Lollipops & Laptops

The Sticky Life of a Working Mom

Tag: Working Mom (Page 1 of 3)

4 Ways Working Moms Can Climb the Corporate Ladder (That Don’t Involve Extra Hours at the Office)

Working Mom Career Growth

Climbing the corporate ladder is challenging in and of itself, but as a working mom, it can sometimes feel impossible. It’s pretty incredible that even today, so many companies have a culture where arbitrary time spent at the office is lauded over results. Even if you can deliver the same (or better) results in less time, there are so many organizations, mine included, where you’ll butt up against the glass ceiling until and unless you meet the unspoken requirement of staying after 6:00pm (or 7:00 or 9:00). Still, even when it’s impossible to put in the face time at the office that others do, there are ways to “prove yourself” other than sheer hours. Read on for a few ways to stand out that don’t involve scrambling to find someone to pick up your kids before daycare closes.

Special Projects

Although special projects sometimes do require additional hours in the office, these are a nice way to show your supervisors that you’re willing to go above and beyond the job description. Being a team player and taking on a special project, whether that’s onboarding a new employee, tackling a data cleanup, or managing a unique client, shows that you are committed to the overall success of the company.

The plus side to special projects is that even if they require some additional face time, there is usually a clear timeline where you might be able to work out kid coverage for a week or two.

Industry Association Participation

Most industries have professional associations, and events usually occur during business hours. Offering to become active in your industry’s association, represent your company, and make valuable connections on behalf of your organization is a tangible value add to the business. Even a quarterly happy hour or breakfast event can usually be worked into the schedule when it is known in advance. If you can become well known in your industry’s association, speak on panels, and become acquainted with powerful people in the industry, you’ve opened invaluable doors for your company, and that doesn’t go unnoticed.

How a Working Mom Can Climb the Corporate Ladder

It might look impossible, but it’s not.

Make Up for Flexibility

Part of being a working parent means asking for a little (or a lot) of flexibility. Make up for that by showing up in other ways so people know you’re committed. Answer a few emails after hours when you have to leave early. If you’re working from home, be sure you’re online and available to people so they know it’s not a free PTO day. We are all human, whether we have children or not, and sometimes we require flexibility. But showing that you don’t take it for granted and that you’re reasonably available can go a long way.

Find a New Job

The reality is, corporate America is mostly still unsuited for a modern working parent, and it sometimes feels like you could go to the ends of the earth for them and still not get ahead by virtue of the fact that you’re a mom. Don’t go nuts trying to prove yourself. There are companies out there that value your results without an arbitrary number of hours required to sit present in the office. If you’ve done everything you can to show your commitment and effort to no avail, contact that recruiter friend and start looking for a place that truly values you, working mother and all.

Day in the Life of a Working Mom

Day in the Life of a Working Mom - Lollipops & Laptops

I get a lot of questions about my daily routine when people hear that I have a full-time day job plus two businesses and two little kids. Sometimes they’re genuinely interested in how I manage it all, and sometimes it comes from a place of judgmental disbelief, but since I get asked so much about “how I do it all,” I figured I’d share a day in the life of my work week.

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Working Mom Interview: Box Babe Gifting

Working Mom Interview: Box Babe Gifting - Lollipops & Laptops

One of the best things I’ve done recently is join an online course for female entrepreneurs. In addition to having some really great content, I’ve gotten to meet, both in person and online, some truly incredible, ambitious, creative, and successful women. One such lovely lady that I’ve been fortunate to connect with both via the course and in person is Brenda. Her brand, Box Babe Gifting, caught my eye right away, and it turns out she is a beautiful soul who cheers on others’ success more than her own, and takes a genuine interest in the people she meets and especially her clients. Read on to hear about her journey to entrepreneurship as a working mother.

