A Miracle Happened When I Called Out For Help

Something happened to me last week, and I feel really compelled to share this with you. Because the more I think about the chain of events that took place, the more I realize there is a message I’m supposed to tell.

To catch you up to speed, I walk dogs as a way to raise extra money to put towards my children’s book business that I’ve spent the last 12 months building. Last Friday, when I arrived to one of my dog client’s houses, I arrived to a very sick dog.

I hadn’t realized how bad the situation was at first, just that the dog had thrown up while waiting in his crate for my arrival.

He’s a puppy, so this can be common. So I took the giant puppy, and his big Husky brother, outside as fast as I could, figuring it best I just take them for a walk now, and I’ll clean up the vomit when we return in about 30 minutes.

Except, we didn’t return in 30 minutes.

On a normal day, our route spans about 1.1 miles out and 1.1 miles back, so just a little over 2 miles round-trip. We walk around the neighborhood streets, which are usually quiet and empty during the day while everyone is at work. Some houses are unkempt while others appear to be their owner’s pride and joy. It’s a mixture of sights, a rollercoaster of a visual ride if you will, that so accurately represents both the pride, and exhaustion, of America’s working class.

Half the block is usually shaded, while the other half takes direct sunlight, so the dogs and I crisscross the neighborhood streets accordingly. Rarely do we see people. So the dogs (and myself) often enjoy fully uninterrupted strides of silence as every bush is sniffed, every mailbox is marked, and every loose piece of food on the ground meets the belly of one of the two beasts at the end of my lead.

I do my best to look like a professional dogwalker, maintaining control over 130 pounds of solid animal, with a few extra pounds of poop flinging around simultaneously in my hands as well. The lack of distractions always makes it easier, of course. But insert an unexpected person or 3rd-party dog into this equation and, well, God help me.

And then last Friday happened.

We were about halfway into our walk when the first squat occurred. It was the giant puppy. In which out came a giant pile of brown soup. (Sorry). Never fun to pick up, I gave it my best grab and on we went. Until the giant puppy squatted again. Pure liquid. Ok this isn’t good. Any shot of me picking up poop at this point was out the window. So we carried on, almost to our 1.1 mile mark. And then the third squat came. Pure blood.

Oh God no. Ok, I’ve dealt with this before. It will be ok. I just need to get this dog back home. No more walking for him. He just needs to drink water right now and rest while I call his owner.

He pulled over on the grass again. More blood. Then again. More blood. It was coming out like a faucet.

At this point, I had a lot of concerns, but dehydration was quickly rising to the top as we were a mile out in 95 degree weather.

And just as if the giant puppy had heard my concerns about dehydration, he looked back up at me with sad, distressed eyes, and projectile vomited everywhere.

Holy sh—t. Oh my God. I instantly grabbed my phone to call his owner.

Instantly….grabbed….my……wait……my phone was gone.

No! No. No, this cannot be happening. My phone isn’t here. I had it at the beginning of our walk, and now it isn’t here.

In total denial, I turned the drawstring bag I always carry with me upside down, shaking every last item out of it, refusing to believe my phone went missing. Everything spilled out of my bag, none of which was my phone.

The giant puppy was miserable and trying to hug me again. He no longer wanted to walk. He was terrified. We both were terrified. Even big brother Husky looked terrified. Here we all were, a little less than a mile from their home, in the dead of the Florida summer heat, having a medical emergency. With no phone, or anyone in sight to help us.

We were at a standstill. Literally.

So I called out to the only other person I knew that could possibly help me. The only person who I still had faith was with me, because, isn’t that what He’s always promised?

It went like this:

God? I know you’re here. I’m not doubting you. I’m not asking IF you’re here, but I’m calling out to you right now because I KNOW you are here with me. With that, I need your help. Like, right now. Please protect this dog and help us get back to the house safely. His safety is my #1 priority right now, even though I have no phone, no computer, no wallet, no nothing to figure out how to help him. I am completely alone, but I believe you are here with me.

The giant puppy had really slowed down by this point, but I kept praying. I had faith in God and felt that we should keep trying to walk slowly back to their house. I felt this push, almost as if He was walking behind me, his arms politely forcing me to move forward. House by house. Street by street. We inched along until we made it back.

Thankfully both dogs rushed over to their water bowls and started drinking feverishly. Thank God, I thought to myself. Thank God they’re drinking. This is a good sign.

I raced around the house hoping to find a landline phone, a laptop, anything that would give me some connection to society. But there was nothing.

Maybe there’s cameras.

I hadn’t seen any in the past, but figured it was worth a shot.

I started running around the house yelling for help, flailing my arms all over the place, hoping for once that my clients WERE crazy helicopter parents who just might be watching my every move.

But still, nothing.

I looked at both dogs, and both dogs looked back to me for help. And as if on cue again, the giant puppy looked up at me with saddened, distressed eyes and projectile vomited, again. This time it was all the water he had just drank.

Oh. My. God.

I had two choices at this point. Find the closest vet, with no phone, no wallet, no GPS, and no way whatsoever to notify their owner. Or, get in my car and do one last attempt at trying to find my phone in the neighborhood.

I looked at both dogs. I looked up. I prayed once more. And I ran out the door.

I accelerated. I braked. I drove down the left side of the road, I swerved back to the right side of the road. Never once looking in front of me, but instead scanning every inch of sidewalk and grass our feet and paws had touched. Accelerate. Break. Scan. Accelerate. Break. Swerve. Scan. The fact that, still, nobody was outside was the only way I was able to avoid an accident.

I had finished driving our route. No phone.

I drove it again. No phone.

I was literally helpless at this point. I had nothing. I was completely alone. And I was out of options.

God, I NEED your help right now. I know you would never forsake me. I know you are with me in this moment. I know you helped get the dogs and I back home into the A/C. But right now, I don’t know what else to do. My phone is gone. My wallet is gone. YOU know what I need in this very moment. You are with me right now.

Please God, help me get out of this situation. I cannot do this without you.

And then, a garage door opened.

About one house down on the left, in front of me.

A man walked outside on his driveway, and I quickly shut off my car and ran over to him. In that short distance of a run, I lost it. I broke down crying as I approached him, somewhat startling him.

