She-Tech Generations

Studies indicate that the time period in which you were born has a direct impact on your morals, beliefs and value system. Many of us have seen the breakdown of the various generations and for the most part they hold some validity, especially related to workplace behavior. I am a Generation X-er and the principal characteristics of this group most certainly apply to me. I relate well to my co-workers that fall into the Generation X category. We tend to share similar outlooks about work and life. My parents; however, fall into the Traditionalists group, and I recall many conversations where their “old-fashioned” way of thinking conflicted with mine.

Below are some common characteristics that describe each generation. Do you subscribe to the attributes of your category?

Traditionalists (1925-1945) tend to believe in conformity, authority and rules. They are driven by logical decisions and have a very defined sense of right and wrong. Loyalty and respect for authority is valued in the workplace and they tend to be more disciplined than their youthful counterparts. "Outside-of-the-box" thinking is not always welcome or any extreme behavior that can arouse conflict.

Baby Boomers (1946-1964) tend to show more interest in feeling appreciated. Their most-wanted benefits include travel and luxury items like cruises, flat screen TV's, nicer automobiles, home computers and B&B overnights. They also want more status at work, personal growth and involvement opportunities such as life coaching, education stipends, active participation in professional/technical organizations and sabbaticals.

Generation X (1965-1980) employees long more for a balanced lifestyle with time for work and play, an informal work environment, additional retirement planning assistance, support for child and/or elder care, gadgets and high-tech items that keep them in touch such as cell phones and PDAs.

Generation Y (1980-1995) seems to be more interested in immediate performance feedback, on-the-spot bonuses, instant gratification, meaningful work-life balance, diverse employment opportunities and lateral career paths or rotating tasks to create variety, involvement in charities, improving the environment, and technological advances customized to their preferences.

She-Tech women can be found across all four generations. There’s no age limit on being tech savvy and sexy. Throughout your younger and older years…stay connected!

Thinnovation

Mac calls it thinnovation. I called it fantastic! For those of you that are fans of the Mac computer, they have recently released their thinnest laptop, appropriately called the MacBook Air. This 13.3 inch machine with a widescreen LED display comes with a full keyboard and multi-touch track pad.

Thin was definitely the standard with this one and the sleek design is attributed to a thinner hard drive, hidden ports and a tiny battery with a life that allows you to surf the web for five hours. If you aren't impressed yet, this baby is tailored to the future and is engineered to accommodate WiFi women. It is equipped with next generation wireless technology and bluetooth. And because of its wireless capabilities, you can rent movies wirelessly from the iTunes Store and backup files on Apple's new Time Capsule. Amazing!

To compliment such a sleek machine, you need an equally sleek and chic laptop tote. If you treat yourself before February 9, all totes are just $99. Visit She-Tech and check out the selection.

Technology gets thinner, but our wallets don't have to. We hope you take advantage of this great sale. Stay connected!

Digital Dependency

Just recently I suffered from a digital disaster that was the cause of a short-lived very temporary break down. I was minutes away from completing a presentation then all of a sudden my laptop’s performance began to slow. The mouse was less responsive and it took a considerable amount of time to toggle between applications. Next, the anticipated outcome occurred, a complete performance freeze.

Initially I kept a cool head and assumed the customary system reboot would solve the problem. I rebooted and rebooted, then rebooted again. Finally I realized that expecting a new result was insane behavior so I called the IT support desk.

The technician came to my desk, and once again rebooted the machine, despite the fact that I told him I had already done so SEVERAL times. “Doesn’t look good,” he replied. “Not exactly new information,” I thought to myself, and certainly not the response I wanted to hear. Anyway, he took my machine away to be repaired, and shortly after the second breakdown occurred. My Blackberry (aka second lifeline), began behaving badly. Suddenly I felt completely helpless… useless…worthless to society. My entire existence was being challenged.

True indeed this is irrational thinking that I immediately had to snap out of. In reflection, I asked myself, “How did we survive prior decades without the luxury of such items?” The idea of leaving my house without a mobile phone is unthinkable. Working out at the gym without a MP3 player? Impossible. This digital dependency cannot be healthy and I imagine that books and 12-step programs will be established in the future, if not already.

Don’t let a digital disaster cause you distress. If your laptop’s hard drive crashes like mine, emotionally you don’t have to follow suit. Life goes on without the convenience of cell phones, laptops, PDAs and MP3 players….I think.

