Four Minutes With On The Dot

Have you felt overwhelmed lately? If you’re trying to build a strong launch for your brand, you might feel the need to stay up to date on social media, read blog posts written by colleagues in your industry, reply to emails as fast as possible and so on. How do you determine which sources are reliable? How do you figure out when to take a break from it all when, as an adult, it’s hard to take breaks because you’re always plugged in? It’s a lot to take in as a grown woman, but imagine what it would be like to be a girl in this tech age. The post Erin Bried: How to Empower Young Girls Through Magazines appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

“Of course, I got my period today,” my bestie said. It was moving day with her two kiddos and there was no way she was going to find a tampon or pad among the boxes. Have you ever experienced something like this? From navigating pool parties in middle school to first-date surprises in your 20s, it can be such a pain to deal with Aunt Flo. Physical pain and discomfort, along with tampon and pad expenses, can amount to a pretty bad monthly experience. Periods are just one testament to how we girls and women are strong as hell. The post Molly Hayward: How to Help Women in Need During That Time of the Month appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

A girlfriend of mine was at some swanky bar where, in lieu of a cocktail menu, bartenders would ask you what you like and then concoct the perfect beverage. My girlfriend described her drink preferences, adding, “I don’t like vermouth.” “Oh,” the bartender replied. “I bet you do, but you haven’t had it in the right drink.” She reiterated her aversion but the bartender slipped the fortified wine in anyway. Immediately, she recognized the flavor, confirming her distaste for the stuff. Whenever she recounts this story, we commiserate about how these situations come up all the time. Guys think we don’t know what we like. The post Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero: Introducing the All-girls Boozy Competition appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When I came across an article about how you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to be successful, I was intrigued. You mean I don’t need to fit in a quick 5K before my very healthy breakfast, meditation time and other things I can’t seem to force myself to do? Fantastic! According to the writer of that piece, we all have peak hours, that time frame during which we feel invigorated and eager. To figure out your peak productive time, rate your energy, motivation and focus on a scale from 1 to 10 every hour for a week or more. Discovering what works for you can turn you into a master of your schedule. The post Sabrina Lloyd: Securing the Key to Success appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you remember watching any movies or TV shows about high school? “That’s what it will be like,” you thought. “Maybe I’ll coordinate plaid ensembles with my bestie like in Clueless or be a cool, misunderstood outcast, like in Ghost World.” Everyone has their own experience, full of happy memories and embarrassing moments. Memory researchers say our adolescent years can provide the most vivid memories. So, whether it’s handily winning a debate championship or awkwardly and accidentally slamming your face into an open locker, girlfriend, that memory is here to stay! The post Lynn McBee: How All-girls Schools Are Changing Education appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I’ve been thinking about money lately. (Thanks, tax season!) While having a whole lot of cash affords us a certain kind of comfort, I think there’s power in the simple process of earning and owning any amount of money. Back in 1771, New York became the first state to require husbands to get their wives’ consent when selling property she brought into the marriage. Russia was ahead of us, as women were given the right to earn and retain their own income nearly two decades prior. Today, don’t focus on the dollars or rubles you don’t have. Instead, relish in that you’ve earned, and spend it on things you’re passionate about. The post Nancy Pfund: Why You Should Invest in Causes You Care About appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When was the last time you actually listened to a teenager or college student? It’s almost instinctive to ignore those younger than us because we remember what wewere like at that age—and women can be harsh when we personally reflect. When talking to those younger than you, try to avoid phrases like “When I was your age,” “You’ll understand it someday,” and “How old are you?” If a 16-year-old girl from Florida can become a published author and a 12-year-old can be deemed “the next Steve Jobs,” it’s pretty clear age is just a number. The post Jennifer Sirangelo: How Youth-development Programs Produce Leaders appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

If you are a career gal, whether with entry-level or boss status, add The Power of Habit to your shopping list. It’s totally transformed the way I view not only my career, but also my everyday routines. From scoring touchdowns to reducing conflict in the Middle East, habits dictate everything, y’all. If your business produces high turnover or if you just can’t manage to lose those 10 pounds, it might be caused by the miniscule decisions you unknowingly make. Today, write down your three main stressors and attack them head-on. The post Sarah Robb O’Hagan: How Good Habits and Training Improve Your Work Life appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Regardless of whether you want to admit it, you’ve bought something because of how it was marketed. If you’re a one-woman business or startup, the idea of hiring a marketing expert or agency might make you shudder. Here’s some real talk for you: It’s OK if you don’t know how to get the word out about your biz. You’ve got better things to do, girlfriend. Getting an expert on board with a specialized skill set will give you an outside perspective, save you time (no need to Google “What is an algorithm?”) and guide you to more customers. Today, scan your budget and set aside at least 2 percent to focus on brand awareness. The post Katie Martell: How ‘Femvertising’ is Failing Female Consumers appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

We’ve all heard of feng shui, right? You know, the design idea that deters you from placing items in your home all willy-nilly and instead, encourages designing with purpose in an effort to create balance. This concept ranges from easy tasks like clearing clutter to more complex chores like creating an energy map. But have you ever thought about applying the tenets of feng shui to the thing you stare at the most? I’m talking about your computer. Here are a few tips: Get that desktop out of the bedroom. Trash the files that bring bad juju, like pictures of your negative ex or projects that bummed you out. And my favorite tip: Don’t forget to place a note of affirmation front and center at your workstation or as your desktop wallpaper. Happy working! The post Amanda Gates: Feng Shui Your Way to Balance appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

