Happy New Year and welcome to 2011. This is the year that I hope everyone's dreams come true, that your hard work pays off and that fun, love and laughter come easy.

A review of 2010. What an interesting year... Lessons learned 1)Only work with "friends" under an iron clad contract and only after checking their financial solvency. 2) When you enter into a business venture with your daughter's best friend prepare yourself for friction. 3)Not every "volunteer" works for free. 4) Don't lose faith, prayers do get answered.

Working for "friends". So, in 2010 I agreed to work with a person that I knew growing up and who, in our adult business lives, had done business together. It all started well. I worked my butt off to rewrite charters, put together business plans, meet with clients and help her to become successful. Then after a reception I made a very innocent and benign Facebook posting congratulating some folks on a job well done. The status update included the names of the two clients we were working with and with that, the metamorphosis started I was prohibited from referencing the clients by name anywhere... I really think her behavior had more to do with the fact that her clients wanted to engage me in more of the discussions. The downward spiral started with a very unprofessional email, followed by failure to return my phone calls or respond to my emails and was finally wrapped up by delayed payment for services rendered. It took me 6 months to obtain final payment. The services performed were above expectation and the feedback from participants excellent. My own observation; folks have to be comfortable with their competencies and skill sets and not be intimidated by folks that bring expertise to the table.

Entering a business venture with your daughter's best friend. During 2010 I entered into a business venture with my daughter's best friend. We opened a hair salon - ZURI Total Image. She brought years of experience working in the industry and I brought years of operations management together we make a good team and our salon is starting to flourish. What I wasn't expecting was the friction that the partnership created in the relationship between my daughter and her friend and me and my daughter. So my lesson learned, before entering into a venture with a daughter's best friend take into consideration the dynamic it may create in the relationships around you and address them head on with open dialogue.

Not every volunteer works for free or, somethings never change. This summer as I was preparing for our mom/daughter/granddaughter vacation I received a call asking if I would be interested in volunteering with the United Way during their fundraising campaign season. After reading the job description and a conversation I agreed. I had been referred by my former CEO as he was the Fundraising Campaign Chairperson. Normally the organization would loan an executive to support this process. The loaned executive stays on the payroll but works for the UW for a four month period. Well with all the rightsizing, retirements etc apparently IBC had no one to loan so they suggested they reach out to a few retirees to see if anyone was interested. Wow I thought, what a great way to give back. And, it was explained as a volunteer opportunity. Well 2 days into training a woman sitting next to me asked "who is sponsoring you?"... "sponsoring me" i asked "oh no one I'm a retiree". "So am I" she responded "but I am being sponsored by ABC company they are paying me via a stipend for the four month engagement". No one ever spoke to me about it until I had a meeting with a VP at the UW. She explained she thought it was wrong but folks told her to move forward anyway... The upside to this, when you are a 100% non-sponsored volunteer, when you are done working for the day you leave and, if you want a three day weekend you make it or take it. Volunteerism is fulfilling and it was a great experience but read the fine print...

Keep the faith, prayers do get answered. After a year of trying on new things to see what fit I continued to pray for an employment opportunity. And in December my prayers were answered I was offered a position, working back in the insurance industry. I start January 2011... Keep the faith and Happy New Year.