This week I treated myself to two back to back days of *me* time, once more in an In Our Shoes vein: surrounded by inspiring women. I shout this from the rooftop only because I started my week with sagged shoulders given the project plan I had just scribed in blood back at the office. “Plan the work, work the plan” had been my mantra for several weeks.

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My shoulders are still tired, but tonight I strut a little taller and guilt free; my time away from kiddies was more than well spent.

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I attended the first board of directors meeting  of a NAFE chapter begun in Manhattan.  I was humbled to have been invited to start the endeavor – shocking that the Big Apple hadn’t a group  in place already.  Lucky us, it’s empowering to make the first footprint! 

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Our members are women entrepreneurs as well as those well ascended within Corporate America. I introduced myself as a hybrid – my feet firmly planted in both tracks at the moment. We are women who want to mentor other women. Women who want to share the success stories and bring those work/life balancing secrets to the table. 

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A good half hour was spent discussing our chapter’s name. What would we call ourselves? The word “Warrior” was thrown out there as a must-have.  “A rose by any other name?” admittedly crossed my mind.

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Wow. I reflected on this after. These are the things passionate women care about:  who we are, what we stand for and the image we want to portray. This board wasn’t going to be a group of women starting a coffee clutch for networking.

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This circle was a microcosm of what women want out of life:  to be successful and to help others succeed.

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**So share, what kind of event would you want to sign up for? We’re reaching out so we can make that happen. Here’s what we have on the line-up so far. Take a peek and tell us your wish list!

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This week the seas parted for this working mama when I chose a special pick-me-up after work, escaping from a solemn sweep of global layoffs across my firm. I accepted an opportunity to meet inspiring success minded women at an event hosted by NAFE (National Association for Female Executives).

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On a guest invite extended to me by NAFE director and NYC Health & Wellness coach:  Irene Ross, I attended the “Resilience and Overcoming Professional Obstacles” workshop. My 90 minute stay was all it took (once more on the clock to relieve the babysitter), I’ve already signed up for membership.

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If you’re longing to belong somewhere that will nudge you along on your personal pursuit of professional success, this is the female village for you.

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After the keynote given by award winning TV producer, author, and journalist Alison Gilbert, we broke out into separate groups and shared the challenges each of us were facing. Here are some take aways from my little NAFE circle.

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• As women we tend to take things too personally which prohibits us from advancing our professional lives. Not getting too close, separating ourselves from the emotional and focusing on our work can keep us shining. As one woman entrepreneur (NYC based Mom to Moms Advisor) at the table said : “When I’m getting too caught up in the personal, I remind myself that another cool-headed woman is making a buck”.
• Lower the bar. We want that routine. We want consistency. We want to do the things that make us more productive: meditation, writing, marketing etc. Start slow, take those baby steps and the universe will  eventually open up the time we crave.
• Create a corner space of your own no matter how small to invoke creativity, thinking time; whatever stirs your inner muse.
• Check in with yourself regularly. Ask yourself: “How did I do do this week? What could I have done better?”
• Release your inner child. Find the passions that moved you as a child and bring them forward to your present.

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My personal favorite piece of advice came from wise woman Noris Cabrera who had raised her two, now adult children. She said: “Honey, be good to your kids. Love your kids. Do what you need to for your kids, but don’t live for your kids. Do just enough to teach them how to fly; always find the time for you“.

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This stirred one of my nagging voices that for the first time is broadcasting itself here on my blogaphone.

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Don’t give every second of your life away to your kids, because yours is a life worth living too. That guilty question you ask yourself: “Am I doing enough for my kids?” is probably a yes. 

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I left that convention with a NAFE bag, a mug and an unexpected pocket full of ideas to recharge my work. Not bad for my ninety minute window.

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“Take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway…”
-Kelly Clarkson

.In this moment, sign yourself up for something new; sign yourself up for possibility.