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I love love LOVE this article by Aja Frost. How many of you have received invitations to connect and you don't have any idea who the person is or why they would like to connect with you? I get them all the time. We really should make the effort to personalize connection requests. I'm as guilty as the next guy of just clicking "connect" when in a hurry on the suggested connection page, which simply sends the standard message. Ms. Frost provides 10 templates for different circumstances. I recommend bookmarking this great info.
----- This morning, when I logged into LinkedIn, I had nine connection requests waiting for me. Some were from recruiters, some were from total strangers, some were from fellow writers, and some were from old classmates—but they all said the exact same thing: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” It baffles me that everyone isn't customizing their invitations—but in fact, very few people do. Those 300 characters can have a big impact, though: If you’re connecting with someone you know well, it’s a great opportunity to say something nice and reinforce the relationship. If you’re connecting with someone you don’t know well, it’s a great opportunity to remind him or her how you met. If you’re connecting with someone you don’t know at all, it’s your only opportunity to convince him or her to accept. However, maybe your problem isn’t finding motivation—it’s finding what to say. That’s why I’ve created 10 templates for LinkedIn invitations, so no matter who you’re connecting with, you’ll have the right words. (Of course, you’ll need to adapt them to your own situation.) 1. A Colleague Everyone loves feeling like their contributions have been noticed, so when connecting with co-workers, mention their projects, interests, or strengths. This is an ideal way to give your colleagues a boost and strengthen your professional relationships. It may even be just the prompt they need to endorse you or write you a glowing LinkedIn recommendation. Hi Mariah, Although I've never gotten the chance to work with you directly, I've heard rave reviews about your sales techniques and ability to work with tough clients. Hopefully one of these days I can see you in action! ’Til then, I’ll catch you in the break room. Best, Emily 2. A New Colleague Obviously, you’ll want to be less familiar if you’re connecting with people you've just met. Say you recently landed a role with a tech company and you want to connect with your supervisor. You should still compliment her and show you’re familiar with what she does—just be a little more reserved. Dear Colette, I’m so excited to join the product development department. The team’s innovation and commitment to always finding the best testing methodologies is one of the reasons I was so drawn to work at Jones Wheeler. Looking forward to contributing. Best, Ryan 3. A Former Co-worker You’d assume everyone you’d ever worked with you would remember you, but if you worked at a big company, if you only had the job for a year or two, or if it was a long time ago, you might find your connection requests being denied. There’s an easy fix: Describe exactly when, where, and how you worked with someone. Dear Mike, It was such a pleasure working together at GX from 1999 to 2001. Your computer troubleshooting skills were the best in the office—can you imagine if we had to go back to working on those huge computers? If you have the chance, I’d love to catch up and learn more about what you’re doing in your new role at Microsoft. Best, Alisha 4. Someone You Know Casually It may seem a little awkward to personalize a connection request to Joe, a friend of a friend who you've talked to at a couple get-togethers. The last time you saw each other, you were swigging beers—won’t it feel weird to slip into work-speak? Yup—so don’t! Use a friendly tone, but reference Joe’s career to acknowledge you’re not at a party, you’re on LinkedIn. Hey Joe, I’m glad Aaron introduced us. Next time we run into each other, you’ll have to tell me more about what you do for Pfizer—I’ve always been interested in the healthcare industry. Cheers, Doug 5. Someone You Met at a Networking Event When you’re trying to connect with people you only talked to for a couple minutes or hours, it’s important you remind them right away who you are. Give a reason for connecting as well. A good default is so you can keep tabs on their career, but you can also suggest meeting for coffee, trading tips, providing each other with new contacts, helping each other with projects, informing each other about open positions, discussing industry news—the possibilities are endless. Dear Mark, It was great speaking to you at the ESRI User Conference in San Diego last month. The mapping and charting work you do for airports sounded fascinating! I’d definitely like to stay up-to-date on your