by Solange Lopes | Oct 6, 2016 | Career
photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our “Wear to Work” feature presents a piece of professional attire recommended for corporate and business sisters.
So one of the trends this Fall is velvet. I have to say, I had to refrain from picturing my beloved grandmother donning her favorite ankle-length velvet skirt at first. But the rebel fashionista in me decided to do a double-take into the velvet world, and what I found wasn’t too shabby either…
Today’s “Wear to Work” pick and splurge of the week is this Joie velvet blazer from Neiman Marcus. I’ve seen other velvet blazers around, but what really made me stop at this one is the impeccable fit and cut. It’s easy to look frumpy when you’re wearing velvet if the cut is not right on point…
This elegant blazer nips at the waist in a flattering way, and boasts a distinctive rounded notch lapel and classic single-button cuffs on each sleeve . It’s clean and classic with an edge, and at $428, it’s well worth the splurge for a staple you can take from work to wine any day. It’s currently available at Neiman Marcus in sizes 00 through 12.
Plus sizes.
In plus sizes, I’ve found this Esley Fine and Sandy velvet number in a red/maroon at ModCloth, for a very reasonable $79.99. If you’re ready to splurge, this Joan Vass two-button blazer from Neiman Marcus is as pretty as the penny it costs (no pun intended, people).
Petites.
I love this preppy navy version in petite sizes from Petite 00 to 12, available at Banana Republic. Throw it on a pair of slacks for a relaxed day at the office, or with your favorite pair of jeans on the week-end, and you’ll be velvet-perfect (I couldn’t resist..)…
Which one is your fave?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Oct 6, 2016 | Career
“Turn your opposition into opportunity”.
I was listening to a sermon by one of my absolute favorite pastors in the world, Pastor T.D. Jakes, and this phrase he used single-handedly changed my perspective on the whole concept of opposition, especially at work.
How many times do we feel “stuck” because someone, whether it’s the boss, the boss’ boss, or even a colleague, is a source of opposition for us? How many times do we feel unmotivated, defeated, and unsure of ourselves, because someone or even a set of seemingly unfortunate circumstances, puts a wall smack down in the middle of our career path?
The boss just decides they no longer like us, and starts taking away opportunities and promotions from us.
A colleague decides they have to undermine you in order for him/her to advance at your expense.
All hell’s breaking loose at home, and you can’t concentrate to get the job done at work.
It could be anything really. Or maybe you’re just not as passionate about what you’re doing, and every slight mistake you’re making is being pinned to you to bring you down.
We all face opposition at work from time to time. For some of us, it may be a daily thing. You may be walking in the office with your armor on every day, ready to go for battle on that quarterly report, or that year-end project. And many a times, it can wreak havoc on our personal lives, seeping into our relationships and family life.
What do you do when opposition strikes at work, and you still have to make a paycheck and show up every day? Do you just lift your hands to the sky, pack up and give up? Do you stay and blindly strike back, at the expense of ruining your health and relationships in and outside of work?
When I heard Pastor T.D. Jakes talk about turning opposition into opportunity, it took me back to all those times at work, when I personally either left because I thought I couldn’t deal. Or stayed and waged a blind fight against anything and everything, failing to recognize the real problem or solve it for that matter.
Yet, if we take a moment to stop and think about what this opposition really means in our careers, and actually devise ways to leverage it instead of falling prey to it, we may just turn the whole thing to our advantage. Opposition is neither bad nor good, it’s like change, it just is and opportunity to look around and at what you’re doing, and re-position yourself in a better way:
Opposition is a sign that you may be doing something right.
Yes, even when it seems all your boss can see are your mistakes. Or the office gossip has you looking like the department’s villain. Because work is a lot like life, in that if you’re not doing anything barely noticeable, you’re not very likely to be noticed, or opposed for that matter.
So instead of taking the opposition as a sign that your career has come to a screeching halt, or that you’re doing something terribly bad, take it as a sign that you may be doing something right. That in the middle of the muddy waters of work, there may actually be gems you can use to propel yourself forward.
