Welcome to the Let It Be Friday!, where I say hello (and TGIF), and round up the lifestyle, career and business news that inspired, excited, made me smile (or laugh out loud).
Hi there (and Happy Friday!)!
Happy Summer Solstice Day! This week has literally flown by, it’s the first week of summer vacation for my kiddos, which means my whole schedule needs to be reshuffled, again! How many of you working moms can relate?
Well, in the middle of running out of cereals for breakfast, finding ideas of creative activities (because of course it rained all week!), and stealing some hours of productivity here and there, here are a few items that you may want to read about, use, or you know, procrastinate on…
In “women crushing it” news, CBS reports the U.S. women’s team beat Sweden this week, and is taking names! Yet, despite generating more revenue than men’s, Business Insider reveals they’re still making $100,000 less than men!
Inspiration alert! The Glassdoor Blog lists 14 women who won the 2019 Best CEO awards;
On the hunt for a new job? US News lists the best job search sites at the moment;
Business Insider reveals that 1 in 3 professional women admit to being harassed at work, but don’t report it;
Have you seen director Ava DuVernay’s new series “When they see us” on Netflix? According to Black Enterprise, watching it is an act of social justice;
Want to make the modern tech workplace more welcoming to women? Entrepreneur has a few suggestions as to how.
Not sure if you can sport leggings at work? Working Mother lists the 5 best leggings with pockets for women to wear at work;
Throwing a summer cookout these days? Food52 shares their 13 favorite tips to throw the chillest cookout ever;
Hello parents! We know you love your kids, but Lifehacker has a few tips on how to get a break from them over the summer (you know, for sanity’s sake!);
Are you a sensitive person? The Corporate Sister reveals that it’s actually a superpower (plus some tips on how to work it at work)!
If you read the title of this post while vigorously nodding your head, then you may already have dealt with what it means to be a sensitive person in the world, and more specifically at work. You may have been labeled as “too nice”, “introverted”, or even as a “pushover”. You may have had to deal with your emotions running haywire when faced with challenging situations such as confrontational relationships, less-than-stellar performance reviews, or toxic office environments. While your generosity, dedication and attention to detail may have earned you the sympathy of some of your colleagues, you may have been at the end of some serious pet peeves from others.
Dr. Elaine Aron, a clinical and research psychologist and expert on high-sensitivity since 1990, has authored five books on the topic, among which one of my favorites, The Highly Sensitive Person. In her books, she defines high sensitivity’s characteristics as a more elaborate depth of processing, easy overstimulation, emotional responsiveness, acute awareness of stimulations, and empathy. Her research, among others, associates these characteristics with the personality trait known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS). Individuals born with the SPS trait have been proven to be more likely to be bullied at work and suffer from psychological injury. Often, these injuries are inflicted by managers and colleagues with low Emotional Quotient (EQ), and poor self-esteem and interpersonal skills.
In a world, and a workplace at large, that tends to favor those who speak the loudest and the most, often mistaking free speech with assertiveness or smarts, sensitivity can easily be mistaken for weakness. As a sensitive person, I’ve experienced this multiple times, and have had to learn to reframe my own sensitivity from an undesirable attribute to what it really is: a strong, unique, competitive advantage. Here’s why and how your high sensitivity can actually work for your benefit at work:
With the rise in technology, leaders like you, with empathy, intuition and creativity are needed more than ever!
In one of my fields of expertise, which is accounting, tasks of all sorts are being taken over by bots and computers. Similarly, the traditional role of many professions is rapidly evolving towards almost complete automation. The good news is that the more professional tasks are automated, the more need there is for those qualities and attributes that machines do not possess, such as intuition, creativity, and empathy. These qualities are the trademarks of sensitive people, which makes them incredibly gifted and attuned leaders.
As a sensitive person, you are already equipped for exceptional leadership, which is now in high need and even higher demand in our modern career landscape. Have confidence in your leadership abilities and do not be afraid to display the qualities that make you YOU!
