by Solange Lopes | Nov 1, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Wrap Skirt – Photo credit: loft.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
This studded grommet faux-wrap suede skirt from Ann Taylor Loft has me wrapped up up in its flawless style. I absolutely love the look of this perfect Fall skirt that’s as fashionable as it is comfortable. I’d pair it with an elegant turtleneck or a crisp white buttoned-up shirt. It’s available in Regular and Petite sizes from sizes 00 to 18, and is $69.50 at Loft.
Faux Suede Grommet Wrap Skirt
In a similar style, I also like this Geo Jacquard Wrap Skirt, as well as this fun striped wrap number, also from Loft.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 1, 2017 | Career |
Since being a kid going to Sandaga market in my hometown of Dakar, Senegal, with my mom every week, I used to hate anything remotely associated with negotiating and bartering. As a single mother of 4, she had to care for all of us with a single salary. Which also meant that if she had to negotiate over a quarter of a cent, she would, even if that took over an hour, as her exasperated child (me) would grow impatient by the minute.
As I started my own career and forgot about my mama negotiating her heart out at the market, I also, like many other women, forgot about the power of negotiation. It took me years to realize that I actually have the right to negotiate anything I want, whether in my career, business or life in general. It’s also the case for many working women out there, and the reason why men are three times more likely than women to succeed in salary negotiations.
It seems we forget that as women, we are naturally gifted at the art of the negotiation. If you can convince a four-year old to eat his veggies, you can negotiate just about anything. So how is it that we tend to forego the best we can get at work and sometimes even in life? Are we just not good at negotiating as women? Or do we forget that we can actually ask for what we want? I believe the latter is true.
As I reminded myself that I didn’t have to settle just for what was given to me, here are three lessons I learned from my mama negotiating down a pound of bananas to feed her family:
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Know your worth and add tax!
It all starts with your mindset! If you don’t know what you’re worth and what you’re bringing to the table, how can you communicate it to others? How can you ask what you want when you’re not even sure of it?
As working women, it can be easy to settle for the salary and perks we’re given. However, shifting our mindsets to understand our own worth (and add tax to it) can make a world of difference. When you know what you can contribute to your organization, your department or your business, you’re in a better position to demand it1
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Take your time!
Very often, we rush into negotiations. As a result, we end up settling for less than we deserve and not getting what we should rightfully have or expect. Take your time to engage in productive and fruitful negotiations by:
- Take your time to prepare: Research your industry, business, or organization before you even sit at the negotiation table. Do you know what the prevalent salaries for your occupation are? Do you know what perks are available to you that you may not have considered before? Use resources such as com, talk to people in your target job or industry, and gather as much information as possible to know what you’re really worth and gauge what you can ask for.
- Take your time to have a conversation: A negotiation is also a conversation process. There is no need to rush into concluding any negotiations you’re engaged in for fear or looking too pushy or of losing the deal altogether. By understanding that any negotiation is first and foremost a conversation, you can give yourself permission to take your time. You can allow yourself to wait in order to make the best decision for yourself.
- Take your time to observe a pause after the ask: When you’re able to observe a pause after you ask for what you want in the negotiation process, you’re giving yourself a distinct advantage. Allow yourself this time to let the negotiation process follow its course.
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Start at the top!
Many of us fail to start the negotiation process at the top. Instead, we settle somewhere between the middle and the very bottom. As a result, we get less than what we deserve. Instead, do you research beforehand and negotiate at the top of the range.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SALARY SUCCESS WORKBOOK:
What advice do you have to negotiate successfully as a working woman?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 31, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Bow-Neck Sweater – Photo credit: jcrewfactory.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
Sweater weather is officially upon us! Hence our elegant yet playful workwear pick, this bow-neck sweater from J. Crew Factory. The bow is a refined and fun detail on this otherwise classic sweater that hits at the hip. It’s perfect paired with a classic pair of trousers like these Lexie pants or with a pencil skirt. On a more relaxed day, why not wear it over your favorite jeans for a relaxed and chic take on casual friday fashion?
