This light and lovely fabric is the most feminine yet sexy essential you can wear for both work and SASSY it up for a night out! Take one of these tops and tuck them into a pair of work appropriate pants or a skirt and throw on a cropped or boyfriend cardigan in a different color for coverage. When it’s time to clock out, let the lace show and take off your skin covering topper and throw on a pair of fabulous heels . . . it’s cocktail time!





Animal Instinct

These ferocious prints are SO essential for the end of Summer into the Fall season! The best thing about this style is that it can be made casual or SEXY! For the workday, pair these prints with a black skirt, trouser shorts, or skinny/bootcut black pants. Throw on a cropped jacket, button-up sweater or even a darker denim jacket to complete the look. Once again, take the cover-up off for night, add some statement jewelry such as a bangle or stacked cuffs and work it!





Black or Dark Denim Skinnys

Black skinny pants are slimming and sophisticated to wear to work or any special occasion. They look best when worn with a patent or peeptoe heel and a tucked-in blousy or flowy top. If you love denim and you want them to work as a two-in-one, opt for a dark denim to give off a dressier vibe. Sometimes these can even be passed off as black pants, but have the comfort and durability of denim!





Stacked with Glam

Bangles are a MUST HAVE for this Fall and no, just one will not do! Stack em’ and stack them high. Mix and match different styles, widths, and metals to create the ultimate arm candy! These are toned down enough for the work place and played up enough for after a long hard day. You can also wear just one or two for day and slip on a few extra on your way out!





fred Boutique
Downtown Milwaukee
522 N Water Street
414.270.1009
**Online Store Opening in September!!

No math nerd here. For Danica, it’s all about busting down those societal stereotypes that limit a woman’s possibilities. Her latest book project, Hot X: Algebra Exposed! helps girls conquer their fears of math, empowering them to be anything and everything they want to be. We recently had a chance to chat with the “thinking girl’s role model” about the book . . . and balancing it all.

bizMe: Hot X: Algebra Exposed! tackles the most feared of all math classes. Sexy can be defined a lot of different ways, but what is so “hot” about polynomials and quadratic equations?

Danica: Besides the fact that knowing math helps us gals find the best sales while shopping, studying math is like going to the gym for your brain; it makes you smarter and gives you the confidence from feeling smart. That kind of confidence is a wonderful gift that girls and women can give themselves. The book is geared for 13-15 year olds because that’s mostly who’s studying algebra, but the skills I teach in the book are helpful for young women of all ages. They’ll feel capable, self-assured, and strong. And that’s sexy.

bizMe: You’ve said one of your main authoring messages is to promote “smart as sexy.” How did that become an important mantra for you?

Danica: Girls are inundated with messages from billboards, magazines, reality TV and more, telling them that they will be valued for their beauty and not much else. And with these damaging stereotypes all around them, girls grow up believing that in order to be fit and fabulous, they need to be ditzy—or worse—sluts!

So girls end up dumbing themselves down because they think that’s the only way to be like all those women they admire from TV. But the opposite is true: The smarter you are, the better life decisions you will make, and the more confident and happy you will be, which enables you to better fulfill your dreams, whatever they might be. I love empowering girls with my books by teaching them how to be both smart and fabulous!

bizMe: In writing your three best-selling math books (Congratulations!), you’ve done a lot of research asking girls how they feel about being smart. What did you discover?

Danica: What was most amazing to me was how girls answered the question: “What do you think of smart girls, and what do you think of dumb girls?” I conducted this particular survey while writing my first book, Math Doesn’t Suck. Almost all the girls said the same thing: “There’s no such thing as dumb girls; they’re just pretending to be dumb.” This blew me away; I mean, these were 12-year-olds! It made me that much more dedicated to show girls that they don’t have to dumb themselves down.

In my second book, Kiss My Math, I dedicate a whole section to us gals not dumbing ourselves down for guys, and it required me to really do some soul searching. Why are we so legitimately tempted to do this sometimes? What can we do instead, to achieve the same result of guys feeling smart around us, without short-changing ourselves? I’ve had so many emails from young women thanking me for that discussion; it’s just so important for all of us, and it’s a dangerous temptation that continues for most of us women through adulthood.

bizMe: You are a summa cum laude graduate of UCLA and the co-author of a groundbreaking mathematical theorem (The Chayes-McKellar-Winn Theorem). Were there any moments in your own life where you felt pressure to play down your intelligence?

Danica: I never felt pressure to play down my intelligence, but I did encounter more than a few people who assumed I wouldn’t be smart because I didn’t look the part. In the ninth grade, my science teacher expressed surprise at my high score on our first test, saying I seemed more like a “C” student. When I asked why, the teacher responded, “I don’t know, you just seem so outgoing and wear such big earrings.” It really fired me up. I thought, “I’ll show her!” Yes, the teacher was a woman.

bizMe: In Hot X you talk about why it’s important to break down the destructive, pigeonholing stereotypes we create for ourselves. What advice would you give to a recent college grad on how to show the world she’s smart, she’s savvy and she’s got it all together?

Danica: Remember how important it is to keep working on the entire package. Keep improving yourself, and put your best foot forward. Most people in this world are reluctant to really work hard, so when you do, you’ll stand out. And remember, when you’re interviewing for a job, that new boss will size you up in about 10 seconds, so confidence and a smile to match your new outfit is a must! How do you get confidence? From actually being prepared for that interview. Research the person interviewing you, research the company, and know that what have to offer them. Go get ’em, sister!

bizMe: What’s the key to balancing your fun-glamorous-girly side with your successful-math whiz-girl empowering side?

