Claim Your Career Crown

It’s a scary world out there, and the many threats we could potentially face can leave you feeling fearful and insecure. Olivia Round knows exactly how that feels, because that’s how she felt growing up. But at one point, she decided that she needed to overcome her fears. So how did she do it? Olivia chose an unexpected journey to self-empowerment: a cross-country bike adventure! She rode her bicy...

Whether you work in sales directly or work with sales, you may wonder how you can work more effectively with procurement and provide long-term value in your client-vendor relationships. Kendall Cowdrey, a senior procurement facilitator at a Fortune 500 organization, knows a thing or two about developing lasting relationships. She offers expert advice in our new podcast interview. Kendall explains...

How do you combine your passions with an opportunity to turn them into a business? What if your passion is, say, food? You can find out in our new podcast interview with Angela Shen, a food-loving entrepreneur who got the idea for and started her own successful culinary touring company, Savor Seattle Food Tours. From a daughter of immigrants running their own restaurant to a key position at Quaker...

Probably all of us have gotten calls, texts, or emails from scam artists trying to get access to your bank account. It’s getting tougher and tougher to protect ourselves against these fraudulent attacks. Luckily, we’ve got your back on this. In our new podcast interview, author Greg Aunapu reveals how we can spot the newest schemes, avoid them, and protect ourselves from being conned. Greg has wri...

Believe it or not, there’s never been a better time to start on a career in sales. Why is that? As industry leaders Lynn and Steve explain on our new podcast, there are many reasons why sales careers are so highly coveted. First, it’s no secret that companies rely on a source of revenue to survive and thrive. But where does that revenue come from? More than any other department, sales people are t...

Nearly all of us have had to endure long, stressful commutes to and from work. While the daily commute can be a drag, there are ways to make it tolerable and even fun! Melissa Addey is an author, speaker, and Creative Writing PhD student at the University of Surrey. Her book, The Happy Commuter, offers over 100 ways to improve your travels. We were also thrilled to interview Melissa in our latest...

Caroline Garnet McGraw is an author, speaker, coach…. and, in her own words, a recovering perfectionist, workaholic, codependent, and people-pleaser. She started a blog in 2011 about trading perfectionism for possibility. In September 2014, she gave her first TEDx talk, “Perfectionism Doesn’t Protect Us.” Two years later Caroline returned to the TEDx stage as an All-Star speaker with, “You Don’t O...

In our dog-eat-dog world, many people feel that they must use every tool possible to get ahead. This as true in sales as anywhere else. When a study suggests that saleswomen are 20% more successful when they flirt with clients, you can understand why some saleswomen would follow that path. But is it as lucrative as it seems? Experienced sales people Lynn Whitbeck, Keith Larson, and Debbie George t...

People have been talking about the importance of work-life balance for years, but lately, new opinions on the subject are emerging. Though many have taken its value for granted, some are actually starting to reject work-life balance. Some say it’s unattainable, or at least unrealistic. Some say the focus is wrong, and instead we should aim for work-life integration or harmony. Still others point o...

Do you believe woman should have equal rights, opportunities, and treatment as men? Do you believe in the values of feminism? If yes, do you openly identify as a feminist? For a long time, feminists have had a bad reputation… but why? Why do people who believe in the core values of feminism shy away from identifying as feminists? In our new podcast, Rachel, Amanda, and Lynn talk about what’s in a...

We’ve all heard of branding, but have you thought about why it’s so important? How do you develop your style and brand so that you’ll succeed in your career? Special guest Melissa Forziat joins us for an illuminating interview all about crafting your branding. With Melissa’s experience as a small business marketing coach and event manager, she has all the tips you need to know. Melissa starts by o...

Singer/songwriter Mandy Bon is an up-and-coming musician that any 20-something can relate to. From young love to the dreaded feeling of being stuck, her new EP, Traffic Jams , showcases four songs that articulate honest hopes and worries. Mandy composed, recorded, and mixed all four tracks on her new EP, and even took charge of most of the music video production, too. She clearly has a lot of tale...

