by Solange Lopes | Jul 12, 2017 | Career
Anyone who knows me, knows I’m (very) serious about birthdays (maybe a tad much). As in, I take the whole month to celebrate mine (don’t judge me), and remind my friends and family of the BIG day ahead of time. After all, birthdays are special! Except many times, the whole birthday thing happens at work. As in, in a corner of Cubicle Land somewhere in Big Corporate…After all, for most of us, the majority of our time is spent in the office, whether it’s a formal or informal office setting.
While not everyone is open to celebrating birthdays at work, ringing in co-workers’ milestones at work can go a long way in strengthening team’s bonds and raising morale. Additionally, it just shows that despite the tight deadlines, occasional (hopefully healthy) competition, and other office shenanigans, we do care about each other.
While the focus should not be into turning the office into a giant birthday function, there are a few fun, and original ways, to say happy birthday at work. Here are some of them that will make everyone smile, without hampering productivity or raising corporate eyebrows:
How about some gifts?
Use sites like Elfster to exchange gifts at the office, without making it overly obvious. It’s an easy way to show your co-workers that you appreciate them. You can even start a gift exchange with co-workers, and even opt for a charitable cause to donate to. Just keep in mind that most gifts should be kept under $25 to avoid any connotation of potential bribery, especially between bosses and their reports.
Do It For the Cause
If the whole gift exchange idea sounds like too much of a hassle, why not make a donation to the employee’s favorite charitable cause? Not only will they be personally touched, but you will also help out others in the process.
Make It Personal
Nothing like adding a personal touch to a co-worker’s birthday to make them feel special. It could be an inside office joke, or just a sweet memory. Whatever it is, try to bring a special touch to it!
I’ve seen some co-workers get customized cards, or even make custom videos for milestone birthdays. While these are great ideas, make sure to check with your department that they do not violate any officially (or unofficial) company rules.
Invest in Alternative Cakes Or Treats
Instead of the traditional sheet cake or ice cream cake, you can opt to raise the health barometer of your office by investing in alternative cakes or treats. How about some healthier snacking options like this Healthier Indulgences box for instance? You can also pick vegetable or fruit cakes, which are basically veggies and fruits disguised as cakes. It would be a good way to get more health-conscious employees involved as well.
How do you celebrate birthdays at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 9, 2017 | Career
Monday’s not exactly every one’s favorite day. There goes your fun and relaxing weekend, easily replaced with a load of to-do’s and deadlines to meet. During the summer months, Mondays are even harder to anticipate, as weekends are usually spent having fun and being on a mini-vacations.
As much as you may love your job, switching from bathing suit to more or less formal workwear can leave you in sheer professional despair. Not to mention struggling with chronic procrastination and playing catch-up, as you bury your head deep into a pint of sea salt caramel ice cream. According to Dr. Richard Citrin, PhD and author of “The Resilience Advantage”, this also results in us being disorganized, stressed and un-prepared for the week. Hence the Sunday night blues so many of us experience, over and over again!
Here are 4 hacks you can use on Sundays to boost your productivity all week, minus the Sunday night blues and sleepless nights:
Do Something that Really Fulfills You
Too many of us fill us our week-ends with chores and tasks we couldn’t get to during the week. I know, as a working mom, I leave cleaning the house and tackling the never-ending laundry to the weekend. The result? By Sunday night, I’m still folding laundry, dreading Monday, and drowning all my sorrows in tubs of ice cream topped with whipped cream.
Instead, think about outsourcing your chores and tasks, and instead reserving some serious Sunday space for stuff you really enjoy. You know, the stuff that fulfills you and makes you feel like, despite all the laundry in the world, life is good! It may be reading a good book, going for a walk, or just hanging out with family. Whatever it is that fills your soul, do that, minus the guilt and the stress!
Get more inspired by having FUN!
Remember the days when Sundays were spent playing board games or enjoying a good ol’ soccer or volley ball game on the beach? According to a study published by the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, the people who engage in more creative activities do better at work.
Whether you just run around the room with the kids, or pull out the Scrabble board, having more fun on Sunday helps you be more inspired on Monday. Who knew having fun could actually get you a raise or promotion?
Take some time to get organized!
I know what you may be thinking: “Who wants to organize anything on Sunday?” Yet, taking an hour or less to actually plan your week can have huge rewards! It doesn’t have to be a straining task either.
You can easily pull your calendar as you’re relaxing in your backyard, or watching the kids swim in the pool. Do a quick calendar check, draft a to-do list for your week, or email yourself a reminder. Not only will you set yourself for a more productive week, but you will also mentally prepare yourself to tackle your to-do’s.
