#penina's pointers

"I believe in the power of the voice of women." 

-- Malala Yousafzai 

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."

 -- William James 

I've been away from the blogosphere for a while, occupying both intellectual and physical space in both the education (special needs/Autism) and entrepreneurship arenas. Trying to better balance my own seesaw of humanity and technology; personally and professionally, while contributing to both. Trying to continue the "journey for change" I first embarked on 5 years ago, when I started my consulting company Socially Speaking LLC. 

  I've spent time doing this wearing various hats, and in various boroughs in New York City. I've had the privilege of meeting many different people from all walks of life and schools of thought. People coming together because of one commonality and one growing realization: 

  At the crossroads of education and entrepreneurship is where you find the seeds for social good. 

This is something I started to experience first hand when I began lecturing around North America in 2010. That spurred my own growth and the 2012 launch of my Socially Speaking™ iPad App, and my raison d'être for creating The NICE Initiative. It's why I wrote my business book, The NICE Reboot, and have previously blogged here, for The Huffington Post, and on Wordpress. It's something I'll be speaking about in Newark NJ on 1/19/16. 

  Social good is not new, but it is noticeably catching on. More and more of us have realized the importance of social entrepreneurship as a way to change the world and address national disasters. Both education and entrepreneurship are intertwined with social good, now more than ever. This is seen in the growing trend towards online learning and the gamification of the MBA. There is a paradigm shift in education resulting in the creation of student-centric learning. It's all about creating "learning experiences". This is trickling down into the startup arena where the  rules of engagement are also changing. Good entrepreneurs understand the importance of communication and technology in an almost intuitive way. It's why for us, digital citizenship is crucial, as is acting like digital natives; no matter one's age or geographical location. 

Social good is the new frontier. It is the invisible country without a map, which knows no borders or time limits, and is accessible to all. Social good is the only true catalyst for meaningful change and overall success; for both the individual and communal pursuits we aspire to. It affects our mindset, especially when it comes to how we pursue entrepreneurship and work/life balance. It should affect our game plan and career trajectory, and should affect our best practices in our ongoing quest to balance our cravings for humanity and technology. The future of world peace depends on it. The future of work depends on it. 

So how can one hone their entrepreneurship by harnessing the power of social good? 

  Here are 3 practical suggestions to ponder as we look towards our journey in the new year……. 

1. Use your social media platform creatively and consistently as a sounding board and proverbial petri-dish to promote causes you care about, that can incite social media activism in others. 

  2. Use your job as a drawing board for honing a diverse and creative skill set of both soft skills and tech skills, so that you are ready and able to more effectively collaborate with others in real time and online. 

3. Find ways to provide a product/service to a niche market that will promote good by contributing to the welfare of others, making a real difference. A quantifiable, global, and long-term difference in quality of life for the user. This goes beyond the revered "user experience" and is actually about leaving a self-sustaining legacy. 

Wishing everyone a meaningful, joyous, and socially good new year, 

Penina 

Here is the LinkedIn post I wrote which I wanted to share, in honor of Columbus Day and in memory of Dr. Natalie Nechah Hochstein. 

Wishing y’all courage, vision, tranquility, and takeaways!

Best,

Dear Reader, Entrepreneurial Colleague, and Fellow Strategic Collaborator:

For the past few years I have embarked on a unique entrepreneurial journey which gave me the good fortune to cross paths with you in real time or online. I have been truly blessed to learn from you, share some thought leadership and some of my insights as a speaker and writer, and hopefully make the world a better place; one step at a time.

My ongoing quest to help others better balance humanity and technology in both the entrepreneurial and educational arenas has led me down some interesting roads and given me life lessons I will always cherish.

I am someone who usually values taking the road "less traveled by",  but the time has come to return from veering "off the beaten path" and grab opportunities which present themselves. I have been offered an educational leadership position as the clinical supervisor at a new Autism intervention program opening up in upper Manhattan, under the auspices of the Kennedy Child Study Center. It's a chance to more precisely implement my Socially Speaking™ Program and entrepreneurial mindset/outlook. It's a chance to embark on a new journey and hopefully make a difference, in new ways.

