This is just a notice to all of you out there that our website is currently under construction. It should be working throughout the editing period, but if you happen upon an unfinished page or a link that does not appear to work, please comment on this post with the details, or please email me at aplunk@steffanco.com.
Also, any suggestions as to the aesthetics of the site would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Amy Plunk
Executive Assistant to Brian Steffan
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Gloria Steffan, an amazing Mother, friend and woman
I am sorry it has been so long since I have written anything for my blog. Sadly, this one has nothing to do with work, employment issues or observations. It is very personal. For the last 4 months have have been my Mother's primary caregiver during her battle with Breast Cancer. Due to the economy crisis I was able to spend every day and night with her and learned more about her in 4 months then I had known in 44 years. Who knew something good could actually come from the downturn.
My Mother moved to Washington from Syracuse, NY in 1987 and worked as an office manager for a law firm in DC until she retired in 1999. She loved her Doritos, M&Ms, Monk and House TV marathons, her needlepoint, and especially her family and friends who filled her life in the 79 years of it.
Beautiful, Elegant, and Warm are just a few of the words used to describe our Mother. In addition, words like Proud, Loving and Loyal when it came to her children. Like many families, our bonds have been strained, bruised and sometimes broken, but through this all, Mom loved her sons equally and we jokingly called her,” Switzerland” due to her unwavering neutrality and open to all but never judging, pushing or taking sides. Mom loved her boys very much. What many people don’t know is that she gave birth to triplets in the late 1950s and to her heartbreak; Suzanne Eileen, Catherine Marie and Elizabeth Rose joined her Father, Urban, in Heaven shortly after birth. Grampa Urban had passed when Mom was only 8. Mom even had an “off limits” pink girl’s bedroom and bathroom in our home to represent the female in a house full of men. The toilet seat was always down. Always!
I know when Mom passed; she was looking forward to holding her girl babies and being hugged by her Daddy, again.
My Mother was an only child raised by my grandmother in St. Paul, MN and her aunt Anne and Uncle Joe during the Summers in Portal, North Dakota. At age 17 she was fixed up on a blind date with a skinny quiet farm boy, named Bill. It was love at first sight for Bill according to a love letter I found in my Mother’s dresser that she had kept for 62 years. Mom soon fell in love with Dad and on October 15, 1949 they married and started a life together that would include raising 3 boys, founding Ramada Inns International, being state guests of the King of Morocco, starting an international commercial development firm, owning the largest polled Hereford ranch in the united states, along with founding a museum.
Although, their marriage ended after 37 years, my Mother never went out with another man and when my Father passed in 2003, she tearfully said,” I’m a widow now.” My Father told me in the last few years of his life he still loved my Mother and wished things were different. I found out later, whenever he was in DC, he would call Mom phone just to hear her voice and then hang up. She told me that she knew it was him and would smile happily. When my father died in 2003, he had a heart attack in the garden of his home and the last word he uttered was "Gloria". Needless to say, his then wife, Gail, is still not happy about that.
I know when Mom passed she was looking forward to being with my Father again
I know the one person she was most excited to see and who helped her into the next world was my Grandmother, Rose. Mom talked to my Grandmother just about every day as I do and in the last two weeks of her life, Mom was talking to Gramma all day long and answering a lot of questions with things like: “I know it will be fun, but I am not ready” and “Oh Momma, I can’t wait”. She spoke to my Grandfather, her little girls and my Dad. I am at peace today because I believe they all greeted her with unconditional love.
In Mom’s lifetime she strived always to be the best, the best for her husband, the best for her children, her friends, her business and the organizations she chaired. Her legendary parties and events made society page headlines as I found in a box of newspaper clippings. I’ve been known to throw a party or two in my lifetime and I learned it all from her.
My mother was an artist and one of the most creative people in the world. Playing the organ, stenciling, needlepoint, tole painting, and decorating to name a few talents. It all came easy to her and she passed these skills on to all her boys, but especially her eldest son, Dan who is one of the most amazing industry recognized illustrators in the cartoon publications business. Mom was a driven and innovative businesswoman who had an eye for quality and the ability to turn one dollar into two, much like other her sons, Tim, a Vice President of Asset Management for one of the country’s largest owners, operators and developers of major retail properties and like me, a successful small business owner.
