by Solange Lopes | May 23, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Summers can be challenging for working moms. The kids are out of school, the weather’s nice, and everything around is not exactly conducive to being stuck in the office all day long. I mean, let’s be real…
For many, if not most, the solution is to ask for a flexible schedule in the summer. Whether’s it’s working from home one (or a few) days aweek, compressing your hours into four (4) days instead of five (5), or shifting your schedule in a way that aligns with your family and personal life, being more flexible schedule-wise in the summer is always a plus.
Think about it: a flex schedule can not only make your life much easier in the summer, especially when it comes to picking up your kids early from camp (or just keep them entertained), or being able to enjoy more summer activities with your family. But it can also get you out of what I call that “summer office funk“, you know, when your productivity dips below sea level because your mind (and your body) just ain’t trying to be there…
But I know what you’re thinking…You may have thought about it before, and just vaguely dismissed it because you thought it wouldn’t be possible. Or that it wouldn’t really work for you or the type of work you’re doing…Well, think again…
While there definitely are instances (and jobs) where a flex schedule is not welcome or encouraged, or even practical at all, there are times when you can argue your flex schedule case and…win! I was in such a case once, and a fellow corporate sister at the time encouraged me to do the ask. I did, and it worked! So from me to you, here are a few steps you can take to ask to flex your schedule this summer:
Identify Your Schedule Priorities
Start by pinpointing your schedule priorities. What’s most important to you when it comes to your schedule? What schedule adjustments would make your life more stress-free and easier to manage?
Whether it’s fitting in some workout time, or even just saving some space in your schedule to get that side hustle off the ground, identifying your schedule priorities is key!
After my daughter was born in the summer a few years back, it was important for me to have Fridays as work-from-home days to spend more time with her. Besides, being able to do laundry while on conference calls also helps!
Find out and Understand What’s Appropriate to Ask for
After you’ve identified what your scheduling priorities are, now let’s consider your company culture. Understanding the various types of flexibility allowed by your workplace is paramount to making the right ask.
Start with your employee handbook in case there are some ground rules you need to know about. You can also ask around to other working moms (and dads) who may have used or are still using flextime in the summer. The point is to check what’s practicable and what’s not in your specific professional environment.
For me, it was a matter of asking around after my daughter was born. I got great feedback from the other working moms, which allowed me to present a better case for my own flex schedule. Which brings me to…
Present Your Case Smartly
The smarter you are about how you present your case when asking for flextime in the summer (or anytime really), the better! Remember that you must be able to demonstrate that a more flexible arrangement will not impede your productivity, and may even make you more productive…
So present your case in a way that shows the positives a flex schedule would have on your work first. You can cite reasons such as increased work-life balance, or the fact that you’d be available at any time of the workday….
Also consider offering a couple of flex schedule alternatives instead of just one. This way, you’re giving more choice to your employer while showing that you’re willing to be flexible. No pun intended…
Try It First
Set up a trial period with your employer to demonstrate that this new schedule will not reflect poorly on your performance. Set some goals with your manager, and work to reach them during this trial period.
The point is to demonstrate to your employer that you’re trustworthy, and are able to maintain your performance while on an adjusted schedule.
Don’t Drop the Communication
One of the most important aspects of striving on a flex schedule is maintaining the communication. After all, you’re not there in the office to communicate with your boss or team directly.
So make sure to keep your manager and team abreast of your progress. Also keep your involvement up via email and phone discussions. This is not a case of “far from the eyes, far from the mind”…
What’s your take on asking for flex time in the summer?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- Father’s Day is fast approaching! Here’s TCS’ ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide for Working Dads;
- In positive news this week, Forbes reveals that the next trend in leadership is Black women;
- Google just launched Google for jobs, and Workology shares their take on it;
- Got sunscreen? HuffPost profiles these Nigerian sisters who developed the perfect sunscreen for Black people;
- Did you just graduate, or know someone who just did? The Cubicle Chick tips you off on everything you need to know about student loans;
- Ever heard of the Sisterhood of the Traveling (Work) Pants? Ellevate Network shares all about it;
- Black Enterprise lists 5 tips from Public Relations pros to elevate your career;
- Want to make more money blogging? Read my review of the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course HERE;
- Ellevate Network reveals that good daycare is worth the cost, as your kids will earn more later;
- Italy is on my vacation bucket list, and Essence reveals tickets are on sale for $303! Time to snatch it!;
- It’s sandal season, and these colorful YARO beauties will make your day;
- Laugh of the week: Can somebody please explain to me this new male romper trend? CNN tells us all about it!
