Here’s what she told Oprah:

“I can almost bend steel with my mind. I can bend anything if I try hard enough. I can make myself do almost anything. But you can get too strong, so you have to be careful. You have to temper your strength.”

O, the confidence! O, the determination!

If I applied half of her resolve and self-confidence — even one-tenth of it — I’d probably be a more accomplished writer, blogger, and entrepreneur.

If I had Martha Stewart’s confidence, I’d:

• Hire writers and an editor to take “Quips and Tips” in a bigger, wider direction
• Accept that I care what other people think, and let go of those cares
• Tell the world that my book, See Jane Soar, will be accepted for publication by a Big Publishing House within a year

What would you do if you had Martha Stewart’s confidence and determination?

Source of quote: Oprah’s Cut With Martha Stewart

Related posts:

1. For Female Entrepreneurs – Martha Stewart’s 10 Rules for Starting a Business
2. 6 Ways to Create a Vision Board That Works – Martha Beck
3. 6 Ways to Increase Weight Loss Motivation – Martha Beck

“If you are a newbie in the kitchen, any recipe will take you longer than it should because you are just getting familiar with your bearings,” says Rachael Ray. “Once you get more comfortable with your cooking routine and preparation skills, things will move a whole lot smoother and faster.”

If you’re not used to shopping with an eye on your budget, give yourself time to snuggle up to it. If you don’t know any good recipes, read Rachael Ray’s Yum-o! The Family Cookbook.

And, here are ten tips for saving money on groceries…

10 Ways to Save Money on Food – Rachael Ray

1. Stay focused on your reasons for saving money on food. Why do you want to save your buckeroos — what are your financial goals? Do you want financial independence (and who doesn’t!)? Keep your goals front and center: write them on your forehead if you have to. It’s much easier to eat cheap and healthy if you stay focused on why you’re eating cheap and healthy.

2. Activate two money saving tips a month. This is one of my best tips for saving money on food because we see smart ways to save money everywhere – the internet, budget books, our rich old aunts, on placemats at funky restaurants. But, do we actually apply them to our lives? Nope. It’s too much. So we need to be strategic about the money saving tips. For instance, don’t try to implement all these ways to save money on groceries at once; instead pick one two a month. Focus on making those two money tips a habit. In a month or six weeks, find one two more money saving tips to work on. This way, you’re not overwhelmed with a million ways to save money on food – and you’re steadily progressing towards financial independence.

3. Keep your fridge and pantry stocked with the basics. This tip for saving money on food is directly from Rachael Ray’s blog: “If you find yourself in the middle of a recipe and you realize you are out of something, that’ll set you back while someone runs to the store. Here’s a good list of things to keep on hand.” Avoid impulse trips to the grocery store, because impuls trips lead to impulse buys!

4. Make your own dressings and sauces. We don’t use dressings on our salads; instead, we sprinkle sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and raisons on top. It’s cheap, healthy, and tasty! I make my own BBQ sauce — much more delicious than store bought — and my hubby makes cocktail sauce for shrimp and bean dip for our weekly Mexican Fiesta night. Have fun making your own dips and sauces – it’s a great way to save money on food.

5. Yes, I said weekly “Mexican Fiesta Night.” Do you have a food theme night? For Mexican Fiesta, my hubby makes bean dip (cheap and healthy), and I make pea guacamole (avocado, canned or frozen peas, corn, tomatos, garlic, onions — it’s my favorite dish). Having a planned food night — Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Middle Eastern — is a great way to save money on food, especially if you experiment with different (cheaper) ingredients. In fact, pre-planning your entire week’s menu can help you save money by reducing impulse meals in restaurants.

6. Halve the amount of meat you use. Add filler (oats, crackers, rice, mashed potatoes) to your burgers, meatballs, or meat loave. This way, you’ll half the amount of ground beef, chicken, or pork. Instead of bbq’ing a steak or chicken breast, cut half of one portion into strips and put it into a stirfry. Nobody will notice there’s not a full portion of meat in the stirfry (but they will notice a half portion of meat on a plate!).

7. Buy and cook bulk foods — it’s both cheap and healthy! “Joining a bulk shopping club, like Sam’s, Costco, or BJ’s, can be cost-effective if you frequent the club regularly,” writes Kathleen Zelman in 10 Ways to Save Money on Food Shopping. “Bulk purchases can be a great way to save money — as long as they get used. You might also look in your community for shopping cooperatives that sell food in bulk at a substantial savings.” Cooking in bulk can save both money and time, if you prepare huge pots of, say, spaghetti sauce, and freeze it in individual portions.

