September 11, 2021

Cardigans for Work

Disclaimer: This post contains affliate links

Whether you are in an office or working from your couch, a good cardigan can make a world of difference in your day. A warm cardigan can help you stay comfortable and focused. So, we have done the search for the very best cardigans for work and are excited to share!

Basic Black Cardigan

No wardrobe is complete without a classic cardigan. Every closet should have one.

Color Block Cardigan

I love this block color cardigan. It’s easy to wear at work or on the weekends and adds some style to your wardrobe.

Dokotoo Womens Fashion Open Front Long Sleeve Cardigans

This cardigan has a beautiful texture. It comes in several colors and can be thrown over a business casual dress or used to dress up some jeans.

Spicy Sandia Women’s Open Front Lightweight Knit Cardigans Long Sleeve Sweaters

If you are looking for something a bit dressier, this long cardigan is a great option. It’s super soft and has a longer length which can be hard to find in a cardigan.

Plaid Cardigan

Sometimes you need to spice things up a bit. This plaid cardigan can help keep you warm and stylish.

Long Cardigan with Pockets

This is another fall classic that comes in a ton of colors. You can dress this up or throw it over a tee-shirt on the weekends. The length makes it super cozy for a frigid office!

What are you favorite cardigans for work? What are your other work wardrobe necessities? Leave a comment and share below!

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Must-Have Work Wardrobe Finds from Amazon

Workout Gear for Busy Moms

June 17, 2021

Must Have Work Wardrobe Finds From Amazon

Work Wardrobe Finds From Amazon

Amazon is a great place to refresh your work wardrobe. Not only can you find affordable and quality pieces, but they also come right to your doorstep. You can also find wardrobe pieces that you can’t find just everywhere. Here are the must-have work wardrobe finds from Amazon.

LookbookStore Women’s Notched Blazer

This blazer comes in several colors and is a great way to spruce up any outfit.

Shein Bow Tie Blouse

This blouse comes in over 25 different colors or prints to match anything in your wardrobe.

Milumia Women’s Casual Top

Pair this classic top with a pair of slacks and a statement necklace and you will look polished (and comfy!)

JASAMBAC Pencil Dress

This is a timeless professional dress that you can wear for years to come.

Yogipace Dress Pants

Make the transition from sweatpants to work pants a little easier with these yoga dress pants.

Happy Sail Wide Leg Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits are a great way to look polished yet fashionable. This particular jumpsuit comes in many sizes and colors.

Pretty Garden Belted Dress

This dress is polished, professional, and comes in many different colors. Dress it up or down depending on your office vibe.

Ataiwee Women’s Ballet Flats

Every woman needs a pair of plain black flats. These are adorable, affordable, and comfortable!

Ninewest Black Pump

Ecosusi Laptop Bag

This durable laptop bag has several compartments and can fit any outfit.

If you are looking for other bags, check out this post.

Hopefully, you enjoy this list of work wardrobe finds from Amazon. Do you have any other favorites to add to the list? Leave a comment below.

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March 13, 2021

How to Annoy Your Mentor. Avoid These Mentorship Mistakes

Mentoring is great. I get no greater joy than helping someone learn and grow in their career. Some of my favorite memories in my career have been from helping someone move up the ladder and achieve their career goals. There are very few things that are more fulfilling. However, there are things that you can do to annoy your mentor.

Mentoring someone can also be incredibly frustrating. I’ve had my fair share of mentees either intentionally or unintentionally taking advantage of our mentorship relationship which left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Understanding what frustrates mentors can ensure that you have a successful and fruitful mentoring relationship.

Here are a few surefire ways to annoy your mentor aka things to avoid!…

Not Truly Wanting a Mentor

I can tell within minutes of meeting with a new mentee whether they are truly looking for someone to mentor them or they are just doing someone their boss says they should do. If you don’t want a mentor, that is totally okay, but don’t waste your time and someone else’s. That is a quick and easy way to annoy your mentor!

Before you agree or seek out a mentor ask yourself “why?”. What do you hope to gain out of the mentorship? Do you have the time to allocate to the process? Are you able to commit and hold yourself accountable? If you can’t confidently answer these questions, hold off on getting a mentor and wait until the time is right.

