by Solange Lopes | Jun 12, 2017 | Career
“I love Mondays”- said no one ever. Ok, actually, a very select few may…You know, the ones with the stamina and energy you envy as you’re trying to remember your login password for the fifth time this month…
Starting the week after a weekend filled with errands, to-do’s, and laundry (yes laundry) can be quite daunting. Even if you’ve actually relaxed and taken in one movie or two, you’re likely to feel frazzled as you head back to “reality” on Monday.
The biggest AHA moment of my 30’s was when I (finally) realized everything is mindset! E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! That includes tricking your mind to actually love Mondays!
Here are 5 tricks to play on your mind if you want to go from dragging yourself out of bed on Mondays to actually loving the start of the week. And this is regardless of whether you love your job or are still searching for the dream:
- Strategize on Sunday! One of the main reasons why we feel overwhelmed on Mondays is lack of planning. I mean, let’s be real, I used to roll out of bed with zero idea about how I was going to get anything done. And as soon as the reality of everything I had to get done hit me in the face, including getting two kids bathed and dressed, hit me in the face, I would freeze. Instead, start strategizing on Sundays. This doesn’t mean you actually have to “work” on your day off, but more like thinking about your goals for the week and how to tackle them effectively. For me, it means quickly checking the calendar, jotting down some to-do’s, and drafting a timeline to get things done during the week. The result? Peace of mind, plus saving myself some premature wrinkles.
- Speak yourself motivated! What you speak into reality becomes well… your reality! Do you notice how as soon as you say “I’m tired”, whatever little energy you had seems to seep right out of you? Exactly… Start tricking your mind with positive affirmations as soon as you get up. For me, it’s my favorite Bible verses as well as other inspirational quotes. Another trick not to forget? Stick your favorite affirmations, quotes or inspirational words on Post-it notes all around the house. I have mine on my bathroom mirror, office wall, fridge and coffee machine, and if course on my vision board. So get to speaking!
Related: Read more on how to build your vision board.
- Start with fun! Whatever anyone may say, there’s something about doing something that stirs your soul that just pumps you up! So instead of tackling that dreaded task that will make you want to crawl under your desk, start with something fun! Whether it’s listening to your favorite tune, taking your favorite cardio class first thing, or talking to your bestie, pick something that brings a smile to your face, anything, no matter how small. For me, it’s to spend some time writing or reading before hitting the work circuit. What is it for you?
- Make it a challenge! I love a good challenge, even if it’s with myself. Blame it on my competitive nature ( fine, I admit!). Make it a challenge to start the week on a productive note. Which brings me to my next and last point…
Related: Read more on how to make Monday your most productive day of the week.
- Reward yourself! Listen, we all know a little reward can go a long way! Then why wait until Friday to reward ourselves after spending the entire week in a pre-war funk! So reward yourself for a productive, kick-ass Monday too! Treat yourself to an extra lipstick, a mani-pedi, or just two pages of your fave summer read at the end of the day. Who gets a treat on Monday, you may ask? Well, no one other than Trailblazing, Mega-productive, Badass You!
What would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 10, 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!
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 7, 2017 | Career
You know the feeling…You’re at your desk, staring at the same screen for over an hour, desperately trying to jumble a coherent string of words together. You’re browsing social media, looking at all the people with these amazing careers who are changing the world. You’re listening to the umpteenth podcast of why you should make an impact in your work, and yet, you’re still stuck trying to put together the first sentence of that memo for the department meeting in an hour…
Is it you, the economy, or has summer robbed you of whatever fragile motivation you had left? After all, you have a job, right? And you should be thankful for it, right? Yet, you can’t help but feel this unsettling thing in the pit of your stomach, that you’re not quite where you should be.
If that’s you and you’re wondering where your career really stands, here are 7 signs you’ve hit a professional slump:
You’ve been having the same roles and responsibilities for years.
Yes, certain jobs and functions are pretty static. However, if you haven’t noticed the slightest change in your job duties, or worse, your responsibilities have actually declined, it’s time to consider the big career “S” (as in “career slump”).
What to do: Ask your manager why your roles and responsibilities have remained flat (or even declined) over time. Review your past performance reviews for indicators of areas of improvement, and be willing to have an honest conversation with your boss (and yourself).
You’ve hopped from job to job with the same title and responsibilities.
If your resume is starting to look like an obstacle course with many different employers and pretty much the same job responsibilities, you may be in the slump. Take a look at your work history over the past 3 to 5 years, and if your salary hasn’t improved and your job duties have remained the same, time to consider getting out of this career rut.