8. Savor your leftovers. I don’t understand why people don’t like leftovers! Most of the time, leftover food is tastier than when it was first cooked. The flavors have had a chance to meld into a sweet symphony of music in your mouth! If you want to save money on groceries, do not throw anything away (unless it’s so old it doesn’t look like food anymore). I use my leftover rice, mashed potatoes, or stir fry veggies in soups or stews. I eat leftover pizza and potato salad for breakfast. I refuse to cook new dishes until we’ve eaten our leftovers. These little things don’t just help you save money on food, they teach you to be creative in the kitchen!

9. Keep your eyes peeled for the occasional sale on lean meats and vegetables. Another way to save money on food from Rachael Ray’s blog “Stock up on chicken tenders or boneless, skinless breasts, sirloin steak, pork loin chops or tenderloins. Portion the meats out and freeze them so you can cook with them whenever you want.”

10. Experiment with eggs — omelettes, fritattas, quiches. The high cholesterol scare is over! There’s no need to fear eggs — as long as you don’t eat them every day. Eggs are a great source of protein, and much cheaper than meat. Plus, Canadian researchers say eggs may reduce high blood pressure. So, make it a habit to cook an eggy dinner once a week: frittatas, lazy man’s quiches, omelettes, French Toast with Canadian bacon (can you tell I’m a Canuck?). Eggs are cheap, healthy, and delicious.

“When you really want to show some love, keep the flowers and say it with spaghetti.” ~ Rachael Ray.

For more money saving hints, read 8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman.

Related posts:

1. 8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman
2. 7 Fast Ways to Get Fit and Save Money on Exercise – Venus Williams
3. Doing What Comes Naturally – Rachael Ray

Here’s what she says about saving money for your future:

“We need to give [women] more of an incentive to work, to save, to invest, to create a true future for themselves.” ~ Suze Orman

Are you motivated to create a financially secure future — one that doesn’t revolve around a man? If not, what’s holding you back? If you think fear of success is holding you back — don’t laugh, it’s more common than you think — read The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance. And, here are eight tips for basic personal finance for women…

8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman

1. Figure out what you’re saving money for. Don’t just save money for your kids’ college education or to pay off your mortgage. Save money for fun stuff! For instance, I save money for my overseas vacations – I want to go on a cruise for my fifth wedding anniversary in October, and a two week vacation to Maui in January. A smart way for women to save money (and — even better — achieve financial independence) is to find compelling reasons to save money! Why do you want to be financially free? What are your goals?

2. Write your money saving goals on your forehead. If you want to stay motivated to save money, you need to go beyond deciding that it’s time to save more money. You need to keep your goals front and center! The beauty of writing your money saving goals on your forehead is that they’ll wash off when you shower. Every time you rewrite your goals, you’ll be newly motivated to achieve them.

3. Make two days a week “No Spend” days. “Unspend,” advise the financial gurus at DailyWorth. “No Spend Days are powerful budget-balancing tools. By simply not spending money one day a week, you give yourself more wiggle room in other areas.” I think one day a week is too easy – I challenge you to make two days a week your “No Spend” days! No fancy lattes, no DVD rentals, no 7-11 slurpees (my personal weakness), and no restaurant meals. This is one of the smartest ways women can save money.

4. Keep a running tally of how much money you save. Every time you choose to take your lunch to work instead of buying it, or choose a regular coffee instead of a fancy frappuccino (this is one of my personal favorite ways to save money because I get a coffee out, but I don’t pay $5), write down how much money you saved. At the end of every week, tally up your savings. I guarantee that you’ll be shocked at how easy it’ll be to save money!

5. Figure out how to make money savings tips stick. You hear money saving tips all the time: cut grocery store coupons, stop eating out at restaurants, shop for second hand clothes, don’t use premium gasoline for your. But, do you actually apply those money saving tips to your life? One of the best ways to save money fast is to learn how to make good money saving tips stick.

