Tag Archives: mentoring

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v18

WOW – We’re in the month of May!!! Can you believe it?? It also means that we’re celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (#APAHM2016). This week is particularly busy because although the House is out of session, we’ve got Asian Prom and so so so many events throughout the week and the month. I love my people!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • This week is also Week of WIN! What does that mean? It means YOU have a whole week to get to know more about WIN and to get involved in all of the great activities! Learn more here. On May 7th at 11am Eastern, I’ll be conducting a fundraising training as part of Week of WIN so RSVP here. There may also be some Facebook live action on my Facebook work page. TUNE IN!
  • As a professional woman, I like to think that I get treated in the same manner as my male colleagues. When you’re in a senior leadership role, it can be daunting to be one of the boys and the question always remains of whether or not you’re ever really accepted as part of the cool crowd. When it’s in doubt, don’t be afraid to assert yourself. I don’t watch morning television, however I couldn’t help but notice the brouhaha over the announcement of Michael Strahan’s departure from Live With Kelly and Michael. Office politics playing out on national news is never good and of course, I’m not privy to the internal workings of network programming, however it was a clear example of how women are treated in senior leadership and the repercussions of asserting your authority. It’s a high cost of being a woman in charge.
  • I think I have a theme here about women being in charge! Another issue that women in charge face is a higher scrutiny of their mistakes. We’re not perfect people – no gender is – and yet, women are more criticized when mistakes happen. When men dominate across a majority of industries, it’s a challenge for women to go beyond the negative descriptions when we’re in leadership positions. Gender stereotypes only deepen criticism.
  • Since we’re in #APAHM2016 mode, learn more about the AAPI community and bust the model minority myth! Although I’m an active member of this community, I learned a great deal about how to combat the stereotypes and not fall into generalizations about my community. The more you know!
  • I first met Frank Wu when he was in DC and he would support the campaigns of my clients. He continues to give sage advice to AAPI young professionals in one of his recent Huffington Post articles. I think it should be required reading for any AAPI who is starting their professional career regardless of their choice of industry. Read up!
  • I have a lot of colleagues in the political fundraising space that are women and often times, we maybe the sole female in senior leadership on a campaign. It could be perceived that women are better at it (I like to think that women are great at everything!) and KQED even did a story on Why do Women Dominate Political Fundraising. I have a lot of ideas about it that I can share at a later time.

Thanks for sharing/reading – tell what you’re up to this week!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v17

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Can you believe it’s the last week of April?? In a month’s time, we’ll be in the unofficial throes of Summer and campaign season will be crazy busy. We’ve got lots going on and we’re optimistic for what the rest of the year brings. I’ve also been having fun with Snap Chat so if you’re inclined to snap – add me: madalene.mielke!

Here’s Tuesday Truths:

