Experience Business and Personal Success in 2019 with a “Legacy-Driven” Mindset

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Making an impact will be just as important as making an income is central to adopting a “Legacy-Driven mindset” and that becomes crucial to long-term success in both our business and personal lives.

In watching how people navigate the landscape of their business and personal lives, I believe that women have a better sense of how to adopt and implement this way of life because women always seem to be in charge of balancing the life and work dance—and like Ginger Rogers with Fred Astaire, they can also do it backwards.

Why a “Legacy-Driven Mindset” is Not a Strategy or Tactic

The “Legacy-Driven mindset” is deciding what is truly important in the entirety of your life—and then living it. Why is this crucial to long-term success in our working and personal lives? Thinking about long-term successes rather than short term fulfillment keeps you focused on your specified path during times of chaos and uncertainty. And because your actions are rooted in a much bigger picture of how you should live your life, you won’t be pulled willy-nilly by every capricious whim and wind that comes your way.

“Living Your Legacy”—In my writing and speaking to groups about my book, The Legacy Letters, I came to the realization one day that legacy was not the sum total of who and of what you left behind in your life but how you “walk your talk” or “live your legacy” in all your words and actions. This long-term outlook—this legacy-driven outlook—is what gives purpose to your priorities. Thoreau wrote: “Simplify, simplify, simplify.” I would rather it be: “Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.”

The “Ginger Rogers” Syndrome—Why is it so important to prioritize in this life? Because we’ve come to believe that everything we do, all the time, is important. That if we could only answer the next e-mail, text the text message, race to the next meeting, buy the next new thing, go on the perfect vacation, dot every “i” perfectly and cross every “t” like precision, then we would win the race, become the perfect person, and get the gold star for doing the most things in a twenty-four period of time. And as so many professional women know the “Ginger Rogers” syndrome, they still can do it backwards. But this perfection is false prioritizing. It is just checking boxes. And when you reach the end of your life, are you happy that you checked so many boxes so well?

The Regret Test—When I speak to audiences about legacy-driven life, I ask them to take a simple test that I call “The Regret Test.” Imagine you’re ninety years old and now can look back on your life and find all the regrets you have. Imagine talking to yourself right now at the age your and say, “Why are you still at that “great” job making a ton of money and being totally miserable?” or “Why don’t you leave that idiot boyfriend and find someone who loves you, or really wants to have kids with you, or loves you being the CEO of your company?” or “Why don’t you go live in Colorado or France like you’ve always wanted?”

Then you continue the conversation: “I’m here to tell you as your ninety-year old self, you are going down a long path to unhappiness and ultimately will have more regrets than not. And I’m here to tell you that it really sucks to have more regrets at the end of your life when you could have easily decided not to have gone down the path of most regrets. You could have decided to live your life and not the life everyone else wanted you to live. Because, at the end of the day—or the end of your life—if you can’t say to yourself, I’ve done a good job of living well, then you really have blown it.”

Now that’s one powerful conversation to have with yourself.

Bio:

Carew Papritz is the 5-Time award-winning author of the inspirational book, The Legacy Letters, which was featured last month in INC.: 5 Gifts That Will Do Good Long After You Buy Them

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The 4AM Club: Three Ways to Make It Work For You

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You’ve heard it said: the early bird catches the worm — in the opinion of many highly successful people, the phrase is much more than a cliche.

The benefits of an extremely early morning routine have been touted by so many self-made celebrities that the “4AM Club” has become a part of the public vernacular. It’s the magic hour for many world changers like Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Tim Cook, and experience has taught me why. In my world, it’s a time of quiet, focus, determination, and accomplishment.

As an entrepreneur and a mother, high-paced days at my desk and endless days on the road are only outpaced by high-energy evenings and weekends with my family of five. By waking up at 4 AM, I’m able to routinely devote time to my own self-development and care, a necessary practice for success in all areas of my life.

If this is something you’ve wanted to try but haven’t yet managed to find success in, here are a few keys I’ve found to making this routine not only possible, but extremely enjoyable as well:

Check your DNA

Our tendency to be productive at certain times of the day is often hard-wired in us, an internal clock that’s determined by our DNA. This genetic predisposition is called our chronotype. If you identify as a “night owl”, then you can stop reading now. This method is not for you. In fact, research shows a correlation to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease if you try to force an extra early wake-time when your DNA is telling you otherwise. But if you feel like you do your best work in the morning, or maybe you’re not sure, than the 4 AM club could be for you.

