While I was a late convert to Pinterest, I’ve started to see the potential the site has as a place for connecting with other professionals especially in the lifestyle industries. I became convinced of Pinterest’s potential when I helped run the TODAY Show’s account last year. It’s a very visual platform and lifestyle content like food, fashion, and technology do very well in that type of environment.

A profile on Pinterest may not get you a job but it will give you a visual way to share your personal brand, show your interests, and connect. Here are three ways Career Girls can get the most out of Pinterest.

1. Create multiple boards

To get started, create a few different types of boards on your profile. Be creative with the types of boards and their names. These boards will be the face of your brand on Pinterest. Use them to feature original content as well as content from others.

Also, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through your board names and pins. Try sharing pins you think are funny or pin some behind-the-scenes images of your work. If you’re a freelancer who works at home, why not create a board where you pin an item that’s on your desk each day and encourage others to do the same? Then you can re-pin those that do the same and connect with them through this sharing. Letting a little of your personality show will help you connect with others on the site.

Try new things and see how your followers respond. If something isn’t working you can always delete it and move on. Use the fact that you can create as many boards as you want to its potential. The more boards and topics, the more people you can interact with to build your network.

2. Be active

When you join Pinterest start following brands, companies, and people you are interested in potentially connecting with. Once pins start filling up your homepage, repin those pins onto your boards. You can also repin pins of those you don’t follow to spread your name, but be sure it’s definitely something you want associated with your board. When you repin make sure the link goes to a legitimate site so you don’t end up pinning a pin with an unsafe link.

While repinning is an easy way to engage with other users, also utilize your other options such as commenting and liking pins. This will increase your engagement with brands and hopefully drive traffic back to your profile. Commenting is a great way to start a conversation with the brand and their followers, and liking a pin may get you more notice than just reflexively repining.

3. A repin vs. an original pin

A mix of both pinning others content and pinning your own original content is the way to go on Pinterest and it’s important to remember this balance. It can become very easy to just repin others content but by pinning your own original images you can drive content to your portfolio, blog, and other professional websites. Also don’t be afraid to pin an original pin more than once. If you have multiple photos on a blog post you wrote, then pin all those photos to your board and play around with the description so they each say something new. These original pins will hopefully help you connect with your followers outside of Pinterest and show them your brand beyond your profile page, expanding your network. Of course also be sure to repin content, which may make people more likely to repin your own.

Pinterest is still fairly new and growing, but since I recently began using it I’ve noticed it has the potential to be another great addition to your networking toolkit. According to CNet, Pinterest has already added a Web Analytics tool which allows users to see how well their pages are preforming on the site and have promised new business tools in the future. With more opportunities for using Pinterest for business on the horizon, it pays to start making your presence felt now on the website and start connecting with others to expand your network. So, join me in exploring the world of Pinterest as a networking tool!

The post 3 Ways To Use Pinterest For Networking appeared first on Career Girl Network.

We’re starting a new feature on Career Girl today that you’ll begin to see every Friday….Last Year on Career Girl! CareerGirlNetwork.com launched on March 7, 2012 out of 6+ years of blogging on numerous platforms including Chicago Career Girl and Minneapolis Career Girl. As we move into our second year, we’re looking back every week at the best articles from 365 days ago.

Last Year on Career Girl…

• This time last year, Mark Zuckerberg announced his marriage to Priscilla Chan, and we crowned her “The New Trophy Wife“
• One of the most amazing goal-setting videos of all time came out last year during this week…check it out, “Never Give Up!“
• If you’re job searching, you need to be tracking your search. Are you keeping track of the important things you need to?
• “Forget What You Learned in Kindergarten” from the CEO of ComEd, Anne Pramaggiore
• More and more companies are hiring “Chief Collaboration Officers.” Here’s how to be your own!

The post Last Year on Career Girl Network appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Are you in your dream job? How do you know if you are or you aren’t? Our friend Megan Broussard from ProfessionGal, recently asked these five questions in her first article for the website Advice from a Twenty Something, and we think all of you should ask yourself the same five questions. These might just determine A) whether or not you’re in your dream job and B) what your dream job really is:

1. What was your first love as a child?

2. What do you find yourself interested in during your free time?

3. Do you want your manager’s job?

4. Are you proud to tell people what you do?

5. Does the thought of Monday morning leave your stomach in knots on Sunday night?

Read Megan’s entire article at Advice from a Twenty Something here.