“Sir! I need help. Can I use your phone?” He looked back at me, a bit uneasy. “I’m a dogwalker here for a neighbor down the way, and one of the dogs is having an emergency. I lost my phone and wallet while walking them, and I can’t find it in the neighborhood anywhere.”

I promised him I was a good person, that I didn’t want to bother him, but I just didn’t know what else to do.

He responded with a slow, “Sure….” and took his time walking back into his house to get the phone. When he came back out, I tried to explain more, asking if he knew the owner, but he didn’t. Somehow in the conversation about dogs, he realized that I was, indeed, in an emergency, and he then quickly handed me his phone.

I called my fiancé in hopes he could get into my Rover account and find the owner’s phone number. But my fiancé didn’t pick up. I called again. Still nothing.

“Call your phone,” the man urged. My phone is literally always on silent. It’s not going to do anything. Reluctantly, I called it. No answer. No ringer. Just the letdown I was already expecting. We both stood and looked at each other.

“What about a vet?” I asked eagerly. “Do you know where the closest vet is?” He pulled up his GPS and started explaining to me how to get there. I was trying to make sure I fully understood the directions because again, I’d have no GPS if I couldn’t find it, because I had no phone.

I think he saw the doubt in my eyes as I looked back at him. He stopped talking and we both just looked at each other. God, please.

And in that moment, I heard a voice behind me say, “Excuse me, did someone lose a phone?”

We both flung ourselves around to find a girl walking up to us, low and behold, with my phone in her hand. “Oh my God, yes!” we both replied back to her. “I just saw it in the street. Here you go. Glad you got it back.” And just as the words “Thank You” could stammer out of my mouth, she got in a car and drove away.

The man and I both looked at each other, our jaws nearly hitting the driveaway. Who? Where? How??

Out of the 2 miles that my phone could’ve been sitting at. Out of the 100+ houses in those 2 miles that a garage door could’ve opened. Out of the 2 miles that a girl could’ve appeared out of nowhere and picked up my phone. Out of the 2 miles that I could’ve stopped and given my one last plea to God at.

Science would say there’s less than a 1% chance of this all coming together. Yet, it did.

And there He was, doing His work, right in front of me.

He showed up. Not just when, but WHERE I needed Him the most.

I quickly and graciously gave my thanks to the kind man and jumped in my car, calling the owner as I sped back to the dogs’ home. I ran through the door, grateful to see the two dogs waiting for me on the other side. No additional vomits. No additional accidents. Just two anxious dogs wondering what the heck was going on.

I explained everything to the owner, sent pictures, video, and ensured the dogs kept drinking water. The owner confessed to me that the beloved giant puppy counter surfed 4 chicken breasts the night before, and that this was likely the cause of his upset stomach. The owner, who also happens to be a flight nurse and paramedic, didn’t feel a vet trip was necessary, but I assured him I’d stay at the house until I felt confident the dogs were ok.

Over the next hour as I cleaned up all the mess, the dog’s panting subsided. The vomiting and diarrhea stopped. And both of them were drinking and holding water down.

Thank you God.

“See, I’m always here for you. I love you that much.”

On my drive home later that afternoon, as I was replaying the day’s events, trying to understand how that all possibly happened, I suddenly felt consumed by this immense feeling of love. As if I was being wrapped up in my father’s arms and hearing him say, “See. I’m always here for you. I love you that much.”

I literally swear I heard those words out loud, “I love you that much.”

Which is when it hit me like a bag of bricks. I’m supposed to pass this message on to you. This feeling of love, of being swept up in His arms, the comfort of knowing that in our worst moments, He is there, ready to give an overwhelming, overabundant amount of LOVE. Even when the odds are stacked against us.

He literally just did this for me. And I have this overwhelming feeling that I’m supposed to share this story to show you just how much God loves YOU and will be there for you when you call out to Him. I just know it. I can feel it.

And so just like He answered my prayer, I’m answering His.

He knows who needs Him right now, even if those people don’t realize it yet. And I bet He knew that if I shared this story, some of those people just might be reading this. So at His request, I want you to know, that you are SO loved. He loves you. He loves you SO much that He is constantly with you, watching over you, at all times. He knows what’s best for you, and He’s ready to help you as soon as you’re ready to ask.

Sometimes we go through really tough times, that in hindsight, actually happen in order to help others.

And you know what? I’m ok with that. I’ll take it. That’s part of our life’s purpose, after all.

Lately I’ve been hearing Him tell me to stop wasting time on certain things, and to instead spend it using the gifts He gave me. To stop worrying about things that don’t matter to Him. Just give to others the gift that He blessed me with - which I believe is the ability to write - and He will take care of the rest.

I wasn’t quite sure specifically what He meant, but as I finished typing these last few words, I guess I just realized, this is what He intended all along.

All my love, and it’s good to be back. :)

Kristin

Three Reasons Your Career Has Hit a Brick Wall

Perhaps you can remember, quite vividly, the palpable excitement with which you started your current job. This was going to be it! This was going to be the job that launched your career into the stratosphere. It had the perfect balance of familiarity and challenge. The people seemed so talented, so supportive and so ready to guide you to the next stage in your career. Every day looked brimming with opportunity and promise. 

Then fast-forward a year or two and you find yourself off that high. Perhaps you notice yourself complaining about things a lot more lately. Maybe the complaints even sound similar to those you made at your last job.

So what happened?

In the majority of cases, inertia is what happened. We become competent at what we do, then we become exceptional, and then… we plateau.

And if an employer doesn’t have the ability to recognize this pattern and roll out an infrastructure to support and nurture their employees TIMELY, well eventually, they will run out of steam.

Or, perhaps the people who seemed like such promising leaders or coworkers when you first started at the company, leave.

Or, maybe others are even getting promoted above you. And then, the work you used to find so rewarding begins to turn into a grueling chore. The momentum that propelled you through your career grinds to a stop.

As a recruiter, I’ve seen this pattern and had these chats with employees over and over again.

But it doesn’t all come down to your employer. Rather, it’s important for you to recognize patterns and have an open and honest conversation with yourself and your manager in real-time, not when it’s too late.

Some things to watch out for…..

You’re coasting at work

Be honest with yourself, have you started coasting through your days? Have you stopped giving 110% at work? When tasks no longer feel challenging to us, we stop applying ourselves to them with the same level of passion and vigor we once had. And if your current manager wasn’t around to see the almighty and powerful you when you first started, they’re likely not going to associate you as that now. That situation happens a lot, I know. And I’m sorry. But again, important to recognize and tackle these things real-time versus in hindsight.