“Granny,” as her two beautiful grandchildren called her. Mom relished being a Grandmother, but frequently shared that she wished she was 20 years younger to really enjoy and spoil them like she wanted too. In Mom’s later years she liked staying in and enjoying her condo, going to West Virginia to “relax and unwind” and lunch with her girlfriends, Anne and Margo at Clyde’s.
Three years ago Mom beat cancer and sadly, in March, found out it was back with a vengeance. She fought bravely and never complained. I am so proud of her for that. She was more worried about her sons and their families than the rapidly approaching end of her life. When the doctors finally told us together that she had only a few weeks left, one doctor advised, “You two have got to stop lying to each other, be strong and face facts.” So in our usual fashion, we set up a plan and openly talked about her passing, viewing and funeral.
I asked her, Mom: do you want flowers or “in lieu of? She said, “Oh, in lieu of” I asked where she wanted donations to go to? She said she didn’t know, but I then chimed in, “How about to a Democrat running for reelection?” Her reply was, “You would turn this into a fundraiser…and then smiled and said “I trained you well”.
Finally, for me, Humble is the word I best think describes my Mother--humble in appearance, never over doing it or showing off, humble in her support, working anonymysly to help out a cause or seated at the front desk at a fundraiser. Humble in her affection and love, not showing too much emotion in public but in private, we were always told “I love you” and she meant it!
I feel privileged to have spent the last 3 months with her day and night and the honor of holding her hand when she passed. It was the most amazing moment of my life.
Please remember to always tell the people in your life you love and appreciate them because many may not have been as fortunate as I.
Thank you,
Brian Steffan
Gloria Ann (Gallagher) Steffan
Gloria Ann (Gallagher) Steffan, 79, died of cancer on May 26, 2009 at her home in Falls Church, VA.
Born June 12, 1929 to the late Rose Marie (Abraham) and Urban Daniel Gallagher in St. Paul, MN, she attended Villa Maria Academy, Frontenac, MN.
In. 1949, she graduated from the University of Minnesota where she majored in drama, and in 1949, married William J. Steffan, they lived in Cazenovia, NY from 1967 to 1985, where she headed the New York chapter of Questers International, chaired the Corinthian Club and was a founding trustee of the Friends of Lorenzo Museum.
Mrs. Steffan moved to the DC area in 1987 and was employed by the law firm of Klein, Landau and Romm, from which she retired in 1999.
Active in Democratic Party politics for much of her life, in recent years she worked for candidates in northern Virginia and statewide, and for charitable causes locally.
She is survived by sons and Daniel J. Steffan of Portland, OR, Brian J. Steffan of Falls Church, VA, and Timothy J. Steffan of McLean, VA, and grandchildren Cole W. Steffan and Taryn J. Steffan of McLean.
Memorial contributions may be made to:
The Gloria A. Steffan Scholarship Fund
C/O Arlington Community Foundation
2525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.
www.arlcf.org , 703/243-4785
My Mother moved to Washington from Syracuse, NY in 1987 and worked as an office manager for a law firm in DC until she retired in 1999. She loved her Doritos, M&Ms, Monk and House TV marathons, her needlepoint, and especially her family and friends who filled her life in the 79 years of it.
Beautiful, Elegant, and Warm are just a few of the words used to describe our Mother. In addition, words like Proud, Loving and Loyal when it came to her children. Like many families, our bonds have been strained, bruised and sometimes broken, but through this all, Mom loved her sons equally and we jokingly called her,” Switzerland” due to her unwavering neutrality and open to all but never judging, pushing or taking sides. Mom loved her boys very much. What many people don’t know is that she gave birth to triplets in the late 1950s and to her heartbreak; Suzanne Eileen, Catherine Marie and Elizabeth Rose joined her Father, Urban, in Heaven shortly after birth. Grampa Urban had passed when Mom was only 8. Mom even had an “off limits” pink girl’s bedroom and bathroom in our home to represent the female in a house full of men. The toilet seat was always down. Always!
I know when Mom passed; she was looking forward to holding her girl babies and being hugged by her Daddy, again.
