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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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One year’s worth of empowering ideas and problem-solving strategies from the women who make up Women@Work.


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One of the key benefits of being a member of Women@Work is access to the experience and knowledge of the other 1,753 women standing with us in this growing network. We highlight that expertise once a month with free skill- building, member-teaching-member breakfasts. If you never made it to one, don’t worry. We’ve summarized the breakfasts and included tips from the 13 speakers in this e-book. It covers entrepreneurship, LinkedIn, self-care, creating your perfect job, confidence, being a woman in a male-dominated field, leadership, inspiration, intuition, screwing up, grant writing, making a game plan and increasing energy.

And we have 12 more coming in 2017 in a series called “Straight Talk with …”. We’ll fill in the blank with success stories from some of the brave women in our midst who get it done every day.

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THANKS TO BLACK & BLUE STEAK AND CRAB FOR HOSTING OUR FOOD FOR THOUGHT BOOK LAUNCH PARTY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101: WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE QUITTING YOUR DAY JOBAnne Saile, October 2015 | Page 6

Women@Work Board Chair and founder and CEO of The Saile Group, Anne Saile, an entrepreneur herself, runs an Albany- based executive coaching firm that has helped senior teams and CEOs of multimillion dollar companies achieve results.

TIPS FROM A LINKEDIN MAVEN: IT ISN’T FACEBOOK, BUT USE IT RIGHT AND YOU’LL LIKE ITDeb Best, November 2015 | Page 8

Deb Best, principal and owner of Deb Best Practices, a human resources and career coaching company, is a super-user of social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

PLEASURE BEFORE BUSINESS: HOW SELF-CARE AT HOME CAN MAKE YOU BETTER AT WORKCarmen Duncan, January 2016 | Page 10

Carmen Duncan, CEO and founder of Mission Accomplished, has strategies for steering away from back-to-back meetings, but also taking breaks during the day and avoiding doing too much work from home.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY: CONVINCING YOUR BOSS TO MAKE YOUR JOB THE JOB YOU WANTGemma Allen, February 2016 | Page 12

Gemma Allen, Senior Portfolio Analyst at GE Power & Water, rewrote her job after having her first child and has made this process work for her and others again and again.

GOING STRONG: START TODAY BUILDING YOUR CONFIDENCE IN BUSINESSCathy Crosky, March 2016 | Page 14

Cathy Crosky, executive coach, group facilitator and organizational transformation consultant with Charter Oak Consulting Group, shares brain science and historical reasons women are held back in the workplace and shows how to make changes.

THE WOMAN IN THE ROOMAndrea Crisafulli, April 2016 | Page 16

Andrea Crisafulli, President and CEO of Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing and Heating Contractors in Albany, talks about the challenges of and keys to working in a field where you’re surrounded by men.

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP: LOVING WHAT YOU DO AS A LEADERDaquetta Jones, June 2016 | Page 18

Daquetta Jones, executive director of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, talks about loving what you do as a leader, and having both balance and humility while leading by example.

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FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION: THERE IS A GUTSY WOMAN INSIDE ALL OF USMarion Trieste, August 2016 | Page 22

Marion Trieste, co-founder and president at Red Feather Green Energy Development in Saratoga Springs, talks about acting from the heart in business.

THAT TIME I REALLY &$@#!% UPChelly Hegan, September 2016 | Page 24

Chelly Hegan, president and CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, discusses sharing our mistakes in an effort to keep perfectionism from holding us back.

3 KEYS TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY: HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHERE YOU ARENicole Nelson, December 2016 | Page 30

Nicole Nelson, CEO and founder of Live a Fulfilled Life, shows how to stop feeling so mentally and physically exhausted.

GRANT WRITING HOW-TOS: TIPS TO SUCCEED WITH FUNDERSTammis Groft, October 2016 | Page 26

Tammis Groft, executive director of the Albany Institute for History and Art, tells us how to go after grants and what you need to know to be successful.

ARE YOU A PLAYER? BUILD YOUR GAME PLANJan Smith, November 2016 | Page 28

Jan Smith is principal of Castle Rock Ranch Group, which helps businesses and individuals build, promote and protect their reputations. She is an award-winning communication strategist, known for her long-term role with GE Energy as the company’s director of communications and public affairs.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU AT WORK?Kathleen Pingelski, July 2016 | Page 20

Kathleen Pingelski talks about her journey from employee to president and owner of MicroKnowledge, Inc. and newly formed affiliated company ProKnowledge, LLC.

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Women@Work Board Chair and founder and CEO of The Saile Group, Anne Saile, an entrepreneur herself, runs an Albany-based executive coaching firm that has helped senior teams and CEOs of multimillion dollar companies achieve results.

ANNE SAILETHE SAILE GROUP

Anne Saile wishes she knew some of what she knows now before she started her first business. Like, you will be the person answering phones, filing and taking out the trash.

“You are it,” says Saile, owner and CEO of The Saile Group, accomplished entrepreneur, award-winning leader, speaker and author.

She shared these life experiences along with practical tips, such as get a separate bank account and credit card, during her talk Entrepreneurship 101: What to Consider Before Quitting Your Day Job.

Saile, whose career includes serving as president and CEO of Bellevue Woman’s Hospital – ultimately leading the transition of ownership to Ellis Medicine – has worked both with startups and companies that are moving in a new direction.

“The principles are the same, even if you have an established company going into a different line of product,” Saile says.

Having grown up in a family business (raising chickens for

restaurants), Saile says she knew from a young age what’s involved in running a business – and how much time it takes. She was attracted to Bellevue because it was also family-owned at the time.

To make it work, people need to follow their passion and do what they love, but understand why they love it.

“They should never start their own business to escape something they’re doing that they don’t like,” she says.

Develop a simple business plan and make sure you have enough money to live for at least a year if you’re going to go into it full-time. It’s best, Saile says, to ease into it from a day job so you really can see whether it’s something you like to do.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101:WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE QUITTING YOUR DAY JOB

“THE PRINCIPLES ARE THE SAME,

even if you have an established company going into a different

line of product”


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RESEARCH YOUR IDEA And then ask friends who will be honest with you to give you feedback. Do more research. Figure out the market, talk to prospective customers about what they would like, see who your competitors are, talk to your competitors and even become their customer to see how they do things.

DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO BE AN LLC OR A CORPORATION Get legal advice, accounting advice and trademark protection. Find out what kind of insurance you should have.

