The Value of Work

By Cameron Crane

What comes to mind when you hear someone described as having a good ‘work ethic’? If you are like most of us, you probably picture someone who spends the majority of their life dedicated to work, striving to achieve excellence, and often at the price of sacrificing the fun in life. And while it is true that ‘work ethic’ is an adjective often attributed to those who work hard, that is not necessarily the true meaning of the word. In fact, if you look the definition of work ethic up in the dictionary, you find the following:

So what does it truly mean to have work ethic? Does it mean working hard, or simply believing in the value of work? Are they one in the same?

Personally, when I think of worth ethic, I think of a saying that my mother grew up hearing from her father. “Don’t be a nurse, be a doctor,” he used to say, “Don’t be a secretary, be a lawyer.” And a lawyer she became. What my grandfather meant by these words was not to condemn nursing or secretarial work as professions. These roles are significant, and imperative, in fact, in running a business. Rather, what he meant was, don’t limit yourself. Why not push yourself to go all the way? And so from a very young age, my mother believed that if she worked hard enough, she could accomplish anything. Through her years of studying, she learned that her efforts shaped her to be stronger and more confident than she could have ever imagined. Thus, her experience was not only appreciated by the results of her work (a law degree and a successful law practice), but rather the impact hard work itself had on her character.

In my opinion, it is the way one values the experience of work, rather than the quantity of the work itself, that determines whether they have 'work ethic'. They are not one in the same. In fact, when we are so consumed in the act of working, sometimes we forget to appreciate its value. Understanding the importance of why we wake up and go to work in the morning is sometimes lost in the monotony of the routine. We start to believe that we go to work because we have to, and by doing this, we limit ourselves. The only reward we receive from our work then is financial gain and the ability to survive. If, however, we understand that work can help us grow and make a difference, we not only survive, but we also feel accomplished. And this is where I believe that the confusion comes in: those who feel accomplished by what they do, are more likely to excel in the workplace.

So this month, as we explore the concept of work ethic, I challenge you to foster it your own life, by considering the true value you place on work. What do you gain from going to work in the morning? What is your attitude? What do you truly believe are the benefits of hard work? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Young Writer of the Month: Hugo Palmeira

By Hugo Palmeira

In everyone’s life there comes a time where considerable change can do a great deal of good. For me, that time came in 8th grade. Mom was attending Smith College and working full-time, leaving little or no time for my extra-curricular activities. Having been accepted with a full-scholarship to a highly-regarded arts & music boarding school, I decided to accept.

Unlike a lot of prep schools nearby, The Putney School was wildly different; not only did they provide us with amazing, multi-faceted educators, but also allowed us a 500-acre space to explore. But what really set this school apart were the values they instilled in us. As a student there, we had responsibilities beyond general academics. Every semester we were required to have a job; this was something that we did every day or every other day depending on the job. 

For example, my first semester, I did something quite simple: dorm cleaning. I was part of a group of students who went to each dorm every day and cleaned up, including bathrooms, common rooms, and pretty much everything except people's individual rooms. My second semester I chose a different job: forestry. This included basic trail maintenance, chopping down trees for firewood with chain-saws (yes, they actually let me use them to my surprise), as well as chopping wood with an ax the old-fashioned way. 

Throughout my two years there I did things of this nature, with my favorite (and most challenging) being "AM Barn." This job consisted of milking our cows (we had well over 20 cows), feeding them, and of course, cleaning up after them. So before the sun rose, five times a week we would have to be at the barn, which meant getting up at 5 a.m. and trekking a mile through whipping winds and a foot of snow to get to the barn on time. My job consisted entirely of loading cow poop into a wheel-barrow and taking it outside into the "poop-pit" which is exactly what the name suggests. We did this until our job was done – sometimes due to being short-staffed, we would even be late to class and miss breakfast – a tardy, which of course was excusable.

While I may be getting excited thinking back on those days, there is a point to this. This school showed me a different side of the world than I had ever seen-- a side that even my mother was unable to show me. After leaving that school, I had within me a strong sense of environment, workmanship, and a great idea of what it truly meant to be a part of a functional community. We are all part of whole and to function efficiently and properly, we all needed to work together.

I left Putney after my sophomore year, but even two years’ time was enough to leave an impression on me. Since then, I have been able to balance work (part-time as well as full-time when necessary) and school quite comfortably. True, I did not always apply what I learned as I should have, but during moments of reflection I could see that if I had applied sufficiently the values learned during my time at Putney, I would have saved myself a good chunk of wasted time. Since my departure, I went on to Redwood High where I completed my senior year in great academic standing (including two Advanced Placement courses), and am now in my 3rd semester at college, having been employed throughout all this time.

