Four Minutes With On The Dot

From Friday Night Lights’ Tami Taylor to Vivian Banks of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Linda Belcher of Bob’s Burgers, our favorite TV shows depict mothers of all kinds. I’ve noticed something, though. While TV provides us with real, flawed mom characters to relate to, we still somehow often hold ourselves up to June Cleaver, the quintessential perfect mother. When she isn’t serving up a wholesome dinner, Mrs. Cleaver ices a cake for dessert, arranges lovely floral bouquets and, of course, keeps the family’s suburban Mayfield home exceptionally tidy. If you’re more of a perpetually 15 minutes late, takeout-ordering kind of mom, that’s cool too. Regardless of whether you’re crushing it or simply just taking motherhood one day at a time, you’re doing it, Mama, and that’s definitely something to be proud of. The post Destiney Green: She’s Your New Mom Crush appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

While we discuss a whole range of topics here at On The Dot, there’s one consistent characteristic that helps women get what they want, whether it’s signing a big client or feeling a sense of work/life balance. It’s confidence. Even as young girls, we’re often not encouraged to build our confidence. That certainly contributes to many girls not pursuing subjects like science and math. It’s also why so many women don’t apply for STEM jobs after college or even ask for a raise. Today, ask a fellow woman or girl for her opinion. Embolden her to feel confident in her response. And most importantly, really listen to what she has to say. The post Jane Zelikova and Kelly Ramirez: She’s Empowering Women in Science appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

In 1967, an ambitious woman named Muriel Siebert purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. She was one woman among nearly 1,400 men who could buy and sell shares directly on the trading floor. The NYSE was so male-dominated, in fact, there wasn’t even a ladies’ room on the trading floor. It took a good two decades more before a women’s restroom was installed near the prestigious Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, an addition spurred by Muriel’s threat to install a porta-potty if her demands weren’t met. Today, we applaud Muriel and all the women who’ve made crunching numbers their life’s work—even when met with some serious gender bias. The post Trish Costello: She’s Investing in Progress appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

The first time you attend a yoga class, you’re anything but Zen. During my first downward dog, my self-doubt dialogue came on strong. While I hadn’t touched my toes since about sixth grade or so, the guy next to me was a grade A showoff. Every chance he got, he took the advanced route until I couldn’t even tell him apart from an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. Alongside him were women who invested some serious om in designer yoga pants, making me question my decades-old college T-shirt. What I wish I knew then applies both on and off the mat: look straight ahead or look within. Life, like yoga, isn’t a competition. The post Lauren Ash: She’s Breathing Easy appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When a married couple, one a psychology researcher, the other a genetics researcher, conducted several double-blind studies about flowers, the results were astounding. Participants were presented with one of three gifts—a decorative candle, a fruit basket or a bouquet of flowers—with emotions-lab researchers scrutinizing each recipient’s facial expressions upon receiving the gift. Every single person responded to the gift of flowers with what’s known as a Duchenne smile. That’s psychologist language for a true smile that involves the whole face, a grin with the mouth, eyes and cheeks. So, what’s the moral of this story? Instead of simply stopping to smell the roses, give a blossoming gift that’s sure to lead to a loved one’s true smile. The post Heidi Berkman: She’s Bringing Joy to Hospice Patients appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

If you walk into any junior-high girls’ bathroom or blow-dry bar, you’re likely to hear something along the lines of “I wish I had her hair.” When it comes to our standards of beauty, the grass is always greener. Curly haired gals envy straight locks and strong-cheekboned chicks envy strong-browed maidens. It’s OK to admit that you really wish you were a few inches taller, or whatever your insecurity might be. But don’t let it consume you. Today, work on acknowledging what other women have to offer without giving in to that tinge of jealousy while also admitting your own envious features. If you can nail it, then you’re definitely a beauty in my book! The post Aysha Harun: She’s Keeping It Beautiful appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

I recently came across a phrase I’m sure I’d heard before, but this time, it really stuck with me: progress over perfection. It’s snappy and simple, yet embodying this idea continues to be a daily struggle. While the word “progress” immediately brings to mind the idea of moving forward, the first dictionary definition is actually an expedition or journey. Isn’t that how life is? We expect a destination, an end goal to everything. That’s what perfection looks like. But, in fact, we’re all just strolling along winding walkways, attempting to figure it all out. The post Kristen Bellstrom: She’s The Broadsheet appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