What to do: Take some time to go over your work history, and ask yourself what has prompted these career changes. Identify your weaknesses and areas of improvement, and start working on them right where you are. If feasible, share your concerns with your current manager and devise a plan to get to the next level. You may also want to consider if you’re in the right career (use this app to identify your career match).
Employees who came in after you were promoted faster than you.
This one is going to sting, but you’ve got to keep it real. If John was hired a few months after you, and got the promotion you were expecting, it may be a stroke of luck (or interesting office politics) for him. But if a few people hired after you nabbed their promotions and you’re still waiting in line for a professional miracle, it may be time to stop and think.
What to do: Bring it up with your manager during a performance review or even a routine 1-on-1. This is not a matter of comparing yourself with other employees but rather of assessing where you stand in your group or department. Have the courage to ask what’s making you lag behind and what you can do to improve.
You’re not learning anything.
If the last thing you learnt about your field or industry was over a year ago, it’s time to take a breather. A thriving career is one in which you’re constantly learning, evolving and growing. If you’re not exposed to any new material, responsibility or topic, then you’re lagging behind.
What to do: Make a quick inventory of any new skills or information you may have acquired in the past year. If the list is nowhere close to being satisfying, first ask yourself if you’re not putting enough effort to learn. Then have a conversation with your management to identify areas in which you can learn and acquire new skills over the next year.
Communication is coming to a standstill.
If your managers and co-workers are limiting their communication with you, it’s time to ask yourself some serious questions. Are topics and ideas being discussed around you that you have no clue about? Does it seem like important talks happen behind closed doors and you’re not part of it? That gut feeling is right, you’ve hit a serious slump’
What to do:It’s important to address miscommunications or lags in communication as soon as they start occurring. Ask your team and managers why you’re not included in key conversations. Even if you’re not getting honest answers, assess the situation and evaluate whether it’s worthwhile for you to stick it out, and what you can do improve it.
Do you recognize these signs? What would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 2, 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!
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 30, 2017 | Career
Summer is right around the corner. While most of us may be thinking days at the beach and picnics outdoors, the rest of us may be doing the Monday to Friday work “thang”. Which also means finding practical, easy and stylish ways to dress for the office or the business when temperatures are rising…
But…What’s a Capsule Wardobe Anyways?
If you’re wondering what a capsule wardrobe is, it’s simply a collection consisting of a few pieces of clothing (and some stylish) shoes that you can mix, match and merchandise to create multiple outfits.
I love the concept of a capsule wardrobe for any season, especially for work. It’s one of the smartest and most efficient ways to manage your wardrobe while being on point with your fashion. And did I mention saving oodles of money by not shopping impulsively but instead relying on a few statement pieces and essentials to build a solid, no-fail, “look-at-me” wardrobe? Plus the opportunity to purge that overflowing closet of yours, and finally give away those 1980’s neon pumps you know you ain’t wearing anytime soon…
How do I create my capsule wardrobe for work?
When it comes to creating your perfect capsule wardrobe for work, it’s all about your personal style, your own sense of comfort, and your office’s dress code. Is your office more business casual, or is it on the super conservative side? Are you more into being comfortable and able to move all day long? Or is your personal style more feminine and romantic? Whatever your answers to these questions are, they will help you identify pieces of clothing that fit you best. For more inspiration, you can use Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, or style blogs for your favorite looks.
What essentials should I have in my Summer Capsule Wardrobe for Work?
Dressing for work in the summer can be tricky. It’s hot outside, and due to some odd pact between the forces of air conditioning and inside offices, the A/C is on blast inside. Which has prompted me over the years to create my own mix of style and practicality for my summer work wardrobe.
For this summer workwear capsule wardrobe, I’m leaning towards colors with neutral accents here and there. Because I’m generally into bright and cheery colors… I’m also all for lightweight blazers and cardigans to ward off the curse of the office A/C, and accessories that let your personality shine.