You have incredible communication skills: use them!
One of the biggest misconceptions around sensitive individuals is that they are poor communicators. Nothing could be further from the truth. One of the hallmarks of high sensitivity is the ability to “read people”. It’s not just about perceiving others’ actions and reactions, but rather catching on to their intrinsic feelings, emotions and motivations. This in turn allows sensitive individuals to tailor their communication style, content and delivery to their specific audience.
This means you can actually understand and address the needs of your team members, superiors, and management. If you’re an entrepreneur, you are in a perfect position to identify and attune to your ideal audience and market. Now how is that for a superpower?
Harness your unique attention to detail!
As a sensitive person, getting easily over-stimulated also lets me pick up on the tiniest of details. While this can create perfectionist tendencies, which can be harmful, the upside is that I can also pick up on what may have been overlooked. I also notice this trait in most of the sensitive people I know.
In fast-paced professional environments where change is the new normal, this attention to detail is an invaluable asset! Don’t hesitate to use it and let your voice be heard about it as well!
You are so creative you can solve pretty much any problem!
Repeat after me: I’m an idea magnet! Great ideas just come to you, because you’re so in tune with your inner world and experience amazing clarity breakthroughs. As a sensitive person, your intuition is the gateway to the most innovative solutions and experiments that exist.
Don’t be afraid to share your incredible creativity with the world and be noticed for it! You also may want to consider downloading a note-taking app like Evernote, or just carrying a notebook around just in case the next million-dollar idea hits you! Just sayin’…
Now do you see how what you may have been told from an early age on, was more of a weakness and a disability, can actually propel your career and life forward! When I finally realized what a super power sensitivity really is, when harnessed and used in a productive way, I began truly and authentically thriving in my work and life. However, since sensitive people get easily stimulated, even by subtleties in their environments, the key is to learn to manage your emotions and be as prepared as possible. For me, understanding what triggers me and training myself to either confront it or avoid it, as needed, makes a world of difference. Similarly, preparing for new circumstances, learning to be more flexible, and anticipating changes helps me give my best without the stress of overstimulation.
Are you a sensitive person? How can you start using these tips to reframe your sensitivity as a superpower instead of a burden?
Did you know that 40% of self-employed people average at least one overdue invoice of at least $2,500? If you’re self-employed, you may be familiar with this statistic. You may have experienced unpaid invoices and their disastrous effects on your business’ cash flow. You may also be wondering how your invoices can get you paid well and fast. I know as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and consultant, I have definitely felt the effects of it.
This has brought me to ask myself, like so many other entrepreneurs and consultants, the following question: “Is there some secret to invoices that actually get paid well and fast?” As it turns out, there’s a science behind it, and a pretty accurate one at that. As one of the most effective invoicing software companies on the market. Freshbooks has conducted a research on the types of invoices that actually generate positive payment. What they have found is as comforting as it is effective. Certain types of invoices written in a specific way tend to be paid in full, while others, well…tend to linger on businesses’ back burners indefinitely.
Based on Freshbooks’ study, the below infographic lists 7 tips you can use in your small business to write the kind of invoices that will get you paid faster and better:
Additionally, the new Freshbooks Retainers option helps you manage and regulate your cash flow through recurring invoicing, time tracking, and reporting. The new Retainers option allows you to plan for and forecast a certain number of hours to clients’ retainers. Invoices are then automatically set up, which helps run the business on auto-pilot, so you can actually focus on doing what you love. Most importantly, you can avoid the trap of setting wrong expectations with clients, and wasting time with unending discussions and negotiations. Lastly, you will look more professional with the ability to create streamlined reports for yours and your clients’ use. Overall, any change in project deliverables and scope will be dealt with more easily with this tool.
What changes will you make to your bills going forward?
Please note this is a sponsored post for which I may be compensated.
