by Solange Lopes | Dec 16, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news roundup, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- In super exciting news this week, The Corporate Sister is featured in Ellevate Network’s Top Resources for professional women in the Media category (doing happy dance)! Check it out HERE!
- Feeling the holiday lull? The Lindsey Pollak Blog gives us some pointers to be productive when pretty much no one else is at this time of year (and here’s my take on dealing with office stress too);
- Ellevate provides some super-effective pointers on making others want to follow up with you after a networking event;
- Office gift exchange coming up? Business Insider lists 8 do’s and dont’s;
- Black Enterprise shares this new fund created to help Black entrepreneurs;
- Planning a holiday party? Ellevate Network is sharing 5 ways to make sure your guests are happy;
- Running a business with your spouse or considering to do so? Inc. describes the 3 phases of the process;
- Is being an entrepreneur driving you bonkers? Check out these six tips by Ellevate to maintain your sanity;
- Still pondering over the mistakes of 2016? Thought Catalog urges you to start forgiving yourself;
- Putting together last-minute holiday outfits? All the pretty birds has some inspiration for you;
- Hosting Christmas dinner this year? Food52 suggests 9 last-minute appetizers that don’t seem last-minute at all;
- Last but not least, The Corporate Sister share tips on teaching your kids how to deal with money during the holidays.
Happy holidays!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 15, 2016 | Career
Office holiday parties are in full swing, cookie swaps are all the rage, and year-end deadlines are raging. This is officially Pre-holiday Madness in the office (and everywhere else), and in between holiday planning, gift-buying (and giving and returning), co-workers on vacation and limited hours to finish unlimited work, you’re stressed out of your wits…
So what do you do when the most wonderful time of the year is also the most stressful time of the year, especially at work? When you must juggle all your personal and professional balls at once, all while keeping your cool, sanity and high-heeled boots intact…It’s the proverbial holiday office stress and while we may not be able to completely avoid it, there are a few things you can do to get through it with your edges (somewhat) in place:
Make a Plan.
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As in…make a plan, pronto! List all your deliverable say order of priority, and devise a plan to get as much done as possible. Keep your manager and co-workers in the loop as to what you plan to accomplish and when you expect to be done.
If you’re taking time off, follow these steps before leaving so you can actually enjoy your vacation. Whatever you do, keep the lines of communication open between you and your co-workers.
One Thing at A Time.
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We know, you’re a multi-tasker, and you’re pretty good at it too. Except it turns out that multi-tasking actually damages your brain and career, which would be kinda counter-productive, right?
So instead of messing with your brain by trying to do ten things at once, how about slowing down instead? It’s actually been proven that mindfulness can literally change your brain for the better.
Take some time to practice some meditation, or take up a more relaxing approach to your life and career. You can start with one of my favorite meditation apps, Headspace, which allows you to be quiet even while on the go. Too woo-woo for you? Tune out for a few minutes a day, go for a walk or just sit somewhere quiet.
Self-Care Alert!
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The busier you are, the more you should set aside time for self-care. Counter-intuitive? Try running on empty for a while and see how that leaves your edges…
So schedule that massage you’ve been thinking about for so long. Take that nap you’ve been dreaming about. Or just lock yourself in the bathroom and pee alone for once…
Ask For Help!
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Yes, you’re a #girlboss and you can pretty much conquer the whole world on your own. Except it’ll only make you more tired, mess with your skin and let’s not even mention your edges…
So go ahead, breathe in and ask for help. Whether it’s to finish a project that’s threatening to go past its deadline, or keep the kids for an hour while you run an errand (or take a nap), tap into your support system at work and at home to recharge your batteries and meet your deadlines.
Call Your #Girlsquad!
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Time to call your #girlsquad to the rescue! A UCLA study has shown that “female of many species, including human, respond to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturingtheir young (the “tend” response), and by seeking social contactand support from others – especially other females (the “befriend”response)”.
