Work + Life Archives - Females In Food

Getting Through The Dark Side Of Grit

January 17, 2022 by Angela Dodd

Author – Lyndsay Toensing

Do you remember when “grit” was the hot topic? I just saw a LinkedIn post about it today and I was reminded of how so many business leaders, motivational speakers, athletes, and others praised the character trait that keeps people working ever harder and pushing forward. Daniel Coyle, author of The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills, says “GRIT is that mix of passion, perseverance, and self-discipline that keeps us moving forward in spite of obstacles”. It has become the norm in many social and professional circles to work hard and push through at all costs. What people don’t talk about it the potential dark side of embracing “grit”. Let me share the story of Kandis.

I met Kandis at a company sponsored women’s networking event in late summer. She, like many of us in the company, was a high achieving, hardworking, and goal-oriented professional. She prided herself on being brilliant and accomplished. Not in a boastful way. She had accomplished a lot on her 31 years on the planet. She graduated from a top business school, had worked for and been promoted at some of the top consumer packaged goods companies, had always received praise and recognition for her work, and had been hand-selected by a top tech company to work on a new project as the lead project manager. But when she got there, all of her confidence slowly began to bleed out of her. She was getting a lot of critical feedback from her director and the project director despite how hard she was working and every strategy and tactic she tried. She, her peers, and her team were regularly working 12-14 hour days and seemingly not making enough progress. This was new territory for her. She started to question if she was smart enough or talented enough for the job. Or maybe she never really was smart or talented.

She kept pushing forward, looking at each new challenge as an opportunity to learn, grow, and persevere despite her growing unhappiness. Over time, she started crying on her way home from work each night. Next came anxiety attacks in the morning after she rolled over to check her email before getting ready for work. Soon thereafter, she started fantasizing about getting into a minor accident. Not an accident where anyone else got hurt, nor any major injuries to herself. But just enough to be forced on a small leave for maybe a couple of weeks. Maybe even a month. As her anxiety increased, her performance decreased. She had no patience to collaborate with her team and couldn’t tolerate any mistakes at the risk of it coming back on her. Kandis kept pushing forward like this for three years. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and just quit. She was exhausted and completely burnt out with no drop of self-confidence left. Kandis no longer recognized herself and felt completely lost. She was living the dark side of grit.

You may be feeling like Kandis, or you want to make sure you don’t get to the place that so many high achievers do. The good news is that there are 4 simple, but not always easy, ways to help you avoid falling into the dark place.

1. Listen to your body.

Our bodies are incredible universes onto themselves and are communicating with us all the time. Some people push past the early stress signs and don’t start listening until they have chronic migraines, are sick all the time, on anti-anxiety meds or sleeping aids just to get a semi-decent night’s rest. Pay attention to how you feel and think. You may feel excited, happy, content or at peace if you are living a life aligned with yourself. On the flip side, you may be experiencing anxiety, insomnia, negative self-talk, and depression if you aren’t. Start exploring the reason for your thoughts, actions, and reactions if they become overly negative or critical. Listen to your body and mind when it needs a break, too. Rest when you need it. Play when you need it. Take a walk, go to a yoga class, get a drink with friends, take a vacation if you feel it is what will rest and rejuvenate you. Heck, sign up for that retreat that you’ve been looking at for the past year. You’ve earned it!

2. Remember your “why”.

We often get so caught up in the “doing” of life that we forget why we are doing in the first place. Did you start this path because it was a passion? Was it because it was what your parents wanted you to do? Did you start on your path to prove to someone that you could do it? Take time to remember why you are doing what you are doing and see if it still resonates with you. If it doesn’t – that’s ok! You can change your mind. Despite how long you have been on your path, you have the right to direction. It is never too late or too early. There aren’t certainties other than birth and death, so make sure you are content and at peace with life as it is now.

3. Invest in yourself.

Invest in yourself by finding the right resources, support, and experience to empower yourself. Investing in your growth and development will be a great advantage to overcoming obstacles and the dark side of grit. Whether through formal education, the plethora of resources available via books, podcasts and the like, or hiring a coach like me, investing in yourself will always have a return. Keep learning, keep growing, keep challenging yourself to find and do what you love to do, and you will see the benefits in your career progression and satisfaction.

