PWCC Connections Newsletter
December 2018
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Mission
PWCC provides networking connections that support, enrich and inspire women to advance professionally and personally.
Goals
PWCC brings professional women together in a variety of networking venues to share knowledge, experiences, and resources with other women. Members have access to:
* Facilitated networking opportunities at monthly speaker luncheons
* Special member-only events
* Committee activities
* Board participation
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December Networking Luncheon:
Holiday Connections | Winter Progressive Networking Luncheon
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Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Blvd.
11:30 am-1:30 pm
$40 members | $70 non-members
You must register in advance for this, no walk-in registrations.
To avoid a $10 increase, register by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 7 |
Register here.
The December PWCC luncheon is always a sell out so register now!
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Holiday Connections | Progressive Networking Luncheon
Celebrate the holidays with PWCC, connecting with new and old friends! December’s progressive luncheon focuses on members with no speakers, so that you have the chance to share your professional story and meet 30 PWCC members (remember to bring 30 business cards).
NOTE: This luncheon will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m.!
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Tips for Smarter Living: Surviving the Holidays: Manage Your Expectations, Lower Your Stress
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My husband often tells me the secret to happy holidays is not setting unreal expectations; he believes your outlook is a product of your own relationship with expectation. What will or won’t happen, no one knows. Whether we hope for the best or expect the worst, leaning too far one direction or the other can be a recipe for self-sabotage.
So many of us have an idealized version of what the holidays should be like and are very disappointed when they don’t live up to those expectations. With the winter holiday season just around the corner, people’s stress levels are rising.
But there’s help! Try these tips for surviving the holiday season at work:
Negotiate time off with enough advance notice.
Don’t wait until the last minute to ask your boss for vacation days. The holidays are a busy time, so avoid making your manager juggle the last-minute requests of several employees, all requesting the same vacation dates. Always have a backup plan in case your boss does not approve the time off you are requesting. And remember: a staycation can be just as relaxing as long-distance travel.
Don’t skip the holiday work party.
You may dread attending, but this is the one work event
you should never skip
. Because it’s a work function, show up on time and act professionally. If you know you’ll have to deal with difficult personalities, try approaching them with compassion and no pre-judged expectations of how they will act. You may walk away with a new attitude toward someone!
Keep gift giving to a minimum.
Most people would rather not exchange gifts with coworkers, so if you decide on giving any gifts, keep them small and don’t worry if the gifts you give don’t equal what you get or vice versa; it all evens out in the end. Never give gifts with the expectation of receiving something in return.
Try to exercise each day.
December’s dreary days without sunshine can take their toll on people’s energy levels. Get energized at the office by getting more exercise. Skip the elevator and use the stairs, park further away from the office, and bundle up and go for a walk outside each day before eating lunch. Just a little exercise every day will be enough to make a difference in your attitude.
Express gratitude.
Being grateful increases your happiness and motivation. Take a minute each day to write down things for which you are thankful at work.
Remember, it’s easier to remain happy during the holidays when we express some compassion toward those work colleagues who might be a bit difficult, feel grateful for things in your life, and look forward to a holiday break! Try to take some time away from email and don’t think about all the messages you will be returning to…most of it will be spam anyway!
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PWCC Blog: Dancing, Not Surviving!
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This time of year can be magical: our worlds become imbued with lights and decorations and traditions. In Chicago we welcome snow and revel in its beauty (let’s not think about our attitude change about snow that happens in late February). For some of us this is a time of anticipation, too, looking toward a new year and new promises.
And yet. Count the number of professional publications that feature the word “survive” in December articles. Count the number of people who ask you if you’re “surviving” the holidays. Count the number of times YOU wonder how you will “survive” this time of year.
So what gives?
Professionally, the end of the year can bring crunch time -- projects are due, budgets are due, You may have to finally confront staffing issues that have lurked for the last quarter -- whether the issues entail hiring or giving staff notice. Add to this mix the need to thank clients for their loyalty to you and your company with the perfect gift , the need to attend holiday lunches and parties, and the need to plan for time away from the office.
Personally, you may be planning for visits from friends and relatives, organizing menus, and shopping for gifts as you watch the days remaining in the year fall away..
So let’s get out the war paint and figure out to how to “survive.” Better yet, let’s get out our favorite pair of shoes and figure out how to “dance” through the holidays! (
Continue reading
.)
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Member Share,
a newly-launched feature to the PWCC newsletter, supports PWCC’s mission to connect and support professional women, offering members an opportunity to share their experiences, expertise, and advice.
