Tag Archives: productivity

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 v9

It’s SUPER TUESDAY – 13 states and one territory have their primaries and caucuses today – only in DC would there be a happy hour to watch the returns. If you’re a sports fan, you will see that today is the playoffs for the Superbowl, World Series, Olympics, Stanley Cup etc..all rolled into one. In my world that means I have about 8 more months before my vacation 🙂

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Washington, DC is a destination city. It’s a place where there’s a constant stream of people dreaming to work here. Sometimes people fall into positions, but it’s a high probability that people mapped out a strategy to find employment. In an earlier post I shared a great list to where you could find campaign related jobs (here) and now, my friends over at the Campaign Workshop are sharing advice on the strategy in finding a job. Combined it can make the process a little more manageable and can help in a more efficient search. Good luck!
  • As a manager or someone who is in a supervisory role, motivating your team is an essential part of the job. It keeps up morale and helps to quickly identify problems that may not yet have surfaced. I believe that every person has a different reason for doing things and although the team may be on the same page, everyone gets something uniquely personal out of the experience. So although the headline for the article is slightly misleading, it’s really determining how each of us should build relationships so that we can create an experience that motivates us to succeed.
  • It seems that DC attracts young, well-educated single women – check out these numbers! Which leads me to a piece written in New York magazine about how single women hold the most important political clout of any other demographic. Society has placed restraints on women and doesn’t equally count your voice unless you’re married. (I love my momma but she didn’t think I became a woman until I got married and just for that, I held out from getting married even though I was living with my husband for 7 years before we got married and even then, I eloped.) The policies that can affect change are dependent on this demographic using its voice. Not all single women are high income earners and in fact, many of them are single parents who are juggling paying for child care and earning a wage without the ability to schedule their work hours around when the voting polls are open.

Thanks for reading/sharing! Don’t forget to share you comments!

— 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 v5

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How many of you were up last night watching the Iowa Caucus returns? I had returned from a trip and was already tired from the travel, however it was addictive to watch the hours and hours of commentary. I usually don’t watch scripted television (i.e. reality tv) but this is the ultimate reality tv for me because it really is completely unknown to all of us the eventual outcome in November. It’s going to be quite an election!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • I often get asked why I started my own consulting firm and my 2 second answer is that I wanted to be my own boss. I’ve always been an independent worker so when I first began, I actually had to tone down the amount of hours I worked because I placed myself in an environment that kept me working ALL.THE.TIME. I never had a problem where I was distracted by working from home. So if you think working as your own boss in a non-traditional environment is for you then take a look at these suggestions about being your own boss.
  • If you didn’t know, DC had a pretty big snow storm last week where the federal government had to shut down due to travel concerns. The U.S. Senate decided to convene and lo and behold, it was a historic moment because the entire chamber was staffed entirely by women (the Senators, the parliamentarian staff, the pages, the floor managers – EVERYBODY!).
  • I think I’m a procrastinator, but my closest friends think I’m such a weirdo for saying such a thing because they have a different definition for that term. It does help to think about procrastinating in a positive way. For me to fully concentrate, I need a sense of calm & a bit of silence. I can usually tune out the tv or radio but if someone is talking to me, I need to step away for me to focus. I’ll take a break when I write to read articles and let’s face it, look up my favorite Hollywood columnist and then I can re-focus my energy to finish another paragraph. Accept it and don’t beat yourself up!
  • When you’re unhappy, the thought of leaving your job can be empowering! There was a point in my career when I would wake up and start crying because I knew that I was headed into work. That’s a bit extreme but the emotional toll was too taxing for my mental health. If you haven’t reached that point but realize that going to work isn’t your cup of tea, here are reasons why you should stay and focus less on the reasons why you dislike your current position.
  • If you’re interested in reading about the “New American Majority” then check out Brown is the New White, a book from national political leader Steve Phillips. It’s a powerful discussion about race and politics.
  • I’m a glass half full person with a touch of pragmatic reality thrown in for good measure. I tend to stay on the positive side of things, although I do recognize when things are going downhill. It’s fair to wallow in the negative, but I can’t exist in that place for too long. Here are steps you can take so that you can transform a bad day.