Leaving you with an inspirational video, courtesy of our new favorite feminist icon Pharrell:
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 19, 2017 | Career
Weekend Chat: Yaro Sandals – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Welcome to our weekend chat feature! Got something you want to chat about? Post it in the comments below…
It’s finally sandals time! I love these Sam Edelman Yaro Sandals from Anthropologie. They’re perfect to throw on on the week-end with just about anything, from a cool summer dress to flattering shorts and even your fave jeans…
It also comes in other colors that I like and is perfect for dressier occasions. And how about this Coach Paige jeweled number in a feminine pink?
Anything on your mind? Chat about it below.
Cheers to the weekend,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 18, 2017 | Career |
Please note this post may contain affiliate links.
Update: For just a few days, from Thursday, August 17th to Sunday, August 20th, 2017, you can get $28 off from the price of the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course. Use the code AUGUST28SALE2017 to save on this course, but only if you purchase it using the one-time purchase plan
I’m all about finding ways to generate passive income as entrepreneurs, or even side hustlers, while simply blogging. Which is why I’ve always been fascinated with affiliate marketing. If you’ve never heard about affiliate marketing, in very simple terms, it’s a fantastic way to create income without selling your own products. Instead, you can use somebody else’s hard work and sweat to make some cash by simply recommending their products and services, and getting a cut of the deal! Pretty cool, right?
Just think about all the times you’ve told your cousin Amy or your friend Anny about that great brow waxing place, or this amazing software to do your taxes! You can actually take the same type of advice, spread it around your network, and make money out of it! If it sounds too simple to be true, well, keep reading…
When I started out in the world of blogging and online business, I frankly didn’t understand the concept. It sounded great in theory, but in application, it was a bit blurry. Until I took the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner.
If you’ve not heard of Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, she writes the Making Sense of Cents personal finance blog and website. I came across her work in my constant search for inspiring bloggers, and have been amazed at what she does, and the results she gets (she made $1 million last year). She famously publishes her six-figure monthly income reports (read her last income report), which by the way, she generates while traveling full-time! Oh, and did I mention she also makes over $50,000 in affiliate marketing income per month… So it’s no wonder that when I heard about her Making Sense of Cents affiliate course, I was immediately sold!
What’s in the course for you?
If you’re an online entrepreneur or blogger, this course will teach you how to make money from affiliates on your website(s). If you’re already making some money, it will show you how to multiply the revenue you’re already making. If you’re like most bloggers and online entrepreneurs, you may be making very little from affiliate marketing. I know I was barely making coffee money…until I took this course!
What will you find in the course?
The Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is set in 6 modules including a total of 30 lessons, ad some pretty amazing worksheets and bonuses. In addition, purchasing the course gives you access to an exclusive Facebook community of entrepreneurs like you!
Here’s what you can expect from the course content:
- What affiliate marketing really is
- How to make affiliate marketing work for you
- How to pick the right affiliate products for your niche
- What disclosures are required before promoting affiliate products or services
- The one tool you need to master affiliate marketing
- How to build trust with your audience as you promote affiliate products and services
- How to create successful affiliate reviews
- How to get approved for affiliate programs
- The various strategies you can use to promote affiliate products
- How to leverage Pinterest for amazing affiliate results
What does the course look like?
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is a text-based course provided through the Teachable platform. So if you prefer a video format, this may not be ideal. I’m personally more of a reader so I actually enjoyed the format. The big advantage though, is that you get a series of extremely useful downloadable PDFs.
Additionally, each module is written in a very accessible way. No long paragraphs and convoluted sentences here. Instead, the content is simple and easy to digest. The course also registers your progress, and you have the option to stop and resume right where you left off.
Is this course worth the money?
At the time of this review, the course costs $197. If you already have a WordPress blog, you’ll be able to apply the principles taught in this course to take your affiliate marketing income, and even your traffic, up a notch. In only a week of applying the precepts of this course, I was able to multiply my affiliate earnings from measly coffee money (think a$1 and change) by about 40. Not bad for a start…If you don’t have a blog yet, you may want to hold off a bit longer until you have a WordPress platform you can apply these tips on.
This is an investment. Like any investment, you don’t want to waste money unless you’re ready to work hard. There are a lot of great strategies in this course. However, they require you to apply to the right affiliate marketing programs, re-evaluate your blogging strategy, re-frame your best posts, etc….which also means A LOT of work, and A LOT of time! So if you’re looking for a get-rich-quick blogging scheme, this is not it! You get what you put in…
If you ask me, it’s definitely worth the investment! However, I want to caution you against exaggerated expectations. This is for bloggers and online entrepreneurs who are ready to put in the time and effort to implement these strategies. While the content is easy to digest, implementing it is a whole ‘other ball game! Be ready!
The Most Important Part…
Even more than helping you learn how to increase your affiliate income, what the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course does for you is make you re-evaluate your entire business strategy. You will not think about your blog or online business the same way after taking this course. Instead of randomly producing content with no aim, you will now think of what you put out as a mini-business of its own.