  • Are you considered the note taker during your meetings? On big meetings, there are sometimes multiple note takers to make sure that everything gets covered because topics can go fast and furious. Junior staff in my office are usually given that task when I take them to meetings and the more meticulous those notes, chances are that you would have captured the essence of the meeting (discussion, action items & deadlines etc.). Some may think that this is a mundane task when in fact, it’s a critical piece of having a successful meeting. It’s a great example of how well you’re listening, and how quickly you can process information. Here’s an outline that you can follow to help you gain structure in your note taking. If you’re taking notes for yourself during meetings, knowing how you best recall notes can help you reach goals quicker when you recognize how all the parties involved are reaching their goals.
  • There are days when I like that I’m a boutique consulting firm and days when I wonder if I would like to have a flurry of people in my office working for me like in days past. As I celebrate 20+ years of working in politics, I recognize the things that I will subject myself to for clients. I still have a bit of idealism that keeps me passionate about working in this space and here’s the thing, I also know what I don’t want to do in my line of work and that comes from having done it for so long. I enjoy working with my colleagues and helping those who are new to the consulting business in their search for clients. Do I foresee my career continuing in this field? Yes, however in a different composition of my own choosing. When you’ve reached a career that spans decades, you’ve earned the right to make those kind of choices and reinvention has never looked so good.
  • I thank my momma everyday for giving me genes to maintain a youthful appearance. Fortunately, I work in DC where the saying goes, “We’re Hollywood for ugly people” so my looks don’t necessarily take center stage when it comes to my work. That’s not to say that my youthful appearance hasn’t been a source of contention. DC has a lot of young people – A LOT – so when you’re mistaken for a staff assistant or someone with a lesser title because you look young, it can be a blessing or a curse. Campaigns are made for young people with distinguished titles (“titles are free” but are your responsibilities and compensation = senior leadership). You can have a campaign manager overseeing a multi million dollar budget and still be in your 30s. I remember when I was in my early 30s and at that point, already a veteran of several campaigns and I had already started my consulting business that a slightly older, but not that much older male statewide elected official commented that they couldn’t envision me having managed staff (!!). OOOHHHH – KKKAAAAYYYY Was that a commentary on his lack of knowledge of my skills or his astonishment that I was older than what I appeared? My friends and I are relatively in the same age range and in fact, I don’t even know their specific ages unless they decide that they want to celebrate their birthdays with a number. I don’t base my opinions of people on that really inconsequential number because it’s about the level of experience that gets my motor running. It’s exciting to me to see a young person who has accomplished their goals and doing things that people double their age have never done and it’s equally important when I talk with an older woman who has done so much and is still creating their own set of rules. Comparisons come into play and life experiences only mean something when you’ve actually had a chance to experience life. Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re wise. No matter the age, it means that you’ve done or you’re doing something with your life and I’ll respect anyone who can share their stories. In a professional setting, older women are pushed aside because they’re no longer seen as assets when their life experiences certainly amount to wisdom. It’s not the age that matters but what you’ve done with your life that does.
  • When I talked about titles being free, I really meant it. Of course, that’s a totally different post on negotiation but what it also means is that your title doesn’t earn you respect either.  Leaders are made through their actions and how well you treat your peers and the people on your team have direct and indirect consequences. My former staff will readily admit that I’m a tough boss. I demand excellence but also understand when mistakes are made (we’re not perfect) and they know that I will have their backs. If we screw up something for a client, it ultimately falls on me because the buck really does stop at my desk. My office culture is that I want you to succeed, whether it’s in my office or after you leave. I may or may not be able to help you do your next job but I can certainly impart the sentiment that we’re always there to help one another. There’s an unofficial mantra that once you’ve worked for me (and performed well) that you will always be a part of my network and that each former staffer is responsible for the next generation or the many, many generations after.
  • Last week I went to a reception where I saw my old boss, Chef Bob Kinkead receive the Duke Zeibert award from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. This award is given to a person who has contributed to the success of DC’s restaurant industry. He has countless former staff all over the area enhancing the dining experience of those visiting or living in our nation’s capital. I have so much respect for those who work in the hospitality industry because no matter how well your day may be going, someone walking into the restaurant may be having a craptastic day and your job is to make them happy. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out but when you have great service, a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food, you’ll have a winning combination to turn that person’s day around. Did you know that I used to be a restaurant manager at a James Beard winning chef’s restaurant where the owner was also a winner of Restauranteur of the Year? Yeah, there’s a lot of expectation with that kind of reputation! Which leads me to sharing the profile of Maria Trabocchi. She’s the co-owner of Fiola, Fiola Mare, Casa Luca and many many more soon to open restaurants. Fiona recently celebrated their 5th anniversary and it’s one of my favorite restaurants in town. I’ve talked about her restaurants on my personal blog because the food is delicious and the way they treat their customers is equally fantastic. I rang in 2016 at Fiola Mare, spent many anniversaries and other celebratory events at Fiola and have had fundraising dinners at Casa Luca. Treat your customers well and they will reward you in so many different ways. It’s a lesson that Maria teaches everyday.

Thanks for reading/sharing and tell me your thoughts by emailing me or in the comments!

