The older I got, the more I realized how precious of a commodity time is, especially as a busy working mom. One of the things that often gets overlooked is our self-development, sacrificed at the altar of all the other obligations of my life. The more I also realized that if I wanted to continue to grow and develop myself into the best version of who I am called to be, I would need to invest in my own self-development in and outside of work.
As a busy working mom, it’s always been important for me to continue to invest in my personal development, so I could be happier, more purposeful, and more present as a mom, wife, friend, sister. One of the most frequent complaints I hear from fellow working moms is their fear of losing themselves completely once they partner up or have kids. Personal development can go a long way towards remaining true to yourself, and actually adding to what you bring to the table of your parenting, partnership and relationships in general.
Here are 10 ideas of on-the-go activities you can use to develop yourself in your spare time as a busy working mama:
Meditate, pray and journal
Meditation, prayer and/or journaling can go a long way towards personal development. Taking some time daily to explore your inner thoughts, feeling, mindset, goals and aspirations not only brings clarity, but also helps in feeling more centered and purposeful.
Update your financial goals
Got 10 minutes or more? Take a few moments to quickly check your budget, bank balance and financial goals. A little bit periodically adds up to a lot over time when it comes to your finances…
Work out for a half hour
Health is wealth, and working out for at least half an hour three times a week is a powerful way to develop ourselves not just physically, but also mentally.
Plan out your schedule
Planning out your schedule has been proven to help get clear on your purpose, prioritize tasks reducing procrastination and even help save money. It doesn’t have to take long either, and can be done in a matter of minutes.
Read a self-development, business or career book for 15 minutes a day
Despite all the technological advances made so far, nothing compares to stimulating your imagination and learning while reading a book. While reading a book cover to cover in one sitting may be virtually impossible as a working mom, reading a chapter a day, or just 15 minutes a day, can go a long way.
Take a course
Nowadays you can educate yourself on the go if you just have a reliable Wi-fi connection, a working laptop and/or phone. Platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, or Edx. Learning a language on the go is now much easier with tools like Rosetta Stone or Babbel.
Listen to a podcast
I discovered podcasts a few years back when trying to occupy my long commutes, and have not looked back ever since. Some of my favorites are Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve, Harvard Business Review’s Women at Work, and Brown Ambition.
Catch up with friends and family
Got a minute? Take some time to message or call a friend or family member. In an increasingly virtual and remote world, re-establishing regular human contact, even if for a few minutes on the go, can be a much needed booster.
Listen to an audiobook on the go
Another perk of long commutes or just having a few spare minutes is the ability to listen to audiobooks on platforms such as Audible for instance. When time is too limited to read an entire book, why not listen to it? While I admit I still prefer a good ol’ paper book, taking in an audiobook on the go also does the trick.
Netflix and chill
Last but not least, how about a regular session of Netflix and chill to catch up on your favorite movies or documentaries, while getting in some well-deserved relaxation and maybe an educational resource or two in the process.
What are your favorite ways of developing yourself on the go?
Did you experience a crisis that forced you to re-define your entire career? Maybe it was a personal tragedy that rocked you to the core, a wrenching loss, or even a long-awaited change that shuffled the cards of your life and work…Whatever it was, it created a more or less urgent need for you to re-define what work means to you, what your own definition of professional success is, and what goals and plans you have in your future.
For me, crisis has always been a blessing in disguise, especially as related to my career. It’s after defining moments in my life, from giving birth to my children, to facing personal challenges and harsh opposition at work, that I had the opportunity to re-think what work truly means to me and the legacy I want to leave through it. My definition of success went from a focus on financial success, to one of purpose, personal fulfillment, and service. I went from wanting to multiply the zeroes on my paycheck to re-connecting with my deep desire to find and pursue work connected to my purpose, work that fills me up, work that makes me truly me, not just in the office, but in all areas of my life.
I have talked to many working women and moms who have also had similar experiences, after the birth of their children, after divorces, personal losses, and a host of crises, setbacks and tough challenges. Through all my conversations, the same theme of purpose and fulfillment has emerged, opening the door for these women to re-define the work they do.
