If there's one thing I always tell new employees, it's this: documenting is your best friend. 

Have a problem employee? Documenting from day 1 can take letting them go that much easier. Employee does amazing work and tackles multiple projects with ease? If you write it down, performance reviews will be a breeze and you won't risk forgetting important accomplishments. Alternatively, if performance wasn't up to par, documenting can make your evaluation objective and fair. Want to stay on top of all the projects your team is on? Document with project management software, emails, or even a giant whiteboard behind your desk! When in doubt, document.

To demonstrate, let me share the story of the first person I ever fired. When I was promoted, I started creating performance metrics for all of my staff. I wanted to make sure that I was objective in my evaluations of staff and could keep an eye on their performance. To my surprise, I discovered that one employee had done no work in the past 8 years. Absolutely zero- his job was to delete records and none had been deleted in 8 years. I was flabbergasted. 

Had this been caught in his first year on the job, perhaps he could have been retrained. However, because I caught it so late and previous conversations with supervisors were not documented, I had to start from scratch and go through the process of a PIP. Moral of the story, document from day one. Don't let problems marinade for years before taking action. By recording issues from the day they start, you can help to catch issues early and make your job easier in the long run. 

​Is there a time you wish you had documented? Share below!

This week we talked with Dr. Donna Marie Cozine, Founder and CEO of Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts. Donna is an educational leader and the author of So You Want to Be a Superintendent: Become the Leader you Were Meant to Be! You can visit her online at www.consultdmc.com.

Tell me about yourself!
I am the founder and CEO of Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts. Although people don't usually associate entrepreneurship with education, that is exactly what charter schools are about. We create an innovative school environment from scratch that empowers and changes the lives of children who otherwise would have poor educational options.  I have been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, adjunct college professor, curriculum writer, author and now CEO/superintendent.  I have two beautiful children who attend my school and an incredibly supportive husband. 

What made you decide to start your own school?
I was an executive coach for leaders in the Rochester City School District, the school district with the worst outcomes in the nation, when I realized that parents needed better options for their children's education. I was also thinking about school for my then 3-year-old and 10-month-old. I decided that I would use my skills and talents to architect an elementary school for children that used the arts to grow other competencies. That school, Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts, is in its 7th year of operation with over 500 students and 93 staff members. We consistently have hundreds of children on our wait list each year.  

What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
Being the "head cook and bottle washer" can be trying at times! Also, it is a truly a 24/7 proposition. You need to be available to address concerns whenever they arise. 

What's your favorite part?
Knowing that what I am doing is improving the lives of thousands of children and their families. 

What advice would you give to women either working in business or starting their own?
Align your mission to your position and be true to yourself in all that you do. Don't compromise or sacrifice what you want to do. It will come. 

What is your favorite quote?
What doesn't challenge you doesn't change you!

You know what one of the quickest ways to kill morale in the workplace is? Micromanaging your employees. When managers clock-watch, micromanage, and aren't flexible, it makes employees feel undervalued and can kill morale and retention. So what can you do? Here are my top three tips!

1. Be Flexible
Ultimately, your employees have lives outside of work. Kids get sick, emergencies happen, and sometimes 9-5 isn't possible for a day. By allowing your employees to work from home, come in later, or leave a little early, you can give them a benefit that they'll value just as much as a raise or great health insurance. For many, flexibility when needed is invaluable and a higher-paying job may not be worth leaving over. If you're able to offer it, make flexibility a priority for your team. 

2. Don't Clock-Watch
There's nothing more demoralizing than being told that you're 5 minutes late returning for lunch when you've been putting in 50 hour work weeks. Unless it's truly egregious, avoid the temptation to clock your employees. Of course, with hourly employees, you need to be more mindful and pay them for all hours worked. However, as a general rule, 5 minutes is not worth demoralizing your team over. 

3. Trust Their Expertise
You hired your staff for a reason. Micromanaging is one of the biggest complaints I hear from employees. While you should check work, you don't need to breathe over your employee's shoulders. In addition, nothing empowers your staff more than allowing them to make decisions. Do you really need to sign off on every waived fine? Think about what you can do to empower your staff and show your confidence in them. It'll take a load off your plate and help keep your staff morale high!

