in this issue Important Dates to Remember........2 Feature: How Our Addiction to Work is Affecting Us................................. 4 2014 Regional Conferences.................6 FEATURE: Better New YearвЂ™s Resolutions.......13 skill builder D e c e m b e r 2 0 13 How to Choose a Financial Advisor Written by William J. Lynott Our mission: To bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition. В©2013 American Business WomenвЂ™s Association The gut-wrenching volatility in the stock market over the past few years has been a tough challenge for busy business owners and professionals. ThatвЂ™s probably why so many are looking for professional help in dealing with investment decisions. The problem is that searching for the right financial advisor can be almost as difficult as searching for the right stocks. In most states, anyone can declare himself or herself a financial advisor without a license or any formal credentials, even to the point of creating an official sounding title. At most brokerage firms, employees who used to be called stock brokers are now called financial consultants or advisors. Whatever theyвЂ™re called, itвЂ™s important to remember that they A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association are essentially salesmen who earn their money by getting you to buy and sell equities. It is important that investors who feel the need for professional guidance stick with licensed professionals with designated titles awarded only to those who have satisfied strict requirements by legitimate organizations. Even after picking a qualified advisor who seems suited to your needs, there are questions you should ask such as how much will you charge me and will it be on a commission or flat-rate basis. You should also make sure that your potential advisor is comfortable with and will respect your personal investment preferences such as conservative, aggressive, or capital preservation. cont. on pg. 2 Express Network News 1 Choosing a Financial Advisor The following examples are typical of a larger number of financial credentials issued by qualified organizations. For others not listed here, be sure to research thoroughly before choosing one as a personal advisor. Certified Public Accountant/Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFSВ®) The PFS designation is awarded and administered by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) only to those who have first earned a currently active CPA credential. AICPA does not license CPAs in the United States. Licenses are granted only by one of the 50 states or five U.S. territories and authorize the holder to practice as a CPA in that jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has its own requirements for becoming a CPA and taking the Uniform CPA Examination. In order to earn the CPA/PFS designation, a currently active CPA must pass the AICPA PFS Exam, a comprehensive exam utilizing case studies to emphasize the integrated aspects of financial planning. AICPA offers applicants two exam-preparation courses covering both technical topics and the professional responsibilities of a CPA doing personal financial planning. (www.aicpa.org) Certified Financial Planner (CFPВ®) To obtain the Certified Financial Board of Standards (CFP Board) certification applicants must take a registered course of study (15 undergraduate/graduate hours plus a capstone course); have a bachelorвЂ™s degree by the time they are certified; meet the boardвЂ™s experience requirement (two or three years depending on the type of experience); pass the boardвЂ™s examination; be subject to a background check; agree to the boardвЂ™s professional standards and ethics, including agreeing to a fiduciary standard, and be subject to the boardвЂ™s enforcement process. In order to be re-certified, a CFP must also take 30 continuing education (CE) hours over a two year period. (www.cfp.net) Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CESВ®) The Institute of Business and Finance (IBF) serves students from several hundred national banks, brokerage firms, insurance agencies and mutual fund companies. The IBF course consists of three modules, each accompanied cont. from page 1 by an online exam. Each exam is 60 minutes long, covers 50 questions and is pass/fail. The exams are non-cumulative and there is no comprehensive exam at the end. Anyone over the age of 21 who is unrelated to the applicant can serve as a proctor for these exams. Upon completion of the three exams the applicant is required to write a case study implementing all of the knowledge acquired throughout the course. The course is designed to be completed in 15 weeks but since it is selfpaced and self-study the applicant has enough flexibility to get it done sooner. IBF allows for a one year maximum completion time before extension fees are assessed. (www.icfs.com) Accredited Estate