by Solange Lopes | Sep 5, 2016 | Career
It’s that time again on Sunday night, when you find yourself slouched up on the couch, scrolling through your Facebook feed and chomping on that last chocolate chip cookie. Sounds familiar? If it does, then you’re right there with about 65% of American workers who experience Sunday Night Blues every week.
Although you may be able to beat your most severe of Sunday Night Blues symptoms, wanting to eat your weight equivalent in cookies and indulge into yet another “Friends” marathon, that tightening in your chest may be more revealing than you think after all. It may be more than just wanting to live in your PJ’s forever more and instead a serious indication that it’s time for a move…A career move that is!
There’s nothing exciting about nearing a heart attack as you get ready to start the week, or hug your car door as you mentally motivate yourself not to drive back out of the parking lot. And when it starts happening more often than you crave coffee, you may want to take another look at what’s really happening in your career!
A career’s not supposed to be painfully endured with potential rewards of chocolate-covered madeleines and extra shoe-shopping trips. If you’re going to spend upwards of eight hours in a cubicle/office/mini “work kingdom”, you’ve gotta make it work! Which also means not just pocketing a paycheck at the end of the week, but also finding fulfillment, joy and an outlet to display your incredible talents and unique insight!
So if you’re thinking about upping your consumption caffeine to make it through the day, or treating yourself to yet one more Pinkberry escapade to drown your work sorrows into strawberry frozen yogurt, look for these four tell-tale signs that it’s time to make a career move:
Your Motivation Is As Low As Your Candy Supply
If you’ve been getting to work later and later, while being in no rush to complete any task, your motivation may be hitting an all-times low. And it’s not just because the kids are going back to school, or your overbearing in-laws are in town. You’re just constantly waking up with zero energy, and you’ve given up on coming up with any new ideas to improve your job. The occasional surge of energy you may muster goes straight to filling out your PTO (Paid Time Off) sheet.
Focusing Has Become Mission Impossible
Have you been complaining about how the clock seems to take a break when you’re at work? If you’re constantly checking the time, and praying for 5pm to come faster, you’re probably no longer stimulated at work. Whether it’s because your tasks have become repetitive and predictable, or because your manager isn’t challenging you enough, you’re just not able to focus and produce high-quality work.
You Suffer From Severe Career Envy
Are you feeling the green-eyed monster pinch every time a friend or colleague gets a promotion, or gets offered a new opportunity? Are you envious of the great careers you see in the media, or even just around you? It may be time to ask yourself why. It may just be that you’re more than ready for a career upgrade yourself. When you’re doing work that satisfies and fulfills you, you have more confidence to celebrate others. If competition and jealousy start overtaking your professional and personal life though, you may need a change.
You’re Just Not Yourself Anymore
If you haven’t been feeling yourself lately, it may have something to do with your career. Are you exhausted at the end of the day? Are you more irritable and snapping at everyone? Are you not excited to share details about your day? If you can’t seem to see the positive side of your career and life, and are instead complaining about management all the time, you may need a serious career move.
If you’re feeling any of these symptoms, it may be time to stop and smell the flowers memo! Don’t let yourself slide down this dangerous path, only to wake up ten or fifteen years later at the same job with the same constant “career blues”.
PS: Want to read more about making a career move and recharging your career? Join our “Recharge Your Career” challenge this month!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 2, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Our Week-End Pick features a piece of clothing or an accessory that complements any corporate sister’s week-end wardrobe.
Off-shoulder top fans, breathe easy! The trend is not disappearing with Summer going away. Actually, it’s transitioning quite well into the Fall with flattering, fun long-sleeve off-shoulder tops like this Re:Named cutout version from Shopbob. The cutouts are a nice touch to this cool top too! And at $65, the price is not too bad either!
I also like this silk version from Gilt for a casual and chic date night, or this peasant top version from Zappos. If you’re in a splurging mood, this Caroline Constas loose-fitting number is a great pick , although you could go for this less expensive BCBG Max Azria graceful one.
There are also great plus-size options, like this ASOS Curve lightweight ribbed top, or this belted satin beauty perfect for a night out with the girls.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 2, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, 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…
- Getting out in the morning on time, especially now with all the “back-to-school” buzz? Levo has some great tips;
- Want to leave work at a reasonable time? This free tool might just be what you need…
- Women are know for their “soft skills” at work. Ellevate Network confirms how valuable they are for your career;
- Ready to start your business? Black Enterprise offers 5 tips to become a master mompreneur;
- Ready to quit that job you absolutely hate? The Muse lists 2 things you must do before pulling the plug;
- Are you a first-time entrepreneur? Here are 4 things Forbes says you should know about;
- Going for an interview? Here is exactly what not to do;
- Like Etsy? Corporette lists 7 fabulous Etsy shops featuring great workwear;
- H&M wants your innovative green ideas...oh, and did we mention there’s $1 million for grabs?
- Last but not least, here are 5 tips to transition your work wardrobe from Summer to Fall.