CLAIM A WEB URL, Build a website (or have it built) and get company email accounts and buy every ending of the URL that you can – .com, .net, .org, etc. because you never know who will come along and try to take your name.

GET A SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNT AND CREDIT CARD That you will use exclusively for your business expenses so that you can track spending (most likely you’ll have to use a personal credit at first) and learn how to use bookkeeping software.

A FACEBOOK PAGE, A blog and a Twitter account if appropriate, and be intentional about what you post.

10 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU PLAN TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS

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6 DEVELOP BRANDING Have business cards designed and make sure that all information is exactly accurate (no typos).

DISCUSS YOUR IDEA With at least 10 different people to get feedback. Ask some of your smartest friends who have been in their own business to serve as your board of advisors.

BUILD A BUSINESS PLANDevelop financial projections including cash flow projections and remember that it can take 12 to 18 months to get your first sale closed depending on your industry. Develop a budget for start-up costs.

BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW LONG YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT A SALARYMany people who start a new business go a full year before they start making any income. While you are working, start cutting back on your personal expenses.

CREATE A MOCK PROTOTYPE AND PRESENTATIONFor potential investors or customers. Have any contracts that you will need clients to sign along with your brief introduction about your company clear in your head.

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• www.sailegroup.com• [email protected]

CONTACT ANNE SAILE

Be clear on who your target customer is and then run your idea for your business through someone you trust or even a small advisory board.

“People may see things you’re not considering,” Saile says.


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As someone who provides outsourced human resources and recruitment services to companies, Deb Best says being on LinkedIn has generated more than $250,000 in business over the last eight years.

That is a pretty strong testimonial for the social media platform.

“I recruit people for jobs, but I also get clients on LinkedIn,” says Best, owner of the Deb Best Practices. “It really is that wonderful multi-purpose type of platform, and you never know when you’re going to be looking for a job or hiring somebody. You just want to be on LinkedIn because you never know.”

But you need to treat it differently from other forms of social media, Best says. In other words, don’t complain about work, have a profile picture in which you’re wearing sunglasses, and stay away from hitting “like” for every post that pops up in your feed. LinkedIn is not Facebook. (And, she says, you probably want to be careful about what you post on Facebook, too, for that matter. You never know who is looking and forming an opinion about you.)

“People do treat LinkedIn like Facebook, and they’re sharing memes, they’re venting about the election, they’re venting about everything, they’re sharing

personal stuff,” she says. “That’s all well, fine and good, just make sure that it’s something that you’re comfortable with employers knowing about you.”

So what do you post on LinkedIn? Best says she posts things that aren’t self-promotional, but instead are helpful tips that come from her expertise in human resources. She’ll share posts from her blog or links

Deb Best, principal and owner of Deb Best Practices, a human resources and career coaching company, is a super-user of social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

TIPS FROM A LINKEDIN MAVEN:IT ISN’T FACEBOOK, BUT USE IT RIGHT AND YOU’LL LIKE IT

“It really is that wonderful

MULTI-PURPOSE TYPE OF

PLATFORM”

DEB BESTDEB BEST PRACTICES


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SPELL EVERYTHING CORRECTLYYour profile should be spell-checked and formatted professionally, just like your website. (e.g., you’re not one of the one million current LinkedIn users who have misspelled manager as “manger”).

BE CLEARHave a LinkedIn headline crisply announcing your product offerings or areas of expertise.

RESUMÉ SUMMARIZEDDo not post in its entirety. Include certifications and publications. Link to your blog, website, Twitter, Facebook pages. List all your skills to keep you in searches.

KEEP IT PROFESSIONALHeadshot photo should make eye contact. You should be smiling.

MAKE YOUR LINKEDIN URL PUBLIC To optimize appearance in search engines.

TIPS FROM A LINKEDIN MAVEN

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6 GIVE AUTHENTIC RECOMMENDATIONS To managers, partners and clients, before expecting them.

BE A JOINERJoin the maximum 100 groups strategically. Join all of the subgroups you can. Strategically add the LinkedIn applications (e.g. Portfolio, etc.) that make the most sense for your career or business.

STAY ACTIVEPost relevant, useful updates to your profile and to your groups several times a week, including blog posts and articles of interest to your audience.

PURCHASE A BUSINESS LINKEDIN ACCOUNT To increase your reach to source more business.

MANAGE YOUR LINKEDIN INVITATIONS STRATEGICALLYJoin LinkedIn Open Networker (LION) Groups, follow LinkedIn etiquette and avoid IDK (I Don’t Know You) and spam complaints from other LinkedIn users.

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that provide valuable information, and all of that happens to give prospective clients a taste – what she calls “nuggets” – of what she would have to offer as a human resources specialist.

She’s also careful about who she interacts with on the platform. When you comment on a post or like or share it, you’re aligning yourself with that person.

“Everything you do on social media is potentially co-branding, and do I want to co-brand with those people? I want to co-brand with everybody I respect,” she says.

• www.debbestpractices.com• [email protected]

CONTACT DEB BEST


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Carmen Duncan, CEO and founder of Mission Accomplished, discusses strategies for steering away from back-to-back meetings, but also taking breaks during the day and avoiding doing too much work from home.

CARMEN DUNCANMISSION ACCOMPLISHED

In 2015, Carmen Duncan’s desire to be successful was making her sick.

“To the point that I literally could not work any more than two hours without having to go home,” she says. “And my fiancée at the time, he had to wait on me hand and foot,” she says. “And I had to depend on him, which made me realize that it’s OK to have your people and to ‘use your people. You can’t do everything yourself, and if he wasn’t there, I really don’t know. … I just wasn’t taking care of myself. I was just so goal-oriented and career-oriented, and at the same time, wanting to help people because I was so focused on paying it forward because I realized I wouldn’t be where I am if they didn’t support me.”

Then she became part of a leadership program filled with professionals, and looking around at everyone else made her turn even more inward.

“When you’re in a room of professionals, I was able to see for myself as well as other people around me, we just don’t take care of ourselves. We don’t sleep. We don’t eat the way we were supposed to.”

Duncan, who has a master’s degree in social work and is CEO and founder of Mission Accomplished Transition Services, a nonprofit that helps people prepare for the work world, has since made self-care a priority. She puts “me time” on her calendar the same way she would any other appointment. She doesn’t schedule back-to-back meetings if she can avoid it. And she did simple things, like opening her blinds and moving her desk so she’d face the greenery of Washington Park, which is located right outside of her office.