Danica: For me, it’s about embracing the “me” that best suits the occasion. When I’m writing my books, I don’t wear makeup and high heels, but I sure do when I’m out at a book signing or on an acting job! It’s really fun to go back and forth between the discipline of writing math books to the glamour of acting and celebration of promoting my books.

bizMe: In addition to acting, writing and solving complex equations, what other hobbies, issues or causes get you excited?

Danica: There are so many causes I care about: the environment, children’s welfare, and more. I spend most of my time focused on the cause of education though, because I know I can really contribute in a unique way.

In terms of hobbies, I love yoga; it’s my favorite way to exercise. In fact, I like yoga so much that my mom and I created a yoga/meditation DVD called Daily Dose of Dharma. Yoga and meditation really help to center my body and mind in the midst of what can be a really busy schedule! It’s truly a lifesaver for a multi-tasking gal like me.

See everything Danica’s up to at www.danicamckellar.com.

No, Katy’s not a secret agent. She’s not crunching bad guys, just numbers. But she is hiding a major secret—one which, if discovered, could crumble the walls of protection she’s carefully built: Katy has bulimia.

You’d never know anything was wrong by looking at her. Katy dresses stylishly, with her makeup impeccably applied. Her cheeks are rosy, she’s not obscenely thin, and she’s a diligent worker. Lately, though, the stress of keeping her secret hidden is starting to take a toll. Katy’s supervisor recently asked her if something was going on in her personal life, as he’d noticed her taking more time than usual to complete her assignments.

“I didn’t know what to tell him,” she sighs. “When I first started here, I had it all under control. I’ve lived with this condition for so long, that I’m real good at hiding the signs. I eat normally, so even when we have team meetings or whatever, no one would look at me twice or assume I had an eating disorder. All I need to do is run to the ladies’ room every now and then, and what’s strange about that, right?” Unfortunately, at the start of her second year with the company, a coworker overheard her purging in the restroom, and asked if she was okay. Katy was so embarrassed, she couldn’t think of a quick cover. “I know I should have just said lunch didn’t agree with me, but I got really flustered, and I’m sure I acted like a weirdo about it all. And since then, I feel like this woman is always watching me . . . staring at me, looking up from her cubicle every time I get up to go to the bathroom . . . I can’t stand it. It’s making it all worse, because the more I feel watched, it triggers my disorder, and I start obsessing . . . I know it’s started interfering with my work, but I don’t know what to do about it.”

Katy’s therapist advised her to talk to her employer, explaining that there are laws protecting her against discrimination for mental disease. At least if her boss knew she had a legitimate problem, the therapist argued, he would be more understanding and not assume she was just slacking off. “I see where she’s coming from, but I work in a very male-dominated company; I think this would just be one more reason for them not to take me seriously. I’m sure I wouldn’t get fired or anything, but I doubt I’d get ahead, and I don’t want to be stuck in an entry-level position the rest of my life.”

Stressful secrets
Not all problems are as serious as Katy’s, but for many Gen Y women, hiding personal issues has become a full-time job in itself. With the Internet Age making the concept of privacy an ancient relic, we have to fight harder to keep our personal and professional lives from clashing. In a March 2010 piece for CNN.com, writer Stephanie Goldberg reported that a “recent survey commissioned by Microsoft found that 70 percent of recruiters and hiring managers in the United States have rejected an applicant based on information they found online,” including such information as “‘Inappropriate’ comments by the candidate; ‘unsuitable’ photos and videos; criticisms of previous employers, co-workers, or clients; and even inappropriate comments by friends and relatives, according to the survey report, titled ‘Online Reputation in a Connected World.’”

The problem with social media is that it’s made us all too honest. Blogs are often little more than online diaries; it’s too easy to Tweet in anger, putting your darkest thoughts out into the world; and it’s difficult to keep track on Facebook of what potentially inappropriate things your “friends” are posting, ending up in your news feed. And while there are obviously undesirable things like drug use (making it a wise choice to leave those shots of you at Lollapalooza with the joint in your hand out of your “Summer 2010” Facebook album—and you might want to request that no friends tag you if they decide to put up the shot themselves, incidentally), sometimes it’s the most seemingly innocuous things that could hurt our careers. For Lisa, 25, her “secret” involves her husband’s profession: active military. “When interviewing with potential employers I never volunteer the fact that my husband is in the military. It’s like advertising that we’ll only be in the area for a few years. It’s always really difficult to keep that from people, because they can see from looking at my resume that I move around quite a bit, and even when making small talk in the first few minutes, people usually say, ‘So what brings you to this area?’ But it can be seen as a real turn-off to have to train someone who will likely only be around for 2 or 3 years.” Unfortunately, Lisa can hedge the question all she wants, but one quick look at her Facebook page—where photos of her husband in uniform or wall comments about military-related issues—might spill the beans.

Religion, politics, learning ability, depression, OCD–private and personal
It’s not just social media that can make it hard to maintain a façade at work. These days, in our heated political climate, even our points of view can potentially harm us. When I asked Caroline, 26, what she feels she most needs to keep hidden from her employers, she didn’t hesitate. “My political views. I work for a large investment company and things tend to lean pretty heavily towards the right around here. So I pretty much smile and nod or keep my mouth shut a lot of the time.” Jessica, a college administrator in her 30’s, feels similarly; but in her situation, it’s God, not the current administration, that alienates her from her coworkers. “I feel I need to hide my faith and my participation in my church. Religion is something to be mocked in my workplace; I work in a very liberal, arts environment where everyone is trendy, jaded . . . Religion is the last thing they can openly make fun of here, so I just keep it to myself.” Jessica does add that she has opened up to some of her more understanding coworkers, though. “My closest friends here are fully aware of my beliefs and are extremely respectful.”