Have you ever felt micromanaged at work? What do you wish your employer had done instead? Comment below!

This week we talked with Caitlin Brookes of MyPropella. Caitlin is the Founder and CEO of MyPropella, an online platform creating a community of solo female travelers to connect and travel together. Caitlin holds a UNSW Bachelor of Social Science and a UNSW Masters in Planning. In addition to the demands of her CEO role with MyPropella, Caitlin provides consultation services in relation to social media communications strategy, community and stakeholder engagement and community engagement events. You can visit Caitlin online at mypropella.com.au/.

Tell me about your business!
Many women travel solo due to circumstance, not choice. We match women travelers so they can travel safely, in comfort and with ease to their chosen destination. 

How did you business come about?
I’m an avid traveler having traveled to 35 countries. I experienced this problem first hand when travelling solo to Africa. I found it hard to connect and meet with like minded female travelers to share my travel experience with. I started researching by interviewing and surveying over 200 women and discovered women were experiencing the same issue as me. This was mainly felt by women aged 50 years and over. 

What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
Stamina and the persistence to keep going when you have a health setback. 

What's your favorite part?
Continually learning new skills like web development, financial management, people management and working on my passion project. 

What advice would you give to women either working in business or starting their own?
Find supportive women who can mentor and encourage you.

What's your favorite quote?
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. ​

To family and friends, I've always been the resume girl. You need someone to proofread your resume and offer advice? You call Julia. My boyfriend even had a manager tell him that his resume (that I made him rewrite and heavily edit) was the reason he got hired. And you know what I've noticed in my years of hiring? A lot of people have no idea how to write a resume! However, all is not lost. Here's my top 5 tips on how to fix your resume:

1. Keep it Brief
Your resume is a marketing document, not a biography. There is no need for you to have more than two pages. In the first 5 years of your career? Then you probably don't need more than one! You r resume should show the highlights of your career, not a detailed description of every detail of your prior employment. 

2. Get Rid of Your Objective
In all my years of hiring, I can confidently say that I've never seen an objective that added to a person's application. In most cases, it simply tells me that they are interested in the job that they applied for- or that they are not if the objective states a job other than the one they're applying for. I know you want the job, that's why you applied. Skip the objective and leave that space for more valuable info. 

3. Focus on Accomplishment, not Responsibilities
The best way to frame your experience is in what you accomplished, not the day-to-day tasks you completed. So instead of "sold spa memberships," say "maintained a 25% sales closing on spa memberships and coached others to increase their sales." Make it objective and measurable. Numbers or outcomes are ideal!

4. Use Skills Mindfully
Most skills sections tell me things that I could learn from your accomplishments instead. Want to show me you're detail-oriented? Tell me about a project you completed with 100% accuracy and write me an error-free cover letter. Don't just list "detail-oriented"  or "proficient in Microsoft office" under skills- I have no way to verify that. The one exception to this is fields like computer science where you need to list skills like programming languages. However, for most of us, leave this section off. 

5. Keep it Relevant 
Don't be afraid to remove details that aren't going to help your candidacy. I likely don't need to know your GPA five years after graduation, and your love of knitting may not be relevant to your PR job. Do keep in mind transferable skills though- your work in a library may show your organizational skills and that year in fast-food shows that you work hard and are great at customer service. 

With these 5 tips, you can revamp your resume and have a successful job hunt! Comment below with one thing you're going to change on your resume today. 