The post Are You in Your Dream Job? 5 Questions to Find Out appeared first on Career Girl Network.

• Add June events to website
• Edit articles
• Call sister to congratulate her on her graduation
• Write Career Girl Network article
• Workout
• Clean bathroom

This is just a sample of what was on my to-do list last Saturday. But when my husband suggested that we head 45-minutes north and spend the day in Napa, all of that got thrown out the window. He was going to play in a golf tournament and I had planned on spending the day on a lovely outdoor patio with wifi.  Of course I had every intention of getting it all done. I brought my laptop, power cord and iPhone. Ok, so I knew the workout or bathroom cleaning was not going to get done, but I was dead set on making this one of the most productive and enjoyable days ever. Was I kidding?!

No sooner did the sunshine hit my face and a glass of Napa cabernet hit my lips, my day was done. I went from being that savvy teleworker who could get her job done anywhere to that crazy who carries her laptop around wine country for no apparent reason. Very quickly my productivity went down the tubes and the desire to just sit in the quiet and take a nap took over.

I will admit that while I enjoyed closing my eyes and just doing nothing, I beat myself up over it. I had so much to do and I wasted an entire day. My poor husband had to listen to me complain about how lazy I had been and how much I would need to do over the next couple of days to catch up.  However, what he reminded me on the way home was 1. I really needed a day off and 2. what person in their right mind thinks they are going to get work done in Napa?! I had set myself up for feeling like a “failure” by even bringing my laptop in the first place.

But looking back, I realize that taking a day off has given me more energy to get those things on my to-do list done as well as everything else that has come up this week. In fact, an article in The Atlantic last year made the case for taking a break as it cites that our biology dictates a need for mental and physical rest in order to keep going.

So http://wp.me/p2fNKv-3JT

The post You Deserve a Break Today appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Like most of us, chances are you are at the computer all day and that can cause a lot of wrist pain. Your wrists are among the weakest parts of your body and its never fun when you feel pain opening a jar or giving your colleagues a simple handshake.

To prevent wrist discomfort or relieve any pain you are already experiencing – first make sure you ergonomically optimize your workspace. In addition, work on building strength and flexibility in your wrists. Here are a few stretches and exercises to prevent and alleviate any discomfort due to overused wrists to restore your range of motion.

• Wrist Stretches
  • Flexion – Extend your right arm out in front of you at shoulder height. Use your left hand and grab the fingers of your extended arm and slowly bend your wrist so your fingers point down to the floor (palm facing your body). Hold for 5-10 seconds.
  • Extension – Keep your right arm out in front of you and with your left hand, slowly bend your wrist so your fingers point towards the ceiling. Hold for another 5-10 seconds.
  • Repeat a few times on both wrists, especially the wrist that you use your mouse with. [Please note: if your wrists and forearm are already in pain, focus mostly on Flexion stretch and avoid Extension stretch since your wrists are extended while using the keyboard and mouse.]

• Wrist Exercises
  • To strengthen – Hold a light weight, can or water bottle in one hand and extend your arm straight out in front of you. Slowly bend your wrist while holding your weight lifting your hand towards the ceiling. Slowly lower your wrist back down so your hand bends towards the floor. Repeat 3-5 times on both sides.
  • To restore range of motion – Hold your light weight with your arm extended in front of you with the back of your fingers facing up towards the ceiling. Rotate your wrist slowly so the backs of your fingers point away from your body and then rotate your wrist all the way in the opposite side. Repeat 3-5 times on both sides.

The post Wrist Pain From Working At Your Computer All Day? appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Oh boy, do I ever need a makeover. I’m down almost twenty  pounds from the last time I went shopping, so my clothes are too big. I haven’t bought a new pair of shoes since I-don’t-know-when, and my hair is growing like a weed. I’m not particularly in a mental funk, but I’m stressing over buying a house and being busy at work while everyone else is walking around in their cute spring clothes, looking fresh. I need a makeover, inside and out!

Being a strategic Career Girl, I thought I’d develop and share my plan of attack just in case readers are finding that they also need to slough off the winter blahs and put a fresh face forward! Here are the steps I’m going to follow for My May Makeover.