Not Having Clear Goals for the Mentorship

I want my mentee to get everything they possibly can out of our mentorship relationship. For that to be the case, they have to know what they want. I’ve had so many people seek mentorship and not really know what they want. Are they seeking guidance in moving up in their career? Are they looking to master the position that they are in? Are they looking to develop their leadership acumen? Without the mentee having an understanding of what they are looking for, it is really hard for me to help them.

Check out this list of questions to ask your mentor!

Now, I’m not saying that I can’t help you identify your mentorship goals, but it really helps if you have at least a high-level understanding of what you are hoping to gain. And if you aren’t quite sure (maybe this is your first mentorship and you don’t really know what to expect), just ask. The sooner that I know, the more that I can help you.

Not Being Flexible

Your mentor’s calendar likely looks like a jigsaw puzzle, carefully and exhaustively pieced together. One of the very few things that your mentor will need from you is flexibility. Not that your schedule is any less important than theirs, but if they are taking the time to mentor you, do your best to make it easier on them schedule-wise. Sometimes this means coming in early for a pre-work coffee or a lunch hour touch-base.

If you need to reschedule, work with them to find a time that works best for them. Try to give them as much time as possible so they have time to move things around. In a nutshell, being respectful and sensitive to their schedule will be greatly appreciated by your mentor.

Expecting a Career Handout

It’s obvious that people seeking out a mentor do so in order to advance their careers or business. That’s a no-brainer. However, one of the most annoying things that you experience as a mentor is coming across a mentee that is only trying to use you for connections. I’ve had a couple of mentees who that think just because they participate in the company mentorship program, they are entitled to a bigger position.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to use a mentor relationship to move ahead. I’m just saying that your goal should be to develop skills and deepen your network in order to get a promotion, not just expecting one. It’s up to the mentee to own their own career and take charge, not just sit back and wait for something to be handed to them.

Not Being Prepared

One of the surefire ways to annoy your mentor is come to a meeting unprepared. For every meeting that you have with your mentor, you should have two things 1.) an agenda (that you can send over to your mentor before the meeting) complete with questions/topics that you would like to discuss 2.) A status update on any actions taken since the last meeting.

You don’t need to write out a formal proposal, a few bullet points will work just as well. The key is to make sure that you are prepared to make the most of your time together.

Not Taking Action

This one is hands down my biggest pet peeve as a mentor… I’ve had several mentees over the course of my career that have simply not wanted to put in the work to achieve their goals. We would have a good discussion, identify areas of action, and then nothing. The employee wouldn’t take action on what they committed to do. They would say that they got too busy and didn’t have the time, or worse yet, just forget.

Trust me, I get it, life gets crazy. I understand that things come up beyond your control from time to time. However, repeatedly not taking action demonstrates that you don’t really value your mentor’s time or advice. Mentors mentor because they want to help people learn and develop. Therefore, not taking action is a slap in the face for them. Take action every time (even if it is small action) and be the one to communicate that action.

What are your mentoring annoyances? Have you ever done anything to annoy your mentor? Leave a comment below!

Make Your Customers Love You

Customer service is one of the most transferable skills that you can possess. In almost every role, in every company, in every industry, you will have customers that you need to make happy. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to make your customers love you!

Let’s take a look at some simple ways to improve your service delivery and make your customers love you.

It Starts with Mindset

Providing excellent service starts before you ever interact with a customer. In order to provide excellent service, you must have the right mindset. One that is focused on helping the customer, providing solutions, and ignoring any negativity thrown your way.

One quick exercise to get in the right mindset with even the most difficult of customers is to imagine that every customer is having the worst day of their lives. This will help you meet each interaction with empathy and a focus on providing help.

What the Customer Sees Matters

Customers begin to assess the interaction within milliseconds. Everything they see from the moment they begin interacting with you begins to influence their perception. Meaning every little thing that the customer sees matters.

If you are in a brick and mortar location- everything from the parking lot to your own appearance needs to be paid attention to. If you are helping customers online, your website and online banking should be simple to understand and on-brand.

Positive Language Creates a Positive Interaction

Customers are looking to work with people that are confident, knowledgeable, and willing to help. You can convey this by using positive language. Ensure that the words and phrases that you use with customers are easy to understand and convey your willingness to assist them.

One way that this can come to life is always to look for a way to say yes. Even if you can’t provide a customer with what they need, provide an alternative solution that will help them.