Jessica might actually be protecting her secret more successfully by taking the chance of confiding in a few trustworthy coworkers. It can be extremely tiring, frustrating and stressful to hide a large part of your personality (like a strong faith, or political views) all day long. Plus, if coworkers assume you feel one way about an issue, it can give them “permission” to talk openly about things that might make you uncomfortable. This is a surefire way to create a hostile work environment, which is the last thing any employer wants. You may feel like you’re targeting yourself by expressing your true views, but look at it this way: your coworkers, in the comfortable position of representing the “norm”, aren’t hiding their opinions. You have just as much right to a comfortable work environment as they do. When Lauren’s coworkers had a political radio station (with viewpoints that outright offended Lauren) blaring throughout the workday, the 30-year-old account manager finally broke down and talked to her employer. “I just asked him if we could institute a no-talk radio policy. I told him it was distracting. I was worried that he’d assume—and rightly so—that my political views skewed differently than his (I knew I was the odd man out in the office, in terms of political views), and that he’d favor other people over me, even if it was subconscious on his part. But I also knew that if I had to listen to one more second of that radio station, I was going to go postal. That would have been a lot worse for my career than simply requesting music rather than talk as background noise, you know? I figured the worst he could infer from my request was that I was apolitical, which didn’t seem like a bad thing.”

As Lauren discovered, there are often ways to make work life more bearable without revealing your secrets. But what about when you’re dealing with a chronic mental condition like depression or obsessive compulsive disorder, which might interfere with your performance? Or a family problem that might require your taking time away from the office, or cutting back on workload? Alexandra is the mother of a special needs child, a fact that she takes great lengths to keep hidden from her employers. The 31-year-old attorney tells me that she quit her job after her daughter was born with severe physical and mental handicaps. “I knew that if I stayed at my firm, where they all knew what had happened, I’d never make partner. It was hard enough being a mother who had to take maternity leave; I knew the higher-ups would just assume that I wouldn’t be able to give the firm my all, with such commitments at home. Didn’t matter that my husband is a stay-at-home-father, and quite happy doing so. Didn’t matter that I had never missed a day of work in my life, or have since (at my new firm). I just knew that they’d always look at me and think, ‘liability.’” So, Alexandra left her firm and moved to another, never mentioning her daughter’s condition, and keeping her family life close to the chest. “I’m sure I have a reputation for being cold-hearted, since I never really socialize or talk about my family, but whatever. It’s better than the alternative,” she explains.

22-year-old Francie, fresh out of college, is maneuvering her way around the job search scene, and is very hesitant about disclosing her dyslexia to potential employers. “I feel like I’m doing myself, and everyone else with dyslexia, a disservice by treating it like it’s something shameful,” she laments. “On the other hand, this market is so tough as is . . . I really don’t want to give them any reason not to hire me. And truth is, I sometimes do need a little extra time to proofread things, or read a report, or whatever.” Francie says she recently read an article on a dyslexia website that suggested holding off on revealing her condition until she’d been offered the job. At that point, she would have better leverage, the company couldn’t withdraw the offer, and she’d still be able to ask for any special arrangements she might need. “I don’t feel like it’s being dishonest, because I know that I will be an incredible asset to whatever company I end up at. Everyone has problems of some sort; at least I’ve handled mine with grace for the last 22 years, graduating at the top of my class despite the challenges I’ve faced. I’m just making it easier on them, so they don’t need to make the grave mistake of not hiring me!” she quips.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have Francie’s confidence. Anna has hidden her intense fear of driving in the snow from her supervisor for the past 5 years. “I use my sick days whenever there’s a snowstorm. I’m sure they will put two and two together eventually, but until then, I just pray that no one figures me out. It’s just my own extra ounce of crazy,” she says. From an outsider’s perspective, a phobia of driving in the snow doesn’t seem like too undesirable a trait, but Anna doesn’t want her company to see what she perceives as a weakness. Her words echo those of Bryn, a 30-year-old teacher, who attempts to conceal her long struggle with depression from her principal. “I’m a kindergarten teacher, and I don’t want any anxious parents finding out their kid’s teacher has clinical depression. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’m responsible for young children—who wants a crazy person taking care of their 6-year-old?” Bryn’s insecurities over her disease force her to pay out of pocket for expensive anti-depressant medication. “If I run it through my insurance, my employer could find out . . . I just think it’s easier this way.”

Job performance affected
It’s understandable, especially in our current layoff-happy environment, for us to want to hide anything that could be used against us. It’s equally important, though, to make sure the act of concealing our perceived flaws doesn’t come back to bite us in the bum. Dr. E. Carol Webster, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of three books on the stress of success, explains on her website: “The performance of high achieving, successful people can begin to decline when personal problems get in the way. No one intends to allow this intrusion and, indeed, most argue that they are working very hard to keep their troubles to themselves and out of the workplace. But reality is that worries about finances, unhappy relationships, dysfunctional relatives, legal woes, and other such difficulties force telltale signs onto the job. Personal problems have a way of occupying your focus and draining emotional energy causing performance difficulties, such as not making it into the office on time, losing track of important papers and responsibilities, missing critical deadlines, and becoming more unmotivated and testy with colleagues.”

It’s a fine line between revealing too much, and holding so much in that it starts eating away at your insides. The best thing to remember is that your personal life is just that—your personal life. As long as something doesn’t affect your work performance or attitude, then it’s no one’s business but yours—and it should remain that way. This may mean being a bit more conservative with your use of social media, or refraining from telling casual work acquaintances any intimate details of your life. But that’s a pretty decent tradeoff for the luxury of keeping your darkest secrets under wraps, without too much espionage on your part. There’s truly no need for Alias-like behavior in the workplace. Unless, of course, you’re talking about Sydney Bristow’s brilliant fashion sense, which is arguably something to emulate . . .