career. Thank you, Lindsey 6. Someone You Admire Sending connection requests to total strangers is always tricky, because their first instinct is to say no. Again, it’s important to immediately establish who you are and why you’re reaching out. Prove you’re not just on a hunt to break 500 contacts by specifically referencing projects they've worked on or achievements they've made. (Bonus points if you find this info on an external site, not LinkedIn!) You should also include an ask—the reason you’re reaching out. Maybe you want an informational interview, or a way to see what he or she is working on, or the opportunity to help him or her with a project. One exception: You should never ask for a job over LinkedIn. Dear Erin Holt, I’m a college senior interested in working in marketing. For the last year, I’ve been following your work for Bryan & Associates, and it’s really impressed me. I particularly loved your campaign recent campaign in The Atlantic—that multimedia component was totally unexpected and really effective. If you ever have 20 or so minutes, I’d love to hear more about how you started working in the field and what skills you believe are most relevant to the profession. Thank you so much, Fina Beauchamp 7. Someone in the Same LinkedIn Group Maybe you’re in the Society of Professional Journalists group, and you notice one frequent poster always posts unique insights and relevant articles. Luckily, the fact you’re in the same group gives him an automatic reason to accept. Dear Ron, I’m also in the Society of Professional Journalists, and I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts. The piece you shared a week or two ago about the future of data journalism was pretty thought-provoking. I’d love to keep in touch and learn more about your work. Best, April 8. A Recruiter In general, you should contact recruiters with which you have something in common, whether that’s a mutual connection, participation in a professional organization, or membership in the same LinkedIn group. If you want to reach out but don’t have anything in common, career expert Jenny Foss recommends checking out what groups a recruiter is in and joining one of them. Dear Samantha Kennedy, I found your profile on the Association of Professional Women page and wanted to reach out to discuss potentially working together. I’m a social media strategist with six years of experience and currently seeking new opportunities. I’d love to chat about whether my background might be a fit for any of your openings, and I’d also be happy to connect you with other professionals in my field. Looking forward to hearing from you, Kendra Holloway 9. An Alumnus Most people feel fondly about their alma mater, which means your request has a good shot of being successful. Appeal to their school spirit, and, like always, prove you spent more than 30 seconds on their LinkedIn profile before you clicked “Connect.” Dear Steve, I see that you graduated from my current university, UC Berkeley—go Bears! I’m an aerospace engineering major and would be excited to hear more about your work with NASA. I’ll be in your area in a few weeks for vacation; if you have any free time, I’d love to meet up for coffee. Thanks so much, Evan Beasley P.S. Did you watch Saturday’s game against Stanford? That last quarter was so tense. 10. Someone You Want to Work With Perhaps you’re trying to get a side project off the ground, and you want to hire a graphic designer. Or maybe you’re a software engineer looking to collaborate with someone who’s really experienced in a particular coding language. Or maybe, like the writers that contact me, you want someone to bounce ideas off of and trade feedback with. The key is making it explicitly clear the kind of relationship you’re seeking. If they’re not interested, you’ll want to know right away so you can move on to the next potential partner. Dear Sarah, I was really impressed by the social media strategy you put together for Bella Bru Coffee Shop. I’m also a small business owner, and I’m interested in hiring you for a similar project. If you’re interested, let me know and we can arrange a phone call to discuss timeline, rates, scope, etc. Looking forward to possibly working with you, Rebecca With these templates, you’ll never have to wonder what to write in that invitation box again. Good luck! This article by Aja Frost was originally posted to The Muse.
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If I had a nickle for each person that has told me they are not good at networking I'd be able to afford a full time barista to follow me around. A meeting I recently attended of a women's development group I belong to was devoted to improving networking skills. This GoGirl Finance blog by Kali Hawlk provides some creative networking ideas. I agree 100% with the volunteer idea. Since I started volunteering my network has grown by leaps and bounds.
