Six Rules For Networking at Work:

 When we talk about networking, we often focus on connecting with people outside our organizations. But networking with colleagues is just as crucial. Well-networked people bridge the organizational silos that plague all organizations, and make their firms more collaborative and effective. But networking for the sake of networking? Adding as many contacts as humanly possible? That’s a time-sink and a distraction. In this slideshow, we’ll review the rules of being an effective organizational networker, a lynchpin of productivity. 

Rule 1. Build outward, not inward. The first four rules will help you get better at identifying effective networking opportunities. Start by remembering that the point of collaborative networking is to connect people who wouldn't ordinarily work together. Don't waste your time deepening connections with people you already know. Balance these connections by staying in touch with people on other teams or in other business units.

Rule 2: Go for diversity, not size. A bloated Rolodex used to signal a skilled networker. Let's hope that idea soon goes the way of the Rolodex itself. Rather than aiming for a massive network, focus on building an efficient one. This requires knowing people with different skills and viewpoints. They should be different from you, of course, but also different from one another.

Rule 3: Build weak ties, not strong ones. This might seem counterintuitive. After all, wouldn't your closest friends – your strongest ties – help you the most? But remember, strong ties are the people you already know well and talk to frequently. A strong tie is probably someone who knows a lot of the same people you do, whereas a weak tie forms a bridge to a world you don't walk in. And to keep a weak tie, you only need to touch base a couple of times a month.

Rule 4: Use hubs, not familiar faces. When facing a problem at work, most of us will ask a close contact for help. But because we tend to befriend people at our own level, our closest contacts are unlikely to know more than we do. Instead, identify the "hubs" in your company — the people who are already great organizational networkers — and ask them to connect you to someone who knows more. Hubs tend to be long-tenured people who've worked on a variety of teams and projects. If you're in a leadership role, consider it part of your job to help develop more hubs. 

Rule 5: Swarm the target. This rule, and the next, will help you capture value. Say you've built a diverse network of weak ties. Using the help of a hub, you've identified someone who can help you: a target. Before you approach that person, you need to enlist the help of your network to increase the odds that she will come through. Ask a shared contact to reach out to the target person. Ask your boss to talk to your target's boss. Invoke your shared goal (after all, you do work for the same company) and remember reciprocity: offer to help in return.

Rule 6: If people aren't pulling together, strengthen ties. "Team building" has become something of a punchline, but there are times when it's necessary. If you're managing a project that requires crossing organizational silos, and following the previous rules has not provided results, it's worth investing the time and resources to build stronger connections. Help the team get to know each other better. You'll start to see results.  

Following these rules will help you become more collaborative without wasting your time. Teaching them to others will create organization-wide results. Start by mapping the networks in your business, both formal and informal. Look at the structure: who are the hubs and who are the islands? Evaluate for diversity: do networks cross organizational and geographic silos? Do they include senior and junior people, men and women, and people from different backgrounds? Identify the weak spots and tailor your intervention. The result will be an organization that collaborates, yes, but that does so with discipline.

 

 

Why have you been so successful in reaching some of your goals, but not others? If you aren't sure, you are far from alone in your confusion. It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people are pretty lousy when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail. The intuitive answer — that you are born predisposed to certain talents and lacking in others — is really just one small piece of the puzzle. In fact, decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.

1. Get specific. When you set yourself a goal, try to be as specific as possible. "Lose 5 pounds" is a better goal than "lose some weight," because it gives you a clear idea of what success looks like. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve keeps you motivated until you get there. Also, think about the specific actions that need to be taken to reach your goal. Just promising you'll "eat less" or "sleep more" is too vague — be clear and precise. "I'll be in bed by 10pm on weeknights" leaves no room for doubt about what you need to do, and whether or not you've actually done it.

2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling at once, it's not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to notice them. Did you really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving your goal means grabbing hold of these opportunities before they slip through your fingers.

To seize the moment, decide when and where you will take each action you want to take, in advance. Again, be as specific as possible (e.g., "If it's Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I'll work out for 30 minutes before work.") Studies show that this kind of planning will help your brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing your chances of success by roughly 300%.

3. Know exactly how far you have left to go. Achieving any goal also requires honest and regular monitoring of your progress — if not by others, then by you yourself. If you don't know how well you are doing, you can't adjust your behavior or your strategies accordingly. Check your progress frequently — weekly, or even daily, depending on the goal.

4. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure.

5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Believing you have the ability to reach your goals is important, but so is believing you can get the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won't improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.

Fortunately, decades of research suggest that the belief in fixed ability is completely wrong — abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable. Embracing the fact that you can change will allow you to make better choices, and reach your fullest potential. People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.

6. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Studies show that gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The good news is, if you aren't particularly gritty now, there is something you can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don't have the innate abilities successful people have. If that describes your own thinking .... well, there's no way to put this nicely: you are wrong. As I mentioned earlier, effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes to succeed. Embracing this knowledge will not only help you see yourself and your goals more accurately, but also do wonders for your grit.

7. Build your willpower muscle. Your self-control "muscle" is just like the other muscles in your body — when it doesn't get much exercise, it becomes weaker over time. But when you give it regular workouts by putting it to good use, it will grow stronger and stronger, and better able to help you successfully reach your goals.

To build willpower, take on a challenge that requires you to do something you'd honestly rather not do. Give up high-fat snacks, do 100 sit-ups a day, stand up straight when you catch yourself slouching, try to learn a new skill. When you find yourself wanting to give in, give up, or just not bother — don't. Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how you will deal with troubles when they occur ("If I have a craving for a snack, I will eat one piece of fresh or three pieces of dried fruit.") It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier, and that's the whole point. As your strength grows, you can take on more challenges and step-up your self-control workout.

8. Don't tempt fate. No matter how strong your willpower muscle becomes, it's important to always respect the fact that it is limited, and if you overtax it you will temporarily run out of steam. Don't try to take on two challenging tasks at once, if you can help it (like quitting smoking and dieting at the same time). And don't put yourself in harm's way — many people are overly-confident in their ability to resist temptation, and as a result they put themselves in situations where temptations abound. Successful people know not to make reaching a goal harder than it already is.

9. Focus on what you will do, not what you won't do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., "Don't think about white bears!") has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken.
If you want change your ways, ask yourself, What will I do instead? For example, if you are trying to gain control of your temper and stop flying off the handle, you might make a plan like "If I am starting to feel angry, then I will take three deep breaths to calm down." By using deep breathing as a replacement for giving in to your anger, your bad habit will get worn away over time until it disappears completely.

 

London, England (CNN) -- Britain's Prince William asked his girlfriend Kate Middleton to marry him, he said Tuesday, setting up the most anticipated royal wedding since Prince Charles and Diana, princess of Wales, got married nearly 30 years ago.

William gave Diana's sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring to his fiancee when he popped the question during a vacation in Kenya last month, he said.

"It's my mother's engagement ring, so of course it's very special to me, and Kate's now very special to me, so it was only right to put the two together," he said Tuesday.

"It was a total shock" when the prince proposed, Middleton said, adding that she was very excited. "We were out there with friends and things, so I really didn't expect it at all."

The ring, a huge sapphire surrounded by diamonds, was last seen in public on the day Charles and Diana divorced, royal biographer Mark Saunders told CNN. That was in 1996.

William said there was "no pressure" for Middleton to emulate Diana.

"It's about carving your own future," he said. "No one is trying to fill my mother's shoes."

The couple seemed happy and relaxed in their first interview after announcing the engagement Tuesday, teasing each other about his cooking and his romanticism, each drawing laughter from the other.

Tuesday's announcement ends years of speculation about whether and when the prince -- who is second in line to the British throne -- would propose to his longtime girlfriend.

The prince and Middleton, both 28, have been dating since 2003.

"It was the right time and I'm very glad to have done it," William said in an appearance with Middleton.

"We're obviously thrilled," said William's father Prince Charles. "They've been practicing long enough."

"They make a lovely couple, they're great fun to be with and we've had a lot of laughs together," said Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton. "We've got to know William really well. We all think he's wonderful and we're extremely fond of him."

The wedding will take place in London in the spring or summer of 2011, Charles's office at Clarence House said. It said further details would be announced "in due course."

"Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya," the statement said. "Prince William has informed the queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father.

"Following the marriage, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force."

William's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, are "absolutely delighted for them both," Buckingham Palace said.