PLEASURE BEFORE BUSINESS:HOW SELF-CARE AT HOME CAN MAKE YOU BETTER AT WORK

“If you can schedule a meeting

with someone, YOU CAN SCHEDULE

YOUR LUNCH”


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ME TIMESeriously, schedule time for you and only you! Be with yourself. Women spend a lot of time fulfilling many roles - wife, mother, friend, employee, mediator, sibling and more. The role of ME is important too. Designate at least 12 minutes per day to enjoy your own company; get in touch with yourself. Think about what makes you laugh and/or cry, dream and vision your future, think about all the things that interest you, brainstorm how you will make important decisions in your life and more.

PERSONAL GROWTHYour ME time allows you to strengthen your personal growth. The time you designate for yourself will afford you the opportunity to assess your personal and professional qualities! We are always growing as people; the time you take to assess your skill sets allows you to realize your potential and strengthen your quality of life. Congratulate yourself for all you’ve accomplished!

HEALTHYour emotional, physical, social and psychological health are CRITICAL to your ability to live a healthy life with unnecessary accidents or illnesses.

• Sleep a reasonable number of hours.• Schedule medical appointments.• SAY NO!• Exercise.• Eat healthy foods throughout the day.• Go to counseling.• Nurture and sustain positive relationships with people who make you feel good.

6 POINTS OF SELF-CARE

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PATIENCEHave patience with yourself. No one is perfect. Disappointments will happen. DO NOT “beat” yourself up about disappointments. Give yourself the same flexibility you give others.

TAKE CHARGE & STAND UP FOR YOURSELFBe the ADVOCATE you deserve! Get rid of toxic people, places and things! Say NO to toxic people, places and things. Take charge of the situations you allow to take up time. You do NOT have to be EVERYTHING to everyone. Reminder: No one can read your mind. If you need something, ask for it. If someone pisses you off, tell them.

HAVE FUNLaugh out loud, just because. Dance down the street, in the office or in the living room. Wear clothes and accessories that make you feel good!

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She also talks about self-care to others, urging them to make the same changes, so they’re not only treating themselves well but making themselves more equipped to handle their careers. Some people embrace the idea. Some people push back.

“People say they can’t, but really, it’s choosing not to,” she says. “If you can schedule a meeting with someone, you can schedule your lunch.”

• matransitionservices.org• [email protected]

CONTACT CARMEN DUNCAN


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Gemma Allen, Senior Portfolio Analyst at GE Power & Water, tells us how she rewrote her job after having her first child and how she has made this process work for her and others again and again.

Pregnant with her first child and in a high-stakes sales role at General Electric with a busy travel schedule, Gemma Allen hired an au pair and made plans to return to work full-time.

But when the baby was born and she was three months into being back to work full-time, a “moment of over-whelm” changed her job and the way she looks at work and life forever. Allen, now a Senior Product Analytics Manager for GE Power, showed us how to create a job that works with your life in a breakfast in February: Have it Your Way: Convincing Your Boss to Make Your Job the Job You Want.

Knowing she could no longer keep her current work pace and take care of her daughter, she designed a solution for her boss: She divided her role among three people, went down to 20 hours a week and created a role for herself that worked with her new situation. “I needed a role that was not customer facing, that was predictable,” she says.

And how did she sell it to her boss? She presented a solution and made it easy to say was “yes.”

Allen researched statistics and sat down with another Human Resources person to learn about other cases where an employee worked a flexible schedule.

Also essential was her reputation for delivering on the job.

“You have to perform – absolutely,” Allen says. “People don’t have to see you if you’re delivering results.”

Allen’s flexible arrangement worked and opened doors for others in the company with jobs that lend themselves to this sort of arrangement to do it to. She’s gone back to remake her own job more than once, she says.

“The solution changes over time as your needs change,” she says.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY: CONVINCING YOUR BOSS TO MAKE YOUR JOB THE JOB YOU WANT

“The solution changes over time AS YOUR NEEDS

CHANGE”

GEMMA ALLENGE POWER & WATER


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KNOW WHAT YOU DESIREUnderstand what your perfect day/week/month looks like… whatever your method (meditate, pray, journal, talk through with your spouse) draw/write/riff your ideal concept. Get specific on what you want.

EVERY SCENARIO HAS A DIFFERENT SOLUTIONEvery role, every team, and every boss is different… there’s no one ‘right’ solution for everyone.

KNOW THE FACTSWhat is your business work arrangement philosophy? Has a precedence been set in your company that you can reference? What data can you share that supports how the solution that you’re proposing will benefit the company? Can you show data around improved productivity, improved retention, improved job satisfaction etc.?

PRESENT A SOLUTION, NOT A PROBLEMCome with the attitude of “This is what I need to make this work”

FLEXIBILITY Works both ways.

TOP 10 WORK ARRANGEMENT TIPS

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YOU’VE GOT TO PERFORM EXCEPTIONALLYIf you’re producing knock-out work, it won’t matter that people don’t see your face every day... no one will question it.

NO APOLOGIES! You don’t need to apologize for or justify your working arrangement to colleagues. A flexible arrangement doesn’t mean you’re showing less commitment to the company, doesn’t mean you’re not serious about your career … be matter of fact about it and be a joy to work with. (If in doubt, see number 6, and feel better)

YOUR NEEDS WILL CHANGE OVER TIMENothing is forever.

BE COMMITTED To staying present, and connected with colleagues. Proactive use of the telephone, IM, and when you are face-to-face be a super-networker!

DON’T VALUE YOUR WORK AND NON-WORK TIME DIFFERENTLYIt’s all YOUR time, and you’re allowed to enjoy all of it… you are the curator of your life!

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• [email protected]

CONTACT GEMMA ALLEN


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Cathy Crosky, executive coach, group facilitator and organizational transformation consultant with Charter Oak Consulting Group, shares brain science and historical reasons women are held back in the workplace and shows how to make changes.

Cathy Crosky knows that succeeding in the workplace takes more than competence: it requires confidence, too. She sees first hand how lack of confidence can be devastating emotionally as well as career limiting. Women tend to underestimate their capabilities and often shy away from opportunities they deserve.

Crosky specializes in leadership development, guiding organizational changes and helping people through career transitions.

There are cognitive and cultural reasons why we hold ourselves back. For example, a “negativity bias” prompts us to remember bad experiences more vividly than good ones, but we can develop new habits that build our confidence.

CLICK THE REMOTE: Boosting your confidence begins with knowing what you want: Identify your goals and stay on the path to get there. It’s also important to train yourself to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones. Think of it like switching channels on a television: Shift your brain and get away from those negative, self-defeating channels.

