7 Secrets to keeping your Job by Sylvia Hepler, Expert in Personal Coaching

My personal long time friend and colleague Ms. Sylvia Hepler, President at www.launching lives.biz published an excellent article on How to Maintain your current job/position in this unsettling and down turned economy!

You can also hear Ms Hepler on Monday at 6:00 PM  November 15th, 2010  on Pennlive.com chatting on how to cope financially with the New Normal Workplace.

Customers still always right!

You heard it "the customer is always right no matter what'! A case in point recent elections where we saw many people vote and vote they did. A public official needs to serve their constituency as if they are the customers. Failure to listen to your customer will lead to lost business and in a politicians case - "their job"!

Changing times are good for our country - are you embracing change?

State Mailing to be sent to Doctors in October

At Gene Veno & Associates we are launching a unique service that will assist health care professionals with maintaining a compliant office practice.

If interested why not visit us at http://www.geneveno.com/ today!

New Business Associate Joins Gene Veno & Associates

I am pleased to announce the newest addition to our Business Instructors Team, Mrs. Julie B. Walker a Meeting Planner who maintains Walker Business Solutions will assist association leaders in understanding the value of engaging a meeting planner for your next association event.

Welcome Julie

Two New Business Associates Join Gene G. Veno & Associates - more to follow

Many years ago when I was working as an association executive I wondered what it would be like to have at one's fingertips a list of qualified experts that could answer in "real time" your question on whatever topic that was of importance at that very moment.  The concept would be as simple as writing to a Certified Public Accountant, or a Certified Insurance Coding Specialist, or a Legal Counsel, etc

There would be such a service I imagined and to my dismay I could not find the service online.  I then realized that someday I would create an expert panel of Professionals who could be of service to associations, businesses, doctors.  That someday is now, since retiring from association work as an executive director I have now assembled a highly competent and effect team of "Business Associates" at http://www.geneveno.com/ where my clients can send an email question and have it answered within 24 hours or less and in some instances immediately.  In addition to this exceptional service, we also have "Online Chat" where you can converse with a Business Associate in "real time"!

Please visit our web site at http://www.geneveno.com/ and see all we have available for your and your staff and board of directors.

New Business Associates are being added each day and as the list grows so too will our excellent service to you our clients!

Best in Life Always,

Gene

Holiday brings renewal, prayer for Jewish Faith - Birth of My Daughter Lady Gianna Lynn

Today is the first full day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year of the individual and of creation, which translates literally as the Day of Reckoning.

Today is also the birth of my daughter some 25 years ago Lady Gianna Lynn blessed our family and is a joy in our lives.  As the Jewish faith begins a renewal in prayer, so too do we celebrate my daughter's life.  Lady Gianna your mom and I love you so very much!

May you have a new beginning on your birthday that will continue the blossoming of your beautiful being

Love dad and mom

Your Purpose in Life

We do not determine our purpose, we detect it! 

Membership in any Association/Organization is a Privlege!

I have heard many reasons why a licensed professional does not need to join their state or national association/organization regardless of for profit or not for profit standing.  You see the excuses are all the same.  Let me recap a few I have heard over my years of consultation with associations seeking to improve their membership:

1. Why do I need to join, you are already doing what needs to be done for me! 
2. I do not have the funds?
3. The Internet provides all I need to maintain my license!
4. Your association/organization is a "Good Old Boys Network"!

I can continue the many excuses but my message here is simply this:

The licensed individual who does not believe in membership will experience an episode in their professional work one day and then they will be the first to become a member.  Sad but so true, they will eventually join and for the wrong reason(s).  They want something from the organization in their time of need.

Don't be that individual who only joins an association/organization to get an issue resolved.  Join an association because it is a privilege to be a part of the greater good.  If your profession works together as a team so much can be accomplished, and so many achievements can be realized.

Associations/organisation's are in business to advocate and protect the profession they serve!  Without an effective association/organization  representing you day in and day out, there cannot be "you"!

