Helene Lerner's Blog, page 167

Career Coach: Give Yourself the Credit You Deserve

In this economy, having the “perfect career” seems like an impossible goal. We often feel so relieved to have a paycheck of any size that we put off finding a job that is both more profitable and more stimulating. But here’s the truth: you can overcome those obstacles – real or imaginary – to reach the goals you have set for yourself. 

Think of yourself as a success. Everything begins in your own head; you are what you believe yourself to be. If you feel that you aren’t good enough to ask for a promotion or apply for something new, your own personal “fight for advancement” is over – you are out of the game. Having an open mind means that you are also open to the idea that you have value and worth, and that your contributions can and will mean something to a different company or industry. 

Face your demons. To achieve your career goals you need to deal with them one way or another. While you may be able to work around your demons– whether they are people or your own limited ideas of your capabilities – sometimes you will have to deal with them head on. For example, a boss that is attempting to hold you back. Asses your situation and determine how to work around these obstacles – if your boss has passed you over for several promotions, foster a relationship with a sponsor within the company who can advocate for you the next time a position opens up. 

Succeed despite the odds. You may tell yourself that in this job market your application will never stand out from the crowd, but through persistence and determination you can make a real impact. And when you combine both of these qualities with problem solving, you have a real winning combination. Employers, recruiters, and prospective clients take notice of those who tackle issues that arise. 

–Dr. Madeline Lewis, Career Coach

 

Keep Moving Forward

Some days we forget the unique talents that we have and the power we possess to make a difference in this world. But here's your wake up call: you have what it takes to succeed. Sometimes you may get scared and want to hold yourself back, but don't. Don't let the negative voices – within yourself and from others – break your stride. You have important work to do. 

–Video by Nicolena Basso

The New York Premier of "Girl Rising" is Tonight!

Tonight, 10x10 will present Girl Rising, an exciting documentary that has attracted Hollywood’s power women. Actors like Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and others are participating in the narration of the film. The New York City premier is at The Paris Theatre tonight.

Intel, one of the sponsors of the project, has been working to educate girls worldwide in many different ways. Their role in the documentary has presented a new model for corporate funding, Shelly Esque, VP and Global Director of Corporate Affairs, shared with me, leveraging resources and relationships beyond money. For example, clips of the film were shown at the World Economic Forum and generated important discussions.

Roz Hudnell, Intel’s Chief Diversity Office, has been spearheading innovative programs for youth around the globe. She is a woman with passion and a mission to make a difference. And Roz does!

10x10 is a social action campaign to educate girls and create change worldwide. Visit their site to find a screening of Girl Rising in your area.

 

A New Twist on Banana Bread

As I cleaned up the kitchen in my small New York City apartment last weekend, I absent-mindedly grabbed the browning bananas on my countertop with the intention of finally tossing them out. But just then, an idea came to me: banana bread. I loved my mother’s recipe growing up, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by the no-fail combination of bananas, peanut butter, and Nutella, I decided to make a few tweaks to this classic staple. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Makes 1 loaf

2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 TBSP all spice
3 medium bananas, mashed
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 TBSP lemon juice combined with 2% milk)
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed walnuts

-Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Grease an 8x4 loaf pan then line with parchment paper.
-In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and all spice. Set aside.
-In a separate large bowl, whisk together bananas, peanut butter, both types of sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined.
-Lightly dust the chocolate chips with flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf. Then gently stir them into the batter.
-Transfer the batter to the loaf pan, smoothing the top into an even layer. Sprinkle the crushed walnuts over the surface of the loaf.
-Bake the loaf for about 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Cooled bread should be wrapped in plastic wrap and eaten within five days. 

Can't get enough sweets? Check out our recipes for pumpkin muffins and a caramel apple pecan pie.

–Lindsay Putnam

 

Career Coach: Are You Burning the Candle at Both Ends?

Being over-worked will impact your decision-making process, hinder your creativity, and become a roadblock to a fulfilling life outside of the workplace. Whether you stick it out at your current job or find a new one, here are some things to take into consideration when managing your stress load. 

