Four Minutes With On The Dot

When I researched female lawyers in pop culture to talk about today, the third search-engine result detailed the “25 hottest,” with the website finding them “guilty of being gorgeous.” Ugh, no! The great thing about being a lawyer in real life is that if you don’t know your job—you know, the law—then you aren’t going to be doing it for very long. And being great at lawyering has absolutely nothing to do with how attractive you are, thank goodness. TV’s Clair Huxtable and Diane Lockhart may make the gig appear effortless, but today, we shout, “All rise!” for the real-life lady lawyers who discern some serious legalese in order to be our voice in the courtroom. The post Nina Shaw: She’s Championing Change in Hollywood appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When you woke up this morning, what were the first three thoughts that crossed your mind (aside from, “I need more sleep!”)? I’m noticing a pattern with my morning thoughts, and I don’t think I’m alone in this. My mind chaotically ricochets from one task I need to accomplish to the next. I need to Google, “How to clean my ice machine.” Also, that major project is due tomorrow. I wonder if I should dye my hair again? No answers rapidly appear because I’m quickly on to the next question. Today, let’s challenge ourselves to a to-do-list test of sorts. With every to-do-list thought that arises in your mind, cognitively complete the task right away. Check it off your mental scroll and take a moment to notice how much lighter you feel. The post Angela Duckworth: She’s Gritty appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

A few years ago, a grad student studying the field of management conducted a telling experiment. In a simulation, she had men and women both negotiate for a starting salary. The results were shocking: Women asked for about $7,000 less than the men. But what’s more interesting is that when women negotiated on behalf of a colleague, they asked for more, essentially closing the pay gap. Even though we steadfastly advocate for our colleagues, we ladies have a tough time asking for what we’re personally worth. We’re concerned about our reputation hitting a nosedive if we go into a negotiation swingin’. Instead of panicking about your salary negotiations, ladies, approach the situation like you’re solving any other problem. And think about the other people your salary may be supporting in order to tap into that savvy negotiator within! The post Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz: She’s Advocating for Female Entrepreneurs appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Have you ever worked with someone you just know never shared anything when he was a kid? He could never participate in the relay race on Field Day because he couldn’t bear to let go of the baton. While that’s super annoying in elementary school, in your adult career, it can be downright unbearable to deal with a selfish co-worker. His version of collaboration is telling you you’re doing it all wrong. How infuriating! Today, instead of stooping to that dude’s miserly level and scheming your evil plan for his demise, brainstorm some go-to coping strategies and share those tips with your friendlier colleagues. I’m sure everyone will be grateful for you sharing. The post Alison Martin-Books: She’s Passing the Torch appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

When you think of beer, you probably imagine bars and baseball games. But the sudsy stuff is much more ingrained in our culture than you might think. All the way back in the 5th century, it was mead, a honey-based beer-like beverage, that brought about the term “honeymoon.” Yep, seriously. Calendars revolved around lunar phases then, and during the first moon of a newlyweds’ marriage, the couple would indulge in the luscious honey beer. Sounds like the perfect way to start a lifelong adventure together, right? What interesting stories have you amassed—with or without your better half—from your personal history of sipping a pint—or three? The post Tanisha Robinson: She’s the Top Brew Dog appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