Check your Watch

The key to sustaining this routine has everything to do with a consistent sleep schedule. Knowing the exact number of sleep hours that support your peak performance is requisite to success. Not getting enough sleep effectively compromises all the systems that work together for success in day-to-day life. Without enough sleep, the motivation to exercise is zapped, food choices start moving in a downward spiral, and productivity at work takes a nosedive.

Check your Excuses

An early morning routine is a no-excuses kind of practice. Follow the 21/90 rule — on average, it takes 21 days to form a habit. If the system seems to be working for you, another 90 days is recommended to turn it into a permanent lifestyle change. That said, the first few days will inevitably be brutal. Resist the temptation to hit snooze on that alarm by using the Rule of 5. When the alarm goes off, count to five, pop up, and start moving out of bed, no matter how you feel about it in that moment.

Above all, know that every person is wired in their own way, and successful habits look different for everyone. Do not try to define yourself by what works for others — instead, let them inspire you to find your own routines that drive you toward your goals.

Author Bio

Judith Nowlin, Chief Growth Officer with Babyscripts. Judith created iBirth™, a mobile care companion for pregnancy, birth and postpartum, to help healthcare practitioners deliver better health outcomes for women and children in the United States and beyond. The original idea for the app was born out of her prior decade of service in maternity care. The technology platform she and her team built has since impacted nearly 1 million families on their journey toward optimal health and wellness during one of life’s most precious times. iBirth was acquired in June 2018 by Babyscripts, Inc., the leading virtual care platform for obstetrics. You can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-nowlin-3a9b82b/

Guest contributors views are their own.

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Taking an Early Career Setback into an Opportunity

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Career setback, opportunity
For many, a career setback does not come strictly by being fired or laid off although.

As a woman in business, there also are subtle ways you may experience bumps in the road. Maybe you were just passed up for a promotion or you are coming back from maternity leave to find the company’s culture has changed for the worse. No matter what kind of setback you’re experiencing, here are a few steps to turn your negative experience into an opportunity for career growth.

Make Financial Independence a Goal

When you experience a setback, start working toward financial independence. To be able to make a move to a new company, city, to work for yourself, or going back to school, you’ll need to have money saved. If it’s possible to stay in your current job for a little longer to add to your savings, do so and bide your time. Even though you may be ready to move on, hold on while collecting your regular paycheck.

But remember, don’t stay too long if you’re not mentally prepared for the work ahead of you. If you’re not operating at your best, those around you will notice. Leave a great impression on your colleagues when you finally depart, because you never know when your paths may cross again in the workplace.

If you’re ready to leave or have been fired, take steps immediately to stabilize your financial situation. Even if you can afford your current lifestyle, cut back on those little expenses that add up. Especially if you have less than 6 months’ expenses saved up, take every precaution to use those savings sparingly until you’re back on your feet.

Keep A Positive Attitude

Just because you’ve experienced one setback doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish your goals. Find some time for yourself to take do a little self-care to put your mind in a healthy place. Operating at your best is an important step to being able to tackle the next opportunity head on. You are your best ally, and it’s key to take good care of yourself.

Find Mentors

Having other driven and successful women on your side is an invaluable resource. Reach out to women in your field who have achieved your goals or that you want to emulate. You would be surprised how each person’s path to success varies greatly. Join a professionals group in your field, especially one for women. There are other women out there that understand the unique challenges you may face in the workplace and how to navigate those successfully.

Remember, you won’t want to ask your current peers or supervisors for recommendations if you’re trying to apply for other jobs quietly. If your employer learns you’re leaving before you have an offer in hand, you may be seen as less committed or lose valuable leverage for negotiating. Having mentors outside of your current company helps you have additional flexibility when asking for references, testimonials, and letters of recommendations.

Add To Your Resume

Find opportunities to collect your resume and portfolio assets while you still work for your current organization. You might lose access to some of these projects when you leave. Take an inventory of what you’ve accomplished and save anything you can legally use for your future. Depending on your current employee handbook and contract, be aware that there may be some proprietary information you cannot leverage for a resume. However, save everything else that you can because you never know what may be useful in a future job.

While volunteer experiences won’t directly benefit you financially, you can learn a lot from volunteering and add valuable interest points to your resume. Employers love seeing that a potential candidate is engaged in the community because they are better equipped to create a positive culture in the workplace. Find a volunteer opportunity that is directly applicable to your career, and you may find connections to other people who are in your field.

