Dress for the Job you Want: Style Inspiration from Successful Women

Reposted from The Daily Muse

Your work wardrobe says a lot about who you are—and even more about where you’re headed. So, whether you aspire to be a CEO, your city’s lead newscaster, or the next First Lady (or Ms. President!), why not get some style inspiration from the leading ladies in your field?

 

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite powerful women who do their jobs looking beyond fabulous. From Anna Wintour to Marissa Mayer, take note of their style successes before heading to the office, then learn how to get their looks for less. (Because, well, you don’t have their salaries—just yet.)

If you’re looking to be the next editor-in-chief of Vogue, take posh-and-prestige style cues from Anna Wintour. Make sure to master the runway looks of the season (before the season even starts), but also to invest in timeless classics like bold prints, luxe-looking furs, and chic neutrals. And don’t forget the staple sunglasses or statement jewelry—accessories are a must!

 

Marissa Mayer proves that being the President and CEO of Yahoo doesn’t mean you have to look nerdy or wear boring black all the time. Pick professional pieces like tea-length dresses and cardigans in coordinating colors, and add character to your power suit with a patterned silk scarf or collar necklace.

 

 

As both a public and political figure, First Lady Michelle Obama has mastered the art of keeping her look polished, accessible, and timeless. Nix the stifled suit and blouse combo and throw wrap dresses, fit and flare skirts, and long-sleeve shifts into the mix. And in a workplace filled with men, don’t be afraid to stand out in regal hues, classic prints, and feminine touches like belts, pearls, and ankle straps.

 

If you want to make it big in the fashion blogging world, you need to stick with a closet that’s punchy, trendy, and reflects your personal style to a T. Taylor Sterling of Sterling Style, and the founder and creative director of The Glitter Guide, knows a thing or two about staying true to her preppy, glittery-glam taste. Whether you’re mixing prints and layering like nobody’s business, piling on the arm candy, or trying out the season’s it shades, make sure that the look is totally you.

 

Whether sporting pastel dresses with pumps or bright blouses with hip-hugging skirts, Today’s Savannah Guthrie knows how to shine onscreen. Pops of color look gorgeous on camera, so make sure to adopt a range of hues into your newsroom wardrobe. If you want to add printed or flowy silhouettes to your onscreen attire, make sure they’re somewhat subdued and cinched to keep your viewers from getting a headache and you from appearing frumpy.

 

If you want to do it all like Miss Lauren Conrad—who owns three clothing lines, is a best selling author, has endless endorsement deals, and graces magazine covers monthly—you’re going to need to take some serious girl-next-door tips from this media mogul. Lauren’s go-to skinnies, flowy tees, and blazers keep her look polished for day, while at night she opts for feminine skirts and dresses. To appeal to the masses, keep your look low-key, crisp, and effortless.

The Benefits of Volunteering

People who volunteer are typically unanimous in touting the benefits. But volunteers are unpaid, contribute many hours of potentially free time to the organization, and sometimes need to provide their own supplies at personal cost. So what is the benefit?

 

All behavior is goal-driven. Everything we do has a payoff for us so even the most altruistic person receives a benefit for their efforts. Here are a few reasons why volunteering benefits the individual as much as it does the organization.

 

First, volunteering bolsters self-worth which is an important component of healthy self-esteem. When an individual has high self-worth they believe that everything they think, feel, and do matters and has a ripple effect in the world. They understand that they have a very unique contribution to make, one that no one else can accomplish in exactly the same way.  Volunteering reinforces this belief in self and the importance of every contribution.

 

Second, volunteering improves our relationships because it fosters compassion. Volunteering often places us in different situations, where we interact with different individuals, than we typically do. This allows us to discover that while people are very unique, they have much in common.  Volunteering exposes us to the diversity in the world which, in turn, builds respect for differences and improves our ability to relate to others.

 

Third, volunteering increases positive thinking because it promotes interconnectedness and interdependence. Negativity, despair, and depression build when we detach from social contact and focus too much on ourselves. Volunteering brings us out into the community where we direct our energies on improving humanity as a whole. We recognize that our small part matters and has an effect which radiates out into society.

