Tag Archives: branding

Tuesday Truths 2017 Edition v6

We’re officially 2 months into 2017 and rolling deep into the 1st QTR. I already feel like I’ve been hit by a MACK truck due to all of the intensity of the year. There hasn’t been any easing up so the mantra is to continue forward by collaborating with others and group hugs with your tribe.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Maybe you’re not down with protesting – totally get it – maybe you’re a consumer who wants to make an impact with how you spend your hard earned moolah so you decide that you’ll patronize establishments/brands that have your shared values. Recently we saw that with the #deleteUber trend and #grabyourwallet where Uber and Ivanka Trump’s brands were affected by consumers making a statement with their purchasing power. It also works when you have a brand such as travel expert Rick Steves making a commitment to donate to the ACLU if you spent money on his products on Inauguration Day. I’m an advocate for companies to have good corporate social responsibility and when they do, I want to support their efforts. Not all companies are perfect because humans aren’t made to be so I believe that customers can make companies aware of how to improve and if actions are taken, support them for course correcting. What do you think? Do you think about corporate social responsibility when you support brands?
  • Living in DC makes every Executive Order even more acutely meaningful. I also have a life where my professional life is fully integrated with my personal beliefs. I may not necessarily agree 100% with my clients but I know that their intentions are well meaning and a policy disagreement isn’t going to dissuade me from working with them. As a result, I’m keenly aware of my personal definition of living a meaningful life through a professional context. If your professional/personal life makes you want to take action in a more meaningful way then you can create projects or join in projects that align with your own values and personality.
  • I’ve talked about having more headaches lately, but did I also mention that I’ve been feeling more anxiety as well? It helps that I’m spending less time watching the news, although I keep informed with reputable news sources so that I can stay updated on what’s happening around me. Another activity that I’ve been incorporating into my daily life is the practice of grounding so that I can feel my physical being while separating the anxiousness that has bubbled to the surface. There are times when you just want to curl up in the fetal position, but remind yourself that you’re not alone and use these tips to get you back up and ready to go. For those who consume alcohol, a glass of wine also helps 🙂
  • More than ever, we need to look out for one another. Living in DC is slightly different than living in other places because a lot of us work in the political sphere in some capacity so it’s extremely important to remember that other people don’t live in such a politically charged atmosphere. We need to help one another in an intersectional way so think about our sisters and brothers in other places so that we don’t feel so alone. It can be challenging to be in an area where you’re opinion is the dissenting perspective. Reach out to one another and let’s welcome more people who share the same concerns.
  • With the #NoBanNoWall and a myriad of other Executive Orders as well as expressing our opinions to elected leaders, the congressional switchboard has been in overdrive. Making calls can be challenging for those who don’t really talk on the phone, but this kind of outreach is the most effective in swaying elected officials to take their constituents’ opinions seriously. Practice helps which means making more calls (something I routinely tell my clients when making fundraising calls) but it may help to know that psychologists can explain the source of your phone anxiety.
  • With the change in administration and the end of the campaign season, I’ve been doing a lot of coffees with people who want advice on how to transition to their next position. Here are Do’s and Don’ts for going to your next coffee. I would also add send a thank you note (email/written note) afterwards! It helps us to remember who you are and let’s us know that you’re inclined to have good organizational skills and attention to detail.

Thanks for reading/sharing – see you next Tuesday!

— Madalene

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v52

This is it – the last blog post for 2016 – thank the heavens because 2016 was hella rough! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we make it to the other side unscathed and we kick off 2017 with some good energy.

Happy to See Ya 2017!

We’re doing a recap of the articles that were most read on the blog so some of them may be new to you if you recently joined the Arum Group community! Hope they continue to serve you on your professional and personal journeys.

Here’s the BEST of Tuesday Truths!

