L’Edito: What Have You Changed Lately?
All that you touch you change. All that you change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change. – Octavia Butler
I have to admit, I’m a creature of habit. I like my routines, my hot cup of coffee, two teaspoons of sugar, one of cream, and my time to meditate and think in the morning. I like a tight schedule, maybe with a few surprises here and there, but nothing too major to make me trade my mid-heel pumps for high-speed sneakers. That’s what I like, and if you’ve lived long enough, you’ve probably realized the more comfortable you get with your routines, the more the Universe adds unexpected stuff to your daily menu. And that unexpected stuff, the stuff that rocks the boat, makes us take another look at ourselves and move trajectories in life, it’s called Change, the big, scary C-word that makes us shake in our stilettos, put more money in the bank, and shop for the best life insurance rates around.
It’s the stuff everybody talks about at the beginning of every year, every new job, every relationship. “I’m gonna change for the better, I’m going to do this right”. “Things are going to change around here”. There’s a need for Change that’s intrinsic to our nature, a yearning for development, for “more”, “better”, “higher”. It knocks at the door of our souls and reminds us we’re not made to last forever in the same place, we’ve got to go further, help more people, leave more of a legacy. Then why is Change so hard, if after all, it’s a natural part of us?
Why Is Change So Hard When It’s A Natural Part of Us?
From resistance to change in ourselves, to the reluctance of even the best organizations out there to promote, create and implement Change, stepping into new grounds has most of us losing our cool. Yet without it, we also feel we’re slipping into the destructive complacency of the ordinary. We start doubting the truth that anything is possible, and getting in the way of our own minds expanding, leaping into groundbreaking fields and areas. Even when we are content, there’s still that still small voice that keeps bugging us, calling us into all we can be.
Have you been resisting Change lately? Have you been pretending not to hear the still small voice bugging you to apply for that job, try this new field, or follow your calling? Have you shot down your dreams of entrepreneurship, or convinced yourself your ideas are not good enough to build the business of your dreams? Or have you stopped trying at work and resigned yourself to doing the same work day in and day out? I mean, when was the last time you tried taking a new way to work, adding more sugar to your coffee, or experimenting with a new shade of lipstick?
What have you changed lately? (If you have to think too long about it, it may be time for a new espresso flavor).
The Corporate Sis.
The 411: Weekly News Update
Happy happy Sunday! Hope everyone is having a great week-end, we sure are on this side of the blogosphere! The weather has been summer-like, and everyone’s been lounging like lizards in the sun. Like right now, as I’m sipping my coffee on the patio, purposefully ignoring the little people shrieking and running in the background (it’s an art, believe me)…And if you are relaxing(or researching the best earplugs on the market ), here are the news that made our week (some more than others, you can blame it on the coffee):
- Last Tuesday was #EqualPayDay (and it was also the hubby’s birthday, for which we received a full spiel on wage equality as one of his gifts, don’t judge me), and the Huffington Post shows us this map of America that reveals our pay failures (and it’s not pretty, despite the pink background);
- Speaking of wage equality, you may want to consider moving to New York, as the Washington Post reveals it has the smallest wage gap (apparently, Louisiana has the widest), and AAUW reveals the gender gap is much worse for women of color;
- In other big news this week, women’s media networks Sheknows and BlogHer (which is now a subsidiary of Sheknows), hosted a town hall with President Obama to discuss women’s salary, women in tech, early childhood, etc. The New York Business Journal tells us more about it;
- Speaking of salaries, Fortune shows millenials how they can play salary catch-up, while Fast Company offers a few tips on how to negotiate the salary and benefits we deserve;
- Is school on your mind (but not necessarily in your budget)? Business Insider lists the best business that offer the most financial aid;
- In tech news this week, Huff Post Tech introduces us to the Google Handwriting Input (and it could save you from embarrassing typos);
- Got travel on your mind? Madame Noire Biz tells us about the tales of 6 women working overseas;
- Daily Worth offers us a few hilarious, but on point, tips on handling a bad boss;
- If you’re on the fence about working corporate, The Change Blog had this amazing post about “when working corporate serves your purpose”;
- Federal workers beware! There’s a new federal-worforce guidance on social media out there, and the Washington Post advises you to think before you post;
- As you’re chilling out this week-end, Inc. shows us a few gadgets that are changing the way you relax ( who needs natural relaxation after all?);
- Last but not least, Fast Company had me rolling with this funny video on how your lies sound when you try to sneak out of the office for an interview (see below):
Happy Sunday 🙂
The Corporate Sis.