Other things you can do is make time to quickly meal prep, or lay your clothes out for the next day, or even fold that last load of laundry. The point is to take an hour or two to set yourself ahead for the coming week, while reserving the bulk of your time for self-care and good ol’ fun and relaxation.
Keep it healthy!
Ok, this is the most difficult part for me! I love my food, and weekends are usually my time to indulge. Except spoiling your stomach on Sundays can result in stressful and low-energy Mondays, which doesn’t exactly help with the whole productivity thing!
Instead of over-indulging on Sundays, save the rich and calorie-filled meals for Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, make an effort to eat balanced meals. Don’t forget to load up on veggies and fruits too.
My question is: “Can I still have my mimosa at brunch?” Yes, but only if you can drink enough water so as not to feel all sluggish come Monday.
What other hacks would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 7, 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!
- It’s summer, and the Lindsay Pollak blog is telling us all about #summergoals;
- Managing people you don’t like? The Evil HR Lady suggests a few tips to overcome this problem;
- Got apps? Undercover Recruiter lists 4 ways apps are increasing productivity at work;
- Ellevate Network shares the professional woman’s strategy for getting what she wants in business and in life;
- Black Enterprise gives you the deeds on everything to know about personal credit score vs. business credit score;
- Ever thought of leaving your stable, high-paying job to pursue your passion? The Muse tells you how coach, writer, and entrepreneur Susie Moore did it!
- Did you know women don’t take as many vacation as men? Ellevate Network via Fairgodboss tells us why;
- Want some summer reading suggestions for your “woke” kids? NPR has an interesting selection to ignite the social activist in them;
- Have you checked out Jay Z’s new (and sensational) 4:44 album? Forbes reveals it’s not only successful, but masterful;
- Hello swimsuit season! WhoWhatWear suggests 6 trendy swimsuits that are actually worth it;
- Is a blog in your career’s cards? This week, The Corporate Sister is all about telling you how you can start one in 4 easy steps with Bluehost.
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 4, 2017 | Career |
Please note this post may contain affiliate links.
I’m often asked how I started my blog, and how challenging it really is to get started blogging. Let me first start by saying that starting a blog does not require you to be a technical wizard. When it comes to technical skills, I’m more on the challenged end of the spectrum. I don’t know how to code, and I still have to google most technical terms.
When I started blogging a few years back, I didn’t think of it as more than a hobby. That was before I realized that your career can actually benefit from blogging, in addition to it being a great side hustle. For some, blogging has actually turned into a fulfilling and lucrative career.
WANT TO START A BLOG ON WORDPRESS? CLICK HERE AND USE THE STEPS IN THE TUTORIAL BELOW.
Starting a blog doesn’t have to be expensive or overly time-consuming. You can actually start at a pretty reasonable cost, like I did. I didn’t have much money to spare then, and was looking for an effective yet inexpensive way to get started in the blogging space. You can do just that by selecting Bluehost as your blog’s host, especially if you plan to make extra money, or use it as a foundation for your business or freelance gig.
As one of the best web hosting services out there, Bluehost offers plans starting as low as $3.95/month. What I also find most attractive is that you can get your domain through Bluehost (which you will need in order to run ads, affiliate links, etc… through your site), and that you can set up the basics of your WordPress blog straight in Bluehost. While there are various web hosting plans available, including a 36-month plan, I have been using the 12-month plan which is very affordable and practical.
Click Here to Get Started.
How to start a WordPress blog with Bluehost
Why Should You Use Bluehost?
There are a number of web hosting services out there, yet I have to say Bluehost is my favorite. Here’s why I personally recommend it:
- You don’t have to be tech-savvy to use it! This is hugely important for me, as I mentioned earlier I have VERY limited technical skills ( and I mean, VERY);
- It’s extremely affordable! I know first-hand that when you’re starting out in the blogging space, you may not necessarily want to invest a lot of money upfront. I didn’t, and picking Bluehost allowed me to have reliable yet very affordable web hosting;
- If you don’t like it, you can back out! The 30-day money back guarantee is a great incentive to try it without fully committing yourself to it, in case you want to experience other services as well;
- Technical support is available 24/7! This is another great plus for me, as I don’t have to worry about not mastering any technical aspect of my blog. Customer service is available and very helpful;
- Your domain is FREE! One of the earlier mistakes I made with another blog of mine is not to have my own domain name. If you plan to establishing yourself as an authority, you want your own domain;
- Your WordPress blog is FREE through Bluehost! Once you sign up for Bluehost, you can set up your own WordPress blog free of charge;
- Being self-hosted allows you to monetize your blog! When TCS started out, it was hosted on WordPress. However, I quickly realized that in order to monetize my site, it would have to be self-hosted.