The vivacious red-head was asked two months after her fortieth birthday to play the mother of a teenager in Secret Life of the American Teenager. For Ringwald this brought back nostalgic memories of her teenage years both on and off camera.

Ringwald covers topics on a wide range of subjects like She Gives Good Email and How to Pack a Carry-on Bag, which lets face it we all need another lesson or two in packing for a vacation or business trip. She offers anecdotes of her experiences with parenting, getting older, and even being a wine snob after living in Paris and coming back to the United States.

While there are great tips about picking the perfect hair cut for your shape and the perfect lipstick for your skin tone, Ringwald gives the reader a look into her personal life and allows them to see that she is more than the awkward looking teenager audiences grew to love in movies like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.

A break from the traditional celebrity tell-all, Getting the Pretty Back is more about looking back over her forty years of life and celebrating the lessons learned than giving behind the scenes scoops on her former costars. As a matter of fact, Ringwald barely mentions her own screen life. Ringwald sincerely conveys to the reader that prettiness is a state of mind and describes the steps one should take to achieve it.

Readers can expect to light some candles (lets say 16 of them) and open a bottle of 1989 Le Petrus, a wine that Ringwald considers the best wine in the world, while learning from the trials and triumphs of Ringwald.

Getting The Pretty Back is illustrated by Ruben Toledo who also illustrated for Nina Garcia’s four books. Toledo’s illustrations add just the right amount of whimsy to compliment Ringwald’s honest and open voice.

~Crystal-Marie Mitchell is Owner/Creative Director of IsrylDesigns in San Francisco.

In the fall of 2009 we saw “Ride! A Virtual Bike Ride,” a cycling event, held in the Avalon Hollywood, a nightclub and concert venue. Two hundred stationary bicycles filled the floor, the lights were dim, the music, loud. This event also boasted a large screen to make the experience a virtual one—settings like beaches, mountains and exotic destinations rotated throughout the exercise. The one-day event was a huge success and they have planned to do it annually.

Another early adopter of this trend was a team called “Nightclub Cardio” in Houston, Texas and LA. With a motto of “Where Exercise Meets Entertainment” the group instructs classes once a week in nightclubs—every Tuesday at Rich’s in Houston and Wednesday at Level 3 in Hollywood with plans to start hosting classes in Santa Barbara as well.

Not only are people taught a string of easy-to-follow dance steps but there are periods of free dance where bizGals can move and shake as they please with a DJ spinning mostly Top 40 hits.

Jamie Snyder, a recent graduate of UCLA, says she goes to the class every week.

“I try to exercise as much as I can—but for me, repetition gets boring. Throwing a Nightclub Cardio class in the mix gives me something to look forward to versus a run on the treadmill.”

Not only does she like the class, but she likes the atmosphere.

“I like the setting—everyone is just about having a good time rather than trying to show off how much weight they can lift or how long they can run for,” Snyder says. “I also think the low lighting is encouraging. You’re not worried about who’s seeing what body part going where.”

Not only are there gym classes held in nightclubs—but there is a rise of gyms designed to look like nightclubs. Take David Burton gyms—three in New York, one each in Chicago, Seattle and Miami. In their flagship New York location there is a huge twelve-foot disco ball really showcasing the vibe.

“I love how the space looks,” Jessica Vera, a publicist in NYC says of the Astor Place location. “You don’t necessarily think “gym”—the walls are black and it almost has a gothic vibe—not a creepy one though—it’s sexy.”

Indoor climbing space, Brooklyn Builders, is decorated with graffiti—giving it an underground allure. Every Friday night they have a live DJ to pump up the climbers—usually playing hip house and house music. And SoulCycle cycling studios, with five locations throughout New York, holds spinning classes in a similar nighttime environment.

Danielle Sachs, who works in Finance, says finding time to work out is hard but the environment of SoulCycle keeps her head in the “work out” game.

“Finding time for myself to work out proves to be a challenge,” Sachs says. “I get home from work and the last thing I want to do is work out. But the environment at SoulCycle gets me motivated. The clubby feel makes it easier to look forward to and enjoy.”

It’s not only private or small chains that do this—Crunch, a larger NYC chains offers several club-themed classes. And, not only is this trend stateside—it’s leapt across the pond! Places in the UK like Funky Club Fitness, 24hr Gym, and Gym Box offer high-energy, low-lighting, rave-like sessions.

So bizGals, for a night, trade in the tight minis for loose neon threads, the drink for a water bottle—and see if cardio clubbing is the right workout for you!

Each Tuesday at 12:00 pm CT, Becky Benishek (@MyPath_MP) and Amanda Gulralski (@bizMebizgal), Gen Y career expert and publisher and cofounder of bizMe.biz online magazine, host an hour-long Career Chat on Twitter (#careerchat). Joining us were Jill Perlberg, Mark Jelfs and Lesley Weiss from the MyPath team. You can learn about upcoming topics and submit your questions by following @MyPath_MP and @bizMebizgal.

Next week Tuesday, August 31, we’ll discuss MBAs and professional certifications. Hiring expert Anna Oakes, Lead Organization Development Consultant and Recruiting Manager for Manpower, will weigh in on the value of an MBA and how companies are viewing professional certifications. Investing in your career is important! Make sure you’re making the right choices.