Out of these conversations and my own experience, here are 7 principles to re-define your career after a crisis:
Reconnect with yourself
At some point in our careers, inevitably, we get disconnected from ourselves. It may be because we get too busy, or we get on someone else’s agenda, or life throws too much at us to keep us grounded in our essence and what truly matters to us. So we start doing things more out of habit or convenience than out of true meaning, purpose and joy. Sometimes, we don’t even have any idea of what really brings us a sense of purpose, meaning or joy, because we’ve been conditioned to doing the same thing over and over and over again…
As working women and moms with so much on our plates, and so many expectations heaped on us by society and family, it’s crucial that we take the time to reconnect with ourselves. Not once in a blue moon, not when all hell starts to break loose, but as often as we can. But what does reconnecting with oneself truly mean? It means stopping, even if for a few minutes every day, and observe ourselves, asking of ourselves simple questions such as “What brings me joy?”, “Am I feeling heavy and unhappy at this moment, or light and fulfilled?”, or “What are the places, activities and people that drain me, and what are those that energize me, fill me with life and sheer joy?”.
The answers to these simple questions, especially after a crisis, open the door to uncovering what’s been missing, what needs to change, what is no longer welcome, and also what needs improvement.
Re-define your WHY
Why do you do what you do? What are the motives, the reasons behind you getting up in the morning and spending most of your time behind a desk, on a construction field, or typing on a laptop? While most of us would cite basic survival reasons, such as making money to feed our family, taking care of our of loved ones, or having the bare necessities, that’s not enough of a WHY to spend our most precious asset, time, in unfulfilling careers and occupations. Yes, surviving is necessary, but after the survival should come the thriving, the expanding, the continuous growth that makes us who we truly are.
What’s fascinating about our WHY is that it changes with time, with experience, with us, as we grow and evolve into the purest and most evolved version of who we are. The why of the beginning of my career as an accounting associate eager to climb the corporate ladder, is very different from the why I have now. My mission has changed, my purpose has evolved, and with it, my entire outlook on myself and the world.
What is your WHY today?
Make room for what brings you joy
We don’t often think about JOY when it comes to our careers. We may think of money, or prestige, or advancement. Yet, what about that light inside of us, that pep in our step that makes us stroll through life, have a sense of purpose and fulfillment that frankly, no amount of money can buy…
That joy is not foreign to you. You may have lost sight of it, as life became more demanding, and expectations of the outside world came crashing down on your time and energy. You may not even remember it, from the days of being a carefree kid or a dreamy college student. Yet, what crisis reminds us of, is of the urgent need to tap back into our joy. The compelling urgency to dig back into the recesses of our experience and mind to unearth the seeds of this not-so-elusive joy.
For me, it was getting back in touch with my love for writing and teaching, which I was elated to find had never disappeared, but were just buried under too long to-do lists and uninspiring chores. The great thing about re-connecting with what brings you joy, is that you can apply to pretty much anything, if you’re willing to be creative, and re-create what makes up the fabric of your work.
Clear the clutter
Making more time for what brings you joy, growth and evolution as a working woman also means making less time for what doesn’t. This is where clearing the clutter becomes unavoidable. What endless tasks and chores have you or others forced upon your schedule that leave you drained and uninspired? What are those things, those activities, those interactions that take you too long to go through, not because of their complexity or your inability, but because they are not aligned with who you are? What areas of your work feel ineffective or inconclusive?
Clearing the clutter is a continuous process of evaluating and re-evaluating what no longer fits, what never fit in the first place, and what must change. For me, it’s a constant process of introspection, analysis and critical re-evaluation, not just of what I do, but of how I do it.