1.) Contact a professional. Am I the only one who has a really hard time finding someone who knows exactly what to do to their hair? Mine is super thick, kind of coarse, wavy but not curly, and a huge pain, but I love it when it’s done right. I’ve found a stylist that I like here in the city, but I’m going to schedule an appointment with Trudy, the amazing woman who has given me the best haircuts of my life. The 30 minute drive out of my way is totally worth it. Sometimes you just plain need to seek the help of a professional.

2.) Shop. I bought some pants a few weeks ago and didn’t really go for anything particularly special because I figured I’d be down another size in a few months. They already feel big. I need to suck it up and buy some new professional gear. Other than clothes being too big, I’m just outdated. Everything I own is gray. I have five pairs of gray pants that are almost identical. Why!? I haven’t bought warm-weather clothing for more than a year, and it’s starting to show. I’m not bad at picking snappy outfits, I just need to do it. And I need to totally restock the undie drawer, too. I’m not a nun!

3.) Go to the eye doctor. Ugh. I hate making appointments like this. It’s hard to find time to go see someone in what little off-time I have, and to devote an hour to something as seemingly small as getting a new pair of glasses. At the same time, these frames are tired. They’ve been from Michigan to New York and back, and are now in their terrible twos. I need something sharp to go with my new hair.

4.) Re-read favorite books. Remember the first time you read a book that was so riveting you had to stay up late at night to finish it? And when you put the book down you kept thinking about the characters? I need to pick one of those up again. Now that it’s nice outside, I’ll be reading a lot more and have many suggestions from friends for beach reads. I’m going to visit my local book store and make some much-needed reading purchases, and I’ll have to unpack the books that I still have in boxes. Look out, The Perks of Being a Wallflower!

5.) Have a me-day. Okay, so this probably won’t happen for a little while. All of my spare time is spent looking at house listings, scheduling times to see them, and getting ready to move. Oh, and working two jobs. Once I have a grip on the timeline for moving into my awesome new place that is close to work and will free up the ten hours per week that I currently commute (BOO), I’m going to take a day off for myself. It can be whatever I want, but it needs to be out of the ordinary and absolutely cannot include cleaning, running any of my usual routes, or being on my computer. Not allowed!

These kinds of things are normal for some Career Girls, but I usually prefer a special workout, a casual lunch with friends, or getting dirty in the garden (and I’m super-thrifty) over pampering, so I have to go out of my way to make sure I get in some refreshing image updates and relaxation days every now and then. My May Makeover starts now! Time to call my stylist.

The post 5 Steps to a Refreshing May Makeover appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Delivering criticism, whether to your spouse, your staff, your family, or anyone else in your life, is never easy. I personally hate delivering any sort of criticism so much so that I’ll usually do something myself (or rather, re-do something) instead of telling a person it wasn’t right. Bad idea, right?

That’s why I was so excited when one of my favorite MindBodyGreen gurus Alexandra Franzen put it in perfect perspective for me. When you’re going to delivery criticism, you have to first ask these three questions.

1. How do I want the person I’m criticizing to FEEL?
2. What do I want the person I’m criticizing to KNOW?
3. What do I want the person I’m criticizing to DO?

If you answer those questions, you’ll be coming from a place that truly considers the feelings and outcomes expected not just for you, but for the other person as well.

To read the rest of Alexandra’s incredible article on MindBodyGreen, “How to Deliver Criticism Without Breaking Anyone’s Heart,” click here!

The post 3 Questions to Ask Before Delivering Criticism appeared first on Career Girl Network.

There has long been a notion in the world of women in business that if you want to look and feel powerful, put on a great pair of pumps. They make you taller, improve your posture, and can improve your confidence. Unfortunately, though, not every woman can rock those pumps comfortably. These days, even the likes of Kim Kardashian in her pregnancy is reverting to flats! But she’s not alone. Our friends at The Jane Dough recently credited Tory Burch with the the invention of the original “power flat.”

What is a “Power Flat”?

It’s the kind of flat shoe that does for a business woman exactly what a great pair of pumps does – they make you stand a little taller, put your shoulders back, and get ready to take on that meeting! You don’t need a 3″ heel to get that feeling, you just need a fabulous pair of shoes, flats included.