My Mother was an only child raised by my grandmother in St. Paul, MN and her aunt Anne and Uncle Joe during the Summers in Portal, North Dakota. At age 17 she was fixed up on a blind date with a skinny quiet farm boy, named Bill. It was love at first sight for Bill according to a love letter I found in my Mother’s dresser that she had kept for 62 years. Mom soon fell in love with Dad and on October 15, 1949 they married and started a life together that would include raising 3 boys, founding Ramada Inns International, being state guests of the King of Morocco, starting an international commercial development firm, owning the largest polled Hereford ranch in the united states, along with founding a museum.
Although, their marriage ended after 37 years, my Mother never went out with another man and when my Father passed in 2003, she tearfully said,” I’m a widow now.” My Father told me in the last few years of his life he still loved my Mother and wished things were different. I found out later, whenever he was in DC, he would call Mom phone just to hear her voice and then hang up. She told me that she knew it was him and would smile happily. When my father died in 2003, he had a heart attack in the garden of his home and the last word he uttered was "Gloria". Needless to say, his then wife, Gail, is still not happy about that.
I know when Mom passed she was looking forward to being with my Father again
I know the one person she was most excited to see and who helped her into the next world was my Grandmother, Rose. Mom talked to my Grandmother just about every day as I do and in the last two weeks of her life, Mom was talking to Gramma all day long and answering a lot of questions with things like: “I know it will be fun, but I am not ready” and “Oh Momma, I can’t wait”. She spoke to my Grandfather, her little girls and my Dad. I am at peace today because I believe they all greeted her with unconditional love.
In Mom’s lifetime she strived always to be the best, the best for her husband, the best for her children, her friends, her business and the organizations she chaired. Her legendary parties and events made society page headlines as I found in a box of newspaper clippings. I’ve been known to throw a party or two in my lifetime and I learned it all from her.
My mother was an artist and one of the most creative people in the world. Playing the organ, stenciling, needlepoint, tole painting, and decorating to name a few talents. It all came easy to her and she passed these skills on to all her boys, but especially her eldest son, Dan who is one of the most amazing industry recognized illustrators in the cartoon publications business. Mom was a driven and innovative businesswoman who had an eye for quality and the ability to turn one dollar into two, much like other her sons, Tim, a Vice President of Asset Management for one of the country’s largest owners, operators and developers of major retail properties and like me, a successful small business owner.
“Granny,” as her two beautiful grandchildren called her. Mom relished being a Grandmother, but frequently shared that she wished she was 20 years younger to really enjoy and spoil them like she wanted too. In Mom’s later years she liked staying in and enjoying her condo, going to West Virginia to “relax and unwind” and lunch with her girlfriends, Anne and Margo at Clyde’s.
Three years ago Mom beat cancer and sadly, in March, found out it was back with a vengeance. She fought bravely and never complained. I am so proud of her for that. She was more worried about her sons and their families than the rapidly approaching end of her life. When the doctors finally told us together that she had only a few weeks left, one doctor advised, “You two have got to stop lying to each other, be strong and face facts.” So in our usual fashion, we set up a plan and openly talked about her passing, viewing and funeral.
I asked her, Mom: do you want flowers or “in lieu of? She said, “Oh, in lieu of” I asked where she wanted donations to go to? She said she didn’t know, but I then chimed in, “How about to a Democrat running for reelection?” Her reply was, “You would turn this into a fundraiser…and then smiled and said “I trained you well”.
Finally, for me, Humble is the word I best think describes my Mother--humble in appearance, never over doing it or showing off, humble in her support, working anonymysly to help out a cause or seated at the front desk at a fundraiser. Humble in her affection and love, not showing too much emotion in public but in private, we were always told “I love you” and she meant it!
I feel privileged to have spent the last 3 months with her day and night and the honor of holding her hand when she passed. It was the most amazing moment of my life.
Please remember to always tell the people in your life you love and appreciate them because many may not have been as fortunate as I.
Thank you,
Brian Steffan
Gloria Ann (Gallagher) Steffan
Gloria Ann (Gallagher) Steffan, 79, died of cancer on May 26, 2009 at her home in Falls Church, VA.
Born June 12, 1929 to the late Rose Marie (Abraham) and Urban Daniel Gallagher in St. Paul, MN, she attended Villa Maria Academy, Frontenac, MN.
In. 1949, she graduated from the University of Minnesota where she majored in drama, and in 1949, married William J. Steffan, they lived in Cazenovia, NY from 1967 to 1985, where she headed the New York chapter of Questers International, chaired the Corinthian Club and was a founding trustee of the Friends of Lorenzo Museum.
