Career Blogs

1. What inspired you to write Testing For Kindergarten? 

It started with my business, which I was inspired to start after my son hadn’t been developing as well as I thought he should. Eventually, we took him to a doctor who ran a battery of physical and psychological tests.  It turned out Sam couldn’t hear.  The doctor told us that could be fixed.  However, they had given him the WPPSI – the test he would need to take to get into the small private school we wanted him to attend.  He failed miserably.  The doctor told us Sam couldn’t catch up, that he would have to go into special education. 

I was devastated.   With Sam’s delays, I felt he would need the small class size of a private school in order to thrive.  Luckily, my mother was a Professor of Early Childhood Education.  With her guidance, she and I mapped out a program I could do with Sam at home to build the skills he would need for kindergarten.  Every night, Sam and I worked together.  To him, we were just playing.  But in reality, each activity was selected to develop the 7-abilities he would need for testing and school.  One year later, Sam took the test again.  He made the highest score in his nursery school class and was admitted to the school I wanted him to attend.  By first grade, his teachers were surprised to learn that he ever had any developmental delays.

 After I started my business, I taught parents how to work with their own kids to get them ready for kindergarten.  They consistently tested well and got into excellent gifted programs and private schools. After I became a writer, I didn’t want the fact that I left the business keep this knowledge out of parents’ hands.  I felt it was too important to let the techniques and information disappear just because I wasn’t doing this anymore. This is a book I’ve wanted to write for years. 

2.  In Testing For Kindergarten, you tell parents exactly what is on those IQ tests children have to take for kindergarten admissions and how to get their kids ready for those tests.   Are you advising parents to prep kids barely out of diapers for kindergarten testing?  How can this be a good thing for parents or children? 

The reason IQ tests are given to children for admissions to private school or evaluation for gifted programs is because they assess all the abilities kids need to be successful not only in kindergarten, but throughout their school careers.  So if you understand what these abilities are, and you’re making sure your child has them, you’re not just prepping them for testing.  You’re prepping them to be ready when they start school.  Every parent wants their kids to be ready when they start school.   You wouldn’t send your child to school without his supplies.  You don’t want to send them to school without the basic skills they need to hit the ground running. 

3. You say there are 7 abilities children need to be successful on IQ tests and in school. What are they and why do they matter so much?

They are:

Language, knowledge, memory, math, visual-spatial reasoning, thinking and fine-motor skills.

You can’t succeed in school without being strong in each of these 7 areas. 

There are many ways to be intelligent in this world.  There’s athletic intelligence, artistic intelligence, creative intelligence, and more. But these 7 abilities that I talk about make up what I would call school intelligence.   And you cannot get through the American school system today without having these 7 abilities in place.  If your child is deficient in just one, she will struggle. 

4.  Don’t you think prepping children for kindergarten testing puts too much pressure on parents and children?

I think it’s more pressure not to know what you’re doing.  When I was bringing up my daughter, before I understood this stuff, I used to wonder, “am I supposed to be pointing out letters when I read to her?”  “Is it too soon to teach her how to count?  Will the teachers do that, or should I?”  Knowing what to do is liberating. 

If you look at it as, “I’m the parent, and it’s my job to give my child the intellectual tools he needs to succeed in kindergarten, you realize it’s an important thing to do.”  In my book, I talk about how to do this in a fun, natural way through games and songs and how to integrate this into your daily life together – not by turning your home into a classroom. You only need to spend 15 – 20 minutes a day doing this.  Then just let your child play. 

5. What about parents who are sending their kids to local public school.  Should they be concerned about whether their kids would do well on these tests?

Here’s what a lot of parents don’t realize.  Public school kids are tested the moment they start school.  Then they are placed in slow, average, and advanced ability groups.  You don’t want your child in the slow group.  Kids placed in the “slow” group are taught through drills, worksheets and easier lessons, which limit their ability to handle harder work later.  Over time, their peers jump ahead, teachers and parents see them as “slow,” and the label becomes self-fulfilling. Kids in the accelerated groups and get about 36% more curriculum. 