Flats to Replace Your Nude Pumps

• High End
  Even Valentino is jumping on the flat bandwagon. Dress up a pair of nude flats with this incredible stud detail. Sure, they’re $695, but that’s ok, right?
  

• Mid-Priced
  Brian Atwood is the hottest thing since Manolo in the world of shoe design, and his flats are literally drool worthy. Pick up this pair of Avignon Flats for $192.50 from ShopBop.

• It’s a Steal!
  These peep toes from Nine West are nondescript and easy with any outfit, and for $59.99, they fit almost any budget.

Flats to Replace Your Black Pumps

• High End
  If you don’t believe us yet that designers are making flats powerful, this pair from Tom Ford will teach you the lesson. They’re a HUGE splurge at $650 from Neiman Marcus, but gorgeous nonetheless.

• Mid-Priced
  You can’t go wrong with a great pair of shoes from Kate Spade. These cutout flats are spectacular for Spring and Summer and a good mid-priced pair at $228 from Nordstrom.

• It’s a Steal!
  The incredible Ivanka Trump makes this simple, classic and beautiful shoe for just $80 from Nordstrom.

The post The Rise of the “Power Flat” appeared first on Career Girl Network.

On May 2, 2013, at the age of 82, Warren Buffett sent his first tweet, “Warren is in the house.”  He did so publicly, in the middle of a live-streaming interview with Fortune’s Patricia Sellers.  The discussion, titled “Women, Work & Other Wisdom” was the first of its kind, a social interview conversation to discuss his views on women in the workforce.

The interview came as a follow-up to his essay, “Warren Buffett is bullish…on women,” published earlier that day online by Fortune Magazine. Per Mr. Buffett, the essay is a response to a lot of the ideas he had, some of which were sparked by Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work & the Will to Lead.  In his essay, Mr. Buffett acknowledges society’s role in denying women with equal opportunities in the workforce, but also says that it is important for women to stop imposing limitations on themselves.  He muses that since thus far, America has only utilized 50% of its workforce, he can only imagine how far we can go if we utilized 100% of our human capacity.

Warren Buffett’s Fortune interview was followed a few days later with another, this time with Levo League co-founder, Caroline Ghosn.  Both were especially great to watch.  There were so many nuggets of wisdom, but here are a few that resonated most with me, none of which are gender specific.

Why Failure Isn’t So Bad

Towards the end of the Levo interview, Mr. Buffett told the story of taking a 10-hour train ride to Chicago to interview for Harvard Business School, where he was promptly turned down in the span of 10 minutes. One of his biggest concerns as he turned around to take the 10-hour trip back, was wondering how he would tell his dad, who had always told him he could do anything.

Looking back, he can see that everything worked out for the best.  He went to Columbia where he met Ben Graham, and then his wife, two of the most important people in shaping his life and career (more here).
Mr Buffett said,

If you fail, you really do [have to] dust yourself off and get right back in…Almost everything that looked like a failure turned into success…always remember, the world isn’t over yet.

Failure is a hard pill to swallow, but it is important to not give up, as it is many times just a stepping stone to something better, and what is meant to be.

Why Passion Is So Important

Passion is a theme throughout all interviews with Warren Buffett.  He does not believe in taking jobs just to build a resume, or working hard just to make money.  Work-Life balance is not an issue for him because he enjoys work or “getting to paint his canvas everyday.”  

For example, he has always been a voracious reader, reading all the investment books in his local library by the age of 11.  Mr. Buffett still reads 5-6 hours a day, not because he has to – but because he is passionate about the topics, and that is no doubt one reason he is so successful in choosing investments.  Moral of the story? Do what you love!

On the Meaning of Success

For more impatient readers, fast-forward to 7:07 in the video below where Warren Buffett is asked how he would define success.  Surprise – it’s not about money or power.  It’s about having the love and respect of the people that matter most to you.

You can have all the money in the world. You can have buildings named after you, hospital wings, whatever it may be…[but] unless you have people that really care about you, you’re not a success.

Enough said.  After you’ve had a chance to watch the full interview below, let me know what you think. What are YOUR biggest takeaways?

Wait…there’s more!

Feeling inspired?  Can’t get enough of Mr. Buffett’s wisdom?  If so, here is a link to the Levo interview and also to a few of my favorite articles on him and his anectdotes and life lessons.  Enjoy!