Find the right fit. Is your career sending you down the road to a full-fledged burnout? If your job has no “light at the end of the tunnel” in terms of reduced stress, you must stop and reassess. Sit down and evaluate what you do with your time and when. Are there ways to reorganize your work tasks so that you have more personal time? If not, the pressure of your current job could derail your long term professional goals as well as wreak havoc on your personal life. You may need to find work that allows you to explore your creativity to make your time both in and out of the office more satisfying. 

Give yourself a break. We all know we should do this, but are you giving yourself time to decompress? Make it a priority to walk away from work and not think about it for a while. Turn off your cell phone, avoid your emails, and relax. No matter how motivated you are to excel at your job, if you don’t take a break your performance will ultimately suffer – as well as your personal relationships that need nurturing. Giving yourself time off to do something that’s fun can recharge your batteries, so when you return to work you’ll approach tasks with more energy. 

–Dr. Madeline Lewis, Career Coach

 

Want To Do a Good Deed?

It’s invigorating to meet an empowered leader like Shari Arison. She is at the helm of several companies, and is always looking to make a difference. International Good Deeds Day, taking place this year on March 10, was her simple idea that today has a worldwide impact. Here are the highlights from a recent interview I had with Shari.

Helene: What gave you the impulse to start Good Deeds Day?

Shari: I’ve always thought about how I can create positive change. One day I thought of this idea, it was so simple – everyone can do a good deed. People think you need a lot of money or a position in order to give, but that is not necessary. A smile that brightens someone’s day is a good deed. Helping a lady cross the street or even just buying a coworker a cup of coffee to make them happy — these are good deeds, small acts of kindness. It’s taken off because everyone connects to it. 

We started seven years ago in Israel, with 7,000 people. It grows every year; last year it was 250,000 people and this year 370,000 people have signed up thus far. People hear about it around the world. We started GoodNet.org as a “gateway to doing good,” where individuals and organizations showcase how they are doing good – whether it’s for the environment, volunteering, philanthropy, etc. 

More and more people have asked to join in. In Washington, there are 3,000 people going out to do good deeds. In New York we are doing a kick-off event in Times Square on March 9. This year in Uganda they will be planting fruit trees to grow fruit for the community; in the Ukraine there are 5,000 students who are going to visit hospitals, senior citizens, and the needy.

Helene: Let's discuss the workplace because you’re such a terrific leader. Working women want to have greater influence – what will help them do that? 

Shari: I always say that women have insight and intuition; we need to take our unique qualities into the workplace – don’t try to be men, be the women that we are, with our values, caring, and compassion. That’s what I’ve done in all of my businesses – I’ve put my focus on values and in the long run it works. 

Helene: What is true power? 

Shari: I think true power is inner power. When people are connected to themselves and they are authentic, that resonates with others.

Helene: How do we quiet the negative voices that don’t allow us to step up?

Shari: It’s work. It’s a matter of recognizing them, whether they are in our own selves or in our surroundings. Acknowledge them, and then let them go. Focus on the good – what you want to see in the world, what you want to see in yourself, and what kind of person you want to be.

For more information on how you can get involved in International Good Deeds Day, go to GoodNet.org. 

 

Career Coach: Welcome to March!

February flew right by, and now Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis is onboard as our career coach for the month of March! This career strategist, author, and speaker knows how to make women stand out in the business world. Read her philosophy and her impressive credentials below, and check back for her weekly posts throughout the month. 

Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis is President/CEO of the Deline Institute for Professional Development. Her workshops and seminars have been presented throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Lewis has a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, and she has been certified by The Professional Woman Network (as a Diversity Trainer with special emphasis in Women Issues) and the Genesis International Coaching Institute (as a Career Coach).