Planner (AEPВ®) The AEP designation is a graduate-level accreditation in estate planning earned in addition to already recognized professional credentials (JD, CPA, CLU, CFP, ChFC, and CTFA) within the various disciplines of estate planning (accounting; insurance and financial planning; law; and trust services). It is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners (NAEPC) to recognized estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character. To apply, one must hold one of the previously mentioned professional designations, have been in active practice as an estate planner for at least 5 years (15 years to be exempt from the educational requirement), provide three professional references, and be an active member in an affiliated local estate planning council. (www.naepc.org) Certified Financial Analyst (CFAВ®) To qualify for the CFA designation an applicant must: hold a bachelorвЂ™s degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience, pass Level 1 of the CFA exam or pass their self-administered Standards of Practice Examination, have 48 months of acceptable professional work experience in investment decision making, and agree to adhere to and sign the MemberвЂ™s Agreement (a Professional Conduct Statement)as well as any additional documentation requested by CFA Institute. (www.cfainstitute.org) ~ A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Mark your calendars today and you wonвЂ™t miss any of these important dates! January 1, 2014 вЂўCouncil Officer Election Report and administrative fee (liability insurance) due to ABWA National January 22 вЂўLast day to participate in twopart payment plan for regional conference registration. January 31 вЂўIf your league intends to sponsor an Impact Scholarship, submit your leagueвЂ™s criteria and contribution to SBMEF before January 31 вЂўSelect your NetworkвЂ™s Top Ten nominee February 2014 вЂўNext webinar event; date to be announced on WIN March 1 вЂўNomination form and acceptance of nomination form for the 20142015 National Board of Directors is due to ABWA National March 27-29 вЂўCentral Regional Conference (Districts III and V) in Fort Wayne, Ind. National Office Holiday Closings ABWA National office will be closed on the following dates: вЂўDecember 23-27, 2013 вЂўJanuary 1, 2014 EXPRESS NETWORK NEWS 2 A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 3 feature How Our Addiction to Work is Affecting UsвЂ”and How to Change Written By Dr. Tasha Eurich KmartвЂ™s recent announcement to open its doors at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Though bargain-seekers were thrilled, many question the decision. In recent years, such вЂњThanksgiving creepвЂќ has inspired multiple protests from employees; with one petition calling it вЂњinhumane and inconsiderate.вЂќ Unfortunately, this problem doesnвЂ™t just exist in retail establishments around the holidays. Across all job types and industries, Americans are working more than ever. According to a recent Workforce Management study, since the great recession, 55 percent of employees have seen their workload increase, and 27 percent say it has doubled. The constant pressure to do more with less, coupled with the belief that being busy means weвЂ™re important, is creating an unsustainable pattern. For many workers, taking time away from their jobs feels like an untenable luxury. Most European countries provide workers at least four weeks of vacation each yearвЂ”Germany and Sweden are quite generous with seven weeks. However, a Center for Economic Policy and Research study reveals that 25 percent of U.S. employees donвЂ™t take any vacation at allвЂ” either because they donвЂ™t use their accrued time or their employer doesnвЂ™t provide it. Why would anyone choose not to take the time away that theyвЂ™ve rightfully earned? For many, fear is a factorвЂ”fear of missing out on promotions, topping the layoff list, being judged by bosses or coworkers, or the work that will inevitably pile up. Certainty, anyone can work 50, 60, or 80 hours per weekвЂ”and take little time offвЂ”if they choose, but as it turns out, there are some profound consequences: 1.Working too much makes us stupid. Research has shown that long hours affect our brains. An American Journal of Epidemiology study followed British civil servants over five years to understand A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association the relationship between long hours and brain functioning. Compared to those who worked 40 hours per week, participants who worked more than 55 hours showed poorer vocabulary and reasoning skills. In plain English, working too much actually makes us stupider. 