So if you’re wondering why you keep getting passed up for promotions, lateral progressions and other opportunities, it may be because you are perceived to be coasting instead of stepping up to the plate to take on more work. But I’m here to help you with that. Go check out the blog post I wrote, Internal Job Promotions: Why Some People Get Them and Others Don’t.

Maybe you’ve lost your passion for what you do

Your passion is what gives you the X factor. It’s what makes you, YOU. It’s that indefinable quality that adds something extra-special to everything you do. Employers, clients and customers alike can perceive its value. And when it’s lost, it can be extremely difficult to get back. 

If you feel like you’ve lost your passion for the work you do (I know, I’ve been there), perhaps now’s the time to look into making a living doing what you love on your own terms. You may assume that our current circumstances with the pandemic are a barrier to entrepreneurship. But in reality, the current climate brings with it a wealth of opportunities for enterprising individuals who want to engage their clientele directly as they navigate this “new normal”. 

At the very least, you owe it to yourself to try and reignite your professional passion. Even if it means taking your skills elsewhere.  I’m happy to talk more about this anytime as I made a massive pivot this year in how I decided to allocate my skills.

Speaking of looking elsewhere, be careful not to look for opportunities in the wrong places

Here’s one thing I’ve seen over and over again as a recruiter. An employee at one company starts looking for jobs at other companies to do the exact same thing they’ve been doing, at the exact same seniority level, for x,y,z reason, and then expects to find happiness. Now, there could be a very legit reason why this could make sense, but it’s limited to either you had to relocate or you are 100% not on board with the business your last company was operating.

More often though, it’s because people get bored, frustrated, or start to feel resentment without doing a serious inventory of themselves as to why. Is it the content of the work, the process, the manager, the customers, the company’s principles and what they stand for, the industry, the lack of new opportunities or challenges? The list goes on and on. But you need to seriously inventory this about yourself and your internal frustrations and desires because this will help you better focus your attention on an actual sustainable solution. Because just changing companies hoping for greener grass very often times does not work. Do not be a job hopper. I promise you it will hurt you in the long-run. You need to know why you feel the way you feel, so you make sure the next direction you take makes sense for you.

At the end of the day, if changing companies is what makes sense for you, then the world is at your fingertips these days with everyone being forced to figure out how to work digitally. And I’m not just talking about the obvious sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster and Indeed. Recall that massive jobs hit we took earlier this year with COVID? States have really stepped up with their job posting capabilities and companies are taking advantage of it. For example, if you live in Arizona you can navigate to this website to check out a whole slew of professional level jobs. Same for other states and also professional organizations as well.

In Summary…

I think it’s oh so important that you inventory yourself constantly. I’m talking about your feelings, emotions, skillsets, performance, maybe even how others may be responding to you lately. This will tell you a lot about yourself and help you see the right direction for how to move forward. Again, don’t do this in hindsight, do this in real-time regularly, before you hit the brick wall.

Much love to you guys!

-Kristin

How to Make Money Doing What You Love

I’ve been saying for awhile now that we live in an age where anyone can literally make money doing anything. Between having anyone in the world at your fingertips through social media, to utilizing marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon to bring your craft hobby to life, to building a platform and brand of your own for the minuscule cost of creating a website, there is no excuse not to be able to start making money doing what you love. Even if it’s just pocket change and a fun little side-gig.

If you find yourself getting a little antsy in your day job, or just feeling like a massive part of you isn’t being tapped into the way it should (believe me, I’ve been there), then listen up. I’m here to help.

Here are my top recommendations for you to help you get started.

First, Do Your Homework

What is it that you truly love? What excites you or energizes you? Food? Travel? Jewelry? Interior design? Books? Football? Heck, gambling? Are there certain people you follow on social media that currently make money doing the same thing? Go find their backstories and read all about their journey. They started from somewhere just like you so it will very informative and inspiring for you to learn from them. Just remember, they went through a journey, not overnight success.

The next question to ask yourself related to what you love is, what’s missing? With the homework you’ve done, and the expertise you might already have in that area, are there things you wish existed that currently don’t? Do you see an opportunity for you to come into the playing field with a better option for people? Research, research, research, and spend a lot of time thinking through things.

Just like your favorite football team does with their competition, like in the case of these Chargers Super Bowl odds, time spent researching other players beforehand puts you at an advantage to know how you can come in, stand out, and one-up with your talents and skills.

Make Your Passion Known

You don’t need to have a full business model put together to get started. You need to start building yourself a platform, showing off to people how passionate you are about xyz, so that you can catch people’s attentions who just might relate to you. So get on social media and start posting about what it is you love. Show pictures of yourself doing whatever it is, or share pictures of whatever it is, so then people who realize they share the same joy will want to follow you. You need to do this over and over so you can start to establish a platform and brand identity for yourself.

Start Making Connections

Going off my comments above, start connecting with like-minded people or those in the niche/industry you love. Finding the right connections isn’t easy, and this part can be uncomfortable for many, but let me assure you, most people inherently love to help others, not screw them over. So don’t shy away from reaching out to people you think might be beneficial to your cause.

Connecting to people via LinkedIn, joining relevant Facebook groups, or attending local meetups or online events are all simple, wonderful ways to do this.

Consider Starting a Blog/Vlog

Again, going off the above, when turning certain passions into an income, you could find that starting a blog or a vlog is a beneficial way of showing people that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about something. If you want to work for a book PR company, having your own blog or vlog in which you review books is a GREAT way of showing just how much you love and know about books. Setting up a blog or vlog costs nothing, making it an option for anyone to explore.

A blog or a vlog could even become a money-making platform in itself.  If you get enough readers/viewers, it may be possible to monetize your blog or vlog through ad revenue. Some people are also able to make money via sponsored content. You can read these guides on how to make money from blogging and how to make money from vlogging for more information.

Find Your Niche

At this point, do ask yourself who would most benefit from your passion project that you’d like to turn into an income stream. Get pretty clear on this and start seeking out those types of people directly. It’s also a great way to understand your market and get an idea of what the demand might be like for your passion/skillset and where those people who might be seeking you are hanging out.

Lastly, Get Moving!