 

These are only a few reasons why volunteering has such a positive impact on the individual. Try it yourself! Select an organization which interests you and explore opportunities to volunteer. You’ll see your life change for the better.

Ellen Diana is a psychologist, author of the Lucky Dreamer Tip Series, and co-author of the Charge up Your Life series of self-help books. She has 30 years’ experience working with children, adults, couples, and families in schools and in private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona. Helping women to evolve into their best selves through personal growth and self-awareness is a passion of hers. Ellen raised three successful children as a single parent and so has special interests in mentoring other women in transition and helping parents to raise resilient children. Contact Ellen at drdiana@ellendiana.com or through her website www.ellendiana.com

Life is Only Fair in Fairytales

All you have to do is look around to realize that in real-life Cinderella doesn’t get the slipper and the happy ending; her step-sister does. Perhaps you didn’t get the job, even though on paper you were undoubtedly the best candidate. Maybe your heart has been broken by another whose love-choice seemed clearly less desirable than you. I remember running to my mother as a kid complaining about things that were unfair; she always responded, “life is not meant to be fair.”

Well, it is true; from the outside looking in and considering the facts case by case, much of what happens to us just isn’t fair. And we could spend days, months and perhaps even years feeling cheated because life isn’t fair. We have all experienced the unfairness of life, and if we dwell on it or let it get the best of us, we can end up apathetic and cynical. Apathy is when you just don’t care anymore and stop trying. Cynicism is when you see the negative in everything. Apathy and cynicism make it difficult to break free from the cycle of unfairness that life is dealing you.

Fairness is certainly not found outside of ourselves; the fairness of life is created on the inside. If you find yourself in painful situations wishing life were fair, turn inward and realize that you have the power to increase your positive emotions, to feel satisfied, capable and even happy. Here are ten things you can do to improve your mood and overcome apathy and cynicism:

1.       Focus on the shades of grey: When we view life only in terms of black and white, we may have unrealistically high expectations of life. We will be disappointed when life isn’t fair. Start to think in shades of grey. Not everything is good or bad, right or wrong. Look for the grey area and you will find life is a bit fairer.

2.       Spread honey, not lard: Life is sometimes like hard toast; we need a little something to soften it up and make it easier to swallow. Would you rather soften it with lard in the form of more negativity or with honey in the form of looking at the brighter side? Spread honey, not lard, on the hard toast of life. 

3.       Remember that unfairness is temporary: When life isn’t fair we often judge our whole lives based on one event, thinking that our life is over. Setbacks are almost always temporary. In most cases we don’t want to do what we need to do; it is not that we can’t.

4.       Stick with the facts: When we don’t have all the facts, we can jump to wrong conclusions that cause us to think that life is not fair. We start to make assumptions like, “He didn’t call me because he is mad at me.” Or, “I must have blown the interview because they haven’t called me back.” Stop trying to read other people’s minds, and stick with what you do know.

5.       Give yourself more credit: Don’t blame yourself for bad things that happen, thinking everything is all your fault. Very few things are really all your fault. Get out of the habit of taking the blame and focus on your strengths, talents and positive contributions.

6.       Accept what is: Unfairness sometimes comes in the form of what we should have done, could have done, or could do. When you are stuck in the ‘should haves,’ you are thinking outside of what really is. Focus on what is, not what should have been. Start where you are and go forward, and your feelings that life is unfair will diminish.

7.       Consider best-case scenario: Most worst-case scenarios are not 100% certain to happen. That leaves room for a best-case scenario. Balance every negative “what if” with a best case “what if.” The best may not always happen, but it can; on the other hand, the worst-case scenario usually does not happen.

8.       Be grateful: It is easy to look around and see what you don’t have. It is just as easy to look around and see all that you do have. Focusing on what you do have helps you counter the feeling that life isn’t fair.