  • We’re looking for success in our lives and sometimes we’re our biggest obstacle. We form bad habits and it stops us from reaching our potential. Most often, the simplest of things can be the most complicated. Here’s the most read article of 2016 – 25 simple things to give up if you want to succeed.
  • These 2 articles tied for the 2nd most read: one relates to improving your resume (8 common resume mistakes to avoid), the other is about how to earn your manager’s respect.  A great read for those who are getting ready to jump into the job market and for those who may be looking to improve their work situation. Either way, great tools to get you in tip top shape for your professional portfolio.
  • It seems that readers care about their appearance because the next article deals with Dressing Like a Leader: Style Tips for Women in the Spotlight. Women get ridiculed for looking a certain way, regardless if they’re in leadership positions or not. Men have a pretty basic uniform and can convey their personality by a change of accessories. The cut of a suit can bring a certain swagger and that is a part of the brand image that you want to project. An ill fitting suit negatively impacts a brand – it doesn’t look professional if things are too tight or too loose. You want to own your image. If that means silver lamĂ© or a hoodie w jeans combo then go all in and be comfortable with your choices. I like fashion as a statement of who I am so I take the time to think about the aesthetic. Others may not want to spend the time to think of what to wear so having a “uniform” that makes you comfortable in your power is what will bring your self confidence to the surface.

I hope you find inspiration to start 2017 and no worries if you find inspiration later down the road. My belief is you don’t need a calendar or a specific date to start – do it when you’re ready even when you think you’re not prepared (there’s only so much planning and researching you can do – dive in!) You’ve certainly inspired me to share these kinds of articles and I THANK YOU for keeping me accountable. See you next week, next year!

— Madalene

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v49

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I’m traveling down a path of change, not necessarily unwanted. Election outcome aside, I’m about to embrace a professional change in my own career so the opportunities that lie ahead of me are ones that will evolve with my own set of goals. I find myself facing a lot of uncertainty, where my professional identity is no longer fixed to the individual elected officials that I once represented. There’s a lot of freedom in re-designing my own brand and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that await me.

Let’s get to Tuesday Truths!

  • Mindfulness has been a catch phrase when it comes to leadership. How useful is it if people aren’t learning how to use all facets of it? Mindfulness trainings are necessary so that people can learn how to address the 3 essential items to be more successful in leadership.
  • A majority of the people who have worked as associates on my team were usually recent college graduates and my office was their 1st experience in a professional setting. One of the 1st things that happens when joining a team is to earn your manager’s respect. Here are tips where you can make sure that you’re getting recognized for your work and how managers can better communicate their goals so that everyone gets a common result.
  • Looking for more ways to be productive? These slides can help break some mental barriers so that you can have better time management.
  • “It’s better to thank someone for the room they make for you than to apologize for taking up space in their lives.” – casual gratitude can make people feel better and some cases, live longer!
  • One of things that we learn on campaigns is that there are only 3 resources: people, time and money and the most important resource is time. It’s limited and extremely valuable because you can’t get anymore of it. So when you think about your own time, you have to be judicious on how you allocate it. Learning to say no on your time can be daunting so we’e got some ideas on how you can diplomatically decline.
  • When I was in mid twenties, I had my quarter life crisis and as a result, I burned out of politics. I was no longer interested in my selected career and decided to pursue something entirely different. When we work in stressful environments, the possibility of burning out increases so we always need to find personalized solutions to help us avoid the burnout. What do you do so that you can manage your stress?

Thanks for reading/sharing and if you have helpful tips, please let me know!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v48

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I hope that you had a relaxing holiday! I’m ready to tackle the next few weeks so that I can mentally prepare for 2017. Tis the season for reflection and setting goals. So let’s take a look at Tuesday Truths to see how we can jump start the new year.

  • Sometimes when you set goals and not meet them, you wonder if they were too lofty or question if you have the stamina to reach them. What’s important is to realize that you need to set your goals that motivate you to achieve them vs make you more frustrated. Here are a few tips that you can use so that you can make those goals achievable as well as keep you moving towards the bigger picture.
  • With the new year comes a fresh start and there are times when we take risks to shake things up a bit so how do you make a risky move less risky? Before you jump into the deep end, you can do “life design interviews” to see if a change in careers is really in the cards for you. Something I probably should have done when I had my quarter life crisis!
  • Women have a more challenging environment in our professional careers because it’s not the social norm to have a life that includes family and professional achievement all rolled into one. We are questioned about our priorities of having children over the financial bottom line for the companies where we work. It’s a time in our lives when we start to question how do we prioritize? How does this connect with our personal achievements and goals? Ambition isn’t a dirty word. It’s also important to recognize that women have complicated roles in society and when we’re placed in positions where men are the norm, there are societal pressures that put women in a bind. We are constantly asserting ourselves while trying to please everyone else.