His brother Prince Harry said he was "delighted that my brother has popped the question! It means I get a sister, which I have always wanted."

Clarence House refused to say what Middleton will be called after she gets married, saying any styles and titles are at the discretion of the queen.

William met Middleton in 2002 when both were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They started dating a year later.

Prince William studied geography and Middleton studied history of art before both graduated in 2005. William was originally in the same art program but changed to geography; Middleton was widely credited with persuading him to change course rather than drop out.

They first appeared as a couple on a skiing trip in Switzerland while still at the university.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he spoke to Prince William after the news was announced and passed on his congratulations.

"It's great to have a piece of unadulterated good news that everyone can celebrate," Cameron said. "I'm sure it will be something where the country will come together. ... It's two young people who love each other who've made this decision, and it's a fantastically important and exciting moment for them, too."

Middleton grew up in Bucklebury, England, a small village about 45 miles west of central London. Her parents are millionaire entrepreneurs who run Party Pieces, an online children's party supplies business.

After university, Middleton worked in London as an accessories buyer for the British clothing chain Jigsaw but left the company in late 2007. Media reports said she was interested in opening a photography gallery.

She is working now with her parents' business, she said.

Prince William has a military career and is active in several charities. In September, he graduated from a military search-and-rescue training course and was posted to RAF Valley, the station on the island of Anglesey in north Wales.

He is known as Flight Lieutenant Wales within the RAF.

Middleton lives with her fiance at a house in Anglesey, giving them some privacy from the press and paparazzi, said Eve Pollard, a former editor of the Sunday Mirror newspaper.

The choice of 2011 as the year for the wedding makes sense, she said, because two major events are already scheduled for the following year.

The Olympic Games take place in London in 2012, the same year the queen plans to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the throne.

"Next year was always marked in as the year," Pollard said.

Nicholas Davies, the author of "William: The Rebel Prince," said he thinks William was pressured to come through with the engagement.

"I do believe this came down from the queen and Prince Philip, who is still a very strong character despite his venerable age," Davies told CNN. "They would have said, 'This has gone on long enough. The press knows you're getting married. It's about time you came out and made it known.'"

As for when in 2011 the couple will marry, Clarence House refused to speculate. Bookmakers Paddy Power on Tuesday were offering 3-1 odds on August 13, 2011, being the wedding date, and 4-1 odds on August 6.

It said Saturday, July 30, was less likely, at 10-1 odds, because it falls just a day after the 30th anniversary of the wedding of Charles and Diana.

The location for the wedding was also being kept secret, though Richard Fitzwilliams, a public relations consultant and royal commentator, told CNN he expects it to happen at Westminster Abbey, probably in July.

William and Middleton broke up in April 2007, despite widespread speculation even then that they were close to marriage. The split was said to be amicable, with the couple determined to remain friends, and the two appeared together in the royal box at Wembley Stadium that July for the Concert for Diana, a charity event to remember William's mother 10 years after her death.

The pair were seen together several more times that summer and were dating again by the end of the year.

Middleton's family is seen as upper-middle class. Such a background bodes well for her future role at the side of the future king, according to Lady Colin Campbell, who wrote a biography of Princess Diana.

"The problem with recent royal brides who were aristocratic is that they thought they were doing the royal family a favor by marrying them," she told CNN, "while the middle-class girls like Sophie Wessex, the countess of Wessex (married to Prince Charles' brother, Edward), and Kate Middleton understand that to be royal requires some sacrifice, and they do not suffer from folie de grandeur [delusion of greatness] the way aristocratic girls evidently do nowadays."

William biographer Davies, however, said he feels the opposite about Middleton, who he said lacks the "charisma" shown by William's mother.

"Remember that this young lady has no royal connections whatsoever, and that can be a danger," he said.

But journalist Pollard said William chose his bride carefully.

"I think the queen's understood that it's very important for William to make a happy marriage," Pollard told CNN. "He watched his parents be unhappy, and the fact that they [William and Middleton] have stayed together for so long and they have been together for so long rather proves that they get on very well."

 

1. PLIE:

Sex Perk: Improves strength and flexibility in the lower body.

Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart,toes pointed out,hands on your hips (a). Slowly bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor (b). Return to start. That's one rep.Do 12 to 15.

2. GLUTE BRIDGE:

Sex perk: Raises endurance in the pelvic muscles, improving orgasm.