On the long list of innovations and products women weren’t permitted to use throughout history, add this gem: Women weren’t supposed to ride bicycles. In the late 19th century, a few gutsy ladies did, however, despite often being labeled unfeminine. As one writer stated in an 1896 editorial, the bicycle was a steed on which women rode into a whole new world. Bikes enabled women to travel free of chaperones and restrictive clothing. Do you know what that meant? Independence. What’s the one thing in your life that gives you the feeling of the wind in your hair and your petticoat left at home as you embrace your freedom? From your own savings account to your first roommate-free apartment, let’s celebrate all those victories, Destiny’s Child style, like the magnificent independent women we are! The post Amy Charity: She’s on the Ride of Her Life appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Women are more open now than ever before about how they ended up with that bun in the oven. In a prenatal yoga class, one yogi praises her acupuncturist, another extols IVF and another commends her beloved basal thermometer. One even stored her eggs for a future undertaking. As women navigate what’s often a fraught voyage toward conception, it’s vital we talk to each other. By doing so, we not only support a sisterhood, we also work to dispel unhelpful fertility myths, like the idea that eating yams will result in twins or launching into a full-blown handstand after doing the deed is a sure-fire guarantee of conception. The post Afton Vechery and Carly Leahy: She’s Modernizing Fertility appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