Week-End Pick: Jacket
7th Avenue Suiting Collection – Photo credit: nyandcompany.com
It’s Friday!!! I love the look of a nice polished jacket on week-ends to bring a nice touch to an otherwise casual outfit. My week-end pick is this bright 7th Avenue suiting collection jacket from NY&Co. The sunny yellow hue is perfect for Spring, and the fitted look with a notch collar is extremely flattering! This jacket is also on sale for $37.47!
I’d pair it with these cool curvy straight leg jeans from LOFT, for a relaxed but chic look!
Enjoy your week-end!
The Corporate Sis.
10 Tips to Build A Business While Working Full-Time
Photo credit: theconnectionexchange.com
Many of us are dreaming of working for ourselves, building multi-million dollar businesses and leaving legacies to last well after we’re gone. Or we just want to get out of the rat race, have more work-life balance, spend time with our kids, and not ever have to deal with a micro-managing boss.
And the fact is, entrepreneurship is on the rise, as evidenced by the rise of entrepreneurial activity from 22 to 53.4% from 2003 to 2013, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. Among this wave of new entrepreneurs, many of them Millenials, are those who juggle a full-time job and a part-time gig.
Here are 10 quick but effective tips to build a business while working full-time (and raising a family, trying to make it to the gym, or finding clean socks any day of the week):
1. Have a clear vision! Building a business is hard, whether you’re working full-time or not! Make it easier on yourself, and get a good head start, by having a clear vision. What do you want to accomplish? What products will you be selling? Who is your targeted clientele? If necessary, hire a coach to help you.
2. Have a plan! It doesn’t need to be a defined one. Have a general timeline for your prospective business, and key milestones to reach. Use it as a guide as you’re progressing, and be open to changing it as well. Finalize it and turn in into a bona fide business plan you can present to investors soon!
3. Build a schedule! Time is of the essence, especially when building a business while working full-time. It’s easy to get sucked in to meaningless, no-impact activities, instead of focusing on the meat and potatoes of the business, literally. Construct your schedule around major activities, and try to stick to it!
4. Focus your efforts! Newsflash: you can’t do it all! Whether it’s getting new clients, building a killer website, or growing your email list, focus your efforts as you go! Tackle one major theme for a certain period of time, get the best out of it and move on to something else…
5. Use the power of “productive laziness”! There’s such a thing as harnessing the power of laziness to produce results. Automate time-consuming manual tasks, get a virtual assistant, skip on perfection, and focus on what matters!
6. Yet don’t forget immediate action wins! Perfect is overrated, and so is excessive contemplation! If you want results, you’ve got to act. Go past your limitations and act on your side projects, even if they are imperfect! Remember, if you’re not embarrassed after looking at your first product, you may have waited too long.
7. It’s a marathon! Building a business while working full time is taxing, and is not the road to immediate riches. Yet it is your consistent efforts that will lead you to success. Stop looking at the clock, counting the days, or frantically checking your sales page, you’ll get there in time.
8. Don’t quit just yet! Stay put at your current job until you’ve gathered enough financial and mental cushion to move on. Trust that the Universe is in motion for your success, keep acting but don’t rush!
9. Use your current job! Your current job is not only providing you with resources while you’re transitioning careers, it’s also teaching you skills as you go. Dealing with co-workers, finding solutions to every day issues, juggling work and side hustle, all of the everyday stuff you may overlook is preparing you for the next phase of your career.
10. Stay open! Building a business will teach you who you are deep down inside. It will reveal your strengths, and show your weaknesses. It will make you incredibly happy and unbelievably miserable at times. Stay open to the change, to learning about yourself and others, and to receiving success. Work with the Universe, it wants you to succeed!
How did you build a business while working full-time?
The Corporate Sis.