Thanks for reading/sharing and get a friend to subscribe!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v3

We’re experiencing an arctic freeze here on the east coast and all I can think about is warming up! If you got any spare sunshine and balmy temperatures, please send them my way 🙂

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • In the course of several informational interviews and mentoring sessions, I often get asked about how to reach out to a contact that has been out of touch. Of course, it’s challenging to keep up with everyone. Generally, it’s a good idea to have a kitchen cabinet of sorts to let people know of your career updates (it takes a village to get anything done!) so if possible, all the key people in your professional life should be a part of this list and it’s not so awkward to reach out to them when you have an ASK. If you haven’t had a chance to incorporate this as part of your professional updates, then here are tips to make it less awkward.
  • I tend to think in teams; whether it’s a small team of me +1 or if it’s a team of 100 and we’re all in service to an agreed upon goal. Getting feedback from past team members shows me why they liked working in this kind of atmosphere. They felt that we were all in it together. I may have been the leader but everyone felt that they were leaders with their own purpose to meeting the goals. When things don’t go the way you want (metrics are not met etc), you need to learn how to course correct and that means having tough conversations with people of the team to see how we can all learn from these kinds of situations. You don’t have to be a hard@ss to get your point across and when I’ve had these kinds of conversations, I take responsibility in how I may have played a role in the current situation.  Here’s how nice women can get ahead when asking the right questions.
  • With the start of the new year, there’s always a sense of optimism and sometimes that can carry us through the 1st week, the 1st month, the 1st quarter but oftentimes, it can wane and when you need a moment to get yourself back into focus, you realize that you can overcome low points of your life. Using these tips can help you move forward and feel like it’s the start of something new again.
  • A video to remind you about how you should define success! A common theme for success is its definition and by that it means however YOU define it and not allowing anyone else to tell you otherwise. #truthbomb
  • I’m a big believer in the WHY – Why is it important to do mundane tasks to achieve a bigger picture! This helps me to better understand and become more invested in my goals. Become enthralled with the WHY and you’ll recognize what’s really important to you.
  • The art of listening and speaking, otherwise sometimes known as having a conversation. It can be casual or it can be in a professional setting but no matter what, it’s important to actively listen and be in command when you speak.

Thanks for reading/sharing and get a friend to subscribe!

— Madalene

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2016 edition v1

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Happy 1st Tuesday of 2016! I’m such an optimist and even more so when it comes to “fresh starts”. If you’ve read the blog long enough, you’ll know that I’m an advocate for constantly evolving and not waiting for a particular time to get started but when you add the blank canvass of a new year, everything aligns to moving forward! I hope you’re having a great “fresh” start!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Last year, one of my closest friends decided to quit her job as the Chair of her department at an elite university to move to Africa and join the Peace Corps. Was this the right move? Only she can answer that question. She went through a lot of soul searching and preparation to reach this decision. I applaud her for leaving the comforts of the US (the ability to easily communicate your wants/needs, knowing the difference between luxuries and necessities, and going to a place where there isn’t a visible safety net of friends/colleagues willing to help in time of distress, but I’m sure that she will build that over time) and for putting her desire of living a life that she values first. I think I’ve talked about I’m not a fan of the word “disrupting” but there are times when it is quite applicable and in this situation, it completely applies. What do you need to disrupt your own existence? How does this change your course of action? Questions that can really motivate how you value your life!
  • When I talk with my friends/colleagues and they ask me how I’m doing, there are times they wonder if I’m the same person from the FB version of me. I always try to stay positive but you know, I like to keep it real when I’m with people IRL. Whether work is being a total drag or life is throwing me a curveball, I always try to find ways where I can keep a positive attitude (thank goodness for my multiple gym memberships!). Lucky for YOU, I’m sharing an article on how to improve your mental health! What do you find helps to give you peace of mind?
  • As a believer in “there’s no better time than now” to do something, I’m constantly calendering things so that I can take the time to assess. Why not do that when you’re putting your more mundane items into your calendar? Checking on your sleep, exercise and whatever else that will help in making yourself more productive? Here are 6 ways you can get to a better version of you and don’t forget, we’re not perfect so whatever incremental changes you make is considered a win – one foot in front of the other!!
  • Can you tell that there’s a bit of a theme going on in this post? Personal development through growing/disrupting/or whatever you wish to call it is all about living a life that you designed. There are circumstances that you can’t control but eventually, you create your life. There will be sacrifices and tough decisions but there will also be triumphant celebrations and milestones. Here’s one way that you can design your personal growth. Do you have others that you want to share? What do you want to learn so that we can provide that as a resource? I got an email over the holiday break from a reader about a colleague taking credit for the reader’s work. That’s a douche-y thing to do but alas, we gotta deal with those kinds of situations so I’ll be sharing those articles next week. Email me or leave a comment on what you think you need! I’m happy to share and let me know what you would like to share about your experiences with this community!
  • The DNC AAPI Engagment Desk along with the Asian American Action Fund and America’s Opportunity Fund announced a networking event to connect political campaign operatives/professionals to review job seekers’ resumes and talk about political opportunities in 2016 on January 26th. Get more information here and if you haven’t already, submit your resume for review for America’s Opportunity Fund’s AAPI Pipeline Project.