Why you should invest in this course
Not only will the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course teach you how to make money from your blog, even if you don’t have many page views or readers; but it will also help you establish a monetizing strategy for your blog early on. A blog strategy is priceless, as it gives you a direction to thrive in, instead of getting thrown in many directions at once. Which makes the $197 fee a pretty reasonable investment.
In addition, the bonuses you get are invaluable:
- Access to the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Facebook Mastermind community
This group is a wonderful source of advice and tips for successful affiliate marketing. Not only do you get to sit in on the powerful conversations taking place in the group, but you also get to expand your blogging and online network.
- Tips to get approved In Any Affiliate Program
These secrets of the trade will help you distinguish yourself from your competition and get accepted in some of the most competitive affiliate programs.
- Tips To Increase Your Pageviews
This bonus PDF includes great pointers on how to increase your page views, which in turn will help you make more cash with affiliate marketing. A win-win!
- The Pinterest Strategy to Help You Multiply Your Pinterest Visitors!
You can now ace your Pinterest strategy for free with the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course. With the course you get invaluable tips on increasing your Pinterest following!
Now the best for last…
For just a few days, from Thursday, August 17th to Sunday, August 20th, 2017, you can get $28 off from the price of the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course. Use the code AUGUST28SALE2017 to save on this course, but only if you purchase it using the one-time purchase plan.
Purchase the course HERE!
In Conclusion…
I hope my review of the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course has been useful to you. Questions or comments? Leave a comment, or email me at corporate@thecorproatesister.com!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 17, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Time to celebrate the working dads in our lives! Father’s Day is fast approaching, and if you’re looking for gift ideas for the dads in your life, we’re sharing our list of gift ideas for you!
While we’re all about giving working moms their props, the working dads in our lives deserve some praise too! That’s why we’ve compiled a list of practical, fun, and all around cool, gifts for dads! So let’s give the working men in our lives the gift of swag, smarts and fun:
Hover Camera Passport Drone
Give Dad the gift of becoming his own personal self-flying photographer with the Hover Camera Passport Drone! This flying camera captures breathtaking shots in 4K videos and 13MP photos, by following you mid-air. It’s portable, easy to fly and safe to maneuver. Simply tap the power button, release and voila!
Hover Camera Passport Drone – Photo credit: iTunes.com
Amazon Echo
Nothing like a hands-free speaker you can control with your voice to make Dad feel like a king! Amazon Echo can literally play music, make calls, provide information, send and receive messages, and so much more, just by speaking instructions to it…Kinda like his own personal assistant…
Amazon Echo – Photo credit: amazon.com
Yeti Cooler
Backyard barbecue or fishing trip? No problem. The Yeti cooler is perfect for the working dad who likes to get away on week-ends, or just chill in the backyard over the summer. It features up to 3 inches of permafrost insulation, and is virtually indestructible.
Yeti cooler – Photo credit: amazon.com
Wireless Stereo Headset
For the busy working dad on the go, this LG wireless stereo headset with bluetooth capacity is perfect! Whether to hit the gym, or just to take calls on quick errands, it guarantees outstanding audio quality while being super comfortable and practical for everyday use!
LG Wireless Headset – Photo credit: amazon.com
NBA Leather Sherpa Trucker Jacket
Combine a classic leather jacket with an NBA theme, and you’ve got the perfect Father’s Day gift. This leather sherpa trucker jacket is the result of a collaboration between the NBA and iconic brand Levi’s, and a nice compromise between sportswear and fashion.
NBA Leather Trucker Sherpa Jacket – Photo credit: elle.com
Nintendo Switch
Most men have a sweet spot for video games, and the dads in your lie may be no exception! One of the hottest items in the video gaming world right now is the portable Nintendo Switch. It’s super practical, has detachable Joy-Con controllers that allows for multiple players, or can be played individually as well.
Nintendo Switch – Photo credit: amazon.com
Pro Chef Knife
Get Dad a Chef’s gift this Father’s Day! The Wusthof classic 8-inch chef’s knife is a classic from a top brand used by the most famous chefs worldwide!
Wusthof Chef’s Knife – Photo credit: amazon.com
Skincare Kit
Who doesn’t love a man who takes care of his skin? This Father’s Day, spoil the dads in your life with the Clinique Daily Age Care for Men kit. He’ll thank you, and you’ll love it!
Clinique for Men kit – Photo credit: sephora.com
FreshBooks Software
Encourage dad to be more on top of his business finances with the Freshbooks software! This small business accounting software makes billing so much easier and painless!
Freshbooks software – Photo credit: freshbooks.com
I hope this guide has something for the working dad in your life!
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