4. Celebrate!

High achievers are known for achieving one goal, only to start on the next goal moments later without taking a second to acknowledge and appreciate their most recent achievement. This behavior causes them to underestimate and undervalue their efforts, and that can lead to the feeling of being trapped in a hamster wheel. Take the time to pause so you can truly appreciate what you’ve accomplished and celebrate your wins. Get a massage, go out for a nice dinner, go on a trip – treat yourself!

Kandis spent the following two years learning how to make cheese on a goat farm in the Pacific Northwest. It was what she needed to get back in touch with what she needed and truly wanted. Today, she leads her own company, doing business her way.

Understanding and taking care of yourself first, all aspects of yourself, is the best way to avoid falling into the dark side of grit, or the dark side of being a high achiever. Those around you will reap the benefits of love, support, compassion, creativity, innovation, productivity, and more because you have taken care of yourself. You will also become an excellent example to others, which will give those around you the permission to take care of themselves so they can show up as their best selves, too. Everyone benefits when you put yourself first. Simple and effective, but usually the first thing forgotten. So, don’t forget it. You are worth the time and effort. I promise.

About the author: Lyndsay K. R. Toensing, MBA is a transformational leadership coach and author of the Best Selling book The Art of Connected Leadership. She is passionate about helping emerging leaders develop their unique leadership style that empowers and creates high-performing teams, keeps and attracts top talent, and helps them achieve their professional and personal goals. Lyndsay has spent fifteen years leading teams, mentoring, and coaching in startups to Fortune 500 companies in medical device, healthcare, and retail industries.

Get a free copy of her ebook The Art of Connected Leadership by emailing LyndsayToensingCoaching@gmail.com.

Get Ahead of the Curve – How to stand out at work during times of crisis

March 7, 2022January 3, 2022 by Angela Dodd

It’s no secret. The world, as we know it, is undergoing a time of crisis. No country or continent is a stranger to change, but perhaps we’re not used to such a unified sense of confusion.

However, rather than feeling helpless or like a sense of impending doom is hanging over you, we encourage you to take this time to work on yourself, continue to flourish and endeavor to find new ways to stand out in the crowd. For many of us, our jobs are in a state of flux. Whether you were working towards a promotion before now, or you were actively hunting down that next role, here are a few things that you can start doing to keep pushing your career forward.

… Because we will come out of the other side of this – and you can come out stronger than you might have thought possible…

Networking in isolation

It sounds kind of counter-intuitive/impossible… but it really isn’t.

Just as you jump on Houseparty or Facebook to call your family, you could be sipping a virtual (or real) latte over a chat with your colleagues. You could be organizing catch-ups with your seniors, showing initiative and going out of your way to ‘see what you can do to help’. Those that reach out are remembered! Get yourself on Zoom and start networking in isolation! (Hey, no one needs to know you’re only wearing a pantsuit on your top half…)

Stay present in your industry by catching up with others in the same field. For us, that’s our Females In Food community. Together, we discuss the challenges we’re facing in our relative roles, discuss where we’re going next, and mastermind the moves we need to make to keep on growing – all whilst supporting each other in our individual journeys.

Be a social butterfly

Sure, you can’t gossip over the water-cooler or grab an after-work cocktail with your colleagues, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have lighthearted, inspiring, or insightful conversations…

Use your social presence to boost your professional brand. On LinkedIn, reach out to people and start conversations. Keeping your network small does nothing for you – you might think that it keeps you safe or protects your professional presence, but it actually renders your profile ineffective. Don’t be afraid to comment on relevant threads, jump into debates (with an air of impartiality) and post your own thought-provoking insights.

As with networking, no one remembers the person who said nothing. Add something constructive to the conversations around you and get your name out there in a professional and targeted way. Think about what your future employer or promotion-deciding-seniors would want to see from you…

Be an initiative taker

There are so many ways in which you can take initiative in your role, especially if you’re currently working from home. Operate under the premise of doing things before they are asked of you… for example:

Send update emails or reports to your boss on a regular basis, before they ask for them.
If you’re customer-facing, do the same thing. Update customers and get in touch with them before they start asking you questions.
If you’re currently out of work, take the initiative within your own schedule. Work on your social profiles, spruce up your CV, take some classes or undertake industry research.
Don’t stop applying if you’re looking for a new position. Industries such as the food industry are still hiring – because these industries must remain stable, no matter the global or economic climate.