_____ For many of us, “networking” is close to a dirty word. Most people dread showing up to events with the sole purpose of selling themselves to strangers — all of them busy trying to sell themselves, too — in hopes of walking away with new connections that might lead to new positions, experience, and opportunities. The problem with traditional networking is that it focuses on inauthentic ways to form relationships with other people. After all, how many genuine connections can you expect to gain from networking events that each person attends with the goal of advancing their own work or business goals? And yet, networking remains a critical task for any career-minded individual. Finding a job or succeeding in a career can truly be a case of who you know — not what you know. But networking doesn’t have to feel insincere or a to-do list item that you dread. In fact, you may even feel like you had some fun or found value in a variety of ways from these 4 creative ways to network. Volunteer Skip the stuffy symposium and dedicate some time to a worthy cause. Choose an organization that you care about and apply for a volunteer role that allows you to exercise the skills and abilities that you need in your career. If you’re excellent at marketing and persuading people, consider signing up for a fundraising committee. If you excel in a managerial role, volunteer to organize the group’s next big event. Volunteering allows you to show what you know and can do, instead of just telling people about it. And working with an organization that means something to you, or has something in common with your current line of work, puts you in contact with others who may share your mission or ideals. Get Social (Media) Social media is the introvert’s dream. It allows you to connect to the entire world via various platforms — without the high-pressure situation an in-person event might bring to someone who’s shy, or the energy drain a traditional networking session prompts for the introverted. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ are all great options for online networking. Twitter makes it perfectly acceptable for you to reach out to someone who may be famous in your industry; all it takes is an @mention. Google+ is similar, in that you can add anyone to your circles and tag any person or company in your own updates. LinkedIn allows you to display your knowledge and expertise via your profile, your updates, and what you post to their publishing platform. Although it doesn’t encourage intense interaction with total strangers, it does allow you to get to know people online via groups and discussions. Join in and grow your network with social media. All it takes is, well, being social. Start a Side Project, and Get Contributors Most knowledgeable experts in your field enjoy opportunities to display that expertise. Asking people who would make valuable connections to contribute to or collaborate with you on a side project is an incredibly productive way to network and presents a win-win situation for everyone. You can gain quality connections in your network and end up with a great project to add to your portfolio or resume. And the people you want to network with get the same. Everyone walks away with someone new they have experience working with, and as a bonus there’s something tangible left over: the project you worked on together. Just make sure it’s easy for others to contribute to your project. You don’t want to make them jump through hoops or devote an extensive amount of time or energy to your work. It needs to be light, fun, and rewarding for the people you want involved. Make Meetups Fun! Who says networking events have to be stressful and stiff? Find creative ways to meet up with interesting people to expand your connections outside of industry events. Check out meetup.com to find established gatherings — or start your own! You can get together with people who share professional experience and skills, or hang out with a group that participates in your favorite recreational activity or is passionate about a shared hobby. Remember, networking doesn’t have to mean business attire at corporate events. Think creatively and find new ways to forge meaningful, sincere connections the next time you want to add to your network. Blog by Kali Hawlk originally posted to GoGirl Finance on March 11, 2015 Once upon a time I found what appeared to my dream job ... on paper. I wanted this job. I applied. I reached out to friends that knew the CEO. I interviewed and was offered the job. And I was completely MISERABLE. I refer to that time as my 6 months of professional hell. Within weeks I reached out to recruiters to discreetly GET ME OUT OF THERE!! I complained so much my husband begged me to quit without having something else lined up, but that wasn't in my nature. All challenges in life teach us something. This one taught me to look closer at more factors before accepting a job offer.
This info-graphic published on Business Insider delves into factors other than salary job seekers should take into consideration. In honor of my favorite holiday tomorrow, I share this fun LinkedIn blog Michael Fritsch on the career lessons you can learn from St. Patrick. Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! ______ Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th as both a religious and cultural holiday. It marks the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick who was a 5th-century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. When he was about 16, he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland. He lived there for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland with a mission of converting the Irish to Christianity, which was very successful. By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. Although scholars say there are few confirmed details of his life, what we do know provides some valuable career lessons. Lesson 1: Make the best of a bad assignment-learn what you can from it “As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him”* Lesson 2: When you get a clear sign that it is time to move on be decisive and take advantage of the opportunity to leave “Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast.There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.”* Lesson 3: The next step in your career may need a return to school/additional studies “He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.” He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland”* Lesson 4: You might have to deal with some snakes along the way or be careful to avoid them Legend credits St. Patrick with banishing all the snakes in Ireland by chasing them into the sea after they attacked him. Although scientists tell us that post glacial Ireland never had snakes in the first place. Blog by Michael Fritsch originally posted to LinkedIn March 16, 2015. I almost stood up at my desk and cheered when I read this blog post by Tammy Cohen on the unwritten rules of professionalism. In my perfect world, these things would be taught in high school. Especially to dress for the position you want, not the one you have. And in this day and age I can't believe I still get either the "dead fish" or "man of steel" handshake on occasion.