Come out of your career closet
Many, if not most of us, have locked ourselves in our own, self-made career closet of expectations and appearances. We may have picked a career because our parents wanted us to, because the money was good, or because it seemed like the only viable choice at the time. Over the years, we may have stayed in this career closet of our own making, relinquishing the opportunity to change, grow, evolve, as complacency and habit firmly set in to our daily lives. That is, until a life-changing crisis hit…
Maybe the crisis happened to unlock that career closet of yours, and allow you the opportunity to finally break free from so much obligation and forceful dynamics. While it may not necessarily spell a drastic change in careers of even jobs, it may be an open invite to step out of your own closeted way of doing things into the most effective and happiest version of your professional and personal self…
Build a path to transition
Once we realize the need to re-define our career and start on this path, then a shift happens. We unwittingly begin to build a path to transition towards a different way of seeing and doing the work that we do. Again, it may not be a drastic one. We may not even change jobs, or careers, or even the color of our office wallpaper. Yet, a path to transition will inevitably open up and require us to step on it and begin a journey of self-transformation…
For me, it was a matter of leveraging my natural and acquired skills, and combine them with my academic and professional training to transition into a different but related career into teaching. The path to transition was a progressive one, built from trials and errors towards creating the career best fit for me.
Make the leap!
Last but not least, re-defining your career will also require a brave leap of faith of some sort. Some leaps may be more life-changing than others, but all of them will demand courage, faith and some level of risk-taking.
For some, it may be finally asking for the raise you deserve, making an internal move within the same company, or even dedicating yourself to an altruistic cause. For others, it may be turning in your resignation letter, starting that side hustle or full-fledged business, or taking a gap year to find out who you really are. Whatever it may be for you, know that the leap will always leave you better for it, stronger, and infinitely happier for daring to honor your true self.
How have your own crisis helped you re-define your career?
Dear Working Mom is our periodic love letter to working moms everywhere, where we encourage and support working moms through the issues and challenges they face.
Dear Working Mom,
You know the feeling…That tightness in your chest as the holidays approach and you mentally start adding up the litany of tasks to complete, gifts to purchase and various other obligations to attend to…The stress of getting everything done on time, from organizing the perfect Christmas to meeting all your work deadlines…You know it all too well, this nagging sensation of running a marathon without taking a break, and making it look easy and flawless in the process…They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for you, it may also be the most stressful time of the year…
This year, the holiday season may look different, what with the pandemic and distress associated with it, increasing the already intense stress so many working moms feel around this time of year. Worrying about the safety of family and friends while still striving to preserve holiday traditions and somewhat of a sense of normalcy has now become the hallmark of what should be a joyous time of togetherness and celebration. This is in addition to the already heavy job loss, childcare and societal burden working moms like yourself have been saddled with as a result of the pandemic…
In spite of this onslaught of pressure, and maybe because of it, this holiday season may just be the reminder you need to put your sanity first. Maybe the stakes are so high in this season, from health to financial and human connection concerns, that they are forcing you to reconsider what you’ve been doing all along. Maybe this season is reminding you (along with all of us) that desperately attempting to control it all under the guise of apparent success is an exercise in futility after all. Instead, it may just be a loud call to preserve your sanity instead, cherish who and what truly matters, and re-invent an otherwise stress-filled time of unending errands and to-do’s into an intentional and purposeful family and personal time…
So, dear Working Mom, ‘tis the season to re-consider your holiday to-do list.
‘Tis the season to re-invent the holidays for yourself and your family.
‘Tis the season to preserve your sanity, your well-being, your joy and everything that makes you you…
Even if that means swapping perfect decorations for homemade paper ornaments crafted on the floor with the kids…
Even if that means disappointing a few people but finally approving of yourself…
Especially if that means being more present, more fulfilled, more you…
During any regular time, starting and maintaining a small business is a challenge. From developing a viable business plan, to raising capital and managing revenue and expenses, it’s no small feat. As a matter of fact, 15% of small businesses fail in their first year, while 40% do not make it past the fifth year. These statistics are even worse for women-owned small businesses, especially during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic where they find themselves disproportionately impacted, as reported by a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey. The survey reveals a 13-point decrease in female business owners’ overall ranking of their business health, as compared to a mere 5% decline for male-owned small businesses. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), I’ve had the privilege and pleasure to work with and learn from a number of women-owned small businesses, especially in times of economic crisis like the one we’re currently facing.
Unfortunately, the prospects for recovery for women-owned small businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic are also quite dim, with less than half of small business owners feeling optimistic about future revenue increases. However, despite the severe impact the pandemic has had on small businesses, especially women and minority-owned, there are still ways to improve future outcomes.