6. Figure out why you spend money. You can read about the best ways to save money until the cows, sheep, and pigs come home! But if you don’t understand and perhaps even change your underlying financial beliefs, you’ll never get your personal finances in order. Are you in financial debt for emotional reasons — are you an emotional spender? A compulsive shopper? Do you have faulty money beliefs? You can’t achieve financial independence — or save money — unless you deal with your money issues.

7. Stop buying DVDs and CDs. How many times do you really need to watch your favorite movies or listen to your favorite songs? I own and love the movies Chicago, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Thelma and Louise…but there are only so many times I can watch them! “I know someone with a massive DVD collection,” writes Pat Foran in The Smart Canadian’s Guide to Building Wealth. “He takes the bus because he can’t afford a car, but he does have every episode of The Twilight Zone.”

8. Become a library lizard. My husband and I don’t just borrow books from our library, we take out magazines, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks. I rent Pilates, Yoga and other workout DVDs – which is a great way to save money on fitness. When was the last time you visited your local library? It’s a great place to save money!

“In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential. It’s no different in the financial realm.” ~ Suze Orman.

To attract wealth and get real about your personal finances, read 6 Steps to Financial Independence for Women.

Related posts:

1. Dealing With Different Money Personalities as a Couple – Suze Orman
2. How to Get Money to Start Your Business – Suze Orman
3. 10 Ways to Save Money on Food – Rachael Ray

“Too much money is as demoralizing as too little, and there’s no such thing as exactly enough.”  ~ Mignon McLaughlin.

I’m hoping there is such a thing as “exactly enough money” — because that’s what this blog post is all about! For instance, if I make my mortgage payment every month, then I have enough money. (The devil on my shoulder whispers, But what if that’s not enough? What if you’re never financially satisfied? And I say Shush shush SHUSH!!).

If you want to create financial abundance, read The Money Coach’s Guide to Your First Million: 7 Smart Habits to Building the Wealth of Your Dreams. And, here are five ways to apply mindfulness to your life, so you get enough money. Be a financially independent woman, be empowered and secure!

5 Mindful Ways to Get Enough Money – Mignon McLaughlin

Financial independence and security isn’t just about getting enough money — but having enough money does put our minds at ease! These money tips for women aren’t just about achieving financial goals, they’re about creating a better relationship with money through mindfulness.

1. Pick two or three money “mentors.” Who do you admire and respect because of their money management skills? Pick at least two money mentors (women who have succeeded financially, even if that “just” means saving $10,000 for a car or down payment on a house). Spend time with them. Pick a money mentor you can rub shoulders with in person, and a money mentor you can learn from online, on TV, or on the radio (Suze Orman, for example).

2. Ride the financial ups and downs with “mindfulness.” Getting enough money — enjoying financial independence – is about riding the financial roller coaster of debt, income, and household bills without losing sight of the big picture. Instead of letting a financial upset (eg, an unexpected car repair bill) throw you off course, stay focused on how wonderful it will feel to be financially secure. This is being mindful!

3. Learn about your money personality. Do you think you don’t know how to handle the bill payments, financial investments, or wealth accumulation?  Negative money beliefs will stop you from getting enough money. To be more mindful about your money, figure out your money personality – which often comes from your childhood. For example, women may spend more money than necessary because of childhood experiences. If you’re addicted to shopping, remember Mignon McLaughlin’s words: ”Money is much more exciting than anything it buys.” Avoid the trap of shopping, consumerism, and emotional spending.

4. Put your money personality to work for you. It’s easier to break bad money habits when you know what comes naturally for you. For instance, some women love to invest in the stock market, while others need to stop emotional spending. Some women need to focus on their household budget, while others are more comfortable pinching pennies (like me!). To apply mindfulness to your money situation, focus on what comes naturally. Delegate other money management tasks to your partner, reliable family member, or financial advisor.

5. Be mindful literally: visualize getting enough money. What does “getting enough money” mean to you? Do you want to pay your mortgage, or start saving for a summer cottage at the lake? Maybe you want to start your own business, or save enough money to be financially independent. Use the law of attraction: visualize what your ideal financial life looks like and stay focused. Using mindfulness to get enough money is especially effective when when you discuss your money goals with your partner, family members, and friends. Talking about your goals can make them more real and tangible. And, talking can keep you accountable!

But, don’t let money rule your life! “When you let money speak for you, it drowns out anything else you meant to say,” said Mignon McLaughlin. Make sure you control your money — don’t let it control you.