— Madalene

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v16

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This is one hellacious week! Why?! By the end of the week, I would have had to deal with 8 fundraisers in a span of 5 days. Luckily, I only have another round (next week!) of crazy before I get a breather to start it all over again in mid May. The joys of being in election season. But who am I kidding? This is the kind of work that I didn’t realize I wanted to do, so although the days can be long and the details can get tedious, I’m proud of the work that my team and I get to do everyday.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Whether you’re on your 1st job or on your 10th, your professional career never ends. I had a wonderful opportunity to work in a different industry from politics and that professional detour still reaps rewards in the form of personal relationships. There was a time when I thought that I had to separate my professional and personal time. Yes, there are definitely moments when I want the barrier because I want that work life balance thing, but what’s important is realizing that social connections through your work relationships shows that you’re more than just your job. It’s less transactional and more about building experiences with one another. Your network becomes invested in your success and who knows, there may be a time when you change your mind and want to move in a different direction. The essential habits you utilize will be there to help you transition to wherever you decide.
  • One of the questions I often get with fundraising or becoming a 1st time candidate is “How do I prioritize my relationships so that it doesn’t look like I’m being calculating?”. Totally understandable because you want to be authentic while also working towards building relationships with those who are influencers in their industries/constituencies. This question is also a basic question when it comes to networking. Having depth in your relationships with a few key member is more valuable than a stack of business cards of people who you met but don’t have a connection. You can boost your network by being strategic on who you network with but don’t confuse that with the attitude that someone who isn’t on your list isn’t worth the time to talk with or connect. There’s always your priority list and you being on someone else’s priority list.
  • While you’re out networking, remember to make a good impression! Engagement and interest along with authentic interactions can make you memorable when you’re trying to get to people who are better established or those who are your peers or just getting started. We’ve all been somewhere on the ladder so remember those who have helped you and pay it forward.
  • Working in politics and public service doesn’t necessarily reap rewards in your bank account but when you enter the private sector, remember to use this handy dandy tool to calculate the real worth of your job offer.
  • I’m a little eccentric when it comes to my work attire choices. I’m not restricted with the standards of being a Hill staffer so I have a bit more freedom when it comes to choosing my professional appearance. DC gets a bad rap for being stodgy and a town of many shades of black, grey, & navy but here are ideas of how to create your own rules for your next work day style. For the dudes – if you thought you weren’t included in the article, there are tips for you too so check it out!!
  • Continuing my search for people who create their own luck, I found Leiti Hsu, a former finance person (not the fundraiser kind like me but the real kind that you find working in the trenches analyzing companies as an investment banker) who transitioned into becoming a food radio host. Recently I joined Snap Chat (come snap with me – madalene.mielke) and found her on snap chat at @leitihsu. At the time she was in NYC at a food conference and later made her way to New Orleans (my 2nd home!). She was taking me on a culinary journey as well as showing me daily life in these industries. As a result, I wanted to learn more of her story and found this wonderful article where she was interviewed by Jill Filipovic. Leiti and I ended up snapping one another and it’s been fun catching a glimpse of her adventures.

Thanks for reading/sharing and let me know what you think in the comments!

— Madalene

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v15

With Congress returning today, we’re moving full steam ahead with a plethora of fundraising events. Time to raise that money! I’m also looking forward to being on a Mentoring panel this week for the Young Leadership Network (YLN) for the Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP). I’ve done this in previous years and it’s a fun way to meet people in the government affairs industry. What projects/events are you most excited about this week?

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Having Congress gone meant that I had time to do work and to assess how my year is going so far. I’m not a fan of “being busy” and I’ve made a more conscious effort to pursue other opportunities that are more aligned to my professional goals. If you don’t take the time to reflect on whether you’re living a life of value, then you’re missing out on times when you can be leading a fuller life. Coasting is not my nature so whenever I feel a little complacent, I know that it’s time to mix it up. I’ve always been a believer in creating my own luck!
  • Which leads me to there are less than 9 months before the end of the year!!! That crazy feeling that time is slipping away is REAL! Here’s how you can get a handle of reaching your goals. I’m a big fan of calendaring EVERYTHING – gym, personal appointments, health appointments and scheduling my life around those things so that I know if I’m really giving myself a chance to achieving work/life balance.
  • We’ve all got Decision Elves lurking in our everyday lives. It’s a risk to do anything in politics – you never know if the candidate you’re working for is going to win or if the incumbent you have is going to lose. Life has a way of figuring it out for you and it’s that mental game that you must play to see if you can handle the older version of yourself reflecting on the challenges you’re facing now. Everyone has a level of risk that they’re willing to take – do you fly off the deep end or play it safe? You can’t make everyone happy with your decision but for one person: YOU. Knowing of others who have risked it all and made it through is good for acknowledging the possible. Take a moment to figure out what you’re really willing to risk.
  • Decision Elves are related to the Choice Fairies. We all make choices in life in how we want to spend our time. It’s called prioritizing. You always make time for the things that are most important and that is ultimately a choice. My ability to improve my French is solely based on how often I commit to practice and I mean in a whole hearted way; not “the I’m busy reading the same sentence from my French novel a million times because I’m distracted and not really reading”. As I start to work on a project that means I’m helping an organization shed its excess to reach a tighter argument on why prospects should financially support them, it also highlights for me what excess I want to shed so that I’m running a more efficient life that puts into place the foundation in achieving my goals. Hmmmm…pretty powerful stuff when you start recognizing that shedding the excess really does bring you to the core of yourself.
  • I hear that a lot of you want to start your own consulting business one day and that’s fantastic! You’re probably one step ahead of me because you’ve started thinking about your business plan. If you haven’t then here’s a template on the how to’s. I’m going to use it to see if I can actualize my Korean spa. Find a mentor and network like crazy!
  • Whenever I do trainings, I’m always fascinated with learning all the new technology and the psychology of a voter. Polling certainly outlines the potential of a race and how certain pressure points are affecting voters’ choices in candidates. With states doing all kinds of different things in this election, it was interesting to read the forecast of election 2016 from this perspective.
  • In an effort to highlight more people who have created their own luck, I want to share profiles of people who inspire me to be as fierce as them – in business, in community, in life. I hope that their work ethic, drive and passion spur you to make your dreams into reality. Today, I’m highlighting Annie Choi of Found Coffee in Los Angeles. I’ve only met Annie once and it was through a mutual friend. I later learned that a work colleague of mine is also a patron of Annie’s coffee shop and that Annie’s sense of community is felt everyday (whether she’s there or not!). Annie and I became friends over Facebook and I’ve had a lot of fun observing her life with her team and her customers. You can read more of Annie’s story here. If you’re a fan of coffee and baked goods, you’ll want to visit the next time you’re in the LA area! Is there an inspiring figure you want to share with us? Let me know!