Stay cool and stay connected!

On the Road Again

Just recently my boss made me aware that for the upcoming months there are some important business meetings that require my attendance. I eagerly leaned in to learn more…then leaned back after she mentioned that these meeting were OFFSITE. Offsite, meaning; not the facility located down the street, but locations that warranted AIR TRAVEL.

Once again I was back on the road for business purposes. While business travel and a per diem can be exciting, I had grown accustom to conference calls and sleeping in my own bed. Frequent business travel can come with a lot of headaches, such as delayed flights, bad seat assignments and lost luggage. While the skies may be friendly, on the ground there can be utter chaos.

Would you believe that last year, the lost-bag rate in the U.S. was especially high, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT), having nearly doubled since September 11, 2001? In fact, more than 1 million pieces of luggage were lost, stolen, or misdirected between May and July, the highest rates in 10 years. In short, a staggering 5.45 in 1,000 travelers were at risk of having their bags mishandled. INCREDIBLE! To avoid this mishap during your business or vacation travel, pay heed to the following tips.

1. Know when NOT to check
The six domestic carriers with the poorest baggage-handling records in the DOT’s September report were regional airlines—Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which mishandled 10.54 bags per 1,000, had the worst record.

2. Pack identification inside your luggage
If you have to check your bag, make sure to put your contact information (including your cell phone number) and an itinerary inside, in case your luggage tag comes off.

3. Avoid tight connections
If your travel plans require changing planes, avoid those flights that have tight connections. The same way you have to rush across the terminal in a frenzy to make the connecting flight, is the same way your bags have to make it to the next plane. If it’s a struggle for you to pull it off, it might also be a struggle for the airline baggage handlers.

If it’s absolutely imperative that your luggage arrive with you and on time, you might want to consider a service like Luggage Concierge (www.luggageconcierge.com). With this service you can experience the freedom and simplicity of traveling without luggage. They will ship your bags to and from your destination, thus allowing you to breeze through airports without any discomfort or inconvenience. That’s what I call luxury!

Nevertheless, I am on the road again and hope that this travel stint is short-lived. When traveling, I tend to check all my luggage, but I always hold on to my stylish She-Tech laptop tote and digital accessory bag, which is great for holding passports and other travel related items.

Whether you’re on the ground or in the sky, stay fashionable and stay connected!

Got Resolutions?

It's January again and many of us usher in the New Year with a laundry list of resolutions and major life-altering initiatives. We have heard it all from weight-loss, plastic surgery to divorce. For those of you that have promises to improve your professional lives, there are measures you can take to stay on track. I believe if you accomplish one objective at a time, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed and thus more likely to achieve your overall goal.

Stephen Gatlin (Gatlin Education Services), who has over 20 years in the career training industry, offers the following tips:

1. Explore career options
Reflect on your job by asking yourself these questions: Does my current position utilize my professional abilities and talents? Am I maximizing my earning potential? Am I doing what I was born to do or something that I’m passionate about? If the answer is an overwhelming “no,” assess your work style and personal characteristics and discover a career field that highlights them.

2. Brush up on job skills
On the other hand, if your career suits you, take time to better yourself at what you do. Stand out from other employees by completing the latest training and updating your industry expertise. With an Internet connection, work-force development is at your fingertips. You can peruse The eLearningCenter.com, which offers numerous career-training courses in a number of languages, from the comfort of home - to find convenient options that will bolster your skill sets and strengthen your resume.

3. Set realistic career goals
Identify what you want to accomplish professionally by the end of the year and write them down in order of priority. Your goals may include improving current work performance, being promoted to a job that you're qualified for or making a complete career switch. Just make sure each goal is specific and attainable.

4. Establish a plan of action
Think of the required steps you need to take to get your career goals under way, and put them down on paper. Give yourself deadlines to follow, but keep them realistic. Remember that becoming CEO of a company does not happen overnight.

I have been in the Marketing industry for over ten years and I am personally on step one. Lately I have been researching other career options that will provide me with the opportunity to leverage my skills and talents. Let’s see what the year unfolds! It's cold outside, but hopefully this deal will warm your hearts. From now until January 12, you can receive 25% off of all our laptop totes. From inside She-Tech we wish you a Happy New Year. Stay on track with any resolutions you may have and as always…stay connected!