Thank you, Putney, for giving me knowledge enough to move past the discomforts life sends my way and allowing me to do what needs to be done and embrace work–whether academic or physical.

Thank you, Hugo, for sharing your story with us!

How to Become a Published Writer

By Dani Greer, Special Projects Coordinator

Many decades ago, when I was a fledgling writer trying to get my children’s books published, I connected with a local author who gave me a vital piece of advice. “Get a copy of the Writer's Market,” she said, “and make it your bible.” I did, and continued to purchase the annual update for many years thereafter. It taught me everything I needed to know to submit manuscripts in the proper way, and helped me keep up with industry changes from year-to-year.

Today, writers often ask me for advice on how to break into publishing. I tell them to obtain a copy of the Writer's Market if they haven't already, and I also tell them that Google is their friend. There is nothing you can’t learn about becoming a successful and published writer if you search the Internet. Example: type “how to publish a children’s book” into your search window, then link to page after page of hits. You’ll get a pretty good education very quickly.

As important as the learning opportunities available online, are the connections the Internet affords. If you need to research publishers, or find an agent, even discover who is taking submissions and for what, the specifics are all right at your fingertips.

First, check for targeted websites and blogs that give you the information or leads you need. But don’t stop there. Once you have determined you would like an agent from, say, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, find out if they are on Facebook and Twitter and connect with them there. You can actually get to know these individual agents online – that was impossible thirty years ago. Technology has given you tools that can be used to great advantage. Use them!

Don’t forget all the astounding opportunities for self-publishing. At least explore the possibilities. It no longer holds the stigma it used to – if you think it does, you are seriously behind the times. Technology has leveled that playing field, too.

With the introduction of tablets, e-readers, and other smart gadgets, e-books are proliferating, and soon all books will be published in digital format first. (My prediction which I share with a few other forward-thinking souls.) Once enough e-books of a title are sold, the book will earn a print run. I am firmly behind this model, because it allows the content to enter the marketplace in an environmentally-friendly manner, but delays the resource embedment of a print book until it proves itself worthy of bookshelf collection status.

So let’s say you want to pitch a book to an agent who is looking for something new and exciting. Think through your pitch and present not only your very best story, but how you plan to market it. At Little Pickle Press, we love authors who have already created their online presence with a blog, a Facebook page, and who have skill at using Twitter to promote. Any other online savvy is duly noted, too. We suspect more agents and editors will soon start noticing these factors in queries, and it could well be that the author who demonstrates his social marketing savvy, is the one who sells a manuscript to a publisher.

These are all things to consider when engineering your book publishing success story. Being a published author in today’s world means doing all the things any entrepreneur would do to succeed in business. Present yourself in an original and creative way, even as you follow submissions guidelines to the letter. It shows you are a professional and take your writing career seriously.

Any questions? Please leave them in the comments and we will be happy to reply during the course of the day. Want to find out more about Little Pickle Press? We suggest you explore the blog and sign up for our monthly online newsletter at the link top right. 

B Corporations We Love: Dragonfly Designs

By Cameron Crane

As some of you may know, Little Pickle Press is very happy to be part of a community of B Corporations. A B Corporation is a new type of corporation, which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps are unlike traditional businesses because they: meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards; meet higher legal accountability standards; and build business constituency for public policies that support sustainable business practices. We believe that companies who take the initiative to become a B Corp deserve recognition. That is why we have decided that from now on, the first Monday of every month will be dedicated to a B Corp that we love.

Today, we recognize a very special jewelry company called Dragonfly Designs. Dragonfly Designs was founded by Stacee Gillelen, who grew up with a deep appreciation for artistic expression, which inspired her to start the company. But she did not stop there. Feeling a personal responsibility as a global citizen to give back to the community, Stacee decided to turn Dragonfly Designs into a program that would partner with organizations working to improve the human condition, promote equality, and protect the environment.

"I have always been motivated to give my best to my work and the people I serve," Gillelen says, "I feel so very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to do what I love every day and I have a desire to share my skills and passion with others"

This passion has not gone unnoticed. What first drove Little Pickle Press to Dragonfly Designs was their inspiring vision for their programs, which is to “provide a sense of accomplishment, consciousness, and individuality that empowers children to effect positive change within themselves and their communities through art-based education.” This aspiration is only a fraction of what makes Dragonfly Designs so special, however.

Dragonfly Designs offers an array of beautiful jewelry, which is available on their website. And best of all, a portion of all proceeds are donated to providing classes in art, entrepreneurial skills and yoga through non-profit partnerships with organizations that serve the needs of underprivileged women and children in communities both locally and abroad.