Bow-Neck Sweater
In a similar style, I’m also obsessed with this ruffle shoulder sweater, also from J. Crew Factory.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 31, 2017 | Find A Job You Love, Find Your Purpose
This is THE question, right? When it comes to your career, or even your life in general, the big question mark is this one: Pursue what you love or be safe and go for the job that actually pays the bills? The more you advance in life and acquire things (read: mortgage, cars, shoes and purses you don’t need), and the more people you’re responsible for, the more it seems you should settle for the latter option.
Some of you may not even be sure what your passion really is, or if you even have one. Others wouldn’t know where to start to tap into their passions, skills and talents. And for the rest, well, they may just be too tired to even begin the whole process of answering this question.
I know I’ve asked myself the question countless times, and at times, I still do. I was raised in a conservative, single-parent household run by my single mom in Senegal. My siblings and I grew up with a clear understanding that if we wanted to make it in this life, we’d have to go for stability. Forget the big adventure of following our passions.
Why do so few of us take the time to figure it out?
In college, I was always looking at other students taking a sabbatical year or a year abroad with a mix of wonder and envy. How could they even afford to take some time off to explore their wants, or take some time to reflect? There were degrees to be had, jobs to be held, money to be made, bills to be paid…And shoes to be bought occasionally too…
Especially as an immigrant, I never thought there was room, time or space to devote to anything else than working and building a stable nest. Pursuing talents, skills and passions was for rich kids with trust funds, or those who roamed freely on the surface of this Earth with no sense of obligation or duty. For the rest of us, there were responsibilities, commitments and obligations galore to attend to. From making rent to making our families proud, it was all about doing the “right, sensible thing, and making money in the process.
Is Money All There is?
Money was the big equalizer, that financial equilibrium that could bring us closer to our dreams. After all, if you didn’t have money, how could you find fulfillment on an empty stomach? Yet, as the reality of daily started to settle in, it felt like no matter how materially satisfied we may be, that didn’t necessarily equate with fulfillment. Actually, the more materially satisfied we are without pursuing what really matters to us, the more depleted we tend to feel.
So What Makes Us Start Thinking Differently?
Then, as close friends and family members leave this life, the reality that we’re not going to be here forever hits us in squarely in the face. We start understanding that time, and not money, is our most precious commodity. That there may very well be a reason why we were put on this Earth, and are given the privilege to wake up and keep breathing every single day.
Should we just forego all idea of stability?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in stability. Stability is good. Safety is comforting. I love the idea of a full bank account, a prolific retirement account and the security of having more than enough. Yet at some point between losing people I dearly love and realizing my own mortality, I started believing more in actually enjoying life. Not in a desperate, “let-me-get-all-I-can-while-I’m-here” kind of way. But in a purposeful, intentional way that says “I know I’m here for a reason. I know I was created for a purpose, and I need to find out why and go do that.”
So maybe more of us should be taking that year off in college to travel the world, or just think about what we really want out of life. Maybe it’s not a luxury just reserved for the trust fund kids, or those who roam freely on the surface of this Earth. Maybe taking the time to know who we are and why we are here is actually a necessity.
This doesn’t mean that we should quit our jobs tomorrow and go sailing on the Mediterranean seas. Or that we shouldn’t worry about stable incomes, debt repayment and keeping our credit scores intact. What this means is that as we make a living, we should also make a life. That money is important, but should not be the ultimate priority of our life journeys.
What should we do then?
So should you pursue what you love or keep a stable job? If you’re asking yourself the question today, you should do neither right away. What you can do is stop, take a deep breath and answer the following questions for yourself:
- Are you fulfilled?
Really fulfilled, as in, waking up with this sense of being full and overflowing of the goodness of this life. Or are you heavy, burdened with responsibilities, and dreading the day/month/year ahead?
No one other than you knows the answer to this question, and no one can help you answer it. This is where you look inward and be honest with yourself about how you feel.
- Why are you here?
Purpose is not an illusion, it’s a reality. I believe we all have a purpose, a reason to be. Or many for that matter. What’s yours? Why are you here?
This is a tough question to answer, unless you have a vision and goals for your life. If you don’t, take some time to explore the activities and things that bring you the most joy and peace. You’ll find your answer.
- What do you need to get there?
It’s one thing to realize that you are or are not fulfilled enough. Or to take hold of what your purpose is. However, we live in a practical world that requires you to devise a plan to get to wherever you may be going.