If you have any thoughts or questions on these mindful ways to get enough money, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. 8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman
2. Is This a Risky Financial Investment? Money Tips for Women
3. 9 Tips for Taking Control of Your Money for Women

Milian is smart, sassy, and oh-so-confident – and yet she’s empathetic and kind.

She’s also self-aware:

“I found a husband who married me despite my faults, children who think I have no faults, and a job that pays me because of my faults,” she says. “It’s perfect!”

She’s aware of her weaknesses – which may be the most telling sign of a fearless woman. They know their flaws and fortes, and they embrace them both. To learn more about living fierce and proud, read The Confident Woman: Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear. And, check out these five signs of fearless women…

5 Signs of a Fearless Woman – Judge Marilyn Milian

Honest and real. “When you are a real judge on the bench, you try hard not to react to everything, not to speak your mind to everything,” says Judge Marilyn Milian. “When you are a television judge, the handcuffs are off. Not only do I get to say what is on my mind, my producers insist on it!” Being honest about what you think is a sign of a fearless woman – and only the strongest, smartest, most successful women know when to be honest and when to hold back.

Generous and giving. Fearless women recognize that there is enough to go around – they don’t have to grab all the love, money, friends, or opportunities because they know everyone will get what they need. They have big hearts and generous spirits. Fearless women give compliments freely, share their ideas and resources with others, and believe there is lots of love and support in the world. Abundance is their state of mind.

Present. This isn’t just a sign of a fearless woman, it’s the sign of a confident, peaceful, fulfilled, spiritually sound person. Do you live in the current moment, or are you worried or fearful about the future? Are you mired in regrets or bitterness of the past? A fearless woman is focused on the here and now. She’s present. Marilyn Milian is a perfect example of that; when she’s on the bench on national television, she’s completely focused on the litigants. I love it!

Objective and detached. If your boss, coworker, or partner snaps at you, do you take it personally or do you shrug it off as someone having an off day? Can you stand up for yourself if you need to, and recognize when it’s better to let things brush by you? Fearless women aren’t attached to certain ways of thinking or feeling – and when they run into problems such as toxic people at work, they find ways to deal with it. They don’t see everything as a judgment of who they are. “When you are able to be objective with no attachment to what is right and what is wrong, there is space for life to work itself out for your benefit,” writes Rhonda Britten in Fearless Living.

Courageous and open minded. “I did college in three years, I skipped the third grade, I’ve always had this race, and one day life drops something out of left field,” says Judge Milian. “My life, which had always been so focused, had just opened up. And I’m gonna ride this out. I will never have a gig like this again!” Fearless women take opportunities, even if they feel scared, nervous, or intimidated. And, fearless women recognize when they’re on a great adventure…and when they need to call it quits, cut their losses, and find some other opportunity to explore.

Writing this makes me realize that I’m not as fearless as I thought! I need to work on being more generous and giving. Instead, I tend to operate out of fear and scarcity…

What about you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions on these signs of fearless women…please comment below!

Related posts:

1. Signs of a Financially Independent Woman – Quips and Tips
2. 5 Steps to Being a Successful Woman – Katherine Hepburn
3. How to be a Successful Woman – Amelia Earhart

“Don’t limit yourself,” said Mary Kay Ash. “Many women limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”

What you think you can do — what you focus on — will become reality! You don’t need special equipment or a lot of money to succeed in life…but you do need some basic tools. Read Simple Acts of Moving Forward: 60 Suggestions for Getting Unstuck for practical ways to let go of whatever is holding you back. And, check out these ten ways to get unstuck…

10 Ways to Get Unstuck and Move Forward – Mary Kay Ash

1. Figure out what’s holding you back. Maybe you’re depressed because of a business failure, health issue, financial problem, or relationship breakup. Or, maybe you can’t seem to improve your self-confidence or maintain a happy, positive mood.  The first step to lgetting unstuck is to identify what’s stopping you from moving forward.

2. Be objective about sources and solutions. Whatever the source of your rut is, remember that there are ways to overcome it! Different problems have different solutions, but there are some general rules for getting unstuck. For instance, don’t focus on what you lack (eg, someone to love, or a business of your own). Instead, focus on what you want more of in your life (love, success, acceptance, freedom). Be specific about what you want, and try not to get caught up in negative or critical emotions. Take a step back and look at your life with objective eyes.