Many of Dragonfly Designs’ classes are also designed to foster work ethic in children. Their “Jewelry Making for Budding Entrepreneurs” course, for instance, gives children an opportunity to learn a variety of entrepreneurial skills while making jewelry and having fun. These skills include:

• Business Acumen
• Philanthropy + Charitably Giving

• Wholesale vs Retail
• Pricing, Mark up + Profit

• Merchandising, Marketing + Display

• Self Esteem, Self Confidence + Creativity
• Business Plans, Capital + Budgeting

• Manufacturing, Design + Jewelry Making Techniques

"Through our fun, high quality, hand on, jewelry making classes, children learn the benefits of sticking with a task until it’s completed and the satisfaction that comes from being able to wear, sell or give your creation as a gift and hearing all the positive feedback from friends, teachers and family," Gillelen says.

With such great programs, messages, and designs, Dragonfly Designs has quickly become a B Corporation we love. If you are looking for a great piece of jewelry, a good cause to support, or fun classes or camps for your children, we recommend taking a look at Dragonfly Designs.

Thank you, Dragonfly Designs, for all that you do!

Book Review: The Little Red Hen

Reviewed by Cameron Crane


Written & Illustrated by Paul Galdone

Reading level: Ages 4 and up

Hardcover: 48 pages

Publisher: HMH Books (March 21, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0547370180

ISBN-13: 978-0547370187

Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches

Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces

As we began the search for a book that would highlight the theme of fostering work ethic in children, one of the things we came to realize is that from time to time it is necessary to revisit the classics. Today we review a timeless story about the benefits of hard work, The Little Red Hen, by Paul Galdone.

The Story: The little red hen lives in a house. With a dog, and a cat, and mouse —who, unfortunately, are all lazy. In fact, all they want to do is nap. Every day the little red hen asks for help, and every day she discovers that the dog, cat, and mouse are less than willing to put in their fair share of the housework. If the little red hen wants something done, she must do it herself. The little red hen does not complain, however, knowing that her hard work will pay off in the end.

The Rhythm: Galdone’s short, descriptive sentences help the story to flow effortlessly. His use of repetition helps to establish the personality and predictability of the characters, and leaves the reader excited to guess the next response.

The Artwork: Galdone’s illustrations couple the book wonderfully. What is left unsaid in the text is substantiated in the artwork, adding life to both the characters and scenery. Galdone’s swift attention to detail is both intriguing and impressive.

The Layout: The layout of the book is classic and traditional, with just enough variety to keep the reader interested. The size and shape of the book make it easy to read to oneself, or to share with others.

The Message: The message in this book is one about the rewards of hard work. Although it may seem unfair that the little red hen has to do all of the chores herself, at the end of the day it is she who reaps the benefits. The dog, cat, and mouse begin to realize that they would be happier if they had participated in the effort. The Little Red Hen is also a story about taking responsibility for your own personal contribution in a team.

My Only Issue: My only issue with this story is that in comparison to the illustrations of the other characters, images of the little red hen seem to be lacking variety.

Conclusion: This is a timeless classic to read to your little ones, and to begin the conversation about work ethic. It would also be a great story to read as a family, to introduce the importance of individual participation in household chores. Buy The Little Red Hen from Amazon, your local bookstore, or rent it from your local library to share with the little pickles in your life.

Promoting Responsibility and Building a Strong Work Ethic

By Denise LaBuda

We all want our children to have good work ethics as they go through life. A child with a good work ethic will have a greater chance at a successful life. Since most of our kid’s behaviors are learned at home we have the opportunity to teach our kids that nothing in life is free and that we all work for the things we want.

To teach a work ethic, you need first to believe that doing the work to maintain your home and yourself is a necessary way to spend part of every day. Once you’ve got your attitude in the right place, you can decide what chores, jobs, and responsibilities your kids can do to maintain your home so that everyone (including you) can have time for other activities and some relaxation.

Here are six things to consider when putting your “work” plan in place:

1.   Expectations: Research on child development shows that different children are capable of doing different chores at varying ages and it is unrealistic to try to get them to do things that are beyond their capabilities.  Learning about ages and stages is helpful in setting realistic expectations according to your children’s maturity levels.

2.   Why: Explain in age-appropriate language why everybody needs to help around the house. Everyone is an essential member of your family and is capable of and expected to contribute to the running of the household. 

3.   Demonstrate: Kids are not born knowing the skills needed to do most household chores. Before you ask your youngsters to make their beds, you might have to show them exactly what that means.  You need to demonstrate the skill – perhaps many, many times before they will learn how to do it by themselves.