Get Organized

If you are working towards specific career goals, break it down into manageable pieces. When you set a lofty goal, it can seem too far away to accomplish in the short term and it may become overwhelming. By giving yourself a roadmap to success, it’s much easier to visualize the path you need to take and show each step with the final intention in mind.

In addition, write a list of what you like and don’t like about your career. How can things be better? What type of company do you want to work for? By answering these questions, you know what to ask your next interviewer to get to the heart of their organization.

When you ask the right questions in an interview, it quickly sheds insight on how the organization operates and where the potential problems may lay. Simply asking “What is your culture like?” doesn’t give you everything you need to know about a new company. Instead, ask questions like “do you feel like you have the resources you need for success?” If you’re looking for a job where you feel more supported, this question will open an honest conversation with the interviewer about those attributes.

Check out the infographic below for some more tips on how to deal with career setbacks from entrepreneurs, investors, and creative minds.

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4 Tips On Time Management for People Pursuing Online MBAs

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Obtaining an MBA can expand your earning potential and career opportunities exponentially.

Unfortunately, not all aspiring MBA recipients have the bandwidth to juggle jobs, family obligations and other everyday responsibilities with taking part in the MBA programs offered by traditional colleges and universities. Luckily for interested parties held back by schedule constraints, it’s now possible to earn an accredited MBA from the comfort of home – and on your time.

However, while online MBA programs are typically easier on one’s schedule, they still require a fair amount of commitment. Students interested in earning an online MBA in a timely and efficient manner can benefit from the following pointers.

Be Consistent

If you’re accustomed to learning in structured environments, taking part in an online degree program may require a bit of adjustment. Since these programs generally lack the rigid schedules of traditional schools, self-motivation is crucial to student success. While becoming a self-motivator may seem like a daunting prospect, it’s by no means impossible – provided you practice consistency. This means devoting a set amount of time to your academic pursuits each day and committing to this schedule. Whether it’s early in the morning or after you’ve come down from the day, make a point of meticulously adhering to your self-imposed study time. For many students, this will initially prove difficult, but after a few weeks, being a self-starter will start feeling natural. Just remember: proper planning is key.

Don’t Allow Coursework to Pile Up

Allowing coursework and important end-of-term projects to pile up is one of the worst things any student can do to themselves. Although it’s considerably less stressful than going the traditional route, earning an MBA online still requires students to keep up with coursework and follow a syllabus. Even if due dates aren’t as set in stone as they are at brick-and-mortar schools, you’re expected to complete coursework within a reasonable timeframe. As such, consistently putting it on the backburner and allowing it to accumulate will only hurt your MBA prospects. Additionally, it will throw your daily study schedule into disarray, thereby making effective time management an impossibility. To ensure this doesn’t come to pass, you’ll need to regard your syllabus as a sacred text and treat the due dates listed therein as sacrosanct.

Eliminate Digital Distractions

As much as people hate to admit it, many of us are slaves to our devices. The average American seldom goes more than five minutes without looking at their phone, with the time span between phone-checks getting progressively shorter each year. Furthermore, when we’re not looking at our phones, we’re often working at computers or relaxing with our favorite tablet. Unsurprisingly, this plethora of digital distractions can make concentrating on one’s studies incredibly difficult.
With this in mind, make an effort to eliminate as many distractions as you can during your designated study hours. This can mean shutting off your phone, placing strict limits on personal web browsing and turning off any nearby televisions. For dedicated techno-junkies, this can be a difficult adjustment to make, but the increased productivity will prove well worth your efforts.

Accept Help When It’s Offered

Many people have trouble accepting help from others. Since we live in a culture that celebrates self-reliance and regards workaholism as an enviable trait, it isn’t difficult to see why. However, the busier someone is, the more help they’re likely to need – and this is particularly true in the case of returning students. Going to back to school as an adult can be incredibly taxing, especially for students with families and full-time jobs. In many instances, accepting help is the only way for students to succeed, so if a friend or family member offers to assist with childcare, food preparation or financial matters, there is absolutely no shame in taking them up on their generosity. Not only will this approach save you time, it can also diminish your stress levels considerably.

There are many good reasons for adult learners to pursue MBAs. In addition to heightened earning power and broadened career paths, earning an MBA can dramatically improve one’s quality of life. Furthermore, with online degrees becoming an increasingly popular option for both new and returning students, accredited MBA programs have become more accessible than ever. To get the most out of these programs, students need to consistently apply themselves and practice proper time management.