There’s a lot of people in this world and a lot of access for anyone to tap into anything. So you can’t sit back and just dream. Start pushing yourself to take steps forward. Be realistic with yourself. Expect that these things take time and there is a growth process to everything. Nothing happens overnight or at the snap of a finger. So make sure you love this particular passion so much that you will be in love with the process and the journey. That’s what living life is all about anyways. Now get moving!

-Kristin

How to Stop Anxiety - Read This

Some of you may know I have my first book that's getting ready to release soon.  My fiance and I have been working so hard at creating and publishing a new children's book series, Brudders' Books.   What a learning process it's been.  Yes, there is so much to celebrate and be grateful for, but I've had many unforeseen setbacks and challenges along the way. 

We're so close, we're almost at the finish line.  But to be honest, it's scaring me. 

I've been going through a lot of anxiety lately, being consumed with fearful thoughts of what-if this, or what-if that.

I've suffered with anxiety a lot in my life, always fearful of not being good enough or letting someone else down.  And while my to-do list in these final few weeks before my book launch is growing and growing, I'm feeling more and more paralyzed with anxiety and fear. 

So I prayed about it this morning.  Really hard.  I had nothing left to do.  I was stuck in this anxiety whirlwind that even I knew didn't make much sense.  Well, as it turns out, about 30 minutes after praying in complete desperation, I read something that couldn't have been any clearer of a response.  It immediately snapped me out of it.

I wanted to post this because something deep down in my heart told me there's someone else on here that needs to read this, just as much as I needed it. Here’s what I read:

"Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law:  Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults.  For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool.  But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation…I, even I am He who comforts you.  Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die?...And you forget the Lord your Maker who stretched out the Heavens and laid the foundations of the earth.  You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor when he has prepared to destroy.  And where is the fury of the oppressor?...I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared.  And I have put My words in your mouth, I have covered you with the shadow of my hand, You are my people." (Isaiah 51)

How I interpreted the above:

Wowsers!  I mean the Lord makes a pretty darn good point.  All of these fears and worries I have built up inside of me…who and what am I really fearing?  Someone else's opinion?  My book's success rate?  The publishing process?  I could go on.  But the point is, all of these are just superficial things created by man.  So basically, I'm sitting here fearing what man thinks of me.  Yes, I'll admit, that's very accurate.  That's exactly what I'm fearing.

But to God's point above, that is just nonsense.  Man is just man.  He or she is no better or worse than you or me.  Man's power doesn't even come close to God's power.  Why?  Because God created man.  And He created all of us equally, so none of us are more or less capable or better than the other.  The only one we should be fearing is Him, as our Creator, since CLEARLY He is way more powerful than all of us. 

So for me, to hold these anxieties and fears of someone else's opinion, of the process, it's pointless. I told myself to just stop.  It won't do me any good or any better.  And so I snapped out of it and proceeded with a new confidence.

Will I falter?  Yeah, probably.  But I've got the above message saved on my phone as a good reminder of where my head and heart need to be. Talk about a prayer answered.

Happy Sunday ya'll,

Kristin

Visualizing the "Future You" Transforms Your Abilities Today

“Anyone who’s ever done something great with their life had to transform themselves from who they were to who they became.” 

-Dr. Benjamin Hardy, PhD

Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash

I just re-read this line from the book, Personality Isn’t Permanent, because I have been STRUGGLING a bit lately with major self-esteem and productivity issues.  And I keep asking myself, WHY? 

For the last two weeks, I feel like I’ve been paralyzed.  From a work execution standpoint, that is.

Ok, I am a bit hard on myself, but what can I say?  I happen to be a perfectionist, and I feel like my work productivity has gone to crap.

What happened, you might ask?

Allow me to first set the scene with a little known fact:

Let’s say someone wrote a book, and that someone is getting ready for its big launch day. Well, in order to get publicity around one’s upcoming book launch, one needs to write a press release.  Or several press releases.  Catered to one’s intended audience. 

You may ask, doesn’t the press write the press release?  To which I’ll proceed to shock you…No!  Said person, who needs the press release, must write the press release!

Mind boggling!

Then, the press skims through massive pools of poorly attempted press releases to search for the news-worthiest of them all, and may, or may not, decide to pick up and publish one’s press release.

Encouraging, right?

So I have a book that is due to come out in a month, and I NEED to write a newsworthy press release.  And let me tell you that in my opinion, writing copy, or writing for the press, is SO much harder than writing an actual book.  In fact, it took me LONGER to write the book description that goes on Amazon than it did to write the first part of my actual book. 

So needless to say, I’ve been frustrated.  I’ve been irritated, doubtful, driving myself insane on whether I think my press release angles are catchy enough…You name it, I’ve felt it.

…sigh…

(and apologies, by the way, for my less than stellar attitude about this)

BUT, let’s rewind a few months back to June, where I was…wait for it…unstoppable!  I felt like I could do anything! 

Me, fearless and unstoppable

In fact, I already saw myself as an epic, published writer who was knocking down what once were barriers and taking names while I was at it. 

I was like a Dachshund taking on a Doberman.  Questionably fearless. 

But what I realize now is, that attitude is how I was actually getting things done! 

The vision was there.  In MY head, I was already there.  And because of that, I was confident.  I was executing flawlessly!  Whatever goals I wrote out the night before in my planner, I got them done the next day.  Without fail.

So, theoretically, Dr. Benjamin Hardy was right.  His philosophy stated above just proved to be true in my case (and I’m sure in many cases, he’s a pretty smart guy).

Literally the ONLY difference between me being able to get things done swiftly back in June and me not being able to get things done now, is that in June, my actions and behaviors were those of the FUTURE me, not the less experienced past or present me.

Gnarly, right?

Perhaps this also resonates with you?

Well I have good news.  Dr. Hardy lays the steps out in his book quite simply.  And for everyone’s sanity here, well mostly mine, let’s take a walk through those steps:

Dr. Hardy says that basically anyone who has ever transformed into doing something great with their life, had to go through this process:

1.       They had to see something new in their mind.

2.       Then convince themselves it’s possible.

3.       Then act courageously beyond their current personality and circumstances

4.       To eventually do and become what they became.

So what does that mean for you if you are at Point A in the process?