Thanks for reading/sharing and let me know what you think in the comments!

— Madalene

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v14

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How fun is it that today’s post coincides with my birthday?! I’m taking a day to re-evaluate, reflect and re-energize. I think most people would consider the numerical value of my life as “middle aged” and although it’s just a number, I know that I have a lot of life still to live and learn. Whatever experiences that I’ve gone through, whether they’ve been positive or negative have brought about tremendous life lessons. I look forward to continuing this journey with you and sharing how we can make the most of life’s adventures!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • This is basically the story of my life! As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, “I’m a Jill of all trades and a Master of nothing” and yet, I’ve managed to carve out a life that does a bit of this and that to make a professional career. So what happens when you recognize that you’re not good at anything particular? You create the totality of your portfolio to something that defines your success.
  • There’s definitely awkwardness when we’re going to networking events or receptions or just about any place where it’s required of you to meet people (maybe that’s why I’m an introvert!). I always believe that with a fair amount of practice and preparation, you can eliminate or at the very least, reduce the amount of awkwardness you face when you’re meeting people for the first time. Here’s a really great outline of what not to do as well as what you can do.
  • I’ve talked before about how staff can manage their bosses and how effective it can be to making your career (Devil Wears Prada). As a Gen Xer, I sometimes serve as a bridge between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials and regardless of where you fall into the spectrum, it helps to know that the tools used to manage your boss pretty much works in every instance. Are you a Millennial and your boss is a Baby Boomer? Learning about their preferred tools of communication is how you’re going to get in front of them and become a trusted ally. Same goes for the Baby Boomer working for the Millennial. It all comes down to communication and how best to message your point of view. I have donors who prefer to FAX me donor cards – they have the ability to go online and process their information but they CHOOSE to do it via fax. You know what? I love it! I’m going to take their money and it doesn’t matter to me how they want to give it. I still get it at the end. Being flexible and willing to provide the options to communicate how they see fit is where I’m going to meet them. It’s what is easiest for them, not me and just like your boss, you want to make life easy on them and in turn, they’re likely to do the same for you.
  • I believe in all of these things and I have to remind myself that it’s OK to not have all the answers. I’m certainly not the smartest person in the room and although I work by myself quite a bit, I also recognize that collaboration requires communication with a variety of personalities and leaders who can push individuals to throw out their best ideas demands that we teach leaders to create a safe space. I was doing a training in Philadelphia a few years ago with 2 other colleagues and while we were conducting the training during the day, we were also working at night to create content for our client. So we’re talking long hours and trying to be creative when we already put in a full day of work. We locked ourselves into a hotel room and just hashed out different scenarios. My colleagues were younger than me and I knew that I didn’t have the perspective of what people in their age group would want to see. Knowing my vulnerabilities and acknowledging them helped us to frame the objective. As a result, we were able to timeline a goal and get the project completed. It was my job to get all the possible ideas to reach the goal and set the deadlines to accomplish the tasks. What’s also important is giving credit to everyone because ideas that are equally invested and accomplished (good or bad) makes for a stronger team.
  • A really great article on identifying traits in people so as to better read them. I associate some of these types to the elected officials I work with and as a result, I have a better understanding of how they operate. It gives me a better sense of how I can present information to get the results that are more positive for me. Just like you can read people, they can also read you so whatever public persona you exude, don’t send mixed signals because then it creates confusion and you’re less likely to get people communicating with you in a style that you prefer.

