by Solange Lopes | Oct 11, 2016 | Career
In one week, Kathleen’s professional world had totally changed. Her beloved manager whom she has worked with for decades was leaving, two of her team members were switching teams, and she was now left with a list of unanswered questions in her career. She had to deal with change at work…
As for Sarah, she had just received news of an amazing offer in the context of her side business, and was ready to transition full-time into entrepreneurship. All the while, Mary was getting ready to go on maternity leave, and had decided she would not come back after a couple of months, but instead take an extended leave of absence to stay with her baby at home.
These are just a few of the scenarios of change affecting so many women, and men, at work. In every career, business or professional endeavor really, if there’s one constant, it’s change. And now more than ever, we’re no longer apologizing for job-hopping, especially among millenials, as our priorities have shifted from being slaves to the cubicle, to looking for what really fulfills us as people. Which has translated in even more career transitions, changes and upheavals over time.
My own career has changed quite a bit from the days I started in Big Corporate, all fresh and new in my preppy Ann Taylor suit, not giving a thought to how things would pan out later. As a bit of creature of comfort, dealing with all the changes that naturally came, from changing jobs, to moving cities, to having children, took a toll I didn’t expect at first. I mean, it’s not like anyone pulls you in a corner on your first day and tells you: “Look, it looks great and all, you’ll be getting a paycheck, but in a few months/years/decades, things will change dramatically and it might seriously suck!”
The point is, we’re hardly ever ready for the changes, big or small, that come into our careers and/or businesses. Whether it’s the layoff, or the team change, or the sudden increase in hours and workload, it almost always seems to drop on you like a ten-pound weight. Even a promotion, or a great opportunity, is a change in itself, and can bring about effects we still have to manage.
So how do you prepare for change in your work or business, especially when it’s not easy or straightforward to plan for it? Do you just go with the flow, and roll with the punches as you go, and expect everything to fall into place? Or drown yourself in a tub of sea salt caramel Haagen Dazs ice cream when all hell seems to break loose?
Or do you take change as an opportunity to push yourself forward?
While you can’t always control the types, timing and impact of the changes that are bound to hit your career sooner or later, you can control what you do with it over time. You may have to pick up your face off the floor first, sit yourself down somewhere and have one more scoop of ice cream though…
Change almost always reveals something you need to learn.
You can bet on it. If there’s a skill you need to acquire, or something you need in your career or life arsenal, it’ll probably come to you in the form of a change request initially. Like when your boss suddenly leaves, and you need to learn to be more self-reliant and transition to a new style of management when someone else replaces them.
Or when you make a career transition of some kind, whether you decide it’s time to jump ship and become a full-time entrepreneur, opt for a job rotation, or decide to become a stay-at-home mom, and have to learn to adapt to a totally different life and career context.
A great mentor of mine once had this insightful tip:
“Whenever change happens, in your life or career, ask yourself: What am I supposed to learn here?” And go do your homework…
Tip: Take an inventory of the most critical changes that have affected your career in the past year or so. What did you need to learn? What have you learnt from these?
Change forces us to come up with solutions.
That’s the thing when situations get upside down, and shifts happen, in your career or life. You not only have to learn from them, and adjust somehow, but you also have to come us with practical solutions and actions.
I had to radically change my approach to my schedule when I needed to take and pass my CPA exam. After many (and I humbly mean, many) attempts at passing the certification, my back was against the wall, and something had to change, or else my career and life would suffer (in addition to my ballooning weight and that stress acne too). So I had to get the big guns action plans out, as in devise a realistic but effective schedule, and incremental steps to get me to cross that hurdle.
Tip: Consider the changes that you have or need to make in your career and life right now. Have you devised action plans to help you manage those changes? What steps do you have to take to do so?
Change helps you manage beat your fears.
You know how you get ready for work in the am, and start getting afraid of being late for the 9am team meeting…only to get on the highway and see all your fears materialize: it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic, and yes, you’ve effectively missed the 9am team meeting. And did we mention you were supposed to lead it?
I don’t know about you, but every time change is needed or happens in my career or life, it almost always brings to light a series of fears I had previously carefully packed away in the back of my mind.
It could be that a new manager is coming in to your team, and it brings out all your fears and insecurities about receiving feedback and being evaluated on new criteria. Or that you’ve been promoted to a new position, and you’re scared that you’ll mess up on the very first day.
And no, it’s not bad karma, or your first cousin’s old promise that you’ll be punished for flushing all their Halloween candy (stuff happens, ok). It’s a way of forcing you to face the very stuff you think you can’t face, and instead of going around it, actually do what it takes to beat it.
If it’s a fear of speaking up, and you’ve just been promoted to a position that requires you to let your voice be heard, you can practice by joining an organization like Toastmasters, or even forcing yourself to express your opinions more frequently.
Tip: Look at the last change that has happened at work for you. Did it bring out a fear/insecurity in you? Which one? What action can you take to squash that fear?
In Conclusion:
- Identify the changes that have happened to you most recently at work or in life. Write them down somewhere and keep an inventory.
- For each significant change, pinpoint at least one lesson it has taught you.
- Identify at least three actions you have implemented, or will implement, to face each change.