Which also means that you should lift your nose off the grindstone, take a break, and go on that girl’s night out!
How do you deal with office stress during the holidays?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 14, 2016 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Nothing like stepping into stores filled with busy people, loads of stuff to buy and loud Christmas carol music during the holidays, accompanied with a bunch of toy-thirsty kids, to get your lifetime financial education in check…All the while realizing how much you need to teach your kids about the all-important fact that global warming notwithstanding, money still doesn’t grow on trees/wallets/purses/piggy banks, etc….
Let’s be real, holiday cheer aside, the “most wonderful time of year” is also the most commercial time of year, especially for anything kid-related. Which means you may have to start slipping a word or two to your kids about the fact that just because you have a purse doesn’t mean it’s filled with money. And that if we could buy the entire store worth of toys, we wouldn’t be frantically clipping BJ’s coupons every weekend…Just sayin’…
But are the holidays really the best time to teach kids about money? Isn’t it supposed to be a time of happiness, and cheer and… record spending? Must we ruin the mood and start giving out lessons on the importance of fiscal responsibility to little people who still believe in the magic of Santa Claus and TV toy commercials?
There actually isn’t a better time to do so…And if you ask me, here are a few lessons every fiscally-concerned parent can pass on to their kids somewhere in the midst of Christmas carols and finding a new spot for the Elf on the Shelf:
Lesson #1: Start with what you have!
Start at the beginning, that is, with what you already have. I remember growing up in Senegal, West Africa, and celebrating Christmas in the simplest of ways. Not because we didn’t have enough, but because we had a whole lot more than many around us…
Have your children look around over the holidays and make a quick inventory of everything they have, from a roof over their heads to food on the table and toys they even forgot about. Make it a game to see who comes up with the most items to be grateful for. Then explain how all this “stuff” they have costs money too.
The sooner they understand that pretty much every material thing around them is obtained with money, the sooner they realize its impact.
Lesson #2: Want What You Need!
My mother used to perform an audit of mine and my siblings’ Christmas lists before mailing them to Santa. And the recurring question as she’d carefully scan our wishes lists would always be: “Hmmm…I wonder if Santa’s going to ask if you really need this?”
Which of course in our cute little curly heads didn’t add up at all at the time…Isn’t Santa just supposed to be a wish-granting machine? No one has ever mentioned the new implementation of a “wants vs. needs” system…At least, we didn’t hear it in the news…
Yet invariable each year, my siblings and I would get more of the stuff we really needed vs. the stuff we wanted. Santa’s administration was being overhauled…
How about asking your kids the same question? What do they really need as opposed to just wanting it? Ask them about how they would use the items on their list and how that would help them and others? The sooner they learn to make the difference between what they need vs. what they want, the easier it will be to learn about how to spend their money (and yours)…
Lesson#3: The name of the game is “Earn It”!
Your kids see you going to work every day, or striving in your own business to earn an income. Similarly, they may earn their allowances by doing some chores in the house, or keeping their grades up, or even behaving exceptionally well.
The principle should be the same during the holidays. Have they earned their (long) Christmas gift lists? What have they done to deserve all that “stuff”? Along with their Christmas list, ask them to also make a list of all the positive things they’ve accomplished throughout the year. Some of their answers may have you stitches…
Then, if your kids are slightly older (10 and over), ask them to name a few people they admire who’ve created great things. They may be able to come up with names like Steve Jobs (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Walt Disney (Disney), etc…They may have to google some of these names, but all in all, it should be a fun and educational game for the whole family to play.
At the end of the day, you want them to link money and rewards to actions. The more positive their actions, the more money and rewards they’ll be able to earn…
Lesson#4: Look Into the Future!