Within specific industries, the initiative might look different.

In supply chain, that might involve preparing for a shortage of drivers or forecasting demand ahead of time.
In foodservice, you might want to consider the rerouting of your product offering. If people can’t enter your premises, how can you go out to them? Have you created a re-opening plan? What strategies can you use to encourage people back through the door?
In marketing, how can you futureproof the image of your business? What pivots or initiatives could you introduce to protect the current business’ goals? How could you console and pacify your customers?
In food science, stay sensitive to the short term demands of this crisis, but don’t neglect your edge of innovation. Stay current and stay curious.

Future proof yourself

If you’re finding that you have a little more time on your hands than normal, excellent! Now is the perfect time to do all those ‘better-myself’ tasks that were on your pipedream list.

Whether you’d like to take on a secondary qualification or start a project on the side, use this time to bolster yourself in your industry. Like we’ve said before, the action takers, talkers, and do-ers are the ones that are remembered. How could you make yourself indispensable when this all blows over?

Overwhelmed with it all

Now, while there are a lot of tips in this article, it’s important to avoid analysis paralysis.

This is a stressful time. You’re entitled to feeling overwhelmed – in fact, you’re entitled to a few days under the covers, pretending it’s not happening. But don’t let that become the norm – don’t let overwhelm rob you of these opportunities.

Create a plan of the things that you want to achieve and just hit one thing at a time. Lists that are as long as your arm, that never get ticked off, are just going make you feel like an instant failure. Pace yourself, prioritize, and take the breaks you need.

Resources to Help You Manage Stress and Mental Health This Holiday Season and Beyond

December 30, 2021December 14, 2021 by Angela Dodd

It’s not a secret the holidays are stressful. Between family gatherings, shopping for and affording gifts, and the change in the seasons, it’s common for people to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and even depressed. While this time of year is often associated with love and happiness, these unpleasant feelings and behaviors can creep in. So, what can you do if the holidays (or the rest of the year) is affecting your mental health?

What is stress?

Let’s start with what stress is. The Mayo Clinic defines it as “a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life.” There is such a thing as good stress that helps motivate you, but there is also bad stress that pushes you beyond your ability to cope. Our brains have a sort of alarm system that we’re born with to help protect us. When we perceive a threat, that part of the brain signals your body to release hormones that increase our heart rate and raise our blood pressure, commonly known as a “fight-or-flight” response. Once the threat is gone, our bodies should return to a relaxed state, but modern life often complicates our responses, and sometimes people’s alarm systems don’t shut off.

This is where stress management tools come into play. They can help your mind and body adapt, so you’re not always on high alert. Stress can be damaging to your health and your relationships, so it’s helpful to arm your arsenal with stress management techniques.

There are holistic approaches to reducing stress, which take into account physical, mental, social, and spiritual factors. These include activities such as exercise, meditation, getting a good night’s sleep, journaling, practicing breathing exercises, spending time with friends and family, practicing yoga, and eating a healthy diet. These techniques are factors of a healthy lifestyle and thus play a role in reducing your stress naturally.

A few helpful stress management apps

There are also apps that can assist you in stress management right at your fingertips. Breathe2Relax provides information on stress, how it affects the body and helps you learn to manage stress through diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Calm helps you find less stress and better sleep. Headspace is an app that makes meditation simple. Center Meditation Timer provides you with distraction-free meditation, insights, and tips.

But when stress and anxiety become too much, there are plenty of resources available for you to seek the help you or your loved ones need. Let me preface this by saying I’m not a mental health professional. This is not meant to be prescriptive. It’s always recommended that you contact your doctor or mental health professional for medical advice. This is a simply a list of resources to assist you if you or someone you know needs to talk to someone this holiday season.