______ Success in the business world generally depends on a balance of technical skill and interpersonal charisma. Even if you’re not the best at what you do, you may still be memorable for the impression you make on others. Alternatively, you may be the best in your business and still leave people unimpressed due to a lack of professionalism. Regardless of industry or title, anyone can make a good interpersonal impression by following these basic rules:
Over 25 years ago, when InfoMart first joined the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and began attending networking meetings, a Chamber executive took me under her wing and shared these unwritten rules. They have served me well and I hope they can serve you, too. Do you follow any other unwritten rules of professionalism? Whether you learned a hard lesson or benefited by knowing an unwritten rule, I’d be happy to hear your stories and professional considerations. Tammy Cohen President & Founder InfoMart Blog by Tammy Cohen originally posted to LinkedIn March 11, 2015 I love the following blog post by Charles Hurley on The Brilliant Blog. It touches on why admins should take factors other than price into consideration when booking travel. It is always important to keep your eye on the bottom line, but when booking travel for senior executives here are some things to think about when weighing the options of a more expensive direct flight over one with layovers:
_______ I was tuning in to Office Dynamic's webinar this morning which included guest Brenda Mason CAP-OM, CWCA/CEAP, MESL, Sr. Executive Assistant at Nationwide Insurance. At one point Brenda made the comment that she notices many executive assistants lack proper travel arrangement skills. Of course, these skills develop over years spent learning the business and what your boss prefers. I wanted to learn more so I reached out to Brenda and we had a great conversation regarding ways to improve planning and coordinating. I asked her: “What’s the number one mistake you see executive assistants make when planning travel arrangements?” The first mistake that came to her mind was scheduling flights based on price and not based on time. We soon started chatting about dozens of other tips which I plan on compiling into an infographic, but I wanted to focus this post on her first response in particular. Brenda said time is everything for her boss and he can’t afford to wait an hour for an unnecessary layover. In fact, any CEO values one hour of their time more than saving a few hundred dollars on a plane ticket. He/she would probably tell you that time is their most valuable asset. We all get the same 24 hours in a day, so doing everything to help your boss make the most of his/her 24 hours will make you indispensable. Doing so requires taking care of the small details. Brenda said she:
I chose to focus on Brenda’s first response because it confirms our core values at Brilliant Transportation are in line with the needs of our clients. As Brenda said, time is everything and if you can partner with an executive transportation company that helps you accomplish that, then all the better Blog by Charles Hurley posted to The Brilliant Blog March 10, 2015. Most of the rockstar admins I know have most (or all) of the qualities in this Inc. Magazine article by Kevin Daum. Although, to be fair, I think many of these are written into our job descriptions, such as happily assume any role, efficiency, inspire others and advocate. Do you have these qualities?
______ There are a few employees that become nearly indispensable to a business. Here are the reasons why. No one strives to be dispensable at work. Most people want to be valuable and contribute effectively. There is a big difference, however, between doing a decent job and being an invaluable A-player. It's sad to say that many employees fall short of expectations. Not because they do a bad job, but perhaps because the boss's expectations are so high. People are generally hired on the basis of their potential, and only a small percentage actually meet or exceed the ideal. Most successful companies have at least one or two employees that rise above the set standard and would create a vacuum if ever they leave. Here are the traits that make them indispensable. 1. They are natural researchers. Nobody has all the answers. Extremely valuable employees never let ignorance stand in the way of progress. When information is lacking, they will do their homework and readily share resources. 2. Their ego is the lowest priority. Feelings and insecurities are important, but they can get in the way if placed front and center. Extremely valuable employees know who they are and know they are responsible for their own experiences. Their ego is never a source of disruptive drama. 3. They consistently inspire everyone else. The CEO can't be the only evangelist and inspiration for the company. Employees need to see that success happens on multiple levels. Extremely valuable employees uplift everyone else and help everyone increase their performance and improve their morale. 4. They can teach anything. Companies grow and personnel changes. Creating training programs is important, but sometimes someone just has to get a newbie up to speed. Extremely valuable employees can deconstruct any process and help others learn to perform it quickly. 5. They are all about efficiency. Some people take on a task and work just to get it done. Extremely valuable employees know that any job worth doing is worth doing faster and easier the next time. They document their process on any task or problem and figure out how to make it simpler every time. 6. They happily assume any role at any time. Business is a constant flow of change and managing resources. Instead of getting caught in the upheaval, extremely valuable employees dig in and act as utility players filling the necessary gaps regardless of their position, and they do it without letting their own responsibilities suffer. 7. They solve problems before they become disasters. People buried nose-deep in their own issues are likely to get hit in the beak with unpleasant surprises. Extremely valuable employees always have a forward-looking, big picture view so that they can anticipate issues in advance and create solutions that streamline and bulletproof any process. 