3. Look for the possibilities in your problems. In Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell writes, “Sometimes constraints actually create success. Not being able to swim made me run. And running taught me the discipline I needed as a writer.” What are you learning from the obstacles in your life? Are your problems — job stress, relationship breakups – leading you in an unexpected direction? The sooner you accept the lessons, the faster you’ll overcome your obstacles and move forward in life.

4. Work with your personal advantages. I’m a big fan of “to do” lists and I love checking off each task when I accomplish it. That’s one of my personal advantages, and I use it to make my business successful. For instance, one of my goals is to earn $50,000 a year as a blogger. Part of achieving that goal involves writing two blog posts a day. To stay motivated to write every day, I make a list of the blog posts I need to write at the beginning of each week…and the satisfaction of checking off those “articles to write” makes me feel happy and motivated enough to do it again and again and again! What are your strengths or personal advantages? Put them to work for you!

5. Ask for help moving forward in life. What do you need to do to get unstuck? Ask your family, friends, and colleagues for help. Do you need financial advice? Time? Resources? Motivation? Support? Be specific about what you need, identify who can help you, and be clear about what you’d like them to do. Mary Kay Ash said, “Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.” Be honest about what you need.

6. Surround yourself with successful women. Who do you admire? Which family member, friend, or colleague is in the position you’d like to be in? To soak up the habits of highly successful women, stay connected to women who achieved their goals — even if you don’t know them personally, even if they aren’t alive! The attitudes, values, habits, and thoughts of women who soar will rub off on you. Also, stay away from people who hold you back or aren’t supportive.

7. Focus on one step at a time. If your number one goal is to start your own homebased business, don’t move towards a competing goal. For instance, you can’t put all your energy towards working from home while you’re planning a vacation that involves traveling around the world for a year! You can’t move ahead in two directions at once. Focus on “unsticking yourself” from one thing at a time. “So many women just don’t know how great they really are,” said Mary Kay Ash. “They come to us all vogue outside and vague on the inside.” Be concrete and specific about what you want out of life, and how you’ll get it.

8. Expect to do a little work. Bill Gates programmed computers at university for 10,000 hours before he started his own company. Gates is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in recent history (perhaps of all time) — but he spent 10,000 hours practicing before he took the leap! That’s 416 days of working around the clock. This tip for letting go of what’s holding you back is from Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, and involves practicing your craft. “…[successful people]…simply put in more hours than anyone else,” writes Gladwell.

9. Stay  connected to yourself. No matter how you’re planning on getting unstuck, stay open to revising as you go. For instance, you may decide to stop focusing on moving forward in your relationship, and start focusing on moving ahead in your career. That’s okay! Take your nose off the grindstone every so often…look around…and make sure you’re still on the right track. Let yourself make revisions whenever you need.

10. Help other women move forward their lives. When you encourage, educate, and connect with other women, you increase your own dedication, determination, and self-discipline! You feel good about yourself, which increases your motivation and gives you the self-confidence you need to move forward in life. It feels great to help women move towards their dreams, and it’s good karma!

“Those who are blessed with the most talent don’t necessarily outperform everyone else,” said Mary Kay Ash. “It’s the women with follow-through who excel.”

If you have any thoughts or questions on these ten ways to get unstuck, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. How to Make Mistakes and Move On – Brenda Ueland
2. 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination at Work – Sarah Ban Breathnach
3. Living With Diabetes for Women – Mary Tyler Moore

“Nearly every glamorous, wealthy, successful career woman you might envy now started out as some kind of schlep,” said Brown.

Though some women are extremely fortunate, most successful women start with similar levels of education, resources, and money. We’re all “schelps” at one point in our careers…but the most successful career women use the resources available to get from “down there” to “up here”! A valuable career book for women is Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman: What Men Know About Success that Women Need to Learn. And, another way to succeed is knowing how to solve work problems, which these tips cover…

6 Steps to Solving Almost Any Work Problem – Helen Gurley Brown

1. Figure out how you’re contributing to the problem at work. Sometimes our own personalities, insecurities, and past experiences cause or contribute to work conflicts. And, tackling our own issues – such as an inability to stand up for ourselves despite criticism — can positively affect or even solve the problem. For instance, a minor attitude adjustment on your part can trigger an attitude adjustment on your coworkers’ part…and it may be enough to make a big difference. It can take an uncomfortable amount of self-awareness, honesty, and insight to ‘fess up to your contributions to the problem, but that short-term discomfort can increase the chances you’ll achieve your career goals.

