Many have told me of the angst and misery they go through to 'network' - that horrible feeling when you first enter a room full of people you don't know and the gut-renching first hello really is an ordeal of the highest degree.  They also tell me how much time it wastes when they could be concentrating on their career and business. So is networking a myth or a must?

The tales of woe above are something that I work though all the time but choose to ignore. Why you say? I believe you can't expect to get ahead in your career or your business without people knowing who you are or what you do!  The myth is that if you do a fabulous job you will be noticed - or if you have a great business you will have lots of customers just because you do a good job...  People are not mind-readers and a personal connection is the only true way to guarantee your path to success.

I am what you might call a non-networker's networker.  I don't attend lots of large functions to hand out multiple business cards. I do however attend small intimate functions where I can get a chance for a one-on-one conversation. I don't email tons of people I don't know, but carefully select and nurture relationships. I work out what I can give them and not what they can give me. I feel uncomfortable asking people for help so therefore I only ask for help on behalf of others. By doing so though, I have always found that those I have helped have always done something that will make my journey easier or more fun or more fulfilling. I do this because I want to and not because I have to.

Empty networking is not my style but relationship-building is.  So I ask the question again - is networking a myth or a must?

My family have just been through a very traumatic few weeks. Depression, a most insidious disease, has our family in its grip. Several family members have it in both the clinical and manic form and we seem to roll from year to year with one person or another suffering through a breakdown.

I run a business which employs four family members other than me - three who have depression.  All are valuable employees and fabulous, intelligent people who simply have a chronic illness.  It is estimated that in Australia 5.8% (1) of the Australian population has depression and 9.5% of the American population (2). A serious set of statistics indeed and one that is exacerbated by a lack of understanding from the general populace.

The members of our family who don't understand it are perplexed and unable to cope with those who do, and friends are left with a feeling of helplessness. What do you do when those you love best are doing and saying things that are socially unacceptable, or are simply unable to get up in the morning because their anxiety is so great?

We have a crisis plan in place to cope with one or another having an episode. And believe me with proper treatment and a keen eye you can prevent most episodes from getting out of hand. Usually stress is the trigger and you can nearly always make sure extra precautions are taken through prolonged periods.

Each time a crisis happens we have to:

• reassess the persons situation 
• work through the series of tools the psychologists have given us to cope and
• then work out a plan to manage the person's recovery.

All of my family employees are using CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in conjunction with low dose anti-depressants. Only one needs the anti-depressants on a continual basis. CBT is an excellent psychotherapy tool and one that I recommend to anyone with depression. You can read more at http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/therapies/cognitivebehaviouraltherapy.aspx.

One member of the family has bi-polar disorder and this is a different form of depression and one that needs psychiatric treatment and a long term medication plan. It is characterised by extreme mood swings and a lack of inhibition. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder for further details.  This form of depression can be extremely serious so please make sure you seek medical advice.

What ever happens, understanding, acceptance, patience and love will overcome the problem. I know this because we live with it everyday and I can tell you now that mostly we have a fabulous life, despite the challenges.

Other links you might like to explore:

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression

http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.html

1. Extracted from Michael Hilton & Harvey Whiteford, On Line Opinion,  www.onlineopion.com.au

2. http://www.allaboutdepression.com/gen_15.html

Having a business at home seems like a wonderful dream for many people. A lifestyle to aspire to and luxury most don't have. The reality can be somewhat different. Motivation, isolation, lack of space and the distraction of people dropping in, kids and family are just a few of the challenges that must be faced.

The biggest issue especially for women is the fact that most  don't have a network to support them. I don't mean just family or friends but a network of like-minded people who have the same challenges. This peer network is one that tells you that you aren't insane, that there are other people out there who face the same things as you and can offer you a friendly ear when you need it. That network that makes you feel that you are not alone in the world.

Finding a network like this is a task that is necessary and one that could help your business enormously. I was in rural WA last week running a workshop and although this town had 6000 people, the people in that room did not know each other. The comment that has come back most often from these events is that they did not know that other business people could be so supportive. The relief was evident and they are now a part of our growing support network.

Join U-net today and, as well as free information, we will help to connect you to others like you.

International Women's Day (IWD) celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women.

The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States.  The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century, amid rapid world industrialisation and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. Women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City.  The garment workers were protesting about what they saw as very poor working conditions and low wages.

More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15 000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.  In 1910, the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen and an 'International Women's Day' was established.

In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues with flowers and small gifts.

If you are interested to see the universal involvement in this initiative, go to www.internationalwomensday.com

Inevitably, and probably on Thursday, we will hear the question "what about International Men's Day?"  Before you answer that every other day is just that, you might like to read a response from Dr Michael Flood (http://www.xyonline.net/downloads/International_Mens_Day.pdf), who makes some interesting observations about the rationale for such a celebration.

Whoever, and wherever, you are on 8 March 2007, may you take some time to acknowledge and appreciate the women in your life.

Sources:  Wikipedia; www.internationalwomensday.com

I have just finished a 3 day residential program for women in leadership.  To my absolute surprise and disgust, every single participant had been the recipient of workplace bullying at one time or another.  Each woman was a middle manager in her workplace and the bullying had been done by both males and females.

All had either left a job for this reason or had to employ extreme tactics over a prolonged period of time to resolve the situation.

It is incredible to think that, in this day and age, bullying should be tolerated by organisations. Seemingly, organisations still do not have enough processes in place to couteract this abhorrent practice. I myself have been subject to this treatment and know how powerless you can feel when confronted with such a situation.

My advice is:

• Tell someone in HR and a superior (someone above you that is not the bully) that you have a problem with a workplace bully but you are trying to handle it yourself. Make them aware.
• If the behaviour escaclates make sure you keep telling HR and the superior. Recognise that you are entitled to protection from your company. They have a duty of care.
• Realise that it is not about you - it is always about them! Most bullies are cowards or have been bullied themselves and do this because they are unable to handle situations in an appropriate manner.
• Document every conversation or encounter with the person - this is your proof. Talk to your colleagues and see if there is a pattern to this behaviour.
• Be courageous and act because if you don't the behaviour continues with someone else.
• If the bully is the boss - leave!

Have you been bullied? If so, how did you handle the situation?