property. 803-765-2315 @ModernExterminating SPA 131 The Midland’s premier day spa destination offers massage, skin care, hair removal, lash & brow, and spray tanning services.
803-251-9400 spa131.com
Spotlighting women-owned businesses in our community .... To find out how your business can be included in the WIB Directory, email info@thefsuite.com.
KEHOE CONSULTANTS
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843-655-3895 kristinaparelladesign.com
LLE CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC MANN TOOL & SUPPLY, INC.
We create environment-friendly spaces where people want to learn, live, work and play.
Offering a full line of major brand-name power tool and woodworking equipment, accessories and construction supplies. Ask about our demos and classes!
803-608-0035 LLEconstructiongroup.com
MPA STRATEGIES Our creative approach to public relations services includes S T R A T E G I E S community advocacy, digital marketing, media relations, membership services, grant writing and social media management.
MPA
mpastrategies.com @mpastrategies
803-252-7777 manntools.com
SEMINOLE CANDLE COMPANY Our custom, private label and signature natural candles are hand poured using renewable soy wax to provide a healthy, clean, long-burning, highly fragrant experience.
seminolecandlecompany.com @seminolecandlecompany
SUNRISE ARTISAN BATH & BODY The natural ingredients in our soaps, bath bombs, body butters and more make your bath experience a memory!
803-939-2245 Sunrisebath.com
TAMB FITNESS A women-specific fitness studio. We transform and empower women through fitness and nutrition, locally and online. 803.528.3407 tambfitness.com facebook.com/TheFSuite | 23
FOR TIMES WHEN THE JOB REQUIRES A MANN Specializing in power tool and accessory sales, Mann Tool offers a full line from many major namebrand power tool and woodworking equipment manufacturers. To complement our tool and equipment selection, Mann offers woodworking and construction supplies, lumber and other wood products, plus classes and demos in woodworking and wood turning. SC ’s Lar g est Independently Ow ned Tool Store
Women
Owned
802 Chris Drive W. Columbia | manntools.com | sales@manntools.com | 803-252-7777 | 800-356-6266