If you’re looking for someone to talk to

Psychology Today’s website has a myriad of resources to help you on your journey. Whether you’re looking for a therapist, a psychiatrist, a support group, a treatment center, or even teletherapy, they can point you in the right direction. They also have numerous resources available to inform and educate you about mental health.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a quick rundown. A therapist is a licensed medical professional that can evaluate, diagnose, and treat emotional and mental disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in mental health, including substance use disorder. They use medications, talk therapy, and other treatments to treat mental health conditions. A support group is when a group of people meets to share personal experiences, feelings, coping strategies, and firsthand experiences about diseases or treatments. A treatment center is a healthcare facility that provides therapy for mental and behavioral conditions (sometimes referred to as rehab). Teletherapy refers to mental health counseling that takes place online or over the phone.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is also a wealth of knowledge to learn more about mental health and to connect you with more specific information based on your needs. They also offer the NAMI HelpLine, a free, nationwide peer-support service that provides information, resource referrals, and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. You can contact the NAMI HelpLine Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST by calling 800-950-NAMI (6264), or you can send them an email at info@nami.org

Please note, if you’re dealing with an emergency situation, call 911.

Other helpful resources

The holidays affect us all differently. It’s OK to seek help for you or someone you know. Here is a list of resources should you need them.

6 Gifts to Support Women-Owned Businesses This Holiday Season

December 20, 2021December 13, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

There is nothing we love more than supporting women. Whether it’s supporting their careers, supporting their professional growth, or supporting their businesses, we’re here for it! If you’re looking to show your support for women owned-businesses this holiday season, look no further because we’ve compiled a list of our favorite gifts to grab for those ladies in your professional life.

Professional Development Book

Nothing says I support your professional development like a book full of wisdom. Give your colleagues the gift of knowledge with a new book to snuggle up with over the holiday season. Check out a few of our favorite women-authored books here. If there’s a book you love, get them a copy and include a little note of some of your favorite pieces of advice.

Online Learning Experience

Skillpop offers live, professionally taught virtual courses. These online learning experiences are a great way to learn more about a new hobby or a business topic. With classes like How to Buy a House, Intro to Instagram Reels, and Arm Knit Scarf Workshop, there is truly something for everyone.

Career Contessa Course

If you’re looking for a course that’ll help someone in their career, check out Career Contessa’s incredible lineup of career courses. Whether you have a friend looking to revamp their resume or a coworker who scored a manager promotion and wants more training, these courses empower women to take control of their careers.

Merch from the Females in Food Community Shop

We’re so excited to launch our new Females in Food Community shop just in time for the holiday season. We have Females in Food shirts, water bottles, and more! The best part is that you’re helping fund grants and scholarships for women in the food and beverage industry with every purchase. A gift that supports women and gives back, what could be better!

A Surprise Getaway

Don’t forget to include yourself on your shopping list this year! Treat yourself to a surprise getaway with Pack Up + Go. If you’re looking for a new adventure but don’t want to spend the time planning it, or maybe you just want to be surprised, this is the gift for you. All you have to do is fill out a travel survey, and they do the rest! You’ll start receiving details of your trip the week before, and you won’t know the destination until the day you leave. It’s a fun way to treat yourself after all of your hard work this year.

A Females in Food Membership

At Females in Food, we love equipping and connecting women with the tools and network to transform their careers. Since you already have a membership (*wink wink*), why not turn on your colleagues to the amazing community! Our membership community fosters meaningful connections and offers highly vetted resources and skill-building programs to help females across every food and beverage industry segment grow and advance their careers and companies. A Females in Food membership is the gift that keeps on giving!

What women-owned businesses do you love supporting? Send us a DM on Instagram and let us know!

The Importance of Goal Setting and How to Jump-Start Your Goals For The New Year

December 13, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

We all want something. There’s some desired result that we seek, and often these things we aspire to relate to our professional life. Whether it’s a raise or a promotion you have your eyes set on, goals are the one thing that will help you get there. But how do you go about establishing goals when what you want feels out of reach? It all starts with goal setting.

Why Set Goals

Without setting goals, those thoughts in your head of all the things you want to accomplish are more like hopes and dreams. When you set a goal, you solidify what you want. Goals motivate and inspire us to be the best version of ourselves, and goal-setting is taking the steps to determine what can be done to achieve your goals. It’s the action plan that takes a pulse on where you currently are, where you want to be, and what you can do to fill in the gaps between the two.

