Lifestyle blog 9: 5 Book Recommendations for Female Empowerment

 Hello, my Amazing Readers! 

Female Empowerment is something that I personally believe in. What do I mean by female empowerment? I mean that women, and men, are encouraging other women to feel empowered and capable of succeeding in their lives. I know for me personally, I am grateful for the mentors I have had in the past that have encouraged me to continue moving forward and striving to succeed. I wouldn't be a managing partner at my company if it wasn't for them. 

I've personally felt the pressures a woman faces in this society, specifically in the job market. Being a woman in sales, especially within a corporate world, can be intimidating. I've learned through various experiences to keep moving forward and encouraging my fellow women to do the same. This blog I hope gives encouragement and empowerment to you women who need it. Whether you're selling a product or looking in the job market, being a woman is tough. One study showed that women have a "Motherhood penalty," where every child a woman has decreases her annual salary by an average of 4%. That's crazy! And clearly shows the flaws in the job market against women. 

However, women can easily fight against this flawed society by continuing to succeed and move forward. We do this by feeling strong and empowered, and knowing that we can beat the odds stacked against us. It can be hard to be encouraged to continue trying, especially as a woman in the stiff job market today, so I want to give some book recommendations below of books that I believe can help empower and encourage women. 

1. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown 

What a great read! Brene Brown is a favorite of mine anyway, but this book is amazing. She discusses how we look at our imperfections and how we can change our views. Highly recommend! 

2. We should all be Feminists by  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I love this author already, but this book is both inspiring and well-written. Adichie talks about what feminism means today, and what we can do to empower ourselves as women. 

3. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit 

This book is a long, comical but bitter essay, where Solnit talks about "mansplaining" and the assumptions both men and women have about each other. It's eye-opening and slightly terrifying. 

4. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life:

by Jen Sincero 

This book is excellent not just for women, but for anyone. Written by a success coach, each chapter gives life lessons, inspiring stories, and tips you may not have thought of. 

5. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

This is a classic 1960s female empowerment read, and probably the first of its kind. Friedan describes the feelings of women in the 1960s, and this book is quite relevant today. 

There are obviously a great many other books I could recommend for female empowerment, but I believe that these are all different and inspiring enough to be recommended to my female readers. Reach out on my social media with your own favorite books, as well as questions you may have. 

Until next time, 

Katie 

Lifestyle Blog 8: My Tips for Self-Growth

 Hello, my Amazing Readers! 

This year feels like it's been one of self-growth for all of us, with things such as social distancing. Many of us have struggled with transitioning to our homes for work, dealing with new challenges such as our kids' schedules, our pets, and possible slow internet connections. I want to share some of the self-growth tips that I've learned in this past year, hoping that they may inspire you. When we think of self-growth, there may be this idea of enlightenment, which isn't always accurate. Self-growth comes in many forms and is always different for everyone. The tips I give below I use to help listen and judge myself and make sure I'm learning or more aware of my actions. I hope these tips benefit you as much as they do me. 

1. Take the time to journal: 

Journaling is something I enjoy, even though sometimes I'm tired and don't want to do it. Journaling allows me to listen to my thoughts and recount my actions from the day, making me more self-aware about the impacts of my actions. Journaling can help you to destress and gives you a safe place to vent and share your ideas and emotions. I'd highly recommend journaling as a way to get to know yourself better. It allows you to see how you think and what you may be thinking about certain stressful situations. 

2. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and use them as lessons: 

This tip isn't as easy as it sounds. All of us, myself included, can get caught up in the mistakes we've made in the past, from little things to big things. It's important to forgive yourself and give yourself grace for previous mistakes because you clearly can't go back and change them. Instead, use your mistakes as lessons to move forward. The cliche is true: the road to success is paved with failure. Failing forward is sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself, but in order to do that, you have to forgive yourself first and then see your failure as a lesson. 

3. Be positive about your future 

By this I mean, you shouldn't stop yourself from doing something great by worrying about your future. Your worry could be holding you back from doing some incredible things. Focusing on the positives of your future, such as finding a better job, or finding an amazing new friend, can help motivate you to keep going and to stop worrying. Believe me, being positive can be difficult to do, but know that you're the only one holding yourself back from doing great things. 