NO WALLFLOWERS ALLOWED: Women should take up more physical space and to speak with a strong

voice. How you carry yourself not only affects how others see you, it changes your own perceptions, too: When you take up more space, you feel more powerful

and confident, and that colors your thinking and decision-making.

Yes, there’s an element of “fake it till you make it.” It’s part of challenging yourself and working toward your goals. When you project confidence, people will trust you, they will admire you, and they will follow you.

GOING STRONG:BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE IN BUSINESS

“Succeeding in the workplace

takes more than competence:IT REQUIRES

CONFIDENCE”

CATHY CROSKYCHARTER OAK CONSULTING GROUP


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BUILD YOUR BRAND Understand that confidence is a big part of your personal brand. No matter how smart and competent you are, if you don’t convey confidence, you will be limited.

DREAM BIGFigure out what you truly want in your life. Create a clear vision of your future. Make sure you stay on that path and build the “inner and outer” confidence to get what you want.

SHIFT YOUR MINDSETIs your mind constantly on the self-doubt, worry and/or fear channel? This mind chatter is a waste of energy and it has a negative effect on your performance. Switch to a positive channel. This takes practice and focus.

TAKE UP MORE SPACEWomen tend to coil inward and minimize the space they occupy. Men are typically more expansive which conveys more confidence. Your body language is very telling. Pay attention to your posture, eye contact, how you walk, how you sit, and your gestures. Ask yourself how you might show up in your body with more confidence and presence.

PRACTICE POWER POSESBefore an important meeting, interview or conversation go somewhere private and practice what Amy Cuddy calls “power poses.” In just 2 minutes, this will increase testosterone and decrease the stress hormone cortisol. You will feel a sense of power and your body-language will convey more confidence.

Watch this Ted Talk: www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=e

IDENTIFY YOUR CONFIDENCE LOWERING TRIGGERSMake a distinction between external forces and internal forces that affect your confidence level. Are you the one holding yourself back or is it someone or something in the environment that triggers you to feel less confident? Can you change your behavior or mindset? What can’t you change? What do you need to avoid? When do you need to take on a challenge and take action to move yourself forward?

12 TIPS TO BOOST CONFIDENCE

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TAKE CARE OF YOURSELFBeing healthy and physically fit does a lot to boost your confidence. The stronger and healthier you feel physically, the stronger you feel mentally. Eating well, sleeping well, exercising regularly and participating in mind/body- oriented practice such as meditation and yoga will help enormously to boost your confidence.

BUILD A FAN CLUBDon’t underestimate the power of a strong support network. Constantly be developing a group of raving fans both within and outside your organization. Find people who encourage you and support you. They will help you believe in yourself because they believe in you. Ask for feedback and a pep talk when you feel self-doubt overcoming you.

KNOW YOUR VALUEKnow your worth and advocate for yourself. Stop apologizing. Don’t be afraid to self-promote. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and need. Don’t stay in an organization that doesn’t value you or holds you back.

TAKE BOLD ACTIONSTo build your confidence muscles you have to take risks. Start small. Do something that stretches you and is out of your comfort zone.

ANCHOR YOUR CONFIDENCESelect an object or ritual to anchor your confidence. This can be an object on your desk, something you have in your pocket or a piece of jewelry. By touching it or looking at it and breathing a few times it can serve to settle you into thinking “success” and feeling your power.

SUGGESTED READING• The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

• The Confidence Effect by Grace Killilea

• The Confidence Gap - Atlantic Journal by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

• Mindset by Carol Dweck

• Presence by Amy Cuddy

• Rewiring Happiness by John Hanson

• Amy Cuddy - Ted Talk on Power Poses - www.ted.com

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• www.cocg.com• [email protected]

CONTACT CATHY CROSKY


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Andrea Crisafulli, President and CEO of Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing and Heating Contractors in Albany, talks about the challenges of and keys to working in a field where you’re surrounded by men.

THE WOMAN IN THE ROOM

“I see other women in

the Capital RegionPUTTING DOWN THE LADDER TO HELP PULL EACH

OTHER UP”

ANDREA CRISAFULLICRISAFULLI BROS. PLUMBING AND HEATING CONTRACTORS

“Construction isn’t any place for a woman.” That’s what Andrea Crisafulli’s father and brothers told her in the 1980s, when she asked to join the family plumbing and heating business. When they did finally bring her on board, she was paid less – she wasn’t a “head of household,” after all – and she faced criticism that having children would weaken her commitment to her job.

Fast forward to the 21st century and she’s owner and president of Crisafulli Bros., a third generation Capital Region business with a staff of 115. Crisafulli talked about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry at the April 13 Women@Work breakfast.

When she was given lower pay in her early years, Crisafulli accepted it to avoid conflict. In hindsight, she wishes she hadn’t. “If the conflict is there underneath, it’s affecting things anyway,” she said.“… I was willing to devalue my contribution to the company in exchange for what I thought was my peace of mind. It wasn’t worth it. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

In Crisafulli’s experience, the best way to handle gender in the workplace is to make it as much of a non-issue as possible. Her advice is to see

co-workers as individuals, not as women or men. Success in business, she said, is built by partnership: people working together to contribute ideas, experience and effort. Gender shouldn’t be part of the equation.

Crisafulli has made that emphasis on partnership a hall-mark of her leadership. “For me, it was about, how can we both succeed?” she said. “I don’t beat up our contractors for every penny. I want them to be successful too.”

Creating relationships, she believes, is the key to success in business. It’s something Crisafulli sees local business-women doing well. “Instead of pulling the ladder up behind them, I see other women in the Capital Region putting down the ladder to help pull each other up,” she said. “I’m really proud to be part of that.”


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DREAM Dream BIG! Write them down and hold on to them loosely.

DON’T SHORTCHANGE YOURSELFNegotiate your package based on your experience, skill set and market value.

PAUSEInevitably there are forks in the road. These are your opportunities to pause, realign with your goals, what is important to you and where you want to go next.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF (EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T)Sometimes you need to be more courageous than you thought you ever could be.

8 TIPS FOR TAKING GENDER OUT OF THE EQUATION

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TAKE GENDER OUT OF THE EQUATIONSee yourself and those you are working with as a participant, a co-worker, an individual, a stakeholder or contributor. Work from a place which is gender-neutral.

ASK FOR HELPYou will find people very willing to help you succeed if you are willing to be vulnerable and ask for help.