I think it’s even more important if you’re sending your child to public school that you understand the abilities your child needs and you send them to school ready.

6. Let’s just pick one ability children need for IQ testing – visual-spatial skills.  Why does this even matter?

This is the ability to reason and solve problems using pictures, images, diagrams, shapes – everything but words.  MUST have this to learn to recognize and write numbers, letters, to line up numbers for long division, to read graphs, do geometry – My own daughter had a learning disability in this area which wasn’t diagnosed until she was in 6^th grade.  School was a nightmare for her.  Sadly, she took an IQ test at age 4 and she did very poorly in mazes and block design.  That was a huge red flag that she was at risk for a learning disability.  But I didn’t know enough about this ability or why it even mattered to recognize this.

7.  So what can parents do with their children at home to build visual-spatial skills?

Play with blocks, puzzles.  You know those Highlights for Kids magazines in the dentist’s office?  Do those visual games where a fish is hidden in a drawing.  Play Where’s Waldo. 

8. How much of a difference can working with your child make?

I brought my own son from the 37^th percentile to the 94^th percentile by working with him for about a year.  I just spoke to a mother who I’d give an early draft of the book to about 6 months ago.  She used the book to prepare him in a very easy-going, non-stressful way.  He was just given an IQ test for the NYC private schools and he tested in the 99^th percentile.  I can’t promise that everyone will get these kinds of results, but I know that if you implement these activities into your daily life, your child will be much more prepared to succeed in kindergarten and school than he otherwise would have been.   I give away a lot of free tips for working with your child at http://testingforkindergarten.com.  You can also sign up for a free daily IQ test prep question if you’re interested. 

Karen Quinn left corporate America in 2000 to start a business helping NYC families get their children into the best schools.  After a few years, she sold the business and wrote a satire about her experience called The Ivy Chronicles.  She has since written three other novels.  Testing For Kindergarten is her first work of non-fiction. 

Love this post! Here's a great list of resources for working women craving balance. Must read!

A sea change is afoot in the world of women and work.

Some phenomenal women are at the forefront of this global movement. We blog and Twitter and Facebook, turn avatars into meetups and relationships, burn shoe leather and rack up air miles, teach and present and coach, and persist daily in our devotion to creating balance and equality. Results.

These women have been-there-done that in every sphere of influence. They are sisters, mothers, partners, friends. Board chairs, CEOs, frontline staff, contract workers, consultants, mid-level managers. They are artists, lawyers, activists, journalists, poets, and entrepreneurs.

No matter the niche, we all want one thing: Freedom.

• Freedom to live into mothering as a choice and a profession.
• Freedom to raise children or not raise children.
• Freedom to choose our work style.
• Freedom to be trusted and accountable for the results we promise.
• Freedom to be fairly compensated.
• Freedom to be unfettered by glass ceilings.
• Freedom to be purposeful. To matter. To do good.

That's what women want.

Here are a few of the women and organizations who are lighting the fire daily to assure your wants and needs find voice and traction—advocates, activists, feminists and passionistas who are changing the way we work. Read more.

Here's a great article on why Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are key to today's job hunt!

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Jessica Miller-Merrell

The idea of brand management is growing and gaining momentum among the corporate and professional communities. Over the last two weeks, I have given three presentations on the topic to business and HR professionals and job seekers and received almost a dozen emails and phone calls. Bottom line is your reputation is everywhere and online is no different.

Just recently, Ad Week released a monetary dollar figure attached to Facebook Fan (now Like) Pages. Based on Virtue’s research of their own clients, they determined the average value of a Fan is $3.60. This is the first ROI evaluation I have found that places a value squarely on a personal network. If your friend, fans, connections, subscribers, and followers are now being seen as having value.

Having a strong online brand and presence is essential to your future success in the workforce. I believe over the 12 months, jobs seekers will begin to be evaluated for more than just their education and work experience but social media and networking presence as well. It’s already happening by some very progressive companies like Best Buy who requires 250 Twitter followers to be considered for their social media positions. Read more.