Takeaways from the chat:
lauragainor: Personal branding is an important step in determining what voice you will have within social media.
WriterChanelle: Your personal brand is how you would like to define yourself. The social brand is how you work to define the personal brand.
LesleyMWeiss: Easy to get in trouble if you think there’s a separation between social and personal branding–it’s all you!
WomensAlly: It is also important to know how to accept failure as part of building your personal brand.
MyPath_MP: I think if you’re good at something, it comes through w/o you having to say “Look at me!!” Show it, don’t say it.
Jill_Perlberg: Ask your spouse or significant other how they explain what you do to others…It’s an eye opener.
MidwestPhoto: Be authentic, be professional. Period. That’s how you keep a good rep.
Kblennon: Online rep: Before I do anything I ask myself “Do I want this connected to my name”. Things on the internet last forever.
PaigeHolden: Listen to the people around you so that you can really engage in meaningful conversations.
3D_EXHIBITS: Everyone can always evolve & it’s important to stay consistent, yet relevant.

Resources:
From George_Krautzel:
Discussion with Ralph Wilson on Career Management in Communities
Discussion with Nic Harvard on Personal Branding and Reputation Management
From lauragainor:
#Careerchat on personal branding
From suegresham:
Hands-on experience with your personal brand & social media: Register now for Milwaukee JobCamp4!
From bizMebizgal:
Tiger Woods vs Personal Branding
Personal Branding Quiz Part 1
Personal Branding Quiz Part 2
From Jill_Perlberg/MyPath_MP:
Don’t Let the Small Stuff Erode Your Brand
What is a Personal Brand and Why Do You Need One?
How Can I Improve My Personal Brand Online?
Simple Tips For Mastering Social Media
Facebook Privacy Settings

Special thanks… To our top participants: @Kblennon, @WriterChanelle, @PaigeHolden, @MaggieMistal, @lauragainor and @MidwestPhoto.

Detailed Transcript:
August 24, 2010: Personal Branding & Social Media

Question 1: What does “personal branding” mean to you?
Jill_Perlberg: Means that when someone Googles my name that they get the info I want them to see and my persona online matches who I am.
lauragainor: Personal branding is an important step in determining what voice you will have within social media.
TECMidwest: Your Personal Brand must be focused on letting people know why you are successful at what you do.
MidwestPhoto: as a self-employed photog, “personal branding” is how I distinguish myself from the rest of the market via methods/message.
MyPath_MP: Basically you’re “on” all the time and have to be aware that what you do affects the brand of You
bizMebizgal: Your brand is how u ‘show up’ in the eyes of others. whether you create an intentional brand or not, u have1
Jill_Perlberg: It’s your online reputation. It’s the opinion a stranger would form based on what they see online
bizMebizgal: It is amazing how many people don’t understand the importance of personal branding! So incredibly key in business.
Jelfster: Just like a business, if your brand stinks, no-one will touch it with a barge pole.
Kblennon: personal branding is the universal image I am trying to give myself to stand apart and make myself unique by utilizing SM
Jill_Perlberg: Personal brand is not just for those working in social media industries. It’s for everyone!
bizMebizgal: Be in control of your personal brand, don’t let others determine what it is for you!
Kblennon: in other words your personal brand is your reputation…how others perceive you

Question 2: Social Branding vs. Personal Branding: What’s the difference? Is there one?
WriterChanelle: There is indeed. Your personal brand is how you would like to define yourself.
WriterChanelle: The social brand is how you work to define the personal brand.
Jill_Perlberg: Social branding is part of personal branding. There is so much more.
bizMebizgal: I believe there is a difference btw personal branding & social branding. they all need to tell the same story.
bizMebizgal: your brand needs to be the same in all settings. If u tell different stories in each, I am left confused on who you are.
Kblennon: no matter where you are leveraging your personal brand you have to “tell the same story”
PaigeHolden: I think personal branding and social branding are one and the same most of the time.
Jelfster: Social branding is a lot easier to do, especially for introverts, but harder to keep in check.
bizMebizgal: I agree because what happens in Vegas stays on twitter!
MyPath_MP: It sounds like social branding is where you express your personal brand. Is this correct, or too simplistic?
lauragainor: social media gives you a loud voice to represent yourself. Videos show your true self.
bizMebizgal: Do you think video is a good idea?
lauragainor: definitely. Videos open up many personal branding opportunities. Great way to represent yourself.
MidwestPhoto: re: video: can be good, as long as you understand how a one-way traffic flow might cause unforeseen problems
bizMebizgal: I make a couple videos for my site but I always make sure I am represented the way I want to be. Positive!
LesleyMWeiss: Easy to get in trouble if you think there’s a separation between social and personal branding–it’s all you!
WomensAlly: It is important to know how to communicate your personal & social brand attributes
WriterChanelle: If you’re branding yourself socially, you have a FB page, Twitter account, LinkedIn profile, etc…
MyPath_MP: I find I pay attention more to the people who are clearly experts yet don’t feel comfortable calling themselves experts!
WriterChanelle: that word scares me “expert”
MyPath_MP: It’s like setting you up for a fall. I’ve seen people more comfortable with “maven.”
MidwestPhoto: expertise will come through–in person. Online, you have to guide people to your blog/whatev w/o being braggy.
Jill_Perlberg: Social is you on display on the web. Personal is everything about you: your style, attitude,online rep,conduct @ Happy Hour
MidwestPhoto: meaning, personal-social–they’re all you–no separation between them. What you spout here, you spout there.
bizMebizgal: exactly! Not like you can say, oh that wasn’t me that was my social brand and not my personal brand.
MyPath_MP: That wasn’t me, it was my evil twin!
Jelfster: Bragging in person generally frowned upon, but acceptable, nay encouraged via social media. We all do it. I’m great!
MyPath_MP: Interesting perspective! That’s true, I think we really are encouraged to get “us” across no matter what it takes.
PaigeHolden: Hahahaha. So, bragging online is tacky? I hate those “I’m so fabulous, don’t you wish you were me?” blogs.
Kblennon: Haha good point. I guess people feel more comfortable “bragging” on social media
MidwestPhoto: they say it isn’t bragging if it’s true, right? There has to be balance in soc med ‘tween “talk about me/others”
Jill_Perlberg: Agree–we’re all experts and brilliant
bizMebizgal: I think it is easier because your followers don’t really know you. Easy to be whoever you want to be!
PaigeHolden: But modesty is far more authentic (hopefully) – and authenticity is what it’s all about.
MyPath_MP: I think if you’re good at something, it comes through without you having to say “Look at me!!” Show it, don’t say it.
Jill_Perlberg: I think that your personal interactions with people are more impt than what’s online. Everyone remembers first impressions!
Jill_Perlberg: But…make sure what’s online tells the right story. You may never get a personal interaction.
Jill_Perlberg: You’re always “on” Never know who ur sittng next to on a plane, bus, rest’rant. When I least expect it-always branding
bizMebizgal: it is sometimes harder to brand urself via the internet than in person. Huge fan of interactions in person.
MyPath_MP: People can be way different online than off.
WomensAlly: It is also important to know how to accept failure as part of building your personal brand.
Jill_Perlberg: You are who you are…Don’t pretend to be something you aren’t. It will bite you in butt, just like lying on your resume.