Think about it the next time the competition attempts to amend your license, or institute guidelines that will impact the way you practice!  By then membership is too late!

Act now and belong to your respective organization - and begin enjoying the value that comes with the privilege of membership!

Grant Writing 101

Please check this latest powerpoint presentation on http://www.geneveno.com/

How To Structure Your Organization Lobby

An excelent power point now appears on my Linkedin Account and web site http://www.geneveno.com/

Check it out!

Gene

Johnny The Grocery Store Bagger!

You may want to read my post on http://www.geneveno.com/ about Johnny the extraordinary grocery store employee who performs an invaluable service each and every day he works at his work station!

We can all take a tip from Johnny in how we do our work!

"The Simple Truths of Service" by Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glanz and excellent read!

Gene

Do We Know The Names of The Brave Men and Women who Capped the Well?

Do we know their Names? Have you read or heard on any of the national news broadcasts the name of one of the men and women who have been working around the clock the past three and a half months 24/7 to cap the well! I have not and I am asking all who read today's blog to begin asking the question, "Who are these brave men and women who are working to save the Gulf Coast from the disaster that occurred on April 20 where 11 individuals lost their lives.

Let's honor them by mentioning their names and thanking their families!

Do you want to be rich?

Check out my friends blog at



http://www.susanbiali.com/

Dr Susan Biali is a gift of life - if you have not yet encountered her web site, read her books it is time you do so - she will make you smile

Do you have a support system?

Let's face it - these days everyone is feeling the stress of finances and pressure to do more with less at the job site, families running everywhere to keep up with their children's needs, adults whose children are grown left to now take care of their elderly parents - must I write more?

The role of parent, wife, husband has changed and so to must you if you want to keep your sanity.  Develop a support team of friends to help you when you need help.  Let them know you value their support and that you also want to be there for them when they need support.

At work, be caught doing a job that you were not asked to do - show support to your colleagues and develop that team approach to work - if we all do just a little more we may just find we are all doing just a little less!

Try it and write back to me - I know you will be happy with your new approach to projects and even household chores.

You can achieve the career you want - three easy steps

I hear from many of my clients, "how did you create your business"?  "What do you do"?  "How do you know so many people"?

Answers can be found inside all of us if we take the time to reflect on where we are at this very moment in our career, life and set out to accomplish your goals -

Three simple steps:

1. Mindset - if you believe  in yourself you can achieve much for you and those who depend upon you!
2. Focus - if you focus your energies on the positive skill sets you have and truly enjoy doing you will become an expert in what it is you like to do and thus work is no longer work but a joy!
3. Begin - each day set your schedule to improve you and only you in ways that will allow you to move to the next stage in your career.

If you read about those individuals who had long careers one element is constant, they re-invented themselves on a regular basis.

To achieve new lofty goals you cannot remain constant in life - so begin today and challenge yourself to be better than yesterday and get ready because new happenings are ahead of you

Best in Life Always

Gene

New Site to be launched August 3, 2010

Coming soon a new and exciting web site at Gene G. Veno & Associates - the new site will offer interactive real time questions and answers plus new and exciting association management programs.

Check us out at http://www.geneveno.com/ an international management firm assisting companies, corporations and non profits world wide!

Gene

Don't Rush Your Emails

Recently I was speaking to a young professional who was so distraught over a recent email he had sent to potential clients.  What was his frustration?  The young professional sent an email to prospective clients asking them "not" to consider his company for new business!  Hmm, so what should he do?

1. Contact all of his potential clients and apologize for the misunderstanding.
2. Find humor in your mistake - it happens to all of us.
3. If the potential client responds negatively, you can almost be assured that you never had a chance with that client to begin with.

Things happen and knowing you will make mistakes don't take it too hard - there is always another day to do better.

Gene

You Need a Five Year Plan for Success!