To this end, here are 7 best accounting tips for women-owned businesses to survive, and even thrive, during tough economic times such as the current COVID-19 pandemic:
Determine where your business finances stand:
Knowing where you stand in your business finances is a crucial first step in times of crisis. Your cash flow statement is a good place to start for this. Using accounting software such as Freshbooks or Intuit Quickbooks allows you to keep track of your revenue and expenses, as well as your business’ main financial statements. Look at your current cash situation and find out:
If you have any cash reserves, and if any, how long you can sustain operations with these?
Which ones of your expenditures, especially cash-related, are the most essential to be attended to at the moment?
Which ones of your expenditures, especially cash-related ones, can be pushed back until you can muster enough cash on hand?
If you haven’t already, begin the Negotiating Game with your creditors and customers
This is where managing your accounts receivable, or the money your customers owe you, comes in handy. Call each one of your customers owing you money, and find out if they can pay you any faster, thus improving your cash flows.
In the same way, you should look into getting arrangements to defer your loans and bills, or even reduce and eliminate them entirely. You’d be surprised what can be done, and how many, if not most people, are willing to help if you’re willing to negotiate.
Trim the fat and find ways to be more efficient in your business
Times of crisis are opportunities to reframe your business and trim the fat. What expenditures can be reduced or eliminated? What can you do to operate a leaner machine, instead of bleeding cash everywhere? Should you invest in more effective processes and tools?
Take a good hard look at how you operate your business on a day-to-day basis, and don’t hesitate to cut where needed. In the same token, don’t hesitate to invest, if you can, where needed as well.
Keep up with the changing times
Just like times of crisis are ripe with cost-trimming opportunities, they’re also full of opportunities to reposition your business. The current pandemic we’re facing is changing the very nature of business, what with the advent of remote work and social distancing.
If you’ve been operating an in-person business, repositioning it as a more virtual operation using web hosting services such as GoDaddy for instance may improve your chances of surviving and even thriving during the crisis. It may also help create entirely new streams of revenue for your business, even after the recovery.
Determine if you need to apply for small business financing
You may decide after taking the pulse of your business finances, that you need extra money to attend to various expenses, such as buying supplies, paying your business mortgage or rent, or meeting payroll demands. The Small Business Administration website offers useful resources pertaining to Small Business Guidance and Loan Resourcesduring COVID times.
Additionally, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, implemented in March 2020, helps small businesses with loans, grants and debt forgiveness during the pandemic. Through it, you can also apply to reduce your tax liability, and/or obtain tax credits, along with more beneficial tax treatment of net operating losses, business interest deductions, and Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credits.
Invest in professional development
As market trends and business prospects are changing in times of crisis, professional development becomes increasingly important to adapt to, survive and thrive in times of crisis. Getting a new certification or acquiring new skills can go a long way towards maintaining your business afloat, and even set yourself up for success in future periods.
Don’t do this alone! Use the power of networking and mentorship
Last but not least, don’t go at it alone! Running a small business, especially in times of crisis, is incredibly difficult. This is why taking advantage of networking and mentoring opportunities is crucial!
Take some time to attend networking events, even if virtual, and continue to create new opportunities to meet and collaborate with people in and outside of your industry.
All in all, surviving and even thriving as a woman-owned business in times of crisis is possible during tough times, granted you apply some basic tips and continue to push through despite the challenges.
For more women-centered small business and career tips, visit us at https://www.thecorporate sister.com
A few years back, I had the opportunity and privilege to transition for a corporate career to an academic one. While at the time, the shift was terrifying, it proved to be one of the most fulfilling and purpose-filled experiences of my life. Through this transition, I’ve learnt the power of reinventing your career at any age, and the wealth of possibilities that come with it. I’ve also learnt, by trial and error, the strategies that can make such a move a truly empowering and successful one.