Thanks for reading/sharing and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v10

It’s #InternationalWomensDay! Let’s celebrate those women who have made it possible for us to live better lives and continue to encourage girls to know their value.

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • I’m a bit of wack-a-doodle for getting up at the crack of dawn to work out, even on weekends, but I know that getting my exercise in the morning is the best time for me, otherwise it won’t happen. Sometimes it’s really hard for me to slow down because I know that there’s so much I want to do. Starting my day early allows me to extend the hours that I have to get the most out of life and as I get older, taking naps or taking a break seem like a distant memory. Here are a few ways how you can have seemingly endless energy.
  • When I once served as a mentor to the Running Start Fellows program, their main advisor Arnie Thomas told me that he thought I was meant to be a teacher and he was probably right. Although I have the technical skills and experience as a fundraiser, I truly enjoy my training portfolio that much more. One of the things that I’ve recognized in myself is that I’m a “sharer” which comes to a surprise to most people because I’m an only child (do only children always have such a bad rap?). Nonetheless, I like sharing whatever knowledge I possess to those who are interested in learning. If it’s not knowledge that I share then having time to volunteer on projects that mean a great deal to me is part of that teacher mentality. I may not know a whole lot but I know that it makes one’s life that much more fulfilling.
  • Every once in a while, I get into a mood where I contemplate the old adage, “What am I doing with my life?”. After 40+ years of living on this Earth, I still wonder if I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing or if I’m meant to do something else. To be perfectly honest, I usually get this way when I’m a little overwhelmed. For a time when I had my quarter life crisis, I wasn’t feeling fulfilled and wasn’t sure if I was doing what was right for me. Having the privilege of choice can create fear and paralysis. In the end, it always came down to what I was passionate about and having the belief in myself that I could do it if I created my own path. I know that I will continue to examine my life’s purpose for the foreseeable future as a way to check if I’ve gotten lazy and now I have the perfect set of questions to ask myself.
  • I get really excited when I see AAPIs succeed, especially in the political world because hey, I want to see more of my people engaging in the electoral process. It’s nice to see that it’s becoming more common to see AAPIs running for elected office and winning!
  • I first met Amy Dacey when she worked at the DCCC and I worked at the DNC so I’ve seen this woman in action for a long, long time. Well deserved article touting her abilities to get the job done as the CEO of the Democratic National Committee.
  • Most of you know of my involvement of the Women’s Information Network (WIN) and through that organization, I’ve had such a wonderful experience meeting young women who are doing extraordinary things. I want to give a personal shout out on this #InternationalWomensDay to the women (Katie Breslin, Christy Carter, & Claire Gould) behind a soon-to-be launched podcast called Beyond the Ceiling. They’re telling the stories of women who are making the world a better place. Catch their inaugural podcast on March 10th!

Alright folks, what you have up your sleeves for the upcoming week?? Share them in the comments or drop me a line!

Thanks for reading/sharing!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v8