Today we're excited to introduce our guest, Victoria McEvoy, M.D., author of”The 24/7 Baby Doctor: a Harvard Pediatrician Answers All Your Questions from Birth to One Year”. 

On May 4th my new book “The 24/7 Baby Doctor: a Harvard Pediatrician Answers All Your Questions from Birth to One Year” hits the book stores. One chapter in the book concerns the many issues new parents face in deciding work/career solutions after the baby is born and maternity leave is over.

For some families the plan is simple: Dad goes to work and Mom stays home and cares for the baby.  In over thirty years as a pediatrician caring for new families, I’ve found the choices and dilemmas are usually more complex.  Today, most parents are working prior to the delivery of the baby.  Reasons may be financial, but more often both parents have invested significant time and effort in education and training for a stimulating career.  Giving up that career or putting it on hold to raise a family can be an option, but the decision to do so tends to be difficult.  These choices have consequences, especially today when financial demands on families are enormous.

I often see dads bringing in the baby for well child visits while mom is at work.  If a father has been laid off, he may assume the at home duties.   Or a father may work at home or have more flexibility with his schedule.   Frequently, both partners show up with the baby at checkups.  Both are tuned into feeding schedules, diaper duty, and sleep challenges. This is a significant change from three decades ago.  The burden of deciding whether to “Mommy Track” a career no longer falls exclusively in the mother’s lap.  It’s a couple decision.

Maybe your plan is to return to work after the baby is born and maternity leave runs out.  But it no longer surprises me when a successful, ambitious career woman changes her mind and decides to stay home after a few months of stressful job/home juggling.   If you’re a perfectionist, you may not be able to tolerate the feeling that you’re not doing a good job at home or the office.  During these juggling feats, the marriage usually gets the least attention (not to mention personal time for you).

During this transition period, I advise new mothers to give themselves time before making a final work/home decision.   Once routines are established for packing up and dropping the baby off at day care, and making the 5PM or 6PM pick-up deadline, you may start to feel better about working.  You may be able to negotiate a new schedule with your boss, such as one or two days at home telecommuting.   Part-time work can be another option.  Don’t be hasty about making a decision after a bad child care day.  Nannies are sometimes unavoidably late (or come down with the flu).  Day care may be closed on a day you desperately need it, or the baby gets sick at day care and is sent home.  Such glitches happen at times to all dual career couples.

As a mother of four, I’ve had to face some of these issues myself.  As a grandmother, I see my children struggling to figure out a balance between work and childrearing.  Fortunately many work places have become more flexible and family friendly today.  If your choice is to step off the career treadmill for a few years, there are also more and more services to help you re-enter the workforce when you’re ready. Take one day at a time and base your decision on who you are as a person.  Factor in your expectations for your performance as a parent and on the job.  You can have it all, just not all at once.

BY YourOnRamp friend and FC Expert Blogger Cali Yost Wed Apr 7, 2010

There’s no doubt in my mind that the universe has a sense of humor.  A couple of months ago, I solemnly swore that I would 100% disconnect from work when we went on vacation during my children’s Spring Break.  No email (if at all possible), no twitter, no blogging—nothing but focused time with my family. 

Then, as if to test the limits of my resolve, The White House Forum on Workplace Flexibility was scheduled smack dab in the middle of my vacation last week!   Let’s just say that last Wednesday, it was all I could do not to sneak a glimpse at the live feed on The White House website.  But I resisted and am now catching up on all that transpired at this remarkable event.

I’ve read the Council of Economic Advisers “Work-Life Balance and the Economics of Workplace Flexibility” report as well as a number of blog posts about the forum written by participants, many of whom are colleagues I greatly admire.  Here are links to some of my favorites: Read more.

Business Owners, Workers, Business and Labor Leaders, and Experts discussed work life with the Obama's last week.  See NPR coverage here. Also read Mommy blogger, Heather Armstrong of Dooce's story about how flexible work policies might have helped when she was suicidal.

We're so excited to see the White House take on this very important family issue.

Catherine

Are you a showbiz updater? Do you always know who is hot and who is not? How about the rumors about Brad and Angelina? Well, there's many to gossip about, and I guess this is the time to know who is Brooke Burke.