8. They build a network, and use it. People can only grow as far as the information and the support around them will allow. A limited education and network will produce limited results. Extremely valuable employees are able to tap into resources quickly and easily to solve any problem or create nearly any opportunity. You won't see just 62 people on their LinkedIn. 9. They can advocate effectively. Many employees complain that they aren't heard, valued, or that their needs are never met. Sometimes it's because of poor management, but often it's because effective self-advocacy takes thought and effort, not just vocalizing ideas or complaints. Extremely valuable employees know how to consider the company's position and resources. They can present a viable and executable plan that makes sense and provides a win-win for everyone involved. 10. They believe honesty is the best policy. Most employees do what they have to do to get along. Telling people the truth can be uncomfortable and cause conflict. Extremely valuable employees know that hidden truths eventually surface, and rarely in a positive, productive way. Without being unkind, honest employees help others see potentially damaging truth before bad things happen. 11. They come to work because they want to, not have to. So many people work at jobs they hate because they need the money or because they are stuck and afraid to move. These employees maintain the status quo but will rarely advance themselves or the company. Extremely valuable employees have chosen to be at this company and actively share their pride and excitement with everyone around them. Article by Kevin Daum posted to Inc. February 20, 2015 I hate making mistakes. I don't know anyone who enjoys mistakes, but they happen. One thing I know for sure is that when mistakes happen, the two things to do immediately are apologize and work to make amends. The worst thing you can do when an apology is due is to ignore the situation.
There is an art to apologies, and in this blog post Colin Shaw shares the components to a good apology. ______ Everyone makes mistakes. You charged for the wrong plan on a Customer’s mobile bill or sent an ‘Extra Small’ instead of a Medium on the Jacket a Customer ordered online. More serious mistakes could be that as a Doctor, you misdiagnosed a life threatening condition that results in serious consequences for your patient and his or her loved ones. We all make mistakes. What should you do when this happens? When you make a mistake, it’s best to admit it and apologize immediately. The 6 Steps to a Good Apology So how do you recover from a mistake with your customers? The answer is best summarized in an article I read by Kerry O’Malley, called, “The Right Way to Admit You Made a Mistake in Business.” She gives us all a great list that includes:
The only other addition I might add to the list is for you to express how you feel about the mistake. Acknowledging your emotions is key to communicating with your customer. By being honest about how you feel about the mistake, you create a personal relationship that contributes to the Customer’s feelings of being important and “cared for.” The only time I would caution against this tactic is if you don’t feel like you are to blame and are have bitter feelings about the situation. As I have written before, these feelings will make the apology seem insincere and will lead to nothing good. The strategy above works great for most businesses to business and business to customer relationships. It’s honest; it’s proactive, and it’s the best you can do in the situation. Most of all, it offers an opportunity for your customer to decide what to do and strengthens the relationship between you…most of the time anyway. Why it’s Important to Apologize Even When it’s Difficult The act of apologizing is difficult for some people because it makes them feel vulnerable. Feeling open can be scary and can drive some people to hide from the situation, avoiding the customer or client to avoid the feelings of vulnerability. While avoidance might or might not result in bad consequences for a business relationship (although I am certain that it will only be bad), it can have terrible repercussions on a medical career. Medscape.com had an excellent article on why some patients don’t sue their doctors, even when they have a good case. To summarize the article, patients who sue are the ones where the doctor avoids them, denying them both an explanation and assurance that the problem will get fixed for the future. As you read before, these are both important parts of an apology in the above list. According to the article, many patients pursue litigation when denied these answers. Their goal, in many cases, is to get these answers, not to punish the physician. In many cases, an honest conversation between the physician and the patient or their family results in them not filing a lawsuit against the doctor to blame. What is true no matter what the mistake and what the consequences, is that all of us realize that people all make mistakes. No one likes the consequences of their mistakes. No one relishes the thought of calling the client they have let down or the customer that is rightfully frustrated and explain that they are the one that is responsible. I can’t even imagine how a surgeon or doctor must feel when they realize their mistake resulted in a patient’s death. Being proactive, however, with honesty is the best policy, no matter how distasteful it is. Most people can forgive a person for making a mistake. Few people, however, can forgive a person from blaming others, denying responsibility or covering up their errors. These actions create an emotional response that will not drive value for anyone concerned and will destroy trust in the Customer relationship. Elton John said, “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” In many ways, he is right. Difficult or not, it’s the right word when you made a mistake, followed by the other words that apply to the list for a good apology. Honesty is the best policy, and the only policy that gives you a chance for Customer retention. Posted by Colin Shaw to LinkedIn on Feb 24, 2015 Dos-si-er (noun) a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.