How to start a WordPress blog with Bluehost
Here’s a quick tutorial on getting started with setting up your WordPress blog with Bluehost:
Step 1: Got Domain? Register Your Domain Name
Have you thought about what you want your blog name to be? One of the first, and maybe one of the most important steps in setting up a successful blog, is to find the right domain name. For me, The Corporate Sister was born out of my own experience and story, so it felt natural.
If you’re having a hard time coming up with a domain name, just think about the purpose and mission of your blog and how it aligns with who you are. This way, it reflects both YOU and your mission. You may also want to go for a domain name that is easy to spell, remember and share!
Click HERE to purchase your domain name. As a bonus, you get it for FREE as long as you sign up for 12 months of web hosting through Bluehost. I personally prefer this option as you end up saving money on the long run, in addition to scoring a free domain name. Besides, you don’t have to deal with hiccups like change in credit card numbers or missed payments on a month-to-month basis, which can cost you your site being down for days! You can save even more by picking the 36-month plan, so you may want to consider which option is more economical for you in the short and long-term.
Step 2: Pick Your Hosting Plan!
There are various plans available for web hosting through Bluehost, based on your needs.
How to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost
I started out with the Basic plan, which is priced at the very reasonable rate of $3.95 per month granted you sign up for 36 months. If you sign up for a shorter term, the rate per month slightly increases. If you’re just starting out, that’s really all you need!
Keep in mind that you’re not locked into a particular plan, you can always switch plans later on. One additional recommendation I would make is to also pick the Domain Privacy Protection, which ensures your information is safe.
Step 3: Check that your domain and hosting are linked
If you purchased your domain through Bluehost, then this step is already taken care of for you.
However, if you purchased your domain name through other web services such as GoDaddy, you want to link your domain and web hosting. Consult this page from GoDaddy’s technical help for further information.
In Bluehost, you want to add the domain you purchased to your web hosting. You can do this by going to “Domains” in your account, click on “Assign” and follow the instructions. If in doubt, contact the Bluehost Helpdesk.
Step 4: Now Set Up Your WordPress Blog!
Last but not least, you get to set up your blog for FREE!
- Go to the cPanel in Bluehost , and click on “One Click Install”.
- On the next page, click on the WordPress icon.
- Click on the “Install” button.
As part of the installation process, you will have to click the dropdown menu and pick the domain you will be using. You will also have to choose your username and password for your WordPress website. Keep in mind to pick a username and password that are secure enough, with a combination of letters and numbers that’s not easy to guess.
Are you ready to create your WordPress blog with Bluehost? Click HERE to get started today!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 3, 2017 | Career
Wear to Work: Striped Panel Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Nothing like an easy short-sleeve dress that you can sport with heels and sandals alike in the summer. Like this Calvin Klein short-sleeved block striped panel dress from Lord & Taylor, which combines ease and elegance from the office to the after-hours barbecue. The classic round neck and short sleeves are enhanced by the block striped panels highlighting this chic dress. It’s on sale for $53.70 at Lord & Taylor.
In a similar style, I also like this other Clavin Klein striped panel dress from 6pm. I also like this fresh, color block shift dress from Shopbop!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 30, 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!
- I just came back from the amazing BlogHer17 conference and it was everything! Read my recap here!
- Black Enterprise reveals Oberlin College picked African-American visionary Carmen Twillie Ambar as president;
- Ready to power through this summer? Inc. lists 7 odd things successful people do over the summer that lazy people don’t;
- The Undercover Recruiter shares 5 ways to stay informed about workplace diversity;
- Ellevate Network tells you how to bridge the gap from college to career;
- Do you work remotely? Recruiter shares their top 10 tech tools for remote workers and distributed workers;
- Filling up your summer reading list? Business Insider tips you off on the best business books to read this summer;
- Forbes explains why mentoring matters and how more women can get the right people in their corner;
- Ellevate Network shares 5 ways to combat gender disparity in the workplace;
- Worried about having a baby in your 30s? Femalista actually reveals that the optimal age to have a baby is later than you thought;
- Business Insider lists the 5 best apps to help you manage your money;
- Thinking of acquiring a franchise? Black Enterprise lists 80 low-cost franchises you can buy for less than $100,000;
- Pop Sugar unveils a sneak peek of Maybelline’s new Wonder Woman Collection, and we’re in love!
- Kudos to these teen sisters for writing a book urging young girls of color to celebrate their hair!
Cheers to the weekend!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 26, 2017 | Career |
“What would you want someone like me to know about women of color at work?”