“Help!” urges my friend’s kindergartner. She hands me a toy with so many components, I’m not sure what to do. Buttons and lights and what I think might be wheels have me stupefied, leaving her impatient and grabbing the gadget from my hands so she can fix the problem herself within minutes. Yeah, so, a 6-year-old is smarter than me. Cool. Once I brush off my damaged ego, I realize I’m actually thrilled. She’s part of a generation that could solve some of the world’s most monumental problems with her remarkable STEM skills. The post Laura Weidman Powers: She’s Empowering Minorities in Tech appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you have a memory of a time when you were super close-minded? Let’s be real: If you’re like most of us, you probably have a dozen of them. There’s nothing funnier than seeing a 10-year-old think so black and white about a subject, all the while knowing she will better understand the shades of gray later on. As we get older, we learn being insular just isn’t cool. You close yourself off to getting to know some really astounding people and gaining some marvelous knowledge. Today, embrace open-mindedness. Give someone new a chance, like that over-the-top server at your favorite lunch spot or your relative known for her questionable social-media opinions. The post Jen Hatmaker: She’s Crushing Stereotypes With Moxie appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Has anyone ever told you that when you walk into a room, you just shine? Yeah, me neither. But we’ve all known women who do. Maybe it’s just a shimmer or maybe it’s out-and-out Florida-style rays of sunshine. One definition of shine is “to be bright by reflection of light,” and that’s something we can all exemplify. If you feel self-pity or defeat, chances are Debbie Downer from IT will plop down beside you during lunch and make things worse. As hard as it is some days—especially if you can’t avoid the Debbie Downers in your life—shine bright, girlfriend! And by doing so, you might just attract even more positivity. The post Ashley LeMieux: She’s Brightening the Future for Inner-city Kids appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

If you’re a millennial, when someone calls you—you know, like on the phone—you’re straight up startled. What could they want? Did they accidentally butt dial you? Should you answer? By the time you go through the complicated inner dialogue, voicemail picks up the call for you. But you’ve missed the chance for real, stimulating interaction. If the only phone communication that’s part of your day comes in the form of a tedious conference call, it might be time to reconsider your phone phobia and dial up a friend. It may be awkward at first, but you’ll soon find your rhythm and be thankful you can give those texting thumbs a respite. The post Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman: She’s Your Podcast Bestie appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

OK, y’all. There’s something I’ve got to take a stance on. It’s controversial. There are many opinions, but let me just tell you now, mine is the right one. Here goes: It’s OK to eat dessert for breakfast. Yep, you heard it here first. I’m a lifelong ice-cream connoisseur and am tired of it getting a bad rap. After all, a couple scoops of ice cream only amount to about 150 calories, which is about the same as your morning latte and about one-third as much as that blueberry muffin you love. Something tells me I’d hit snooze less often if a hot-fudge sundae were waiting for me at the breakfast table. Who’s with me? The post Jeni Britton Bauer: She’s Got the Scoop on Your Favorite Dessert appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you ever get bummed out by social media? A quick search of hashtags I’m interested in results in images of women holding backbreaking yoga poses on the beach and mamas-to-be showing off how they still somehow have abs. Dang if all that doesn’t make me feel inferior. And I’m sure I’m not alone. Today, let’s identify the online triggers that scratch at our self-esteem, and work to eradicate them from our lives. If the crafting Facebook group you joined is stressing you out, leave it. If that productivity blog is giving you an ulcer, delete it. Remember, you have the power to control what media you consume during your leisure time. Choose wisely. The post Laura Pevehouse: She’s Dell’s Social-media Maven appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

While watching a riveting CNN documentary series about television throughout the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, I was struck with how every generation complained about the same thing. People protested and courtrooms were filled for public hearings and lawsuits about how TV is ruining us all. I can certainly think of more than a handful of idiotic shows that deserve to be cut. But when you get down to it, there’s some good that comes from seeing real women on the small screen, like Queen Elizabeth II’s first televised Christmas speech in 1957, or Michelle Obama’s televised famous words from the 2016 Democratic National Convention, “When they go low, we go high.” The post Sophia Rossi: She’s Inspiring Smiles and Giggles appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you ever have advertising jingles or slogans pop into your head that were popular when you were a kid? Anyone remember the Doublemint Gum jingle? Or the “Where’s the beef?” old lady? How about this one: Plop, plop, fizz, fizz? I can distinctly recall a local commercial for Alaskan Fur that ended with a song simply repeating the business name. I’ve never purchased a fur coat, so I’m not sure how compelling the marketing was, but there’s something to be said for remembering that dang song to this day, right? So, which advertising jingles will you get stuck in your head today? The post Meredith Ulmer: She’s Got a Deliciously Different Take on Marketing appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

