Anna Wintour and 'September Issue'

I treated myself to a matinee a week or so ago. "September Issue," a documentary on the making of Vogue magazine's biggest issue each year, in, obviously, September. While others may have been tuned into the incredible (I would say unwearable) fashion, I was captivated by the Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.

She's the woman that Meryl Streep's character in "The Devil Wears Prada" was modeled after and is known in the industry as the ice lady. "Feared... and revered..." the movie begins. Yet, when Wintour herself is asked to describe her strength, she calls herself "decisive." There is a clear distinction between being decisive and being cold or calculating.

Maybe it's my Italian background, but I understand the mafia's expression, "It's not personal, it's business." I wish more people understood that to some of us, that's a very true statement. Relentless focus, determination to produce results... that guides many of us. If there are obstacles in the way, feelings to be dealt with -- you know, I believe people need to grow up and realize that if they're not contributing to the goal of management (whether they believe in that goal, or agree with it), they are vulnerable. If you're not moving the cause ahead, you are holding it back. In today's environment, especially in the publishing world, this has never been more true.

Grace Coddington, Vogue's creative director, said it perfectly when describing the vulnerability - even for a magazine as storied as Vogue: "If we don't make money, there won't be a magazine."

Laura Scudders was ahead of her time

Steve Churm, publisher of Churm Media and my boss by day, told of a recent meeting with the Scudder family.

"Does that name sound familiar?" he asked. It did, but I couldn't place it. When he added, "How about Laura Scudder?" I immediately thought of potato chips! What I didn't know was how innovative and ahead of her time Scudder truly was.

The company she started, and named after herself, in 1926 is still a thriving food manufacturer. Scudder herself was the innovator behind the first wax plastic chip bag. According to Steve Churm, who had lunch with a decendent of Scudder, the sales team's strategy was to carry buckets of water into a sales call with them. As they greeted their prospect, they'd dunk the bag of chips into the bucket while exchanging pleasantries. Then, almost as an afterthought, they'd pull the chip bag out of the water, open it, and offer a chip to their prospect. It would, of course, be as fresh as ever.

Kudos to Scudder for blazing the trail for all of us.

SCORE is seeking more women

In a sign of the times, SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives), a program of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is in need of more women counselors. As more women open businesses, many are more comfortable talking with a retired female executive than a male.

SCORE is a free program that a newbie women business owner can tap into, as well as the Women's Business Centers. There are more than 100 in the SBA's national network.