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Packaging Horizons
Packaging Yourself
Editor’s Note: Understandably, JoAnn Hines, founding executive director of Women in Packaging, is passionate about promoting the careers of women in all facets of the packaging industry. But she offers more than her deep interest in seeing women in this field succeed. She has a story to tell of her own. This article, “Packaging Yourself,” and the Fired? Laid Off? Rightsized? Downsized? article that appears on page 21 have special meaning to her — she’s lived them. Her experiences of being fired and let go three times in her past motivated her personal development and forced her — as they have so many other women — to grow. And grow she did. She went on to found an organization for women in the packaging industry. Hines has succeeded in the rough and tumble of the business world, thus her advice on how to package oneself carries considerable clout. Promote yourself.
by JoAnn R. Hines
Promote yourself.
The old adage that your mother told you about working hard and being good at what you do is a nice idea. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work when no one knows what it is you do. Promotions are based upon 60 percent visibility (being noticed by the powers that be), 20 percent appearance and 20 percent performance and hard work. You do the math. Where is the equity unless you promote yourself and are recognized as a performer and hard worker? Write regular press releases. Make yourself available for interviews two to three times a month, and accept speaking engagements everywhere, including internationally.
Accept adventures.
Several years ago I was contacted with an opportunity to lead a two-week packaging trade delegation to China. After some serious thought and bouncing it off the Women in Packaging board members I agreed, even though there were some major reservations on my part. We were the first of 10 professional women’s trade delegations chosen to participate and the “guinea pigs” of the program. It was quite an adventure. (If you want to read about that China trip, look at http://www.womeninpackaging.org/ph/w97phchina.html.) Common sense prevails.
If nothing else I have learned how to use my head. There is simply too much I need to accomplish to agonize over how to get it done. I use The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). If I can’t find it in a few seconds, I’m dead. I deal with way too much information to remember something complex or to spend a lot of time looking up something.
Keep connected.
I always carry business cards. I give them to everyone — on the plane, at the store, you name it. After all, everyone uses/needs packaging, and I continue to package myself using this method. When you are given business cards, take notes on the back of the card so you can remember something special about the person who gave it to you. I am always amazed at the number of people who don’t have cards, especially students. I always tell them the same thing: Invest in a business card that says who you are on the front and says what you need (a job) on the back. (You never know.)
Ask for help.
I’m always surprised how many people are really willing to give advice and work with me. I bargain and negotiate everything. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Remember great alliances come from a win-win for both parties and many of my best deals came from simply asking to work together.
Give of yourself.
Help others when you can and stay in touch. The membership benefit programs of Women in Packaging were created to help (initially other women) to find the best jobs, increase their visibility and outreach to colleagues in the field. I got so many calls from men and women for assistance that I needed to find a way to help everyone in an efficient manner. I try my best to help everyone, but it is simply a matter of my time and resources.
Be a mentor.
I mentor a dozen or so individuals at any time. Not on a daily basis, but when they have a problem, they can always reach me. I also participate in formalized programs as a mentor. This is a good way to interact with people outside your field of expertise and almost every major city has them.
Invest in yourself.
Keep tuned into all the professional and career development opportunities out there. You should never be too busy to learn new tricks. Attend functions at which you can establish a peer group, but be choosey. Don’t just go for the sake of going. Have a clear goal in mind about what you intend to get from your participation and follow up. Remember the #1 rule in networking, you have to show up! When you get an opportunity presented to you, do something about it. Make the time.
Never give up on your dream.
I have had several “careers.” Have passion for what you do, I’m always excited when I speak about my industry and could and do go for hours when I’m in front of an interested audience. I’m often advised that my talents are wasted in what used to be considered a pretty stagnant industry, but what can I do? Packaging is in my blood.
Get connected (which is very different from keep connected).
Create a special circle. I have a special circle of colleagues who are there when I need honest feedback. I don’t contact them all the time, but when I need some advice that’s the first place I turn. Many times this has turned into additional opportunities to collaborate on projects and build some great professional alliances.
You are unique.
Be your own person. This doesn’t happen overnight. In my early career I read all the right books, even “Dress for Success,” and I was able to extract what was right for me. When the basic blue black suit and white button-down shirt was the mandate, it wasn’t me. When I’m working I need to be comfortable so I can function at my very best. I wear what suits me.