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4 Questions to Ask Yourself Regarding Your Job

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Image via Shutterstock

For many women in senior management positions the workload becomes stable and the opportunities for new and original work start to show up less often.

Here are some questions that you may ask yourself to know if now is the time to ask for more from your job, and what direction you can choose with more awareness.

1. What will my life be like in 5 years if I keep this job?

Often women in senior positions have made it to the glass ceiling of their profession. Is that you? If you were promoted, what is the level of responsibility and what are the daily tasks of this new position? Is this something that you are willing to take on? Is the level of salary increase over the next 5 years in this position something that you are excited about receiving or is it lacklustre? According to 2018 data by SHRM, most executive positions only expected a 3% salary increase, and no one knows what the 2019 forecast. Is working in this job creating difficulties in any other area of your life? Personally? Physically? Relationships? Health? Mental Health? Note down what impressions that you have about keeping this job in all of these factors.

2. What will my life be like in 5 years if I don’t keep this job?

What if you could decide for yourself what your life will be like if you don’t keep this current job? What are the other opportunities for employment? What marketplace demand is there for your skills and what salaries are being offered to seasoned entrants? What is your value proposition as a candidate, how will you shine? Could you choose to take time off right now and develop your own consulting business and become profitable competition for your previous job?

3. What do I love about this job?

Challenge yourself to write 25 things that you actually love about the job that you are in. A long time ago I heard the 80/20 rule applied to work. If 80% of your job is taken up with things that you enjoy and feel masterful about and only 20% of your job is not, then you are in a sustainable career for you. If it is the opposite, it may be time to consider a change. What else is possible for you to love about this job that isn’t obvious at the moment? Sometimes we get bogged down and don’t actually ask for the job to be enjoyable.

4. Is now the time to change?

Jumping back to fantasizing about winning a lottery or having an astonishing inheritance come in so you can retire from working altogether, which of course would be wonderful, realistically is now the time to actually ask for more from your job? What are you aware of politically from the company structure? Could you be promoted? Could you ask for more responsibility and get a pay raise or more benefits that would add to your life? If quitting and opening your own firm or business is attractive, is now the time?

What if it’s possible to ignite a fire under your current job and develop it into something more profitable, something that you are excited to arrive at every morning? Asking and answering the above questions will start to point at possible changes that you can make to your job and your life, to increase the level of satisfaction and joy. Yes, it is possible to have both satisfaction and joy at work, and settling for anything less is not an option for me these days.

Guests contributors views are their own and are not affiliated with theglasshammer.com in any way

About the author

Deepa Ramaraj is a Computer Science Engineer turned Health and Wealth Educator. Deepa facilitates workshops for corporate companies to boost sales, to dissolve interpersonal or inter-departmental challenges and to transform the way business is done. These workshops are totally unconventional in approach. She also conducts workshops for individuals about how to receive more money, reduce stress, have better relationships, improve health and upskill as a parent.

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How to Work with Difficult Co-Workers

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You have worked hard for your career or position and did a lot to achieve where you are at now.

You’ve seen a lot and know there is nothing you can’t handle. Then there’s that co-worker. The one “bad apple” you just can’t stand or get along with – perhaps they’re negatively impacting teams, projects or just making your work-life needlessly more challenging.

A nerve-wracking work relationship can quickly become a personal burden leading to stress, frustration and lack of motivation. It can result in a less than enjoyable work environment, and perhaps even effect the capabilities you have in your role.
You may also intentionally or unintentionally draw other colleagues into the toxic situation as you try to cope.

The good news is, it is possible to deal with even the most problematic co-workers and difficult colleagues, and it starts with following a few simple rules:

Acknowledge the situation as it is. Don’t try and pretend everything is okay when it isn’t. The first step to moving forward is seeing the situation as it is, not as you want it to be, or hope it to be. If is not working for you, acknowledge that is the case, even if only to yourself.

Recognize it’s not personal. If you have spent any time speculating that the behavior of the problematic person is personal and about you, stop it now. It’s not. They may have something else going on in their lives that you don’t know about. It may not even have anything to do with you. You may be the convenient target right now, but they are not behaving this way because of you, so there is no point in wondering what you might’ve said or did wrong to create the situation.