4. Take time for self-care: 

I cannot stress self-care enough, especially in our crazy COVID world. Self-care isn't just pampering yourself occasionally, it's also complimenting yourself and appreciating yourself. You work hard to be who you are, make sure to give yourself credit! You've gotten this far for a reason, make sure to acknowledge your efforts. 

There's obviously a lot more I can say about self-growth, and it's always going to be a work in progress, but I do hope these tips help you to focus more on ways to see self-growth in your own life. Feel free to reach out on social let me know what you enjoy about self-growth. 

Until next time, 

Katie 

Blog 24: My tips on how to Effectively Delegate

 Hello, my Readers! 

Today I want to talk about delegating, as it's something we do even when we're not in the office. Good delegating helps teams to effectively function, as well as sets a dynamic for a workforce. Now, not everyone is a good delegator, but I'm hoping my tips below will help you to better delegate. 

1. Set up a priority system

When assigning tasks to your employees, make sure to tell them the deadline of when you need it by, as well as the priority of the task. Employees should work on the highest priority tasks first, then move down the levels as they complete the task. This will also help you keep track of your employees' work for completing tasks. Priority systems also encourage employees to better work together with better communication. 

2. Be completely clear about your expectations 

If you expect something from your workers, tell them! As far as I know, no one can yet read minds. Be sure to give proper instructions for a task to make sure your workers are well equipped and ready to work. Let them know your expectations for the task, as well as their role in the company. Make sure your employees fully understand what you're looking for, and check-in with them often to make sure they're on track. 

3. Listen to feedback 

Ask your workers to give you feedback on their tasks as well as your delegation. Take that feedback into consideration for future tasks, making sure to play to your workers' strengths. This will make them feel respected and listened to, and want to work more. Employees who feel respected and heard will be happier at work, with better motivation. 

There are many other tips for effective delegation, but I hope that these help you to have a better system of work with your workers and team members. Reach out on social media with any questions. 

Until next time! 

Katie 

Blog 23: 3 Motivational Podcasts you have to listen to right now!

 Hello Readers! 

Podcasting has become more and more popular, especially with the COVID-19 travel restrictions, as more people are working from home, and many of them listen to podcasts while they work. Podcasts have always been something I've enjoyed, and I'm currently on the third episode of my own podcast, which you can find here.  

There are so many podcasts to choose from, so you'll never run out of new and exciting things to listen to. I want to highlight a few of my favorite podcasts below I believe to be inspiring and motivational. 

1. TED Talks Daily 

This podcast releases an audio daily TED talk. You never know what you're going to listen to, but each episode is sure to inspire and challenge your thinking. Some of the talks are only 10 minutes long, perfect for an afternoon walk, while others are great for a longer commute. I'd highly recommend this podcast for a daily dose of inspiration. 

2. Life Kit by NPR

This podcast gives life hacks that we all need sometimes. Whether it's doing your taxes or surviving in the wild, this podcast has it all. It's sure to entertain and motivate you to try something new. I highly recommend it! 

3. On Being with Krista Tippett

This award-winning show talks about healing, art, and many bigger questions about consciousness and existence. It gives great perspectives and different conversations that you may not have heard before. Try it out today. 

There are many other great podcasts out there, but I wanted to share a couple of my favorites if you're looking for something interesting and new to listen to. Feel free to reach out on social media to let me know your favorite podcasts or any other questions you may have. 

Until next time! 

Katie 

Blog 22: My Tips for Successful Teamwork

 Hello Lovely Readers! 

Today I want to focus on teamwork, as it's something that is essential for success. No matter what sector or field you work in, you'll need good teamwork in order to get jobs done. Having good teamwork isn't that difficult to do, but it is something that can be refreshed and maintained with various team-building exercises. Today I want to offer some tips in sort of a checklist-style, to make sure you can see if you have good teamwork, or if there are things you need to fix. Not everyone will get along within a team, but by having a good team dynamic, there will be less stress and drama within your company. My tips for successful teamwork aren't hard to implement, but they are important in understanding how to better focus your team's dynamic, and make sure they are succeeding. 