Thanks for reading/sharing and if you have any tips that you care to add, please share!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v43

We’re so close! 2 more weeks and this Election will be DONE-ZO! I’m still raising and collecting money and having meetings to ask for more moo-laaaah. It’s an exciting time and I’m ready to take a break so we can go back to governing. 2017 will be a great year to renew and recharge. I’m excited to see what that time will bring.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • I’ve been working with a lot of women in politics and I’m honored that a lot of them have become friends. Politics has a way of permeating my personal life and there are times when I’m “competing” for work with my fellow consultants. I’m all up for competition because I don’t see it as pitting women against women. We make each other better by always bringing our “A” game and I admire those women who make me become a better version of myself. Roxane Gay breaks it down like no other when she lists the rules of women friendships. Read it, memorize it, take notes, and live it!
  • Being the boss can seem like a lofty goal and once you reach for that title, it also means that you’re responsible for people’s performances. Your ability to create a team is a result of how you manage people’s roles and motivate them to do their best work. If you’ve been promoted, review this checklist and if you need to re-engage your team, it’s a good marker for how you can improve in certain areas. A lot of people talk about how they want to join the Arum Group staff because of my staff lunches. It’s my way to thank the team and to be in a social setting so that we can talk in a more casual setting about the work we’re doing.
  • We know that we don’t have enough women in every facet of leadership. We’re only just now getting a women President (I’m trying really really hard to not count my chickens before they hatch but I can’t help it, we’re so close!!) and when it comes to industries that have always been male dominated, how do we as women stand tall and create space for ourselves and for future women colleagues? Here are strategies that were shared at the United State of Women confab over the summer. If you feel that you need someone to talk with about how you can take up space, give me a holler and I’m happy to commiserate!
  • Lest we forget that we live in times where women are still feared for being powerful, we only need to turn on the news, however it’s important to realize that the insults that women have had to endure have been around forever. Why is it that men feel the need to insult women? Women’s looks are deemed “fair game” while that’s not something most men banter about to one another when they’re trading barbs. A number of qualities such as niceness, the ability to have children, stamina and a myriad of things only attributed to women candidates are considered negatives, but as we move through the modern era and women voters are making their voices heard, maybe male candidates will finally realize that those aren’t the talking points that the electorate wants to hear.
  • This election season has been polled, polled, and polled some more, but you do you really know what it all means? Trust me, polling is a highly methodical scientific process (I’m not sure if a Drudge “poll” really counts with all of the scientific mumbo jumbo). There are a lot of paid campaign staff who have never seen a poll with the cross tabs and the breakdown of the methodology so when you’re talking with a civilian about all of the factors that go into the survey, the composition of the people in the sample size aka demographics, and the course of time it took to run the poll, you’re talking about the methodology of the poll. Want to learn more about what goes into a poll then read this handy dandy guide on how to read the latest polls.
  • Even as a woman who has reached the highest levels of leadership in world renown corporations, Sallie Krawcheck was muted due to her high profile successes by male supervisors and in her case, a CEO! It is ridiculous that executives would “punish” a member of their executive team for having a positive image outside of work. We need to be celebrating more, not less when women achieve accomplishments that were once only relegated to the men in their companies.

Thanks for reading/sharing and let me know what tips  you would share!

— Madalene

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v42

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Taking deep breaths! I hope you’re having a great week! I’m ready for Election Day and to head out for a break. Any suggestions on someplace warm I can visit? Remember to give yourself time to decompress and to give yourself self-care. If you don’t take care of yourself, then you can’t take care of others!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Have you been listening to the Mentoring Moments podcast? It’s great and has excellent stories/interviews on how successful women from multiple generations reached their goals. The most recent interview was with the Editor of Chief of Seventeen magazine, Ann Shoket and she’s dropping knowledge on how she got to her current position (after her 3rd attempt!). It’s the journey, people!
  • I’m always looking for ways to help people network (myself included). You can get into a rut that may be comfortable but is it really effective? Here are a few tips for a better introduction. What do you think?
  • I recently had a conversation with a friend who told me that she appreciated my habit of learning new things or at the very least trying new hobbies. I’ve talked before that I’m a Jill of all trades and a master of nothing (basically because I have so many different interests). I think regardless of how long you spend on a hobby and how deeply you delve into it, that hobby is always going to make you more well, interesting. I love people who are passionate about learning something and go all in and become experts (I know who to call when it’s time to hire someone for calligraphy!). I also love the people who take an interest in learning how to play an instrument, only to find that a couple weeks/months later they’ve changed to a different hobby to pursue. It’s all good! As adults who aren’t required to attend school for educational purposes, we’re learning to enrich ourselves and isn’t that what life should be about anyway? If you don’t have time that’s fine too. Life is about spending it however way you want. If that includes changing interests every few days/weeks/months then more joy to you in your pursuit!
  • I was having lunch with a friend who is working a side hustle. There are a lot of things to think about when you start a business and even more work when you’re doing it on the side while maintaining your current work load. Here are some things to think about when you’re working your magic.
  • Since I kinda live in a bubble (majority of my friends are progressive and partisan), I tend to not meet people who are in support of Mr. Trump. With that context, it helps to realize that with any situation where you have disagreement, it helps to ease people onto an exit strategy so that they have room to move in that direction. When you box people into a corner, it’s more common that they will want to dig deeper into their beliefs and fight. This isn’t about providing more evidence or facts/data. It’s about giving people who are in disagreement the space to change course without punishment. It takes a lot of patience on the part of the individual to keep an open mind towards this discipline. The urge to fight back will be overwhelming. This going to be a long road ahead after this election and it’s all a part of the process of unifying this country.