1.       You must have a new goal.

2.       You must call it a purpose worth pursuing.

3.       To which you’re then pretty much forced to develop new attributes and skills. (ahem, like writing press releases)

4.       And then you have curated transformational experiences! (like what happened to me yesterday, I’ll fill you in soon!)

So if you find yourself in somewhat of a similar rut as me, take some time out this evening to just think through all of that. 

It really is a simple, yet profound equation.  I can see where it’s worked in my life versus the times I hit a stalling point.  I’m happy to say I’m back on track now, full confidence steam ahead!

And as always, comment anytime to let me know how things are going for you!

Have a great week,

Kristin

Remember the Little Flairs of You

Hey y’all.  Kristin here.  Just wanted to check in real quick as this summer wraps up and see how everyone is doing.  I’m sure many of you have kids and are chaotically trying to figure out how going back to school will work.  Others have been taking a good hard look at their life, wondering if 2020 is the year to make those big changes you’ve been dreaming about.  Others might have been tragically impacted by COVID.  And others might just be doing alright and taking each day as a gift, as it comes.

Amen to that. 

And as style trends seem to fade somewhat into the distance because we all pretty much live indoors these days, it’s important not to lose that little flair of “you.”    You know, that little thing people know you for, or associate you with.  Why?  Because I think it’s motivating.  I think upholding little stylish flairs of you mean you’ve got a purpose for that day.  And in a time where so many of us are isolated from socialization, it can be so easy to forget what those are.

Did you happen to catch my recent post, Four Easy Ways to Look More Put Together?  Not that we virtual workers totally care about what everyone is wearing these days, but there I offer up a few super easy ways to put on little flairs of you. 

It could be as simple as accessories, comfy skirts for the ladies, stylish frames, or the sharp looking comfort of merz b schwanen for the guys.

Or, little flairs of you could have nothing to do with style at all!  Perhaps it could be busting out that quick song you wrote on the piano or guitar.  The accent you’re hilariously good at.  Dedicating 30 minutes to a passion of yours every day. 

Whatever it is for you, I think it’s so important to maintain these little flairs of you on a daily basis.  Give them the time and priority they deserve.  I guarantee they’ll make you smile.

It’s really tough these days, especially for people who live alone and are limited in what they can do beyond work.  But don’t forget to remind yourself that you’re super unique, super special, and that you are beautiful, even if nobody else is around to see it, cause you are! 

That’s just my little pep talk for today.  Have a great weekend.

-Kristin

Pleated Skirts For Fall!

Fall is right around the corner and nothing gets me more excited than comfy, cozy clothes, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!!! And one of my favorite go-to fall outfits for when that weather starts to change is the pleated skirt, oversized sweater, and sneaks! YES PEOPLE!!

Fall is right around the corner…

…which means comfy skirts, oversized sweaters, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!

H&M actually has a solid assortment of pleated skirts in both fall and summer colors, AND they actually fit really well! ANNNNND some of them are on major sale so I saved my favorites here for you!

I can’t wait to hear which colors you bought! So let me know in a comment below or tag @suits.and.sneaks in your fave new skirt on Instagram.

Happy weekend y’all!

-Kristin

Four Easy Ways To Look More Put Together When Working From Home

Last week I wrote a post for the guys on Four Simple Ways To Up Your Work-From-Home Style During COVID 19.  We talked from everyday work wear to how to up your look in a suit on Zoom interviews.  Speaking of suits. Ladies, there are the most adorable Gold cufflinks on Etsy if you ever need a gift for your man.

But this week, it’s all about the ladies. 

Particularly those of us who are caught in the middle of loving the comfort of WFH clothes, i.e. sweats and fabletics, but miss the confidence that comes with getting dressed up to go into the office. 

So here are my favorite easy ways to get the best of both worlds so you can go about your workday feeling more chic and confident, yet still comfortable enough to get things done.

Pleated Skirts

Photo source: Promesa USA Silver Pleated Metallic Midi Skirt

I.  Flipping.  Love.  These.  What better way to feel fab and feminine in the comfort of your own home (or in the office if you’ve already gone back) than a pleated skirt!  They’re stylish.  They’re fun.  They’re beyond comfortable when sitting and working for long periods of time.  They’re expandable for all those extra snacks you might be popping into your mouth come 3pm (guilty).  And, you can take these skirts in so many different directions.  So overall, a fantastic investment.

Keep them casual chic by pairing them with some cute sneaks, or totally dress them up 10 notches with heels for a night out like you see below. 

Photo by Vicky Cheng on Unsplash

I saved some of my favorite pleated skirts here!

The Little Fitted Jacket That Could

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thrown one of these on for a Teams meeting and suddenly looked 10 notches more professional.  Get yourself one of these!  If you’re literally still sitting in the cami you slept in and prefer to keep it that way for the entire day, then you’re totally cool.  Because if you suddenly realize your Teams meeting that starts in two minutes requires video, then this will be your saving grace.  Check out my favorites here.

Stylish Frames

Yessss girl!  I just ordered myself a pair of blue light filtering Phonetics and they took my work-from-home look to a whole new level.  Check out my before and after pics here. 

Kristin Leigh, Phonetic blue-light filtering glasses, before and after

Jewelry

Let’s finish with a super easy-to-implement one here, keeping those Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings top of mind.  Earrings or necklaces are a godsend for this because they’re an easy, inexpensive way to brighten up your face. 

I’m a huge fan of offsetting anytime I get dressed.  What does offsetting mean, you ask?  I always implement opposites into my look.  So if my shirt is extremely casual and plain, then I’ll be sure to include a necklace or earrings to offset that depending on my agenda for the day. 

If I’m wearing sneaks that day (duh), then I offset them with something more chic.  Offset, offset, offset.  I’m not sure that’s a technical term in fashion, but I’ve been using it as my formula for years now.

Same thing goes with materials or lines and shape of your clothing.  If what you’re wearing on top is very stiff or straight-lined, then offset it with a necklace that has a bit more depth.  You don’t have to go over the top, but even something as minimal as this Italian 14k rope chain could be all you need since the design is a bit more 3D than traditional flatter necklaces might be. 

Bracelets and watches are my absolute fave, especially minimalist simple ones with a single ornament.  Super inexpensive, super simple, and all you really need when working from home.

I hope those ideas gave you a little inspiration, and let me know any other tricks you’ve got below!

Have a great weekend!