Don’t let it consume you or overpower you. Whenever you choose to see yourself as powerless and without choice due to what another person chooses, you make yourself a victim. You don’t have to lose happiness and fulfillment in your life because of someone else’s behavior. You are never powerless. Ask yourself, “What choices do I actually have here that I haven’t considered yet?” Also, don’t obsess and talk about it all the time to others as it makes the problem bigger. Put your mind towards choices, actions and conversations that are empowering for all.

Be grateful for that person. This may sound like an impossible request, especially if someone has been making life miserable for a while, but just try it for 20 seconds a day. What contribution are they and what can you be grateful for about them? Gratitude and anger can’t coexist – so by instilling gratitude and focusing less on the anger and upset, the tensions will tend to dissolve it and make it less significant.

Start fresh every day. Resentments build up over time because we hold onto memories of yesterday. We keep referencing them in our minds until we are already angry, frustrated and preparing for conflict or problems before then next interaction. If you give everyone a clear slate, every day (including you and your difficult colleague or co-worker), yesterday has less influence on determining the present, and you will be open to something other than conflict, fight or problems occurring. Choose to be kind even if they aren’t, choose to be happy rather than approaching that person with anger and frustration due to the past, and go into every moment with them wondering, “What could be possible here I haven’t considered?”

Always be you. Don’t turn into someone else around that person, don’t stop being you or make yourself small. The simple tool of, “Interesting point of view,” can assist. The idea is, whenever the anger, upset, reaction or judgment about that person (or about yourself in relation to that person) comes up, you say to silently to yourself, “Oh, interesting point of view, I have that point of view.” Repeat it several times and notice how the “charge” or intensity of the reaction begins to dissipate. When we do reaction or judgement, you aren’t being present as yourself. With “Interesting point of view,” you stop the reaction loop and get to be, choose, and act, as you.

In a perfect world, we would live and work by the Musketeer’s guiding principle of: “One for all and all for one,” but unfortunately, we don’t always get the colleagues who make that easily possible. Big egos, sneaky schemers, toxic gossips, lazy lopers, reckless careerists and obnoxious attitudes show up in business just as much as in life. But with these tools, you can be less at the effect of problematic people, stay true to yourself, and be the source for instigating greater outcomes for you and all involved.

Guest Contributors Views are their own and not affiliated in any way with the glasshammer.com

About Doris Schachenhofer

After completing her social work studies in Vienna, Doris Schachenhofer worked with children, homeless people, delinquent teenagers and prisoners transitioning back into the real world. Today she travels the world teaching and supporting people to be more of themselves. Her Being You classes are delivered in both live and online settings. Follow Doris here and on Instagram.

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Gender Roles in Business | Are They Still Relevant in 2018?

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Guest Contribution

In a rapidly changing world, stereotypes of gender are transforming many aspects of society and business culture.

Not only is motherhood no impediment to the degree of ambition and expectation women have in terms of achieving greater job and career responsibility, male attitudes to gender roles are shifting, with men more willing to make job changes and sacrifices to achieve better work and family life balance, and to contribute to their wives or partners career success. Many traditionally male or female dominated jobs are also seeing an increase in gender balance to varying degrees, particularly in the last 10 years.

While many are successfully shifting attitudes to gender-roles, narrow mindsets can still dominate in both overt or subtle ways, and both men and women can still feel limited in their freedom to advance in business or chose a career that may be perceived as atypical to generalized norms.

Whether you have experienced a little or a lot of discrimination for the body you were born in, you can have profound impact on the future of business by taking a leadership role in empowering yourself and others to go beyond gender-roles or any other perceived limitation.

This begins with committing to becoming limitless in your own mindset and addressing any unconscious judgements you may have in place. Adopt the following questions into your business mindset and become an invitation to function outside of confines based on gender or any other definition:

Are you willing to be a leader that empowers all people?

The key to continual progress where gender-role issues may arise is to first recognize that judgment, definition or discrimination of any kind, gender-based or not, will create a limitation in mindset and as a result in business. It is important to ask yourself the question, “Am I willing to be a leader for the empowerment of all?”

When you ask this question, you will step beyond oppositional thinking such as men versus women, right versus wrong, and begin to see the change you can affect with the people around you based on the possibilities available, rather than the problems and issues you think you have to overcome to succeed.

If you perceive gender-based judgment coming into play around you, or even in your own thinking, asking a question as simple as, “What else is possible here?” or “What choice is available beyond this?” will expand your thoughts beyond any barriers to include all kinds of possibilities for instigating change that you may not have previously considered.