2.Working too much makes us depressed. Research has shown that long hours are also a significant risk factor for depression. A study published in PLoS ONE examined more than 2,000 workers in the United Kingdom over six years. They found that employees who worked more than 11 hours per day had more than twice the risk of depression than those who worked seven to eight hours per day. The relationship remained even when researchers statistically removed the influence of socio-economic factors, chronic physical disease, smoking, and alcohol use. 3.Working too much hurts our career advancement. When people think about how to get ahead in their career, most have a вЂњmore is betterвЂќ approach. Just look at the hours worked at many law firms, tech companies, and Wall Street. However, more hours does not always equal better performance and human beings have an upper limit for productivity on any given day. Somewhat counterintuitively, a 2006 Ernst & Young study found a positive relationship between vacations (i.e., fewer hours overall) and performance: For each additional 10 hours away from the office employees took, their performance reviews were eight percent higher the following year! 4.Working too much can actually kill us. This past August, a 21-year old Bank of America intern was found dead in his London dorm room. During the course of Moritz ErhardtвЂ™s demanding sevenweek internship, he had pulled eight all-nighters in two weeks. Although ErhardtвЂ™s case is as rare as it is tragic, it reflects the general trend that working too much is simply not healthy. Luckily, when we take time away, these cont. on pg. 5 Express Network News 4 Work Addiction cont. from page 4 effects are mitigated. For example, the Framingham Heart study (a massive longitudinal research program started in 1948) reported that when workers take annual vacations, their risk for a heart attack is reduced by 30% in men and 50% in women. Two Tips for Taking Time Off Without Paying For It When You Return Hopefully, cashing in some vacation time feels more important than it did a few minutes ago, but if the idea of taking time off still feels difficult or stressful, here are a couple tips: вЂўFirst, itвЂ™s okay to start small. Short vacations have similar positive effects as long ones. One study from Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands found that even vacations of just a few days increased health and well-being. Frequent, shorter vacations may actually be better because benefits from most vacations fade after five days. So, instead of blocking off two weeks and paying for it when you return, try a long weekend every month or two instead. вЂўSecond, itвЂ™s okay to check e-mail a few times while youвЂ™re away. The above study also revealed that people who worked during vacations still showed increases in health and well-being, albeit smaller ones. For many workers, being able to check in at work eases anxiety. So, within the bounds of reason, go for it! Just donвЂ™t let things get out of hand, lest your spouse or partner lock your iPhone in the hotel safe. DonвЂ™t Miss This Limited Time Offer from The Business Source! ABWA has teamed up with The Business Source to offer concise summaries of books you need to read. Each month, youвЂ™ll learn best practices and gain powerful insights from leading-edge thinkers, industry experts, and world-renowned business gurusвЂ¦ and the summaries take just 15 minutes to read or listen to! Best of all, weвЂ™ve arranged a special price especially for ABWA members: 70% off the regular price (a savings of $91)! Click here for details about this limited time offer. Click this link to see a quick video overview: The Business Source Overview Look what you missed Lean In, the National Bestseller by Sheryl Sandberg, was included in SeptemberвЂ™s book summaries. Sign up for the Business Source program and stay current with the latest business books. Whether youвЂ™re being forced to work during the holidays or not, this is a great time to re-prioritize. ItвЂ™s important to remember that family and friends are lifeвЂ™s true gifts. After all, on their deathbeds, few people are likely to say вЂњI wish I had spent more time at work.вЂќ So for goodness sakeвЂ”take some time off! ~ Dr. Tasha Eurich is the author of Bankable Leadership: Happy People, Bottom Line Results, and the Power to Deliver Both. For more information about Dr. Eurich or her books, please visit www.BankableLeadership.com. A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Sign up today! Express Network News 5 2 014 A B WA R E G I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E S REGISTER TODAY! YouвЂ™ll find more to like than ever before at the 2014 Regional Conferences! Who should attend? Two-part Payment Plan Just complete the registration form, mark the prepayment plan box and send your completed form to ABWA National or fax to (913) 660-0101 by Wednesday, Jan. 22. We will divide your payments into two affordable installments charging your credit card on Jan. 31 and Feb. 28. Please note: you cannot register for the payment