For example, if you don’t offer a particular product the customer is looking for, offer to help them find something that could fit their needs. If that is not possible, offer the name of a competitor that may offer it. Seem strange to send your customer to a competitor? it may seem counter-intuitive but I guarantee the customer will remember your willingness to help and will come back to you for their future needs.

Know Where Your Customer Prefers to Do Business With You

Customers are looking to do business with companies where they prefer. They want choices. You can make your customers love you by knowing where your customers like to do business and having a really strong understanding of how to do business there.

For example, more and more customers are turning to social media for help. However, very few companies provide training around how to deliver a good experience there. Knowing how to show up for customers will go far in improving your customer service skills.

A Complaint is an Opportunity

Every time a customer complains, they are giving you a gift. Wait, what?! A customer complaining certainly doesn’t seem like a gift. But hear me out…

For every customer that complains, there are 25 others out there that won’t. These silent unhappy customers are dangerous because will just leave without ever giving you a warning. Therefore, every time a customer complains, it is actually an opportunity to learn about how you can improve the experience for not only the complaining customer but for everyone else.

Not only that but when a customer has a problem and you fix it, they become more loyal to you. They have trust that if something goes wrong, you will make it right. This loyalty will pay off in increased retention, lower costs, and increased sales. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Note: I’m not saying handling complaints is easy, check out these affirmations for stressful days!

These are just a few ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience and make your customers love you! If you are interested in learning more, check out the Make Your Customers Love You course. This comprehensive self-paced course will provide more detail on developing the right mindset, learning what the customer expects and how to provide it, as well as identifying and helping upset customers.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE MAKE YOUR CUSTOMER LOVE YOU COURSE

What are your customer service tips? What makes you love a business as a consumer? Leave a comment below!

November 14, 2020

The Ultimate Gift List for Remote Workers

With the Covid-19 pandemic, more people than ever are working from home. Check out this ultimate gift list for remote workers to find the perfect gift for that special remote worker in your life!

These items are sure to bring a little joy and comfort to the home workspace.

Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, we earn a commission made from qualifying purchases.

Desktop Space Heater/Fan

Who can argue that it’s important to be comfortable? This little beauty helps you heat up or cool down at your desk, without being an absolute eyesore.

Echo Dot

An Echo Dot is a must-have for remote workers. This little gadget can serve as a radio, alarm, timer, phone, thesaurus, calculator, and so much more. I use my office Echo Dot on a daily basis. I listen to my daily news (that I curate on the Alexa app), listen to music, and even use it for a Pomodoro timer. I’m such a big fan of Echo devices, I have one in every single room of my house!

Yeti Rambler

Admittedly, using a Yeti made me feel a little bougie at first. However, once I used one, I can’t go back. First of all, they legitimately work. They will keep your beverage of choice warm or cold for such a long amount of time. Way longer than any other cup I have used in the past. But my favorite part of the Yeti? No condensation. No more water rings to deal with or wipe away. Plus, they are super durable, easy to clean, and last a long time!

Foot Massager and Warmer

Everyone deserves a little luxury in their lives. This cool little gadget is sure to deliver. It not only massages your feet, but it also warms them up! Perfect to keep under the desk on those chilly work from home days.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

One drawback to working from home is all of the potential distractions that present themselves. Noise-canceling headphones have made me so much more productive during remote work, especially with two little ones running around. When I really need to crank some workout, I put my headphones on and listen put on my Spotify. These particular headphones are high-quality, super affordable, and have over 50,000 reviews on Amazon!

Daily Planner

Working remote requires careful planning to ensure that you get everything done and that you are not overworking yourself. I love that this planner not only includes the typical spaces for to-do’s and times to remember, but it also includes reminders for meals, gratitude, and exercise. It’s easy to get caught up in work and end up working for 12-13 hours straight without taking care of yourself. It’s critical that you are planning mindfulness, exercise, and healthy eating into your day so a good planner is a must for any gift list for remote workers.

Desktop Planter Bulb

While it is tempting to have fake plants due to not having to keep another living object, well… alive, live plants have many benefits. Studies have shown that live plants can help increase productivity, satisfaction, and even creativity. This is a beautiful and low-maintenance way to reap some of those benefits at home.