CREATE RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPSGenuine and authentic relationships are an essential component of success. Invest in them early on in your career.

DETERMINATIONBe clear in what you want, then have the courage and confidence to take the opportunity – and the persistence to see it through.

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• www.crisbro.com• [email protected]

CONTACT ANDREA CRISAFULLI RUSSO


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Daquetta Jones, executive director of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, talks about loving what you do as a leader, and having both balance and humility while leading by example.

“Accept thatSUCCESS IS

A JOURNEY”

DAQUETTA JONESYWCA OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP:LOVING WHAT YOU DO AS A LEADER

“Accept that success is a journey,” says Daquetta Jones, executive director of the YWCA in Troy.

Jones is giving Women@Work members advice about leadership and success – how to define it, how to achieve it and how to treat it well.

“In 2008, I asked myself, ‘What do I want to be?,’” she continues. “I decided by 2018 I wanted to be an executive director. And I’ve already accomplished that.” Jones was appointed to her current position in 2013.

Jones has a long and varied career in social service. She’s moved up through the ranks at Equinox, Whitney M. Young Health Services, Unity House and, presently, at the YWCA. But Jones overcame significant challenges before her appointment as E.D. – homelessness, teen motherhood and family strife, and putting herself through school. Those challenges helped shape her as a leader, especially since she now has a profound understanding of what it is many of her clients are going through.

Empathy is just one aspect of good management Jones cites as essential for success. Leading by example and acknowledging that every person

you work with is important, and that everyone has their own set of challenges and respon-sibilities, is crucial to being the kind of leader people respect and admire.

Jones adds that modesty is key, too; staying humble and not letting your ego get in your own way. Because once you do become successful, you’ll have a whole new set of challenges to face. Keeping yourself focused and your goals clear and up to date will keep you honest and effective.

Jones takes her role as a mother seriously, too. She says being a good mother means being a good leader.

“I built my career around my expectations of myself as a mom,” she says. “And I put my son before anyone else.”


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ACCEPT IT… IT’S A JOURNEY Success is a journey. Your journey begins with your defined goals/desires. It’s rewarding and empowering when you accomplish a goal!

LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND DO WHAT YOU LOVELoving what you do is rewarding and you will experience greater success.

LEAD BY EXAMPLEEffective leaders lead by example and embody the mission.

BE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVEPositive strategic change vs. ineffective/oversensitive responses to change or situations.

ACTIVELY PRACTICE SELF-CARE, HUMILITY AND BALANCETo be great, you must take care of you, be kind to others and find a balance between doing what you love/work, family/friends and self-care.

10 TIPS TO YOUR JOURNEY TO SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP

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EXPECT CHANGE AND CHALLENGESChange is constant; be prepared.

READJUSTING TO SUCCESSSuccess is a BIG deal and it can be overwhelming if you don’t readjust to success.

EVERYONE IS IMPORTANTNo matter what; treat everyone with respect and dignity.

A SIMPLE GREETINGSaying hello, good afternoon, etc., can be a positive influence for someone else… plus it’s just plain good manners.

EMBRACE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTSee yourself as a lifelong student. Take advantage of training, programs, events, courses and networks to enhance your professional knowledge and skills.

Be Empowered, Empower Others and Always Smile.

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• www.ywca-gcr.org• [email protected]

CONTACT DAQUETTA JONES


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Kathleen Pingelski talks about her journey from employee to president and owner of MicroKnowledge, Inc. and newly formed affiliated company ProKnowledge, LLC. Join us and share what inspires you every day at work.

Why do you do what you do?

That’s a question that can help you reach your goals, feel greater peace of mind and even learn to say no. Kathleen Pingelski calls it “knowing your why.”

“You have to be clear about that,” she says. “You’ve got to know your why. Or when you get up every morning you’re going to say to yourself, ‘what am I doing?’”

Pingelski knows her why: It’s to help others. “That’s what gets me excited,” she said. She lives it every day as president and owner of the Latham IT training and consultancy firm MicroKnowledge, Inc. and its affiliated company, ProKnowledge. And it inspired her to share her thoughts at the Women@Work breakfast on July 13, 2016.

“Knowing your why” is about identifying your goals, but it’s something more, too: It’s about articulating your values. It’s the clarity of purpose that makes you feel confident you’re making the right choices. Knowing your why will help you decide how to spend your time and energy. “Ask yourself what inspires you,” Pingelski said. “Then that will drive your next activity.”

“Knowing our why” in all areas of our lives allows us to focus on the things that really matter. “We can spread ourselves too thin,” Pingelski said.

“And then we’re not doing any one thing well.” So she encourages women to ask themselves: “Do I really have to do this? Does it fit with my why?” And if the answer is no, Pingelski said, “Give yourself permission to say no.” It also works to eliminate guilt, she said: “You know why you’re doing X and not Y.”

Of course, your goals may evolve along the way – and that’s just fine. “We have to give ourselves the permission to make changes,” Pingelski said. “We are not chained to any situation. If you’re no longer passionate, then say, this worked for this time period, but now I’m going to make a change.”

“You’ve got TO KNOW YOUR WHY”

KATHLEEN PINGELSKIMICROKNOWLEDGE, INC. & PROKNOWLEDGE, LLC.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU AT WORK?


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HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR “WHY”Know why you do what you are doing.

BE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DOYou have to be “all in.”

OPERATE FROM A PLACE OF ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDEYour minute-by-minute attitude will drive your success.

6 TIPS ON HOW TO FIND WHAT INSPIRES YOU AT WORK

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LEARN SOMETHING FROM EVERY SITUATIONYou may fail at something along the way but take a “lessons learned” approach and adjust.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GIVE UP ON A BHAGBig Hairy Audacious Goal.

CONTROL YOUR SCHEDULE – BLOCK OUT TIME FOR ALL THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF YOUR LIFEWork, family, exercise, vacation, girls’ nights, spiritual time.

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• www.microknowledge.com• [email protected]

CONTACT KATHLEEN PINGELSKI


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Marion Trieste, co-founder and president at Red Feather Green Energy Development in Saratoga Springs, talks about acting from the heart in business.

“Listen to your inner voice,

TRUST IT.BELIEVE IN IT.”

MARION TRIESTERED FEATHER GREEN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION:THERE IS A GUTSY WOMAN INSIDE ALL OF US

Women’s intuition? Oh yes, it’s real, says Marion Trieste. And if we rely on it more often, she believes, the world will be a better place.

