by | Nov 30, 2013 | Career
As we just celebrated Thanksgiving, and as I thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to read and share The Corporate Sister, it occurred to me that one of the most effective career-boosting powers lies in two simple words: “Thank you”. As corporate sisters and leaders in all areas of our lives, showing gratitude is not just a quality for us to display when necessary or adequate, it is a trait to cultivate, nurture and perfect in ourselves, and through ourselves, in others.
Gratitude says “I am thankful for where I am on the way to where I am going”. It puts us in a place of power and achievement, where the positive outweighs the negative, where we can freely refuel our energy, increase our competencies, and receive more so we can in turn give more. When we are in a state of gratitude, we can more easily overlook our professional and personal burdens, the weight of our responsibilities, as well as the fear of failure looming in all of us. We can produce our best work because we are in our best state of mind.
In a corporate or any other type of work environment, people are the foundation. People like us or people who may be very different from us…People we have to work with, interactions we have to learn to manage, and results we have to show as competent individuals and teams. And that is ultimately where the simple power of gratitude comes in…As we surrender to it, it breaks down mental and psychological barriers, removing the obstacles and fears that prevent us from offering and receiving our best.
That’s the power of “Thank You”, and it may just one of our most important core competencies…
Are you thankful at work?
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 27, 2013 | Career
Mentally gearing up for Black Friday? Stocking up on 5-hour energy bottles to make sure you make it through one of the most crowded shopping days of the year? Wondering how in the world you’ll be able to digest the loads of stuffing and turkey you’re planning to ingest on Thanksgiving in time to hit the stores at the crack of dawn?
As busy corporate sisters, and as busy people in general, we know time is of the essence. We also know that, just like with anything else, shopping smart and efficiently beats running after impossible deals in the wee hours of the morning…
So, could it be that we actually can strategize this whole holiday shopping business, and actually beat the Black Friday myth at its own game?
According to an article on MSN Living, and as a result of research conducted by Erica Bell and Katie Finnegan, co-founders of a shopping site tracking your favorite pieces and alerting you to upcoming sales:
- Track discounts as early as the week before Thanksgiving: Yes, for many of us, there is no need to wait for Black Friday to take advantage of the discounts. Although these may not be the deepest discounts, you may still be able to snatch some pretty good deals, on average 35 to 37% off women’s and men’s apparel. Besides, keep in mind that the most common and average sizes are the first ones to fly off the shelf, and that some items may not even go on sale on Black Friday, it may just be better to pick and choose, and not let some of these early discounts pass you by….
- If you want the largest discounts, shop after Black Friday and Cyber-Monday, especially the week following Cyber Monday, where you can snatch 40 to 60% off on home goods, electronics, accessories and shoes, to cite just a few…
- Last but not least, for last-minute smart shopping, and if you don’t mind getting your gift(s) a bit late, wait until after Christmas Day to get your shopping on…December 26 seems to be the best day to treat yourself to the deepest discounts of the season, so mark you calendars…
What is your strategy for smart shopping this holiday season?
The Corporate Sister.
Related Articles:
http://living.msn.com/shopping/gearing-up-for-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-deals-the-shopping-strategies-you-need-to-know
by | Nov 23, 2013 | Career
It’s the week-end, you have a ton of things to do, items to mark off your to-do list, maybe a family to feed, a Thanksgiving meal to plan, and you still can’t get a hold of your hairdresser (or her calendar for that matter)…In the midst of all the to-dos, to-be-done’s, should-have-been-done, did-I-forget-to-do-that, where in the world did you stash your work phone? And why should you even be concerned? it’s the week-end, after all…
We talked about working on week-ends, and whether that could advance your career. And if I’m not a fan of dedicating my week-ends to work, as many corporate sisters, I believe in the power of multi-tasking, and as part of that, my Blackberry is my best ally. In the era of always being connected, and while some of you may not agree, I think if I have to be connected, well, I might as well use it to my advantage. Whether it’s answering quick emails, providing quick status updates, or updating your calendar on-the-go, there are small ways in which you can still work while not really working…
So sometimes instead of repeatedly checking my Facebook account, while I’m in line at the supermarket or running some mindless errand ( please note that does not include operating any motor vehicle), I can quickly check in to my email, update my professional to-do list, and shoot my boss a quick reply email kindly letting him know that while I may not finish his project by Monday, it’s on my priority list to tackle first thing Monday morning…and wish him a great week-end (hint, hint….)
If we’re going to be multi-tasking anyways (and checking our Facebook and Twitter accounts), why not make mini-investments in our career in the process?
Do you favor multi-tasking on week-ends, or is that Blackberry stashed away in your purse?
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 23, 2013 | Career |
It’ the week-end, time to fit in some shopping whether you decide to stop by the mall or log in to your computer…here are the week-end deals you can enjoy:
- Ann Taylor is offering 40% off your full purchase price online, and 50% off all sale items!
- LOFT is also having the same sale, so check them out as well…
- The Limited is offering holiday tops and blouses at 50% off, and statement jewels are also half-off, and you can save 20% off by signing up for their email newsletter;
- White House Black Market is having a Buy One, Get One 50% off full-price styles (Code: 15757), and you can save 10% by signing up for their email newsletter;
- Talbots is having a 30-40% off Thanksgiving sale;
- J Crew is having an online sale only: 25% off winter favorites (Use Code: WINTER);
- And last but not least, New York & Company is having a great pre-Black Friday sale, with 50% off EVERYTHING!
So if you did not get a chance to get your Thanksgiving dress just yet, you know what to do…
The Corporate Sister.
