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Customer Love
By Margaret Heffernan
Do you really, truly love your customers? Most companies don't. They pay lipservice to customers - but everything in their procedures indicates they don't mean it. You can spot this in small things - the waitress at Center Parcs who insists that drink orders must be filled before food is ordered. In the face of hungry children, she does this because it is more important to satisfy her boss than her diners. Or take the beleaguered shop assistant in the Heathrow Harrods. It takes her twenty-five minutes to do a price check - twenty-five minutes in a store full of people catching planes - because computers work slowly on Sundays and keeping the computer records flawless is more important than purchasers catching their planes. Worst of all, perhaps, is British Airways whose aggressive signage warns us not to abuse their staff - with no recognition that any desire to abuse staff derives from customers having been abused by BA in the first place!
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Get the Sessions from the Silicon Valley Conference!
Follow up on a session you missed at WITI's 2005 Silicon Valley Conference. Revisit a session you attended for more information. Or celebrate again the accomplishments of the WITI Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees. CDs and DVDs are available at WITI's website..
Your Defining Moment
By Jane Herman
If you are in the process of reinventing your life or career, or about to start making big changes in your life, there are likely two haunting questions you can't get out of your head:
- How will I know the right decision to make?
- When will I know the right time to make my move?
You find yourself thinking about making changes, researching and analyzing all of the "facts" that you can get your hands on that relate to the area of change you are considering, but you feel no closer to answering the above two questions. You feel frustrated and lost, maybe even desperate. You want to know the answers and you want to know them now!
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WITI Talk TeleClasses:
Are you ready to transform your life and/or your career, but need help figuring out "what next?" Do you know that there must be "more to life," but you aren't sure how to go about finding it? Do you want to join the journey to financial success by making a commitment to uncover and eliminate unconscious barriers to your success? If you answered YES to any of these questions, please join us for a WITITalk Teleclass. Participants in these teleclasses have made major changes in their lives, after just the first class!
Looking for your next big opportunity?
Add your resume (confidentially if you wish) to WITI 4HIRE today!
Avoid the Top Three Cover Letter Mistakes!
By Deborah Walker, CCMC
As a career coach and professional resume writer, I'm often asked "How important are cover letters to my job search?" My answer is, "It depends on how long you want to search for your next job." If you are in no hurry to get interviews, then don't worry about your cover letter.
The fact is I've never met a job searcher who wants to have a painfully slow job search. The whole point of sending out resumes is to get multiple interviews as quickly as possible. But many job seekers still unwittingly sabotage their efforts by using substandard cover letters. Instead of helping you, your cover letter may actually be hurting your job search.
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WITI Member conducting research: "Does the CEO/CIO Disconnect still exist?"
The disconnect theory was first coined by Charles Wang in his book Techno-Vision. The nineties were filled with studies purporting strategic alignment. The CEO and CIO have to be on the same page. Information technology is a support function of the business and should not be perceived as just a cost center. CIOs were to join ranks of the other C level executives in the high level organizational strategic planning sessions. But around 1998 the disconnect disappears from the literature. The hot topics are eCommerce and the dotcoms. But did the disconnect disappear with the absence of reference in the literature? This research study will examine whether or not the disconnect still exists using Dr. Jerry Luftman's Strategic Alignment Maturity Assessment model. A survey URL will be placed in the discussion board on the WITI website for anyone who is interested in participating in this research study around mid-January. The survey is completely anonymous.
Women on the Move
Karen Steede-Terry publishes Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career
Karen Steede-Terry has a new book, Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career. Not everyone is well-suited or finds appealing the sales positions commonly offered to women looking for flexible yet professional career options they can pursue from home after they have children. Karen's book is a resource for career-oriented and technical women who want to keep their career, and go into consulting, freelance writing, coaching, teaching software, etc. after they have a baby. It is a "how-to" guide for professional women who want to build their own business.
Karen says, "I wrote it because I have been self-employed in a high-tech (GIS/GPS), mostly male field for almost 10 years now. Over the years, I have had numerous women approach me for advice about going out on their own. They all wanted a flexible career while they raised kids, and I realized there weren't any resources available for women in that situation."
Dr. Laura Schlessinger (Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host and Bestselling Author) has said, "Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career is a wonderful book for women who are looking for alternatives to returning to the workplace after having children. It helps professional women struggling with how to have a career that does not interfere with family. This is a perfect, perfect book!" And Lois P. Frankel, author of the national bestsellers Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office and Nice Girls Don't Get Rich, has said "If you're tired of hitting your head against the glass ceiling, this book will give you a gentle nudge in the right direction. It's filled with great ideas, tips, and stories to help you start your own business."
WITI congratulates Karen Steede-Terry on her new book and the excellent reviews! For a special offer on Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career, go to www.fulltimewoman.com/special_offer.html.
Do you have an announcement or promotion you'd like to share? Use the form in the Member's Area to send us your news to appear in the Strategist and also on our website. If you prefer, you can also email the editor.
WITI Marketplace
Featured Business: The Henrichs Group
The Henrichs Group, LLC is a sales and marketing consultancy which provides Go-to-Market and sales strategies to firms with the goal of building or expanding a Federal sales channel. The Henrichs Groups customized solutions provide clients access to a seasoned team of sales and marketing professionals experienced in sales strategies, brand management and marketing, business development, channel strategies, and contract management and support.