This week we talked with Alice Mabin of Al Mabin Pty Ltd. Al is a 10 times best-selling author and BEFA Asia Pacific Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Her record-breaking publications, The Drover, The Driver and The Grower Series are iconic. More than just stunning books, these masterpieces reconnect people to the outback way of life, celebrate the essence of the Aussie bush and stir solidarity. Recently, she released her memoir, detailing the winding road that brought her from traumatic brain injury survivor to award-winning author. The Winding Road: Secrets of an Outback Entrepreneur reminds us that our potential is limitless. You can visit Alice online at www.almabin.com.
​
Tell me about yourself!
I like to think of myself as just a country woman, living my dream, not taking no for an answer, creating magic and making the impossible possible. I have a limitless mindset and get so much joy out of seeing other people succeed. I am just as comfortable with my own company in remote outback locations as I am wining and dining in the cities. But I would choose the country over the city any day, however love the best of both worlds. 

Tell me about your business!
I dedicate my life to sharing the heart and spirit of our rural communities with the world. I spent many years working on the land before an accident that left me physically unable to farm again. Determined to preserve my contribution to our agricultural industry, I sold my working dogs, bought a camera and turned Australia’s self-publishing industry on its head. 

Now well-known for commanding keynotes, I harnesses the power of storytelling to inspire change, challenge mindsets and create brilliance. My Outback yarns will change the way you think. 

How did you business come about?
My identity was tied to working on the land in agriculture, but due to a major head injury I had to change my path. I ended up in the corporate world, still involved in agriculture, and my corporate career blossomed. My life started to resemble a conventional existence: 9-5, secure job, heath insurance, company car, travel, tech gadgets, ladder rungs, bottom lines. But there was something missing. The supposed peace and security associated with that prototypical existence unsettled me. That inherent conflict between my heart and mind reappeared, and I began to question if what I was doing with my life was right for me. The conflict was palpable. I began to ask myself, Who creates the unwritten rules of how we should live our lives, and why do we so willingly follow them? Who defines how we should behave? What would I do if I had six months to live?

It was the six-month question that got me.  It took me a while to face up to my worry and apprehension, but I knew enough about myself to recognize that my well-being was connected to my ability to face fear. I missed having the freedom to grow and explore. I missed buzzing with anticipation and searching the undiscovered. So, I chose to leave my career—my six-figure salary security. I brought a camera, ended up on the worlds biggest cattle drive, and started my own business.

What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
Being in the lime light all the time, always having to have my game face on.  Balancing the 'pusher' and 'inner critic' in me to not chew myself up and spit myself out or work 24/7. 

What's your favorite part?
My favorite part is seeing the impact my products have on people. Seeing them connect in the moment and stir emotion inside. The flow on effect from this is long lasting and exponentially shared.

What advice would you give to women either working in business or starting their own?
There is no right or wrong way to do business. The biggest barrier to success is our own minds, so the more work we can do on ourselves and understanding our own psychology, the more we can be present and create magic in our worlds.

What's your favorite quote?
I learnt early on that life is the fruit of our own doing: we have no one to blame but ourselves for the life we cultivate. Life is too short not to do what you love. 

We've all seen the current unemployment statistics and it's a scary time. Last week was the highest number of unemployment claims filed in a single week and many Americans are struggling as a result. You may be worried abut your own employment security as a result. So what should you do in this uncertain time? Here are my top three tips.

1. Create a Backup Budget
With the uncertainty of employment looming, now is the time to tighten your budget. Think about what you could cut in an emergency and where you could save. Are there any costs you can cut now? There's tons of great resources out there to help you with this- I love Clever Girl Finance's offerings. Now, take any money you've cut and add it to your savings to help float you in the case of job loss. 

2. Make a Just-In-Case Plan
Is your resume current? Do you know who is hiring in your field? Think about looking into these things now rather than when you're in the shock of being laid off. What would you do if you needed a job now? Think about work from home jobs, in or outside of your career, that you could apply for if you absolutely needed a job ASAP. Hopefully you won't need these, but it's better to prepare and not need them then need them and not prepare. 

3. If It Happens, File for Unemployment
If the worst case scenario happens, make sure you file for unemployment ASAP. This is true even if you're promised a job once the virus scare is over. You may still be eligible for unemployment in the meantime. There are also some initiatives specific to the current health crisis. Have questions?  Visit the government's guide here.

Have you planned for the worst-case scenario? Let us know what steps you've taken in the comments below!