plan online. ABWA provides more than just membership. It allows you the opportunity to become the leader you have always aspired to be. Regional conferences are the springboard for members who want to learn more about the Association, Best Practices in league management, and develop insights about themselves in managing key moments. ABWA sessions will be presented by Executive Director RenГ© Street and the 2013-2014 National Board of Directors/SBMEF Trustees. Get a jump start on your travel plans! At each regional conference, registration will open at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday with the afternoon session beginning at 3:00 p.m., followed by two full days of sessions, networking, and recognition. The Friday morning celebration breakfast and the Saturday recognition luncheon are also included in your conference registration. FORT WAYNE, IN В· SUGAR LAND, TX В· ROANOKE, VA A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association EXPRESS NETWORK NEWS 6 2 014 ABWA Re g i o n a l C o nfe r en c e s Thursday Line-Up for All Conferences Tidbits and Tools Speaker RenГ© Street Executive Director The focus of this yearвЂ™s regional conference is to ensure that league leaders have the knowledge, attitude, skills and habits they need to manage their group effectively. RenГ© Street, executive director, and the 2013-2014 National Board of Directors/Trustees will facilitate a series of break-out sessions intended to support leagues in improving many areas of chapter management; including membership growth and retention, and the doвЂ™s and donвЂ™ts of sponsoring an educational scholarship through SBMEF. Meet Your Candidates for District Vice President We hope you will join us for an opportunity to meet your candidates for district vice president immediately following the Friday session. Take this time to introduce yourself and ask them about their goals for your district! Volunteer Opportunities Presenters 2013-2014 National Board of Directors/Trustees (Back row, l to r: District IV Vice President Tracey Jackson, District V Vice President Lisa Montross, and District VI Vice President Barbara Jenkins. Middle row: District I Vice President Tammy McDaniel, District II Vice President Laura Morlando, and District III Vice President Meg Bell. Front row: National Vice President Nancy Griffin, National President Lorie Burch, and National Secretary-Treasurer Gaylyn DeVine. We are looking for 12 members to provide on-site support for each of the three 2014 Regional Conferences. This is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, expand your ABWA network and work on a project team. If you are interested in serving as a conference volunteer, please contact Betty Burns at [email protected] or (800) 228-0007 ext. 256. 2014 Regional conferences Fort Wayne, IN В· Sugar land, Tx В· Roanoke, va A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 7 2 014 ABWA Re g i o n a l C o nfe r en c e s Friday line-up for all conferences The Power of Influence No matter your company, or the role which you play in it, you are in the business of people. Because of that, leadership is a driving force behind growing your business. How do you become a solid leader through influence? How do you become a successful leader by using influence to engage and inspire others? Speaker Ty Bennett Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur More than 1 million people from 50 countries have learned from Ty BennettвЂ™s insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and communication. When Bennett was 21 years old, he started a business with his brother Scott, which they built to over $20 million in revenue while still in their 20s. Bennett and his brother made company history as the first of their age to become million-dollar earners. As a speaker, Bennett is a young, fresh voice with a fun, engaging style. His messages include topics on leadership, influence, entrepreneurship, and storytelling, and encourages stronger leadership skills at every level. Author of The Power of Influence and The Power of Storytelling, BennettвЂ™s message is changing lives and reaching people around the world. Following his keynote presentation and breakout session, Bennett will have books available for sale. Based on his highly rated book, The Power of Influence, Ty Bennett will share his philosophies, down-to-earth examples, and tools for increasing your influence and impact as a leader. His humorous, insightful, and interactive presentation will send you home as better leaders; making for better and more profitable businesses. Audiences have described this keynote speech and breakout session as вЂњentertaining, hilarious, thought-provoking, and inspirational.