Is your business in the WITI Marketplace? Do you have a special offer for WITI members or would you like to be a featured business in a future issue of the Strategist? We'd love to hear from you!
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WITI Works
WITI Mall
WITI is pleased to offer you convenient savings at over 1,000 quality merchants through our partnership with CareClicks.com. Save time, money and support The WITI Foundation with this one stop shopping experience. There is no cost to join, no personal information is needed, it's safe and secure AND a percentage of your purchase supports the WITI Foundation. The amount of contribution is listed right on your screen and by starting your online shopping with WITI, some merchants offer special deals just for you. Check it out at www.witi.com/mall/.
eClasses
Learn a new skill or brush up on something you already know. eClasses are convenient, flexible, and affordable. Instructor-led courses ensure someone is available to help you with assignment questions, provide you additional resources, and keep you up-to-date with rapidly changing internet technologies. See www.witi.com/center/eclasses/ for current offerings. WITI Members: See the Members' Discount page for the promo code to receive special pricing.
WITI4HIRE
Accelerate Your Career! - Companies that get it are searching the resume database at WITI4Hire every day. Don't be overlooked! So, whether you are actively seeking a job or just open to great possibilities, add your resume today (FREE for members AND non-members, and confidential too!) to be noticed by companies like New York Times Digital, Best Buy, Altiris, Southern California Edison and GOJO Industries, Inc. Don't want to wait? Visit WITI4Hire and search for your next job!
Volunteer Opportunities at WITI@
WITI needs volunteers to support WITI at industry and partner events (see the list of events). You'll have access to the event, of course, as well as the opportunity to meet industry leaders and get exposure for yourself and your company. For more details or to participate, please contact David Leighton.
WITI HALL OF FAME
 The WITI Hall of Fame was established in 1996 by WITI to recognize, honor, and promote the outstanding contribution women make to the scientific and technological communities that improve and evolve our society.
If you would like to make a nomination for the 2006 WITI Hall of Fame, please download the 2006 nomination form. The nomination deadline is February 1, 2006.
Are you getting the e-mail you want from WITI?
Make sure you are getting just the email announcements from WITI that you want to receive. Please visit http://www.witi.com/mail_preferences/ to update your mailing options.
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Not Yet a WITI Member?
Join WITI today and receive your choice of a FREE inspirational book!
Upcoming Network Events:
"At a recent WITI Boston event, I met a former client from 10 years ago when I worked for another company. We sat together at the meeting and got re-acquainted. Since then, my former client has introduced me to several IT executives at their firm to generate interest in our services, which may lead to new business. This demonstrates that networking and participating in WITI events can have very positive results...both professionally and personally."
-- Steffani Lomax, Vice President and Co-founder, Software Success Partners
January 19 - San Diego
"Women as Leaders"
February 6 - Boston
Video Games: Not for Men Only - Sponsored by WorldWinner
February 9 - Portland
Five Secrets of Success in Communication and Leadership
February 13 - San Diego
Taste of Technology Reception
February 23 - Atlanta
WITI Networking Event: Have you had a background check lately?
March 7 - Portland
Distance Learning and Collaboration
March 8 - Boston
Women Innovators & Entrepreneurs -- Sponsored By: Sun Microsystems
March 21 - San Diego
Real Estate Workshop for Business Owners Series: "Leveraging Your Next Lease Negotiation"
March 23 - San Diego
Real Estate Workshop for Business Owners Series: "Exploring the Issues of Buying vs. Leasing"
March 30 - Atlanta
Happy Hour - Networking
April 4 - Portland
Negotiation Skills
April 11 - Boston
The Power of Differences: A New Gender & Diversity Communications Workshop for Women and Men
More information about network events in your area is available on our website.
WITI @ ...Keeping you up-to-date on where you'll find WITI!
WITI@ keeps you up to date on where you will find WITI partners, WITI discounts, WITI women attending industry events. Visit the Members area of the WITI website for priority discount codes for these events. If you want a discount to an event you will be attending and/or want to meet other WITI women at that event, just let us know so we can get it for you!
IDC Marketing Performance Measurement Summit for Business-to-Business Marketers
Jan 19 2006
Santa Clara, California
IDC Service-Oriented Architecture Forum
Jan 25 2006
New York, New York
Employee ROI Exec. Symposium for Women Business Leaders
Jan 26 2006
New York, New York
IDC Outsourcing Forum West
Jan 30 2006-Jan 31 2006
Santa Clara, California
IDC Virtualization Forum East
Feb 6 2006
New York, New York
WTC presents: Laying the Groundwork for Stem Cell Commercialization
Feb 7 2006
San Francisco, California
IDC Outsourcing Forum East
Mar 28 2006-Mar 29 2006
New York, New York
AIIM On Demand 2006
May 16 2006-May 18 2006
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
IDC IT Forum & Expo: IT-Enabled Business Transformation
Jun 14 2006-Jun 16 2006
C3 Expo (Corporate & Channel Computing Expo)
Jun 27 2006-Jun 29 2006
New York City, New York
For more information and discounts
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