Opposition points you to something you must learn.
Every time I’ve faced opposition, I’ve had something to learn. In every seed of opposition, there’s a nugget of wisdom to be extracted, squeezed and actually turned into your competitive advantage.
What type of criticism are you facing? Is your performance being blamed? Play the detective, and gather all the arguments making up your opposition, and sit down with the whole thing for a while. What can you learn from it? What’s the hidden message behind it?
Even better, go straight to your opposition, and ask what they think you can do better. It may be going to the boss who constantly belittles you, and ask them for constructive feedback. Or the colleague who spreads rumors about you, and seek their opinion.
In all cases, there’s always something you must learn for yourself. For me, it meant developing my own perseverance and self-confidence in the faith of obstacles. What is it for you?
Opposition is a fuel to Excellence.
There’s no better time to go for the gold then when you have a wall of opposition stand before you. It may seem counter-intuitive, but using the fuel of frustration and dissatisfaction created by the feeling of constantly being opposed, can actually work wonders in your performance.
Every time you face opposition, turn the resulting lack of motivation and defeated attitude into fuel. Fuel to do more, to do better, to close up every gap in your performance and attitude that could be shot at.
And whatever you do, take a few minutes to wallow into your temporary frustration, buy the shoes, and keep going…
How do you deal with opposition at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Oct 5, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: target.com
Our “Wear toWork” feature presents a piece of workwear, along with great alternatives, for stylish corporate sisters.
Who doesn’t love a great sheath dress you can recycle from the office to the dinner table? And when it’s as stylish and affordable as this Merona bi-stretch twill sheath dress from none other than…Target, it can’t get any better! I love the versatility of this dress: you can rock it all day from meeting to meeting, with a nice cardigan like this J. Crew original leopard wool style.This dress is $29.99 at Target!
A nice alternative featuring cap sleeves and a wrap bottom is this twill wrap sheath dress, also from Merona. I also like this pricier Eliza J crepe sheath number from Nordstrom. This Nanette Lepore color block beauty is also a great choice, especially as it’s on sale (only sizes 2, 4 and 6 available).
Petites.
In petite sizes, this Pendleton petite sheath dress from 6pm is the perfect LBD you can pretty much take everywhere and anywhere. Or you could opt for this sophisticated Tahari bi-stretch sheath dress from Nordstrom, featuring an inverted notch collar and some serious architectural details.
Plus-sizes.
In plus sizes, I love this Ellen Tracy tweed print sheath dress from Nordstrom for its vibrant print and rich texture, perfect for the Fall. This Adriana Papell side rushed crepe number is both flattering and elegant, as is this preppy square neck ponte sheath version from Talbots. My favorite? This Fall-ready Signature 3/4 sleeve textured color block dress from JC Penney.
Which one do you vote for?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Oct 5, 2016 | Career |
Danyelle Little aka The Cubicle Chick – Work/Life Management Professional, Author & Digital Debutante
When I first “virtually” met Danyelle Little via her highly influential blog The Cubicle Chick (aka TCC), I was barely starting out as a budding blogger. I remember scouring her blog, literally inhaling post after post, seeing myself and so many other corporate and entrepreneur sisters and brothers through the topics discussed.
After “virtually” stalking her blog and social media channels for a while (it happens, ok), I finally worked up the nerve to reach out and ask to become a TCC contributor and add my voice to the beautiful work she’s already doing.
Fast forward, and it’s my pleasure to feature her on The Corporate Sister. In this inspiring conversation, I’m picking Danyelle’s brain about her path as a careerist and entrepreneur, and probing into what drives this woman on fire. Check it out below:
Hi Danyelle, thank you so much for being featured on the blog! First off, please tell us about who you are and what you do!
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me. I’m Danyelle Little, Digital Debutante, Lifestyle Engineer, and founder of The Cubicle Chick, a website devoted to serving working parent families with tips and tools to help them succeed. I am also the mother of two, and I’ve written three books.
What inspired you to go from Corporate to your own fabulous blog and business? Did you have an AHA moment?
