by Solange Lopes | Aug 26, 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…
by Solange Lopes | Aug 12, 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…
- In exciting news this week, Simone Manuel makes olympic swimming history in Rio by becoming the first African-American woman to win individual swimming gold;
- Another huge first was accomplished by gymnast Simone Biles, who won the all-around gold in Rio as well;
- In the midst of all these exciting firsts, is it any wonder that over 73% of American workers are planning to skip work to watch the Olympics;
- Arianna Huffington’s teaching us an important lesson about productivity, as she’s stepping down from the HuffPost to embark fully on her new venture. Business Insider tells us more about it;
- Tired of sending out resumes? Forbes tips you off on how to skip the interview yet still land the job;
- Feeling like it’s difficult to communicate at work? Ellevate Network offers great tips on how to communicate with intention;
- Speaking of communication, do you think bosses and employees can be friends? The Lindsey Pollack blog explores the topic;
- We’ve all used a swear word at work at least once (ok, most of us), and lo and behold, it’s actually good for us;
- Do you really want to have it all, or would you rather have a choice? This Ellevate Network article has an interesting take on it;
- To help us get over the fact that Fall is right around the corner (which also means Summer’s almost over), WhoWhatWear gives us a glimpse of what the cool girls will be wearing this Fall;
- We just clocked about 7 hours of flight with both babies, and I should’ve read this NY Times article about flying with shrieking children first;
- Last but not least, I hope my post on staying positive through your career ups and downs will keep you motivated!
Happy Friday!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 11, 2016 | Career
It all seemed so unfair to Sarah. She had worked so hard on that particular project, for the credit to be given to her colleague, Jordan. She had only been in this role for a year, but she had tried as much as she could to do her best. Being proactive about opportunities, bravely challenging her introvert nature and striving to speak up. Yet it seemed no matter what she did, she wasn’t given full credit. That there was always something that’d be criticized….To top it all off, her opportunity to lead another project had just been taken away from her.
Sarah’s career hurdles are not uncommon. The same obstacles are faced by countless women (and men) in Big Corporate. Missed opportunities, foregone chances, and this despite all the hard work and perseverance. It’s no wonder so many women (and men) are disillusioned by the corporate world, and have lost their passion and engagement on the job…
How do you deal with missed opportunities and apparent unfairness in your career, and still manage to keep positive?
Disappointments in your career are inevitable. However, if you’re intent on building a successful, engaged work path, facing them in a smart way is a necessity. That’s what I realized a bit later in my career, after leaving many an unfulfilling job because of said disappointments.
But let me finish Sara’s story first…
After she lost the project she had been scheduled to lead for another one of her colleagues, she found herself filling in for ad hoc assignments here and there. One of these ad hoc assignments involved helping the CFO with the quarter’s financial deliverables, which she did with her usual excellence. While everyone else in her team was busy with a project of their own, she went on to assist the CFO with this particular task. Long story short, she delivered a top notch product, was noticed by high-level executives, and was offered a double promotion in less than six months.
All of this from a missed opportunity…
How many of us fail to leverage our missed opportunities by positively keeping on keepin’ on? How many of us, too impatient for the next thing, run from job to job and department to department, only to be faced with the same hurdles and obstacles?
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when you must move. Like when getting out of bed in the morning becomes physically painful. Or when it’s clear you’ll get a better chance somewhere else. Yet, there are also times when remaining positive and sticking it out, in spite of the difficulties, pays off quite handsomely.
In our society of instant gratification and automatic money withdrawals, we’ve become so accustomed to getting what we want when we want it, that we no longer know to let go of the good for the better. So we run from place to place, only to end up jaded and bitter.
In life as in your career, there are no other outcomes than the ones we decide for ourselves. We can either believe the obstacles are bigger than us, or we are bigger than them. We can either look at the muddy middle of our careers, questioning the end. Or we can keep showing up, hands open, ready to grab any opportunity that comes our way…
Because sometimes, if’s when you think you’ve missed your opportunity, that you’ve actually made room for a better one…
As for Sarah, she’s found the success she’s been looking for her entire career, albeit in a very different place than what she thought. And as for me, I’ve learnt a lot of interesting things happen when you stick it out, keep your hands open, and settle for better outcomes, even the ones you can’t quite see coming…
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 7, 2016 | Career |
Mantra = a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone’s basic beliefs (Merriam-Webster dictionary)
There are just days when you need a dose of inspiration. You know those days, when you wake up wondering why you haven’t made Senior Manager yet, or if your life was really supposed to go this way…Or why laundry never ever seems to end (I’ve been pondering on this one for quite a while)…Or on Sunday night when Monday morning’s looming near…
I know I do…There’s only so much mascara and blush to keep you pumped up for the day. Because it all starts in your mind, as you decide to push yourself beyond the daily mundane or obstacles in your way. That’s why successful women (and men) adopt mantras to keep them inspired and motivated.
In the words of motivational speaker and author Abiola Abrams, “your mantra is your fight song“. In the midst of all the negative noise and our chronic “busyness”, we now more than ever need to take back our power; which means we must also adopt new ways of thinking. That’s where mantras come in, to help us change or reinforce positive beliefs through empowering words or phrases we make part of our daily lives.
A few years back, I started realizing that most of the obstacles I was facing were not coming from the outside, but from within. At the time, I was working with a business coach, who started recommending that I write and speak mantras on a daily basis. I have to say it was a struggle at first. Having never questioned some of my most basic (and most limiting) beliefs about myself, learning to believe and say out loud that “I cannot fail“, or that “I am successful“, felt like chocolate cake without chocolate. Weird.
As I faced some of my most potent mindset blocks, I started developing new habits. I looked to successful women around me, and studied their mindsets for success. As a result, here are 7 of my favorite success mantras for successful women:
What are your favorite success mantras?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 5, 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…
- Podcast alert! In my latest contribution to the amazing Cubicle Chick site, check out my 7 favorite podcasts for women entrepreneurs;
- If you’ve ver been afraid of not being liked at work, you must read Ellevate’s Sallie Krawcheck’s beautiful (and real) article on making peace with not being liked;
- It’s still summer, and I know, you’d still rather be at the beach than stuck at your desk. Levo confirms these 6 reasons why you’re so much less productive in the summer;
- Night owl alert! Speaking of downsizing the productivity, especially at night, this Business Insider’s contributor lists 6 things she learnt while following Arianna Huffington’s pretty elaborate bedtime routine for a week…and what she found out is pretty awesome;
- If you’re heading to school this Fall, it’s essay writing season! Black Enterprise has a few tips to help you stay ahead of the curve!
- For your dose of inspiration this week, Ellevate Network offers seven tips to succeed as a woman in a man’s world;
- Ever been asked about your work style in an interview? Careerealism tips you off on how to answer;
- Working your butt off but not getting promoted? The Muse tells you why (and it has nothing to do with your skills);
- Speaking of not succeeding at work, could you be having any of these three mindsets that are keeping you from shattering your own career ceiling?
- Wondering what to cook this month to take advantage of the last days of summer? Cookie and Kate has great options;
- Oh, and while you’re at it, how about brightening up your wardrobe with this cheery ponte sheath dress?
Happy Friday!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