Thanks for reading/sharing! Let me know if you have any tips you care to share!

— Madalene

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 Edition v36

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Oh lawdy! We are IN IT! Are you wondering what I’m talking about?? It’s the day after Labor Day, which is the official start of GOTV and campaign crazy! Whew! I’m exhausted just thinking about it, but if you’ve been reading along with me then you know that this is what we’re all about in politics! I spent the last few days on a work trip that just reinforces the crazy that we go through in fundraising. I was in an area that was affected by Tropical Storm Hermine and I had donors coming to a retreat. There is definitely a moment when you wonder if you’re insane or even slightly out of your mind to recommend to your client that they move forward with flying through a tropical storm to make the event. It all worked out and that’s all that really matters!

post Hermine Kiawah

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • When I think about what’s ahead of me for the next 60 some days, I think about treading water and making sure that I’m doing what I need to do so that I can maintain a certain level of intensity. I know that I can’t sustain it beyond that because I’ve mentally prepared myself for this kind of insanity. Once the deadline is reached, I’m all about giving myself a reboot. Read Tanya Tarr‘s day in the life when she needs a hard restart (which I will be ready for post election!).
  • I’ve always believed that community makes you grow as an individual. You can find your place in it and you can also help to build the community into a stronger place for others. It allows you to diversify your thoughts and as much effort you put into it, people will welcome you into a support system. I think of it as building an ecosystem where everyone plays a part. Be unafraid to embrace the parts of you that people may not always necessarily understand. You are being authentic to yourself and to others for that matter. There will be times when you’ll need to conform to get along and in small doses it doesn’t have to contradict who you really are as a person. These are just a couple of tips that can provide you with the ability to empower yourself to do more.
  • I’m such a big proponent to knowing your why. In a big sense of the question, “Why am I here?”, it flows to why each task is moving towards progress of an even bigger accomplishment. I often explain to my team why I’m asking them to do something because it helps to show them that even though going through a call list is a big pain in the arse, it means we’re calling through to make sure people have received an invite and have an event on their radar screen. Small tasks = bigger results. Since the premise for all of us is to achieve bigger results, it helps to focus everyone with the task at hand. If you need ways to focus yourself, here are ideas that you can use to reach your goals and vanquish “monkey mind”.
  • Hey introverts! Looking for a guide to help you grow into your leadership roles? Extroverts aren’t better than introverts and vice versa. We need a mix to make a dynamic organization successful. Being the loudest doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the best idea, just like not allowing yourself the time to gather your energy as an introvert is not the wisest technique when you prepare to network. A little bit of one another’s best traits can build solid leaders.
  • Do you ever have to write fundraising solicitation letters? I do it quite often and writing in the voice of the principal, whether it’s the candidate or elected official or senior leadership of an organization, requires that you know their voice and tone when writing these “stories”. One of the more technical things you need to know is that an active voice does much better in getting donors/prospects to move towards action. Here’s a great test you can take if you’re checking to see if you’re writing in an active voice. It’s also quite clever!
  • Along the same lines of communicating what your organization does, it’s important to also understand your audience. You’re creating a narrative of accomplishments and goals as well as outlining how donors can contribute towards a shared objective. For non-profits, there are words that really resonate with donors and have been helped to move them to contribute. What are the 2 words after “please” that mean a great deal? If you said, “thank you” then you’re on the right track to understanding a typical donor’s psychology. Thank you is great, but it’s even more important to make sure you spell that donor’s name correctly. You don’t want to ruin all of the good work you put into securing the contribution to leave a bad taste with a misspelled name!