I didn’t leave on my own accord, actually. Had it not been for me being laid off, I would probably still be working in HR for a Fortune 500 company. But of course, everything happens for a reason. I lost my job two weeks before Christmas in 2009 and decided to take my then hobby-blog of 10 posts to a position that could help me achieve a profit. I didn’t really have an AHA moment, other than I needed to be able to pay my bills and take care of my family. I saw others making a living with their blogs so I thought I would toss my hat in the ring, too. Six plus years later, I’m here!
What advice do you have for corporate sisters (and brothers) who want to leave Corporate behind and build their own entrepreneurial ventures?
I would say have a plan and don’t be afraid to execute it. Work on your business as much as you can on the weekends, weeknights, whenever you can. Partner and collaborate with others to get your name out there and cross-pollinate your brands for visibility. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and who will root for you—you will need them in your corner. Work the plan and plan the work. You can do it!
You’ve built a fabulous online brand. What are some of your recommendations for other entrepreneurs to follow in your footsteps?
Thank you so much for that. I really feel that I still have a lot of work to do, but I think I realized in the beginning that branding is everything. Your logo, your signature colors, your photos, your website—all of that has to SHINE! It has to resonate with others. Being personable and allowing yourself to be out there also helps. People relate to you when they feel that they know you so be very visual. Have nice graphics. Pay attention to detail. Develop and grow an online tribe who will rock with you. And most of all, be consistent.
Tell us about a typical day in your life, as a mom, successful business owner and woman on fire?
I wish I had a typical day, but I don’t. Everyday is an adventure! I travel a lot, but when I am home, this is what it looks like: I get my daughter up and out the door for school, and then I work in my home office writing, answering emails, etc. I take a lunch break and then go it until it’s time for my daughter to come home from school. Once she’s home, work stops and it’s all about her. Dinner, homework, family time, bath time. And once she goes down for bed, I can be found working in my home office until sometimes very late. It’s hustle and grind all of the time.
What are 3 of your favorite go-to products/tools?
There are so many, but I will say
WordPress for my blog—what would I do without it?
Canva for graphics and creating products like my workbook, which you reviewed recently. I also love
GarageBand for recording my podcasts.
If there is one mantra you could leave us with to inspire and motivate us, what would it be?
DO THE WORK. A lot of people look at people like myself and always ask how’d we do it. As if there’s a quick way or shortcut. There isn’t. You gotta do the work, put in the time, and stay on top of trends, news, and what’s going on in your genre. Listen to your customers, clients, and readers. When you serve them and do the work, then you will get positive results.
Last but not least, where can we find you online and how can we contact you?
Thanks so much for the opportunity, Danyelle!
Photo credit: thecubiclechick.com
Bio:
Known as first as a Mom, and then as a Work/Life Management Professional and Careerist, Danyelle Little is a rising star amongst her peers. With over a decade of experience in Benefits Administration and Human Resources, Danyelle created TheCubicleChick.com to discuss topics important to working parents and entrepreneurs. Glamour Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post Live have all tapped Danyelle to share her thoughts on newsworthy items relating to workplace issues, employee relations and lifestyle trends. Recognized as a top entrepreneur and social media influencer in St. Louis (she’s the 2014 winner of ALIVE Magazine’s Best Use of Social Media), Ms. Little is routinely seen on local and national news and lifestyle programs, and has been a featured personality in national brand promotions including a Subaru advertising campaign.
Photo credit: thecubiclechick.com
Danyelle is also the co-author of the self help book, Personal, Professional, and Positive: The 30-Day Challenge which addresses how to get the best out of one’s personal and professional lives in a positive way.
PS: Check out my review of Danyelle’s amazing Fall 2016 Working Parent Workbook HERE!