Supposedly, Brooke Burke joining Dancing With The Stars is big news, and it would be if I knew who the heck she is.  I guess she's on E! which means…something.  Maybe Tom Beregon was getting lonely, since Samantha Harris left.  I'm not going to get payday loans to buy all the seasons on DVD anytime soon. 

Another face on another "reality competition show"…I can barely contain my excitement.  I didn't see too many people I was especially tickled to see on the lineup for this year, except Buzz Aldrin.  He was the second man to step foot on another PLANET. 

How about you, what's your ramp?

Good Friday everyone! Just wanted to share one of my latest articles at the SF Examiner Children's Toy Examiner. I am a part time working mom and write for the Examiner for enjoyment. I hope you like my articles, if you do please sign up to be a fan and you will get them in email about once a week.

http://www.examiner.com/x-36042-Santa-Rosa-Childrens-Toys-Examiner~y2010m2d18-A-book-of-sharing-bound-for-happiness

Want Back in the Game?

Check out today's article in Pink Magazine.

Ever taken (or thought about taking) a while off work – to care for family or sail around the world? 30 percent of PINK readers have. But more than 90 percent of women who do so plan to work again. And since the recession started, women who’ve opted out have poured back into the workforce.

Shannon Ingram was a vice president for the world’s second-largest business travel company when she quit to care for elderly parents. Five years later, they needed financial support, so she started job hunting … mid-recession. “Everyone said it would be hard, especially because I was in my 50s.” But six weeks into her search, she was director of marketing for Silverado Senior Living.  

How? During her time-out, she stayed current on business news and technology. “I was one of the first people in my age group on Facebook.” She wrote a book, The Heart Way – A Journey from Corporate to Care. And she volunteered. “I sat on a nonprofit board and substituted in my church office to get back into work-mode.” Plus, new contacts at both helped her land the job! Read more.

I wanted to let you know about an exciting and innovative new program that Sherry Prescott-Willis is teaching at Outside the Cube starting January 29! It's called Marketing Bootcamp: The 90-Day Marketing Challenge. For this program, I promise you we won't be doing physical exercises to get you in shape! Instead, we'll be getting your marketing message and your plan in shape and on track for 2010.

There will be (3) separate sessions to this bootcamp starting on January 29th, and each session will be (2) hours each. These will be small, collaborative sessions where you will learn from other business owners and entrepreneurs as you develop and execute your own 90-day marketing plan.

Challenge a friend to join you and save $150 by signing up together. http://bootcampmarketsv.eventbrite.com/event/475138151 . For more information, go to:www.otcsf.com/events/bootcampmarketsv.

Here's what you will learn and take away from this 90-Day Marketing Challenge:

- Develop and execute upon a 90-day marketing action plan that works for you and your business

- Discover your strengths, re-position your marketing message to customers Identify key growth strategies customized for your business in 2010

- Learn the most cost-effective ways to market to your customers TODAY Brainstorm with other entrepreneurs to gain support and collaborate

- Incorporate innovative ways to drive revenue and new customers into your plans for 2010

I look forward to seeing you join us for the 90-Day Marketing Challenge at Outside the Cube! Childcare available for those who need it. 

For more information on Outside the Cube, go to: http://www.otcsf.com/ . For more information on Market This!: An Effective 90-Day Marketing Tool, go to: www.marketthisbook.com.

One of my favorite work/life writers featured us today in her blog.  This is a wonderful series to jump start your work/life in 2010.

Welcome to Day 5 of the “Work+Life Fit in 5 Days” Series!  It’s time to create a work+life fit plan that best meets your needs and the realities of your job, as they stand today.

Remember, this series not only helps you find your own work+life fit.  It’s equally as important if we want to create more flexible organizations.  That requires a partnership between employer and employee.  Yes, employers need to do their part to create the space where mutually-beneficial flexibility can be discussed and thrive (we need to do more in this area, but we’ve come a long way).  However, we must know how meet our employers halfway, even if they aren’t all joining us at the table… yet (see Fear roadblocks post).

