JerseyLove 2013

I'm spending the weekend in Atlantic City and Belmar to celebrate bring attention to the amazing shore tourism trade 'down the shore'! There 40 women on the trip in total. Some women brought their families, some traveled solo. Some women are from Jersey but most are from out of state. I'm excited that I can share my state with the powerhouse ladies that came on the #JerseyLove  trip!

As a kid my family would vacation down the shore every year. We'd rent a house, pile in every relative we could find and spend a week playing on the beach during the day and walking the boardwalk at night. Just being here brings back such cool memories – I think it's time I brought my own kids down the Jersey shore! We live close enough for day trips in but 'life' always seems to get in the way and we don't get down here as much as I'd like.

As the weekend progresses I'm going to be adding more photos to this album so feel free to 'follow along' the trip. There is a big party going on in Instagram (http://statigr.am/tag/jerseylove/) and Twitter as well (https://twitter.com/KadiPrescott/jersey-love-attendees).

#blog   #jerseylove   #ad  

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I know who the next Doctor Who will be…

I just realized who the next Doctor Who will be…

Richard Madden (Robb Stark) from Game of Thrones. The actor is available now and all… and he’s Scottish like David Tennant is.

…AND he has been in a relationship with actress Jenna-Louise Coleman (who currently plays Clara – the Doctor’s companion) since late 2011. I’m brilliant.

$20 says I’m right.

Three Summer Book Read Picks for 2013

I'm recently back from the BookExpo and excited to have about 130 pounds of books to read over the summer. Normally I stick with business or professional enrichment topics, but fiction (specifically sci-fi) are also favorites of mine.

I'm curious to learn about the types of books YOU like to read. Leave your "Top 3" summer read picks in the comments! I need some ideas!

#blog   #bea13   #bookexpoamerica  

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First Social Media for Social Good Retreat Kicks Off Re-opening of Belmar, NJ Bo…

First Social Media for Social Good Retreat Kicks Off Re-opening of Belmar, NJ Boardwalk

Over 40 women from Social Media Moms and New Jersey Digital Moms to come together in Atlantic City to support Jersey Shore tourism post Superstorm Sandy. Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty to be presented with donation to Belmar Relief and Recovery Foundation.

I am excited to be a part of this fabulous group of women that truly care about the future of my home state of New Jersey, our residents, and our tourism trade down the shore.

Be on the lookout for an onslaught of posts, pictures, and video from June 6 – June 9th during my trip!

I miss the Jersey Shore so much… I'm honored to be a part of the project!!

#blog  

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First Social Media for Social Good Retreat Kicks Off Re-opening of Belmar, NJ Boardwalk
Over 40 women from Social Media Moms and New Jersey Digital Moms to come together in Atlantic City to support Jersey Shore tourism post Superstorm Sandy. Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty to be presented with donation to Belmar Relief and Recovery Foundation.

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Everyone gets cake!!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! This is my second birthday celebrated on Google+ (my 42nd birthday on the planet) and I'm glad to say that I now have 1.5 million new friends. Okay everyone, what's your favorite cake or sweet treat? I have a lot of baking to do to have a party for this many people!!

Hugs and love to all of you for the connection and well wishes!

#blog   #happybirthday  

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Geek Girl Tech Conference 2013

Today I'll be an instructor at the +Geek Girl Tech Conference in Cape Cod MA. I cannot even tell you how nervous and excited I am to be in a place where 500 tech savvy (and want to be tech savvy) women are in ONE PLACE to share, learn, and grow.

The organizer +Leslie Fishlock and I mostly met on Google+ (although I'm sure we have known each other for a million years somewhere else on the 'net), and now I'm an instructor at her event. Leslie and all the other organizers and instructors are so absolutely dedicated to helping other women AND GIRLS learn, embrace and accept that women can excel in not only computer tech, but STEM fields. I feel like an ant among giants…

Thinking back to when I was in my early 20s and a professional women in the technology field – I swear I never thought I'd see the day where I'd be attending an event dedicated to people just like me. The fact that events like Geek Girl Camp can even exist is so far past my expectations as a young woman that this now older woman is humbled and inspired by it all.

http://geekgirlcamp.com/ will get you to the event website and give you some more info on the dozens of classes offered as well as info on not only this event in Cape Cod MA but the upcoming one in San Diego CA (I'll be there too).

So, in advance of the day kicking off, I wanted to say THANK YOU to all those that come to my classes, sponsors of the event, organizers, attendees, and especially to all of the geek girls worldwide that make every single one of us powerful by joining together.

#blog  #GeekGirl  #GeekGirlTechCon

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Do You Need a Consultant or a Coach?

Professionally I fill roles as either a consultant or a mentor (some call it coaching), depending on the professional, company and situation. In my old line of work (enterprise technology) a consultant was usually a semi-temporary non-employee team member that was brought in to fill a specific gap in talent – and come off a different line item for payment in the books (no health insurance or taxes to pay either). Consultants felt a bit more expendable than employees, made more money, and were the first to get cut when budgets got tight.

In the true meaning of consulting (such as what my business partnership with +Faucet Group behaves as), the practice revolves more around generating new ideas and facilitating progress. Bringing in 'temp' help at an advanced level to get your company over a hurdle or growth jag – as well as infusing a shot of outside (and impartial) expertise can be a sound strategy.

Mentoring in its true form isn't usually a paid position, but professional coaching is. Imagine having an industry or topic expert to call to work through ideas or issues and help realign your progress. Imagine being able to sustain and grow this progress even after the coach is 'gone'. Much different outcome than a consultant, even if subtile.

It's good to know the difference between consultant and coach, and know the difference when looking for help. In my experience, and in my line of services this is what a consultant vs. a mentor / coach looks like:

Consultant = Figures out a plan of action based on their experience and your needs and then executes those plans. Progress may continue after consultant is disengaged, but only if team has championed the process themselves.

Mentor / Coach = Works with you or your team to help you figure out your own path to success and guides you to produce results yourself. Processes put in place by the coach will continue to be in use after coach is disengaged.

This +The New York Times article gives some great real-world examples of how choosing a consultant or coach can improve your business. What do you think? Have you ever hired a consultant or a coach? What do you think about the process or outcome?

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Fighting the Consultant Temptation
Is there ever a good reason for a fast-growth company to hire a consultant?

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