2. Talk to your coworkers about finding solutions to the problem. Is your job stress affecting other people at work? If so, brainstorm solutions with them. Don’t let your discussion deteriorate into a complaining session; instead, stay focused on digging up the root of the problem and sincerely trying to find ways to solve it. Be proactive and positive.

3. Refrain from criticizing your company, boss, or colleagues. When I was in university, I worked at Red Robin restaurant for several years. My favorite manager — a hard-working, friendly, supportive supervisor – got himself fired because he criticized the company in front of his staff. Whether you’re a supervisor or a new employee, regardless of what your problem is, don’t complain about your job, coworkers, or supervisors. Even if it doesn’t eventually get back to them, it makes you look unprofessional and petty.

4. Talk to the employee who can make a difference. If, for instance, your work problem involves dealing with negative or bossy coworkers, then there’s no point in talking to the person who delivers the mail! To solve any type of job stress, you need to talk to the person who is directly involved. This quotation from Helen Gurley Brown sums it up nicely: ”My success was not based so much on any great intelligence but on great common sense.”

5. Be open to different options, and look for win-win situations. The more creative and willing you are to consider different ways to solve your work problem, the higher your chances of success. If you want a raise, for example, remember that there are work perks other than financial remuneration. For instance, you might negotiate shorter work days or a shorter work week so you can think about starting your own business. Or, you might not be able to eliminate the stress of dealing with a negative coworker or supervisor, but you could consider changing your hours or workspace so you deal with that coworker less often.

6. Decide what you’re willing to live with at work. What if you can’t solve your specific work problem — and you’re worried that it might affect whether or not you will get ahead at work? You need to decide what your bottom line is. Will you quit your job if you can’t solve this work problem, or will you stay where you are for another year (or seven)? If you determine in advance what you’re willing to live with, you’re less likely to make an impulse decision you’ll regret later.

“The only thing that separates successful women from the ones who aren’t is the willingness to work very, very hard.” ~ Helen Gurley Brown.

If you have any thoughts or questions on these steps to solving work problems, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. Making Envy Work for You – Helen Gurley Brown
2. 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination at Work – Sarah Ban Breathnach
3. 5 Steps to Being a Successful Woman – Katherine Hepburn

About success, McEntire says, “Be different, stand out, and work your butt off.”

Allowing yourself to be different and stand out is more difficult than working hard, but authenticity offers rewards that hard work doesn’t. To learn how to work smarter and reveal your authentic self, read Lois Frankel’s Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers – she’s written several fantastic books in the “Nice Girls” series. And, read on for ten ways to succeed at work for women…

10 Ways for Women to Get Ahead at Work – Reba McEntire

1. Give yourself permission to move from girlhood to womanhood. Do you sometimes feel like a young girl even though you’re a grown woman? Frankel says, “Tell yourself that you are not only allowed, but entitled to act in ways that move you toward goal attainment.” To get ahead at work, take control of your education, professional development, and career choices. Own your age!

2. Ask for professional feedback. If you’re concerned about your job performance, ask a trusted colleague for feedback. In Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, Frankel suggests asking an open-ended question, such as: “Tell me what I did in that meeting that helped me or hindered me from achieving my goals.” Negative feedback can make you a healthier, more well-rounded woman — so don’t be afraid of it.

3. Know the rules of the game at your workplace. Workplaces have spoken and unspoken rules, and women need to know what they are. For instance, is it taboo to go home before 4 pm? Can budgets be flexed, or must they be strictly adhered to? The more you know which rules can be bent, the farther you’ll go at work.

4. Don’t take slights, criticisms, or mistakes personally. If you’re taken to task because of a mistake at work (real or perceived), don’t take it personally. Imagine you’re protected by a Plexiglass shield; you can see out, but negativity and criticism can’t touch you. To succeed at work, don’t retreat after making a mistake.

5. Build solid professional relationships. “If you’re not spending 5% of your day building relationships, you’re doing something wrong,” says Frankel. Since women are generally very good at building relationships, this is an easy way for us to succeed! Unless, of course, we’re coping with negative or bossy coworkers.