-Kristin

How To Listen To Yourself and Others

Do you ever stop to listen to yourself?  Like really stop to quiet the mind’s chaos and listen to yourself. 

I’ve been doing this a lot lately.  And wow.  It’s amazing the things you hear when you take the time to actually listen and acknowledge what your inner self is trying to tell you.

Did you know there are actually three levels of listening?  They’re called Levels 1, 2, and 3.

And in this post I’m going to introduce you to the three levels of listening, show you the benefits of expanding your listening to the deepest level 3, and finish off with showing you exactly how you can go about putting this into practice.

Most people are stuck at Level 1.  It’s the surface level. 

Whether you’re in a conversation with someone else, or you’re just trying to get through the day but can’t hear past the noise in your head, that’s you listening at Level 1. 

At Level 1, you have only your conscious, self-centered thoughts as your frame of reference.  And I don’t mean that in a bad way.  What I mean is that, what’s on your mind in the current moment dictates how what you are hearing will impact you, whether it’s from someone else’s mouth or in your own head.  You are your frame of reference in the conversation. 

Level 2 listening is listening with more than just your ears. 

It’s focused at a much deeper level, listening for emotion, expression, perception, or perhaps underlying values or frustrations.   When you listen to someone else at Level 2, you’re noticing more of the underlying things behind what they’re saying.  You can apply this to yourself as well.

And at the deepest level, the root of it all, is Level 3 listening.  

Level 3 is when you listen to information from all angles of the universe at once.  You tap into your deepest intuition.  And beyond listening, you’re able to draw conclusions.

Most people listen at Level 1, because statistically, most people aren’t trained therapists, counselors, or coaches.  Level 1 listening is totally normal and to be expected.  But learning to listen to yourself and others at Levels 2 and 3 can bring some MAJOR benefits.

For purposes of this blog post, let’s hold on the benefits to others and spend this time talking about how this benefits YOU, specifically if you find yourself in a rut about something. 

Let’s start with an example, and I’m going to kind of embarrass myself here:

A scenario at Level 1 Listening:

I binge eat the daylights out of my kitchen in the afternoons, and unfortunately, this brings about a number of negative consequences.  I blow through my groceries budget way sooner than expected.  I’m eating way too many calories a day.  And it’s unhealthy, any way you look at it.  Not to mention, I feel like a complete failure every time I do this.  Failure in the sense that I can’t stick to my intended meal schedule, and that I have no control, no commitment, no strength, no nothing!! (stomps feet like a 2 year-old at this point.)

Ok so yes, this was a daily occurrence for me.  And yes, there was a LOT going wrong in that thought process I was having.  Thought distortions, meta views, the list goes on. I can elaborate more on those topics another time, but the point here is that all of the above is me Level 1 Listening to myself. 

Because I’m focused on the very surface level issue here (binge eating), and the impact it’s having on me at that superficial level (frustration and failure).

If you’ve heard of the weight loss Noom app that’s based on psychology and making major waves, a lot of what they teach in that is this exact concept. (I joined and it’s been a Godsend to me).

But here’s what Level 2 Listening would look like if we replay the scenario: 

Ok, I’m getting very frustrated on a daily basis because of this.  Why does this keep happening?  If I listen more closely, with ALL of my senses, I can actually see that there are several triggering events that happen that cause me to run to the fridge desperate for snacks.  (And none of them are hunger, by the way). 

In Level 2 listening, we start to see patterns and trends. When something with work comes up that I either don’t want to do, or I don’t feel comfortable or confident enough doing, I try to avoid or procrastinate doing it by getting up and going to the fridge for food.  Listening to myself at this level, I can also see that having a bowl of snacks sitting next to me is oddly comforting to me during those more difficult tasks I have to do.  WEIRD. 

But now, let’s go a little deeper into Level 3 Listening: 

It seems that I’m using food as a crutch to get me through something I deem to be difficult.  I seem to lack confidence in my ability to complete more time-intensive tasks, or those for which I might not have an immediate solution.  I’ve realized that I like finishing things quickly.  If not, it seems I fear the time and effort it takes to find solutions for people. Interesting.

Starting to see something here? 

Now look at how insane this Level 1 conclusion was compared to Level 3!

Level 1 Conclusion:  I keep blowing through my budget and eating way too many calories a day because I’m a total failure who clearly has no control or commitment to staying healthy!

Vs. Level 3 Conclusion: I like completing my work and finding solutions quickly for people.  I seem to lose confidence in more time-intensive projects, and in those instances, I use food as my crutch to get me through the task.

Wowsers. Quite a difference.

Can you imagine if you listened to yourself at Level 3 more often?  Can you imagine if you listened to your significant other, coworkers, friends, and family at Level 2 or 3 more often??

But really, this is so beneficial to understand, especially if you’re someone who beats yourself up a lot, OR just as importantly, if you’re someone who gets frustrated with other people easily.

So how do you start to make this a regular practice?

1. It starts with you being aware. 

And you can check that box because I’ve now made you aware of these listening concepts.  But also, take this awareness and apply to your own personal thoughts and the conversations you’re in with other people.

2. Stop and seek silence. 

I stumbled into this practice when I started going out to the dock first thing in the morning as a new way to set my mood for the day.  The longer I sat out there, the more still my mind became.  Of course it wouldn’t last more than one hour into my work day, so I started going back to my quiet place during my lunch breaks.  And then again after work.  I made a habit of seeking this silence multiple times daily.  Because there is no way you can think clearly when the usual distractions are right around you. 

So find your silent space.  Preferably outside your house somewhere.  Or maybe in your bedroom if it means there’s no TV, phone, or work distractions.  Or, if you’re home alone with nowhere else to go, just sit in the middle of your living room with your eyes closed and imagine yourself somewhere else entirely.

3. Ask out loud into the silence for help with your specific issue.

Some may call this asking the universe.  For me personally, I call it asking God.  And others might just call it talking out loud to themselves.  But I’ll tell you this, after two solid months of doing this daily, I can go outside to my God spot, ask my question, and I hear an answer come right back to me.  And not only do I get an answer, but I get a step-by-step understanding of my situation, myself, and others involved.  With all senses.  At all three listening levels.  It is pretty bad-ass. 

4. Do not underestimate the power of what you just did.

Do you know how rare it is for people to feel listened to or understood?  I’m sure you’ve said the same thing yourself! 