Lie on the floor, arms at your sides, knees bent, and heels on the floor (a). Lift your hips until your knees, hips, and shoulders form a straight line (b).Hold for two seconds, then return to start. That's one rep. Do 20.

3. STABILITY BALL JACKKNIFE:

Sex perk: Strengthens the core to hold various positions.

Get into a pushup position with your shins on a stability ball, palms on the floor (a). Slowly pull your knees toward your chest (b). Straighten your legs to roll the ball back to start. That's one rep. Do 10 to 15.

4. HINGE

Sex perk: Improves flexibility and strengthens the quads and core.

Kneel on the floor with your hands at your sides (a). Keeping your head and spine in line with the thighs, slowly lean back (b). Hold for three seconds, then return to start. That's one rep. Do 15.

 

When navigating through dangerous waters a wise captain keeps an eye on certain signs. The shape and size of certain waves, the color of the water at critical points, the presence of rocks or sandbars, things that can be difficult to spot for the untrained eye. The truly wise captain knows these signs because he or she has sailed through treacherous waters before and survived to sail again. And they constantly watch for the signs.

But what if you had never charted your way through rough stretches before? How do you know what you should be looking for? It’s been said that a smart man is one that learns from his mistakes--a wise man learns from other people’s mistakes. While there may be many warning signs that indicate a business is heading into dangerous seas, there are a certain few that every business owner must be diligently aware of.

Don’t be a Captain Smith

I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern ship building has gone beyond that .
– Captain Edward J. Smith, HMS Titanic

On April 15, 1912 the HMS Titanic sank in the early morning darkness after having struck an iceberg two and half hours prior. Tragically, over 1,500 people perished. The Titanic was on its maiden voyage and considered nearly unsinkable by the owners and many of the officers and crew on board.

Unfortunately, very few lifeboats were filled to maximum capacity when they were lowered from the Titanic into the icy water. This caused the death toll to rise dramatically. When the order came from Captain Smith to commence loading the lifeboats, the Titanic's officers were probably unaware of the magnitude of the situation. Their apparent complacency did not instill a sense of urgency in the passengers and therefore caused many of them to balk at the opportunity to get into a lifeboat.

In retrospect it has been easy to see that many signs were ignored, dismissed, or simply regarded with a cursory acknowledgment. While your business certainly does not compare with an ocean liner, the same unfortunate results could occur from a combination of ill-preparedness, complacency and the inability to recognize and appreciate the danger signs.

The twin dangers evident in the Titanic disaster were ignorance, or lack of knowledge, and presumptuousness. Key players in charge of the ship were either woefully ill-equipped to see and recognize the danger signs, or were overly confident that nothing of that magnitude could happen to “their” ship. While we trust that most business owners are wise enough to know that their “ships” are not unsinkable, not every owner is necessarily aware or knowledgeable of what danger signs to watch for.

The Seven Deadly Signs

1. You don’t know where your next sale is coming from .
   Having a consistent and reliable flow of customers and sales is essential for the health and growth of any business. Marketing and lead generation must be effective and ongoing in order to provide the flow of sales, current and future, needed for planning and for implementing strategy.
2. Your employees are unhappy or demoralized.
   The culture, environment and atmosphere of your business will have a direct impact on your customers by way of client fulfillment, customer service, and overall productivity and quality. Unhappy and demoralized staff will not perform to the standards you want and this will have a tangible effect.
3. You feel like you can never be away or take a vacation.
   If the functioning of your business is wholly dependent on you and your presence, it will never grow further than that. You must have an effective management component in place to free you from your business enough to have a life outside of the business.
4. You are losing more customers than you are gaining.
   It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that if you are consistently losing more customers than you are making it is simply a matter of time before you have less customers than you need to break even. And if that trend continues you will be taking on water – or red ink!
5. The company’s objectives are not clearly defined to your employees.
   This is a bit more insidious but still critical sign of trouble. Imagine a soccer team where none of the players know what the team was trying to accomplish. It’s not enough to simply “do your job” – everyone needs to know the vision, the strategy for getting there, and how they fit in with it all.
6. Your business is constantly in a “survival” mode.
   This can actually be a combination of signs and symptoms, but the general sense of it is easily recognized and can be deadly for a business owner. The daily onslaught of unpaid vendors, outstanding receivables and lack of sales can grind away at you and take the wind out of your sails.
7. The passion is gone and you dread going to work every day.
   A loss of passion can be attributed to any number of things, but is usually a result of the combined toll of many of the signs listed above. It could be argued that a business owner who has no passion for what he or she is doing is on a fast-track to “jumping ship,” to keep to our metaphors.