From selfies to memes, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found on Instagram. Some of my favorite folks to follow on Instagram are amazing female pilots who are crushing stereotypes by sharing really cool photos of their work in the aviation industry. From an accomplished 30-something pilot for a Turkish airline to a Boeing 737 Dutch pilot who has more than 33,000 Instagram followers, women are showing off their wings. Today, share a photo of yourself doing something that will bust a stereotype or two. The post Vernice Armour: She’s a FlyGirl appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Have you heard of the 48-hour rule? It’s the concept that when you receive constructive criticism or feedback, you take a couple days to absorb it as if it were true. Say your boss suggests you rework part of an already finished project. Your first reaction might involve a little stubbornness and self-pity mixed with some serious complaining to your colleagues at lunch. Instead, sit with it if you can. Time can often be the one thing that helps us see clearly, and it also ensures you put some emotional distance between the feedback and yourself. The post Shruti Naik: She’s Rockin’ the Science Lab appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

The co-founder of PayPal says a good question to ask yourself when trying to identify your passion is: What do you believe that others disagree with? When you really delve into that query, it forces you to identify the uniqueness of your ideas. After all, such beliefs are often what drive innovators to create some of the world’s most amazing inventions. Other people claim something can’t be done, and then one woman out there with a generations-old spice concoction, for instance, invents a groundbreaking product that prevents food waste and revolutionizes the global food economy. So, my fellow idea ladies, what do you believe? What’s your innovating concept that’s destined to change the world? Be sure to share with us on Twitter @OnTheDotWoman so we can tell your story too. The post Cynthia de Lorenzi: She’s Leading the Women-owned Revolution appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

For most of us, it’s hard to imagine quickly leaving everything and everyone we know and love behind just for the basic human rights of safety and well-being. That’s the first challenge of many in the life of a refugee. I recently read one touching refugee story that really stuck with me about a 26-year-old girl who made the expensive endeavor to flee war-torn Syria for Greece by herself, while her husband, kids and family chose the less expensive path to Lebanon. Today, I urge you to remember her story and that of the millions of other refugees worldwide fighting for their lives. If you have the ability, please help by volunteering or donating to refugee-focused causes. And show some gratitude for the wonderful people in your own life. The post Miry Whitehill: She’s Helping Refugee Families appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Do you remember the first time you stayed at a hotel? My first time was when I was just a kid. I recall my first experience with continental breakfast, specifically the unlimited hot-cocoa packets and futuristic waffle machine. I didn’t realize social etiquette required I probably shouldn’t take all the packets they set out in the lobby every day. But come on, who says no to free cocoa? Waking up, plopping the batter in the waffle machine, turning it on and excitedly waiting the three minutes was like a visit to Disneyland for me. While I wouldn’t bat an eye at those things now, I still believe it’s the little things in life that help us rise and shine and be our best selves every day. The post Liz Lambert: She’s the Highness of Hip Hotels appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

Christiane Amanpour, Lisa Ling, Tamron Hall: These are just a few of the women who have made significant contributions to the field of modern journalism. It’s been a tough road for women who want to investigate stories and share them. Way back when women wore petticoats, female journalists were restricted to reporting on society news, and art and theater. Women who wanted to report more had to go undercover. Today, we’re grateful for all those gutsy, newsy gals who dutifully scoured the streets to report on the most important happenings, despite the repercussions. The post Cristi Hegranes: She’s Hot Off the Presses appeared first on On The Dot Woman.

There’s a social-psychology theory called pluralistic ignorance. Put simply, it’s when the majority of group members believe they think or feel differently than each other. The result? The individuals go along with the status quo, the social norms. For instance, in season one of The Handmaid’s Tale (OTD required viewing), there are dozens of women in red habits and wings silently abiding by their society’s laws. Those who think differently find strength when another finds her voice and shares a dissenting opinion. “Strength in numbers” is more than a phrase; it helps women find the power they thought was lost. The post Tarana Burke: She’s the Mind Behind the Movement appeared first on On The Dot Woman.