I’ve deconstructed this capsule into groups of similar workwear items:
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 1: The Dresses
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Dresses
- Adrianna Papell Stretch Sheath Dress – $98
- Julia Jordan Fit & Flare Dress – $138
- Sophia Shirtdress – $120
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 2: The Tops
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Tops
4. Ravello Top – $80
5.Tie-wrap poplin shirt – $65
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 3: The Skirts
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Skirts
6.Solid Cutout Skirt – $39.99
7. Alyndra Printed Skirt – $128
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 4: The Lightweight Jackets
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Lightweight Jackets
8.Amber Jacket – $190
9.Striped Blazer – $39.99
10.Alana Cardigan – $95
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 5: The Trousers
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Trousers
11. Turquoise Ankle Grazer Trousers – $37
12. Crepe Tapered Leg Trousers – $45
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 6: The Shoes
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Shoes
13. Tory Burch Elizabeth Sandals – $183.99
14. Stuart Weitzmann Chicpearl – $398
15. Cole Hann Taly Grand Bow Wedges – $132.99
16. Michael Kors MK Flex Mid-Pump – $89.99
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 6: The Shoes
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Bags
17. Daniels Drive Abigail Shoulder Bag – $398
18. Cedar Street Medium Harmony – $298
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 7: The Accessories
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Accessories-2
19. Dita Bib – $68
20. Slim bow drops – $32.00
Now the entire Summer Workwear Capsule Wardrobe:
Summer workwear capsule
- Adrianna Papell Stretch Sheath Dress – $98
- Julia Jordan Fit & Flare Dress – $138
- Sophia Shirtdress – $120
- Ravello Top – $80
- Tie-wrap poplin shirt – $65
- Solid Cutout Skirt – $39.99
- Alyndra Printed Skirt – $128
- Amber Jacket – $190
- Striped Blazer – $39.99
- Alana Cardigan – $95
- Turquoise Ankle Grazer Trousers – $37
- Crepe Tapered Leg Trousers – $45
- Tory Burch Elizabeth Sandals – $183.99
- Stuart Weitzmann Chicpearl – $398
- Cole Hann Taly Grand Bow Wedges – $132.99
- Michael Kors MK Flex Mid-Pump – $89.99
- Daniels Drive Abigail Shoulder Bag – $398
- Cedar Street Medium Harmony – $298
- Dita Bib – $68
- Slim bow drops – $32.00
What would you add this summer workwear capsule?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 29, 2017 | Career
“I love Mondays!” say very few people. I mean, you just have to look at the onslaught of #mondaymotivation tweets and social media posts around you on Mondays to realize it ain’t winning the Oscar for Favorite Day of the Week. Just sayin’…
After years of waging a very public vendetta against Mondays, I finally started to make peace with it when I started building my own business, side-hustling and freelancing. The simple reason for this sudden pro-Monday niceness on my part is that I realized that there are only so many hours in the day. When your time is literally your most precious commodity, and you have to distribute it between kids, hubby, family and laundry (did I say laundry), then you know you can’t afford to waste a Monday…
So after years of Monday-hate conditioning and celebrating the start of a new week with excessive caffeine, sugar and facial frowns, it was about time to find a way to beat the Monday blues at its own game. Although I’m an avid reader of motivational quotes and other inspiring Monday shenanginans, I had to come up with my own creative strategies to get my Mondays work for me:
-
Trick Your Mind to Plan Ahead
You’ve heard it before. Plan, plan, plan, and plan some more…But really, who wants to add planning on top of everything else there is to do? Yes, we know we need to plan, but we’re still praying for some magical trick of the Universe for the house to be magically clean, the laundry washed, folded and put away, and that work report finally completed…
So instead of beating yourself up because you haven’t planned for the time to plan this week, you can trick your mind to get into a “planning” mind. Instead of writing unending to-do lists, think about what you want to accomplish in the course of the week. Now plan according to your goals. I find this a great way to align your goals with you plan for the week, while encouraging you to accomplish your objectives
Recommended Tools:
- Mindmeister: this tool is great to create mind maps to outline your ideas and objectives.
- Evernote: I like to call this app my “second brain”. You can store your ideas and to-dos in individual notes and notebooks that you can retrieve at any time
- Todoist: This app lets you set up simple checklists with due dates and task rankings. It also integrates with Google Calendar and Evernote.
- Moleskin 18-month Planner: This 18-month planner lets you put your brain on paper beautifully.
-
Start with the fun stuff (and the stuff you’re good at).
Contrary to popular opinion, there’s something about enjoying what you do. As in, not forcing yourself to start with the very tasks that make you dread getting up on Monday mornings in the first place.
One of the simplest, and most overlooked secrets of productivity, is to have fun. What are the tasks that excite you the most? What are the goals that you’re most enthusiastic about? What are the tasks that utilize your strengths and shine the spotlight on your talents? These will give you the boost you need to tackle the less…fun stuff.
As a blogger, Monday is my content writing day, simply because it’s what I enjoy the most and where my strength is. Creating and writing content inspires and gives me a boost, so I can move on to the nitty-gritty of administrative and technical tasks with more motivation and even a pep in my keystroke. I literally save the best for, wel…first!