вЂќ Benefits/Course Objectives You will come away with: вЂў How to make your introduction attract your audience and connect you to them. вЂў Tips from best examples of influence from todayвЂ™s greatest leaders. вЂў A straight forward path to developing the skills needed to be well respected and influential among peers and strangers alike. 2014 Regional conferences Fort Wayne, IN В· Sugar land, Tx В· Roanoke, va A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 8 2 014 ABWA Re g i o n a l C o nfe r en c e s Saturday line-up for all conferences Build Your League on a Solid Foundation of Fiscal Management speaker Sherry Darden Sherry Darden is often called вЂњThe Business Plan LadyвЂќ because she has personally coached and trained thousands of entrepreneurs to business success, but it hasnвЂ™t always been that way. Darden knows what it is like to struggle too. She has been an employee, manager, entrepreneur, and salesperson. She knows what itвЂ™s like to hear both the words вЂњnice jobвЂќ as well as the dreaded вЂњyouвЂ™re fired.вЂќ She is the real deal and the advice, tips, and techniques she shares from the podium are worlds away from feel-good fluff. Darden lives by her mission statement: вЂњMy passion is to empower clients and audiences with new ideas and skills to improve their quality of life both in the workplace and at home. I love seeing the light bulb turn on! Regardless of the subject, I make sure they get it in a way they can relate to and without talking over their heads. I build you up without talking down. ThatвЂ™s how I coach, thatвЂ™s how I train.вЂќ Did you know that the least favored position on any leagueвЂ™s Executive Board is the Treasurer or Vice President of Finance? Even if you donвЂ™t have an accounting degree or CPA, Sherry Darden will give you the straight scoop on how to perform this job in your Chapter, Express Network, or Council more effectively. (.3 CEUs) Benefits/Course Objectives вЂў Learn generally accepted policies and procedures for managing and protecting your leagueвЂ™s assets вЂў Learn the advantages of вЂњbeing on timeвЂќ вЂў Learn where to dot your вЂњIвЂ™sвЂќ and cross your вЂњTвЂ™sвЂќ to reduce your risk of an IRS audit вЂў Learn lessons from the field and how to avoid the pitfalls of malfeasance. Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement Leagues may choose to sponsor a Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement (BSTR) for the Saturday morning session valued at .3 CEUs. A member applying for a BSTR may be awarded a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $75 from the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund. For more information, contact Jill Miller at [email protected] or (800) 228-0007 ext. 230. 2014 Regional conferences Fort Wayne, IN В· Sugar land, Tx В· Roanoke, va A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 9 2 014 ABWA Re g i o n a l C o nfe r en c e s Where You Want to Stay 2014 Housing Information Central Regional Conference Fort Wayne, IN Western Regional Conference Sugar Land, TX Eastern Regional Conference Roanoke, VA March 27-29, 2014 April 10-12, 2014 April 24-26, 2014 Hotel reservations for ABWAвЂ™s commitment of rooms must be received by Thursday, March 6, 2014 or until our room block is full. Please send your forms directly to the hotel. Reservation code: ABWA Hotel reservations for ABWAвЂ™s commitment of rooms must be received by Thursday, March 20, 2014, or until our room block is full. Please send your forms directly to the hotel. Reservation code: ABWABWA Hotel reservations for ABWAвЂ™s commitment of rooms must be received by Friday, April 4, 2014, or until our room block is full. Please send your forms directly to the hotel. Reservation code: ABWA Hotel Fort Wayne 305 E. Washington Center Road Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Main number........................260-484-0411 Main fax..................................260-482-5440 Self-parking.............................complimentary rates:* Single (One person/one bed)............... $119 Double (Two people/two beds)......... $119 Triple (Three people/two beds).......... $119 Quad (Four people/two beds)............. $119 *Prices do not include tax: TRANSPORTATION: Call hotel directly for complimentary airport shuttle Sugar Land Marriott Town Square 16090 City Walk Sugar Land, TX 77479 Main number........................ 281-275-8400 Reservations..........................800-228-9290 Reservations FAX 281-275-5941 Self-parking..................... complimentary on Sugar Land Town Square Sheraton Roanoke Hotel 2801 Hershberger Road Roanoke, VA 24017 Main number....................... 540-563-9300 Reservations.......................... 800-325-3535 Reservations FAX................540-561-7910 Self-parking..........complimentary at hotel rates:* Single (One person/one bed)............... $119 Double (Two people/two beds)......... $119 Triple (Three people/two beds).......... $119 Quad (Four people/two beds)............. $119 Single (One person/one bed)...............