Four Steps to Jump Start Your Goals

So how can you get a head start on crushing your 2022 goals? Start here.

Set SMART goals

When setting your goals, be sure to make them SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound. Creating SMART goals sets you up for success, provides a clear focus for your efforts, and increases your chances of achieving your goals. Here’s a breakdown of the SMART criteria to follow to meet your goals.

Specific: Make your goal clear and defined. Get as precise as you can.
Measurable: Identify the criteria you need to meet to show progress toward and achievement of your goal.
Achievable: Make sure you have the resources and abilities to achieve your goal. If you don’t currently, set a goal to obtain those first.
Realistic: Ensure that the results of your goal can be realistically achieved.
Timely: Include a timeline for your goal and identify when you’d like to achieve your goal.

Write Them Down

A Harvard Business School conducted a study using graduates of their MBA program. Those who wrote down their goals ended up earning ten times as much as their fellow graduates only ten years after graduation. What differentiated this population of graduates was that they had clear, written down goals and plans to accomplish them. This little activity of writing down your goals can make a huge difference.

Be Flexible

One thing is always inevitable, and that’s change. So when life throws a curveball your way, or you find yourself in a new season of life, give yourself the grace to be flexible. Goals will adapt as you grow and change as a person, and that’s 100% normal. Be flexible if you need to adjust your long-term plan or put your short-term goal on hold because other priorities have come up. The great thing about goals is that they are yours! They can evolve and iterate as you see fit.

Keep Going

Achieving goals, especially hard ones, takes perseverance. Most goals require dedication (and maybe some blood, sweat, and tears) to see progress and ultimately achieve your desired results. Remember, all good things take time, so keep going. Don’t throw in the towel when the going gets tough. You’ve got this!

Finding Balance at Home This Holiday Season

November 30, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

Home for the holidays has a new meaning this year as most of us have spent more time at home than ever before. We’ve worked from home, cooked countless meals at home, and facilitated our children’s remote learning from home. As the holiday season quickly approaches, we’re tasked not only with roasting turkeys and wrapping presents but with how to be at home for the holidays when we haven’t left.

While this year is anything but ordinary, we can do our best to make lemonade out of lemons. Here are six tips for finding balance at home this holiday season.

Take Time Off

This should go without saying, but with many people still hesitant to travel due to COVID-19, the thought of taking a traditional vacation has been put on the back burner. So while taking time to recharge sounds like a no-brainer, make sure you’re utilizing your PTO. Put in for that time off of work, put that out of office, and fully disconnect.

Dedicate a Space for Work and a Space for Everything Else

This is key to finding balance when you’re working from home. It’s best to have a space dedicated to work, so when you sign off for the day, you can mentally and physically step away. This helps your brain disconnect from business and reconnect with your life outside of work.

Not everyone has the luxury of having a dedicated office space or even a desk. So when your kitchen table is doubling as your work area, create a ritual that signifies when your working hours are over. It could be as simple as closing your computer or making your to-do list for the next day. This small action signals to your brain to turn off work. When you’re on PTO, fully clear your work space so you can use it for fun holiday activities like baking and puzzles.

Give Yourself and Others Grace

This may be the understatement of the year, but 2020 has been different, so it’s going to feel different. If you’re feeling sad or down, it’s OK. You’re allowed to mourn the year you were expecting and the holiday season you usually look forward to. Give yourself the grace to feel what you feel, good and bad. Take the weight off your shoulders. You don’t need to feel merry and cheerful all of the time. Finding balance in your life is a continuous process. There will be ebbs and flows, so be mindful that even if a moment is stressful or overwhelming, you will find peace and happiness again.

Limit Screen Time

Again, we’re stating the obvious here, but we’re saying it because it’s essential. Screen time can add up quickly. Between phones, computers, iPads, and TVs, it seems like we’re always connected to the digital world in some form or fashion, and it’s often at the detriment of our health. Too much screen time has been linked to sleep issues, depression, anxiety, and more, especially in children and teens.