Mrs. Steffan moved to the DC area in 1987 and was employed by the law firm of Klein, Landau and Romm, from which she retired in 1999.
Active in Democratic Party politics for much of her life, in recent years she worked for candidates in northern Virginia and statewide, and for charitable causes locally.
She is survived by sons and Daniel J. Steffan of Portland, OR, Brian J. Steffan of Falls Church, VA, and Timothy J. Steffan of McLean, VA, and grandchildren Cole W. Steffan and Taryn J. Steffan of McLean.
Memorial contributions may be made to:
The Gloria A. Steffan Scholarship Fund
C/O Arlington Community Foundation
2525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.
www.arlcf.org , 703/243-4785
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
You can't fix dumb
A phrase my Mother would use often with reference to people and their decisions.
Yesterday brought Washington, DC its first major snow event of the season. Those who are not familiar with the DC snow mentality find it hysterical and baffling. First, the meteorologist makes a comment about the possibility of snow and the town is on alert and talking about nothing but the weather. Second, the snow event is moved to a warning and there will be accumulations. The town hits the stores for toilet paper, milk/alcohol and canned food, because if we are hit with the “big one” the stores on every corner will be closed for months. Third, it starts to snow and employees start the ritual calling of the company’s weather line hoping to hear the news “we’re closed”. They wait for school closings and pray the federal Government closes because if they do, it is an automatic closing for their company. Fourth, employees get up at 5:00 am to look out and see hopefully see 12” of snow. Then they turn on the TV to find only certain schools close and only a 2 hour delay. DARN!!
What do you do now? Well, yesterday many DC area employees decided to take a vacation day, some called in and others just “forgot” due to the horrible roads and conditions at 8:00 am. Many administrators, office managers and coordinators showed up yesterday to find 80% of their staff missing. By 10:00 am all main roads were clear, the sun was out, the sidewalks were shoveled and all public transportation was on time. So the 2 hour delay was perfect to allow employees to arrive by 11:00 am safely as all employers expected. But what happened?
Employees stayed home, went sledding with their kids, went out shopping and ran errands. By 11:30 am yesterday I had many angry and frustrated employers on the phone venting and asking for temps. It is great for us, but very BAD for you employees. Why? You ask, let me tell you. There is no excuse for you not to be at work unless you are stranded out in the country with a dead battery and no phone. You should have a backup plan in place if your children’s schools are closed that does not inconvenience an employer. You should have been able to shovel your car out with the delayed start to drive slower and after to get to work. You had time to catch a bus and take Metro to work; there was no excuse for an employee without children to not be at work except you wanted a day off.
DUMB! You are crazy? Well, many employees were and it will cost them in the long run. Managers will remember who took advantage of the situation and showed no loyalty. When it comes to the next round of layoffs or if a promotion is between 2 staff members and one took yesterday off. The other will get the promotion. I heard story after story yesterday about the behavior of employees. My favorite was the employee who didn’t call in and when the manager called their home, they got the answering machine and chose not to leave a message. About 10 minutes later, the employee emailed the manager with this in the subject line: You called? What do you need? Needless to say the manager forwarded it to the HR department and let them handle it. I think that employee is wishing they had gone to work yesterday.
On the bright side, all those dedicated, hard working and loyal employees that showed up for work yesterday and pitched in to pick up the workload became Rock Stars and moved to the employee of the month in owners, partners, and managers’ eyes. These will be the people who are safe from RIFs, get better raises and bonuses and promote faster in a firm. It is amazing how one single event can affect people so differently.
This is the appropriate response to snow or any other event. You go to work unless the Federal Government is closed but always call in and leave a message, check with your manager to see if you can work from home but don’t just, not call into work. Managers do worry about their staff. The night before you make sure you have a plan for your children if school is closed, gas up your car, make sure buses are running on schedule, get your shovel and snow scraper out to use and lay out warm clothes, boots and gloves. In the morning you check the roads, listen to the TV and call any weather lines to tell you what is going on. If your firm is 2 hours late then you get out and shovel, dress warmly and head to work. If you truly cannot get out of your home after all that work, then you call your manager, explain the situation and say that you will try it again in an hour, but you can never, just not show up. The effort will be recognized and appreciated.