9.       Give it away: Believe it or not, when you feel life isn’t fair, one way to get over it quickly is to do something nice for someone. It doesn’t have to be grand or expensive; the smallest and more personal things are often more appreciated and sure to help you feel better.

10.   Trust in the law of averages: If you are experiencing some hard luck, take confidence in the fact that your luck will change. With a positive attitude you will start to see better possibilities and more positive outcomes.

 Kirk Wilkinson is the Founder and President of The Happiness Factor, a best-selling author, two-time cancer survivor, speaker and life coach. The Happiness and Factor and the Fresh Start for Women Foundation have partnered to bring you a powerful and uplifting on-line coaching program. Click here to learn more.

New Year New Career

Want 3 simple tips to help you make a faster and easier career change…?

As a Career Coach, I’m seeing that many professionals make the mistake of posting their resume on a job board, or handing their resume to a recruiter, and then just sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring. In today’s tough job market, you need to be much more strategic in making a career change. My clients have had great success including doubling their opportunities and cutting their search time in half by following my three simple job hunting rules…


1.     Think Up, Down and Sideways.

The biggest mistake job hunting professionals make is looking for a position with the exact same title they had in their last job. Instead, consider looking at smaller companies and going one-level up, as well as larger companies and going one-level down.

Since many companies don’t require you to have industry experience, only expertise in a specific job function, you can double your opportunities by applying for jobs in different industries.

For example, if you’ve been working in advertising agencies, then also include businesses that have in-house advertising, marketing, or communications departments. Or, if you’ve been in sales, finance, engineering, or administration in a certain industry (such as health care, high tech, or construction), start applying for those same jobs in other industries.

Also, it’s not mandatory that you meet 100-percent of the requirements in the job description. Attitude and confidence are also key factors! A good rule of thumb is to have at least 75-percent of the skills and experience required, and express in your cover letter and interviews that you’re a quick learner, flexible, and passionate about the position and the company.

2. Create a strategic job search plan.

You want to fish where the fish are, so find out where your potential employers by reading job boards(MarketingPower.com, CareerJournal.com, theLadders.com, etc.), as well as industry publications, business journals, and company websites. You’ll be able to learn which industries are hiring, which companies are hiring and what the hot jobs are!

•Company websites. Create a list of companies where you would like to work. Visit their website weekly for on-line job postings, and announcements for departments expanding.

•On-line job boards. Some job search sites are notorious for listing outdated jobs, or jobs with no contact information. Why waste your time?

Instead, make a list of job search sites that offer high quality jobs. Conduct a search on Google or Yahoo for the job role and the city you want (example: marketing director, Portland). Review all the sites listed on the top three or four pages, and bookmark only those sites that list promising job opportunities.

You’ll find that each site varies in the quality of positions listed (lower-level to senior-level, as well as salary ranges), plus the type of industries, or vertical sectors, listed. Some sites may also do a better job than others updating their lists, or publicizing openings in your city.

Focus your attention only on those sites. Once you’ve created a list of your top job search sites, make a commitment to review those sites weekly.

3. Work your NetWORK.

Make it a priority to get connected, and stay connected, to people who could hire you, or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you. Get re-connected with past employers, customers, and colleagues. Meet new contacts by attending industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events, and association meetings that target the industry (high tech, health care, etc.), or the job role (marketing, finance, management, etc.) you want. Try to attend a couple of events each week.

Finally, never give the impression that you’re hungry for a job. Instead, you want to be seen as someone who’s resourceful, knowledgeable, and has a wide network. Send out personalized notes and e-mails with links to reports, case studies, press releases, videos, and websites that you think may interest them. Invite them to business networking events, and introduce them to other movers and shakers. Influencers are drawn to those who are resourceful.

The goal is to create a pull relationship with your network so that they are drawn towards you (not running away from you!)

When you’re searching for a new job, remember to stay focused in what you want, stay positive, and believe in yourself. It takes persistence and patience – but you WILL find those companies who jump at the opportunity to hire you!!

Your Assignment…

Create your “job search strategy.”