1. Communication is honest, open, and respectful 

This is something that's easy to forget to do once you have a team working on a task. Checking in to make sure that everyone within the team feels they're being heard, respected, and appreciated is important, as it will help to boost the team's dynamic. Having disrespectful, closed, or dishonest communication can make team members feel stressed, overwhelmed, and disinterested in doing a good job. There can be increased competitiveness and petty actions, all of which will dissuade team members from easily working together. Make sure to check in with all team members about communication within the team. 

2. Everyone is comfortable with their designated tasks 

This can be an easy one to forget. Team members may be assigned tasks that seem easy or doable, but then someone forgets to check in with them to make sure they're confident in their skills about the task. Take the time to check in with all your team members to make sure they're confident in their work, as well as feel comfortable with the tasks they've been given. If your team members are unsure about their tasks, offer them the help they need until they feel comfortable enough to do it themselves. 

3. Members of the team make the decisions together 

This aspect of teamwork can easily be overlooked, as team members may have a hierarchy of who makes decisions. This is fine, as long as everyone's voice and opinion are heard and appreciated. Having a team where only a few members make the decisions can be unfair and disincentivize all team members to work cooperatively together. Make sure everyone is able to help make the decisions, as they will feel respected and appreciated. 

Teamwork isn't hard to do, but having a team dynamic built on respect and honesty is important for succeeding in any job. It can take as little as five minutes to check in with your team to make sure they're functioning well. If you have any questions or your own team working tips, reach out on my social media. 

Until next time! 

Katie 

Blog 21: My 6 Tips to become Financially Literate

 Hello Readers! 

Today is a] hands-on and helpful blog about my tips to become financially literate! 

What do I mean by financially literate? Financial literacy is "is having the knowledge and understanding of financial principles to manage money in a wise, and effective manner." It's knowing how your money is being saved, spent, and managed. Financial literacy seems like a big scary thing, but it's really not. Simple tricks and tips that I recommend below will really help you to think of your finances in a different way, and hopefully manage them more effectively. I know looking at finances and personal budgets can seem overwhelming for people, and scary, but the end goal of being confident and secure in your finances is totally worth it. 

People tend to think that talking about money and finances is gross or weird or awkward, but I promise you it isn't. It shows professionalism and respect to do so with others, and being financially literate will help you feel more confident about this. Check out my easy tips below and start building them into your daily routine with your friends and family to make sure you can be more financially literate. 

1. Know your net worth 

Net worth isn't just for rich celebrities but can be applied to everyone. Knowing your net worth can help you to feel more confident in your skills and finances. Your net worth is made of assets and liabilities. An asset is "anything you own outright that can provide future monetary value." Examples of assets include your car, bank account value, and real estate you own outright. Liabilities, on the other hand, are "is anything of monetary value that you owe to somebody else, whether that be a bank, organization, or individual." This could be a property you're renting or a car you bought on loan. To calculate your net worth, you just do the following calculation: 

Assets – Liabilities = Net Worth

Don't worry if your net worth is negative. Many people have a negative net worth. You can make your net worth more positive by getting rid of liabilities, such as paying off debts. 

2. Understand your income 

Understanding how much you earn for your income, as well as the types of income you may have, is important in being financially literate. There are many types of incomes. Active income is when you perform a service or a job for someone and get paid for it: "active income can come in the form of commissions, hourly wages, tips, or a salary.". Passive income, on the other hand, is what everyone wants where you do little to earn your income. "Some good examples of passive income are investments that earn interest, selling a digital info-product or course, and owning rental properties." Switching your active income to passive income can be helpful in making you more money, but be sure you fully know what you're doing before this happens. 

3. Saving money 

Putting away a certain portion of your income is just a good habit for anyone because it increases your savings and helps to build your wealth. You can save your money by putting it in a normal savings account or in other investment funds with different interest types and rates. 

4. Know the different types of interest and what they do 

Unfortunately, the stuff you learned in math class about interest rates does actually apply here. Knowing the different types of interest and the rates you can get will help you determine if you want a loan or to make an investment, or what type of bank account you can get. Reading up on interest and researching what you want will help you to become more financially literate 

5. Know your credit score and ways to improve it 

Knowing what your current credit score is will help you to find ways to improve it, as well as better understand what you need for a loan. Improving your credit score can happen in many different ways, but the easiest way is to make payments on time and keep up with your credit. This is where budgeting and research can help. 