Do you encourage contribution or competition?

The narrow-thinking that underpins gender-role stereotypes are usually accompanied by a sense of divisiveness, opposition and competition. The elements of competition are: right and wrong, win and lose, better than and less than, proving and defending. When you function from competition you cannot acknowledge your value and capacities in their own right and you cannot receive the talents and capacities of others that could contribute to you. In business this means potentially losing money, projects, and opportunities by not being willing to come together and take advantage of what everyone can bring to the table.

Eliminate oppositional thinking and develop a contribution-based mindset. Ask yourself, “What do I know that no one else does?” “What do others know that I don’t that would contribute to bringing this to fruition?” “Who or what can I add to the business/project today that would contribute to this becoming greater than what I can create alone?” “What are we capable of together that we could not create alone?”

With a contribution mindset, you can be in pole position and invite others to springboard off you to create even greater. This in turn can challenge you to look at what else is possible for you and what you are capable of that you haven’t acknowledged. A contribution-based perspective empowers you and others to out-create alongside each other, rather than compete against each other from oppositional positions.

Are you willing to be a game-changer?

As a leader in life and business, would you ever truly allow any definition, judgment or limitation to be relevant, significant or dominant? A limitation is only real if you decide it is. When you recognize that no judgment or belief can hold you back, you can ask questions like, “How can I out-create and go beyond this with ease?” and “If this wasn’t a problem, what possibility would it be?” and see possibilities, opportunities and advantages where others see none. A true leader is willing to be a game-changer, not just a player.

When you are willing to acknowledge that any limitation is only relevant if you choose to make it so, you will recognize your ability to create a different future and be an invitation for others to do the same. With an empowered perspective, gender-based roles, biases and limitations lose relevance in the face of our commitment to embracing and levering all differences to create more in our businesses and organizations.

The glasshammer.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with view of guest contributors or their organizations or affiliations.

About Doris Schachenhofer

After completing her social work studies in Vienna, Doris Schachenhofer worked with children, homeless people, delinquent teenagers and prisoners transitioning back into the real world.
Follow Doris here.

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OP-ED: Why Corporations have a role in America’s STEM Pipeline

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Serene Gallegos

By Serene Gallegos

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, by 2020 there will be more than one million more computer science-related job openings in the U.S. than graduating college students qualified to fill them.

And it’s not just computer science careers that are changing; at the same time, automation is reshaping the way we work across professions. So, what does that mean as we try to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs – many that don’t even exist quite yet?

As a former elementary teacher, I know firsthand that teachers face a unique challenge to build lessons that are engaging and relevant for the future. Plus, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the resources that may or may not be available – particularly around STEM and computer science. These subjects used to be relegated to math and science, but in today’s digital-first environment, technology permeates throughout everything we do, and therefore everything we teach.

To successfully navigate this new era of technology, students must be problem-solvers armed with skills to compose a successful workforce in the future. To achieve this, we need to implement a new way of thinking – namely, computational thinking – into the classroom. That’s part of the reason why I made the move to the private sector. Today, I work at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to lead a program equipping teachers with relevant lesson plans and experiential learning activities that help bring computational thinking to life.

So, what exactly is computational thinking? It’s a higher-level problem solving process whereby students learn to decipher information and form innovative solutions. What sets computational thinking apart from traditional critical thinking is that it considers how 21st century technology overlaps with key strategies to solve any given challenge. Computational thinking goes far beyond computer science to encompass all subject areas across all industries – from social studies to physical education, or simple tasks like packing a suitcase, learning to dance, or cooking a meal.

According to a recent report released by The World Economic Forum, by 2022 more than 54 percent of employees will require re-skilling because of new and emerging technology. Computational thinking is a foundational skill for the success of the future workforce and is how we future-proof students with skills that will be relevant to any career they choose.

In general, organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of building a diverse workforce. With STEM jobs growing 50% higher than the national growth average, it’s important to engage diverse backgrounds and different problem solving perspectives in order to maximize innovation. In addition, we know that the economic impact of stable, salaried STEM jobs for women and people of color will strengthen our economy. Yet for resource-strapped school districts, it’s difficult to single-handedly retrain teachers or implement costly new technologies in the classroom that engage all students.