January's
Member Share
answers the question
“When have you been fearless as an entrepreneur?"
Please tell us about a time you overcame your fear (or something else that held you back) to take action that could fuel your business success.
We would love to share your experience to inspire others. Be creative but limit your submission to 125 words or less. For consideration for inclusion in the January newsletter, please send your submission to Debbie Gidley
(
admin@pwcc.org
)
by
December 19, 2018
with subject line: PWCC Member Share Section.
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This month, our second
PWCC Member Share is advice and lessons learned for surviving the holidays, both professionally and personally. Thank you to Rachel, Jennifer, and Elizabeth for taking the time to share their thoughts!
Rachel Zwell,
Wright Foundation for the Realization of Human Potential
“I wanted to share this meaningful advice from Dr. Judith Wright, the founder of the Wright Foundation, about how to thrive during the holidays . . .
‘
Between the stress of shopping for the perfect gifts, being with family, entertaining, decorating, extra holiday events…your holiday might feel more like The Nightmare Before Christmas
rather than It’s a Wonderful Life
–especially if you have an ideal holiday picture in your mind. Drop the fantasy and the traditions that don’t work for you anymore. Think about what you REALLY care about this season. Maybe it’s a quiet moment sipping cocoa by the fire, a sweet conversation with a dear friend, reveling in the lights, watching a mushy holiday movie and crying, singing at the top of your lungs…delight in whatever brings YOU pleasure and the spirit of the season. Focus on the meaningful connections of the season to not only survive the holidays, but to thrive.’”
Jennifer Levin,
Lavin Family Law, PWCC Board member, and Co-Chair of the Community Outreach and Education Committee
“For divorce and family law attorneys, the holidays can be some of the busiest times of the year because there are often conflicts regarding holiday parenting time that may need to be litigated on an emergency basis. I attempt to resolve these issues for my parent clients in advance so that I am not faced with last-minute court emergencies. I also make an even more concerted effort to manage my calendar and attend a limited number of holiday parties in order to avoid being overscheduled. Additionally, I take some of my longest vacations during the holiday season, because it is easier for me to be away while my clients are with their families, and judges and my colleagues are also often out for holiday vacations.”
Elizabeth Buffardi,
Crescendo Financial Planners, PWCC Board member and Board Vice President)
“Many years ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a story about getting through the holidays with crazy family members. They suggested you and another relative play ‘Dysfunctional Family Bingo.’ You and the relative come up with a bunch of things that may happen at a holiday - like Grandma falls asleep, Uncle Joe gets drunk, one of the kids breaks something, etc. You and the other person mark off your card or sheet as you see something happening. It was meant as a joke and a way to lighten the holidays. I sent it to my sister as a joke. But when the holidays came around and something crazy was happening she would come up to me and say ‘Bingo’. We had a good laugh!”
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Mentoring Tip – Warm the Hearts This Holiday Season
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We all experience the holidays differently but regardless of the traditions we choose to follow, many of us include thanks and joy in our celebrations. Here are three things you can do that are guaranteed to generate gratitude and Joy.
- Offer a Helping Hand: Offer to do something for your mentee, mentor, or colleague that is likely to add joy, reduce stress, or help achieve a year-end goal. If you can’t think of anything to do, take her out for a warm cup of hot chocolate.
- Connect: The best gift you can give someone this holiday season is to be present in the moment with her. Listen and have a real conversation for in these moments is where real joy begins. Why not do this for your mentor or mentee and warm her heart with your presence and attentiveness?
- Make Her Laugh: Everyone loves a good laugh -- make a holiday joke and bring a smile to her face.
P.S. You can cheat and use these tips with anyone, not just your mentor or mentee ☺
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Networki
ng Tip: Network with Intention
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As women, we don’t always take advantage of networks the way we should. We often keep our heads down, knocking out projects at the office all day and then keeping things running at home at night. While we juggle our work, home, and personal lives, we ignore the value of networking, often to our professional and personal detriment. This month’s PWCC Holiday Connections | Progressive Networking Luncheon is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills using the following advice.
1.
Prepare.
Say it again: Prepare. Prepare your elevator speech. Prepare a list of questions and conversation starters that will come in handy when you meet new people. Find out how many attendees are expected at the event and fill your pocket with business cards. Set a goal to collect as many cards as you hand out. Preparation is crucial to successful networking.
2.
Practice Your Elevator Speech.
Craft your elevator speech carefully. Practice it over and over again. A great elevator speech should define your professional identity, including your experience and your expertise as well as what makes you unique and valuable to an organization.
3.
Network daily.