Smooth Sailing

Despite economic and other conditions, the reality is that most any business can not only survive, but thrive and grow while avoiding taking on water or losing direction. How do you avoid these pitfalls?

• Be at the helm at all times
• Have a map and a destination
• Keep both hands on the wheel
• Maintain a diligent watch for warning signs

As the business owner this is part of your primary accountability to yourself and to your employees, customers and vendors. It has been said that although the destination is important, it is the journey that makes the venture worthwhile in the end.

 

 

Purses and handbags have their origins in early pouches used to carry seeds, religious items and medicine. Early on, both men and women carried pouches. In the 15th century, a purse was a traditional gift from a groom to his bride. The bags typically were elaborately embroidered with an illustration of a love story. In New Guinea, centuries ago, both men and women carry large knit bags which looked like nets decorated with feathers, seashells and other mementos. The more shells a person had was a sign that they had many people who lived by the sea.

Chenoune says that the similarity between an haute couture tote and a satchel belonging to an African witch is that both bags hold a secret of some sort. He says bags are very personal, it holds the things you need for the day and the things you want to have, just for comfort or hobby. People began carrying items from home when the traveled, even on short trips. Items such as a deck of cards, knitting, a diary as well as beauty and personal items could be brought along.
Traditional wallets began as early as the 16th century, as small leather pouches which a drawstring tie could loop through a belt. Also in the 16th century there were ‘sweet’ bags that women used often as lavender bags to scent their handkerchiefs. Pockets, called bagges were also introduced into clothes around the same time and allowed people to carry small personal belongings.

By the late 18th century, women’s clothing was more form fitting and pockets ere not easily accommodated into the garment. Women began carrying small, often silk embroidered drawstring bags or purses called reticules, or 'ridicules'. These bags often carried a handkerchief, fan, dance card, perfume, or face powder. Reticules were smaller version of what women used to carry their needlework. This is likely the origin of the Dorothy bag which has since emerged as shoe bags, dress bags, laundry bags and today, gym bags.

The Victorian period brought a large variety of bags. Bags often were made t coordinate with the outfit and were now made of many different fabrics. By the mid 1800’s, bags changed from simply drawstring styles, to a popular flat style, that could be made in either a circular or square shape and was generally heavily decorated with beading and needlework. Patterns and directions for making these types of purses became popular in ladies magazines at that time.

There were also smaller versions, used as coin purses which often included a metal fastener.
By the early 20th century, women were carry bags every time they left home, even for short periods while hats were popular accessories that began to loose popularity by the early 20th century, handbags became increasingly popular. The success of the handbag has much to do with the fact that it has adapted to the needs of the time. Handbags held cigarettes, sunglasses rather than seeds and medicines. Years ago, it was ladylike to carry as little as possible. A small bag was typical. Today women are gone form home for longer periods of time, frequently working or if not, often with children along . The size of the typical bag has increased to meet the need. Eleanor Roosevelt is noted as a sing of the time as a very busy and active woman herself, she carried a large leather handbag not necessarily typical of the time.

Shoulder bags became popular during World War II and twentieth century technology opened up a variety of new f textures and materials from synthetics to hand-woven straws. Casual bags were made in rain proof materials and special tote bags for the beach developed. The variety of fabrics carried over to all hand bag designs and it has become common place for women to have many handbags, to meet the need of the occasion. It became fashionable for men to carry bags during the 1970’s though they were generally hobo style casual bags and even today, while it is not unusual to see a man with a messenger bag, hobo or some other form of tote, it is surely not common place.

Handbag Designers and Companies

Coach
Coach began as a family run business in a Manhattan loft. The company started with just a handful of artisans who made high-quality leather goods. The founder of Coach was influenced and inspired by a baseball glove when which he knew got softer after use, thought he leather retained its beauty. The glove-tanned leather continues to be used by Coach. Coach began with twelve simple bag designs, focusing on classic designs for handbags. In 1988, Coach noticed a decline in sales as a more eclectic fabric and mixed material bag became popular. Coach at the time, was vowed by women as making more traditional and conservative design. In response, Coach made some changes to the design and began using more fabric and developed the signature “C” print.