THANK YOU for reading/sharing and let me know what tips have helped you!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v27

Hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July holiday! I took the weekend off and ate my way through Boston while visiting with family. We’re into a new quarter and yes, I have fundraisers scheduled for this week! We only have 2 more weeks before Congress recesses until after Labor Day so there’s a lot to be done before the elections come at us full force! I’m doing a Facebook LIVE for one of my clients (America’s Opportunity Fund) on Thursday, 7/7 at 2pm Eastern to talk about how to get into government affairs and lobbying with Irene Bueno so check it!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Really great read from former Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on “What Should a Powerful Woman Look Like?” and in my mind’s eye, I think of someone who is a person of color (thank you President Obama) and also a woman. As I mentioned earlier, I was visiting in Boston when I heard someone say that in 2060, Chelsea Clinton’s son, Aiden would be eligible to be President (not verified just a repeated statement) and I couldn’t help to add that her daughter, Charlotte would be eligible before then as she’s the older sibling. Why do people always think that boys can be President when girls are thisclose to seeing a female get elected? Just like I hope to see more African Americans become President, I hope to see an Asian American as well and MORE WOMEN!
  • In the same vein about image vs reality, former NY Congresswoman Liz Holtzman has talked about her experience being a young woman in the 70s elected to the US House of Representatives (which I’ve shared with you in a previous post) as well as her journey of life as the US Senate candidate in NY and later, District Attorney and Comptroller. She’s a pioneer for all of us and I hope to never hear it’s “not a job for a woman” as a reason why a woman isn’t qualified for any position.
  • I get asked out to coffee a lot (I don’t even really drink coffee, ask me out to tea and we’re getting somewhere!) because people want “to pick my brain”. Where did we get this gross (let’s be honest, the visual isn’t that great) expression? It’s a term that we fall back on because we hear/use it so often for ourselves and with others. If you’re looking for advice, why not just ask for it? There are times when you just don’t know anything enough to ask specific questions because you haven’t been exposed to it. Better yet, when you ask for the advice, also offer to do something so that the person who you’re seeking advice from can see that you’re resourceful as well as understanding of that person’s time. Whenever you can have a win/win then you’re helping to achieve everyone’s goals.
  • We’re in the final stretch of an administration and what does that mean for all those people who are political appointees or staff whose bosses lost their re-elections? It means polishing up those resumes and getting ready to see who wants to hire you after working in public service. Here are tips you can use if you’re interviewing or hiring after the elections.
  • When in meetings, it can be challenging to get a point across when there are people or even a single individual, who likes the sound of their voice. I personally hate meetings because the consequence is that I usually get shackled with more work and they can go on and on if there’s no set agenda. I like my meetings in and out. Let’s get to doing! Alas, often times that’s not the case so you’re in a meeting where everyone feels compelled to talk and talk and talk some more. Yet, your boss has brought up a subject that you think you can provide valuable input – what do you do? Here are the 3 questions you can ask yourself to see if this opportunity is one where you should speak up or remain silent.
  • I have had many an intern work in my office so I’ve seen a lot and I remember one of the craziest things I’ve ever had to do when I was an intern was wear hosiery. Lucky for my interns, they don’t have an antiquated dress code to follow. What they do understand is that part of the reason that I never had casual Fridays when I interned on the Hill because I worked for a MD congressional member who could easily come into the office on Friday and since we lived in a more conservative time, the dress code reflected that kind of atmosphere. We understood that even though we were interns, we had to dress that way because it was part of the office culture and that summer, I spent a lot of money on white hosiery (don’t ask me why they had to be white). I bring this up because I read an article where a group of interns signed a petition and sent it along with a proposal to their manager on having more leeway with the dress code. Kudos for taking initiative, however not a good idea since the entire group was fired. In my office, when Congress is in session, it means we’re in business attire. You may not have appointments, but I might send you out to pick up a check or we might have a last minute meeting and that reflects on my brand aka my firm. My office has seen me start the morning with a more relaxed outfit and as we move into the day, I’ve changed to more appropriate attire to fit the meeting or event. Having a better sense of what the office conveys in its image also means understanding things as simple as its dress code.