Expand your career opportunities by researching job openings in various industries advertised on company websites and job boards (such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com). Read a variety of job descriptions to determine if you have the right mix of skills, experience and expertise. If you match at least 75% of the job requirements – then apply! (Nobody meets 100% of the job qualifications)

After you find a job you want to apply for, then customize your resume to meet the job description and ask your network for recommendations, referrals and job leads.

By following these three (3) strategies you’ll be well on your way to a new career!

Sherri Thomas is author of Career Smart - 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand - on AMAZON's TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books. She is also founder of Career Coaching 360 which provides resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching packages to help professionals change careers quickly and easily.

A Winning Attitude Helps You Succeed

Make 2013 the year you look back on and say, “Wow, look at what I accomplished!” 

Huge numbers of people begin each New Year with resolutions to lose weight, earn more, get a promotion, eat healthier, exercise more, start a business, and the list goes on and on.  But it is so easy to fall back into old habits before the new ones have really formed.  Temptations are everywhere around us, and it is difficult to resist them when we are caught up in lives that demand so much of us to just get through some days.

You absolutely can make 2013 the year you look back on and say, “Wow, look at what I really did accomplish!”  Your first step is to begin to believe you really can accomplish your goals.  Instead of thinking of them as resolutions, which require willpower and determination, begin to think of what you want to achieve as the next step in your journey to the “you” you want to be, doing the work you want to do.  When you make that choice and decide to take action, you are on your way!  It’s easy in the very beginning to stick to your plan and begin to see results.  Then life always seems to throw obstacles in our path.  That’s when our attitude often stumbles, and we say to ourselves, “I guess I really can’t do this!”

 

Understand that it is not the obstacle or event that is getting in your way; it is your attitude towards the obstacle that makes the difference!   If you begin to envision yourself living in that new body, career, business and life, you will see opportunities come your way!  Begin to believe in the value of programming your attitude!   

Maintaining a positive attitude frequently means controlling the input you get.  Well-meaning friends or family say “Its’ impossible” or “why do you think you can do that”.  Don’t believe them!  In fact, don’t even listen to them!  Think about all the “impossible” things humans have accomplished.  The Wright brothers flew an airplane, astronauts walked on the moon, and doctors transplant hearts.  Belief always comes before accomplishment.  You must have total belief in your dream and your ability to do it.  You must develop the skills.  You must stop the negative input before it enters your ears or your heart and destroys your belief and with that, your dreams.

Is it easy?  Absolutely not!  Is it worth it?  Only YOU can decide!

What are you going to do today to move forward on your journey to a successful 2013?

Dolores Seright, CPC

The Shattering Barriers™ Expert

www.WomenWhoSellExcel.com

Tips to Get Finances in Order for 2013

While the year is still young, take some time to organize your financial life  

Are you ready to get your finances in order for 2013?  If so, here are some tips to get started:

Create a budget.  By setting and tracking income and expense categories, you not only keep your current finances organized, you can also set the wheels in motion for reaching long-term goals like buying a new house or financing college.

 

Make it automatic.  You’ll have fewer details to worry about by automating as many financial chores as possible.  For example, you may be able to eliminate trips to the bank with automatic payroll deposit. Automating your monthly bills for things like cable, electricity and trash removal can also save you hours of valuable free time each month.

 

Inventory your assets.  A financial inventory provides a useful snapshot of your assets so you can understand where you are now and what you must do to reach your goals.

File important documents.  In addition to your financial inventory, keep other important documents like tax returns and statements from investment accounts organized and accessible.  You’ll also want to keep insurance policies, wills, trust documents and other important paperwork safe and available to those who may need them.

Computerize the process.  There are a variety of software packages and on-line resources available to help you keep your financial life organized.  Most of them are very inexpensive – and some are even free.

 

With the basics in order, you can focus more clearly on all the things you’d like to accomplish in 2013.

 

 

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Renée A. Hanson, CFP®, CEP®, CDFA™, CFS, is a private wealth advisor with Hanson, Ayala & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.  Her passion is in helping women achieve their dreams and financial goals, regardless of life’s many obstacles.  Renée is licensed/registered to do business with U.S. residents only in the states of AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, IL, MI, MN, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI.  Please visit: www.reneehanson.com to learn more.