Additionally, screen time has served as a pacifier for boredom for adults. Think about the last time you stood in a line and just waited without looking at your phone. It might be harder to remember than you think. It’s because when we have a moment of free time, our first instinct is to grab our phones. We can all take a lesson from Michael Rich, MD, MPH, an Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who says, “Boredom is the space in which creativity and imagination happen.” This holiday season, challenge yourself to disconnect and let your mind wander. You might just find a spark of creativity.

Be Intentional About Family Time

When it feels like we’re spending every moment together, you may not feel the need to engage with your family beyond being in the same room with everyone doing their own thing. As with most things in life, it’s best to act intentionally. Don’t merely coexist with your family, plan to watch a movie together, cook a meal together, or have a game night. Get everyone involved by having everyone choose an activity. Need some fresh ideas? Check out this list.

Take Care of Yourself

Check-in with yourself this holiday season. Take the time to listen to your head and your heart and determine what it is you need. What’s it going to take to end your year on a positive note? Is it relaxing, reading a new book, moving your body, or indulging in seasonal treats? Acknowledge what you need and then take action to take care of yourself.

It’s so easy in the hustle and bustle of life to forget about ourselves. We take care of business, we take care of others, but we don’t take care of ourselves. John Christensen, Ph.D., past co-chair of the APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance, says, “One of the best things we can do is to develop a reflective habit of checking in with ourselves at least a couple times a day, taking note of the emotional ‘weather’ without judgment.” Hone into your sense of self-awareness and give yourself the gift of whatever it is you need this holiday season.

The 6 Best Career Gifts To Give Yourself

November 16, 2021 by Angela Dodd

The holiday season is among us, and while our celebrations may look a bit different this year, our careers don’t have to. So, when you’re creating your holiday shopping list, don’t forget to add a few things for yourself. While you might think to get yourself a new pair of shoes or a fancy bottle of wine, who says your wish list is only for material things? Sometimes the best gifts are the intangible ones that you can feel the impact of instead of see. Give yourself the gift of a new skill, a more efficient job search, or a better career. Here are six ideas if you’re looking for a place to start.

Join a Networking Group

Studies have shown that upwards of 80% of jobs are found through networking. That fact alone is reason enough to network, but the cherry on top is that it’s estimated that 70% of jobs aren’t even posted online. These days there are plenty of ways to make new connections both in-person and online. Try googling local organizations in your areas of interest to see where you can make connections with professionals in your city. Or if you’re looking for a virtual network of women, check out Females In Food, a professional development, networking, and recruitment platform that unites and accelerates women’s careers across every segment of the food and beverage industry.

Customize Your Work Station

If you’re looking for a tangible gift that will impact your career, use this as an opportunity to finally invest in your work station. With more and more people working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s as important as ever to enjoy your workspace. That means investing in an ergonomic desk chair, hanging up that motivational wall art, or finally getting a pair of wireless headphones. Indulge in something that makes you happy when you log on for the day or something that makes your day a little bit easier. This goes for if you’re working in an office, too!

Hire a Resume Writer

If you’ve ever been on the job hunt, you know it’s a full-time job. Between researching positions and companies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for the interview, and perfecting the perfect interview outfit, it’s a huge investment of time. It’s frustrating when you apply for job after job, and all you hear is crickets. Unfortunately, the culprit is most likely your resume. If your job search leaves much to be desired, hire a resume writer. Their expertise is to write a resume that gets you noticed and gets you the job. Don’t let your resume be what’s standing in the way between you and your dream career.

Take an Online Course

Online learning has become more and more accessible. This year, give yourself the gift of a new skill. There’s no excuse not to learn about that one thing you’ve been putting off adding to your resume. Check out websites like Skillshare, MasterClass, and Career Contessa to sharpen your skillset and improve your arsenal of expertise.

Work with a Career Coach

The value that comes with working with a career coach is endless. They help you build confidence in your career and help you recognize your value as a professional. If you’re feeling stuck in your current role or need help getting to that next level, there is no better time than now to hire a career coach.