That change as very successful and Coach continued to grow and develop new designs. The company has since expanded to include briefcases, planners, computer cases and a travel collection. In 1985, the Sara Lee Company purchased Coach and in 2000 the company went public. Coach has found that some of the expansion and newer designs have not been well received by some of the older loyal customers. A move back to the classic handbag began recently to address this concern.

Gucci
Gucci Gucci began his leather goods company in Florence, Italy in 1921. He was very influenced by the years he spent working in England before returning to Florence to open his own company. His equestrian-inspired detailing such as the horse bit and stirrup motif came from the English influences and became a long time symbol for Gucci. The label was very successful.
In 1947, the company introduced the bamboo handle which has remained popular. In the 1950’s, the trademark green-red-green became very successful and remains one of the most familiar identifiers of the brand. Gucci expanded and Stores opened in Milan, NY, London, Palm Beach, Paris and Beverly Hills. In 1953, Guccio Gucci died in 1953, and his son’s Aldo, Vasco, Ugo and Rodolfo took over the business.

Some of the best known Gucci designs include the “Jackie O” Gucci shoulder bag. The Hobo bag became popular in the 1960’s with celebrities such as Liz Taylor and Peter Sellers wearing them. The classic Gucci moccasin with horse bit hardware became a part of the permanent collection at the Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art. The interlocking double G logo was adopted by Gucci in the 1960’s. In 1982 Gucci became a public limited company and in1995 Gucci became a fully public company. Gucci was named “European company of the year in 1998 by the European Business Press Federation.
Today, Guicci is recognized by a variety of details including, gold hardware for simple understated luxury, braided or chain straps for added distinction, accents such as tassels, charms, or studs, detachable shoulder straps. Flap or top closures with either zippers or magnets for security., a sturdy bottom feet to support larger bags, interior and exterior pockets and of course the signature interlocking double G logo.

Prada
Prada is an Italian company founded in 1913 by Mario Prada. His granddaughter, Miuccia inherits the company in 1978, at which time it was still a leather goods business. She has led the company to huge expansion. Prada has 14 locations in the U.S. Prada acquired Rome-based Fendi in the early 1990s.but later sold its shares to the Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) Company.  Prada has developed a newer, slight more affordable line called, Mui Mui after Miuccia Prada which is targeted toward a younger market. Prada purses are know for their sturdy, functional, and yet fashionable design. Handbags often include leather, fur trim, gold and silver hardware, contrasting stitching, magnetic snap closures, zippered inner pockets and detachable identifications tags or key rings. Of course the Prada logo plates always displayed. Prada purses typically come in neutral colors that emphasize practicality. They occasionally offer bolder prints and patterns.

Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton began as a trunk manufacture in Paris in 1854,. Luggage continues t be a major market today for the company. The design is well known and recognized with the familiar beige and brown LV monogram. The Vuitton line gained international When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, his son, Georges, took over and expanded the company, developing, developing what is recognized as the first "designer label" on a product.
The company's monogram canvas design was created in 1896 by Vuitton’s son Georges and was intended to prevent counterfeiting. However, , Louis Vuitton has become the most counterfeited brand in fashion history. It is estimated that just over 1% of all items with the Vuitton brand name on them, are actual Louis Vuitton’s. The rest are counterfeit.
What started as Vuitton's luggage company has become a world leader in luxury goods. In 1936, after Georges died, his son, Gaston-Louis, took over the company. Vuitton merged with Moët-Hennessey in 1977 and became LVMH. Ten years later, in , 1987; LVMH bought Givenchy .In 1998 Vuitton joined with designer Mac Jacobs and expanded the company further into the high fashion market.