$129 Double (Two people/two beds).........$149 Triple (Three people/two beds)..........$149 Quad (Four people/two beds).............$149 *Prices do not include tax: TRANSPORTATION: Super Shuttle вЂ¦ 800-258-3826 rates:* *Prices do not include tax. TRANSPORTATION: Complimentary airport shuttle through the hotel. Call directly 540-563-9300. ABWA makes every effort to secure the best possible rates for overnight accommodations. These rates are part of a negotiated overall conference package that incorporates meeting room rental as well as other services associated with providing the conference. ABWA saves money if the number of conference attendees staying at the host hotel exceeds a negotiated minimum (which in turn keeps registration fees from increasing), so please consider that when making your accommodation decisions. Go to www.abwa.org to download individual housing forms or to access online housing links. 2014 Regional conferences Fort Wayne, IN В· Sugar land, Tx В· Roanoke, va A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 10 2 014 ABWA Re g i o n a l C o nfe r en c e s 2014 ABWA Regional CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM Check One ............... Conference Date ............. Conference Location .............................. Districts ........................... Early Registration Date q ................................ March 27-29 .................. Central: Fort Wayne, IN ....................... Dist III and V............................................ Feb. 20 q .................................. April 10-12 .................. Western: Sugar Land, TX ..................... Dist. II and VI ......................................... March 6 q .................................. April 24-26 ..................... Eastern: Roanoke, VA .......................... Dist I and IV ........................................ March 20 Name:__________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:___________________________________________________________________ Daytime phone:____________________________________ Name of Chapter or Express Network__________________________________________________________________________________________________ First Name Preferred on MemberвЂ™s Badge_______________________________________________________________________________________________ NEW! Payment Plan: This form must be received by Jan. 22, 2014. Divide my payments into two parts charging my credit card on Jan 31 and Feb 28. Early registration pricing applies. Conference Fee ScheduleOffice Use Complete Registration (Celebration Breakfast and Recognition Luncheon included.) EarlyRegular $285* $335 Non Member $385$ TOTAL $ *Early and regular rates are available to those ABWA members whose national dues are current. Food Allergies (please describe):_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cancellations: Registrants acknowledge that ABWA will incur expenses as a result of this registration. Therefore, a fee of $125 will be charged for any cancellation. Two weeks prior to the start of the conference, the entire registration fee will be forfeited. Payment Method q Check/Money Order (payable to ABWA) Check No. ______________ Date of Check _______________ q Visa q MasterCard q Discover Card # ________________________________________ Exp. Date ___________ Security Code __________ Card Holder Signature ______________________________________________________________________ Permissions: Holder grants permission to ABWA to use their image or likeness incidental to any live or recorded display or other transmission or projection in whole or in part of the event to which the ticket is issued. Mail with payment to: ABWA Registration 11050 Roe Avenue Suite 200 Overland Park, KS 66211 Register online at: www.abwa.org Or charge byвЂ¦ Phone: (800) 228-0007 Fax: (913) 660-0101 2014 Regional conferences Fort Wayne, IN В· Sugar land, Tx В· Roanoke, va A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 11 A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association EXPRESS NETWORK NEWS 12 feature Better New YearвЂ™s Resolutions: Keep Them Few, Short, and Simple Written By Leigh Elmore In business, New YearвЂ™s resolutions can perform a dual function. They can actually be helpful for the people who own and run businesses to set and meet goals. Likewise, they can be equally useful for the people who work to make those businesses successful. Business owners can use the New Year as an opportunity to reflect on how to improve in the year to come. Employees can do the same in striving to improve their own performance on the job. More often than not, however, our list of resolutions tends to be made up of the oneвЂ™s we didnвЂ™t keep in the current year. вЂњIf you were to ask Princeton psychologist Eldar Shafir or Harvard economist Sendhil Mullainathan for a better New YearвЂ™s strategy, theyвЂ™d likely suggest that the best resolution you can make is to do fewer things in the year,вЂќ writes Ray Fisman on his slate.com blog. вЂњThe researchers argue (in their book, Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much), that when busy people get busier, it leads to ignored deadlines, a cluttered desk, and a vicious cycle of falling further and further behind. Amid the disorder, a lot of bad decisions get made, and the best means of escape from this cycle may be a moratorium on new obligations.