Give Yourself Permission

Perhaps one of the most important gifts you can give yourself this holiday season is permission. Permission to leave a toxic work environment. Permission to move on from a career that no longer suits your ambitions and purpose. Permission to do what’s best for you right here and now. Release yourself from any preconceived notions about your career and what it should be. Give yourself the permission to live your best career today.

The Impact Of Motherhood In The Workforce

October 4, 2021 by Angela Dodd

55% of U.S. mothers with children younger than 18 at home are employed full time.

The modern-day woman is still living with an age-old concept. That which is based on the belief that women belong in the kitchen and raising babies while the men are the breadwinners. Except in today’s world, it often takes two paychecks just to live an average lifestyle. Women not only can use the power of motherhood to further their careers in their chosen industries, but they can also use it to change the current working environment that Mothers deal with.

The Working Mother Environment

The environment that the working mother is subjected to is not one of their own making. It is one that the working world has created by what their perception of the working mother is. It is automatically assumed that the mother that is transitioning back into her work environment is not in a position to be an asset to a company.

No Such Thing As Flexibility

In general, there is no thought given to allowing for flexibility for the working Mom. There is no desire for making adjustments to accommodate her new role even if it would have no impact on the company itself, or even if it might be a betterment for the company.

Moms Are Caregivers

Not too many would argue that Mothers, by nature, are caregivers. The skills for this come partly from their maternal instincts as well as skills they have developed during their own experiences in the world. As babies go through their growing stages, the care that Mothers have to provide changes.

What Does Leadership and Motherhood Have In Common?

Women in management can clearly identify what they have learned from being a Mother that has helped them be successful in their leadership roles. Some examples are:

When to Stay Involved and When To Stand Aside

Mothers have to know when to push their kids to achieve certain goals in their lives. They also need to know when to stand back and let the kids take on the responsibilities that they are capable of. For example, a Mom may have to push to get their kids out of bed on time on a school day. But they are the ones that are responsible for dressing appropriately and making sure their backpack has everything they need for the day.

The leader in a company has to know when their employees need direction and also know when to stand back and let them complete what is expected of them. Employees have to reach a point where they can think on their own make decisions, and yet their leader has to be there in the event they are going in the wrong direction.

Flexibility

Motherhood requires flexibility. When one thing does not work with a child, then it means changing to plan B.

A leader has to be able to be flexible in the workplace. If a concept is not working well, then changes have to be made, and the leader has to be able to accept this without being set in their ways.

Balancing Personalization With Professionalism

Mothers of more than one child soon learn that each of their children has distinct personalities. As such, they have different ways of handling their kids.

This same concept applies to the leader of a company and the employees they are responsible for. Each worker is different, and the leader has to recognize their personality. Being able to do this allows the leader to use different approaches with each employee to reach the same goals.

Additional commonalities between the Motherhood role and the leadership role are:
- Being prepared for the unknown
- Resolving conflicts
- Recognizing that workers have a life besides the work environment.
- Empathy
- Balance
- Prioritizing
- Time Management

When looking at the skills set of a Mother the similarities between these and the requirements for leadership are parallel.

Being Penalized For Being A Mother

First-time mothers who return to the workforce are often shocked when they realize they are being penalized for their new role in life. The penalties include:

A cut in pay while their male counterparts receive an increase in pay
No consideration for many meaningful job positions

The bottom line is Mothers in the workforce are discriminated against.

8 Books That Will Take Your Career to the Next Level

November 9, 2021September 20, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

There’s nothing like a good book to provide you with a few words of wisdom, especially as it relates to your work life. No matter what phase of your career you’re in, here are eight books that are guaranteed to help you level up your career.

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job

by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

If you need to identify and break the habits that are holding you back, look no further than How Women Rise by author, speaker, and leadership coach, Sally Helgesen, and American leadership coach, Marshall Goldsmith. Through their years of expertise, they’ve helped women reach greater heights in their careers by knowing their unique strengths and identifying common behaviors that prevent them from rising to the next level, like reluctance to claim achievements, building rather than leveraging relationships, the desire to be perfect, and more. This book will give you the clear path forward you’ve been looking for.