I've accepted the position and wrote about it in my latest LinkedIn post, which I wanted to share:

http://bit.ly/1DaGS94

I also wanted to thank you for your contributions to my personal and professional growth. You have inspired me to be more, do more, and redefine purposeful leadership in the iEra. I look forward to staying in touch, continuing to follow share posts online, and to continuing the work I began 5 years ago; albeit in a different capacity. 

Thanks to technology, collaboration and communication have taken on a whole new meaning. Thanks to all of you, what it means for me to be a self-actualized human being has too.

I sincerely wish you all continued success in your own endeavors, and success in finding ways to follow the terrific advice of Amy Poehler:

"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."

Best,

Penina

A little Star Wars humor to enhance your day! 

Here’s hoping y’all get a great and meaningful gift that keeps giving!

Check out Penina Rybak’s Amazon page and learn more……

“Our past lessons serve as the stepping stones to pave our way to bright new possibilities.”

-- Lisa Marie Platske, Author: Turn Possibilities Into Realities

“What you learn from your journey is as important as the result you achieve.”

-- Dan Schawbel, Author: Promote Yourself

March is known for being National Reading Month and Women History Month, culminating in our recent observance of International Women’s Day and collective visits to the library to catch up on our never-ending reading list. The point of intersection for both is being showcased in various ways in the startup arena this year. 

We have a plethora of thought leadership, lessons, and new books to choose from, although the two that stand out in my mind (besides mine:) are the ones above. Both have an underlying message about the importance of collaboration and connecting the dots between the past/present/future you; experiences, skill sets, and aspirations. 

This message is needed, to counteract the persistent myth of the “lone warrior” myth in entrepreneurship. A myth which is actually detrimental to female entrepreneurs. I touched on this in a recent article for The Huffington Post about flipping the script, and in my last Tumblr post. 

I wrote about this and other dangerous myths in my book, The NICE Reboot. In it,  I highlighted differences between an entrepreneurial, civic-minded mentality and business plan, and those of a run of the mill business owner. 

Entrepreneurs are playing by a new rule book now, and need to keep up with the changing business landscape. It’s time to craft new rules of innovation. 

Why?

So that we can better participate in and influence the increasing global conversations surrounding startup methodology and outcomes involving:

• The gamification of entrepreneurial education

• The pursuit of purpose in entrepreneurship and the workplace

• The ideation of emotional intelligence to hone leadership skills

• The implementation of specific actions to achieve success

• The redefinition of happiness and work/life balance

I myself am exploring all of the above as I become busy in my pursuit of new social entrepreneur and educational technology job opportunities in the special education arena. I am getting ready to globally publish my Socially Speaking™ textbook in April, Autism Awareness Month. Stay tuned for more information about my book, Autism in the iEra: Integrating Toys and Tech in Treatment. You can learn more about my work in the Autism community  here. 

Some say an entrepreneur should try  visualization  to envision the future he/she wants. I say debunking the “lone warrior” myth and supporting others in their endeavors is actually the place to start, especially other women near and far. 

Let me end with 2 photos that resonate today and are in keeping with this post’s theme. One is the testimonial I previously wrote for the introduction to Lisa Marie Platske’s book, Turn Possibilities Into Realities (which launches today). The other is a profound quote I found on Pinterest and pinned to my NICE Initiative Board.  

Way to go ladies out there, and thank you for your virtual/real time mentorship!

Best,

Penina

"We can all agree I think, that making the most of women…half the population! is vital to securing our future."

-- Nicky Morgan: Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, United Kingdom

"To be truly transformative, the post-2015 development agenda must prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. The world will never realize 100 per cent of its goals if 50 per cent of its people cannot realize their full potential. "

-- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Dear Sisterhood of the Startup Arena,

Today is March 8, 2015, AKA International Women's Day. At this time last year, Maven House Press published my book on female entrepreneurship, The NICE Reboot. At this time in 1965, Selma became more than just a woman's name, or the name of a city in the United States. At this time in 1917, women in Russia watched their families lose all manners of freedom as the revolution swept the land, leaving communism in its wake. 

It has taken the world centuries, to understand that gender equality isn't just about women; something the intelligent and talented Emma Watson is trying to hit home with her much needed #HeforShe Campaign. 

It has taken the world decades, to celebrate all kinds of women, embrace diversity, and acknowledge women leadership as a force to be reckoned with outside education. It's something many in Silicon Valley apparently don't want to hear, and seem to be vilifying entrepreneurial educator and advocate Vivek Wadhwa (whom I met personally when I was a panelist with him at the Hack for Big Choices November 2013 Event in Palo Alto, CA) for taking a stand on. 