Under Desk Bicycle

A lot of remote workers find that they don’t get the same amount of exercise at home as they do when they are in the office. It’s important that you are getting exercise in when you can. This under the desk bike helps you stay moving and get some exercise in while you are working away at your computer. It’s also small so you can easily tuck it away when you are not using it.

Personal Fridge

When I am working from home, I tend to have to hide from my family. Otherwise, they ask me a million questions and I end up preparing snacks for three hours. When I bunker down in my workspace, I need to be prepared. This adorable personal fridge allows you to keep your food and drink cold without having to sneak into the kitchen. This model holds up to 6 cans so it is a little on the smaller side, but there are similar models that hold more.

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October 12, 2020

Best Books for New Leaders

Are you a new leader? Check out this list of best books for new leaders. Sure to help any new leader gain valuable skills and avoid the pitfalls that many new leaders make.

The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan

Your first 100 days in a new position are critical. This book will help you walk through this important time period. It is filled with practical advice and downloadable tools and resources. It really intended to be more of a workbook than a traditional book. Work through it as designed and you should leave with a workable action plan to get you started in your new role.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

‘Start With Why’ is a book that every leader in every organization should read, especially every new leader. Leaders across the world make things much more difficult for themselves by not creating a vision and connecting their employees to that vision. This book helps you understand why a vision is important, how you can connect your team to that vision, and how to be much more intentional with everything that you do.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John Maxwell has so many great books for new leaders, with my favorite being The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. This book provides a great combination of inspiration and practical advice. This is a book that you will reference again and again in your leadership career.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

This leadership book by Dale Carnegie is an oldie but goodie. So much of leadership is how you relate and connect with other people. How to Win Friends and Influence People is a book that will provide you with very practical guidance on how to do this successfully. Not only will this book help you become a better manager but a better influencer in all areas of your life.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Patrick Lencioni’s writing is always educational but also entertaining. In this leadership fable, he writes about common team struggles that even the most successful teams have. As a leader, you are the coach of the team. It’s your main role to make sure that every player is playing their part. It’s imperative that you understand how teams operate at their core so you can recognize dysfunction and handle it quickly.

Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

Too many leaders feel that work is not a place for fun. That leads to a disengaged workforce very quickly. And a disengaged workforce leaders to an unproductive workforce. Reflect back on your own career. Chances are the times that you were most engaged (and likely successful) were when you were enjoying work. This book is a quick and easy read that will help illustrate why play and fun are critical for success.

Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

Great leaders know that they need to surround themselves with people that are smarter than themselves. They also know that they need to create an environment that brings out their team’s intelligence and creativity. This book is great at explaining these concepts and providing you with practical advice on how you can build this leadership muscle.

These are just a few of the best books for leaders. What books have you read that have influenced your leadership and success? Leave a comment below!

Check out the best books for women leaders!

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September 12, 2020

What is Mental Load?

What is Mental Load and How It’s Damaging Your Life

Mental load is a relatively new term for working moms. What is mental load? Simply put, mental load is all of the “stuff” that you deal with on a daily basis to manage your household and family. Mental load consists of things such as picking up dry cleaning, scheduling doctors’ appointments, making sure that your kids do their homework, scheduling maintenance on your car.

Mental load is all of the things that we (primarily working moms) are tasked with every day. And it’s a lot. In a study conducted by Bright Horizons, 86% of working moms say they handle the majority of the family and household responsibilities.

And that mental load is causing a major strain on working moms where 52% are saying they are burning out from the weight of their household responsibilities.

Let’s take a look at what mental load is and how it’s damaging your life.

Impacts on Productivity

It’s no surprise that mental load can have a significant impact on your productivity. If you try to do all of the things, you will likely end up doing none of the things.

Always having something to worry about, think about, strategize, and plan takes you away from the present moment. The tangible impact on productivity is immeasurable, but it is safe to say that it is sizable.

Just think about your own experience. Think about the last week and all that you have had on your mind while you were at work. How many times do you think mental load has taken your focus off of the task at hand. For me, it happens more than I can count.

Impacts on Career Growth

It’s no surprise that over time, this mental load will have an impact on the careers of working moms.

It’s possible that this lost productivity will eventually limit career opportunities. Perhaps it will make working moms less desirable and cause them to miss career opportunities.

What is even more likely is that working moms simply can’t take one more thing on, therefore skipping career advancement opportunities. There have been several positions that I have passed up simply because the thought of learning a new role or taking on more responsibility was nausea-inducing.