Question 3: What are your best practices for managing your online AND offline rep?
Kblennon: I think SM is a great first step for your personal brand but then personal interactions solidifies it
PaigeHolden: Listen to the people around you so that you can really engage in meaningful conversations.
sarahklein_PHR: Plan ahead, follow through and pay it forward (retweets, etc)
Jill_Perlberg: Ask people how they would describe you to a connection or stranger. Make sure those around you know the right you
MyPath_MP: THAT is an excellent tactic.
lauragainor: Be genuine and stay true to yourself.
WriterChanelle: Everything can be misinterpreted but *you* control what you put out there to be interpreted
Jill_Perlberg: Google URself! Simple,but true. Then define your goals and what you want to do. Make sure ur online profile tells the story
WriterChanelle: Google Alerts, RSS feeds
MidwestPhoto: Be authentic, be professional. Period. That’s how you keep a good rep.
Kblennon: online rep: before I do anything I ask myself “do I want this connected to my name”.things on the internet last forever
MyPath_MP: Brilliant. Written words last–especially on the internet. And the 2D aspect of most social media is tricky.
bizMebizgal: I try to never let pple see me w/ bad day. If I don’t feel like networking I don’t force myself. Always energetic & positive
Jelfster: Good one. Some people use it to moan, moan, moan. Negativity bad in the virtual world too!
bizMebizgal: absolutely. I am in control of what people think of me, I don’t let imagination take over!! lol.
MidwestPhoto: that’s the challenge of a personal brand–have a “bad day” on your pers time, not biz time cuz people remember
Kblennon: I hate when all ppl do is utilize SM to vent. once in awhile fine but always?! bad personal brand
bizMebizgal: I agree and then all I think about you is that you hate the world. Never happy!
thatwoman_is: Re: Sharing. Be Translucent. Not Transparent.
MaggieMistal: Mostly LinkedIn & Twitter & FB R my professional side but also share travels, fun comments just to show I’m a full person
Jill_Perlberg: Like it…need to show you are real.

Jill_Perlberg: For online–you need to identify which sites are the most impt for waht you want to do. Don’t be on FB or Twitter just bcuz
thatwoman_is: never be on any site “just because.” Go where your community or clients are. Engage and communicate where they feel comf.
LesleyMWeiss: Online reputation can be affected by more than just photos–comments, who you are friends with, things they say about you
Jill_Perlberg: Have a strategy. If ur in IT, try toolbox.com to showcase your expertise. Sales–LI, find the recipe for you.
MyPath_MP: Exactly, you have to stay on top of any #sm tool or you won’t be helping your brand at all.
bizMebizgal: All social media sites need to tell the same story of who u r Often times they depict 3 different people Leaves me wondering.
GeorgeKrautzel: Examples of professionals building reputation through participation http://bit.ly/99h73r http://bit.ly/3rCh45
Jill_Perlberg: Try Blogging, writing about what ur doing and who u are, gives someone the inside view of you–and you control it
WriterChanelle: Blogging has definitely made me focus in on what it is that I do.
Kblennon: so true. It’s actually on my to do list. Thanks for the advice!
WriterChanelle: Having to choose categories, write a bio, a title/tagline all make you think about your personal brand
Kblennon: Favor instead of ?: I created my own website to further my personal brand. Would appreciate comments: kblennon.wordpress.com