The real tragedy? It is taking even longer for people in the startup arena to understand that sponsorship, NOT mentorship, is what is truly needed to create a healthy, collaborative, and self-sustaining ecosystem where leadership (and disrupting it) and innovation can flourish. So that entrepreneurship can actually promote global change. 

For the past 4 years I have traveled North America as an educator, entrepreneur, iPad Evangelist, "techie",  speaker, student, and observer of human nature. I have given seminars to increasingly busy, accomplished, talented, and multi-tasking women who sheepishly tell me that they are still struggling to "have it all" and find better work/life balance. I meet thoughtful, caring men who come up to me to discuss economic and ed-tech trends, and what life will be like for their own daughters when they grow up. Men who think like Adam Grant, author of the excellent Give and Take, and who are concerned about opportunity and equality, and what it means to contribute to society. 

But for every enlightened person I've met, I've met others who sadly just don't get it. People who myopically view today's workplace, especially the startup arena, with a Hunger Games mindset, an outdated attitude of Me, instead of We. 

People who don't understand that it takes respect for the pursuit of diversified experiences, to create diversified services/products; the driving force behind today's disruptive innovation--especially in the startup arena. 

It's time to rethink the Big Picture; about the future of work, and what collaboration is all about. 

YouTube has a new campaign: #DearMe, where women can record time capsule style messages for their younger self. It's a terrific way to provide thought leadership and virtual mentorship to generations of girls and women out there.  

What has shaped my Story? What have I learned through my diversified experiences, my travels, my introspection, and my unique interactions with people from all backgrounds, geographical locations, and walks of life? 

What messages can I share with today's women entrepreneurs?

1. Culture needs to be imbued with one's mission, and MUST be value based.

Culture, especially one's company culture, is not "set in stone". It  is a fluid process involving thought and deed. Accepting "it's always been done this way" is dangerous; personally and professionally. Work to effect meaningful, long term, and global change. Think of transparency and "open source" as part of your entrepreneurial strategy as a whole, not just your social media marketing strategy re: your service/product. Go beyond the occasional mentoring and networking. Find concrete ways to sponsor other women led or women driven startups, to add value to the human experience, not detract from it. 

2. Girls compete with each other. Women empower one another. 

I know I'll get flak for this but it needs to be said. Simple words often forgotten, especially since the glass ceiling is all too real, and women founders feel the pressure to prove themselves in a male dominated arena. On my own entrepreneurial journey, I have met many wonderful women and many who shortsightedly sabotage the Sisterhood; intentionally or unintentionally.  Here's another expression to ponder and get riled over (seen on bumper stickers and  Pinterest) "Welcome to the Karma Cafe; there are no menus... you'll get served what you deserve!"

3. Stop waiting for "the right time" to accomplish things in your personal and professional life. 

Because of biological and cultural factors, women ARE more sensitive to the rhythms of time than men. But we CAN cognitively harness time and make it work for us! Adopt more proactive strategies about time management instead of reacting to it from a crisis intervention paradigm. Dial down the fear of risk. It affects one's resiliency, creativity, optimism, and resistance to failure, which is part and parcel of this messy journey called life, especially when it comes to startup life. Taking time to make mistakes is as important if not more, than taking time to learn or accomplish something.

We live in increasingly complex times when it's all too easy to mistake busyness for actual productivity. We live in an age of increasing distractions which fiercely compete for us; mind, body, and soul...eroding our own inner voice, and eroding our passion to make a difference. 

Let's work together to navigate the slipstream of time, where our memories and current best practices converge to transform what could be, into what is and will be. 

International Women's Day was started in 1911 and we've come a long way since then; as professional women and as human beings. But action trumps awareness, every time. 

I still believe women can help each other help change the world. 

Do you?

Best,

Penina

"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end."

-- Ursula K. Le Guin

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

-- Albert Einstein

I recently spoke twice at a co-space for entrepreneurs in Manhattan, Joynture on Wall Street, and have since been approached and asked "what kind of entrepreneur are you?"