PS: Ellevate Network, a great place for career women to network, is running a 20% promo on their membership! Take advantage!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 1, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Our Corporate Catwalk feature selects a piece of clothing or an accessory that complements any corporate sister’s wardrobe.
As we’re slowly transitioning into Fall (and so are our work wardrobes), I’m toning down my bright colors and buying into more nude and muted tones. Like on this chic Kate Spade New York pleated midi two-tone skirt.
Loving the elegant pleating on this classic skirt which never goes out of fashion! The black and nude colors complement each other beautifully, as the length is simply perfect for work and fun! Bonus: it’s on sale for $120 at Neiman Marcus.
I also like this quite similar (and less expensive) pleated midi skirt from Nordstrom, this bright Topshop chiffon number, oh and this gorgeous ASOS white beauty too! If you feel like splurging, this REISS Eli skirt is to blush for, while this Lamarque leather version is edgy but classy!
ASOS Curve Pleated Midi Skirt – Photo credit: shop style.com
There are also some elegant plus-size options for pleated skirts, including this blue lined chiffon number from ASOS CURVE, and this Eliza J plaid version.
Which one is your fave?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 1, 2016 | Working Mom & Woman Tips |
Today my youngest (and probably last baby, did I say probably?) starts school. And even as the hardcore independent career woman and feminist I consider myself to be, it feels weird, to say the least.
As I dropped him off to his last day at daycare yesterday, my heart sank a little. I sat outside in my car for a minute, unable to turn the wheel and back up to drive towards work. I could relive the very day I dropped each one of my babies to daycare for the first time, to start on their journey towards independence. And to continue mine towards making peace with semi-constant worry and mommy guilt, even in the midst of so much joy and anticipation…
You think you’ve made peace with a lot of emotions as your kids grow, and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of new beginnings all over again. As they pack their first backpack, say good-bye to go to class, get their first report card…
Even though there’s still quite some ways for women to go in today’s world, we’re able to make so many choices in our lives. Choices to go after our own careers and dreams, pick our partners, live more of the lives we choose…Yet as you become a parent, most of these choices start being influenced in some way or another by the huge joy and responsibility to raise children.
In her masterpiece “The Awakened Family“, New York Times best-selling author Dr. Shefali Tsabary tells us that “many of us are unable to [raise children who are highly resilient and emotionally connected] because we are blinded by modern misconceptions of parenting and our own inner limitations”. The part of Dr. Tsabary’s message that struck me the most as I was watching her on Oprah’s Soul Sunday is that we must develop ourselves in order to help develop our children into the people they’re meant to be. Which also means that not only is it ok for us to go after our dreams and reach our higher selves, it also tremendously serves our children.
So we can turn all that mommy guilt as we drop off the kids to daycare or school, miss some milestones because we’re at work, or miss work because we’re taking in our childrens’ milestones, into the fire that propels us further and further in our lives and careers:
Their milestones are proof we’re growing too!
Now that I’m done crying behind my glasses after dropping off the little one to Pre-K, I can take a minute to stop and consider how much I’ve also grown as a parent and a woman. What we don’t often realize as parents is that many a times, our children help us grow more than we actually help them!
After raving about how my babies are growing too fast, it occurred to me that each one of their milestones has helped me develop as a person. That just having them inspires us to stretch and reach more of our potential. That every time they take a step, start school, get a great grade, or get bruised somehow by life, we learn something new by teaching them things we never even knew we knew.
Make the kids part of your growth!
For most of us, having kids changes our lives. For some, it can send our careers down the abyss, as this 2015 Women in the Workplace study reveals that “motherhood triggers assumptions that women are less competent and less committed to their careers”.
For others, it can mean renewed focus, energy and success. A research commissioned by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has demonstrated that parents tend to be more productive. More parents develop skills and traits that make them better employees, while it’s noted that some parents are more ambitious after kids.
I’ve found that making the kids part of our growth as individuals, is a huge motivator to turn all the mommy guilt we may experience into more fuel for our fire. Over time, I’ve learnt to talk more to my babies about work, responsibility and learning as I experience it. To share with them more of my experiences, and let go of the guilt of not always being there in favor of the energy of shared growth…
It’s OK to let go!
This one is a “toughie”! Letting go is hard (I’m a Cancerian after all, we cling hard!). And letting go of the little human beings we’ve helped bring into this world, changed poopy diapers, and dropped off for their first day at school, is on a whole other “hard scale”…
I’ve clung to my own brand of career mommy guilt for as long as I could, until realizing it’s letting go that ultimately allows us to be more present. That it’s ok to show our kids that chasing your dreams is a part of life. That to be fully present, we must be filled with as much of our own fire as we can muster…
So here’s to my last baby going to school, to dropping (some of) that heavy mommy guilt, and instead turning it into more of that internal fire that makes us go over and beyond…
How are your turning your Mommy guilt into Mommy Fire?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
