Big day today! We’re getting a new U.S. Representative for CA34 sworn into Congress. Exciting times! This past weekend, I was in Los Angeles for another client, America’s Opportunity Fund (AOF) doing a training for AAPI campaign operatives and candidates. It was terrific to meet local activists and help them move ahead with their political careers. I’ll be in the Bay area in 2 weeks and can’t wait to see everyone!
Here’s Tuesday Truths!
- I tremendously loved reading this post because I’m a horrible small talker (yes, believe me especially since I work in an industry where communication is key) and really alerted me to a basic reminder: everyone just wants to connect with the people they meet. Strangers may or may not become friends but they become less strangers to one another. The secret to small talk is being unafraid to be awkward. Easier said than done. So when I remind myself to give zero f*cks, I became a more open person to opportunity and connection. Be your awkward self and people will see that you’re authentic.
*********
- Being a woman is HARSH. There are so many challenges and outside variables that nag at your self confidence. Are you married? Do you have children? Where are you in your career? Is there a growing competition between older and younger women? I am fortunate to have good genes that disguise my mid 40s age. I also have a mindset that allows me to stop thinking about age (whether it’s me or my friends/colleagues). For the longest time, I couldn’t track my friends’ ages. I knew that we were relatively in the same age group due to job experience etc but it wasn’t until they publicly celebrated milestone birthdays did I really see an age attached to them. IMO, there are women who are truly ageless, not because they look a certain way, more because they have a variety of friends of different ages, generally are current on technology and are compassionate/passionate advocates for their work & lives. I see the women who mentor me who are in their 70s & 80s and think, when I started in this business they were well into their 50s and they continue with such grace and veracity. The ageless generation (women who are in their 40s-50s) are my inspiration to keep myself curious and creative.
*********
- I obviously love what I do because I spend a lot of my weekends doing it as well! I remember when I worked in the hospitality industry and realized that my schedule no longer aligned with my friends (they had weekends and my definition of a weekend may have been a Monday-Thursday and be non-consecutive). I recognized that the industry wasn’t right for me and also that I’m the type of person who would easily give up a traditional weekend if it meant doing what I loved. So if you’re in a job situation that doesn’t meet your passion, then you should consider a few things before you decide to throw in the towel. You maybe feeling a little stuck and you’ll have to assess the situation but if you’re living only towards the weekend, it’s a red flag that’s also blinking DANGER DANGER.
*********
- If you’re truly feeling stuck, there are actions you can take to make a transition. What’s important is that you feel motivated to make a change in your life. Of course there are other aspects that may hinder you related to a number of things that maybe financial or family related. Fear is what causes people to put the brakes on change and it can also make you feel complacent. When you start to think that you can’t do it, liberate your fear by thinking about changing these habits.
*********
- There are times when I have to remind myself why I do the work that I do. This evolving internal conversation is one that I had with myself when I had a quarter life crisis and later when I decided to get back into politics after a change in career. My motivations are personal to me and how I create energy to drive those motivations are important in how I recharge and find my purpose. Regardless of what industry you’re in, you can always find inspiration in women who can articulate what drives them.
*********
- When you’re working in an environment that leads to stressful situations, how are you navigating the circumstances so that you have less stress in your life? Here are factors that you need to consider so that you can handle stressful situations deftly and have less stress overall.
*********
- Staff direction is a skill that we barely cover in campaign life. Our gigs are so short that we work towards the goal of winning and in the meantime, we’re not professionally developing ourselves or our team(s). Recognizing that motivating your team is really the key is a critical step in getting your team to be productive. Learn how to bring out the best in your team and you’ll be considered a true leader.
Thanks for reading/sharing – we’ll be back next Tuesday!
— Madalene