Additionally, women’s underrepresentation in STEM is widely reported. Surprisingly, the number of female computer science college grads is trending downward – at just 18 percent according to the latest figures. Yet, women bring a highly valuable perspective to business operations today; just look at Lyft, a company that’s built a reputation for driving gender-inclusive policies that evens the playing field between drivers and passengers. Lyft partially attributes their app design to input from female leadership. This is just one example of why critical, computational thinking is an essential tool for women that can be applied in many different ways in today’s digital-first workforce.

That’s why education-focused corporate partnerships can truly make an impact to broaden the reach of STEM skill-building. TCS unveiled Ignite My Future In School in partnership with Discovery Education to provide free, easy-to-implement lesson plans and resources for teachers that can jump-start their ability to bring computational thinking to the forefront, across subjects, and for all students.

The value of corporate-led initiatives like TCS’ Ignite My Future in School are unique in that they are designed to meet teachers where they are, regardless of experience. Whether you are a new art teacher just starting out your career, or a tenured teacher with more than twenty years under your belt, curriculum that is digestible to all is less daunting to implement, and is also the most well-received by students. In many cases, schools cannot achieve this on their own – at least, not without a costly investment that may or may not be realistic. That’s why corporations are key to help fill a void, so long as they work in tandem with school needs.

Also, corporations must be realistic that they also can’t do this alone. When building out a successful education-focused CSR initiative, it’s crucial to bring in the right partners who can successfully integrate technology into resources that will resonate well with teachers. At TCS, we chose to partner with Discovery Education, a well-established leader in teacher resources and professional development, which only strengthens awareness and the educational components of our program.

When you’re a teacher, particularly in elementary education, you must become adept at many things – not just your subject area. You gain an understanding of how to incorporate different activities to bring your classroom teaching to life. Having an arsenal of resources with a curriculum that explores all subject areas and includes lesson plans on everything from building drones to deliver pizzas, to how to spur activism as it relates to an ecological crisis, is so powerful. That is why looking to corporations who are willing to step up to the plate, take accountability and address building a teacher’s capacity to the best of their ability is so critical in 2018.

My experience as a teacher has proved very valuable in helping TCS consider ways that our CSR program can positively influence the STEM pipeline in our country. I would stress then, that for other corporations’ programs to be just as successful, they should look to diversify the minds behind it and ensure that they are employing those from all walks of life who can bring unique perspectives to the table. When businesses take the first step, but also work in tandem with experts and thought leaders that can help guide their efforts to make a difference, they have the power to shape and propel us towards a prosperous future.

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How to Combat Perfectionism

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combatting perfectionism
Psychologist Susanna Mittermaier says perfectionism is often fueled by cultural expectations and conditioning, involves a harsh inner critic, ruins people’s capacity to feel joy and needs to be addressed.

She states:

“I grew up in a culture where it was very important to be as perfect as possible, which meant living in the constant fear of judgement and the need to filter everything through the question of: is this perfect enough?” she says. “We must put an end to this for ourselves and the generations to come.”

Mittermaier teaches people how to step out of self-judgement and perfectionistic tendencies in her Right Voice for You course. It invites people to let go of the harsh internal critical voice and make way for their own. Some of her top tips include:

1. Stop judging you

Every judgement defines you and stops positive energy and opportunities from flowing into your world. Every time you judge yourself negatively or harshly it’s like putting the brakes on whatever you’re trying to create in your life.

2. Be willing to let go

Perfectionists can hold onto ideas, projects and contributions in fear of the judgement that will come if they share them before they are 100 percent perfect. Be willing to let these ideas, projects and conversation pieces fly out into the world, whether they’re perfect or not.

3. Don’t look for others approval

If you feel excited about saying, creating or contributing something in your home, workplace or social circles, don’t wait for approval from others (or even your inner critic). Other people’s points of view are not relevant.

3. Don’t wait. Create.

Stop waiting for conditions to be perfect to start creating the experiences you actually want in your life. Give yourself permission to stop worrying about the outcomes (whether things will be perfect or what others will think) and start creating today. Creation starts with one choice. Ask yourself what the first, easy step you could take might be.

4. Your past does not determine who you are in the present or future

Perfectionists have usually judged themselves harshly. They may have never measured up to the expectations of others or that of their own inner critic, which can leave many feeling like a failure. Don’t buy into the story of your past. Instead, start creating your future.

5. Get to know your imperfections

Make a list of your top three imperfections. Then, ask how can you can use each of them to your advantage? If you think you are shy and you believe that is a weakness, ask yourself what the power of shyness is? Shy people are usually great listeners, which can be a great advantage in many work and social settings.