вЂќ The simple lesson: Too many resolutions mean too many resolutions that arenвЂ™t kept. The advice that Mullainathan and Shafir have for resolution-makers isnвЂ™t that you refrain from trying to better yourself, but rather that you lock in commitments to self-betterment that wonвЂ™t require super vigilance in the year ahead. For example, go ahead and increase the default contribution to your pension plan or force Outlook to clean up your desktop and your calendar every Friday afternoon. вЂњThen use both the time and mental space that commitments like these can free up to stay on top of the workload and pressures that are already part of your daily life,вЂќ Fisman says. So in the spirit of вЂњkeep it simple, smartyвЂќ here is a resolution checklist for small business owners compiled by Megan Totka, chief editor of chamberofcommerce.com and listed on her blog at resourcenation.com: A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association вЂўGo mobile. If you havenвЂ™t adopted a smartphone, the time is now. Most Internet searches will be made via mobile devices by the end of this year. вЂўLearn to delegate and do it more often. Relinquish control of routine tasks and you can free up some time to do what really makes your business thrive: building revenue. вЂўRefresh your website. It doesnвЂ™t do you much good to build an attractive and savvy Facebook presence if it funnels visitors to a boring and out-of-date website. вЂўPrepare for tax season. Organize your books now to avoid scrounging around for documents at the last minute. вЂўSchedule time for yourself. You have to keep yourself motivated, so reward yourself for big accomplishments. Professionals who work for entrepreneurs and small business owners owe it to themselves to stay on top of their games and skill sets, while remaining flexible in times of constant change in the workplace. Here are some of the best common-sense resolution suggestions for people in the cubes from Alison Green in U.S. News and World Report: вЂўStop complaining about your job. ItвЂ™s easy to get caught up in complaining, which only makes unhappiness worse. Instead, talk to people directly when you have a beef so that they have a chance to make things better. And if your job is really that unpleasant, focus on finding a new one instead. вЂўGet involved with a professional society. Join one and get involved. By joining committees or attending meetings, youвЂ™ll expand your network, raise your visibility, and often get additional accomplishments for your resume. cont. on pg. 14 Express Network News 13 Resolutions cont. from page 13 DonвЂ™t miss the year-end issue! вЂўThank people. Has someone made your life at work easier, connected you with a helpful contact, or simply been a pleasant person to interact with this year? Tell them; better yet write them a note. Never under-estimate just how much people value being openly appreciated. вЂў Ask for feedback. Lots of managers arenвЂ™t skilled at offering feedback on their own but will respond well to specific questions like, вЂњWhat do you think IвЂ™m best at, and where could I focus on improving?вЂќ Asking the question could give you some valuable insights. вЂў Ask for a raise. If youвЂ™ve been doing a great job but havenвЂ™t had a raise in a year or more, resolve to ask your boss for a salary review. People often shy away from asking for raises in a tight economy, but if your value to the company has increased, itвЂ™s perfectly reasonable to ask for that to be reflected in your salary. ThereвЂ™s no time like the New Year to reassess whatвЂ™s working and what isnвЂ™t for your company and for your career. Whether or not you own it or work for it, take the opportunity to set your company up for a successful 2014. Just donвЂ™t make too many resolutions and focus on what you can really accomplish. ~ Leigh Elmore is a writer for businesses and for publications based in Kansas City, MO. www.leighelmore.com. Also Available Online! Link to the digital magazine will be posted in WIN The special year-end issue of Women In Business features highlights from the 2013 National WomenвЂ™s Leadership Conference, including a 12-page photo gallery, the Best Practices Award-winning teams, and your Top Ten and Woman of the Year. YouвЂ™ll also find information about the 2014 Regional Conferences and a preview of ABWAвЂ™s