You’re Worth It: Navigating Your Career in Corporate America

by Ha-Keem Abdel-Khaliq

This new release will help you figure it all out. Ha-Keem Abdel-Khaliq is an accomplished speaker, author, and Associate Vice President in Human Resources. In his debut book, he explores the fundamental truths about working in corporate America and uncovers the critical insights that will position you for success across your career.

The Politics of Promotion: How High-Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead

by Bonnie Marcus

When you’re trying to understand and navigate office politics to score that promotion you deserve, author, executive coach, and international speaker, Bonnie Marcus, will tell you everything you need to know in her book The Politics of Promotion. Bonnie will teach you why excellence and achievement are not enough to get ahead and how networking with power and intention can make all the difference. This book provides you with a proven method to become a bigger player in the workplace so you can avoid mishaps that can add years to your climb up the ladder.

What Next? Your Five-Year Plan for Life after College

by Elana Lyn Gross

If you’re just starting out in your career and need a plan for your future, this is the book for you. Journalist, Elana Lyn Gross, breaks down everything you need to know about how to navigate your career and life after college, including how to write your resume, interview tips, and more. She also dives into finances, wellness, and relationships, because we all know how important mental and financial health are to our work and life. Even if you’ve been out of college for a few years, this book is the survival guide you’ll wish you had when you graduated.

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self Assurance – What Women Should Know

by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Journalists, Katty Kay, and Claire Shipman, dive into science to help us answer the question, “Does confidence come from our genes, or can we learn it?” They visit research from leading psychologists who explain how we can become more confident by taking action and courting risk. The book dives into interviews with women leaders as they examine how they have tapped into their confidence and how a lack of confidence impacts our leadership, success, and fulfillment at work. Becoming confident requires a choice, and this inspiring and insightful book will show you how to harness the power of confidence to become your best self.

Power Moves: How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose

by Lauren McGoodwin

As CEO and Founder of Career Contessa, a career site built for women, Lauren McGoodwin teaches you how to harness power moves to actively guide the direction of your career. With real-life examples from successful women, a handbook filled with practical information and advice, and a foundational tool kit organized into four critical sections: self-care, relationships, career, and money, you’ll be able to develop a daily power moves habit to help you make big moves today.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

by Elizabeth Gilbert

If you need to tap into your creativity to take your career to the next level, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is a must-read. Gilbert offers insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration and asks us to embrace our curiosity. By discussing the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives, she gives us the wisdom we need to tap into our own creativity to conquer our next venture.

The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You

by Julie Zhuo

This book is the everything-you-need-to-know field guide to becoming an awesome manager, even if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Julie Zhou is the Co-Founder of Inspirit and a former vice president of product design at Facebook. In her book, The Making of a Manager, she gives you the advice you need to know to gain your confidence as a manager and lead your team to new horizons.

What’s the Difference: Venture Capitalists, Private Equity Firms, and Angel Investors

September 23, 2021September 9, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

There’s a lot of business terminology out there, and it can get confusing to keep it all straight. For example, what’s the difference between venture capitalists and angel investors? If you need a straightforward explanation, so you don’t feel like a deer in the headlights the next time it’s brought up in conversation, look no further.

Who are Venture Capitalists?

Venture capitalists, also known as VCs, are private equity investors or firms who provide capital to high-growth potential companies, like start-ups, early-stage companies, or small businesses that wish to expand. Since venture capitalists seek high growth potential companies, there is often high risk associated with investing.

What is Private Equity?

Private equity is investments made from high net-worth individuals or companies in businesses that are not publicly traded. Private equity investments are often pursued to obtain a high return on investment (ROI). Private equity differs from venture capitalists because they buy and invest in different companies in different amounts of capital. Private equity firms usually invest in more established companies as opposed to venture capitalists who invest in companies in their early stages of growth.

Who are Angel Investors?

Angel investors are individuals who provide capital for businesses, usually in exchange for ownership equity. The funds are often a one-time investment to get the company off the ground or support the company during the early stages of business. Angel investors are typically individuals with high net worth who invest their own money.

How to Find an Investor?

As with most big decisions, do your research. Get clear on what type of investor you’re looking for, what you need, and what you’re asking of your investors. There are excellent resources online to help you search for angel investors or give you an idea of the best venture capitalists.

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