Did you know that 85% of businesses fail because of poor cash flow? If you’re an entrepreneur, this figure may be making you shudder. After all, your business depends on a healthy and consistent cash flow. However, the sad reality is that many entrepreneurs are subjected to poor billing methods that hurt their cash flow. As a Certified Public Accounting (CPA), keeping track of billing is my least favorite business activity. This is where Freshbooks Retainers, the new option for Freshbooks customers on Premium or Plus plans, comes in.
If you’re not familiar with Freshbooks, it’s an invoice software that helps you add simplicity to your small business invoicing and billing. Not only does it allow you to create professional ooking invoices in seconds, it also lets you accepts various forms of payment, including credit cards and ACH. As a result, you can automate your business’ invoicing.
Basically, with the new Freshbooks Retainers option, you’ll be able to bill clients upfront. You’ll also have the ability to track your time and adjust it based on the actual work completed.
Ensuring your biling is done accurately and on-time
Consolidating your invoicing process without having to use multiple systems and apps
Focus on doing what you love and providing your clients with quality work
Most importantly, Freshbooks Retainers help you set clear guidelines and expectations with your clients. The amount, details and overtime billing are already set in the system, which will clarify the conditions for delivery. It’s also a great way to look professional and on top of your business.
The new Retainers option also gives you valuable insight into your business’ time tracking, trends, and future forecasts through efficient summary reports. This is a precious source of information that you can leverage to grow your business and achieve more profitability.
Start by creating your Retainer by clicking on “New Retainer”Next, continue by setting your retainer terms and invoice schedule.Your new retainer is now set up.
What struggles are you facing with your small business’ cash flow?
Please note this is a sponsored post for which I may be compensated.
If you’ve ever thought about losing a few (or a lot of) pounds and getting healthy, then you may have dealt with what I call the Motivation factor (or lack thereof). I know I have…As a working mom, I’ve struggled with finding the time, energy and effort to shed those unwanted pounds, especially after having my babies. In between growing family obligations, a busy career, and unending to-do lists, it seemed I’d never be able to make the scale move an inch. I’d hit the gym one day, then slack off and eat carbs for the rest of the month…Did I mention paying gym membership fees that went to very little, if any, use?
You may be experiencing something similar. Without a reward system that truly motivates you, it can be challenging to stick to a consistent routine. Yet, what if you could actually get paid to get (and stay) healthy? What if dropping the excess weight could translate into picking up extra coins? What if your efforts at getting and staying healthy were actually rewarded with some sweet cash?
Enter Healthy Wage. As an innovative company whose challenges have been featured on the likes of CNN, ABC, and NBC, it helps you do just that. Healthy Wageoffers online weight loss challenges with …cash rewards at the end of these. Basically, you’re being paid to drop the pounds. According to this Journal of American Medical Association study, individuals with a financial incentive to lose weight are almost five times to reach their goals than those who don’t. Additionally, another 2013 Mayo Clinic study reveals that weight-loss program participants are more likely to pursue their weight-loss goals on a long-term basis if there is a financial incentive than if there isn’t. The point is, although health is a reward in and of itself, a gift card may work better.
Besides, in addition to the cash prizes, there are many other rewards to using Healthy Wage:
Weight loss is hard, making it fun helps!
Just open a women’s magazine and watch your pressure rise as you contemplate different dieting and weight loss options. Truth is, weight loss is hard! Yet, when you turn in into a friendly competition, add in some teamwork and encouragement with HealthyWage, it becomes an exciting challenge instead!
The more fun you have, the easier it gets to shed the pounds!
Do you notice how sometimes all it takes is the support of a few friends and loved ones to turn a daunting task into something much manageable? The same premise applies for Healthy Wage. The more fun you have participating in team challenges, the more support you get, and the easier it all gets!
www.healthywage.com
Good health is contagious!
The best part about this? The healthier you get with HealthyWage, the more you can actually impact those around you. From your loved ones and friends, to your co-workers and entire company, your success story can actually motivate others to create their own.
