WIP #10: Bold

When I popped in to my nearby White  House Black Market boutique last week, I instantly fell in love with not just their latest arrival fashions ... but also their marketing campaign.  What a great sentiment that applies, and NOT just to our choice of jacket or dress!  And yes, I left with a new belt and a cute jacket if you must know! :)

WIP #9: An Apple a Day

I am well overdue for a necessary technology refresh.  That's a fact.  I've been a hold out on the Apple revolution for the most part.  Sure, I have a small army of ipods, an ipad and an itouch ... but up until last week I just couldn't fathom quitting my Blackberry addiction and I'm convinced my brain is hard wired to the Windows operating platform. 

Then, the realization hit.  My job is to strategize, evangelize and manage all things "cool" and new technology.  Mobility, customer feedback, social media ... you name it.  If there is a buzzword in b2b technology trends, I'm working on it.  It's awesome but at the same time not optimized unless I have all the appropriate gear. 

A trip to the Apple store later and I'm the proud owner of a tricked out iphone 4s and new Mac Book Air.  In a shocking pursuit to be cool fast, I gave up the Blackberry cold turkey.  Even more shocking ... I couldn't have adjusted faster or easier.  I suppose my operating system can in fact be re-programmed after all.....

I'm a convert and now, I think different.

WIP #8: Blue Ocean

I love this picture.  I spent the week in Puerto Rico for work.  While the days were full of long meetings, prep and hard work ... it's hard not to feel at peace when you look at a scene like this.  It felt surreal to sit and work on strategy for new software applications that are truly industry game changers and stare out over the beautiful blue ocean.  As a business book junkie, Kim's Blue Ocean Strategy has been a long time favorite.  Don't compete in the harsh red oceans ... expand into the unknown, unlimited blue oceans.  Perfect scenery, perfect strategy.

WIP #7: Believe

She believed she could so she did.

I became familiar with this saying some time back and now hold this phrase as a guiding principle for my life.  It is my screen saver, my wallpaper, my positive energy in tough times and now my personal mantra.  I believe in empowering women to reach their highest potential and have made this my personal mission to pass this message of optimism forward to others. 

In the past few months; I …

·         Believed I could be the youngest member of my company’s leadership team; and I did.

·         Believed I could be one of the ONLY 10% of women on the leadership team; and I did.

·         Believed I could start a family while balancing a very challenging career as a leader of a hospitality technology business; and I did.

·         Believed I could start a small business to give back to children’s charities; and I did.

·         Believed I could start a blog devoted to inspiring working mothers to keep balance and achieve amazing things at home and at work; and I did.

·         Believed I could personally mentor women in my company to reach their career goals; and I am!

As a women leader in a male dominated technology industry serving the male dominated hospitality industry, I feel a special calling to facilitate mentoring other women to reach their highest potential.  It is my esteemed pleasure to be personally mentoring five women in my company and giving them a safe environment to grow and develop their skills.  The fact that I am most proud of is that each of these women took the initiative to seek me out and ask me to mentor them in a variety of ways.  While humbly, I believe that speaks to the value they see in my personal mission; it also speaks volumes to the amazing women that surround me that I have the great opportunity to influence. 

Through blogging and the help of a (woman) writing coach assisting me in crafting the concept for a book, I am hopeful to grow this passion into a motivational message for even more women.  I love the challenge put before me to be a real life Wonder Woman at home and in the boardroom.  My goal is to prove that it is indeed possible to achieve balance and have a growing family as well as a rewarding career.  By documenting my journey, my hope is to inspire other young women starting families to understand that it is truly possible to “do it all” and empower them to stay the course and succeed in all areas.

To get more women in the boardroom, we cannot let them quit the course before they get there.

My passion is this mission.

WIP #6: A Wild Ride

The days are long but the years are short. 

At only 7 months with our sweet little babe, Beckham, I can already attest to the truth of that statement.  This past weekend, we purchased a new "big boy" car seat and enough baby gates to create a fortress.  Daily, he amazes me with a new discovery in our big world and I love every minute of our adventure together.  It's wild to see how far he's progressed in just 7 months.  And in a bitter sweet way, I know this is only the beginning.  I'm sure the phrase "I wish he would stay this age forever" will be words coming from my mouth a million times.  It's an incredible ride (pun intended given the picture) and I can't wait to see where we go next!

 

WIP #5 - Top of the World

The past few days have been spent taking a much deserved break from the daily grind and vacationing in Beaver Creek, CO.  With 6 co-workers and friends as well as dear hubs in tow, we enjoyed a fun filled time together.  One of the (many) highlights of the trip was a snowmobiling excursion in a National Park along the Continental Divide.  What a breath taking view.  Truly beautiful. 

Sometimes it takes looking out from a snow covered mountaintop to find your moment of zen. 

Week In Pictures #4: The Shipping Manager

What do you do when you are six months pregnant with your first baby, working full time in a leadership position that requires extensive travel AND trying to figure out new world order for your expanded family?  Ah yes, of course ... you decide to try your hand at small business! 

Last summer, just before the babe's arrival, I decided it was time to quit talking and start doing.  And with that, I started Charmed Life Kids.  A small boutique business focused online for children's high end apparel at affordable prices.  I incorporated, designed, manufactured ... you name it.  I'm fairly confident most of this process was just simply to learn "how to do it" but it has been fun along the way.  I definitely have a new respect and understanding of aspects of business I did not before.  It's been worth every minute of thought I've given it.