biggest event to date! Connect with ABWA online, anytime! вЂўLogin to WIN: ThereвЂ™s always something new to explore on the WomenвЂ™s Instructional Network! вЂўBecome a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/ ABWA-A-place-to-connect-learn-and-grow/110652155635738 вЂўBecome a friend of Executive Director RenГ© Street on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rene.street вЂўFollow us on Twitter вЂ¦ ABWAHQ www.twitter.com/abwahq вЂўContact ABWA National via email вЂ¦ [email protected] A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 14 A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 15 American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Membership Application 11050 Roe Avenue, Suite 200 В· Overland Park, Kansas, 66211 В· 800-228-0007 В· Fax 913-660-0101 Benefits of membership begin the date your application and payment are received and processed at ABWA National Headquarters. For renewal purposes, membership starts on the first day of the month following the date the application and payment are processed and renews annually. Dues payments are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Date:_____________________________________________________ First Name:________________________________________________MI:_________________ Last Name:_____________________________________________________ Affiliation Information Do you plan to join a chapter/Express Network: q Yes q No If вЂњyes,вЂќ your primary chapter/Express Network name:_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Sponsor (please print clearly):__________________________________________________________________________________ Member No._______________________ Note: Membership in ABWA and local Chapter/Express Network is contingent on timely payment of annual National dues. Address and Contact Information Home Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City / State / Zip:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Primary phone contact:_________________________________________ Primary email address:____________________________________________________________ Note: Your email address is required in order to access your membership information and conduct business online at www.abwa.org. By providing your email address, you are authorizing ABWA to contact you via email. Personal Demographics (for statistical purposes only) Birthdate ( month / day / year ): ________________________ / ________________________ / ________________________ Gender: q Female q Male Business Owner, Employment, and Education Level Demographics (for statistical purposes only) Your companyвЂ™s name:________________________________________________________ Job Title:_____________________________________________________ Are you a business owner? q Yes q No Description of products/services:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Education Level: q High School/GED q Vo-Tech q AssociateвЂ™s Degree q BachelorвЂ™s Degree q MasterвЂ™s Degree q Doctorate Degree Enclosed is my ABWA National dues payment ofвЂ¦ q $90 вЂ¦ $75 Basic Membership + $15 WIN Technology Fee q $115 вЂ¦ $100 Express Network + $15 WIN Technology Fee Membership Discounts q $50 вЂ¦ $35 Basic Student Membership* + $15 WIN Tech Fee q $65 вЂ¦ $50 Express Network Student Membership* + $15 WIN Tech Fee q * To qualify for student membership, include a class schedule reflecting enrollment in 12+ credit hours per semester. q $40 вЂ¦ 70+ Year Old Discounted Basic Membership** q $15 вЂ¦ Optional WIN Technology Fee for New Members ages 65+** q * * To qualify for discount, please provide birth date including year in application information. Payment Information q Check вЂ¦ Mail check with application to ABWA, 11050 Roe Ave., Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66211 q Visa q Mastercard q Discover Card number: ____________________ / ____________________ / ____________________ / ____________________ Expiration Date__________________ / __________________ Security Code (3-digit code on back of card)______________________________________________ Name of card:____________________________________________________ Signature:__________________________________________________________________ The American Business WomenвЂ™s Association is a non-profit organization which is serviced by ABWA Management, LLC, a company organized for profit. All ABWA income is received by ABWA Management, LLC and, in exchange, the company provides all necessary services and materials to the ABWA membership. All dues include a one-year subscription to Women in BusinessВ®, ABWAвЂ™s official publication. Dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution for Federal income tax purposes; however, they may be deductible under other provision of the Internal Revenue Code. A publication of the American Business WomenвЂ™s Association Express Network News 16