Dr. Lewis’ knowledge of business and professionalism is supported by 21 years of experience in the military and over 20 years of experience as a civilian in federal and city government. Dr. Lewis is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Phoenix and Davenport University. She served on the Board of Directors for the Justice Federal Credit Union for three years and currently serves on the International Advisory Board of the Professional Woman Network.

Strategically located in one of the most politically disciplined geographic locations in the nation, Dr. Lewis uses her experience in training and education to benefit local affiliations through federal, state and local agencies. Additionally, she is an active member of numerous national groups, including the Federally Employed Women, the African American Federal Executives Association, the National Association of Female Executives and the Professional Woman’s International Advisory Board.

Her many accolades include a governor’s citation from former Maryland Governor William Shaffer (for service during Desert Storm), three Attorney General’s Volunteer Service Awards, and a Director’s Award for Outstanding Foreign Counterintelligence Investigation from the FBI. Dr. Lewis was also nominated for the Office Depot 2007 Business Woman of the Year Award. She is one of the WE Magazine 2009 Hall of Fame Honorees and a 2009 Stevie Award Finalist for Women in Business.

She has been quoted by others in several articles, some of which have been syndicated and published on AOL and Yahoo. Her voice has been recorded in business journals, magazines, newspapers, college websites, and blogs. She has also been spotlighted on the radio and in magazines such as: Ebony, Balance Health, Black Health Magazine, National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), and Radio One Talk Show: A Woman’s Journey to Success.

Dr. Lewis is the author of Finding Your Best Inside: Becoming the Person You Were Meant to Be and Playing from the Blue Tee: Women in the Federal Government. She co-authored Rising to the Top: A Guide to Success, Overcoming the Superwoman Syndrome, You’re On Stage: Image, Etiquette, Branding & Style, and A Woman’s Journey to Wellness: Mind, Body & Spirit.

–Madeline Lewis, Career Coach

 

Career Coach: It's Time To Find Attitude!

What do you say when someone asks you, “What do you do for work?” Would your answer tell them that you are proud of what you do? Would it tell that you feel you do significant and meaningful work? We live in a status-driven culture where titles, positions, and levels of authority are a big deal to most of us. The end result is too few of us have a healthy “attitude” about the work we do. 

I recently did a keynote speech for one hundred librarians. I asked them, “What do you say when someone asks you what you do for a living?” The room was silent – maybe because they were all librarians, or maybe because they didn’t think their work was anything to write home about. It turned out that most of them didn’t think their work was all that impressive. They were clearly lacking in attitude. Why is that?

Why do we think certain jobs and titles – doctor, CEO, firefighter, astronaut, Oscar-winning actress – are a really big deal, but we lack the confidence in our jobs and titles? Shouldn’t we all have healthy attitude about the work that we do?

It’s time to get some attitude! I told the librarians, “When someone asks you what you do for a living, tell them, ‘I change lives!’” They looked at me like I was just trying to flatter them, so I told them a story. When I was eleven years old I read two books that changed my life – one on Amelia Earhart, the other on Helen Keller. 

What did I learn? I learned how important it was to have attitude – to believe in yourself, to get out of your comfort zone, to keep learning, and to never underestimate yourself or what you are capable of. I learned to be proud of myself and be proud of what I did – even if others weren’t impressed. I learned to tell myself that my work had attitude. 

What about you? Does the story you tell yourself about the work that you do inspire you? If not, change your story! There isn’t a job that isn’t significant and meaningful. I’m sure you would agree, but if not, think about what Helen Keller said: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” I don’t know about you, but I think Helen Keller had the right attitude – and it’s time we got some of our own. 

–Alan Allard, Career Coach

 

Prepare for Wedding Season With the "Sweet Genius"

If you’ve scheduled a summer or fall wedding, chances are you’re swamped with fittings and tastings. But when it comes to the cake, nothing but the best will suffice. Who is the expert on this iconic dessert? Ron Ben-Israel, world renowned pastry chef and founder of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes. 

Ron’s creations have graced the pages of New York Magazine, Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and more. He also currently stars as the host of the Food Network’s Sweet Genius and is the Visiting Master Pastry Instructor at the International Culinary Center. Here, he shares the latest trends in wedding cake. 