Today an offer came out on a candidate who braved the weather to make a 10 am second interview yesterday while her two competitors canceled. She was a strong second but they all wanted another candidate who had more experience. After meeting her again and talking after she left, they felt that if she could come in during the weather that she was more interested in the firm and would go above and beyond in the position. They never rescheduled the other two. The other two are still unemployed.
You can't fix dumb.
Yesterday brought Washington, DC its first major snow event of the season. Those who are not familiar with the DC snow mentality find it hysterical and baffling. First, the meteorologist makes a comment about the possibility of snow and the town is on alert and talking about nothing but the weather. Second, the snow event is moved to a warning and there will be accumulations. The town hits the stores for toilet paper, milk/alcohol and canned food, because if we are hit with the “big one” the stores on every corner will be closed for months. Third, it starts to snow and employees start the ritual calling of the company’s weather line hoping to hear the news “we’re closed”. They wait for school closings and pray the federal Government closes because if they do, it is an automatic closing for their company. Fourth, employees get up at 5:00 am to look out and see hopefully see 12” of snow. Then they turn on the TV to find only certain schools close and only a 2 hour delay. DARN!!
What do you do now? Well, yesterday many DC area employees decided to take a vacation day, some called in and others just “forgot” due to the horrible roads and conditions at 8:00 am. Many administrators, office managers and coordinators showed up yesterday to find 80% of their staff missing. By 10:00 am all main roads were clear, the sun was out, the sidewalks were shoveled and all public transportation was on time. So the 2 hour delay was perfect to allow employees to arrive by 11:00 am safely as all employers expected. But what happened?
Employees stayed home, went sledding with their kids, went out shopping and ran errands. By 11:30 am yesterday I had many angry and frustrated employers on the phone venting and asking for temps. It is great for us, but very BAD for you employees. Why? You ask, let me tell you. There is no excuse for you not to be at work unless you are stranded out in the country with a dead battery and no phone. You should have a backup plan in place if your children’s schools are closed that does not inconvenience an employer. You should have been able to shovel your car out with the delayed start to drive slower and after to get to work. You had time to catch a bus and take Metro to work; there was no excuse for an employee without children to not be at work except you wanted a day off.
DUMB! You are crazy? Well, many employees were and it will cost them in the long run. Managers will remember who took advantage of the situation and showed no loyalty. When it comes to the next round of layoffs or if a promotion is between 2 staff members and one took yesterday off. The other will get the promotion. I heard story after story yesterday about the behavior of employees. My favorite was the employee who didn’t call in and when the manager called their home, they got the answering machine and chose not to leave a message. About 10 minutes later, the employee emailed the manager with this in the subject line: You called? What do you need? Needless to say the manager forwarded it to the HR department and let them handle it. I think that employee is wishing they had gone to work yesterday.
On the bright side, all those dedicated, hard working and loyal employees that showed up for work yesterday and pitched in to pick up the workload became Rock Stars and moved to the employee of the month in owners, partners, and managers’ eyes. These will be the people who are safe from RIFs, get better raises and bonuses and promote faster in a firm. It is amazing how one single event can affect people so differently.
This is the appropriate response to snow or any other event. You go to work unless the Federal Government is closed but always call in and leave a message, check with your manager to see if you can work from home but don’t just, not call into work. Managers do worry about their staff. The night before you make sure you have a plan for your children if school is closed, gas up your car, make sure buses are running on schedule, get your shovel and snow scraper out to use and lay out warm clothes, boots and gloves. In the morning you check the roads, listen to the TV and call any weather lines to tell you what is going on. If your firm is 2 hours late then you get out and shovel, dress warmly and head to work. If you truly cannot get out of your home after all that work, then you call your manager, explain the situation and say that you will try it again in an hour, but you can never, just not show up. The effort will be recognized and appreciated.
Today an offer came out on a candidate who braved the weather to make a 10 am second interview yesterday while her two competitors canceled. She was a strong second but they all wanted another candidate who had more experience. After meeting her again and talking after she left, they felt that if she could come in during the weather that she was more interested in the firm and would go above and beyond in the position. They never rescheduled the other two. The other two are still unemployed.
You can't fix dumb.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Congratulations! You have a new job.
But will you keep it? Patience falls and terminations rise during a recession. Firms are less likely to put up with an employee’s drama, tardiness, quirks and bad days. They don’t have too. Because there will be 50 qualified candidates waiting in line for the job.