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It’s been an eventful week as we execute plans for the Democratic primary and even though there is so much going on, this is what working in politics entails. Over the weekend, I spent part of my Saturday at The Women in Politics Institute at American University as a Guest Speaker at a Women & the 2016 Elections weekend session. It was amazing to talk with such a dynamic group as we discussed what it means to be a woman working in this industry as well as the challenges that women candidates face. I marvel at the fact that I’ve worked in this business for 20 years and have seen the demographic change to include more diverse individuals, but yet there’s still more work to do.  I hope to still be around in the next 20 years to see how much we’ve progressed. This class certainly gave me inspiration for the future!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • I’m excited to be participating at WIN’s Young Women of Achievement (YWA) awards this coming Thursday. If you haven’t purchased your ticket, get on it! I had the opportunity to meet quite a few of the 55 women who were nominated for their respective industry awards earlier in the month and they are all extraordinary people who make a difference in their organizations and the broader community as a whole. I made remarks that evening commenting that after reviewing their resumes, I wondered what I had done with my life because they were already well accomplished. As a result, this made me reflect that I could have chosen a better way to congratulate these women because I know that life is not about comparisons and that there are times when people feel that they’re falling behind to their peers. All of these women have seized opportunities and made it their own. I hope that everyone gives themselves the room to take it all in.
  • If you’re looking for ways to re-focus your journey, here are some great ideas to jump start your adventure. I recently met with a woman who is starting a new life (leaving her 25+ marriage, moving from a very well established life in a northeast state to DC where she hasn’t lived since her college days, no longer managing a household with a husband and 2 grown children etc..) and she’s ready to dive back into the work force and brush up on her social media skills. That takes a lot of courage and the mental wherewithal to take steps to change a very familiar routine. Life is a constant reinvention of self. I try to push outside of my comfort zone so that I can feel and embrace the fear. I took up surfing for that particular reason. Even with multiple trips out into various oceans, I still have my WTF moments and wonder why I put myself in these situations. I always know the answer and yet I still ask the question. I don’t want to be complacent and when the familiar becomes too familiar that new sensation creates a different perspective of how the world operates. Starting a new chapter can be exhilarating and downright scary but the water’s just fine – jump in!
  • A revealing article on how to have more presence in your workplace from Amy Cuddy, a Professor and Researcher at Harvard Business School. It articulates how much active listening creates a level of trust with your colleagues and staff. Important factors to remember when you’re working in your organizations!
  • With so many networking opportunities in DC, there can be times when you can’t seem to get beyond the small talk. Here’s to moving into medium talk! I thought the questions were great in engaging people. Small talk is innocuous and doesn’t allow for people to GET REAL. Do you have some favorite medium talk moments?
  • Regardless of whether you’re a Hillary supporter or not, everyone needs to acknowledge that there are crazy high expectations of women in positions of authority. Known as the double bind, women are constantly critiqued against a scale that doesn’t apply to men. It’s something that needs to stop and it begins by recognizing it in the first place.

Thanks for reading/sharing – tell me what new adventures are on your horizon!!

— Madalene

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v7

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It has been brutally cold the past few days and we got some more snow! I’m ready for Spring and in fact, we’re almost close to 30 days to the 1st day of a new season!! In the meantime, let’s snuggle up with Tuesday Truths (if you’re reading in a warm climate, send some of that sun and heat my way!)

  • I was at a meet and greet the other night and was asked, “What gets you up in the morning?” and my response, “Going to the gym”. It sounds a little wacky but knowing that I start my day with exercise, helps me to get the rest of my day in order. The physical exertion allows me to channel frustrations, anxieties and negative energy so that I can face the rest of the day with adrenaline and excitement about my morning accomplishment – pilates, quakes and shakes, TRX – I’ve already met a commitment to take care of myself so the day only gets better. What do you do to provide yourself self-care? Here are some suggestions to make sure you do what is necessary to take care of yourself.
  • Need help to build a habit? We’ve discussed breaking it down into small manageable steps so that you can see improvement every day. I am nowhere near perfect and I try to create an environment that allows me to succeed in achieving my goals. It’s not easy but 5 minutes a day and cues to get you to the next step can be game changers.
  • Living in DC, there are so many parties, networking events, meet and greets and general receptions that put you in front of a lot of strangers all the time. There was a time when I would walk into a room, scan for the closest food buffet and open bar and hunker down. Those days no longer exist and I end up barely getting hydrated with water and nibbling on a crudité because I’m focused on talking with those around me. This translates to a ton of time being spent on banal conversation along with those that really make a connection. It’s important to remember that any of these conversations can lead to something else. So how do you prepare so that you can have great connections? Let’s learn from Ari Shapiro, NPR’s cohost for “All Things Considered”.
  • A lot of my readers live in the Washington, DC area where the largest employer is the federal government, but how many of you know about the GS code that determines the qualifications needed for a job as well as its equivalent pay scale? Insider baseball.
  • There are days when I’m just not feelin’ it and those are the days when I know that I need to pull through with the best of my ability. I know that I can’t let the negative control my actions so I focus on the “glass half full” aspects of the day. Circumstances can put a damper on how you approach a situation and that’s where I fight for parity, but your attitude can get you mentally focused for the challenges ahead. If you walk in with a less than rosy disposition, you risk setting yourself up for failure.
  • When I was a child, I skipped a grade and that put me in the position for a very long time as the youngest person in the room. That also included when I was in professional environment and being the youngest person along with being the only female in the room with growing responsibility brought on a small case of “imposter syndrome”. Am I as qualified as the others to have an opinion, let alone seem like the expert in this subject? Don’t get me wrong, I still have a lot to learn but the years that have passed since I was a young staffer have turned to decades and I’m still around doing what I do.