Trieste is president of Redfeather Green Energy Development in Saratoga Springs. In her Women@Work breakfast talk on August 10, 2016, she spoke of the power of intuition and the insights she believes it can bring to business.

“We need a more feminine world,” she says: more collaboration and less competition, more listening and less chest-thumping. Becoming a leader in that world starts with trusting ourselves. “Listen to your inner voice,” she said. “Trust it. Believe in it.” Self-awareness and self-confidence go hand in hand: “In order to be powerful in life, you have to be confident,” she said. And when you’re confident, people will flock to your leadership. “Your confidence stems from listening to your gut and believing in your own powers.”

To build self-awareness, take time to articulate your goals and identify what inspires you to reach them. Then you’ll know where you’re going and stay motivated to get there. “Keep the vision going,” she said. “Keep your focus on what really matters.”

Tuning in to your intuition is a process of learning to listen to yourself. Trieste encourages us to listen to others, too. Whatever

your goals, “you can’t do it alone,” she said, so assemble a team of people who share your vision – and learn from them. “Don’t assume you know what people mean. Ask them,” she urged. “The art of listening creates a better leader.”

And finally, care for yourself. Trieste calls it “feeding your soul.” Dance, sleep, eat well – whatever it takes to keep yourself inspired and strong. “The world’s going to shake you up,” she said. “You’ve got to take time to focus on the positive to keep yourself inspired and motivated.”


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SELF AWARENESS You can’t be a leader without understanding your truth!

IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DOLose your fear!

MOTIVATION• Money vs. Emotional Drive• Feed Your Soul! Know the value of a social achievement and go for it!• Visualize your intentions

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

7 TIPS TO FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION

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LISTEN AND LEARN“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Theresa

“If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it/You just do it one step at a time.”– Marian Wright Edelman

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

“Why you? Because there is no one better. Why now? Because tomorrow isn’t soon enough.” – Donna Brazile

WRITE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN ANNUALLYCareer Happiness: Self Employed/Employee

RESOURCES/TOOLS

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• www.redfeathergreenenergy.com

CONTACT MARION TRIESTE


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Chelly Hegan, president and CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, leads us in a discussion where we share our mistakes in an effort to keep perfectionism from holding us back.

Okay, so you’ve screwed up at work. Screwed up big.

The question is: What do you do next?

Sooner or later it’s probably going to happen to all of us. Chelly Hegan, for one, has been there a few times. She’s president and CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, and she shared her insights at “Recovering from a @#$% Up,” a very popular and cathartic Women@Work breakfast talk on September 14, 2016.

“Sometimes when you mess up, you’re really gonna mess up,” Hegan said, leading participants through an often- funny-in-retrospect roll call of workplace screw-ups: mangled orders, wobbly math, misdirected emails and words we wish we could take back. She acknowledged that chalking one up to experience isn’t always the end of it. “You learn from your mistakes,” Hegan said, “but things don’t always get better.”

Still, you’re not helpless in the face of a workplace disaster. There are things you can and should do when you screw up, Hegan said, and the first is to own up to your mistake as soon as possible. Let your organization’s higher-ups

know what happened and what you’re going to do to fix it. “That phone call is going to suck,” Hegan said. “But not having the trust of your supervisor is going to suck way

more.”

The way you respond to the problem can have a lasting effect on your reputation among managers and co-work-ers alike. “Other people are watching how you handle the problem,” Hegan said. “And your choices now will affect their view of you and your work.” The spotlight’s on you, and this is an opportunity to gain – or lose – the trust of those around you.

Transparency brings strength, Hegan emphasizes: With your company’s leadership, good communication preserves their trust in you and allows them to share insights and

“Your choices now will affect

THEIR VIEW OF YOU AND YOUR

WORK.”

CHELLY HEGANUPPER HUDSON PLANNED PARENTHOOD

THAT TIME I REALLY &$@#!% UP


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WHEN LOOKING FOR A JOB REMEMBER HOW HARD IT IS FOR EMPLOYERS TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSONThey want you, they need someone just like you.

ONCE YOU HAVE A JOB REMEMBER THAT THEY HIRED YOUNot someone else, not the person who seemed great on paper but did not impress them in the interview, YOU!

BRING YOUR IDEAS FORWARDI am not saying to be rude or be a bully, but when someone asks what you think - tell them. You might be wrong, you may not have all the facts – so own that – but you have ideas and experiences that are important to share.

CURIOSITY MAY HAVE KILLED THE CAT,But it can make you a leader.

FOR LEADERS, REMEMBER TO ASKAsk everyone in your organization for their thoughts. The people on the front lines know what happens when policies meet practice and their ideas are born of experience. Be open to listen to whomever wants to share experiences – that is where innovation happens.

RECOVERING FROM A @#$%-UP

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IF YOU ENTER INTO AN EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR EYES AND MIND OPEN, DISASTERS ARE NOT REALLY THAT BADConduct a postmortem, share your learnings and ask others for theirs and try again.

LET OTHERS KNOW THAT THEY INSPIRE YOU WHEN THEY TRY NEW THINGS OR SHARE IMPORTANT IDEAS EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T SUCCEED OR WIN THE DAYThis creates a community of people that you can share your ideas with as you are trying on new things or trying to articulate a failure that might have been a secret success.

EVERYONE IS FIGHTING A BATTLE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUTTheir reactions to you and your failure or success has much less to do with you than it does them. Don’t take the criticism or the praise too heart.

KINDNESS GOES A REALLY LONG WAY

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT FEELING IN THE PIT OF YOUR STOMACH THAT YOU REALLY SCREWED UP, OWN ITTalk about it, talk about your next steps, what you learned, how it won’t happen again, and what YOU are doing to fix it. And then do it.

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give informed advice. And with staff members, a culture of transparency gives employees confidence in the organization, tamps down on rumors, and helps prevent small problems from becoming big ones. Owning up to mistakes allows the team to move onto the more important issue: fixing the problem and preventing it from happening again.

In Hegan’s organization, she said, “We have a culture that allows people to make mistakes. Otherwise they hide their mistakes, and then they become bigger problems.”

Hegan even brings her staff members together every year for some candid reflection on their mistakes, unsolved problems and missed opportunities. It wasn’t easy for

many of them, she said, and it took time to build trust; but over time the sharing process forged connections among employees, and strengthened their compassion as well. What’s more, it allowed them to identify patterns of error – which helped them see ways for the organization to improve.

Keeping up a facade of perfection is a defensive position, Hegan said, and it offers no room for growth.