In 2016, the senior VP of marketing at Marvel Comics gave an interview claiming that female readership of the brand’s comics and graphic novels is growing. He noted that based on market analysis and info from retailers, nearly half—40 percent—of all Marvel readers are female, and in some markets, that number could be more like 60 percent. He says that’s a dramatic increase from eight years previous, when female readership was at maybe 10 percent, and a big bump from 15 years ago, when female readership was negligible. Women and girls are glued to pages from illustrators and writers who depict the female perspective, like Roxane Gay and Sara Pichelli. I think it’s fair to say our gender can’t get enough of fantastic stories told with pencil, paper and a whole lot of imagination. Whether it’s satirical or educational, in the comics industry, gals are here to stay. The post Françoise Mouly: She’s ‘Tooning’ Kids In appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Did you know kids are terrible at waiting? You can put on their favorite YouTube video and they freak out when they have to wait through a 30-second ad first. Patience is no virtue for them. But honestly, are grownups any better? I may wait for what seems like forever in line at the pharmacy with an apathetic expression on my face, but inside, I’m yelling, “Come on! Hurry up! What’s taking so long?” Obviously, I still haven’t discovered the secret to instilling personal patience, especially when I’m waiting in line, but today, I’m reminded just how lucky I am to simply have access to a pharmacy at all. The post Prarthna Desai: She’s Making Global Health Her Mission appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Ladies, what are some of your daily routines? Do they help you succeed in life, or are they simply items to check off your to-do list? Of course, there are plenty of blogs and books filled with the extreme daily rituals of successful people, rituals that can often make us average folks feel diminished. For instance, supposedly, Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day, and Karl Marx visited the British Museum Reading Room from open to close every day—for nearly 30 years! Some CEOs start their day with rigorous exercise or a 4 a.m. wake-up call, whereas the average woman’s daily rituals might include squeezing in an afternoon nap, listening to a podcast during rush hour or basking in a postwork hot shower to rid the day’s stressors. Whatever your daily rituals, today, write them down and question whether they add or negate from what you want out of life. The post Katerina Schneider: She’s Got Your New Daily Ritual appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Today, I am reminded of that phrase “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” It’s been one of those days when nothing works out perfectly. It’s not even big stuff. I’m talking about missing the trash can and having to lean over to pick up the crumpled paper, or discovering the coffee jar is empty, a password has been forgotten or that the meeting was at 2, not 3. Some days just ain’t going to improve, and the best you can do is pick up the trash, grab a terrible gas-station latte, apologize about missing the meeting and try again tomorrow. The post Shelley Clifford Brophy: She’s Programmed for Opportunity appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Whether elitist white dudes like it or not, Latinas have long been making an impact in the political sphere. Take Alicia Dickerson Montemayor. She was the first woman elected to a national office that wasn’t specifically designated for a woman. There were also the Mirabal sisters, who formed a political movement against a Dominican Republic dictator in the 1950s. And Dolores Huerta, a labor leader and political-rights activist, co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers union. The list goes on, and fortunately, the future looks hopeful. Today, let these women’s stories get you fired up to take on what you believe in. The post Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzmán: She’s Making Political History appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Whenever I see a woman with a crisp cat eye or precise red lips, I compliment her. If you wear makeup, you know those are two skills that take mega practice. Trying to even out jet-black eyeliner can quickly escalate into a panda-eyed situation, while overindulging in vivid lipstick can send you into Joker territory. If you’re still figuring out this whole cosmetics thing, don’t worry. No one wakes up with an even hand and a full skill set. Grab a mirror, find yourself a YouTube tutorial and spend an entire Saturday just having fun with makeup. The post Mary Dillon: She’s Modernizing the Beauty Biz appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When you finish today’s On The Dot, we hope your heart will be filled with a bit more charity. We’re talking about a tough subject—homelessness—but one that’s important to discuss in the hope that we can learn how to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by this all too common plight. There are myriad reasons why someone might find herself or himself without a home at some point in their lives, and you may be surprised by how many of those reasons hit close to home with you. Losing your job or falling behind on student-loan payments—something many of us can relate to—are just a couple examples. Other people become homeless because medical issues resulted in mounting bills, while others simply may not be able to afford the rising cost of housing. Today, put yourself in their shoes. Consider life from their perspective. Let your compassion flow and listen to how you can help. The post Nancy Fairbank: She’s Advocating for Homeless Youth appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When you wake up, what’s the first thing you do? Check your phone? Turn on a light? Start the coffee maker? Pretty routinely, the beginning of our days involve one thing: electricity. Solar energy has been developed with continual research—and with some skepticism too. You’ve got to think people back in the day weren’t exactly accepting this newfangled thing called electricity with open arms either. I’m sure many scoffed at the idea of charged particles and currents, resolutely stating, “I’ll stick with my candles, thank you very much.” If you’re not so sure about this solar-energy stuff, do some research of your own. Listen and read with an open mind. And remember, if it weren’t for pioneering folks in the energy field, we’d all still be relying on candles to light the way. The post Alice Min Soo Chun: She’s Lighting Up the World appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Looking back at 2017, Vogue considers it a year in which fashion made profound statements. They’re not talking about superficial styling choices, but clothing that’s worn to say something even when you’re not. From the knitted pink hats worn throughout the U.S. during the Women’s March to quinceañera dresses Mexican-American women donned at the Texas Capitol in dissent of the discriminatory Senate Bill 4, women took a stand in 2017, making some powerful protest fashion statements. Even when you’re not protesting for what you believe in, you make daily choices in how to portray who you are. What do you want to stand for today? The post Rebecca Lee Funk: She’s Outraged appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

If you’ve browsed the internet in the last decade, you’ve noticed a certain phrase popping up again and again: side hustle. It’s certainly something we talk a lot about at On The Dot. Though hustling has had negative connotations in the past, often referring to a scam or swindle, these days, hustling—and side hustling, in particular—is seen as considerably more positive. Women side hustle to start their passion projects while also maintaining their 9-to-5 jobs. Many of these lady side hustlers cultivate those endeavors into full-time—and lucrative—gigs. Today, think about what your passion project would be. You never know, with a little dedication and elbow grease, it could lead to your dream job! The post Jaclyn Johnson: She’s Creating and Cultivating for Women appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

We started 2018 with some hopeful global news. For instance, did you know Iceland just became the first country to make it illegal to pay women less than men? Icelandic officials had already agreed to end the gender pay gap by 2022, but with this new law in effect, the gap will close even sooner, as companies and government agencies with at least 25 employees will be held accountable for maintaining equal-pay policies—and fined if they fail. Part of the reason this new law was backed by both political parties is that half of Icelandic lawmakers are women. Today, wherever you are in the world, remember that you deserve equal pay, so fight for it! The post Cathy Engelbert: She’s Right on the Money appeared first on On The Dot Woman.