A certain toddler I know enjoys food like nothing I’ve seen before. Give him a cupcake and he’ll hold it, look at it and really take it all in before his first bite. Then he’ll discuss how delicious said cupcake is. As I wolfed down a spicy-chicken sandwich in the drive-thru lane today, I thought about that little boy, and I was touched by some inspiration. Let’s put the fun and fascination back into our meals. Schedule one leisurely meal—think Sundays at Granny’s house—and choose a recipe, follow each step, have guests set the table, and nibble and chat at your own enjoyable pace. The post Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu: Be the Bombe in the Kitchen appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Whether you’re in charge of employees at your startup or simply leading a monthly book club, there’s an invisible task you definitely don’t want to ignore: inspiring others. If the Zumba instructor leads the class with a scowl and drill-sergeant lingo, you’re probably going to switch to a more uplifting class, right? The same idea applies to the workplace. One of the easiest ways to inspire your team is to highlight when something’s going right and when someone’s done something well. For instance, which of the following statements inspires you to try harder? “Why haven’t you completed that project yet?” or “Great progress! Keep it up!” The post Susan Liu: How to Find Startup Success appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you remember your first visible scar? I remember mine, back when I believed my skin would be blemish-free for, like, forever. Why wouldn’t it be? Now that I’m a grown woman, I laugh at my naivety before many tumbles and surgeries and teenage acne. One writer said the best kind of people have scars, while another said they show we’ve healed from some serious wounds, at least externally. Whatever’s got you hiding away today, I’m here to remind you that you’re beautiful and strong and you deserve to be seen! The post Ciara Donlon: Take Back Your Woman Power appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When my girlfriends and I casually discuss our goals—beyond hitting up dim-sum night, that is—we think big. I’m talking one-big-leap-just-behind-landing-on-the-moon big. That’s kind of what we’ve been taught, right? At 7 years old, we’re asked what we want to be when we grow up. “Administrative assistant” doesn’t quite have the same pizzazz as “rock star,” you know? But before we know it, we’re adults and unsure how we’re not living our best lives and best careers. Do you ever feel like your big goals leave you seeing no light at the end of the tunnel? Today, practice a little micro-progress. Deconstruct a big idea into gumball sizes, starting with something as simple as “turn on the computer.” After all, in order to meet that big goal, you have to start small. The post Arlan Hamilton: How to Get Unprecedented Access to Funding appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Have you ever watched a movie in which two people are supposed to be in love but you just don’t buy it? It doesn’t matter if it’s a couple of the biggest celebs in the steamiest of scenes; if they’re not vibing, the film falls flat. Beyond personality tests and gut feelings, you can tell a lot about whether someone is going to fit into your life—or your company—by reading his or her body language. From holding back on facial expressions to giving zero eye contact, nonverbal cues often say it all. Today, correct your posture, quit fidgeting with your jewelry and whatever you do, save your eye rolls for the safety of your own home. The post Lisa Mitchell: Learn How Your Body Language Can Propel Your Career appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Today’s Woman to Watch has landed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs list—twice—proving you’re never too young to get going on your passion project and make a real difference in the lives of others.That got me thinking about the pressure millennial women feel to decide and act on such passions early on. If your passion project right now is swiping right on Bumble, that’s cool. But if you happen to be someone who has a few innovative ideas, share with your girlfriends just how you figured it out. Explaining the direct or meandering way you got there might just help others get a jump-start. The post Joséphine Goube: Empowering the Displaced With Technology appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I was sitting on my front porch one evening when my neighbor stopped by while walking her border collie. As we chitchatted, she looked up at the sky and started to identify planets and constellations. “I should get out my telescope,” she said. Since her days as a little girl, she’s loved looking into the infinite above. It got me thinking about how inspiring a glimpse into the heavens can be. You don’t need to know Cassiopeia from Orion to be able to appreciate and even gain some visionary insight from the night sky. The next time you’re feeling stressed about an upcoming work deadline or a mighty high water bill, take a few minutes to gaze at the skies above and feel the insignificance of the problem. Who knows? The moon might just put it all in perspective. The post Ellen Stofan: How to Encourage Girls to Pursue STEM appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Ladies, we’ve all been there: A dude describes in detail something you already know. When it’s done repeatedly, it’s a way for the guy to feel high and mighty. This has been dubbed “mansplaining,” and we’re so over it. Plenty of us fall silent, unsure how to proceed when Mark the Mainsplainer gets going. The next time he gives you the definition of an entry-level concept, remind him of your educational or work experience. Pivot to another woman in the room for backup—or do as many men would do and simply speak louder. The post Jenna Lee Babin: Get Unbiased News Created By and for Women appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Reminisce back to…yesterday. What did you eat? Maybe it was an apple or ramen or five Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. If you assume I’m going to ask you to calorie count or make better meal choices, you’re wrong, lady! No judgment or food shaming here! Instead, I want you to think about what you tossed after noshing on your food of choice. They say as much as 40 percent of Americans’ food is wasted, and I believe it. From sandwich crust to expired yogurt, we’re all guilty of chucking plenty in the bin. Today, buy and dish out only what you’ll eat. Your conscience—and your wallet—will rest a little easier. The post Lauren Bush Lauren: How to Feed the Hungry appeared first on On The Dot Woman.