What will you need to achieve your purpose and find fulfillment? What does that mean for you spiritually, emotionally, relationship-wise and financially? Determine if it will require you to save more money, leave some relationships, address some gaps in your personality, and start tackling these one at a time.
Now your turn: Do you believe you should pursue what you love or keep a stable job?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | Oct 30, 2017 | Find A Job You Love
V-Neck Midi Dress – Photo credit: nordstromrack.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
There are few things more structured and polished than this plaid V-neck midi dress from Nordstrom Rack, perfect for the office and after-hours. The stand-up collar adds a nice touch of sophistication to this otherwise classic midi dress, while the plaid pattern is perfect for Fall. The cap sleeves and elegant length are comfortable enough to make this a workwear favorite! This dress is available in sizes 2 to 16, and is on sale for $79.97 at Nordstrom Rack.
In a similar style, I also like this Betsey Johnson diamond-embossed dress.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 27, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- Black Enterprise lists 7 business grants to help women launch and grow their startups;
- The Daily Muse lists 10 amazing companies hiring right now;
- Glassdoor lists 11 companies that will pay for your vacation;
- Ellevate Network shares the painful but rewarding journey of starting a business;
- Business Insider reveals that millenial workers care most about highest salaries;
- Recruiter shares that dealing with difficult co-workers can help you improve your performance;
- Ellevate Network tips you off on finding your calling when you don’t know what you want;
- Looking for small business ideas? Recruiting Blogs shares 4 ideas you can start working on under a month;
- WhoWhatWear shares 5 style habits that will make you look more professional;
- Food52 has tricks to clean your home in 30 minutes or less.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 25, 2017 | Career
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for more hours in the day, then you know that time is one precious commodity. Even more than money, time allows us to pursue our goals, live fulfilling lives and ultimately fulfill our purpose.
Not managing your time effectively can prevent you from accomplishing your goals, whether it’s through procrastination, distractions or endless planning. This in turn creates less balance, more stress and a general sense of frustration in our lives.
While a number of distractions are caused by apps, there are some out there that can actually help us manage our time more efficiently. Here are 7 apps that can help you create more time through the power of organization and focus:
- Workflow
Do you spend too much time on the same tasks every day. Workflow can help you create shortcuts so you can batch a number of tasks on your phone instead. It helps you create customized workflows to perform tasks such as pulling directions for an event, for instance. There are over 200 actions and integrations with and between apps such as YouTube, Uber and Facebook.
- Wunderlist
Does your to-do list look like a gigantic pile of deadlines, half-confirmed meetings and other open items? If so, Wunderlist can help.
This to-do list app actually helps you collaborate with friends, family and colleagues by allowing you to share your goals, assign tasks, due dates and reminders. It keeps your family, friends and team in the loop, while helping you remember important deliverables.
- Rescue Time
Spending too much time online? Rescue Time analyzes your online activity, and provides you precious feedback as to where you spend your time online. This is a great way to uncover the activities that are making you waste time, and actually block them.
You can get alerts when you spend too much time online, while also helping you focus on spending your time more effectively.
- Timely
Do you tend to under-estimate, or over-estimate, how long certain tasks are going to take you? Timely is a great tool to help you plan your week ahead of time, as you estimate how much time it will take you to complete your tasks. You’re then able to compare your own forecast with the reality and adjust your schedule accordingly.
It’s a great tool to keep you and your team on track, while holding you accountable to complete your goals.
- Pocket
If you’re a fan of saving links and content online, Pocket will save you enormous amounts of time. Instead of being thrown off by a great piece of content, this app allows you to save it so you can read it later.
It stops you from getting distracted, while making it easy and practical to save new content.
- Break Free
Break Free is another app that lets you control your digital life by helping you understand how you spend your time on your phone. This app monitors how much time you spend on the apps on your phone, and sends you a reminder when you exceed your “allowable” time on any of them.
- Cozi
If you have a hard time getting your family life organized, in between getting the trash out, dropping off the kids to soccer or shopping for groceries, then this app is for you. It stores all your information in one place, including your to-do list, calendar, journal and shopping list, which can be shared with the whole family.
Which apps do you use to manage your time more effectively?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