Photo credit: thecubiclechick.com
PPS: Got questions for Danyelle? Please leave your comments below!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Oct 3, 2016 | Career, Start Your Business
You’ve heard the term “corporatepreneur” before…Basically, it’s just another term for “side hustler”, except said “side hustler” also happens to be doing the 9-to-5 thing in Big Corporate. Because, you know, bills gotta get paid, shoes bought, and some (shred of) sanity preserved…And that’s quite a few people out there, especially among 2o- and 30- something millennials who apparently are obsessed with the concept (what else are we not blaming millennials with these days, anyways?)
Yet in more practical terms, without all the glam and controversy (or controversial glamour or glamorized controversy, pick your poison) of the perfect millennial who teaches fitness classes after defending criminals in court, or writes online after analyzing spreadsheets all day, there’s the less glamorous day-to-day side of it…The side of long hours, commitment, discipline and sometimes wanting to pull your hair (or eyelashes or weave) out, drop the whole thing and go back to being a normal 9-to-5er hanging out with the girls after-hours…
When I tell some friends I write on the side, without really much of a guarantee to make more than the cost of a Starbucks pumpkin latte any day, I can almost see the question marks popping up inside their heads. Like, why? Why the headaches, the long hours, the occasional rejection, when you still have to finish the laundry, check the kids’ homework and most importantly, sleep!
There are many reasons why so-called “corporatepreneurs” decide to hustle on the side, ranging from personal passion to the need to make extra money, to the persistent Dream that can’t seem to let go of its grip…
While the “why” may have very different origins and implications, the “how” of it all is almost always rooted in an indelible desire to do what it takes to defend and bring forth THE vision.Which for many a “corporatepreneur”out there translates into mornings kinda like this:
The Night Before:
If you’re a “corporatepreneur”, you know your day really starts the day before, at least mentally. You’re planning what has to be done the next day, excusing your lack of sleep by the fact that your best ideas come at 3am.
4 AM- Who invented alarm clocks?
Your best ideas came at 3am, and guess what happens at 4am? The alarm clock that you set up to wake you up at the crack of dawn because you were so motivated and eager to make this a spectacularly successful day, has become Public Enemy Numero Uno. That’s when you discharge all that pent-up energy from not having enough time to exercise anyways onto this tiny, innocent thing called the snooze button.
4:30 AM- Why are my feet so heavy and besides, who invented daily personal hygiene?
Now there are only so many times you can hit the snooze button before either breaking it it put your hand on administrative leave. This is where you actually exit the comfy sheets and your entrepreneurial feet officially hit the floor.
5AM- Prayer and Meditation aka “Get Your Mind Straight”
You wouldn’t be starting your day right without getting your mind straight. It may mean a prayer or meditation practice or just sitting in silence somewhere for q while (which when you have two kids, including a toddler, might as well count as your spa moment of the day).
If you can add to it some inspirational reading if you have more time, then you’re golden!
5:30AM – Work, Work, Work, Work!
This is when things start getting serious, and you realize you only have about an hour and change before chaos, aka the kids, breakfast, starting the car, begins. Rihanna’s tune starts playing in your head, and you leave your Instagram feed and go to town!
6:45 AM – Crap! Gotta get the kids up
Last finishing touches on the blog post, or the sales page, or the product before reality sets in. Save the work, send a last email, and get going!
7:45 AM – Where are the keys?
That last email had to be re-sent, which kinda set everything back. And now, of course, no one can seem to find the keys…as we’re standing outside and the front door’s locked…from the inside!
8:30AM- Why am I here again?
Sitting in your car in the parking lot, contemplating turning around and going back to finish that sales page, that product, or that blog post. Then you remember the mortgage is coming due next week, and that you’re working to create something…And oh, where are your keys again?
How’s your typical morning as a “Corporatepreneur”?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Oct 2, 2016 | Career
The last episode of the “House of Healing: The Myth of the Angry Black Woman” aired yesterday on OWN, and I have to say, I was glued to the screen. As in I was in internal talks with my bladder to hold off until the end of the episode…
In this four-part series, spiritual healer, minister and life coach, as well as a personal inspiration of mine, Iyanla Vanzant, tackles the very pervasive “angry black woman” stereotype. Eight African-American women from various professional and personal backgrounds were brought together in the “House of Healing”, where Iyanla helped them examine the pain and brokenness they all felt and acted out as “angry black women” as a result of abandonment and abusive pasts.