Do you have a 5 year personal plan?  Most career minded professional don't!  Those that do achieve much more satisfaction in the work they do.  Are you in a position that does not allow you to grow professionally?  If you are in the same position after 5 years you may be "typed cast" and it is time to reinvent yourself.  It is never too last establish a 5 year personal plan on where you see yourslef in 5 years and be sure all you do today will serve you well into the future - let me explain;

• Whatever you do for a living a career right at this moment in time it will relate to whatever you do in the years to come - so do great work and be known for your work skills.
• It does not matter a wit about age - you need to set goals and work towards them each and every day.
• Have a Personal Business Plan.
• Review your personal business plan reguarly.
• Meet with those who you deem can be mentors to help you develop your personal business plan.

If you begin today following these 5 personal career goals - you will be on your way to a new and exciting career and one you will enjoy!

Now go take on the day and be successful!

Gene

Summer Recess Great Time to Reorganize

With the hot and hazy days of summer upon us why not convene a summer outing for you and your staff to unwind and refocus your business strategic agenda for the fall?  This is a perfect time of the year to analyze your successes from the first two business quarters and yes some not so successful projects and begin to get ready for a whirlwind of a busy remaining two business quarters in 2010.  That is right, half of 2010 is gone and what remains can be the difference of meeting your bottom line year end.

I always recommend to my many clients that if you keep doing the same thing day in and day out you are more likely to complete the same mistakes over and over again.  So why not review what worked and take it a part as you would a powerful engine that just won a race and rebuild it with new and improved working parts.

You see any business has many moveable parts simultaneously working 24/7.  Parts wear out and so do the human element of any business.  Summer is the time to allow staff to work less stressed and you can accomplish this in so many diverse ways.  Change your work hours for July and August.  Relax office summer attire, allow for longer breaks and lunches encourage riding their bikes to the office insist on taking walks in the beautiful weather - these little incentives with recharge your team with the end result a refreshed work force in the fall.

If you are one employee strong or 100 the concept will work! 

So go ahead and enjoy the summer you will be so glad you did.

Gene G. Veno
President/CEO
gene g veno & associates

Are you an association manager/director?

If you are an association manager or board of director and are willing to be interviewed by Gene G. Veno & Associates please let us know.  We are always seeking our new talent in the Association Management Field.  If you feel you have a topic or article to place on our site please send to us and our editors will review and advise you when it is posted to our web site at http://www.geneveno.com/

Lobbying Can be Easy if you follow Gene's steps for success

I recently presented to a group of association and business professionals on how to structure an effective lobby organization for your members.  Yes it can be easy but there is much that needs to be understood before you venture out to discuss your many issues with your local and state legislators.

Why not visit our web site at http://www.geneveno.com/ and select the power point on "How to Structure and Effective Lobby Organization for your Membership"  - we have made the power point available to the general public at no cost.

Gene G. Veno & Associates introduces a new speaker to "Boost Camp"

I had the pleasure of interviewing an excellent motiviatial speaker today by the name of Merle Margolese of Margolese Presents whose web site  is http://www.mmpresents.com/  three excellent topics are now available:

• Communication
• Goals and Time Management
• Referrals and how to obtain them

Today I learned something

Today I learned that no matter what organization or profession or society of individuals you represent there will always be two and three sides if you will that will speak ill of who you represent! I have been an advocate for Podiatrists, Psychologists, Chiropractors, Pharmacists, Nutritonalists, Public Insurance Adjusters, and the list continues. I have served in public office I have lobbied for the above names associations and what I learned today that there will always be those who will not see the value in the profession you represent! I am not discouraged or in anyway dejected, you see the take away here is simply this:

1. Believe in who you allign yourself with.

2. Represent the Issues not the profession.

3. Feel the passion of what the profession is trying to accomplish.

4. Be sincere and honest in what you do!

If you cannot follow these simple steps - then advocacy is not for you!

Economy Picking Up

Traveling to Florida today for a business meeting I have seem something that I have not seen for a long
Time - Business Travel is up and
It appears employers are beginning
To hire once again.