Thanks for reading/sharing! Got words of wisdom you would like to share? Put them in the comments!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v6

I’ve had a hectic personal schedule of late and with the professional piece of my life also going full steam, it can be challenging to remember where I’m supposed to be and continue to stay organized! I heavily rely on outlook and google calendar to check and re-check my schedule so that I don’t double book. My to do list is on Trello and articles that I want to read later for the blog or for my own education are dropped into Pocket. What useful tools do you use to keep organized?

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • In my intro, I talked about how life is getting a bit chaotic. People comment on my ability to go to the gym and the honest truth to it is that I will become an angry person if I don’t sweat out my anxieties and push my physical limits. It’s good for me and it’s good for others around me to not have so much negative energy emanate from my being. That being said, I schedule my work activities and then schedule my gym work outs around them. I know that my evenings are generally tied up with fundraisers/work obligations and it’s nice to have some spontaneity in the evenings to catch up with friends should an opportunity occur. Who wants to spontaneously ask me to meet them for breakfast at 8am – really no one! I’m also a morning person so I get antsy when I wake up in the morning and there’s no exercise waiting for me. As of late, I’ve had a bit of trouble waking up for my 7am sessions. I usually wake up before my alarm and lately, I’ve been slightly startled when the alarm plays the lovely sounding Hawaiian music I chose to begin my day. All of this being said, I was reminded of my priorities when Randi Zuckerberg talked about choosing between work, sleep, family, fitness, or friends. I made a strategic decision to reduce my workload (it may not appear that way to others!) in that I would only work on projects that I was totally committed. If I had any doubts that I was doing the project for different reasons, then it was rejected. I was making room to do other things, such as my French lessons and even though I haven’t done as much as I would like, I know that it’s more a mental shift than the excuse of not having time that tells me that I should focus on work more than my other interests. I recently spoke with a friend who is starting her own consulting firm and we discussed it’s the feeling of guilt of not being accessible when others are working traditional 9am-5pm work hours. Those of us who have the flexibility should use it and those of you who don’t, I hope that creative scheduling lets you choose how you want to prioritize without the guilt.
  • Last week I shared the story about how the U.S. Senate was run entirely by women during one of the days of the snow storm that hit DC and it reminded me about how women have always had to fight so incredibly hard to get to our positions. It can be a double standard for us and even more so when you’re talking about women who are from underrepresented communities. We are often judged by our appearance and it’s society’s definitions that tell us what is deemed appropriate for our gender. There are days when I sigh in frustration and days when I want to tear it all down, but fortunately I get my act together and help where I can. This opinion piece by Catherine Rampell describes the daily lifetime(!!!) challenges that exist in a woman’s life and you start to wonder, when will it end?
  • I’ve been working with a few women who are at different points in their lives: a recent college graduate, a woman who has taken time off to raise a family and is now looking to return to a professional career, and an experienced political operative who is transitioning to another geographical area and wants to create a new network for herself. All very fascinating people who have one very similar goal: to work in a career field that allows them to enjoy their work and get paid for it! I didn’t have a career path other than find a job in politics after I graduated from Tulane. There was no grand scheme to be the next “fill in the blank” or the where are you going to be in 5-10 years plan. As a person who has had a career for 20 years now, it worked itself out – YAY – so it’s possible to not have a plan and still make a living! It doesn’t sound very together but if you want to get it together, you may want to read this handy guide. As I was reading it, I realized that I was really in the area of “accept that I’ll keep changing” mentality. I’m certainly not the young whippersnapper I was in my 20s and I’m OK with it.
  • I’ve said multiple times that I started my own firm because I didn’t want a boss. After spending years working for someone else, I realized that I had the ability to do things on my own. I didn’t want the structure of someone else’s creation. I worked in the hospitality industry for a James Beard winning chef as a front of the house manager and I learned so much, including the fact that I didn’t want to experience life at someone’s else discretion. It takes a lot of risk to dive off the deep end and swim – lots of people do it and find that it’s not for them. That’s completely a personal preference. To really understand your motivation about your career choices, you really need to ask yourself 2 very important questions. Keep coming back to the answers and you may find yourself in a career that was always meant for you.
  • Deep breaths – this one is a doozy. I break things down into incremental steps. I do it everyday when I fundraise because if I didn’t, I would be overwhelmed in the enormity of my goal. I’m sharing this article about mastering the art of setting goals in 4 steps. Each step is HUGE! I’m not ready to take this tact for fundraising but I may be ready to do it for a different project in my own life. Let’s be audacious together!
  • There are a lot of readers of this blog who are fighting the good fight in the land of nonprofits. It is a place that pulls at your heartstrings and during the good times, leaves you fulfilled and at the worst of times, makes you wonder if you’re clinically insane (#amiright?!??). It is a place where efforts to do good can sometimes but thwarted with the challenges of just running the place – can I get an “Amen” on the fact that I’m sure that a lot of you are working 3 different job descriptions under one job title and getting paid for the job description a step below you. This infographic gets it all right with the myriad ways that nonprofits lose their talent. Perhaps it’s best to check in on your own organization’s grade for each section and see how you’re doing great and how you can improve.