I actually paused to think about what was really being asked. I wondered if I should I talk about the type of entrepreneur I was, and the deliverables I offer. I wondered if I should explain the leadership I strive to provide, as both an Autism specialist and a startup founder in the iEra. 

I wondered if I should discuss the realities of the work/life challenges I face as a woman in the startup arena. A woman who has one foot in the education world and the other foot in the business world.  

I decided instead to give a more circumspect answer to those who inquired. I decided to talk about my quest to be purpose-driven. I decided to share my entrepreneurial mission to help others make a difference in the world. I decided to share some of my story and how Apple™ technology has impacted my life; personally and professionally. 

Crafting a legacy is on my mind again, as is the need to better balance humanity and technology. Leonard Nimoy understood this, which is why I am particularly saddened by his passing; and I am not alone. Steve Jobs and Tim Cook understood this, which is why the Apple™ watch holds so much of our collective interest at present.

I believe that an entrepreneur's journey, especially its QUALITY, is shaped by his/her focus, emotional intelligence, and unique passion which gets imbued in all work related to the entrepreneurial endeavor(s). 

What fuels this passion? What kind of mindset is needed? 

Here's another question……What sets apart a tech-savvy individual from a  Luddite? 

I touched upon this in my latest Wordpress post, which you can read here. 

The answer is CREATIVITY. Creativity fuels one's passion, and one's growth mindset; both of which allow for increased adaptability and resiliency. Creativity spurs one's ability to customize technology and wield it as the powerful weapon it truly is. Creativity is the secret sauce for successful communication, successful problem solving, and successful collaboration; all of which an entrepreneur needs to hone. 

Creativity is what sets people apart from each other, and what allows them tap into their inner landscape, their Theory of Mind, and make a unique contribution to others. 

That's why I believe perfectionism destroys creativity, and is the enemy of women entrepreneurs in particular; something I wrote of in my book, The NICE Reboot. That's why I don't believe in pigeonholes, in the "one size fits all" entrepreneurial business model which many unfortunately subscribe to. 

It is no longer an option to produce a culture of conformist drones. Especially since our society is moving towards diversified globalization, thanks to technology. Especially when it's only a matter of time before artificial intelligence renders many jobs short term and worse, obsolete. 

So what kind of entrepreneur am I? 

One who is actively, creatively, and methodically working on upsetting the status quo and changing our collective perceptions about balancing humanity and technology, about startup life, and about startup success…..

Stay tuned….. 

Best,

Penina

"In life, a significant event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us - and those around us - more effectively. Look for the learning."

-- Louisa May Alcott

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."

-- Abraham Lincoln

Many of us these days talk about "flipping the script", and it means different things to different people. For some, it can refer to an actual script in a film like Boyhood, or to the script in our heads about doing great work, fulfilling work, especially in the Machine Age. For others it can be about rebooting  work/life balance, and that of humanity and technology.

Flipping the script is a call to action of sorts, and one that's very much needed in entrepreneurship. It's a unique arena where creativity drives innovation, as does collaboration, causing an ever changing ebb and flow of journeys and outcomes. Our increasing global connectivity is changing the rules of engagement in business, in technology, and in politics. The result? 

• The stakes are higher as people try to keep their products and services current and relevant. 

• We are all developing ecosystems full of leaders in the making and agents of change, capable of throwing out "the playbook" and doing something great, something that solves a problem on a large scale. 

Entrepreneurs are in a unique position to do this, and connect the dots differently. Entrepreneurs can upset the status quo and promote change. 

Isn't it time for more entrepreneurs step up and lead, and help others succeed?

I wrote about this, in my latest LinkedIn post, which you can read here. 

"Leadership today is a foregone conclusion in the startup arena, where's it's all about the "doing"; taking action, taking risks, and taking time to help others grow. Leadership DNA is revealed when a person maximizes opportunities to help others, mentor others, and build cross-pollinating relationships with people in and outside his/her industry."

I wrote more about this in my book, The NICE Reboot, which also shares my Startup Story, and my mission to help children with Autism improve their social skills. I wrote about this in previous blogposts, and will probably do so again. 

Flipping the script is both a mindset and a buzzword connoting action. It's a conscious decision, designed to improve oneself and one's prospects. It requires foresight, perspective, planning, courage, perseverance, and most importantly, being purpose driven. 

Isn't it time to flip the script in your own life and start that chain reaction? 

Best,

Penina