Outreach to colleagues regularly.
I write frequent personal notes when I see someone in the news. Either I e-mail them or send them a copy of the information. Because my handwriting is so atrocious, I designed a special card that says, “I thought you might find the attached of interest.” The card has a special place for a handwritten note and all my contact information.
Utilize your resources.
Use lateral thinking. My colleague, Donna Messer, actually named this attribute. Everyone likes to be recognized. When you write, call or thank anyone for something they’ve done, you go right to the top of their memory book. People like to hear when they’ve done something you appreciate or find worthwhile. Of course, you will have differences of opinions with people, but there are ways to let your viewpoints be known without burning bridges.
Reputation is paramount.
Your integrity is critical. Don’t stab people in the back. If you don’t like something and can’t address it personally, ignore it and move on. Respect other people. Just because they don’t have fancy titles after their names doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to the opinions of others and then judge for yourself whether they’re worth keeping.
Stay informed and current in your field.
I read a dozen “packaging” magazines a week and am on countless e-mail packaging news lists. Become more involved in your industry associations. I am a professional association junkie. This includes going to trade shows. You gotta be there!
Economy is my middle name.
I have developed all kinds of business tools and short cuts to help handle the workload. I get hundreds of e-mail inquiries a week. I use autoresponders. I set up master e-mail lists and use a fax broadcast service. I try not to spend time on the phone, e-mail is my communication tool of choice. I’m always trying to become more efficient with my resources.
Learn to live without being liked, but respected.
In my position I have to make some very tough decisions every day. Many times people are not happy with the outcome. I must remind myself constantly that it’s just business and not personal.
Never respond when you are angry or upset.
This is a personal favorite. I have learned through the years to always wait a day before responding to something that upsets me. I’m a very frank and honest person. (Blunt has been used to describe me more than once.) I also use a sounding board. Our excellent Communications Director Michelle Nordlinger writes a superlative letter. She is very good at taking my “blunt” copy and toning it down. Find someone with this skill – boyfriend, husband, colleague — before you write your serious correspondence.
Find out your weakness.
You will never progress if you don’t accept the fact that you have flaws. I have very big shoulders and have had many knock-down, drag out confrontations. But I listened to what my critics had to say and in many cases they were right. I always believe that there are two sides to a story.
I’ve told you the ways I’ve learned how to package myself. Now go and create a package for yourself. JoAnn Hines is a packaging expert and avid gardener. She is a speaker, trainer, educator and seminar leader with the “seeds” to grow and expand your business. Hines utilizes your hidden resources to help promote and package yourself. To connect with her e-mail jrhines@womeninpackaging.org or phone 770-924-3563.
Packaging Professionals Talk About Packaging Themselves
Sharon Jaeger, Package Engineering Consultant, Farron Associates, Mission Viejo, California
I have been a package engineering consultant for the past 10 years in the medical device and biotechnology business arena. Before consulting, I worked directly for a series of medical device manufacturers. My consulting career launch took two years before I left the weekly paycheck of corporate America. That paycheck and the dread of job interviews kept me from changing jobs more frequently. Now I am faced with a job interview every time I meet with a perspective client. Since I’ve been a consultant, I have lost count of the number of times I have been in a job interview situation.
Even when I land the consulting contract I am still selling myself and my ideas when I present a package design concept or approach to an individual or a project team. I would like to say I have a formula that works in all situations, but I do not. What I have learned is how to send out “feelers” to get a quick response from my audience, and then I can customize my approach to meet their needs.
Sharon Jaeger can be reached at farron2@mindspring.com or by phone 949-582-2239.
Mary Mueller, Print Production Coordinator , Presto Products Company, A BUSINESS OF ALCOA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, Appleton, Wisconsin
Sell yourself. You should be comfortable with your job and what you do and what is expected of you. You must be aggressive, strong willed and know what you are talking about. Don’t sell yourself short! Learn about your business and the people you will be working with. Walk tall and be confident with yourself. Promote what you can and will do for the company. You can be anything you want to be.
Mary Mueller can be reached by e-mail at mlmuelle@prestoproducts.com or phone 920-738-1484.
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