6. Have proper life insurance 

By this one, I don't mean going out and getting life insurance you don't need. Life insurance comes in many different forms, and knowing what type of insurance is best for you will help you to become more financially literate. For example, you may need fire or flood insurance if you're a homeowner. Knowing what insurance you currently have and what you may need for the future can help you to better prepare and capitalize on your own wealth. If you're curious about the different types of life insurance, you can get a consultation here. 

There are obviously wayyy more tips about financial literacy, and it's good to read everything you can about becoming more financially literate. Know that your finances will always be a work in progress, but by being mindful of your spending, saving, and managing, you can easily boost your wealth and help lower the stress about your finances. 

Until next time, 

Katie 

Sources: 

https://bethebudget.com/financial-literacy/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=742074090_30239182_294477

Blog 20: Ways to stop snacking while working

 Hello, my Lovely Readers!

I know all of us at some point struggle with snacking while working. It can be all-too-easy to bring food to our home office or if we're working in the dining room (it's even easier) and just snack throughout the day. Now I have nothing against snacking, in fact, the science of snacking shows it can be healthy, but, like everything else, should be in moderation. Science has shown that a majority of people who snack do so not because they're hungry, but because they're bored. Hopefully my tips on ways to stop snacking while working can help you to feel healthier and better about yourself in an easier way. 

1. Make your snacks less accessible 

    This may be putting your bag of chips on the top shelf in the pantry, or in a drawer in the kitchen. Either way, putting the food where it's less accessible and takes more of an effort to get will help to discourage you from snacking as easily. 

2. Limit yourself and set reminders     

Sometimes just having a visual reminder about how much you're snacking can really help to dissuade you from snacking more. Putting sticky notes by your desk to visually remind yourself will help remind you. Also limiting yourself to one or two snacks can also help, as it forces you to stop once you've reached your limit 

3. Know the difference between hungry and bored 

I know it can be easy to do this, that's why taking the time during the day to determine why you're snacking can also really help you to stop snacking. Ask yourself if you're snacking because you're actually hungry, or because you're bored. Knowing the motivation behind snacking can easily help you to stop aimlessly snacking. 

Remember that snacking in moderation can actually be good for you! Just be mindful of your actions and focus on your health. I hope my tips on ways to stop snacking while working helped you to focus on your motivations for snacking. Reach out on my social media about questions or ways you enjoy eating healthy. 

Until next time! 

Katie 

Blog 19: 3 ways to clean up your social media to make it more successful

 Hello Lovely Readers! 

Social media has become a new way to network and communicate with others, especially right now with COVID. While it's fun to post your beach photos or family Christmas activities, it's also important to know that more than just your friends may be looking at your profile. Potential employers or clients may also be looking at your profile, and may not like what they see. Now my blog isn't telling you to get rid of funny or weird photos that make you unique on Instagram or Facebook, but I do want to offer 3 ways to clean up your social media to make it more successful when people may view it for business reasons. 

1. Know what's appropriate on each social platform 

By this I mean, each social platform has its own set of rules about what to post. For example, Linkedin shouldn't have your bikini body photos, or Snapchat have your professional headshots. Know which platform allows which types of photos. When in doubt, play it safe and make sure all your photos are either with family or friends only or seem appropriate in any setting. 

2. If you're unsure of a photo, take it out! 

It's a pretty simple rule, but if you're not sure whether that certain beach photo or tattoo photo is unprofessional, it's best to play it safe and remove it from your social media. Same with political posts on Twitter. While Twitter is definitely the platform for political posts, if you're worried that something you ranted about may get you rejected from a future job, it's probably best to take it down, at least while you're job hunting. 

3. Make sure you include your relevant work experience in your profiles 

This is mainly for Linkedin and Facebook, but you could also add your work history to Instagram and other platforms, just not as well. Many people forget to update their work experience, specifically on Facebook, and it's just good to have. 

I recommend doing these three things when you're scrolling back through your old photos just to keep your profile up-to-date and looking more professional. You don't have to make it look boring, but just taking away some iffy photos and adding work experience can really help a lot to make you stand out and look successful! 

Until next time, 

Katie