Jill_Perlberg: Offline–Have an elevator “pitch” about you. If u meet someone new..Know what you are going to say.
sarahklein_PHR: we will have info on how to write elevator pitches at job camp 4! http://bit.ly/gpzGT #jc4
MidwestPhoto: heck yes,for the elevator pitch–people’s attention shortened (thx Internet) and you need to grab attention fast
bizMebizgal: Elevator pitch needs to tell a compelling story. I need to understand what it is that you do in 7 secs.
WriterChanelle: I’m still working on shortening my elevator pitch
MyPath_MP: Maybe the key is there IS no single word to describe what #sm people do.
WriterChanelle: Which makes it so impossible for me to explain to my parents what it is that I do. LOL #sm
Jill_Perlberg: Ask your spouse or sign. other how they explain what you do to others…It’s an eye opener.
WomensAlly: it is important to get feedback from those you know best as you are developing your personal brand introduction
MyPath_MP: Ha, I’ll have to try that!
MaggieMistal: My hubby is great at describing what I do. He helps me get new clients all the time.
MyPath_MP: That’s fabulous to hear!
bizMebizgal: That is great to have a team member like that on your side.
Jill_Perlberg: I asked my hubby the other day. After 8 years 2gether you’d think he’d get it..He’s an easy one..Lawyer
MaggieMistal: Yes, it is great to have team members who are also family members

Open questions

Do you think boomers are at a disadvantage or advantage?
Jill_Perlberg: Boomers: Wide network (personal) but typically smaller online presence?
Jill_Perlberg: Thinking of my mom, she’s knows everyone in town but she’s not online much..Not sure if she needs to be though.
bizMebizgal: I think boomers definitely have the personal brand down, most are working on SM as well. Some get it, some don’t
MyPath_MP: And is there a gen split among tools like Facebook, LinkedIn…?
bizMebizgal: @thatwoman_is what do you think as a boomer that gets the SM world?
MaggieMistal: Boomers are at an advantage b/c they should know more people in a position to make decisions and hire them
Jill_Perlberg: and have the experience to back it up
WriterChanelle: Actually boomers are at a great advantage. They’re the largest online presence. NBC’s audience is skewed 40+

Should your personal brand continuously evolve, or should you stick to tried-and-true?
Jill_Perlberg: should evolve as you evolve
Jelfster: it has to evolve, especially with regard to social media as that is a medium that is still evolving itself.
buzzandrea: Continuously evolve; the more you learn about yourself, the more your brand develops – grows, changes, solidifies.
MidwestPhoto: personal brand–always changing in its strategy and tactics (sometimes quickly), but should stick to its values.
PaigeHolden: I think your personal brand evolves as you do. Slowly over time. Not one person on one day and different on another.
3D_EXHIBITS: Our team members are always evolving w/ their personal brand. It’s important for a co to take advantage of it.

Do you think a person can evolve into a completely different personal brand?
MidwestPhoto: all people evolve. As your “mission” may change, so will your brand. So, “yes”, you can become a different brand.
MyPath_MP: It would be interesting to see which of yr followers changes with your brand change!
Jill_Perlberg: Evolution. You need to find out what you’re going to be when you “grow up” then take the steps to get there.
MidwestPhoto: right, and as you “grow up”, you change–nothing is permanent, as far as personal development goes.
Jill_Perlberg: Sure True! Well need to “grow” in the right way, professionally, personally…Personal brand is all of that
bizMebizgal: My personal brand has changed a lot since I started my biz. I finally understood how important it really is.
3D_EXHIBITS: Everyone can always evolve & it’s important to stay consistent, yet relevant.

PaigeHolden: What do you do when you have many social media forums relevant to your brand. How do you keep up with them all?
MyPath_MP: Excellent Q. Might have to pick the top 3 or 4 that are actually doing something FOR you in return.
Jill_Perlberg: Depending on your work–if everything is local and you’re tied into networks, do you need 500 Twitter followers? don’t think so
Jill_Perlberg: choose wisely. just because there are 1000s to pick from, you don’t have to do them all.
bizMebizgal: I don’t let friends post pictures I delete if it conflicts. Must always be aware of what is happening around u.
Kblennon: there are features on FB that allow you to approve pics before you are officially tagged
Kblennon: of course easier said than done
MyPath_MP: here’s a quick how-to on those FB privacy settings! http://bit.ly/bJaUEz
MaggieMistal: I feel it’s important to have a presence (at least a “critical mass” following) on any social media you do
Jill_Perlberg: agree. skeleton profiles don’t help. If ur going to be on a network–do it right.
Jill_Perlberg: Also, I tie mine 2gether. My blog has FB,Twitter feeds coming in, LI profile. I can’t do more–I’d go crazy
MyPath_MP: Quality over quantity–seems to be true everywhere
bizMebizgal: U will drive urself crazy trying to keep up w/ them. Find the right fit and stick with those.
bizMebizgal: It is much like networking, not every group is going to be a right fit. Shop around and test them out.
thatwoman_is: I love the SoMe community. Yes it’s different way of sharing info & connecting but if you r you — it works just like off line.
MaggieMistal: How do you measure the ROI?
MyPath_MP: I’d say if you’re getting feedback, followers, advancing your brand–those are where you spend time. You?
MyPath_MP: And it does take time to build that. Guess it comes down to your comfort level, time, value on both sides.
MaggieMistal: For me results are one-on-one coaching referrals and radio listeners/callers into my @SIRIUSXM show
Jill_Perlberg: U have to know UR goals–what ur trying to achieve-sales,jobs,friends,then track ROI–if it’s not working, try something else.

Today women make up 60% of the American workforce and Gen Y career gals are leading the way. “They’re confident, smart and not afraid to show it,” says Dr. Christine Whelan, author of the forthcoming book, Generation WTF: From “What the #%&$?” to a Wise, Tenacious, and Fearless You. “They know that men will be attracted to them for their smarts—and their sexiness—and that they can bring these skills into the work world, too.”

Take a look at many of our modern day power girls (i.e. Google VP Marissa Mayer, Georgetown Cupcake sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne, rocket scientist and mathematician Olympia LePoint, Wall Street analyst Meredith Whitney, or First Lady Michelle Obama, to name a few) and you’ll find they personify an amazing combination of feminine traits: they’re collaborative, committed, entrepreneurial, sophisticated and savvy. And chances are good they’ve got a gorgeous pair of heels to match.