How do you take the vision of what you want and then work through a process that matches that goal with the realities of our work and life? Today, Day 5, introduces you to highlights of that process.

After Days 1-4, You’re Ready and Aware

Before we get started, let’s look back at how the previous four days make it possible for you to create and implement a plan with the greatest likelihood of thriving.   Typically, individuals jump right to the “create a plan,” step.  But first you must have achieved a level of readiness and awareness which we covered in Days 1-4:

Day 1:  What is Work+Life Fit? (Why Does it Matter?) / Seeing the Possibilities

Day 2:  Challenging Work+Life Fit Roadblocks—Success: Money, Prestige, Advancement and Caregiving

Day 3:  Challenging Work+Life Fit Roadblocks—Fear

Day 4:  What Do You Want?  Creating Your Work+Life Fit Vision / Your Internal Guidance

You’re ready, you’re aware, and you have a glimmering idea of what you want, here are the highlights for creating a solid, well-thought out plan.  Like yesterday, we’re covering a lot of territory in the space of a blog post.  Therefore, I am sharing a number of excerpts from the book that will take you to the next level if interested.   Good stuff!

“How to” Roadmap: Making Your Vision a Reality

Excerpt from Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You

“You’ve created your work+life vision—a vision full of imagination and possibility, and free of limitation. Now it’s time to change direction and make that vision a reality. This is where the dreaming ends and the steps to actualize your vision begin.

Your vision must be compatible with the current realities of your work and personal life if your final work+life fit is going to succeed.
This involves a “compare for compatibility” process whereby you compare your vision to each specific aspect of your work and personal life in order to identify and potential mismatches. The goal is to rectify and incompatibility before implementing your work+life fit, thus reducing the chance of being derailed later.

Resolving an incompatibility involves changing the reality of it at all possible, or if that’s not an option, adjusting your original vision. Depending on how far apart your vision and your realities are, all of the comparing and adjusting can transform your vision into a very different final work+life fit plan at the end of the roadmap. This may seem a bit disconcerting. You may wonder why you should exert the effort to create that vision in the first place if it’s only going to change. There are two very good reasons…” (Click here for more or to download or print PDF).

Six Most Common Changes Your Vision Will Involve

Making your work+life vision a reality will most likely involve changes in one or more of the following:

• Why you are working
• What type of work you do
• Whom you work for/with
• How you work
• When you work
• Where you work

CHANGE “WHY” YOU WORK

Excerpt from Work+Life Finding the Fit That’s Right for You

“Believe it or not, finding a better work+life fit can be as simple as reframing why you’re working. For some, the source of conflict is “Why am I doing this type of work or this particular job?” The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to leave your current situation to discover an enhanced sense of purpose. Jim’s Story…” (Click here for more or to download or print PDF).

I’ve written about job crafting and encore careers as two examples of changing the “why” or purpose behind the work you are doing.   It’s makes a difference.

CHANGE “WHAT” YOU DO

Excerpt from Work+Life Finding the Fit That’s Right for You

“ Perhaps your vision for a better work+life fit includes a different job or career altogether. This was my experience when I resolved my work/life conflict by transitioning from banking to work+life strategy consulting. It is also the experience of many of my clients. You can devote the same amount of time and energy to a job that you enjoy and a job you don’t. One will make you feel great, while the other will result in work/life conflict.”  (Click here for more or to download or print PDF).

Yup, sometimes you just don’t like what you are doing, and you need to do a different type of work altogether.  Here are some great online resources/books to help you change careers (please share any others you’ve found helpful):

• Maggie Mistal
• Keppie Careers
• Encore Careers
• CareerDiva
• Alexandra Levit, New Year, New Career
• iRelaunch and YourOnRamp (For people transitioning back into the workforce)

Read more

Girlfriends it is now 2010.  What is on your list to accomplish this year?  

Last year I heard so many women talk about getting back to work.  I would hear in round tables, my kids are in school and I really need to do something.  I am done volunteering in the classroom.  Now it is time for me.  But a lot of you out there never put action behind your words.  This is a new year with new opportunities.