- Do a self-analysis and identify at least one fear or insecurity these changes have made you feel, and how you can manage to beat it.
How do you deal with change at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 7, 2016 | Career
Let me preface this by saying that I’m a woman of my makeup (and my shoes and my purses too, don’t judge). Not that I would roll into work looking like I’m ready for the Paris Fashion Week, but you know, looking fresh and on par can help with the whole getting through the day thing…
And it’s another reason why I love the Fall, as with the new season comes a little upgrade in our makeup routine for work. Everything about Fall is a bit more refined, a tad more sophisticated, and that goes for our makeup as professional and business women as well…
I mean, we’d all like to wake up like Beyonce:
via GIPHY
Or do the no-make up thing a la Alicia Keys.
via GIPHY
For me, it’s a matter of reconciling my crazy morning life routine with the glam mom buried deep inside of me (most days). Which means picking on-point, beautiful but efficient products that take minimal time to apply and have maximum impact…so when you catch me strutting my stuff running around, at least I’ll look and feel like I kinda woke up like this…
So here are my mom-approved,”I-only-got-5-minutes-to-get-ready”, “make-me-over-now” 7 top work makeup picks fora subtle but right on par Fall makeup for work:
NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
NARS “All Day” Luminous Weightless Foundation
This all-day, natural-looking coverage foundation has quickly become one of my favorites. All you need literally is one drop, and you’re good to go! It builds and blends effortlessly, and reduces discoloration over time too! And I love the fact that it’s available in a range of great shades for women of color as well. It’s $48 at Nordstrom.
Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer
You know when the kids have been waking up about every hour on the hour, and you get up looking like a raccoon gifted you with extra eyes…You get the drift. I’m always on the lookout for great concealer (blame the kids and the blog) that makes me look like I just had a full 8 hours of restful sleep (appearance matters, people). And this Laura Mercier high coverage concealer has been doing the trick for me lately. The high coverage formula is highly pigmented, and blends and build flawlessly for a great yet still natural-looking effect. Read: I get to work looking like I won’t have to drink about 5 cups of coffee to get by! It’s $30 at Nordstrom.
MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
I love this luxurious yet natural powder. No chance to look like you fell into the flour jar, or are celebrating Halloween year-long here! Plus it has minerals in it, and provides a matte finish that’s almost perfect under most lights (including the horrible lighting in your office’s conference rooms). It’s $33 at Nordstrom.
Maybelline The Nudes Eyewear Palette – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
Pulling a natural-looking but put-together look for work is easy with this selection of nude eyeshadows. The shades are subtle but still add a little something’ something’, even if only to make you look like you’re not daydreaming about your bed during the quarterly earnings presentation. Just sayin’…It’s $9.99 at Ulta.
Beauty Blender – Photo credit: Shopstyle.com
Beauty Blender
Now I don’t know why it took so long for someone to invent this thing, but it’s definitely been worth the wait…If you have to pick between looking like a powdered cake, or sporting a smooth, radiant skin that glistens from a distance, please get yourself a beauty blender. I love that it allows me to apply minimal foundation and concealer, and still look flawless in the end (I mean, of course I’m biased). It’s $20 at Neiman Marcus.
Bare Minerals Ready Blush – Photo credit: Shopstyle.com
Bare Minerals Ready Blush
Fall is my season to “blush” it! There’s something about the chill in the air that makes you want to get a little cheeky (no pun intended, people). One of my favorites is the Bare Minerals Ready Blush, which has great colors for all skin tones and is neutral enough to sport to the office. It’s $24 at Macy’s.
MAC Plum Lipstick – Photo credit: Shopstyle.com
MAC Plum Lipstick
Now don’t get me wrong, I have a bit of a lipstick/lipgloss/lip balm obsession, and will grab every mildly attractive lipstick I see in a drugstore just because. But if I have to invest in a long-lasting, Fall-ready lipstick, it would be this plum beauty from MAC! It’s $17 at Nordstrom.
What are your favorite work makeup picks for Fall?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 7, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- Have you checked out my interview with Danyelle Little aka The Cubicle Chick this week?
- Are you a woman filmmaker? Forbes reports Fox and AFI have teamed up to offer opportunities for women to direct franchise films;
- Investigative journalist Sally Hubbard of the Women Killing It! podcast shares on Ellevate Network 5 ways to kill it at work;
- Big changes at work? The Glassdoor Blog gives you tips on how to handle them;
- Ever cried at work? One of America’s favorite CEOs tells you why it’s OK;
- Want to become your own boss, but not sure where to start? Black Enterprise tips you off on 5 part-time franchise opportunities for your side hustle;
- Did you regret accepting the offer after day 1 on the job? According to Ellevate Network, you should have asked these three questions beforehand;
- This University of South Carolina Assistant Professor created an app that helps you rate your media for equity, inclusion and general content quality;
- Wondering what recruiters look for in new candidates? Ellevate points out these three things;
- The Paris Fashion Week is in full swing, and the Business of Fashion confirms that it’s all about women empowerment;
- Soup season has officially started, people. Love and Lemons shares with us their 10 favorite soup recipes to whip up throughout the Fall.
PS: Did I miss anything? Email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com with any career, lifestyle or inspiration news you’d like me to share, or simply post a comment below!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
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.
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.