Over time these missed opportunities can add up. Say you pass up an opportunity every 3 years, that can be up to 5 promotions you will pass up by the time your kiddo graduates (and that is assuming only one child).

Impact on Wellbeing

Not only do working moms experience a negative impact on their career as a result of mental load, but they may also see a negative impact on their health.

For one, this unequal distribution of mental load weighs heavy on your mental well-being. This stress adds up and can cause anxiety and depression. Often times, working moms never feel like they truly have the time to rest and recharge. They constantly have something on their minds.

This stress can also damage their physical health. Prolonged periods of stress can cause headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, upset stomach, and even increased susceptibility to illness.

Impact on Relationships

High levels of mental load can also have a negative impact on your relationships with friends and family.

For one, your relationship with your partner can be significantly impacted. For example, 76% of breadwinning working moms feel that they are mainly responsible for keeping their children’s schedules and ensuring they get to all of their appointments, only 22% of working dads say the same.

That inequity can create a lot of strain and resentment in a marriage or partnership.

In addition, high levels of mental load can damage your relationships with your kids. Always having something to do can take bonding time away with them.

Understanding what mental load is and why it’s damaging to your life is important in understanding how you can start to reduce that strain. In our next post, we will learn some strategies for how we can reduce this mental load and start taking our life back!

Do you struggle with mental load? Have you noticed negatives impacts on your life? Leave a comment below!

July 3, 2020

How to Accept Negative Feedback at Work

Disclaimer: This post may contain commissioned affiliate links.

Ouch. Your boss just gave you a big ole piece of negative feedback. Your ego is bruised and you are shaken to the core. We have all been there. Receiving negative (or constructive) feedback is never easy, however, if you learn to accept negative feedback at work you can turn this into a positive and fruitful experience.

Being a perfectionist and people pleaser, I dread receiving negative feedback. My first instinct is to take the feedback personally which can eat away at my self-esteem. It has taken me a long time and a lot of practice to get to a point where I actually welcome negative feedback. I’m not going to say it doesn’t still sting, but I have realized that receiving negative feedback can be a really valuable thing.

Receive the Negative Feedback

The first step to receiving negative feedback is to simply receive it. It can be very easy to become defensive and shut down, which will cause you to lose the actual feedback that they are trying to give you. When someone is giving you feedback, just stop, listen, and thank them for the feedback.

Watch your body language closely. Nod your head, say thank you, and be truly sincere about it. They are giving you a gift and you should be thankful (even if they sound crazy). Even if they are not very nice about it, they are still giving you feedback that you can use to make yourself better. You could easily miss this feedback if you are defensive or dismissive.

Be Grateful

Always remember that the person giving you feedback generally don’t like giving you feedback as much as you don’t like receiving it. When they need to give one fo their employees negative feedback they have tons of questions and worries racing through their minds. They are wondering how will you receive the feedback? How the interaction will go? Will you hold a grudge? Are they giving you the right feedback? Will things change? All of these questions and more are likely running through their heads before they give you feedback.

So even though they don’t enjoy giving you feedback, they still are. The reason that they are giving you feedback is that they want you to improve. They are doing an uncomfortable thing to make sure that you have the opportunity to improve. That is certainly something to be grateful for.

Ask Clarifying Questions

When receiving negative feedback, make sure to ask clarifying questions to ensure that you are crystal clear on what they are trying to tell you. You should also ask for specific examples when applicable and take notes so you remember details.

“Thank you very much for the feedback, do you happen to have an example of when this happened?”

The more specific that you can encourage them to be, the more likely you will be able to improve.

I would encourage you to be very careful when asking questions to not come off defensive or accusatory. The person giving feedback will likely be looking for such defensiveness so that means you will need to be extra careful to not show that.

Make an Action Plan

Given that someone gave you the gift of feedback, you should make a plan for how to take action. Don’t let that gift go unopened.

If possible, let the person providing feedback know that you plan on taking feedback and have completed an action plan. This will show them that you appreciate the feedback and are taking it seriously, which will make them more likely to give you feedback in the future. Don’t be afraid to ask the person giving you feedback to be involved in your action plan. If they gave you the feedback in the first place, they may be interested in helping you develop against that action plan. Just be sensitive to their time and capacity.