With that, fast forward a few months.  Now the babe is here, I'm still travelling like crazy and working like a dog but still ... I'm enjoying every minute of it.  Sure, sometimes I have to call in for re-enforcements and that's when the babe becomes my "shipping and warehouse manager".  We spend a few minutes each night packaging up the daily sales and getting them ready for shipment.  Business is going well and I feel very blessed to wish that I just had more hours in the day to devote to the "side business.

I wonder if my shipping manager will one day have this on his little resume?  How cute is he!!!

Week In Pictures #3: The Gong

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet one of the new teams I will be managing with my new role.  This group is fresh, dynamic and full of passion and energy.  All good traits for an inside sales organization and I'm so excited that they are already performing at an amazing level. 

After just a short dinner conversation, it was abundantly clear that this is a competitive group (perfect!).  Each week there is a sales call where each territory manager is called upon to give an update on sales opportunities and deal closings in their area.  Each week, these territory managers roll through impressive stats.  Then, towards the end of the call, the inside sales team is called upon to ramble off their stats.  While very impressive, it still doesn't have that "wow" factor that some of the larger territory deals proclaim.  In jest, we started brainstorming how they could call more attention to their successes and engage in a little friendly competition with the field sales team.  And thus ... the idea for the gong was born.

We were half kidding but after a while the ideas just wouldn't die.  It grew and grew.  And, the next day ... it still felt like a good idea.  So without hesitation, I ordered my new team a gong.  First order of business.  Keep morale high and promote healthy competition between themselves and their field sales counterparts.  The gong arrived at the office today and the team is already hard at work to put it together for the official unveiling tomorrow on the sales call.

The team is in for a real treat when they get to the inside sales team and they report "Apps ... (gong) ... 10, Activation .... (gong).... 4000." 

Next order of business is to create the gong rules.  Everyone knows you can't have a gong at work without gong rules, otherwise there would just be willy nilly gonging all the time.  And so, the team has been tasked to give themselves rules and only gong when epic things happen. 

While this is somewhat ridiculous, I just plain love it.  It's a symbol of their competitive nature, spirit and drive to achieve.  My job as their manager and leader is to promote this and give them the right outlets to have a little fun and succeed.  So as we attempt to define what exactly is "epic" and is truly worthy of the gong, my parting thought ... respect the gong.

Week In Pictures 2: The Big Show

6 days ... 5 nights ....

I was in Dallas with minimal sunlight, heavy conference agendas and lots to learn about the "new company" and strategy that will make 2012 "the year".  This pic was snapped from the very back of what is possibly the biggest company meeting I've ever been a part of.  I've gasped at the Apple and Microsoft conferences that I've watched on you tube and been blown away by the budget that it must to take to make it happen.  But now, I've seen with my own eyes what amazing, morale boosting and energizing messages that can be delivered with the help of fireworks, amazing graphics and strong speakers. 

This meeting was timed just perfectly.  I've taken a new position within my company and am excited about the possibility in store.  That coupled with, well.. let's be honest ... fireworks; have me jazzed about the new goals and amazing things in store for 2012.

Goal setting.   Personal or professional ... we all have them.  What's your goal for 2012?

Week In Pictures - WIP 1: What's Important

First - I don't endorse OR feed the babe champagne.  However, this is the New Year's photo shoot that occurs when I have too much down time.  I'm pretty sure he'll hate me one day for pictures like this. 

Anywho... in the first edition of a week in a picture, I thought best to kick the year off with a pic of the little man who makes me realize I need balance every day.  He inspires me to be someone he will one day be proud of for who I am as a person, and not just because I am his mother. 

This picture is representative of the week because it's the factor that makes me WANT to be my best and strive for the top in everything I do.

A Realistic Resolution

Ok ... ok... I'm terrible about actually maintaining this blog.  I get it.  I think about it often but between the "day job", the babe, the "new day job", the small business, the crafty blog, getting dinner on the table, the tennis matches, the Jr. League meetings, the family time, the friend time, the glasses of wine, the business dinners, the laundry (oh how I hate the laundry), .... shall I go on???  The reality is that there is always a reasonable excuse NOT to focus on this.    And, quite frankly, I hate that.  By the time something worth writing about happens, the time it takes to find pictures, write the story, reasonably edit and then post ... well, by then the moment has passed and I'm knee deep in the next situation.

So ... after spending the holidays going 100 miles an hour, I rested long enough to have a great (well, I think it's great) idea. 

Let's re-ground ourselves in the purpose here ... I wanted to create a blog that outlined my journey as the mom on a mission:
1.  Be the best damn mom on the planet.
2.  Conquer corporate America and continue moving up that ladder to my goals and aspirations at the top.
3.  Have fun and a sense of "balance" ... whatever that may be.
4.  Love, be kind and do what God would want.
5.  And capture a few real world experiences that will potentially be related to by other working moms and give inspiration those like us as a whole.

Instead of boring you with poorly written antics, I have a new and improved idea.  Sure, that book that I will one day write won't write itself, but instead I feel like there is a better real time way to tell this story.  Drum roll please ... it's my new resolution for 2012, to find ONE picture each week (at a minimum) that summarizes an important point in that week.  Work, life, family ... you name it - it's all fair game because that my friends is what makes a working mother who she is ... ALL of these things. 

And without further delay, here goes.  We are in week 3 of 2012 so I'll back-post the first two weeks and get on with things in real time. 

In the mean time, get out there and carpe the hell out of this diem!

xoxo
b