Because networking is simply building relationships that matter, don’t restrict yourself to doing it only at specific events.. Take the time, every day, to network with someone in your office or through social media. It’s easy to start: just block 30 minutes on your calendar every day and treat the time as important as a meeting with your most important client.
4.
Establish your power network.
Build relationships with people you admire in your industry. Connect with them through a mentor, by joining a professional organization of which they are a member,, and by following them on social media. As working women, we embrace and support women within our own circles, too many times passing up on opportunities to expand our circle.
5.
Brag a little.
Maybe you are an introvert or maybe you were raised believing humility is a virtue and good girls are seen and not heard. Whatever the reason, women have a tendency to avoid bragging while also hesitating to ask for help. Successful networkers brag. Be clear about your “why” and practice asking for what you need within your circle and then expand your ask in women’s networking groups.
6.
Follow up.
The most important part of networking is actually the follow-up. You’ve collected all those business cards, now connect on LinkedIn, send a “nice meeting you email” and restate your why, add them to your network, and periodically keep in touch them.
Professional women network differently because our lives, our schedules, and our entire approach to making connections are different from men’s. And that’s OK. By using every opportunity to network, starting by becoming active with the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago and not shying away from opportunities to network, we can leverage our efforts for success.
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Calling all PWCC Members!
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Do you have some news to share? Do you have a recent accomplishment that you'd like to highlight? Submit your professional or personal news to
admin@pwcc.org
for consideration in an upcoming newsletter. It's a great way to share your accomplishments and continue to build and grow your PWCC Connections.
________________________________________________________________________
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Ellyn Caruso
, Principal of CarusoPR Expands Global Presence
PWCC board member, Ellyn Caruso, principal and founder of
CarusoPR
, is proud to announce the agency’s selection for membership in
Public Relations Boutiques International (PRBI),
a global network of more than 40 public relations firms across the globe whose founders stressed the importance of client service.
“We’re excited to be a part of PRBI which helps CarusoPR further expand its reach to national and international clients. Our PRBI membership enables us to partner with award-winning senior level professionals who share the same vision and focus of providing affordable, high quality,professional public relations and marketing communication services to clients,“ shares Caruso.
CarusoPR is a woman-owned, full-service boutique PR firm serving clients across all industries including technology, legal, professional services, banking, education, and non profit organizations.
Public Relations Boutiques International
is an international network of boutique public relations firms whose principals are experienced, award-winning practitioners who have held senior positions in PR agencies and/or corporations and now focus on service first by working directly with clients and leading their teams. The network includes 45 member firms across 19 countries.
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Our 2018/2019 Luncheon Events Schedule is available
here
. Mark your calendars and save the dates for these great events. Remember: non-members may only attend one progressive luncheon and one speaker luncheon in any membership year (September - June). So
become a PWCC member
now!
Don'r miss our January 2019 luncheon.
Carol Roth Unfiltered – Behind the Scenes of Business, Bestsellers & Life
.
Register early
for this one, because you don't want to miss this incredible speaker and January 9th is closer than you think!
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Connections & Conversations
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All First Timers, Experienced Members and Guests are Welcome.
Join us at 11am, prior to every luncheon at the Union League Club, to learn about the Professional Women's Club of Chicago and membership engagement. Ask questions, participate in discussions about PWCC, and network during this brief, 30-minute meeting.
Our next Connections & Conversations Event is
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.!
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Please join PWCC in welcoming these new members who joined during November 2018:
Veronica Cappello, CenturyLink
Sara Capulli, CareerBuilder
Kim DeLine, Elevate Learning
Caroline Focht, Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits
Melissa Gonzales, Medela
Erin Marcus, Conquer the Conversation
Laura Platt, Daley Mohan Groble, P.C.
Jeannine Stearns, Expert Velocity
Jenny Stetler, FFW
New Members:
Be sure to look for our New Member Ambassadors with their Red Ribbons affixed to their nametags at our next luncheon. The Ambassadors are keen to help you feel welcome,
comfortable, and introduce you to opportunities available within PWCC.
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Important News for Members!
PWCC is increasing membership dues (our first increase since 2013) on 1/1/2019. If you need to renew your membership or have been thinking about joining as a member, now is the perfect time.
To join online, click
here
. Questions? Call PWCC at (312) 263-1808.
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All reservations for the monthly luncheons are requested no later than 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the luncheon. Anyone reserving after
Friday, December 7th
, at 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $10 late charge and seating availability.
Please help PWCC and the Union League Club make the monthly luncheon experience a great one and reserve on time and observe their
dress code policy
.
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