6. Speak up when people delegate inappropriately to you. Learn how to say no and recognize inappropriate delegation at work. Practice saying “no” unapologetically: ”You know, I’d love to help you out with this but I’m just swamped.” Then, stop talking. Here’s how Reba McEntire puts it: “To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”

7. Prepare requests in advance. If you’re asking for a new client project, a job promotion, a raise, etc., make sure you rehearse in advance. When you ask for anything at work, be direct, straightforward, and accompany each request with two or three legitimate reasons why you should be given it.

8. Embrace – don’t avoid – office politics. Office politics, according to Frankel, is simply about going out of your way to help someone and give them what they need. In return, they’ll do the same. Understand that professional relationships have a built-in quid pro quo. To take it a step further and learn to read nonverbal signals from your coworkers.

9. Ask for introductions. To get ahead at work, speak up when you want to meet a potential or current client, the president of the company, or the boss’s husband! The more you ask for referrals, phone numbers, and sources, the easier it’ll get.

10. Don’t let your emotions dictate your responses at work. “When people get annoyed or angry with us, it’s often for the purpose of getting us to do what they want. Don’t fall for the ploy,” writes Frankel. To succceed at work, let go of your need to be liked and your fear of confrontation. Let people be annoyed with — or even mad at – you.

One last inspiration from Reba McEntire:

“Growing up is not being so determined to make everybody happy.”

If you have any thoughts or questions on these ways for women to get ahead at work, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination at Work – Sarah Ban Breathnach
2. Reading Nonverbal Signals From Your Co-Workers or Boss – Esteé Lauder
3. 6 Steps to Solving Almost Any Work Problem – Helen Gurley Brown

“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” ~ Esteé Lauder.

She didn’t become one of the most successful businesswomen in history by wishing she knew how to approach her boss or deal with toxic co-workers! Lauder trusted her instincts and followed her heart (and her head!). To learn how to trust your gut at work, read The Power of Intuition: How to Use Your Gut Feelings to Make Better Decisions at Work. And, here are five office and cubicle items that offer clues to your fellow employees’ personality and tastes, which can help you work with them better (and maybe get the promotion you’re hoping for!).

Reading Nonverbal Signals From Your Co-Workers or Boss – Esteé Lauder

“The workplace is sometimes a mini-replica of home, with many of the same elements squeezed into a few revealing items,” says Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, author of Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior–Anytime, Anyplace. “Office furnishings, then, usually won’t reflect an individual’s personal taste or priorities as well as photos, calendars, and other items.”

And, work settings and office props may express your boss’ or co-workers’ personalities more accurately than their home environment. At home, their surroundings are influenced by roommates, spouses, kids, relatives. At work, people are free to decorate their offices and cubicles as they wish – and thus reveal their true personalities and styles.

1. Personal or family items on desks and bookcases. “Someone’s desk can be a small collage of his personality,” writes Dr Dimitrius. “A messy, disorganized desk usually points to a messy, disorganized person, and never mind the standard assurances to the contrary…And someone who tries to impress office visitors with expensive pens and crystal paperweights will likely find the need to do so in all aspects of his life.” To read nonverbal signals at work, check if the desktop items are made by kids – or are all the items functional and practical? Are the pens designer or company-issued? These hints can change how you interact with your boss or co-workers.

2. Calendars on office or cubicle walls. The type of calendars on your boss’ or coworkers’ walls are office props that reveal personality – they’re not just measures of time! Do their calendars sport red racecars, Norman Rockwell paintings, or motivational sayings? A calendar can help you read your fellow employees by telling you about their personality, habits, and style. Calendars are also great conversation starters for awkward moments.

“In a perfect world, we’d all be judged on the sweetness of our souls,” said Esteé Lauder…but in the work world, we’re judged on our nonverbal signals and verbal communication skills at work.

3. Photos and picture frames. Does your boss or worker have photos of family, pets, landscapes, or the solar system on the cubicle or office walls? Are those pictures professional or amateur? Are the frames expensive or inexpensive, gold or wood? These workplace props can reveal hobbies, priorities, and tastes – and those tidbits can help you succeed at work.

4. Plants, fresh flowers, bouquets of roses. “The person who goes to the trouble of keeping fresh flowers or growing plants at work often cares a lot about beauty and nature in his environment,” writes Dr Dimitrius in Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior – Anytime, Anyplace. People with plants in their office may also be artistic and health conscious, and may have hospital and caring natures.