During a booming economy most of these would have been forgiven or excused and even counseled because people are so hard to find. Not in a recession. You either hit the ground running with a smile and can do attitude or your days are numbered.
From 1995 - 2001 we had a total of 13 candidates terminated out of 711 candidates placed, about 2%. From 2002 - 2004 at the height of the last recession we had 26 candidates terminated out of 123 candidates placed, about 20%. The causes of the terminations were tardiness, absenteeism, not learning the job fast enough and attitude problems made up 20 of them.
What about the other 6 you ask? Well, they make up a large portion of chapter 6 in my book when it is published. My favorite personal favorite was the ultra professional employment law legal secretary who worked for the department head and had a webcam under their desk with live feed to their pay per view website. One of the office assistants apparently found the site and recognized the secretary. They went to send it to their buddy in accounting and accidently sent it firm wide. Needless to say many people lost their jobs that day
The other five were:
1. The secretary who ordered lunch and billed it to the firm and then invited 4 of their former coworkers to the firm to enjoy it in one of the conference rooms.
2. The secretary who punched their workstation mate for using their pen. They were apparently having a bad day.
3. The paralegal that sent $800 worth of flowers to a girlfriend in a week and billing it to a client.
4. The accountant whose husband called for 2 days to say his wife was out sick only to find out she had been arrested for embezzling $100,000 from the firm she came from. The candidate had only been able to embezzle $12,000 from their current firm after auditing the books.
5. The IT Manager that got caught with child pornography on their computer after a policy they implemented to crack down on inappropriate Internet use found it.
Although these are extreme cases, how many times have you done something at work that could get you fired immediately? Most of us can say sheepishly “a few”. Regardless of the reason, learn what constitutes termination at your firm and use common sense every day. If you don’t, be prepared to be unemployed for a while.
During a booming economy most of these would have been forgiven or excused and even counseled because people are so hard to find. Not in a recession. You either hit the ground running with a smile and can do attitude or your days are numbered.
From 1995 - 2001 we had a total of 13 candidates terminated out of 711 candidates placed, about 2%. From 2002 - 2004 at the height of the last recession we had 26 candidates terminated out of 123 candidates placed, about 20%. The causes of the terminations were tardiness, absenteeism, not learning the job fast enough and attitude problems made up 20 of them.
What about the other 6 you ask? Well, they make up a large portion of chapter 6 in my book when it is published. My favorite personal favorite was the ultra professional employment law legal secretary who worked for the department head and had a webcam under their desk with live feed to their pay per view website. One of the office assistants apparently found the site and recognized the secretary. They went to send it to their buddy in accounting and accidently sent it firm wide. Needless to say many people lost their jobs that day
The other five were:
1. The secretary who ordered lunch and billed it to the firm and then invited 4 of their former coworkers to the firm to enjoy it in one of the conference rooms.
2. The secretary who punched their workstation mate for using their pen. They were apparently having a bad day.
3. The paralegal that sent $800 worth of flowers to a girlfriend in a week and billing it to a client.
4. The accountant whose husband called for 2 days to say his wife was out sick only to find out she had been arrested for embezzling $100,000 from the firm she came from. The candidate had only been able to embezzle $12,000 from their current firm after auditing the books.
5. The IT Manager that got caught with child pornography on their computer after a policy they implemented to crack down on inappropriate Internet use found it.
Although these are extreme cases, how many times have you done something at work that could get you fired immediately? Most of us can say sheepishly “a few”. Regardless of the reason, learn what constitutes termination at your firm and use common sense every day. If you don’t, be prepared to be unemployed for a while.
Friday, February 6, 2009
STOP! Watching the news or reading the paper...
Unless, you are watching or reading something positive, creative and uplifting. Sadly, the media today looks for the worst rather than the best in a situation. We believe the media is feeding the downward spiral of our economy for ratings. Yes, things are bad but not as hopeless as the media would like you to believe.
The best example of this is a report that came out the other day that stated Macy's was hit hard by laying off 7,000 people. OH NO!!! What they did not tell you was the layoffs were mostly season and part-time employees. Macy's has close to 906 stores and that means an average of 7 employees per store were laid off. Many stores have 100-200 employees which would mean they lost 3.5-7% of their staff. An elevated number, not out of the ordinary for any retainer after the holiday season. Bad weather and post holiday bills can also cause a huge decrease in revenue.