Do you maintain a dossier on your executives? This is something I started in my first position as an Executive Assistant, but I don’t find it widely practiced among admins. I've come to refer to mine as my bible. It has all the pertinent information on my executives; credit cards, travel documents, passwords, travel reward programs, professional associations, and other miscellaneous information. I keep mine in a 3-ring binder and it is always close at hand, but definitely UNDER LOCK AND KEY. Obviously the executive dossier contains sensitive information, so it should never be left unsecured. I have never entered a new position to find an executive dossier already established, but I have received notes of gratitude from almost every admin who has filled a position I've left for creating the dossier on the executives they now support. It makes life so much easier to have all that information within arm’s reach. When I begin supporting an executive I like to schedule time for an “interview” with them. This interview is the first step in creating the dossier and includes questions about their immediate family, preferred communication style, travel preferences, food allergies, professional licenses, boards, and more. Depending on the comfort level between you and your executive, the next step is to photocopy credit cards, rewards programs cards, any licenses, travel documents, and any other info you may need to access. If your executive is hesitant to provide this information, please don’t fret. Some are comfortable turning over everything immediately, while others need time to build trust with a new admin before they are willing to share these details. My executive dossier includes: o Organizational charts o Professional bio o Personal data sheet including: - Home address - Date of birth - Social security number - Spouse’s info - Wedding anniversary - Children’s names and birth dates (and grandchildren) - Travel preferences - Food allergies / Medical info o Spreadsheets of reward program information o Spreadsheet of professional license and membership information o Spreadsheet of passwords o Copies of - Driver’s license - Passport - Any VISAs - Passport photos - Credit cards - Insurance cards - Professional membership cards - Travel rewards program cards Do you maintain a dossier? If so, what else do you include? Deb Once upon a time I hated working with other women. Given the choice, I'd pick working with the guys any day of the week. This is because I had worked with the wrong type of women. The ones that back-stabbed, talked behind your back, took credit for your work, or worse. I was in my 30s before I learned the VALUE of women. This wonderful blog by Jennifer Laurent speaks to the behaviors of strong women. You will still find those other women along your path, but when you find the ones that display these behaviors, hang on to them.
______ “Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing. Whether it’s sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.” – Phylicia Rashad When women are able to stand in their divine femininity, they become connected to source in a pure and powerful way. There is a light and a force that emanates from their being, a magnetic quality that surrounds them. They become a source of inspiration for the people in their life, making choices to build others up and help them to shine. When women come to a space of true strength, they learn to harness their vulnerability as a source of connection, rather than using it as a reason for self-protection. For many women, it is a struggle to get to this place. Competition, jealousy, and sometimes cruelty, become a part of female culture as early as most girls can remember. We click off, shut one another out, and push each other away, learning that fellow girls can’t be trusted. We end up working against one another, finding fault in our friends, and preparing ourselves to be hurt. There are many theories as to why we do this to one another, and why this has become part of the female culture, though, reasons aside, the end result is that by adopting these false beliefs, we rob ourselves of our own connection to the powerful and pure female energy we possess and the magic that can be created when we embrace the women around us. There are four specific ways in which strong women interact with the females around them.
Blog by Jennifer Laurent originally posted on Live Through the Heart |
AuthorThe Audacious Admin is Debbi L. Shaffer, an outgoing, resourceful and highly motivated executive assistant with 20 years of experience specializing in C-Suite Executive Support. Archives
April 2019
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