In addition, having an action plan will hold you accountable for actually taking action on the feedback. If you have a plan and share that plan with others, it will be difficult to back out of it.

Tip: When you are making a plan you can set goals using the S.M.A.R.T goals framework to make your plan more effective.

Pay it Forward

Having a culture of feedback and continuous improvement requires the entire team to participate. This type of culture won’t work if it is just the boss giving feedback or a select few. Every team member needs to provide constructive feedback to create such a culture.

When you receive feedback, make an effort to pay it forward and look for opportunities to provide feedback to someone else. The more that you give feedback, the more that others will give feedback, and eventually everyone is comfortable with giving and receiving feedback. It’s magic!

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Receiving feedback can be really uncomfortable, however, having the humility to accept the feedback and take action to improve will work wonders for your career!

Let’s hear from you! Describe a time when you received feedback that didn’t go well. Do you have any tips on how to accept negative feedback at work?

32 Questions to Ask Yourself When Researching a New Company

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may result in a small commission.

Researching a new company is one of the most neglected tasks when moving through the job interview process.

Let’s face it, interviewing is a stressful and busy time. You need to get your resume ready, gather references, practice for the interview, prepare presentations, take the necessary assessments, coordination with recruiters, and on and on.

However, we’re going to show you how researching a new company can be simple and still be effective.

But first, why is researching a new company important?

Help in the Interview Process

The most obvious reason for researching a new company is to assist in the interviewing process. Companies expect you to research and learn as much as you can about them. They will ask you questions in the interview process and they expect that you come prepared with thoughtful questions in return.

Interviewers can tell who has done their research and who hasn’t. It is never a good look when a person interviews for a role and doesn’t care to research the company. It smells a bit of desperation and complacency (that sound harsh but it’s true).

Help You Find the Right Fit

So many people go into the job interview process with the mindset that the process is designed for the interviewer to learn about the interview. That is a false misconception. The interview process is just as much as about an applicant getting to know the company.

Properly researching a new company allows you to make informed decisions about where to apply and whether you should accept an offer.

I’ve seen a lot of people take roles with companies that they were concerned with. I can tell you that it almost never works out. I’ve seen people take jobs that aren’t in line with their values and they hate walking into the office everyday. I’ve seen people take roles at companies that had some sketchy business practices which end up blowing up on the media.

Having a good understanding of a company before you accept a role allows you to make sure that it is a good mutual fit. Never take a job at a company that doesn’t make you proud.

Help You In Your New Role

The last main benefit to researching a new company is that it will help you immensely if you actually accept the job offer.

We have all experienced the steep learning curve associated with starting a new job. You need to quickly learn as much as you can about the culture, organizational structure, the products and services, technology that you will use, etc. The more you can learn up front, the less daunting it will be once you actually start the job.

Where can you find out information?

There are many places that you can find out information while researching a new company.

Company website
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
Review sites (Yelp, Google, etc.)
Regulators (CFPB, Licensing agencies, etc.)
Google Search
MarketWatch
LinkedIn
Shareholder information (typically on a company’s website)
SEC Filings (especially the annual report, or 10-k)

Questions to Answer When Researching a New Company

Products

What does the company sell?

What are the high-level features and benefits of the product/service?

Is the product/service unique to this company?

Size & Footprint

How many employees does the company have?

What is the company’s footprint? Where do they do business?

Is the company a national or multi-national company?

Where are the companies main offices?

What is the company’s market capitalization ( market cap is # of shares x price of shares, a measure of how large a company is)

Finances

Is the company publicly traded?

If so, what is the company’s stock ticker? How much is the stock worth? (tip- save the stock ticker to your phone so you can track the share price)

What is the total of the revenue of the company?

What is the net income for the company?

Is there a division of the business that is more profitable than the others?

Is there an annual report available? (you can typically find this in the shareholder relations portion of a company’s website)

Structure

Who is the company’s leader? (can be found by a quick Google or LinkedIn search)

Is the company a division or part of a larger organization?

Is there an board of directors? If so, who is on it?

Does the company have a hierarchal structure or is the organization more flat (less leadership layers)?

Competitors

What industry is the company in?

Who are the company’s main competitors?

What do customers say about their competitors?

Customers

Who are the company’s customers? What is the ideal customer?