Telling them exactly what you want them to do is important also.  Instead of using the generic term “clean up your room,” say, “please pick up your teddy bear and put it in the box by the table.” Keep the instructions simple and don’t expect anything even remotely close to perfection the first few times around.  Remember, they are beginners – they’ll only master these tasks over time.

4.   Praise: Always praise your children for their efforts, especially when they are just learning a new skill.  Break down a larger task into smaller ones that work toward full accomplishment of the job; then you can congratulate small efforts toward that goal along the way.  Even if the end result is less than what you would have hoped, you can affirm them for trying and for their efforts.

5.   Consequences: These need to be made clear. For example, if Mom has to do someone else’s job, she can’t possibly have the time to taxi that person where he or she wants to go. No need to be angry about it. It’s just a fact. When everyone helps, there’s time to do things that people in the household want to do.

6.   Model: Remember that you are your children’s most important role model.  How well do you handle your responsibilities and what is your attitude about doing your work around the house? Monitor what messages you send and what you are modeling for your children.

Taking little steps along the way will help your kids to internalize the more general and abstract concepts of responsibility.  It takes skill, perseverance, and a great deal of patience to lovingly insist that your kids follow through with their commitments.  In the long run, this determination will pay off.  They will become people who have a strong work ethic and who understand that they have an important role to play in their homes and in their communities. 

Denise LaBuda is the founder of the Economic Independence Group, and is dedicated to supporting families, businesses, teachers and non-profit organizations in their efforts to provide children and young adults with a strong financial foundation.

The Work Ethic of a Mompreneur: Sobia Shaikh

By Cameron Crane

If you were to look for someone who exemplifies work ethic, you would be hard-pressed the find someone more qualified than Sobia Shaikh, the founder of ISLY Handbags, and a dedicated mother of two.

Originally from Pakistan, where she got her degree in graphic design and spent several years in advertising, Sobia made the move to the San Francisco Bay Area fifteen years ago. After starting a family, and giving birth to her son Isaad, she began Rhung, a Pakistani clothing line, whose name means “color”. She continued to work until 2003, when her daughter Lyali was born. Although Sobia decided to take some time to focus on her family, she did not stop her involvement in the community. Sobia began developing her idea for ISLY Handbags in 2008.

“I wanted to do something with major significance that combined my love for fashion and my love for Pakistan,” Sobia says.

Sobia’s vision became a reality in November of 2011, when she launched ISLY, named after her two children. Today, she has a beautiful line of handbags, all made from unique fabrics that are custom made in Pakistan. The same fabrics she fell in love with as a child. ISLY was an immediate success. Just a few weeks after her launch, Sobia began to recognize her designs at the events she attended. Just last week, she was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Still, Sobia believes her biggest success is yet to come. In March she will be traveling to New York City to introduce her second collection of handbags. She hopes to be introducing samples from the new collection in May or June of this year.

Despite her immediate success, Sobia will be the first to admit that balancing work and home is not always easy. After spending the morning with her children, and dropping them off at school, Sobia begins working on the company that she refers to as her “third child”. Although she tries to take that time to solely focus on work, it is sometimes difficult not to get distracted by her other duties. Emails from soccer coaches, school photographers and other obligations sometimes interfere. And by the time Sobia picks her children up at 3:30 p.m., being a mother once again becomes her first priority. After the kids are all tucked in, Sobia often finds herself on the phone with partners in Pakistan, where there is a twelve hour time difference.

Still, Sobia believes that being as determined and invested in her company as she is, is beneficial to her children, who recognize their mother’s work ethic.

“I love seeing how my son views me,” she says, “He knows me as a mom, and I know that that will always be first, but I also see respect in his eyes when he sees me working.”

Sobia believes that having a hard-working, empowered role model will continue to positively impact her children for years to come, and encourage them to incorporate hard work into their own lives. Sobia has already begun to foster work ethic in her children. They make their beds every morning, and participate in household chores. They do well in school. Special accomplishments, and hard work at home and in the classroom are always recognized.

Although balancing work and home has been challenging, Sobia is managing her role as a mompreneur the best way she can. Here are four tips she would give aspiring mompreneurs out there:

1. Figure out your options, and pick something that you really, really love. At moments when I am exhausted, I keep going because ISLY is so close to my heart.
2. Go to your girlfriends for support and encouragement. 90% of my girlfriends are Moms, and 50% of them work. Nothing compares to their support.
3. Be patient. I think things fall in place if you go about them the right way.
4. Validate yourself. As moms, we feel like we can do everything. We multitask, and we sometimes are too hard on our self. I think we need to recognize ourselves more often.

Sobia's designs are available at a variety of merchants in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, and New York City. It is one of her goals to bring ISLY Handbags to as many cities and countries as possible. For a list of boutiques currently carrying her designs, please click here.