How do you find a fulfilling, purposeful life? It’s a question many of us ask, but it takes a lot of trial and error to figure it out. Author Nate Nasralla has already done his fair share of navigating the ups and downs in life, and he joins Lynn and Amanda for our latest podcast. In our conversation, Nate shared the many lessons and paradoxes he’s learned on his path to finding significance. What...

Receptionists: They’re often the first person seen and the last person considered. However, a smart saleswoman will recognize them for the power they have. Receptionists, like personal assistants and coordinators, are gatekeepers. Gatekeepers can be the difference between you connecting with your potential buyer and being shown out the door. Indeed, it won’t matter how well you can sell your produ...

Have you ever considered starting your own business? Have you ever been struck with an exciting idea that could change the way you work? So many of us want to pursue an entrepreneurial idea, but we don’t always know how. Luckily, there are experts out there who can help. Aidan Vuocolo started Stories Behind the Grind and, through interviewing the people behind successful small businesses, has lear...

Last week, we talked about how we chose our favorite movies highlighting strong women. But there were so many, we had to make a part 2! Putting together this list was a lot of fun for us at Petite2Queen, and it took a lot of discussion. We considered characters strong in combat and women overcoming grief and depression. Some are leaders, but all stay true to their values. Strength comes in many fo...

Last week, we told you which movies we think are the best at highlighting powerful women. Putting together this list was a lot of fun for us at Petite2Queen, and it took a lot of discussion. We considered characters strong in combat and women overcoming grief and depression. Some are leaders, but all stay true to their values. Strength comes in many forms, and we discuss a number of them here. Of...

How do you find your purpose and passions in life? It’s a question many of us grapple with, and it can take years to figure it all out. Luckily, there are some amazing people who have been through it, too, and they’re more than happy to share what they’ve learned along the way. In our latest podcast, Lynn and Amanda are joined by a very special guest, author Tikiri Herath, whose book, My Rebel Dre...

Business travel can bring a nice change from the usual office routine, but it also comes with its own set of difficulties. How do you keep up with your sales and workload when you’re on the road? How do you stave off jet lag and travel exhaustion and get the most out of your business trip? With a little self-care and planning ahead, you can manage your sales like a pro, even when you’re on the roa...

Ever since we were little, we’ve been asked what we want to be when we grow up. A doctor? Maybe a firefighter? And as we grew older, we needed to create 5-year career plans, choose our college majors, and take steps to reach our dream jobs. But how many of us have the same goals now that we did 20 years ago? How many of us know what we want to do even now that we’re adults? Read More Support the s...

How often do you come across puppies and kittens up for adoption and think, “I want you!”? Most people love these furry little companions and will bring a pet into their lives as soon as they can. Once you’ve moved into an apartment that allows animals and you’re considering adopting a new pet, though, be sure to stop and consider all that goes into caring it. How will a pet fit into your lifestyl...

In sales, you meet all kinds of prospects and clients. Depending on your industry, you may run into so-called pay-to-play clients. As the name suggests, these are potential clients who require some form of payment before you can participate in a particular business activity. But isn’t that shady? It depends on who you ask. Lynn and Tina have both dealt with their fair share of clients, and they we...

Negotiating raises can be difficult or even scary for a lot of people, but it seems especially so for women. Why are so many women reluctant or even afraid to ask for a raise? How can we overcome these feelings? We could have an entire discussion about how societal norms can harm a woman’s confidence and feelings of self-worth. But suffice it to say that by recognizing what’s holding us back, wome...

Do you know how to take care of yourself? We don’t mean just addressing your vital needs – how do you truly treat yourself? All of us need to practice self-care, but sometimes we just don’t know how or can’t fit it into our schedules. What are some of the best ways to exercise self-care? What do you need or want most in order to be content? And when life gets busy – which, let’s be honest, it alwa...

Sales is a tricky business that requires excellent people skills as you build trust with your clients. But no matter how much you’ve mastered the art of sales, you’ll still make mistakes from time to time. What kinds of missteps can occur during the sales process? What about client relationships – are missteps more serious and harder to overcome? Moreover, how can you repair the damage after you’v...