WBC Dine Out Long Beach at Kavikas

1. Disconnect from work when you leave the office.

Thanks to smart phones and laptops, business owners are now able to be on call 24/7. While I love that I can go to a doctor appointment and continue to work from the waiting room, I also find it drains my energy to be connected non-stop in one way or another. I am in my office 10 to 12 hours per day. Remaining accessible beyond that directly affects not just the quality of my life, but also the quality of my decisions. I now choose to disconnect in every way when I have leave the office for the evening.

2. When it’s for personal reasons, use Twitter, Facebook, and the like after hours.

At many companies, employees have the freedom to do personal things like check Facebook during the day. This may seem like a cool thing to allow when courting new hires, but the result is reduced efficiency for businesses and employees. Deadlines that were once set in stone are now moving targets that can always “be finished at home,” resulting in longer time for project completion. I do not allow these kind of blurred borders at my company. My employees are expected to complete all work in the office, and personal activities like texting, Tweeting, and Facebook are limited to personal time. Many technology addicts may be thinking they would never want to work at my company, but consider the benefits of the “work belongs at work” mindset: my employees go home on time every night, have a rich life outside of the office, and come back refreshed and ready to make huge inroads for our business the next day. Preventing burnout, and thus hanging on to valuable contributors, is my highest priority.

3. Keep email concise and complete, and off your screen.

Email is a great way to correspond with someone, both because it is fast and less obtrusive than calling, but when we fail to control our use of it, it diverts focus away from actual projects being worked on. We are constantly scanning for the red ball to pop up and provide us with a new distraction. We have become addicted to responding, and doing so quickly—at all costs. Think I am exaggerating? How many times have you sent an email to someone asking several questions only to receive his reply minutes later answering only one of the questions? Now consider how many times this happens to you each day, and all the follow-up emails this lack of thoroughness generates! I have made it a rule to re-read all emails twice before responding, and then to double check that my response answers the entire inquiry. And most importantly, I close my email box when I am working on other things, so that I can give 100 percent to the task at hand.

4. Work-related texts and Tweets should be quick, but right.

In business, it is important not only to be fast thinking, but also to be able to fully develop ideas. Pertinent questions must be asked and clear paths charted in order to problem-solve and grow. Today’s technology users have yet to strike a balance between rapidity and complex communications. A customer expecting instant feedback does not want to get a half-baked answer. They want to be answered quickly, but also correctly. Business partners expecting to be answered at midnight are still in need of impactful solutions rather than impulsive ones. I try to separate my tools into categories. Emails are for fully developed ideas, texts are for quick practical information, and the phone is still my best tool when I need to get a deal done.

5. Interaction is not engagement.

With all of the great communication tools we have, it is easy to assume being omnipresent is all that’s needed to generate success for your business. A company’s Facebook page may be an indicator of how many people know about a brand, but in the age of technology, that does not always translate to how many people care about that brand. I think about my company’s communications with our customers in every format as a means of engagement, not just a fleeting interaction. Putting it in traditional terms: as a business, having a thousand “first sales” is great, but you will survive and thrive only with repeat business. Technology can help us make the first sale, but it is how we use it that will bring the customer back for more. Face to Face meetings will bring you even more repeat business so once you have them hooked…..get out there to meet and greet!!

Technology is a powerful tool, but only as powerful as the mind in control of it. As a business owner, you must be especially aware of this, because how you use technology not only reflects on you personally, but also on your company and its reputation. Consciousness is the first step to regaining control so that technology can work for rather than against you.

Identity Theft Prevention for You & Your Business

Ms. Vincent, as the Founder of The Identity Advocate is committed to providing unparalleled education, consulting, resources, and investigations to help protect professionals, corporations, and consumers from the perils of identity theft and healthcare fraud.

Ms. Vincent will focus on protecting yourself against identity theft from various scams.  Find out what you can do if it happens to you or your business.

Would you join us there – bring your friends and family on February 20th, a Monday evening (got to start the week out right!) at 95 Aquarium Way, near the corner of W. Shoreline Drive, upstairs.

They’re contributing to local small bushiness by donating a generous percentage of all the proceeds that evening to our program.

• Ms. Britany Grant, Sales & Marketing Manager, Booty Parlor
• Mr. Mark Cole, President, CI Solutions
• Mr. Jeremy Zachary, Publisher, City Beat Long Beach
• Ms. Alesia Cooper, Real Estate Broker, Cooper Real Estate Services, Inc.
• Mr. Daniel Liang, Vice President, Edward Transit Group
• Mr. Leo Valente, Lead Associate, Smartstop Self Storage

We’re also thrilled to welcome back these wonderful WBC members:

• Alyson Emery, D.D.S
• Ms. Karen Codman, Owner, FSC Securities Corp.
• Ms. Kristi Allen, General Manager, Hotel Maya
• Ms. Mollie Bennett, Hoopla! Inc.
• Ms. Ivy Goolsby, Director, International Realty & Investments
• Mr. David Keller, KAVIKAS Bar & Grill
• Ms. Linda Guthmann Krieger, Partner/Attorney, Krieger & Krieger Law Offices

Bliss 525 to host fundraiser event for the Long Beach Police Foundation and the Women’s Business Council

Bliss 525 eatery in Downtown Long Beach will generously donate 20% of their proceeds for their dinner service on January 26 from 5-10 p.m. to the Long Beach Police foundation and the Women’s Business Council (WBC). The WBC has spent the last year dedicating their fundraising efforts towards awarding a $5000 small business grant to help a local small business achieve the next level and matching these funds to benefit the Long Beach Police Foundation.

Family owned and operated by long time Long Beachresident Nancy Downs, Bliss 525 is an American bistro-style eatery that is open for lunch and dinner and boasts a full bar, live music, and a sommelier.  They are located on 525 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA90802. (562) 495-7252.  Full restaurant information can be found at  bliss525.com.

The Women’s Business Council of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce provides a supportive environment for business professionals to network, achieve personal growth and contribute to the betterment of the Long Beachcommunity. Additional information can be found by contacting Judy Nelson at the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce  (562) 432-8128 or jnelson@lbchamber.com or visit the WBC website www.LongBeachWBC.com

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Dine Out Long Beach

Give back this holiday season!  Each year the WBC selects a charity – this year we are honored to do our part to help make this season brighter for the children at ChildNet.  ChildNet’s mission is to provide safe homes, education and counseling to vulnerable children and families.
We will also be highlighting the Long Beach Police Foudation and the Long Beach Rescue Mission.
Bring an unwrapped toy for a Foster Child. Your donation will be greatly appreciated by ChildNet, Foster Family Network Long Beach

 MANY FABULOUS RAFFLE PRIZES TOO!

Annual Holiday Luncheon

Thursday, December 15, 2011

11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

The Grand

4101 E. Will0w

Long Beach, 90804

Complimentary parking

CLICK HERE TO PAY ONLINE

Join us for an informative health panel discussion with speakers on:

Heart disease– a broad term for any range of diseases that affect your heart.   Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices.
Stress management—Learn how to successfully manage stress by changing the way you respond to stress, making time for relaxation, and learning healthier coping strategies.
Cancer screenings –Early detection saves lives!
Diabetes prevention–is in your hands!  Learn tips for taking control.