“I want it NOW!” How many times have you heard your kids, or any kid for that matter, say this? For most kids, the here and now is really all that matters. Especially during the holidays…But it’s also a great time to teach them about investing in their own futures…
Ask them what BIG dream they have for the future? Do they want to go visit Grandma in Senegal next summer? Or go back to that awesome summer camp they so enjoyed last year? Then introduce the concept of asking for/starting a savings fund to meet that goal/dream/objective. Consider offering them shares of stock into their favorite companies for instance…This will plant the seed of investing into the future for them…
Make it a family game and have everyone share their long-term goals/dreams, and maybe add an item or two in their gift list around investments and savings…
Lesson#5: Giving brings more!
One principle that tends to get overlooked when it comes to educating kids about money is the concept of giving. From tithing to giving money to charities and causes we believe in, giving has incredible power. We give to help others, to sow back into the world, and that’s also how we create channels of prosperity that benefit everyone, us included.
Challenge your kids this holiday season to add a “Giving” section to their Christmas list. Whether it’s donating their time to a soup kitchen, or making handmade cookies for children in need, or buying a toy for another kid, help them link together the concepts of receiving and giving. Make it fun by having the whole family participate as well!
How are you going to teach your kids about money this holiday season?
Cheers!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 9, 2016 | Career
Silk Pajamas – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
My newest obsession? Luxurious pajamas!
Nothing spells comfortable coziness like a set of pajamas that make you want to cuddle under the covers with a hot cup of (liquor-infused) cocoa…Like this NM Intimates dot-print silk pajama set from Neiman Marcus. I love the soft elegance of this silk piece, adorned with one of my favorites polka dot patterns. The cut is classic and chic enough to receive the family over for a Christmas sleepover, yet comfy enough to slumber in style. It’s $190 at Neiman Marcus!
Luxurious pajamas are also great options for Christmas gifts. After all, you may hesitate to buy yourself a pair of silk sleep-in beauties, but the hubby may just think it’s the best gift (with side benefits for him)….
I also like this Victoria’s Secret The Dreamer flannel set from Victoria’s Secret, or this Toyshop menswear-inspired satin number available at Nordstrom. If you’re more into the pajama shorts style, this Kate Spade bow print charmeuse version will charm your socks off, while Cosabella pajama set from Neiman Marcus may just bring out your wild side.
Plus-size pajamas – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Plus-sizes.
In beautifully curvy sizes, my favorites are this PJ Salvage print flannel pajamas from Nordstrom, and this fun silk velour hooded set from Kohl’s, both available in sizes 1X-3X. I also like this DKNY contract trim set from Lord’s & Taylor.
Petites.
This petite Ralph Lauren folded brushed twill set from Zappos will just put a smile on your face. And how about this festive red cabernet petite geometric satin number from Dillard’s?
Which one is your fave?
Fashionably Yours,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 9, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news roundup, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- In interesting news this week, the LinkedIn Blog has officially announced that Microsoft has acquired Linked In, which also translates: “look forward to some amazing new ways of searching for jobs!”;
- Not sure what to get for the Office Secret Santa event? Glassdoor lists 7 last minute gifts (under $25);
- Looking to change your business and life for the better? Sallie Krawcheck of Ellevate Network has a radical (and life-changing) approach;
- Did you know looking visibly happy can hurt your career? Read more on Fast Company’s take on it;
- Want to improve yourself for free this week? The Muse has some amazing suggestions;
- Job hunting this week? The Glassdoor Blog lists 13 companies hiring this month (yes, in December).
- Speaking of jobs, Inc. just published Glassdor’s 50 top companies to work for in 2017;
- Networking events coming up? Ellevate has a 5 tips to turn these into effective and fun times;
- Looking for workwear with super powers? Corporette lists some great options with secret shaping powers (hello hourglass silhouette);
- Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year is out, and Food52 has a few (interesting) thoughts on it;
- You don’t want to miss out on Ellevate Network‘s list of top resources for working women;
- Elf on the Shelf, anyone? Here are 3 lessons our family elf taught us this holiday season!
Happy Friday!
The Corporate Sis.