5. Office layout. Is your boss’ or coworkers’ office space arranged so people can sit and talk comfortably? Does the desk face a wall, window, door, or is it in the center of the room? These are nonverbal signals that don’t only teach you a great deal about your colleagues and increase workplace communication, they can also help you cope with negative or bossy co-workers by teaching you how to pick up meaningful details.

Two final inspirational career quotations from Esteé Lauder:

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.”

and

“When you’re angry, never put it in writing.” 

What do you think — do you read nonverbal signals from your co-workers or boss, and has it helped your career?

Related posts:

1. 10 Ways for Women to Get Ahead at Work – Reba McEntire
2. How to Handle Negative or Bossy Co-Workers – Sophia Loren
3. How to Get Money to Start Your Business – Suze Orman

financial independence for women

Personal finance may not be every woman’s favorite topic – but it’s one of the most important things she’ll ever take care of in her life! Here are six steps to financial independence for women, with inspiration from the strong, successful author Ayn Rand.

“You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” ~ Ayn Rand.

If you’re not taking control of your money, sooner or later you’ll face the consequences of your inaction (or your irresponsibility – ouch!)…and it won’t be pretty. These steps towards financial freedom for women are from Lois Frankel’s Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich: 75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money– click for more information. And, read on for six ways to strengthen your sense of personal finance….

6 Steps to Financial Independence for Women – Ayn Rand

1. Schedule your “retire rich” or “find financial freedom” time. Take an hour a month to think about how you can be a financially independent woman. Do you need to learn about basic personal finances, figure out where to invest $100 a month, or learn how to put money towards your retirement or children’s education? Block off an hour a month (or an hour a week, if you’re really motivated!) to pursue your financial goals.

2. Identify the flaws in your personal finance plan. If you’re not financially independent, then figure out where the wheels fell off the bus. Are you charging up your credit card bills and avoiding your student loan or mortgage loan debt? Are you financially supporting a spouse or family member when they should be doing it themselves? If you’re not financially independent, it’s for specific reasons – and the sooner you uncover those reasons, the further along the road to financial independence you’ll be.

3. Attend one personal finance course or investment seminar a month. “You can find these classes at community colleges, extension programs, credit unions, and even online,” writes Frankel in Nice Girls. “Many investment firms offer short evening programs designed for the financial novice.” If you’re going to a seminar at an investment firm, resist their sales pitches…learn as much as you can about investing your money, building your retirement income, and living within your budget. As Ayn Rand said “The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity” – and those opportunities may be right in your back yard!

4. Learn where your money “should” be going. Financial experts say your income or earnings should be divided up in specific ways. For instance, 10% of your income should be going to savings or investments, 25-40% to mortgage or rent, 8-15% to home-related expenses, 10-20% to food, 15-25% to transportation, 8-15% for medical expenses, 3-5% for clothing, 5-10% to personal or miscellaneous, and less than 5% to personal debt such as student or personal loans. If you’re spending more than these suggested amounts, then it may be time to consider shifting your expenses.

5. Take care of your credit rating by balancing your checkbook every month. “If you’re one of those women who make deposits but don’t reconcile their checkbook, then you’re more likely to treat money as dispensable – not something that has to be cared for and looked after,” says Lois Frankel. She encourages women who want to be financially independent to reconcile their accounts every month (or more often!). Your financial activities directly affect your credit score, which affects your ability to get mortgage or business loans. And if you want to be a female entrepreneur or start your own business one day, you’ll need a strong credit rating.

6. Remember that you can control your money – it doesn’t have to control you. Ayn Rand said, “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” Maybe you were taught to let men manage money when you were growing up, or that money isn’t feminine or ladylike. Banish those thoughts! Remember that money is just a tool to help you enjoy life – it’s doesn’t have to be something to avoid. Use your “financial freedom time” to learn as many money lessons as possible.

Here’s one of my favorite quotations for successful women: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” ~ Ayn Rand.

The only person who can stop you from achieving financial independence is you. Get out of your own way – and See Jane Soar!

If you have any thoughts or questions on these steps to strengthening your sense of personal finance, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. Is This a Risky Financial Investment? Money Tips for Women
2. Signs of a Financially Independent Woman – Quips and Tips
3. Women Considering Divorce – A Quips and Tips Article