When your workplace culture makes it okay to own up to your flaws, “then you can have real, authentic conversations about problem solving ... Maybe it’s okay to be a little bit broken sometimes.”

• www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-upper-hudson• [email protected]

CONTACT CHELLY HEGAN


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GRANT WRITING HOW-TOS:TIPS TO SUCCEED WITH FUNDERS

Tammis Groft, executive director of the Albany Institute for History and Art, tells us how to go after grants and what you need to know to be successful.

“Writingthe narrative

CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE

GRANT”

TAMMIS GROFTALBANY INSTITUTE FOR HISTORY AND ART

There’s a formula to writing grants, says Tammis Groft, Executive Director of the Albany Institute of History and Art, and once you figure it out, you can repurpose it again and again to help pay for the good work your organization is doing.

First, you need a strong, mission-based program or project and a good team to work on it. Bring in outside specialists, if you can. You really want to design the most creative project you can.

Now, where to find the money? Look around at orga-nizations like yours: Where do they find their funding? Look at online databases such as grants.gov and New York State’s Grants Gateway. Talk and share information with colleagues in your field. Create a chart of funding opportunities related to your field. Match your project with the best opportunity.

“It may seem obvious, but reading the guidelines carefully is key,” Groft says. “Make sure your grant meets their criteria. Oh, and answer all the questions fully. Blanks on the form are a good reason for funders to toss your grant aside.”

Tell a good story. This will sell your project to the funders.

“Writing the narrative can make or break the grant,” Groft says.

“Talk to the program officer. In fact,” Groft says, “make the program officer your new best friend. Meet with her in person, if possible.”

Read and edit everything very carefully because spelling mistakes and sloppy typefaces will hurt your chances to be taken seriously. Have a checklist to make sure everything is done and all your supporting materials – things like your strategic plan, code of ethics, board and staff lists – are included. Be on time.


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If you win the grant, congratulations! Now you have to carry out the project. If you didn’t, find out why and learn from it. Or update the grant and try again. Or use the grant to go after another opportunity.

Look at this as a long road. Preparations and writing could take a few weeks, six months, sometimes a year.

Whatever you do, Groft says, “Don’t think it will be easy.”

GRANT WRITING IS AN ART FORMOnce you learn the system, the process is easy, as long as you methodically follow the steps and give yourself enough time to complete the requirements in a timely fashion.

DEVELOP A LIST OF FUNDABLE PROGRAMS OR PROJECTSReview programs your organization is currently engaged in. Outline new programs based on your strategic plan, community feedback, or new initiatives in the field. Make sure the projects are mission driven and key to your organization and community.

RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND BE CREATIVESources may include government, foundation, or individuals whose interests and priorities match the mission and needs of your organization. Review annual reports, websites, and talk with staff from similar institutions for ideas.

CREATE AN ONGOING CHART OF POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCESThis document should include the source of the opportunity, funder priorities, dollar amounts, deadlines, matching requirements, multi-year opportunities, and organizational requirements. This document should be updated continually.

MATCH YOUR PROGRAMS WITH THE BEST POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIESTalk to the program officer about your organization and the program(s) you see as the best possible match for their funds. The program officer is your new best friend. They are there to help you to be successful. Keep in contact throughout the grant writing process.

10 TIPS - GRANT WRITING 101

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DECONSTRUCT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITYSelect a project director who will manage the preparation and management of the grant. Give yourself ample time to write the narrative, develop the budget, assemble the institutional back-up materials, obtain letters of support, and submit the grant in a timely fashion. Provide every document required.

DOCUMENT YOUR GRANT SUBMISSIONPrint out the confirmation email that indicates that the grant was received. Make two paper copies and keep all of your working budget calculations and support materials.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU RECEIVED THE GRANTMake sure the project director manages all aspects of the grant project from initial paperwork to interim reports to final reports including narrative and financial reporting. If the project changes in timing or scope during the grant period contact the program officer to discuss changes.

SORRY, YOUR GRANT WAS NOT SELECTED FOR FUNDINGContact the program officer to learn why your application was not selected for funding. Ask for a letter or a copy of the reviewer’s comments. Review your proposal, call the program officer about proposed changes and resubmit. Remember you can use all of the work for other funding opportunities.

USE YOUR SUCCESSFUL GRANTS AS A MODELS FOR FUTURE GRANTSUpdate your key organizational supporting materials as needed.

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• www.albanyinstitute.org• [email protected]

CONTACT TAMMIS GROFT


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ARE YOU A PLAYER?BUILD YOUR GAME PLAN

Jan Smith is principal of Castle Rock Ranch Group, which helps businesses and individuals build, promote and protect their reputations. She is an award-winning communication strategist, known for her long-term role with GE Energy as the company’s director of communications and public affairs.

Playing the flute taught Jan Smith a powerful lesson about business.

As a youth, her skill with the instrument brought solos her way. But she had one problem: She was terrified of performances. In time, she had a revelation: “It was not about me at all,” Smith said. “It was only about the music.”

Smith, formerly manager of global communications and public affairs for GE Energy, and now a principal with public relations firm Castle Rock Ranch Group, spoke at the November 9 Women@Work breakfast on the importance of believing in our contributions and abilities – and also on the need to get out of our own way.

“We have to get past the fear,” she said. Realizing that the music – or the job – was bigger than herself “carried me through a lot of opportunities I never would have had if I didn’t remember it wasn’t all about me.”

“How do you conduct yourself so other people will respect you, they will seek you out, and they will want your advice?” Smith asked. Knowing your role – and keeping the bigger picture in mind – are part of the answer. To build our

reputation in business, we should strive to be known as “someone who

wants to be involved in the organization, who wants to be part of the solution.” As Smith put it, be “the person who others think, ‘That person really knows what they’re doing.’ Someone you can count on to get things done.”

How else can we build that credibility? In an open con-versation with audience members, Smith and attendees shared a wealth of ideas:

• Follow through on what you say you’ll do. Be consistent.

• Be willing to give without taking.

“Be the person who others think,

‘That person REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE

DOING’”

JAN SMITHCASTLE ROCK RANCH GROUP


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KNOW YOUR BUSINESS INSIDE AND OUTKnow as much as you can! Key beliefs and objectives, initiatives, issues. How your business affects others. Know your leadership team. Know what you are talking about, before you begin talking.

KNOW YOUR PLAYERS. BE A PLAYERKnow players both inside and outside – what they want and why. Understand strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to finesse and when to utilize. Make sure you are known and trusted.