Fast-forward a few years, in the middle of a global pandemic, and many of us are re-thinking our priorities like never before. As working women and moms carry the brunt of the burden of the pandemic, both in terms of job losses and household responsibilities, it’s never been a better time to also think about reinventing our careers. As working women, the concept of career reinvention is certainly not foreign to us. As we age into the workforce, our 40’s and 50’s bring with them the constant and harsh reminder that we may no longer be welcome in positions now bestowed upon the youngest and freshest of this world. Along with ageism, working motherhood also confronts us with the tough reality of having to scale back our professional ambitions for a time, take a break from work, or even leave the workforce entirely, not to mention the stigma of being perceived as less competent in the workplace just because we are mothers.
Truth is, career reinvention is scary to many, if not most of us. Aside from threatening our sense of stability, along with our financial and social foundation, it also carries the risk of shaking us to our core, from our most innate beliefs to our perceived place in the world. As women tend to be more risk-adverse than men, they also tend to stay put longer in careers and professional environments that may not be the best fit for them, may undervalue them, and downright damage their changes at growth and advancement.
Career reinvention does not have to necessarily translate into a change of industries or jobs. As a matter of fact, it should be a constant process of self-improvement, personal development and professional mastery. Staying at the same company, or even at the same position, should not become an exercise in stalled progress. Instead, it should be a constant wake-up call to innovate, do things differently, as we incorporate all the facets of our own growth as individuals into your work.
Here are 7 strategies to re-invent your career at any age as a working woman:
Frequently take your own career pulse
How often do you take your own career pulse? How often do you ask yourself if you’re still fulfilled at work, or if you’re falling into a rut?
Taking your career pulse at least every quarter will let you get back in touch with how you truly feel about your work. It will also inform you as to what has changed in your work dynamic, in yourself and in your environment, if anything, and what can be improved along the way.
Re-visit your why periodically
Why do you do what you do? Is it for the money, for the passion, for the purpose of it all? Or have you not been able to put your finger on it?
Even when you’re able to pinpoint your why, it may not be what you would truly want it to be. Maybe you’ve been doing this work for a while now for the money, yet it leaves you empty every day. Or you may just not have found what fills you with a sense of purpose yet, and need to spend some time discovering it…Whatever the case may be, re-viding your why will help you put your career, and by extension your life, into the perspective needed to continue to grow and evolve as a working woman.
Fight your own mind
Too often, our minds get in the way of making any changes, even if positive, to our lives. The simple reason behind this is that our brains are wired to protect us from any discomfort or what can appear to be a threat. This is where reinventing one’s career can also turn into an exercise in fighting our own minds.
What are the negative beliefs embedded in your mind that block you from thinking about your career in a fresher way? What mindsets are standing in your way when it comes to re-inventing your career? These are the mindset and thought patterns that you may need to fight in order to re-invent your work.
Yes, you do need support!
Career reinvention can be a process that requires you to change the way you’ve not just been working, but also living. For some, it’s taking some time off from work, or take a lesser paying position, which may challenge the financial stability of the family unit. For others, it may be taking on more responsibilities and spending more time at work.
Whatever it may turn out to be, support will be needed, especially from your nearest and closest ones. Don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need as you go through this process. Use your village!
Create your own reinvention plan
Everyone’s career reinvention plan and process is different. Create your own plan to re-invent your work, according to who you are, your environment, and most important priorities. Most importantly, refrain from comparing your own transition to others’, we’re all on different paths.
But be flexible
While you may have your own plan of action when it comes to re-inventing your career, be flexible as to the methods. I had to learn to use the tools at my disposal, and be flexible as to the results and patient with outcomes. This is a marathon, not a race. It takes time to grow one’s career and transform it into its best version.
Constantly re-define success for yourself
Last but not least, define and re-define what success truly means for you when it comes to your work. Is it more flexibility? Is it a certain type and amount of responsibilities? Is it more freedom, more money or the ability to impact people? Or is it a combination of all these?
Crafting your own definition of success is important. Re-defining it as you change as a woman, an individual and a professional is even more crucial.
All in all, career re-invention for women should no longer be seen as an option for women, but rather as a necessary and exciting prospect that is part of our evolution as individuals and professionals.
How have you or how are you planning to re-invent your career?
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