Thanks for kicking off 2016 with me and for reading/sharing and subscribing!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2015 edition v52

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WOW! 52 posts for each week of the year! I decided last year that I would make a commitment to do a weekly blog for work and there were days when I thought that I had nothing to share and that it was repetitive, but your comments and emails really encouraged me to keep posting. Thank you for helping me reach my goal and I’m looking forward to another 52 posts for 2016.

Here’s the 2015 final edition of Tuesday Truths!

  • I decided to take a review of the Top 5 most popular articles so here’s the round-up:

The Tyler Harber story which outlined the first time a political consultant was charged with coordination between a SuperPAC and a political campaign;

The 8 things I’m too Old for;

2 Surprising Ways You can Impress Your Boss;

Ways for you to Build a Meaningful Career;

and a tie between What to do when Your Assistant is Making your Life Harder and Four Fashion Designers who are Making a Mark on How to Dress for the Office.

  • There are a few things that I would like to incorporate into my weekly routine (where it becomes more of a daily practice) and one of those things is to meditate. I find that since I started taking my pilates classes, my breathing has changed to help with something strenuous and that includes when I’m working through a challenging conversation or calming my nerves after a negative interaction. I also know that when I have intentional breathing at night, I fall asleep faster so prioritizing the time to meditate will be part of my own self care in a very busy election year. If you’re a staffer on Capitol Hill, it can be a fast paced environment that doesn’t allow for a lot of solitary moments but there’s a group that meets at least once a week to help find a more reflective time during those busy moments.
  • We’re headed into the home stretch of the holidays and that can sometimes mean that we’re dealing with a lot of stress related to work, family and other sources. There are 3 things you can do to help manage your stress so that you can handle any day like a champ!
  • I am horrible when it comes to scheduling my “networking” time – the time where I have to spend doing drinks/coffee/meetings for the sole purpose of getting more shiz done for my goals. I’m down with meeting others to help them but when it comes to me, I would much rather hunker down and enjoy my French reading assignment, hell – I’ll even do the grammar assignment (I take private French language lessons so homework > hanging out at a social activity). I schedule according to my triage method (which I’ve talked about multiple times on this blog – search triage). I’m an introvert so social activities drain me and being over scheduled doesn’t allow for me to take a breather to recharge. I’m continuing my commitment to under schedule into 2016 so if you only see me online, don’t take it personally!
  • The last post is about readying your mind. I’m a glass half full (of champagne) type of gal so whenever I’m in a Debbie Downer mood, everyone gets a little worried about me. There may be a handful of people who ever hear me talk negatively (I hate being annoyed and I get annoyed with myself about being annoyed – it’s an ugly pattern) so when I need to “shake it off”, I remind myself of these tips to think positively. Most of life is about attitude and I’m my own favorite cheerleader.

Enjoy the last few days of 2015 and I’ll see you next Tuesday for the 1st edition of Tuesday Truths 2016! Thank you for reading/sharing and if you haven’t already, subscribe and tell a friend!

— Madalene

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2015 edition v51

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We’re rounding up the end of the year and I’m officially starting my stay-cation 🙂 I’ve got a bit of travel coming up in January so I’m relishing the time of staying put. I hope that you’re spending the holiday season doing more than your fair share of self care as well as taking care of your loved ones. Sometimes, we forget to take a breather for ourselves to make ourselves happy. So if that means, saying no to social requests or giving yourself a break to exercise or get a massage, you do you!

Here’s Tuesday Truths!

  • As I reflect on this past year, there are certainly things that I would like to forward into next year as part of my to-do list. I’m one blog post shy of completely posting for a full 52 weeks (a year!) and there are times when I’m not fully prepared or planned out the blog but as the saying goes, “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good”. This article is a long read but it’s worth the effort as it helps to better understand the real reason why people don’t change. It’s not as simple as “Just do it” because as individuals we carry our own baggage with social expectations, how we represent our culture/background and the fear of the consequences of our actions. It reads for those people who need to help others change but it also pits those same questions to ourselves.
  • When your fear paralyzes your ability to take action, you will need self-reflection to help you move forward. Setbacks are a way of life and it can bring you a plethora of information to make better decisions.
  • I’ve been working with a few graduates in mentoring them for their post graduate lives. I think it’s safe to say that as a society, we’re focused on job title/position, compensation and the name brand of the organization in determining our dream jobs. One of the things that I’ve learned about working in the consulting business is that every client has a different level of quirkiness to them, which can be seen both positively and negatively. A lot of organizations talk about how unique their corporate culture is to other organizations but is that really true? The NYT touches upon the one question you should ask about every new job and how it can affect your professional life more than the factors who thought were important.
  • Are you thinking about joining a non-profit board? Here are a few things you should think about as you take on a leadership role. I work with non-profits in fundraising and having clear expectations makes for a more mutually beneficial relationship for everyone. It’s important to also recognize that the more society compares non-profits to corporations, the more frustrating life can be because these two entities are comparing apples to oranges. I couldn’t agree more with this article and it would help all of us to be reminded of these important differences and how we can change perceptions.