Levo League Interview - Caroline did a wonderful job interviewing Mr. Buffett – they both claimed to be introverts, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they seemed to connect so easily, and make the conversation flow so well.

5 Lessons From Warren Buffett’s Office Hours, Drake Baer, Fast Company – More great lessons here, especially about confidence and the importance of overcoming the fear of public speaking.

Say No To the Funhouse Mirror, Jesse Draper, Forbes – Read this article to really understand what the “funhouse mirror” is and how to start looking at your abilities realistically.  I also love how Jesse mentions Mr. Buffett’s answer to the classic question “If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be…?”

20 Uncommon Lessons from My Weekend with Warren Buffett, Scott Dinsmore, Live Your Legend – This is from last year, but just as relevant today.  Print it out and read it on your commute if you have must, but it is not to be missed.

How To Find And Do Work You Love, Scott Dinsmore, TEDx – This is an inspiring talk in its own right, but I add this link here because of a piece of Buffett wisdom that Scott shares near the beginning of the talk, one that completely changed the course of his career.

The post Warren (Buffett!) Is in the House. appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Sitting at her desk, Jill stared off into the clouds thinking about how much she wanted to go out for a run. Out for her evening run, she couldn’t help but think about all the laundry waiting for her at home that she’d been putting off. Doing laundry, she kicked herself because she could be out having a nice dinner with friends, and instead she’s home cleaning. Later out for a drink, her mind drifts off to the big presentation she’s got the next day.  And so the cycle goes.

Sound familiar?

If you’re having trouble being present, you’re not alone. Remember when life was simple? You might have to think back to when you were about nine years old. Popsicles and swimming pools were what you were focused on. Living in the moment wasn’t even a question; it was how you naturally went about your days. Fast forward to now: a complex life, full schedule, major responsibility, and lots of overwhelm.

It’s becoming harder and harder to be fully present in what we are doing in any one moment, because we have so many things vying for our attention. We are thinking about all the other things that we have to do, want to do, or should be doing. A simple life has been replaced by a busy one.

A hunger for success and achievement is driving this life style and it’s jeopardizing our peace of mind and focus.

When your mind is off daydreaming about something else you could be doing, you are not present. Your body might be there, but your mind and heart are somewhere else. It’s impossible to make the impact you want, or fully experience something if you aren’t even there.

Are you having trouble getting things completed?
Are you struggling to come up with solutions or new ideas?
Are you exhausted and simultaneously unfulfilled?

You might be struggling with being fully present.

The present is the magical moment that is unfolding right now. It’s not the second before, or the minute after. Being present is being fully engaged, involved, and attentive to what is happening with your body, mind, and heart. It is participating, observing, and sensing simultaneously. It fuels productivity and fulfillment.

One of the easiest ways to be present and gather your focus is to do a quick centering exercise whenever you need to get back to what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter if you’re working, working out, or working on your beach body… centering, or meditation, can simply and easily bring your awareness and attention back to the moment. This allows you to show up more fully – meaning you are being your best, not that worried half-focused version of you.

When you’re present you get more done, have more fun, and experience less stress and worry.

Practice these 5 steps to bring yourself into the present moment. With more experience and mastery you can do this in as little as 10 seconds.

1. Heighten your awareness. Start to notice when you aren’t being present, but remove any judgment or guilt around that realization. With practice you’ll get quicker at catching yourself mentally or energetically drifting off.
2. Put the past and future aside. Stop thinking about what happened earlier and let go of the need to plan out the future. Those things will be there for you to return to later if you’d like. Repeat this phrase to yourself: “Be here now.”
3. Stop and breathe. Still your body, and focusing on nothing but your breath for a moment. See how long you can make your inhale and exhale. As you slow your breath more oxygen enters your body, making you more calm and alert.
4. Gather your focus. Close your eyes and imagine you have a magnet in the center of your body. Imagine pulling all of your energy and attention back towards your core. As you do this exercise feel yourself becoming more powerful.
5. Direct and go. Decide where you want your attention to go, and intentionally send it there. This will energize whatever you are doing in that moment, and allow you to engage fully.

Remember being present isn’t just something to apply to getting more work done, although it certainly helps! Be present while you’re taking care of yourself. Be present to being in love. Be present to making an impact in your community. Be present to how amazing you really are.

The post What does being present really mean? appeared first on Career Girl Network.