KNOW THE RULESKnow them, work within them. No winking. No blinking. Ever.

BE CREDIBLEBe visible, be a speaker. Know what you are talking about. Be a partner. Be authentic.

BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVEKnow what to do and say when. Be a trusted member of the team. Earn it.

10 TIPS FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS: THE MUSTS

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BE AUTHENTICBe yourself, always. Be someone people can count on and believe in.

INSPIRE TRUSTIf you are authentic, you will inspire trust.

BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAMEStay current. Be the best at what you do. Perform each time like the soloist at the concert. Be proficient in issue management. Never drink and talk!

BE COURAGEOUSBe the one people can count on to tell the truth. If you don’t believe it is right…don’t do it. Learn how to persuade and convince.

BUILD YOUR REPUTATIONCompetency, commitment, consistency, connections, core.

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• www.castlerockranch.com• [email protected]

CONTACT JAN SMITH

• Be knowledgeable: Know your business inside and out, and work to understand what others want and need.

• But if you don’t know an answer, be honest about it. And direct the asker to another resource.

• Be authentic. Don’t just tell people what they want to hear.

• Be visible. Be an authority. Stand tall.

Ultimately, Smith said, it’s about the job, not about you. But your role is an important one, and worthy of respect: “You have the music,” she said. “You’re delivering the music.”


3 KEYS TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY:HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHERE YOU ARE

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Nicole Nelson, CEO and founder of Live a Fulfilled Life, shows how to stop feeling so mentally and physically exhausted.

NICOLE NELSONLIVE A FULFILLED LIFE

Tired and overworked? Pulled in too many directions? Tinged by guilt, regret, or doubt?

Nicole Joette Nelson wants you to know it doesn’t have to be like that.

Nelson, CEO and founder of the work-life empowerment program Live a Fulfilled Life, spoke about energy med-icine and its healing potential at 2016’s final Women@Work breakfast on December 14.

“You do not have a time management problem,” she told attendees. “What you have is an energy management problem.”

Nelson acknowledges this is a mindset shift. There’s a reason why our energy is locked up and inaccessible to us, she says, and energy medicine – which she describes as a synthesis of Eastern and Western practices – gives us the power to affect change.

She led participants through a series of breathing exercises and physical poses designed to help us recon-nect with our bodies in times of stress, restoring a sense of balance and connection. She said that

practicing the exercises daily can make us clearer, empowered, and in control: “Five minutes can literally save you five hours of being confused in the rat race of higher-faster-farther.”

Redirecting your energy, too, is important: Nelson encouraged us to put it toward the goals that are most important to us, not the problems calling the loudest for our attention.

But Nelson emphasized that “this is not just about self-care.” It’s part of something bigger. The increasing demands of the workplace do more than just overwhelm us; they erode our health. Energy healing therapies mend

“Five minutes can literally SAVE YOU

FIVE HOURS of being

confused”


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the physical, mental and emotional effects of our stress and disconnection, and work to dispel the clouds of self-doubt and other negative emotions that make us unwell. Renewal is a requirement, not a luxury, she said, and it’s one step on the path to a fulling life – at work and away from it.

“You should not be miserable,” Nelson said. “No one should be miserable. This is your life.”

NOURISH YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM• Action Step #1 Release Congestion • Action Step #2 Restore Connection • Action Step #3 Provide Protection

TREASURE YOUR TRUE NATURE

• Stop fighting yourself. Start freeing yourself.

• Because personality can be altered, adapted, and shamed, many people are not living true to their dominant energetic expression (much less know what it is).

• Amplify the ease (and inspiration) in all areas of life by discovering your stress style profile and your energy type...then live true to it.

DEVELOP YOUR 3 W’S• Know WHAT you want, WHY you want it & WHAT’S in the way.

• Create a clear Vision Statement of your Level 10 work life.

• Understand B.E.A.R. and replace each limiting decision with a more empowered one: Beliefs Emotions Actions Results

5 POWER MOVES TO RECLAIM POWER OVER YOUR WORK LIFE STARTING NOW

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CHERISH YOUR PRIORITIES• Master Sacred Scheduling: choose where you put your energy based on what is important, not just urgent.

• Create a mission statement: a recipe for the purpose of your work life that accurately reflects your values... use it as a litmus test against which you make all time decisions.

TRUST YOUR INTUITION AND RESPECT YOUR INNER GUIDANCE• There is a price we pay for not believing in ourselves. We step back and take less risks to go after something we truly want. We compare ourselves to other people’s outsides. And we teach our children to do that. (You can’t give away what you do not have)

• Millennials are the largest generation in the work force currently. They will leave jobs where they feel underdeveloped or uninspired. Power Move #5 is the cornerstone to your own Modern Leadership Mastery journey. It is the foundation necessary to embody the Higher Ground Leadership® principles of Courage, Authenticity, Service, Truth-telling, Love and Effectiveness.

When we have been chronically depleted, disconnected or disappointed from our experience of our lives at work, it takes time and support to really change that momentum.

• www.liveafulfilledlife.today• [email protected]

CONTACT NICOLE NELSON


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We’d like to thank the 13 women who shared what they know with our members:

ANNE SAILE • DEB BEST • CARMEN DUNCAN

GEMMA ALLEN • CATHY CROSKY

ANDREA CRISAFULLI • DAQUETTA JONES

KATHLEEN PINGELSKI • MARION TRIEST

CHELLY HEGAN • TAMMIS GROFT

JAN SMITH • NICOLE NELSON

They understand that by lifting other women up with knowledge and support, we can all reach our fullest potential.

Thank you to our designer:

ALANA FELDMAN

And our contributing writers:

AKUM NORDER • BRIANNA SNYDER

JENNIFER GISH • TRACY ORMSBEE

THANK YOU!


®

PLEASE SUPPORT THE WOMEN@WORK CORPORATE PARTNERS, BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT WOMEN


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If we’re ever going to move forward as women in the workplace, we need to stop pretending we’ve got it all together. We have to get comfortable telling it like it is and having genuine conversations about challenges women still face in their careers. That’s why for 2017, we’re adding a new theme to those Women@Work breakfasts: STRAIGHT TALK.

STRAIGHT TALK IN 2017Some fantastically successful Women@Work members will share the gritty stories of what they pushed through to realize their goals. So block out your schedules. This can’t miss- breakfast series could change your career. Watch for details on tuwomenatwork.com, EventBrite and Facebook.com.

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NOTES

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