Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - Tip #5 Plan out Your Career

Hello All,

This is our final week of career tips for women executives who desire to break through the glass ceiling and enter the promise land. This week's tip provides practical advice on the importance of planning out your career.

I hope that you’ve been inspired by this weekly series, and you can look forward to more to come.  

Enjoy,

Dr. Cris

Tip #5 Plan out Your Career  

Plan out Your Career – Without a plan, you plan to fail. So knowing this in advance, you want to strategically plot out what steps you can take in your career to receive the benefits that you desire out of life. It all goes back to this question: what is it that you truly want to do with the rest of your life? What is your purpose? If you can imagine yourself a few years from now, where do you see yourself in your career? What is your dream job?

Once you have defined it and can envision it, then you can determine what specific steps you will need to take in order to achieve your dream job. Don't think about what obstacles may be in your way. Now is the time for you to realize that in order to achieve your plan, you can’t doubt that your career goals are achievable; don’t give up on your dream, and recognize that breaking through the glass ceiling is possible and that entering into the promise land can be your reality. 

Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - Tip #4 Look like You Mean Business

Hello All,


We all know that first impressions are important, so keep in mind what steps you should consider to make a positive impression.

This week’s tip will provide you with just a few ideas to keep you looking your best.  


Enjoy,

Dr. Cris

Tip # 4 - Look like You Mean Business – When was the last time that you updated your wardrobe? Does your hairstyle make you look like you’re still in high school? Now look at your nails – yes, both set of nails, on your hands and your feet. Do your nails need professional care? When answering these questions, do you feel as though any of these questions apply to you? If so, then you can’t expect other professionals to take you seriously if you don’t treat yourself like a professional. 


There are no excuses when it comes to presenting yourself in the best light possible. You will never receive a second chance to make a first impression. So when you begin to make excuses such as “I don’t have the time” or “I really don’t have enough money,” consider those excuses as roadblocks that will prohibit you from entering into the promise land and truly applying the executive defense strategy. 
 
You may have all the skills and talents comparable to Jane, but if Jane presents herself in a professional manner and you appear to be stuck in the 1990s, then who do you think will make the most positive impression?

If you need to hire a professional stylist who can assist you in determining what specific clothing styles would be most appropriate for your particular body frame then do it. If you need to update your hairstyle, and keep it looking fresh, then find a great hair stylist and keep regular appointments. And let’s not forget those nails, yes, on your hands and feet. A regular manicure and pedicure can do wonders to top off your professional look. Ladies, don’t think of looking your best as an expense; consider it an investment in yourself and an investment in your career.

Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - Tip # 2 Take Risks

Hello All,

Sometimes it may not be in your best interests to take the safe route. When it comes to your career and getting ahead, we all must do what we have to do to ensure success. 

So if it means we should consider taking a risk or two every now and then we should consider it.  As women who are trying to break through the glass ceiling and enter the promise land we have to remember how important getting ahead and staying ahead can assist us in the workplace. That is what these tips are all about. 

I hope you enjoy this new tip on taking risk.

Dr. Cris 

Tip #2 - Take Risks: You will never get ahead in life or your career if you are not willing to take a risk. Risk takers, realize one thing, that the key to success lies in the fact that even though you have weighed the pros and cons, once you have made the decision to go forward it is usually because you realize that the risk you are about to take is an intelligent risk and would more than likely produce a favorable result when executed.

However, it is important to do your homework, so that you know for sure that your risk is calculated and that you come out on top. Take incremental steps in planning your success. If necessary, request the assistance of a trusted colleague(s). But by all means don’t buckle under the pressure; complete what you have started, and know that any risk is worth taking as long as you are prepared to handle any and all results. 

Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - Tip # 1 Go Over and Above

Hello All,

Let me take a moment to clarify that although these tips are directed toward women, everyone can benefit from them. 

This week's tip stresses the importance of giving it your all. As I have mentioned more than once, you seldom gain an opportunity to make a great first impression; therefore, if you do all that you can from the start you won't have to question after the fact what efforts could have improved the situation. 

Enjoy, 

Dr. Cris

Tip # 1: Go Over and Above


Because we are the underdogs in the good ole boys’ network, we have to go over and above what others may deem as qualified. Consider your education, your skills, and your experience. What can you bring to the table that the average man cannot? What can you offer an employer that would make the potential new boss stand up and take notice? Who do you know who can enhance your project with their expertise while ensuring that you receive the credit for facilitation?

If there is a training opportunity available for you to gain knowledge and skills that would advance your career, take it. If there are people who you should get to know who can support you as an ally or mentor, make yourself friendly and get to know them better.

We always have to consider that although we may have the skills, we may possess the talent, and we may know some of the right people, it still may not be enough to secure our spot in the workplace. If we really desire to enter the promise land, then we always have to put the icing on the cake. Go over and above what is expected and you will reap the results.

Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling

As promised, for the next few weeks you can all expect to receive great career tips for women interested in breaking through the glass ceiling. 

This week I'm providing you with an introduction to get you all prepared for the next few weeks of great tips.

Enjoy,    

Dr. Cris

Entering the Promise Land: Tips for Women Executives on Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - The Introduction

Let’s face it, ladies; there will always be a glass ceiling to a certain extent, and there will always be a good ole boys’ network. So for us female executives in the industry we need to always be cognizant of the fact that our stilettos are putting us in a position where we need to consider what we have to do to propel ourselves to the next level based on our skills, talents, and intellect.

Entering the Promise Land

When breaking through the glass ceiling we gain the opportunity to enter into a land of opportunity–the promise land. In order to obtain that level of success we must learn to prepare ourselves with the armor of “Executive Defense,” a defense mechanism that is geared to serve us, not just as a shield or a means of protection, but as a means of fortification, to enrich us and uplift us, to enhance us and equip us as the best executives that we can be so that the glass ceiling is not only broken but nonexistent.   

Our road to breaking through the glass ceiling and entering the promise land is paved with much dedication and perseverance. But all the steps that we take along the way put us closer and closer to achieving our goals as professional and capable women, who refuse to settle for anything less than what we desire.

What is so important for us to keep in mind is that we are not going through this alone. There is a great network of sisters around the world supporting us in our common goal to successfully implement the executive defense, break through the glass ceiling, and enter the promise land.

When entering the promise land, as the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King once said in his unforgettable speech, we must remember a few tips to reach that pivotal and coveted goal. Over the next few weeks I will share with you five tips on implementing executive defense strategies that I believe will assist you in breaking through the glass ceiling, entering the promise land, and relishing in the glory that is finally yours, the ultimate dream job.