Fendi
Fendi began as a leather and fur workshop established by Adele Casagrande in Rome, in 1918. When she married, she changed the company name to that of her husband. Fendi, like many of the luxury companies, has been a family run and owned business. Today, the company is run by the five daughters of the Fendi’s. They became involved with the business after the death of their father in 1954. The Fendi daughters moved the company from fur and leathers, to a high fashion profile. In 1999 Fendi was bought by Prada-LVMH. Over the decades the Fendi became more and more popular, and is now known worldwide. Fur continues to be a major market for Fendi.
Modern Day

Today, a woman without her handbag feels at a loss. A woman's handbag continues to hold her own personal tastes and her secrets. Handbags are so personal, that it is clearly understood that one just does not look into another person’s handbag.The handbag, and the fact that male handbags never quite caught on, remains a huge difference between the sexes. Men continue to carry everything in their pockets, and men’s clothing, unlike women’s always has pockets. A man wearing a suit and overcoat can easily have ten pockets at his disposal while women in a suit and a jacket might have none, or only a couple shallow decorative pockets. Women need the handbag.

The Psychology behind the Handbag & Purse
Some psychologists think that the way a woman carries her bag is characteristic. The term "bagology" was coined in a 1940’s newspaper article on handbags that attempted to explain he science t men. The article claimed that, the way a woman carriers her purse tells a lot about her. Handbags do say a lot about a woman .Just as you can tell a lot about a person from their clothing, you can also tell a lot about a person simply from the handbags they carry. Below is a perceptive, though not scientific observation from Cathy Feldman on the website http://www.designerhandbags101.com

Handbag Styles

·Under-the Shoulder – Handbags which are smaller and fit tightly underneath the shoulder indicate class and sophistication. A women working in an upscale office or someone of high stature would choose this form of handbag.

·Big and Bulky – Big, bulky and oversized bags are casual and are often associated with younger individuals. These are used for individuals who carry a number of things (binders, books etc) and require a lot of space. Down-to-earth, lower-maintenance women would carry this type of handbag.

·Designer – Designer handbags often cost an arm and a leg and therefore are usually associated with high-maintenance females. Females who are confident and require top of the line accessories will settle for nothing less than a name-brand designer purse. Guys – watch out for these girls, they tend to be a handful.

·Cigar Box Purses – A women who carries a cigar box purse likes to be unique and stand out from the crowd. These women have minds of their own and cannot be told what to do. They are comfortable in their own skin and tend to be very independent.

·Leather with Buckles and Zippers – Women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers are leashing out their wild sides. These women tend to act before they think and are always ready for a good time. The extra buckles and zippers tend to signify a “bad girl" image.

·Bright Colors – Bright colored handbags like pink, purple, bright blue and green indicate that the woman is fun, friendly and approachable. Women who are out-going and sociable will tend to choose these colors. This is the type of woman who will strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.

·Black and Brown – Women who choose black or brown handbags tend to be more reserved and are often mistaken as being snobby or restricted. These types of handbags are often associated with down-to-earth women, who are shy at first, but open up after a while. They tend to exude a shy confidence, which is sometimes mistaken as someone who thinks she’s better than others.

·The Bucket - as its name implies, is shaped like a bucket with four rivets for two short straps so that the purse sits just under the shoulder. This is a roomy, slouchy style. They provide a lot of room and often have pockets. The drawback of this style is that it can be hard to find anything in a deep bucket style bag

The Envelope - also as the name implies, is shaped like an envelope and is a popular, basic purse that is smaller, neater and feminine, often used for more formal occasions thought these are available in casual designs also.

·The Satchel - an extremely popular design as it can be an attractive handbag, but is big enough to carry everything you need for the day. The satchel is a bit like a suitcase with two short handles so t can be carried with hands or over the cook of the elbow. This design is easy to set down on a floor or table without the contents spilling out of the bag, which makes it seem neater than some of other bags.

·The Hobo Bag - traditionally, is a casual design that can be carried by both women and men. Hobo is now an actual brand name.

· The Clutch - a small, square bag like large wallets and is often used as evening bags. These are generally small bags, so just hold the absolute necessities.

·The Shoulder Bag - It has of course, a longer strap so the purse can be hung on the shoulder. This design is hand for everyday as it allows you to keep your hands free for other things.

·Messenger Bags - are more like backpacks, and in fact many students now us these instead of the traditional backpack for books and school supplies. This design grew from the actual bags that messengers on bicycles in the cites used. This design is also popular with men as an alternative to a traditional briefcase.