If you are not yet employed
Don't give up - begin sending
Resumes out and although you will
Not get a response on every mailing
You can be assured you will get
At least 1 response. Rule of thumb, for every
10 letters you mail - 1 is
Bound to respond! Try it and see
I am sure you will be glad
You did!

You know when it is time - 3 Principles to Follow

I have managed successfully many national and state associations.  The past 12 years I managed effectively  a state association and during that time have encountered much joy, happiness and heartache.   Building something is the joy, seeing it functuion is oure happiness, watching it change as a result of negative people is the heartache!  Let me explain.  If you stay anywhere for a period of time you will generate detractors to your management style.  It is human nature it is what it is.  My recommendation is to follow these three principles:

1. Embrace change head on - accept the fact that what you accomplished was what was needed at that time and new horizons are ahead of you!
2. Don't wallow in the heartache - move on and move up!  Your skills have prepared you well to take on the next challenge!
3. Leave with dignity and respect!  It is not personal it is business and in business change is good for an organization and for you.

Summary:

If you are in a current position more than 5 years it is time to rethink your future before it is rethought for you!

Best in Life Always

Gene

Board Members and their Role

I have served on many boards both for profit and not for profit and I have served board members as president, ceo and executive vice president for a not for profit and for profit board.  My belief is simply this.  No matter the type of board you serve on you will always encounter a multitude of personalites and egos that will cause great distress when there is no need for it to ever happen.

You see, all it takes is one Board Member who believes his or her idea is the "only idea" and you create a level of organized chaos that can tear down the goals and objectives of a board.  Board Members are people who have real lives and responsibilites too, so they will only allow themselves to take so much and if the negativity of one board member persists you can be sure two things will occur:

1.  A Board Member will withdraw and not contribute in that they will feel their opinion would not be well received

2.  A Board Member will stop being helpful and may even stop attending scheduled meetings which will result in a gradual way of saying goodbye farwell!

Don't let one of two negative Board Members ruin your Board.  Confront them - educate them on what you see and feel and begin an open dialouge where you professionally confront them when they are going to far with their issues especially if the majority of the board is not willing to vote or accept what is being debated.  Do not allow negative board members to take control of your issues - let them know you are watching and keenly observing them and if they continue you will call for their removal from a committee or board position.

Boards of all venues are in a critical way with the economy being what it is.  Spend your time on planning the future not debating the past issues.

Move forward and keep your Board Members on notice that you will not tolerate insubbordination or negativtity - a Board member is an ambassador of the organization and they need to act and demonstrate that they care first about their organization and do so by being proactive!

Veno interviews Auditor General Jack Wagner

It was a personal honor and pleasure to interview the Honorable Auditor Jack Wagner who is also a candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania.  I am interviewing all Candidates for Governor in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and plan to complete all interviews by end of February 2010.

Why not call a legislator or a business person you admire and is  successful to ask them how they achieved career success.

Let's face it we all want to be asked a question that we believe can help a colleague or a friend.  So an interview is the best way to achieve results.

Back To Basics

To be successful in a competitive industry such as association management, one needs to do things differently. You simply have to swim up stream! You can never allow yourself to drift along especially in today's downturn economy. If you are an executive of a for profit company or an association director the rules have changed and so must you.

Managing any business today is like flying a plane without automatic pilot. Take control of the yoke and begin soaring as you navigate through the difficult times ahead. If you get shot down that is okay, you see I always say, "You cannot get shot down if you are not flying"!

Now take off and set your plans to achieve and believe that the future is yours to have,

Best of Life Always,

gene

Take Charge of Your Career

With the uncertainty in today's economic climate are you prepared to take charge of your career before it is too late? We have seen downsizing, right sizing and now what I like to call it, "Capsizing" of Careers and Business Employment on a grand scale. Don't be caught in the employment situation where one day you find your position no longer is needed and in many cases as we have seen in 2009 they are eliminated!

Boost Camp is one sure fire way to "Take Charge" of your future by preparing your mindset to acquire security and create career changing opportunities so you will never be left with out direction in your career.

Best of Life Always,

Gene
www.geneveno.com