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Staying Focused After An Inspiring Retreat

Staying Focused After an Inspiring Retreat - Lollipops & Laptops

Recently, I did something that I previously never would have done. I spent money to go to a retreat for female business owners. The reason I’ve avoided these in the past (aside from the obvious lack of time) was that I wasn’t convinced I’d implement what I learned. And that’s the real challenge, isn’t it? It’s a pretty solid waste of money to go to an educational seminar and not apply your newfound knowledge. So when I decided to surround myself with a bunch of inspiring women pursuing their dreams, I made a promise to myself that I would actually put plans into action. But when Monday morning rolls around and your work/life responsibilities rear their ugly heads, how do you go about that? Here are a few practical tips to capitalizing on your momentum when you’re side hustling.

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Working Mom Interview: Jamie

Working Mom Interview: Jamie - Lollipops & Laptops

I was lucky enough to meet Jamie many years ago because she was best friends with a dear friend of mine. This girl exudes happiness. She is so genuinely kind and light-hearted, it just makes you smile to be around her. And Jamie makes being both a mom and entrepreneur look effortless. This working mom not only is building her own business while raising two little ones, but her husband has simultaneously built a business at the Exact. Same. Time. Read on to take a peek into the life of Jamie and her brand, Saturday Morning Pancakes.

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Working Mom Interview: Courtney

Working Mom Interview: Courtney - Lollipops & Laptops

Courtney is one of those women you meet and are instantly connected to. We briefly met when we were in junior high and both performed as extras in the local high school musical, then did one year in high school drama together before she was admitted to a prestigious performing arts high school in Orange County, and our lives came full circle when she planned my wedding 10 years later. By the time she was 30, Courtney had gotten an education at a first class university, gotten married and had three boys, founded, ran, and sold her own company, and supported high-end wedding and event industry leaders in various positions. What makes Courtney’s story so interesting is her experience as business-owning mother, stay-at-home-mom, and now a working mom in the traditional corporate world. Read on to learn more about Courtney’s background and how she’s crushing that working mom life.

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Building a Portfolio Career

Building A Portfolio Career - Lollipops & Laptops

By day, I’m fully employed in the commercial real estate industry. On lunch breaks, after the kids’ bedtime, and on weekends, I’m building up two businesses and running a blog. Some might call me a workaholic. Or a hustler. A #bossbabe. Or an entrepreneur. But regardless of what you label it, what I’m doing is building a portfolio career. A portfolio career certainly is a buzz word you hear a lot these days. But what exactly is it, why should you consider it, and how do you even get started? Read on for the full rundown on building a portfolio career.

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Working Mom Interview: Brittany

Working Mom Interview: Brittany - Lollipops & Laptops

A few months ago, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed and like no one in my circle understood my unique challenges of being a working mom with two toddlers, a side hustle, a blog, and a husband who travels a lot. In desperation, I searched on Facebook for a working moms group and found one that is not only a wonderful source of support and advice, but it also helped me find people who were uniquely in the same boat as me. Which is where Brittany comes in. I stumbled into “meeting” Brittany when she shared a post from her beautiful and useful website, Our Home Made Easy, and found out through talking to her online that she, too, has a day job with a blog on the side. Read on for her take on managing a full-time job, parenthood, and a side hustle.

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Working Mom Interview: Melanie

Working Mom Interview: Melanie VocationElle - Lollipops & Laptops

When I decided to start this blog, it was because I found very few resources online for a working mom. It felt like there weren’t that many working moms out there sharing their experiences (most likely because no working mom has much time to build and maintain a blog). One of the greatest outcomes of putting myself out there has been finding other working women that really are sharing their experiences out there.

In comes Melanie. I “met” Melanie through Instagram, of all places. A fellow working mom, Melanie started a fantastic blog called VocationElle, which is specifically geared toward Millenial Working Moms (i.e. young moms relatively early in their careers with little ones at home). Read on for her experience from the trenches and check out her blog and Instagram feed for some high quality content to help you find that elusive work-life balance.

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Employee Incentives in an Old School Corporate Culture

Employee Incentives in an Old School Corporate Culture - Lollipops & Laptops

It’s hard enough to keep up with the needs and desires of employees, and when you’re trying to attract and retain top talent, you want to be able to offer them the world. But if you are in an old school corporate culture, how do you convince employees to come–and stay–when other companies and industries are offering a slew of amenities and perks that you can’t? Read on for a few ideas.

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