Alright folks, that’s it for this week – thanks for reading/sharing and let me know of your triumphant tales!

— Madalene

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v4

If you live in the mid Atlantic region, I hope you’ve dug out from #snowzilla2016! I spent the weekend enjoying the snowfall and utilizing the workout exercises I’ve learned to shovel 18″+ of snow. If I didn’t exercise on a regular basis, I’m not sure if I would have survived the herculean effort it took to get the snow outta of the way. Be safe out there! Let’s get to Tuesday Truths!

  • I sometimes get asked about my fashion attire choices and my clients will sometimes tell their staff to use my aesthetic as inspiration for their professional wardrobe. As women move further into senior leadership, it’s important to address your “look”. Depending on your industry, you want to have the right balance of what conforms to your profession while being true to your personality. Most people don’t even talk about what men wear to work or anywhere else. As long as it’s appropriate, people really have nothing to say but women have always had to live a double edge sword – feminine but not girly; power suit without looking too masculine etc..Female leaders command presence in their clothes and we don’t want our clothes to be a distraction to the ideas that we want to convey. Here’s a great article on how to dress as a woman in the spotlight.
  • We all have dreams that we would like to have realized. Having gargantuan goals means that you need to be able to handle all of the moments where you’re not moving forward. Setbacks happen and it’s what you do when you’re down that will determine if you’re going to reach each milestone to the top. We’re not perfect and there will be times when you want to curl up into a fetal position, BUT we all know that you have it in you to keep striving. You’ve got all the essentials to reach your biggest dreams – you just need to be reminded 🙂
  • Here’s a great infographic of how leadership has changed from the traditional style vs the collaborative style. In my line of work, I find that it’s good to have a mix. Utopia is not quite attainable. Infographic credit via

TraditionalvsCollaborativeLeaders8KeyIndicators_51eecf56702be_w1500

  • I am far from being a #Superboss but I do find that I’m a Nurturer with my staff. I continue to keep in touch with the majority of them, even though they may have ventured off into different fields from politics. They have access to one another through my firm’s alumni group and they continue to support one another. For a lot of them, I was their first “real” boss – the 1st job they had after graduating from college and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them mature and become “bosses” in their own right. They know how important it is to help those who have come behind them. If you’re on the road to becoming management, learn how to be a Superboss.
  • If you don’t already know, I’m a Democrat 🙂 and I thought it was really thought provoking to read this article about what makes Republicans and Democrats different. I have a few very close friends who are Republicans and although we have different perspectives on some issues, I know that they’re all good people. A return to civility could do everyone a little bit of good.
  • In need of refresher tips for searching for a job? Here are some ideas to make sure that you’re using the right tactics to get your resume into the right hands and how to get strategic about your search!
  • On the flip side, here’s what employers and hiring managers are thinking about when they look at your resume and references. Hire for what you need because trust me, it’s much less of a headache. I’ve made bad hiring choices so I’ve been down this road. It’s one that I would rather not travel on again. Heed these warnings and you may get more clarity on your hiring decisions.

Thanks for reading/sharing! Let me know about the best boss you’ve ever had and share what qualities you liked most at your job!

— Madalene