So you know what ladies, no more sitting on the sidelines.  It is your turn..  Jump in.  Fortunately 2010 is finally behind us.  We are seeing corporations slowly start hiring.  Those companies that are hesitant to add head count are offering consulting gigs.  Good news for us, as part time work gives us a way to ease back into working rather than jumping back in full time.  Are you thinking in your head, but how is my family going to handle this?  Just remember everything doable and this is the year for you.  They can manage, but you need to set the expectations.  Are you wondering how to do it?  See my TOP SIX CREATIVE WAYS TO START YOURonRAMP!

1) Try a program or take a class. (Many schools offer programs to help women get back into the workforce, such as Harvard Business School's New Path Program, Stanford's Business School and Rice.)
2) Spend a lot of time on YOUR marketing tools (ie. resume, elevator pitch, interviewing techniques).  There are a lot of companies out their that can help you get started like getinterviews.com for resume writing and interview mastery for help refine your interviewing skills.
3) Contact your old employer for consulting projects, job opportunities or for plain old networking.  Don't underestimate the value of old contacts!  They are the ones that know you best.
4) Start a business.  Tired of someone else's schedule.  Want to set your own hours.  Have a great idea.  Then be your own boss!  Astia, a nonprofit that helps women start businesses, is a great resource to use if you have a business plan and want to take your business to the next level.
5) Join a start up ( which may include project work or working for equity or commission).  Nothing like jumping in with two feet.  In a start up you will wear many different hats which will help you refine all of your potentially dusty skills.
6) Take a volunteer job at a company to try something new (non profits are great for this and there is a class on the website to help with the sector switch).

7) Read YOUR Career OnRamp to help set a plan of attack on how to re-enter the workforce in a capacity that is right for you!

Best of luck.  This is a year to make a difference!

Millie

Ramping up in 2010? Here's my interview with Bay Area Parent.  Enjoy!

Bay Area Parent

Mom’s Minute

Ramping Back a Career

When Tiburon mom Catherine Clifford was ready to return to work, she was frustrated by the dearth of family-friendly options and resources available. She found she wasn’t alone. Other moms were worried that the time they took off to raise families made them obsolete in the workplace.

Concerned about the brain drain to society, Clifford and friend Millie Froeb saw an unfulfilled niche and together launched youronramp.com in 2007. The Web site serves as a resource for women in career transition, and offers social networking, career resources and job opportunities.

With the dawn of the new year (and the condition of today’s economy), many moms are reevaluating their career options. Clifford discusses some of the challenges and opportunities for Bay Area moms and explains why it always pays to keep a foothold in the workplace.

What are on the minds of moms these days in regards to their careers?

Post-financial meltdown, I see families being much more conservative in their options. Women are thinking twice about taking time off for the kids and are looking for ways to stay engaged (and employable).

Instead of fully leaving the workforce to care for family, what other options should moms consider ? Read more.

Great article by Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute

American women are sleep-deprived, and paying a heavy price for it. So on these pages, Arianna Huffington and Cindi Leive just launched a sleep challenge: get a full night's sleep every night for a month. We applaud Arianna and Cindi's call to action - but we have a suggestion: How about launching a sleep challenge to your team at work -- including your boss? Sound impossible -- why would our bosses want us to sleep more? Maybe they would if they knew that our company's bottom line could be the better for it.

Poor sleep is hurting U.S. businesses. Since 2002, Families and Work Institute's National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW) has asked employees directly about how often in the last month they have experienced sleep problems that affect their job performance. The latest data from a nationally representative sample that includes thousands of American employees find that 27 percent have experienced sleep problems that affect their job performance in the last month "at least sometimes," and nine percnt report having sleep problems "often" or "fairly often."

The 2008 NSCW also probes the nature of employees' sleep problems. We find that two-thirds (66 percent) of US employees report having had trouble falling asleep at some point in the last month. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of employees report awakening too soon and having trouble going back to sleep "very often" or "fairly often," with another 27 percent reporting "sometimes" having trouble. This means almost 60 percent of employees surveyed wake up too soon! In fact, only about read more.