Do you know how powerful it is when you can actually hear your intuition (or God) speaking?  Where you can hear it so clearly that you have the confidence to act on it?  (By the way, if our intuitions didn’t come from something bigger and more powerful than our earthly physical bodies, then we’d never have any worries, stress, fear, or uncertainty, would we? Just my thought.) 

So this is an amazingly powerful thing!  So take this information and your time spent in silence, listening at all levels, very seriously.  It can be life changing.  Actually I’m going to come right out there and tell you it WILL be life changing. 

And don’t forget to thank yourself for this time spent listening at all levels.  It’s one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself and for those around you.  Give it a try and let me know what you think in a comment below! 

Have a fantastic week! On all levels ;)

-Kristin

Four Simple Ways to Up Your Work-From-Home Style During COVID19

Guys, this one’s for you today.  Ladies, I’m writing up a separate one for you as we speak!

Once upon a time, you lived in a world of waking up every morning, shuffling half-asleep into your closet, trying to make out the blur of clothes in front of you in order to decide what you were going to wear to work that day.

Then COVID hit, and you’re in a world now where, shoot, do you even get OUT of bed anymore to start your workday?  I mean, a laptop is the same laptop whether you’re in bed or sitting upright at your desk, right?

And so here is your new Monday through Friday norm.  Week after week.

But let’s say you DO make an effort to get out of bed and brush your teeth at least.  And you actually put on clothes. Eventually you begin to notice that you’ve been “showing up” to your virtual day job wearing your same favorite few tees every day.  Or, maybe it’s just a sweatshirt.  And, does it really even matter what’s on your bottom?

Question for you:

While I’m sure this is comfortable and all, are you starting to feel kind of blah inside?  Maybe a little dull?  Like you’re in this new work-from-home routine and it’s really not all that exciting? 

Perhaps you actually miss coming up with an outfit to wear to work each day because you could at least show off some of your personality. Or maybe, you were one to dress a level above your title in hopes it’d get you promoted faster. 

After all, getting dressed shows purpose.  But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, just choosing SOME simple accessories that best reflect your authentic style and personality could mean everything! 

So here are four simple ways to spruce up your virtual workday look and #letthrealyoushinethrough in your next Zoom meeting:

Photo by manny PANTOJA on Unsplash

Try Out Some Stylish Frames

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

Prescription or no prescription, this is one of my favorite ways that guys can show off their personalities and up their t-shirt-around-the-house game.  In fact, I think frames paired with a comfy tee is a superb way to professionalize your look and show up to your Zoom meetings in casual style.  Kind of like, you make it look so easy, yet you’re so good. 

You can visit website and choose from a massive variety of top brands and styles.  You’re sure to land a brand new set of specs that frame your face and make you look even more distinguished in no time.

The Tiny But Mighty Pocket Square

If you’re more than a t-shirt guy and need to dress to impress on your next Zoom call, look no further than the humble pocket square. They are so easy, so simple, and yet so…bam!  You show up to your video calls looking like a man on a mission.  This little square is the color to your mon-o-chrome, the linen to your life, the silk to your, ok I have no idea where I’m going with that one, but you get the point. Go get yourself some!

Watch This

Photo by Tamarcus Brown on Unsplash

I love a good watch on a guy.  It just says, Hi, I’m a man.  And if your laptop camera is angled the way it should be (ahem, up angling down is a bit more flattering), then your forearms and wrists should be showing.  And who wants bare forearms and wrists??

You don’t need to drop big bucks on a watch, any priced watch does the trick  But if you can afford a Rolex or Omega, then by all means, shop right ahead!  But you don’t need to go the designer route to look great.  Any watch that is simple and well-made will add a dignified note to your look.

On The Cuffs

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

Got an upcoming Zoom video interview?  Nothing tells hiring managers that you’ve got attention to detail like the fact that you’re wearing badass cuff links on a Zoom video interview during COVID 19.  As a recruiter, I would freaking love you for it. 

Why? Because cufflinks are one of the most telling, yet subtle, signs of style for men everywhere. They’re small enough to know their place, yet special enough to have their shining moment in the world. Also, please know that managers hiring candidates using only video interviews will be looking to your video screen for ANYTHING to try and get a better sense of your personality.  And cufflinks show that you are ready to bring the goods, my friend.

In Summary

These are just a few easy-to-implement ideas to polish off that top half of you for when you need to show up to work on a laptop screen.  I’d love to hear other creative ideas you’ve been doing as well so update me in the comments below!

Have a great week y’all,

Kristin

Doing This One Simple Thing Will Ensure Your Cover Letter Is Actually Read

Ah, the dreaded cover letter.  I’m not going to use this post to defend or debate one.  But what I AM going to tell you is that if you spent the time writing one, it could very easily get overlooked.  EVEN if the company required it.  Why is that? 

Take note of this very important detail: 

When you apply through a jobsite and are asked to upload your resume and cover letter, are you uploading two separate files, or one file that includes both documents? 

Here’s what happens in the company’s recruiting system when you upload two separate files.  First, you and 100 other people applied to this job, meaning there could very easily be 200 files for the recruiter to open and read through.  Chances are the recruiter is going to go straight to the resume since that’s been the standard way to represent oneself. 

Then, the recruiter may or may not also open, read, and save your cover letter to their files.  And even if they do, your cover letter might not get submitted to the hiring manager with the resume.  Inadvertently, due to the sheer volume of files.

If you wrote a kickass cover letter straight from your heart, then make sure you do this one simple thing:

Save your cover letter and resume into ONE pdf file and title it, “[your name] Resume & Cover Letter”.  In that order.  Then, in the pdf file, make page 1 your cover letter and page 2 your resume. 

Ok, but that’s flip-flopped, you say.  Yes.  Intentionally. 

First, the recruiter’s eyes will automatically be drawn to the filename's first word, “Resume.”  That’s what they really want to see.  Then, upon opening the file, the recruiter’s eyes will go to page one, which happens to be your cover letter.  This will force them to at least take a glance through your letter while they scroll through to page two, your resume.

What if the company requires two separate file uploads on the application site?  Still, do the above.  Merge both cover letter and resume into one file like I advised above, then upload into the "Resume" upload box.  Then upload your cover letter into the "Cover Letter" upload box, if this is required.  So your cover letter is in theory uploaded twice?  Big deal.  Doing this will guarantee that both documents you worked so hard on will make their way through the recruiter’s review AND the hiring team's review, no matter what. 