How many customers does the company have?

What are the customer demographics for the company?

What do customers say about the company? (on social media, review sites, etc.)

Values

What are the company’s values?

What is the company’s mission?

Does the company have a foundation or other charitable affiliation?

Has the company had negative publicity in the past?

Overall

Based on your research…

What are the company’s opportunities?

What are your company’s strengths?

What value can you bring to the new company?

Starting a new job is fun, scary, and a little overwhelming. The more work that you can do up front will help provide you confidence and clarity before jumping in.

Looking for or starting a new job? Check out this post –> How to Prepare for a New Job

May 30, 2020

A Simple Time Management Hack That Will Instantly Reduce Stress

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may result in a commission.

As a working mom with a full time career, a growing side business, two young kiddos, and a husband that travels most of the time, my life is busy. Time management is something that has given me constant stress over the years. That was until I stumbled upon a time management hack that has significant improved my productivity and reduced my stress.

And this simple time management hack is so easy that ANYONE can do it.

The Simple Time Management Hack

And it’s as easy as this… as soon as you get a deliverable or something that you need to do, you immediately book time on your calendar to actually do the work.

For example, say I get asked to prepare a presentation for an upcoming leadership call. Immediately upon being asked, I block out time on my calendar to prepare and practice my presentation.

Looking at the above example, my actual meetings or conference calls are shaded purple. My planning time is shaded yellow. As you can see, I have planning time scheduled for any upcoming deliverables. I also have time scheduled for other planning activities like weekly planning and weekly wrap up and reflection. Time is blocked off for things that I want to do like having lunch with my kids and taking a walk.

Why Should you Block off Time?

Blocking out the time time ensures a.) that I have time set aside to actually do the work b.) most importantly, it allows me to know that I have the time set aside. This allows me to relax a bit and focus on what is in front of me, versus worrying about all of the other things that I have to do.

See, I was in the habit of moving through my week taking more things and talking about doing work, and not actually finding the time to DO the work. I was in the habit of working late at night and on the weekends consistently.

Once I started immediately blocking out time on my calendar, I found that I could really focus on what I was doing in the moment knowing that time was already blocked off for other things. I got out of the habit of worrying about my future workload and I was able to really focus on the present. My stress level dramatically decreased, essentially overnight.

Another benefit of this simple time management hack is that I have enough time during the day for all of the things that I have on my calendar. I control my day versus others controlling my day which is a great feeling to have.

So let’s walk through a couple of things to keep in mind…

Use Your Calendar

This time management strategy will only work if you use your calendar. Planning out your day and week will allow you to control your time and budget it accordingly. Without using your calendar, you are essentially leaving your productivity up to chance.

Format of calendar is entirely up to you. Some people do well with a beautiful planner, some people do well with your phone’s calendar, and some people work well with a blank sheet of paper. The key is what works, not what is pretty or what everyone else uses.

Figure out the Required Time

The hardest part of this trick is knowing how much time you will need. Some things are easy to determine how much time you will need, such as scheduling a doctors appointment or meeting. Some things like preparing a report or cleaning out your basement can be harder to figure out.

For the more complicated tasks that you don’t know how much time you will need, book the time a bit earlier than you will need. For example, if your boss asks you to prepare a presentation for Friday you should try to book time on Tuesday or Wednesday to complete. That way if you need some extra time, you still have a couple of days to complete.

Over time, you will gain a better sense of how long things take and you can plan more accurately.

Ensure Other’s Protect Your Time

A key to ensuring this time management hack works is ensuring that people respect your time. YOU own your time, no one else does. So often, we let other’s control our time with their wants and needs. You need to take back control or your time in order to be truly productive. This means that you may need to educate people that you work with, employees, or even family members on protecting your time.

Don’t let people schedule meetings during times that are blocked off and don’t allow people to take you away from what you are scheduled to be doing. I know this sounds very rigid, but it’s necessary. People will only respect your time if you respect it first.

Ensure that people can see your availability (they don’t need details just whether you are busy or not) and don’t accept any meeting that falls during a busy time. If it is an emergency and need time when you are blocked, just have them contact you and explain when and how they need.

So there you have it, a simple time management hack that will help you control your time and reduce stress!

What other simple ime management hacks do you use? Have you tried this strategy before? How did it work out? Leave a comment below!

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