When I first came upon the initial episodes, I frankly thought this may be yet another one of the reality shows filling our screens these days. Yet, as I looked more closely, I was riveted to the screen, and most importantly to the stories of these women. As I listened to Lira recounting how she was abandoned by her father, or Chrystale dealing with being estranged from her mother, or Jaimeka coming to terms with her childhood trauma, I felt a disturbing, yet familiar sense of belonging.
Like so many Black women, I too was raised in a single-parent household where Mommy was both Mom and Dad. Where you had to be strong and tough, and being a daddy’s girl was for others, not for you. Where men were not to be trusted, and being realistic was more important than being happy. Which also means hiding the pain of abandonment and betrayal under a hard shell of self-sufficiency and bravery that can come off, and very often does, as “attitude”.
And can we talk about the fact that, according to a Black Women’s Blueprint study, 60% of Black girls have experienced sexual abuse from black men before the age of 18? Those are statistics that are often hidden by the code of silence in the Black community, yet merely start to reveal the trauma so many Black women silently conceal their entire lives. Those are the same women who are still grieving, and don’t know how, neither do have the adequate tools, to embody the love they’ve never received or experienced…The same women who may struggle to find life partners and husbands, and/or may be left raising kids on their own…The same women who may see a reflection of themselves in other women, and dislike them in the same way they dislike themselves…
Don’t get me wrong…This is not to excuse any questionable behavior in any way. Yet what Iyanla has achieved in this four-part event is show what’s really behind the curtains of so many Black women’s lives. To demonstrate that the “angry black woman” stereotype is not just a stereotype. That it’s actually a myth rooted in the fact that as a society, we haven’t yet fully grasped the depth and width of the experiences making up a vital layer of our society. That unless we can understand and hear the stories that are not always being told, we continue to deny them. And that once we can understand them, then we can all heal…
All of us, including the men in our lives, our partners, fathers, sons, brothers and cousins. I caught both the hubby and my father-in-law trying to conceal their emotions as they watched these women’s testimonies on-screen. And it made me smile inside…
Whether we want it or not, when one part of the fabric of society is affected, we’re all affected. Every time the “angry black woman” stereotype arises, whether at work, within our families, on TV, on social media or any other forum, we all suffer from it, starting with the so-called “angry black woman” herself. And instead of helping us all heal, it deepens the hurt and perpetuates the stigma.
As Iyanla puts it so well, “I’m not my sister’s keeper, I am my sister”. What we see in others exists in ourselves. When a fellow sister is hurt, her pain rolls over to us, leaving us hurt as well. When she heals, we all heal too.
And when we finally can see that there are no “angry black women”, but rather women who need to heal, women who need to be embraced, women silently screaming for help, then we can destroy the myth and welcome the peace.
So thank you, Ms. Vanzant, thank you for daring to lift the curtain on the sometimes ugly, yet always redemptive, truth behind the lives of so many women. As for you, “Angry Black Woman” myth, I’ve got two words for you: “Bye Felicia!”
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Solange Lopes | Sep 30, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Bomber jackets are definitely in this Fall, and I’ve been browsing around to find some cool versions that would still be lady-like. Hence this week-end fashion pick, this Topshop “Neo” Punched bomber jacket.
Loving the rocker edge of this punched model, elegantly balanced by the delicate pale pink hue. And can we talk about the chunky silver zip that makes it look like you just landed from Style Planet (ok that sounded better in my head)? This “bomb” bomber jacket is $110 at Topshop.
Plus-sizes
I’ve spotted similar styles in plus-sizes at Forever 21, in 0X through 3X. I also like this satin number from ASOS, which runs in sizes 16 through 24.
Petites
This Missguided petite bomber jacket has more of a sporty edge, but can easily be dressed up as well. I can also dig this blush version from Dorothy Perkins.
Which one is your fave?
The Corporate Sis.
Like this:
Like Loading...