Being a professionally smart and sexy woman doesn’t mean revealing it all, but proudly owning it all. “It’s the actions of this generation that will crystallize the gender equality movement that’s been underway for decades,” Dr. Whelan explains. And as her research shows, it’s better for everyone when smart women embrace their intelligence, acknowledge their achievements and carry their sexy selves with confidence.

So what’s the best way to strut your bizGal stuff (without alienating yourself or being a braggart)? Act like a professional. “Show up on time and professionally dressed for work,” advises Dr. Whelan. “Put in an honest day’s work (limit that Facebook IMing to your lunch break) and be solution-oriented. Show you are a self-starter. The work world isn’t all about what others can do for you. It’s about showing your value to the organization.”

Generation WTF comes hits the bookshelves in February. But Dr. Whelan offers a sneak preview with this final bit of advice: “It’s OK to admit when you are wrong, especially in the workplace.” Turns out having the inner strength and confidence to own up to your actions makes you a great leader. What could be smarter (or sexier) than that?

Dr. Whelan is a visiting professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. Visit her at www.christinewhelan.com.

Most of us love traveling . . . for work and for pleasure (mostly for pleasure, I’m sure!). But being away from your home-base can be a challenge to stay on track when it comes to your fitness and “figure” goals . . . not to mention if you’re away on a conference or business trip then your schedule is jammed-pack from early morning to late at night.

I find most gals think when they are on vacation or on a business trip, they are doomed to gain weight because of the change of routine, lack of schedule (especially on vacation), and temptations of food and drink.

It’s time to change that way of thinking. Traveling is actually the perfect opportunity to reset your routine. In fact, staying active and making good food choices is critical to help avoid the negative effects of traveling. Your body is trying to make adjustments of travel, adapt to the physiological changes when you fly, and combat jet lag and varied sleep patterns—all of which affect your metabolism and ability to effectively burn fat and maintain your energy.

With my fair share of traveling for both work and pleasure, I’ve come up with three “go-to” rules to keep me on track even when I’m on the road.

#1 ROAD WARRIORETTE RULE: KEEP HYDRATED! When you fly you tend to retain water. It is absolutely critical to be hydrated before, during, and after your flight to keep your system in check. Dehydration will also trigger false “hunger-pangs” that we often mistake as hunger when it’s really our body telling us it just needs hydration.

I always buy a big water bottle after going through security to take with me on the plane (hopefully you get an aisle seat so you can get up a few times!). Aim to drink half of your bodyweight in ounces of pure, unadulterated water each day, and you want to be sure you’re hydrating at least two days before your trip. If you’re drinking alcohol, do the drink-water-swap so that you can keep your body from becoming further dehydrated from the alcohol.

#2 ROAD WARRIORETTE RULE: PACK YOUR BREAKFAST! We all know the most important meal of the day is a solid breakfast (whether traveling or not). If you start with a complete breakfast you set your metabolism up to burn more efficiently through the day, have more energy especially if you’re jet-lagged, and you’re less likely to get late-day cravings.

Here are a few of the easy snack and breakfast foods I always pack on my trips (for both vacation and business):
• Ziplock baggie of raw whole oats
• Packets of almond butters (or a small container), I’ve found Justin’s Nut Butters makes convenient travel packets of their natural nut butters (this is great to add to an apple if you can get your hands on one from the hotel or local store . . . yes, I’m the one that “helps myself” to a few extra pieces of fruit from the hotel fitness centers if they have it
• Ziplock baggie of Whey Protein Powder in my shaker bottle
• A few meal bars (I just found KIND bars, but keep in mind that they are mostly dried fruit and nuts, so they are high in natural sugar, be sure to eat these earlier in the day so you have time to burn it off)
• Ziplock of almonds or mixed nuts

Here’s a super-quick breakfast tip that will rev up your metabolism for the rest of the day: Boil 1 cup of hot water using the hotel room coffee maker. Put about ½ cup of raw oats in a mug and pour the boiling water over the oats and sit for a few minutes. I use about 2:1 parts water to oats, but you can adjust to how you like it. You can add a tablespoon of almond butter or a handful of almonds. Even if you have a breakfast meeting or continental breakfast, you can still grab some fruit and maybe a hard-boiled egg to complete your breakfast and hold you over through the morning.

#3 ROAD WARRIORETTE RULE: HIGH-INTENSITY WORKOUTS! When you’re on the road, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour in the hotel gym (if you even have access to one), and you never know what equipment will be available. I put together this hotel workout you can do with no equipment in your hotel room. This workout combines cardio intervals with bodyweight resistance (which is a perfect way to build lean, tone muscle).

Road Warriorette Hotel Workout

Warm-up (2-3 minutes of jumping jacks, mountain climbers, jogging in place, etc.)

Jump squats
Pushups
Helicopters
Side hop lunges
Cool down/stretch

Get more out of your travels than just client meetings, conferences, good food and nice weather (hopefully!) and in no more than 30 minutes you can get your sweat on and your body will thank you!

Cheers to healthy, happy travels!

Lindsay Vastola, CFT is corporate manager-turned-fitness professional specializing in designing fitness programs for the success-driven career woman. Updated frequently, you can find information on Lindsay’s latest transformation programs, 18-minute workouts, and on-the-go eating tips on her blog at http://www.BeABoardroomBabe.com. She is also the founder of Body Project Fitness located in Central New Jersey. Her mission is to design effective fitness programs for the ambitious career woman to help get her to the top and look damn good while she’s at it!