Thanks for reading/sharing and for subscribing!

— Madalene

 

 

Tuesday Truths 2015 edition v50

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This may be the last week that Congress is in session so there are last minute and well planned events on the books. I hope that you’re enjoying the holiday season and the promise of the soon to be new year.

Here’s this week’s Tuesday Truths!

  • Who doesn’t look for more efficient time management strategies? I’ve been using 1/2 hour increments to get projects done or to “think” on the creative aspects of my work. Here’s an excellent version of how you can create a similar scenario from a Google email request.
  • There’s always a risk in sharing ideas and presenting a project in its raw state to get feedback. You’re exposing yourself to criticism and commentary however the results of that feedback provide meaning to your creations. Using that information can better define the relationships between what is it that we do and the audience to which that work is created. Learn more on what to do with feedback from your work.
  • I like to promote diversity. As a woman of color, I like to see diversity throughout the leadership in organizations I support. Having worked in government and now working to help elect people who represent the U.S., I’d like to see that representation reflected in the halls of Congress. Unfortunately, the reality is that Capitol Hill is a very white place. Statistics show that communities of color comprise of 36 percent of the country and yet, African Americans hold less than 1% in the senior staff positions of the U.S. Senate. Organizations such as APAICS, CBC Foundation and the CHCI are working to get more diversity into staffing positions which leads to more opportunities and exposure.
  • I have to give a shout out to one of my former staffers, Chris Chan on his role at the Democratic National Convention Committee as Deputy Chief of Staff. After he served his time in my office (I actually kicked him out as part of my Empty Nest program), he went onto the Denver Convention in 2008 so this will be his 3rd convention since he also went onto working at the Charlotte Convention. Kudos to your progress! Of course, I can’t forget my good friend and fellow WINner Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno, who was hired to be Senior Advisor and Director of Government Relations – looking forward to all of the great work you’ll be doing! Read more about the new hires for the Philadelphia convention team.

Thanks for reading/sharing and for subscribing!

— Madalene

Tuesday Truths 2015 edition v47

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It’s an abbreviated week with the Thanksgiving holiday and I want to thank you, the readers for your support throughout the year. I hope that you find the posts helpful in your journey, both personally and professionally. Having you as part of the Arum Group/Tuesday Truth community has been fulfilling in my endeavor to create a forum that shares ideas and best practices. Thank you for reading/sharing/subscribing and for spreading the word about the blog. May you have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to sharing more Tuesday Truths in the weeks/months/years to come.

Let’s get rolling!

  • The holidays can be a time of great loneliness and sometimes you need to remind yourself that you can take control of your life. It takes a great deal of mental fortitude to keep striving forward. Self reflection and a purpose are just the beginning to get you into a positive mental state. Here are 7 ways you can take the wheel.
  • Which leads me to self-esteem and how it needs to be nurtured. It can be an endless well but you need to feed it so that it will grow and allow you to feel that you can handle the challenges that life has in store. Sometimes the basics can really serve as the foundation for how successful you allow yourself to be – yes, there are circumstances personal to all of us that can be to our disadvantage but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be overcome. Self-esteem can help power you through difficult situations and that mental resilience can make a difference.
  • This article was shared with me by one of the blog’s readers who also happens to be one of my closest friends. She’s an extrovert well liked by her colleagues and it’s evident in her ability to bring a diverse group of networks together in her relationships. Being likable at work can be helpful as you move forward in your career, but as with all things use it strategically so that you know how it’s working to your advantage. Taking Jennifer Lawrence’s essay about pay disparity where she says, “I’m over trying to find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable!” – being likable is about an overall attitude because it’s always good to be a team player and being emotionally intelligent of others so don’t be afraid to step away from that demeanor when it comes down to strategically advocating for yourself.

Have a terrific and safe Thanksgiving!

— Madalene