Thanks for reading/sharing – let me know your thoughts by commenting!

— Madalene

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v25

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Hope you’re having a great start to the week! I’m getting ready for WIN’s annual Women Opening Doors for Women (WODW) and gearing up for MAY-JAAAHHH collection agent mode for the end of the quarter. We’ll soon be headed into 30 days before the Philadelphia Democratic convention and less than 130 days before the general election. If you’re a planner, then you know that we’re in overdrive!

Putting all of that aside, I want to express my gratitude for all of your support of the blog! I really enjoy hearing from you and getting your feedback on how articles have been helpful or have impacted your professional/personal lives. Thank you for reading and I hope that I can continue to be a resource! Feel free to let me know what types of articles you’re looking for and how I can be helpful.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • There are a lot of young people who work in politics and oftentimes, you start where there’s the most demand and likely that was in field. As you start to become more involved with the industry, you will become more acquainted with the finer details of each particular specialty. I do fundraising because it was due to my organizational skills that my manager/supervisor saw that I might be good in that specific kind of role. If you’re in field and you want to move into communications, you need to know the scope of work involved for that position. It’s not just being a spokesperson. You need relationships with media outlets and reporters, as well as the skill to write a communications plan. The higher the role, the more responsibility. How does this translate into changing industries/fields? You need to know the trends that are happening and you need to get into the sphere of influence of those who can make hires. Although this article was written with the perspective of an entrepreneur, it gives you the guidelines to which you can make a transition into a different field. I try to live my life by “creating my own luck”. It can be more challenging but there are steps you can take to give yourself credentials into another type of work.
  • I have a lot of friends who are getting ready to transition from working in the Obama administration to the unknown world of life changes. People have started thinking about their futures and preparing for new challenges. Does that mean something in a future administration, returning from where they came, getting out of politics/public policy for greener pastures (yes, I’m also alluding to making more $$), or is it all a mystery? It’s a time for new chapters – whether they be written for you or by you. How do you start thinking about all of these questions? It doesn’t matter what age you’re at (for those who may remember, I had a quarter life crisis and left politics) because you can always start a new chapter at any age you choose. This is your life – you get to do with it how you choose!
  • Last week I shared a great deal about self doubt and I’ve realized that optimism plays a critical role in getting unstuck, releasing self doubt and a number of other positive habits. If there isn’t hope that the work you’re doing, the person that you’re becoming, and the world is going to be better then we’re seriously screwed! Of course you and I will have our down days and that’s why you have built a community that will allow you to bathe in the negative for just that moment and help you rise again. Being able to enjoy the small triumphs is worth every second of victory because that will carry you forward to the next threshold. You’ve got this and YOU are a role model to not only OTHERS but to YOURSELF. HELL YEAH – you wake up in the morning knowing that the day can bring its challenges and you’ve got the skills and the know how to make it through. #winning
  • I’m a mentor to a couple of undergraduates who are enthusiastic and eager to jump start their professional careers (I tell them that they need to savor this moment of their lives because I didn’t think that 20+ years of post graduate professional life would get me to now – that’s for another time!). We’re in the midst of discussing their life goals and the basics such as how to write a cover letter and how to get through interviews. I’ve talked with first time job applicants as well as to more seasoned professionals about how to approach a job interview. Foremost, know your strengths – know them in and out and how to articulate them in examples. Know your weaknesses and how you can improve them. Most importantly, know your VALUE. Your ability to express your value to a company/organization also translates to how having you as a team member helps them to reach their goals.
  • When you take a step back to see where you are in the world, you can sometimes feel small. If you’re an intern, if you’re an assistant, if you’re a director, if you’re a VP, there’s always going to be someone higher up the ladder and you need to have the skills to be able to engage those people into your orbit. Knowing how you can be helpful to them is always the beginning to the conversation. This goes back to your value and assessing your ability to help others with your skills.
  • As a fundraiser, I’m constantly thinking about how much money needs to be raised by the quarter, the month, the week and daily – intervals of time that set up benchmarks. How about if we did that with our time?? The saying goes, “Time is money” and how true is that when we also realize that we can never get more time.
  • It’s a running joke that I like to exercise at the crack of dawn (running joke, get it?!). Anyway, I’m in a time out with exercise. My body has decided that I needed a break and I’m absolutely OK with it and I will be OK with it until I start to feel sluggish and really really cranky. I know all about the positive benefits and I like the adrenaline after my workouts. I’m just not feeling it these days and I’m giving myself the space to be OK because I know that I will get back to it when I’m ready. For those who are looking for the motivation to exercise more, here’s a trick that you can use to get you to your favorite physical activity. I actually use the same thinking when it comes to exercise because I prioritize it over other things, however at this point in time, my quality of sleep is beating out exercise.