6. Learn to enjoy being imperfect

Perfection is about measuring yourself against the standards of society and others. See your individuality as a resource rather than a liability. Enjoy your imperfection and recognize your difference as a treasure box of gifts then use them to create your life, projects and relationships in a way that is unique to you.

“Perfectionism stops people from being able to express themselves in the world,” Mittermaier says. “Giving up the need to be perfect and allowing your right voice to come through into the world is so liberating for people. I love it when people realize they can do things they’ve been stopping themselves from doing, especially when those things have the capacity to make them happy.”

About the author

Susanna Mittermaier is a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author of the #1 International Bestselling book, “Pragmatic Psychology: Practical Tools for Being Crazy Happy.” A global speaker, she has also been featured in magazines such as TV soap, Women’s Weekly, Empowerment Channel Voice America, Om Times, Motherpedia, Newstalk New Zealand and Holistic Bliss. Susanna offers a new paradigm of therapy called Pragmatic Psychology and is known for her revolutionary perspective on mental illness. Her unique perspective identifies depression, anxiety, ADHD and other forms of mental illness as a capacity that has not yet been acknowledged. Susanna is an internationally accredited Access Consciousness Facilitator, including Right Riches for You, a specialty program of Access Consciousness. She transforms people’s problems and difficulties into possibilities and powerful choices. Follow on Twitter @AccessSusanna.

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Know the Flexibility You Want in Your Current Job

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If your current work structure is too demanding and you’re considering a work hiatus, first explore a more flexible schedule with your boss.

Women frequently tell me they left their jobs because flexibility was impossible. When I dig deeper, I find that they made premature assumptions or exerted no effort to negotiate. A boss who is asked a simple question on the fly e.g., “Can I work at home on Fridays?”, is not likely to react positively. It takes a more professional proposal, ideally a written one that leads to flexibility about 80% of the time, detailing all the safeguards that will ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Before you craft a proposal, pinpoint the flexibility you want. A vague request puts the onus on your boss to figure out possible scenarios. Get specific by asking yourself these three key questions:

1.Can I afford to earn less than a full-time salary? Do I want reduced hours or a more flexible full-time schedule?
2.How much do I want to advance to more senior levels? Would flexwork slow my progress? Is a better work/life blend more valuable?
3. Could I compress a predictable 40 hours into fewer days?

Going part-time

If you don’t want to work 40 hours or more, then what is the alternative? What is a job share possibility and who could be a good partner? Could your most important job responsibilities be done in a part-time schedule? Could you work three days and be paid 60% of your salary—a substantial savings for your employer and two free days for you? How would a part-time schedule affect your employee benefits eligibility?

There are other considerations as you consider your ideal flexible schedule. Would your day begin or end earlier/later than the standard hours? There are practicalities to think about such as which regularly scheduled meetings require your on-site participation? And should you be on site for predictable monthly responsibilities requiring last-minute coordination among many people? If you’re a manager, how much on-site training or oversight is needed by your direct reports? You might be a person who needs the buzz of a busy office to be productive. If you’re in a client-facing role you need to think about how your flexwork schedule would sync with their needs, especially for those in different time zones. What are known busy periods and would you be be willing to forego flexibility during those times? Would your current childcare arrangements fit your ideal flexible schedule? Would your childcare provider be flexible if you need to work extra time in emergency situations? Would you prefer to cut back on or eliminate travel? How would travel affect your desired flexible schedule?

Know Which Employers Have the Most Flexible Cultures

If you run up against a brick wall getting the flexwork you want, head toward
small businesses—often led by individuals who fled from inflexible corporate America. Great progress has been made by employers across-the-board, but it may be years before flexibility is status quo across big corporates or mandated by government. Smaller, more nimble management teams (especially at professional services firms, nonprofits, companies founded more recently and those employing more women) have the leeway to bend on work structures. Small employers (50 to 99 employees) are much more likely than large employers (1,000+ employees) to offer employees the ability to:

· Change start/end times periodically or daily
· Compress workweeks by working longer hours on fewer days
· Work some hours at home
· Take time off without penalty as personal needs arise.

The big take-away is that today women have options to nurture both family and financial security. It’s possible to lean in-between in a wide range of workplaces—keeping both balance and sanity intact.

Kathryn Sollmann is a flexwork expert, speaker and career coach—and the author of Ambition Redefined: Why the Corner Office Doesn’t Work for Every Woman & What to Do Instead.

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