 

Ameriprise Financial does not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax advisor or attorney.

 

Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients.

 

© 2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Think You Can't Meditate? Try This!

Reposted from www.thedailymuse.com 

I have never been an entirely successful meditator, and I doubt that I’m alone. Any time I’ve ever tried to sit still and clear my head, my nose twitches uncontrollably. My hair feels funny. My mind zeros in on one thing and one thing only: Try to ignore your itchy body.

I used to think that my restlessness would keep me away from meditation—at least until I decided to really buckle down and somehow master the art of sitting still. But, as it turns out, we seekers of peace and stress reduction don’t have to fold ourselves into Lotus pose before sunrise to reap the health benefits of this Eastern practice.

“There is certainly great value in doing a sitting meditation,” says Bob Stahl, PhD, a teacher of mindfulness-based stress reduction and author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook. “But there are also ways to practice being mindful in whatever activity we are doing.”

And it only takes a few minutes out of your day. If you’re a meditation novice like me, here are two simple adjustments you can make to your daily schedule to relax and clear your head.

Check In With Yourself

We often have days when we’re inundated with more emails, meetings, and phone calls than we can handle. We forget about lunch, and by the afternoon, we can’t quite remember the last time we looked away from the computer screen, had a drink of water, or peed.

The problem with running on autopilot is that we’re going about our business, but we’re not really focusing on what we need or what’s most important at any given moment. To combat this, Dr. Stahl advocates “mindful check-ins”—or, one-minute pauses throughout the day to refocus and recalibrate. The acronym he uses to explain this method is S.T.O.P., which stands for Stopping, Taking a breath, Observing, and Proceeding on with presence.

Since I started officially checking in with myself throughout my day, this very simple act of taking a breath and observing my body has made me notice, among other things, my tendency to clench my hands when I type. So after the check-in, I give them a stretch. Or, I’ll realize that I need to drink some water, relax my shoulders, or look away from my computer screen. When I return to what I’m doing a minute later, I’m more relaxed and balanced.

It’s so simple, this stopping technique. The only hard part is remembering to do it. So try giving yourself these minutes at regular intervals throughout your day. You might even set yourself a “check-in reminder” on your phone.

Check Out Your Surroundings

A few months ago, I was on my way to the airport in a taxi. Feeling stressed and rushed, I stuck headphones in my ears and scrolled through my Twitter feed.

A text bubble popped up on my screen from my boyfriend, also on his way to the airport in another cab. “Can you believe this sunset?” it read.

I looked up to see a sky that was a rare shade of pink—something I’d almost missed while clicking on link after link on my phone.

Sound familiar? We’re so often in our own heads (or phones) that we’re tuned out to what’s going on around us. We often convince ourselves that somewhere else is better than where we are instead of tuning into the moment we’re in right here, right now, and appreciating it for what it is.

I’ve noticed that trying to go through my day more deliberately—to get off autopilot—has helped to reshape my experiences in small but important ways. A few days ago, when I got off the subway after work, I took my headphones off. Taking a breath, I looked at the newly changed red and yellow leaves on the sidewalk trees, listened to the rumble of cars driving by, and heard the yelping of two siblings on scooters and a harried father chasing behind them.

This act of really noticing my surroundings didn’t solve my problems, and it didn’t bring me instant joy. But, arriving home a few minutes later, I felt just a little more calm than usual when I walked through the door.

No matter how busy you are, these “meditation” techniques don’t require your time as much as they require a shift in your awareness throughout the day—a choice to focus on the present moment. And that doesn’t mean you have to stop your mind from wandering, you just have to pause and be aware.

So try it out. In time, you may even start to feel like adopting a more formal mindfulness meditation program, which, studies have shown, have actually changed the parts of the brain associated with anxiety and stress.

But even if you never end up in Lotus pose, you can learn to live a bit more peacefully by simply mastering the art of paying attention.