by Solange Lopes | Jun 30, 2014 | Career
huffpost.com
Happy Monday (is there even such a thing?)! If you hadn’t suspected it before, I’m not a big fan of Mondays, like a lot of fellow corporate sisters and brothers out there…
Yes it’s the start of a new week, and who’d want to start off the week on an unproductive, slow note? So despite the fact that Mondays rank pretty high on the list of our least favorite days, here are a few tried-and-true, no-nonsense tips to turning these dreadful days into productive powerhouses:
1. Start on Friday! Yup, you heard right! Prepare for dreadful Mondays on Fridays! Resist the temptation to slow your professional roll on Fridays as you’re looking forward to the week-end; instead, give a last hoorah and anticipate the following work week. How so? Leave a detailed to-do list for the next week, quickly prep for your major meetings, update your calendar, and voila! Your Monday morning will seem much less dreadful when you come to work to a well-planned week…
2. Have a system! Yes, in life and at work, you’ve gotta have a system! Whether you prefer to start with faster, more minor tasks, or tackle bigger projects first, pick a strategy and stick to it! The better you know how well you work, the more productive you’ll be!
3. Be flexible! Did you notice how every Monday morning, or at least most Monday mornings, something, anything will pop up to derail your morning. I had to drive back home this morning after I noticed I forgot my earrings. Then I ran into an old acquaintance who didn’t recognize me, right before I rushed to my desk and realized I had to reboot my computer…twice! The Universe has a funny way of reminding you that you’re not as much in control as you tend to think. So be flexible, allow for interruptions and delays, and keep your eye on the prize (I meant, your productivity, not that extra scoop of ice cream!)…
Did your start your work week on an effective note? Happy Monday!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 29, 2014 | Career
Two original “Rosie the Riveters” at The Department of Labor Regional Forum in San Francisco held ahead of today’s working families summit – womensenews.org
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Happy Sunday! It is great week-end on this side of the blogosphere, and as we’re relaxing on this beautiful Sunday morning, here’s the round-up of the news we read this week, some which made us smile, laugh, and frown a bit:
Happy Sunday, God bless!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 28, 2014 | Career
Lattice Print Walking Shorts – $49.95 – loft.com
Happy Saturday!
For our week-end pick today, we are loving these lattice print walking shorts in soft cotton twill from Loft! Nothing like an elegant yet casual pair of shorts on the week-end. You can take these from the neighborhood barbecue, paired with an easy tee, to a casual evening dinner, dressed up with a nice pair of open-toe stilettos!
The length is perfect, conservative enough as it falls to the knee, yet comfortable and summery. It’s on sale at $49.99 at Loft (and you can get an extra 60% off, no code needed!)
Pssst…LOFT is having a 60% off sales styles today, no code needed!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 28, 2014 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Teaching your kids about work – docs911.blogspot.com
Happy happy Saturday! Yes, it’s the start of the week-end, even for some of us who still have to make it to the office, even for a couple of hours today…The weather’s beautiful, you can take the kids out, spend more time with them than during the week, and maybe teach them one thing or two… Or three…
As corporate sisters, we most often deal with the guilt of not spending enough time with our children, versus committed to our careers. So when we get to spend quality time with them, we definitely want to make it count! Yet, with all the guilt we carry day in and day out, how thin we stretch ourselves, not to mention the weight of all the modern responsibilities that somehow have become ours, what are we really teaching our kids about work?
This week, Matt Lauer got under fire for his “sexist” question to General Motors CEO Mary Barra about being a mom and CEO at the same time. I was actually less struck by the question he asked than how he mentioned she had revealed in an interview that her kids told her they’re going to hold her accountable for one job, that of being a mom. Her kids’ answer prompted me to ask myself: “What message are we conveying to our kids about work and success in the workplace?” Do our kids realize the sacrifices and tough choices we have to make, and still hold us accountable for being better parents than professionals? And if so, are we meeting their expectations?
Teaching our kids about the importance of success and a solid work ethic is one thing. Teaching them about the precarious balance between effective parenting and fulfillment in our careers is an entirely different one. The challenge is in consolidating both experiences, while still being able to draw a healthy demarcation line between the two.
When we strive at work, meet our professional goals, and are recognized for our achievements as corporate sisters, are we teaching our children, especially our daughters, that it is what matters most? Or when we willingly sacrifice career success for the well-being our families, are we conveying the message that career success is vain and unfulfilling? And when we manage to balance both, is our difficult balancing act testifying more to our strengths or our weaknesses as parents?
Whether we commit to striving for career success or not, one of the most important questions may really be, at the end of the day, what are we teaching our children about what work means to us as women, corporate sisters, and most importantly, mothers? What legacy are we leaving behind, and are we at peace with it?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 27, 2014 | Career
Marbled Glass Garden Pot = $9.95 – anthropologie.com
For our coffee break,we are all over this marbled glass garden pot from Anthropologie.
Whether at home or in the office, I love my decor to reflect who I am. So I fell in love with this marbled glass garden pot, which would look just as good on my desk, right by my computer screen. Like I always say, if you can’t be outdoors, bring the outdoors in!
Love the bright colors contrasting with the delicate make of this pot. And even if I forget to water the plants, it can always hold my pencils (while I try and justify how little of a green thumb I have).
It’s the little things…and this one is $9.95 at Anthropologie.
Enjoy your week-end!
The Corporate Sister.