When Gregg Stebben, host of Forbes Books Radio, asked me this question as part of my interview during #BlogHer17, something clicked. Here I was, as a working woman of color and entrepreneur, with a mission to start and continue a conversation around providing women with the opportunity to have work and lives they love. Yet, it was apparent that a significant part of the narrative of women of color at work is unknown (or falsely known) to many. Here I was, faced with the confirmation that as women of color at work, we need to tell our stories in order to fuel this conversation.
You know when you know something, and think that everyone else does too? When you believe that the reality of your experience, struggle and identity is obvious to others. Yet, most often, it is not. Most often, the “unconscious bias” in others is fueled in large part by ignorance. There are of course other very much negative factors affecting the way we’re perceived, but by not telling our stories, we’re indirectly reinforcing them.
Our stories are made to be shared. Not just amongst those who are in the midst of them, but among those who may not suspect the intricate tapestry of our lives and work. It’s not until we shed light on the reality of what we face that we can hope to bridge the understanding divide.
I remember on one occasion, a cultural initiative was launched in my then-department to share our origins with the rest of the employees. There was this large world map on the back of a cubicle wall, and every employee was asked to volunteer to pin her/his place of origin. As expected, most pins ended up on the European continent, with a large majority of them resting on Ireland, Italy and England. Then a couple of solitary pins, mine included, floating over Africa…
Conversations started buzzing about each and everyone’s ancestry, and how they found out about their origins, as well as their family traditions and recipes. As the only (or one of the very few) Black women in the room, it felt intimidating to share my own story. Thoughts of being judged based on the inaccurate, yet popular prejudices about Africa, started swirling in my mind. As much as I wanted to share my own stories about rice and fish, traditional holidays, and my favorite family traditions, I remained silent. Instead of continuing the conversation, I waited for a hypothetical invite to partake in the cultural sharing, which never came.
This is an example of one of the many ways in which we sometimes fail to share our stories. Not just for the sake of sharing, or entertainment, but to shed light on facts and figures most often hidden from general view and understanding. To be a part of the ongoing conversation, whether we’re invited or not…
Very often, as women of color, we owe it to ourselves, our fellow women of color, and our communities to make ourselves part of the conversation. There may not be invitations or much encouragement to do so at first. Yet it is our responsibility to spread the knowledge and information without which we may not be understood, acknowledged or recognized.
I’m an immigrant, and my experience is part of the tapestry of the American and world history. It defines my contributions to work and life in general in invaluable ways that can only be recognized and acknowledged when I dare to own my story. In the same way, whether you’re an immigrant, or a first-generation college graduate, or a single mom striving to climb the corporate ladder or create your own business, the invaluable experience you bring to the table is needed. Yet it must be known to be used and make an impact…
“Will it even make a difference to tell my story?”
“Will it not actually hurt my chances at advancement and success to reveal that I’m an immigrant, or a first-time graduate in my family?”
“Does it even make a difference? I can just come in, do my work, get my paycheck and just blend in.”
“It’s safer to wear a mask at work, and pretend all is well and dandy. Who wants to attract unwarranted attention?”
Many are the questions raised to the forefront when it comes to sharing your story as a woman of color at work. We still feel the need to hide a large part of who we are, where we come from, and what we really are about, when the rest of the world uses those very factors as competitive advantages.
I’m learning that there are no real work personas. We take all of us with us everywhere we go. That includes our beliefs, mindsets, origins, and unique life experiences. While we may at times think these may hinder us, or slow our progress, we forget that without authenticity there is no power. At work or anywhere else…
This is not about exposing your dirty (or clean) laundry in the middle of the office floor. Neither is it about revealing private facets of your life or experience you’d rather keep to yourself. Nor is it about resurrecting the past…
It’s about participating in the global conversation around women in and out of work. It’s about showing that there are educated women doctors, engineers, lawyers, finance gurus, entrepreneurs who happen to be first-generation graduates; or were unwed mothers at 18; or come from a family of immigrants with beautiful and original traditions; or have faced discrimination and rose above it; or are creating new paths for other women.
It shouldn’t take a hashtag in response to extreme breaking news for us to share our stories and pictures as brilliant women doctors (or any other profession). We shouldn’t wait for permission, or the perfect opportunity, or for reality to become unbearable, to speak up and share our stories. To show a young girl in high school how a teen mom survived to become a trailblazing entrepreneur. To sit with a young college girl and share our testimonies of starting out in the trenches of Big Corporate and rising through the ranks. To teach, inspire and educate from our unique life experience, beliefs and mindsets. To give other women the freedom to do the same…
There’s a conversation going on around women at work, and as women of color, we must sit at the table. With or without invitation. With or without fear. With or without the perfect opportunity…
How do you share your story as a woman of color at work? If you haven’t, what prevents you from doing so?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