Recommended tools:
- Good&Co app: This app lets you determine through a series of quizzes what your strengths are, and what your fit is in terms of career and company
- Spotify: Add some fun to your workday with your own selection of music to help you enjoy your work by creating playsuits that suit your schedule and mood.
-
Mind your health
One of the most unsuspected reasons why Mondays are such a drag is that we’re not as healthy as we could be. I mean, if you’ve spent the week-end enjoying your fave snacks and have officially broken up with the gym, chances are your Mondays will be quite rough.
Make your Mondays more productive by keeping up with your health. Whether it’s an earliy morning job, a mid-day walk, or a week-end fitness regimen, being healthier also means being more productive, especially on Mondays…
Recommended tools:
- Sworkit: This app is perfect if you want to get healthy on the go and find an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle. You can easily fit it in on a hurried Monday morning too.
- 5dollarmeal.com: Get healthier by strategizing when it comes to what you eat. This meal planning site helps you create healthy meal plans.
- The VitaminShoppe: Put your health first with the right vitamins to keep up your well-being and productivity
- Headspace: Take care of your mental health by using this app. It helps you learn to mediate and guides you through the entire process.
-
Have something to look forward to
The best part of acing your Monday is rewarding yourself after it. You’ll be more motivated to win on Mondays if you know there’s something to look forward to. I usually set a reward for myself on a weekly basis, whether it’s mani/pedi, free time to read, or a new book…
Start your week with a reward in mind, and tackle your goals with gusto, on Monday!
Recommended Tools:
- Tip Yourself: Reward yourself by saving money. You tip everyone else, so why not tip yourself when you reach your goals?
- Ebates: Reward yourself with shopping that puts cash back in your pocket (you can try Ibotta too)
Now your turn: How do you turn your Monday into the most productive day of the week?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 28, 2017 | Career, Find Your Purpose |
![]()
Good&Co App
Have you ever wondered what it takes to find your very own perfect career? I mean, the career that fits you like a glove, one where your skills, strengths and talents are fully utilized, and where your weaknesses are being improved every single day?
Now enters Good&Co, aka “the job-hunting lovechild of e-Harmony and Linked In“. Think of it as your career matchmaker, to help you identify your professional persona, assess your dream companies’ fit, and provide you with the tools and resources you need to finally find career happiness. This unique app’s mission is to help employees and employers uncover your unique strengths. Based on a series of personas, from the humanitarian to the caretaker and the socialite, it works through a series of quizzes, including:
- Your unique strengths
- How you come across to others
- What your spirit animal is
- What your networking strengths are
- What your approach to getting things done is
- What kind of co-worker you are.
It took me years to realize that enjoying your career is actually possible, but (and this is a big BUT) you need to know where you fit first. And that all depends upon your own personal and professional growth, which can take quite a while to figure out.
When I first downloaded the Good&Co app, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Note that Yet as I started taking the various quizzes, I ave to admit I was pleasantly surprised. The questions were on point, targeting areas about myself I hadn’t always been conscious of. Besides, the very process of answering these questions had me thinking about the evolution of my career until now, and where I want it to go next. Check out my profile personas below when I just started taking the quizzes:
And here’s how I come across to others, which was an eye opener for me as I tend to push myself too hard and get close to crashing afterwards (blame it on those sleepless nights writing term papers in college):
What I really like about this app is that it’s a constant work in progress. Each quizz uncovers a new feature which allows you to take even more in-depth assessments of yourself. My favorite feature is the CompanyFit feature which assesses how you fit with the companies of your choice. You can also start following those companies you’re interested in, and receive job posting notifications from them! Even better, you can now connect with people from these same companies! In addition, connecting your account to your Linked In, Google+ and Facebook accounts helps you add more to the mix as well.. And did I mention the ability to form teams in different disciplines, including Quality Assurance, IT Support, Logistics, Finance, Sales, etc…
There are not many things I would change about this app. However, if you’re not into quizzes or assessments, this may not be for you. But overall, if finding career happiness and owning the way you work is important to you, Good&Co is one of the best career companions you’ll find!
So connect with me on Good&Co and let’s share our individual results! Finding career happiness is a journey, and it’s best when taken together…
Good&Co App
Now your turn: Have you or will you be trying the Good&Co app?
PS: For this program, you will download the Good&Co app and complete the quizzes to discover your unique strengths. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to download it as well so you can check your FitScore with them!You can find Good&Co on the App Store or Google Play Store.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
