March 2010 Archives

What I Learned from Nancy Pelosi

NOTE: This post is not about politics. This post is about professional self-presentation.

I was stunned the other day when I saw in the news that Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi had turned 70 years old. Seventy! And arguably one of the most powerful women in the world, now claiming a fresh professional triumph.

I've always been impressed by the Speaker's utter poise and professionalism. Regardless of politics, here is what I've learned from Pelosi about self-presentation:

Never raise your voice. An evenly modulated voice is a powerful sign of control and authority. It suggests that you are thoughtful and even-handed rather than reactive and erratic.

Don't shoot back. Refusing to enter the fray is another sign of credibility and self-possession. It tells the world that you decide and control your own agenda.

Focus, focus, focus. Mediocrity thrives on distraction. There's something compelling about the singleminded woman who  concentrates on her goals.

Keep it simple. Pelosi's tailored suits, classic accessories, and sleek hairstyle never upstage her talent and accomplishments. Style is the frame, not the picture.

Keep it fresh. She may be a 70-year-old granny, but her look is completely contemporary. Don't let people think you're last year's model.

Which Companies Are Advancing Women?

If you're looking to join a new company, check out this year's winners of the Catalyst Award, awarded today in New York City:

• Campbell Soup Company, for its "Winning in the Workplace, Winning the Marketplace, Winning With Women" initiative
• Deloitte LLP, for "The Women's Initiative: Living the Lattice"
• RBC, for "Client First Transformation: Achieving Business Results and Cultural Revitalization Through Diversity"
• Telstra Corporation Limited, for "Next Generation Gender Diversity: Accelerating Change for Women Leaders"

Every year the Catalyst Award honors strategic initiatives that advance women in the workplace. Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization working globally with businesses and the professions to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women and business.

The Littlest Activist

Tonight I attended a celebration of Women's History Month hosted by the Austin Commission for Women. The three speakers, representing activism across generations, were impressive, reminding us how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Teen pregnancy, social justice, and reproductive health are just three of the issues that were discussed by GENaustin executive director Julia Cuba, Latina historian Martha Cotera, and political strategist Laurie Felker Jones.

But I must admit that I was most enchanted by the littlest activist in the room: seven-year-old Grace Guthrie, daughter of Lesley Guthrie, executive director of the Governor's Commission for Women. (Mom and daughter pictured above.) Grace took very seriously the call to contribute to the board where we posted our hopes for women of the future. She began with "Hope," "Faith," and "Love," and kept working through to "independence," "equal rights," and "good choices."

Good morning, my name is Ann, and I'm a bag-aholic. It's likely the only thing about me that my husband will never understand. He says, "Who needs more than one bag?"

I do! So let me tell you about my latest bag. It's one of those cute little Baggu numbers--a reusable, nylon shoulder bag that comes in a little pouch. Green or blue. Only $10.

And the best thing about it is the slogan: "Feminism is my bag."

I bought three in the blue, one for me and two for my best feminist gal-pals from back-in-the-day. It's one more way that I can help bring back the F-word. If you want to join in the crusade, you can buy your own bag online.

Austin, Kathryn Bigelow, and International Women's Day

I'm still basking in the reflected glory of "Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow's unprecedented win as Best Director last night. Seated right in front of her ex-husband, favored heavy hitter James Cameron ("Avatar"), she swept away the evening's biggest Oscars, including Best Picture. Success is sweet.

When Barbara Streisand, who herself was passed over for the Best Director honor, opened the envelope, she said it all: "Well, the time has come."

It was a great overture to today's celebration of International Women's Day.

Here in Austin we always think globally and act locally. So the Austin Commission for Women is celebrating Women's History Month with "Living Legacies: Honoring Women's Activism Across Generations." Speakers include GENaustin executive director Julia Cuba and Chicana librarian and activist Martha Cotera. I'll be attending, and I hope to see you there, at 5:30pm on March 23 in the Austin City Hall Atrium. Click here to register.

Are You Overdue for a Do-Over!?

As a life coach, I'm privy to the situations and conditions that prompt women to claim their Do-Overs! I'll tell you now: these are the top 3 signs that you're overdue for your Do-Over!

1. Exhaustion. When we're at our best, doing what is meaningful to us, we feel energized. When we're just going through the motions, we feel drained. Maybe all those naps you're taking aren't about the change in season after all.

2. Envy. Do you find yourself feeling jealous rather than elated when even your dearest friend shares her success stories? That doesn't mean you're a bad person. It means you're trying to tell yourself there's something missing in your own life. So listen up!

3. Tears. This one is a vivid memory for me. Remember the triumphant final dance scene in the movie "Flash Dance"? You know, "Oh, What a Feeling"? Well, instead of jumping to my feet and clapping, I started crying. Deep down, that was a feeling I knew I was missing.

(PS -- If you're overdue, come to my Do-Over! mini-retreat for women on March 27. Click here for details.)

Backward Glance

Usually, I'm exceptionally good at staying in the moment. I never look back. But this morning I'm feeling fretful, wishing it were still the weekend.

Ross and I took a long one on the ocean in Santa Monica. Each morning we walked down the beach, past the pier, to a crepe cafe, where I ate all my favorite breakfast ingredients on a baguette. Saturday we spent at the Getty Villa and Getty Center. Sunday we spent at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Some of our favorite spots in the world. Each evening we crawled into the most perfect bed in the world. I could live in that bed.

I wish I had photos to include here, but we were so absorbed in each perfect moment of being that we didn't bother to record it. This backward glance will have to suffice.