·The Shopper Style Bag - is a big bag for carrying everything you need for the day, plus what you might buy along the way. This bag can actually be used as an overnight or weekend bag as well.
Today handbags are not just a fashion statement and they are not just for practical purpose, the need to be both. And sometime, women carry more than one bag at the same time, especially those with a long day ahead and a need to be prepared for the office, the gym and a dinner party all by the time they leave the house in the morning.

The variety of handbag and purse designs keeps getting bigger and more unique and interesting. Current rends are towards cloth and monogrammed bags. Dog bags have become poplar as we note many celebrities carrying their small dogs with hem at all times.
The recent trend is away from backpacks style and toward and oversized handbags. Women want a more fashionable handbag that can also be used as a as a briefcase, laptop case and handbag, and even baby bag. The bags are getting bigger and bigger to meet all of the needs, and carry all of the stuff. This means of course, that carrying a bag is getting more problematic as the bags get heavier. The toll on women's back, neck and shoulders is a problem doctors and physical therapist are noting more often. Some of these medical professional warn of the effects of overloading the bags with heavy items and professionals are lobbying to have manufacturers place warning labels on the handbags.

Handbags go back to the beginning of time and have become a practicality and a fashion statement for women of all ages. With suppliers of handbags has grown to include very high end and very low end markets, and copies of designers trends common place, everyone can find a handbag for them.

 

Attitude is it a feeling? No...its a state of mind that is self induced.You are in complete control of it.You determine what your attitude will be - Positive or Negative.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE!
Attitude is something you give yourself over time.Day by day. And others can catch it from you or not.There is no "instant Positive Attitude" - only "instant Negative Attitude."
Positive Attitude is a self - imposed blessing. To achieve it you must study it, and practice the self-discipline of it.You must live the essence of Positive Attitude.....every day.
Here's the lifetime formula to attaining a positive attitude.
1. Surround yourself with positive things and positive people.
2. Read and listen to positive books,CDs and tapes.
   Read two pages from positive books every morning.....Napoleon Hill,Dale Carnegie,Norman Vincent         Peale.You can find more books on http://amzn.to/clfqA7 or you can sell them on http://bit.ly/bZyGE4.
Listen to Earl Nightingale recording "the strangest secret"
3. Say all things in a positive way. "How you can,not why you can't."
4. Believe you can achieve it.
5. Don't listen to others who tell you you're nuts.They're just jealous.
Star now and work at it every day. Simple? Yes. But it takes hard work.
Attitude has nothing to do with what happens to you. It's not about money or success.
It is, pure and simple. "The way you dedicate yourself to the way you think"

 

 

Toyota,Coca-Cola,Audi,Ford,Firestone,Diet Pepsi and numerous politicians - these are just some of the brands that have gone through crises, due to real or supposed problems with the product or service.

A crisis is no the same as a problem. Crises have the potential to harm your reputation and your organization. Crises often has harmed customers or has the potential to do so.

A crises is any situation that may:

• Cause harm
• Escalate in intensity
• Fall under scrutiny
• Interfere with your operations
• Damage the organization

Managers who have experienced a brand crises say it is like a fire storm. It often happens suddenly and is stunning. During a crisis, the normal rules and procedures of the organization are disrupted - thus the need to prepare for it.

To prepare for a crisis, there are four steps you should follow:

1. Make clear that crisis response is your organization priority.
2. Organize a crisis team and have a crises center prepared.
3. Set up information system.
4. Develop stand-by plans for a crisis, including crisis communication strategy.

In a crisis always preparation acknowledge that a crisis might occur. That requires scenario thinking.

You should assemble a crisis team which should include:

• Senior Management
• Market or Product expert
• Operations expert
• Other experts
• Legal expert
• Outsider

OUTSIDER SHOULD BE ON THE TEAM TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE.

• A spokesperson

The crisis plan should be tested by having the team go through crisis simulations where they can experience their roles and practice their responses.

Brands can be destroyed by crises if they are not managed. Of much importance, people can be harmed if a crisis is not dealt with quickly.Throughout, communications with the public should be ready in case a crisis occurs. Consider it good fortune if the plans never need to be used.

COMMUNICATING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IS THE KEY TO MANAGING A BRAND CRISIS.

Once the crisis is over, Keep in mind that you need to continue to communicate to your customers and others that the situation is again normal and, perhaps, improved.