Knowledgeable brides. Thanks to social media, gone are the days where wedding plans started with a blank slate. “There’s a new phenomenon in the industry because of Pinterest,” Ron says. “Brides arrive iPads in hand, with hundreds of wedding cakes preselected.” For Ron, the challenge is sifting through those photos to find the best style and making the creation his own. 

The return to BIG. Weddings became smaller in recent years due to the recession. But as the country continues to recover, Ron has seen a return to the “huge” weddings popular before the economic downturn. “This summer, we will see more tent weddings in the Hamptons and large gatherings at grand hotels.” As expected with bigger weddings, guests will see over-the-top cakes and fuller bridal gowns. 

Bold colors. Forget about all-white cakes this year. “Last season, cakes started incorporating black trims. This year, we have all-black cakes with white trim. They are very dramatic, and very significant.” Deep purples and bright greens are also popular colors for spring weddings. Ron recommends bringing paint swatches with colors similar to bridesmaids’ dresses, floral arrangements, or table settings for further inspiration. 

Detailed textures. “When I first started designing wedding cakes, the only icing textures were basketweave and seashells.” Now, the leading trend is to incorporate the texture of the wedding gown onto the surface of the cake. Lace, taffeta, and silk can all be replicated in the cake – in an entirely edible fashion. “Every piece of our cakes is edible – including our handmade sugar flowers.” 

Invigorating flavors. Ron has a slew of new recipes for brides-to-be, including a fragrant spice cake, Mexican hot chocolate, and Nutella. He is also putting a new twist on the classics, with thyme-infused vanilla buttercream and carrot cake laced with cayenne pepper for a little extra kick. And be on the lookout for unique flavors at traditional ceremonies. “I recently created a basil and green tea cake for a Japanese wedding, and a rosewater and pistachio piece for a Mediterranean-inspired celebration.”

              

–Lindsay Putnam

Career Coach: Learn to Conquer Challenges

We all want to know how to deal with the things we hope will never happen to us – like losing a job, facing a serious healthy crisis, or dealing with the end of a relationship. Or perhaps it’s depression that never seems to go away or anxiety that comes out of the blue. We wish they would just go away, but of course, life has different plans. We have two options: we can let our circumstances crush us, or we can transcend them. If you opt for the second choice, here are three things you need to know. 

You’re not as alone as you think. When you’re knocked down and feel you can’t get up, look around and see the love that surrounds you. You have people who care about you and want to be there for you. Now is the time to let them in and draw on their strength, love, and courage. You might feel like toughing it out – don’t. Instead, take a deep breath and be strong enough to embrace the help that is there. Never let a day go by that you don’t express your gratitude for those important to you – one day, you may really need them. 

What’s happening isn’t as bad as you think. I’m not saying it’s not challenging, I’m saying that we have a tendency to make what is difficult doubly-difficult. Albert Ellis, the founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, often said that in the middle of difficulties, we engage in what he called “Catastrophizing” or “Awfulizing” a bad situation or event. At the risk of sounding insensitive, sometimes we need to be reminded that we’re not the first person to go through what we’re experiencing. Acknowleding that doesn’t take our problems away – but it does give us the perspective we need to transcend them. We can look at those who have risen above the situation and say, “This is bad, but if they got through this, maybe it’s not as bad as I thought.”

You’re stronger than you think. In my former work as a psychotherapist, I have worked with clients going through the worst of life – things I won’t mention here. What I discovered is that we are more powerful and capable than we imagine – and often, we don’t know that until we have to. One of my favorite quotes is from the French Nobel Prize winner, journalist, and philosopher, Albert Camus: “In the depth of winter, I finally realized there was in me an invincible summer.” I have found that to be true in my own life, and I bet you can relate. We are more than we think, stronger than we realize, and we’re more powerful than we can imagine. Not some of us, but all of us. 

–Alan Allard, Career Coach