What are you doing to bring value to those around you? Share your stories!

Thanks for reading!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v22

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I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. Memorial Day is special to me because my father was in the military. Although when I was born, he had already retired from military service, he kept in close contact with the people who he served with throughout his career. It also reminds me of how much I love the United States. It doesn’t matter if I’m at a sporting event or a gala, if the national anthem is playing, I will always tear up. I think about my dad and his colleagues and how much they sacrificed to serve the US. There was a time in my life when I thought that I would apply to West Point – my life would be completely different – I think that idea really came from watching the camaraderie through my dad’s relationships. I hope that our military and our veterans know that there are citizens in this country that truly respect their work.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Income equality is no joking matter but when you think about all the reasons that women aren’t paid equally, you start to wonder if it all was a joke in the first place. Here’s a satirical video of all the reasons why women can’t break the glass ceiling.
  • Sometimes your work life takes over everything and then a health issue makes the idea of just being alive a priority. Whenever work starts to overcome my life, I have to re-assess what’s really important to me. As I’m closing into my mid 40s, I know that I’m at the peak of my life – I know that life will continue to be fantastic as I get older, only if I take the necessary steps now to prepare for those later years. My body will tell me that I can’t/shouldn’t surf anymore, my health will tell me that I need to watch my diet and my brain will tell me to keep challenging myself. All of these things matter but the one thing that I need to do most is nurture my relationships – the friendships that create strong bonds and a support system for me and to the people I care about – my usual tendency is to spend time alone (which gives me the quiet that I enjoy) but that my making an effort to be with people who care for me as I care for them will also bring benefits in the long term.
  • As I’ve gotten older, I wonder why I didn’t do certain things when I was younger? Mainly, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about certain aspects of my professional life with a particular lens. Since I see myself more as an entrepreneur and a political operative, I notice things differently because my perspective has changed. I see more younger professionals taking the time to brand themselves more (something I never did as a young person) and now I encourage others to do it too! I’ve even taught a workshop on branding. Here’s a great article on tips to create a brand that works for you.
  • It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are in life, you’re going to feel down in the dumps and need a wake up move to jumpstart your confidence. “Power posing” scientifically gives you that jumpstart. Power poseHere’s me doing my best power pose. It doesn’t need to be this particular pose. It can be whatever makes you feel the most confident. Send me your pics of your favorite power pose!
  • I spend a lot of time sharing with you articles that matter to working women and I noticed that I didn’t really share a lot when it comes to motherhood and how it affects your professional/personal life. Partly due to the fact that I’m not a mother and also because so many women that I know in my professional life aren’t moms either. The ones who are moms tend to have help, in the form of nannies or relatives/grandparents in the area. It was good for me to also see how people juggle through a schedule of being mom, wife/partner, professional all in a 24 hour span – I think I would have an identity crisis seeing how this one woman manages life in one day. So many props to the women out there who live this kind of day/week/year. We all have our challenges and being supportive of one another by recognizing our different challenges makes us more empathetic to how we can make one another’s lives better.
  • I recently met with a young woman asking for career advice. She commented that working as a consultant you spend a lot of time hustling and that’s very true. Sometimes thinking about going on your own makes for a glamorous story and it’s a great goal to have if you think you will thrive in those types of conditions. What types of conditions am I referring? The kind where you need to follow up on potential clients, looking for people you can target who will be in need of your services in the future, marketing your services so that your work is based on referrals and recommendations, and actually maintaining a level of work product worthy of those referrals and recommendations! There are a ton of great things about being on your own. It’s your marquee and it’s also all the things that go into having it your marquee. Don’t let your fears of what it may be like keep you from jumping into the deep end, but also be realistic about what you need to do to be your own boss. Join me on the Arum Group Facebook page on June 9th at 3pm Eastern for a session on the joys and challenges of being your own boss.

If you haven’t already, please like the Arum Group Facebook page, join me on Twitter @madalenemielke, and snap chat at madalene.mielke. Much thanks for all of your support and I hope to see you on any of these social media platforms!

Thanks for reading/sharing!

— Madalene