The Washington, DC area still has one of the strongest economies in the country and we have seen a 700% growth in new client orders in the last week which we are thrilled to report. Now that the new administration is in, winter is winding down and layoffs are slowing things should settle down and start growing again in a few months. You have to remain upbeat and forward thinking to survive this economy.
We all will and are better for it.
The best example of this is a report that came out the other day that stated Macy's was hit hard by laying off 7,000 people. OH NO!!! What they did not tell you was the layoffs were mostly season and part-time employees. Macy's has close to 906 stores and that means an average of 7 employees per store were laid off. Many stores have 100-200 employees which would mean they lost 3.5-7% of their staff. An elevated number, not out of the ordinary for any retainer after the holiday season. Bad weather and post holiday bills can also cause a huge decrease in revenue.
The Washington, DC area still has one of the strongest economies in the country and we have seen a 700% growth in new client orders in the last week which we are thrilled to report. Now that the new administration is in, winter is winding down and layoffs are slowing things should settle down and start growing again in a few months. You have to remain upbeat and forward thinking to survive this economy.
We all will and are better for it.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thank you, Happy MLK Day and welcome President Barack Obama
Steffan & Co would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our existing clients and new clients that responded so positively to our 10% flat fee offer for January. It has been so successful we are going to extend it though March 31, 2009. We are all in this together and we will all make it though these tough times and be better for it.
Steffan & Co would also like to wish everyone a safe and happy Martin Luther King’s Day and of course all of our thoughts, prayers and hopes go out to our new President, Barack Obama and Vice President, Joe Biden. May you fix what is wrong and bring back what is great in this amazing country.
YES WE CAN!
Steffan & Co would also like to wish everyone a safe and happy Martin Luther King’s Day and of course all of our thoughts, prayers and hopes go out to our new President, Barack Obama and Vice President, Joe Biden. May you fix what is wrong and bring back what is great in this amazing country.
YES WE CAN!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
How to stay positive in this market
1. Update your resume and have at least 2 other people proof read it.
2. Every day make a plan. Such as from 9am-11am daily, read and respond to want ads online and off. If you can, limit your use of agencies to 3 only. Too much exposure can do more damage than good. Make Steffan & Co. number 1 on your list. If you have interviews spend the time researching the firm and job and map out your route to get there early.
3. Send out an email to all your connections letting them know you are looking for a job and attach your resume.
4. Keep busy: make a list of all the things you wanted to do but never had the time. Clean the attic/basement. Go through your closet and pick out 3 professional interview outfits including shoes and accessories. Make sure you have them cleaned and pressed and shoes polished. Once you have done that go through it again and see what you can donate to a charity or shelter. Someone will be very thankful for it and you will feel good about doing it.
5. Get any maintenance work done while you are home. Also, schedule doctor’s appointments and other things so when you start a job you do not have to take any time off.
6. Read interviewing books, do mock interviews, we at Steffan & Co can provide you with questions to role play with. Just ask.
7. Be patient: December is a horribly slow month but January is great so enjoy your holidays, conserve your resources and be prepared to start a new position in 2009.
And remember, we are all in this together.
2. Every day make a plan. Such as from 9am-11am daily, read and respond to want ads online and off. If you can, limit your use of agencies to 3 only. Too much exposure can do more damage than good. Make Steffan & Co. number 1 on your list. If you have interviews spend the time researching the firm and job and map out your route to get there early.
3. Send out an email to all your connections letting them know you are looking for a job and attach your resume.
4. Keep busy: make a list of all the things you wanted to do but never had the time. Clean the attic/basement. Go through your closet and pick out 3 professional interview outfits including shoes and accessories. Make sure you have them cleaned and pressed and shoes polished. Once you have done that go through it again and see what you can donate to a charity or shelter. Someone will be very thankful for it and you will feel good about doing it.
5. Get any maintenance work done while you are home. Also, schedule doctor’s appointments and other things so when you start a job you do not have to take any time off.
6. Read interviewing books, do mock interviews, we at Steffan & Co can provide you with questions to role play with. Just ask.
7. Be patient: December is a horribly slow month but January is great so enjoy your holidays, conserve your resources and be prepared to start a new position in 2009.
And remember, we are all in this together.
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