Give it a try, you’ve got nothing to lose!

-Kristin

A Letter to Childhood Me, And Every Other Kid Who Doesn't Yet Know Social Media

Dear Younger Me,

You’re going to have some tough years ahead of you.  Right now, as a child, you believe you can conquer the world, and for starters, you're doing great so far!  You get good grades in school, you've stayed extremely athletic and fit thanks to mom's obsession with the gym.  You eat anything and everything and (ahem, just a heads up) those eating habits are most definitely NOT going to change. 

But the coolest thing about you, young K, is that you’re 10 years old and you believe you can do ANYTHING!  You don't look sideways for approval, you just do it!  You believe you can be anything you want to be.  You took those teachings all throughout your elementary years to heart.  You had a dream, maybe too many at times, and next thing you know, Mom and Dad are looking behind them like, holy smokes did she just do that??

But it ain't always going to be that easy.  Right now you have total confidence in yourself because it’s 1994 and your life consists of you, your family, and your circle of friends.  You know, the people you see and converse with every day. 

But in a decade or two we're going to go through a tech boom and suddenly the entire world will be at your fingertips. 

Sounds cool, right?  It is. 

But it's also going to test the waters of your life.  Because you'll have access to everyone else's lives at the same time.  In fact, everyone will be able to see everyone always!  Isn’t that nuts??  

But you must be careful.  Because you'll start looking at other people's lives a little too much, finding yourself oooohing and ahhhing at how pretty their pictures are, how successful they seem to be. 

You might find yourself scratching your head in confusion, looking at them and wondering, how?  Given how hard you work, why aren’t you seeing rapid success?  And sadly after some time goes by, little K, you might start to think less of yourself. 

You know you’re entrepreneurial now.  You’re 10 years old and you already have tons of great ideas spinning in your head.  You even took first place in the school science fair!  You KNOW the strength and dedication it takes to achieve what you’ve achieved even as just a kid.  Two pats on your back kiddo.

So do you think it’ll get easier as an adult?  Logically no, right?  How would that even be possible? 

Yet you’re going to see in pictures and videos that so many people seem to get so successful overnight so easily!  Do you think acting on an idea or building a business means you either get successful overnight, or it’s a bust? 

Ha!  You’re giggling little K.  That’s silly talk, isn’t it?  Well get ready.  Brace yourself.  Because in a decade or two that’s how oh so many people will choose to see things.  And when they exert a little effort and don’t find instant gratification, money, fame, or fortune overnight, they will literally beat the living sh—out of themselves and call themselves a failure.  

Isn’t that crazy??

Yes, it will be just that ridiculous! 

You will also get bombarded with email subscriptions on how to gain massive followings, money, and fame in as little as 30 days!  Step by step plans on how to build your business and 10x your revenue!  Your mouth will be drooling because you’ll think to yourself AHA! THAT is the missing piece!  The answers to my problems! 

You’ll spend the money, you’ll learn a ton, you’ll take notes, and then you’ll lose them.  You’ll gain momentum and then get sidetracked and feel like you’ve failed.  If you’re “lucky”, you’ll gain a loyal following who loves you for you.  And that part is awesome.  But you’ll also lose consistency, and potentially your following, if you allow your mind to get sidetracked in a million directions. 

It will be tough for you because you have the mind of a creator.  You can’t sit still.  You never have.  Complacent is the adjective that you shun.  But one day you will come across a genius concept called, “The One Thing.”  Where the greatest lesson you’ll learn is that you cannot catch a single rabbit by chasing after two at the same time. 

You’ll have to force yourself to focus on achieving one thing at a time.  There is NOTHING wrong with that.  You want to see success, right?  You’re just a kid and you already know how to achieve that.

You turn your head away from the distractions.  You write your goal in massive letters and hang it in front of your face at all times.  And when your creative mind thinks up many more amazing ideas, you will add them to a notebook and stow it away, only to be taken out once you’ve completed and achieved your previous goal. 

You will dedicate all your time and effort into achieving that one thing.  You know the time and commitment it takes.  You’ve already done this as a kid.  And you’ll need to remember that the exact same thing holds true, even 20 years from now when you see pictures of people achieving “instant success.”

So Younger Me, don’t be a silly-minded adult. 

Don’t be like the million other people will be in 2020, beating themselves up for not living as glamorously as the stranger on their Instafeed.

Don’t be an unrealistic fool.

Turn it off.  Ignore it all.  Listen to yourself.  The feelings and thoughts that jolt you awake in the middle of the night, THOSE are the ones you must listen to.  Those are coming straight from your divine creator, reminding you of your purpose. 

You must take those thoughts, those ideas, and get up the next morning and figure out a game plan to make them your reality.

Social media will most definitely NOT get you a game plan.  We already went over what social media WLIL do for you.  Goal setting and execution plans are not part of social media feeds’ agendas.

YOU think through your game plan.  And if you need help, you go knock on the door of the old gentleman or lady down the street from you.  The one who built their business from scratch in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and you ask them how they did it.  How they stayed focused, how they believed in themselves, how they maintained their grit, stamina, beliefs, and confidence, and you do EXACTLY what they advise you to do. 

After you’ve done that, THEN you go onto social media and you find someone who will handle the marketing for you.  Because you must understand, social media WILL become the greatest advertising mechanism of all time.  It’s insanely efficient, you can target with precision, and it barely costs a dime.  It’s one of the greatest things that will hit our time. 

But you must know its place in your life.  Use it appropriately. 

It’s 1994 kid.  You already know TV commercials are staged with a purpose.  Remember this always.

-Adult Me

Golden Goose Sneakers

A streetwear twist to a classic, simple star. This brand is pretty dope is you’ve got a lot of extra money to spare. I’m loving these sneaks for the kicked-back season of summer. I saved my favorites for you below!

Summertime Sneakers Suitable For The Office

it is indeed Tuesday, and normally I post a podcast, but I’m not feeling too hot and didn’t think you’d really want to listen to someone talk while under the weather. Eww, gross. On a brighter note though, I cleared out my closet and got rid of a bunch of old sneaks a couple weeks ago. The problem is I haven’t yet replenished myself with new cute sneakers to wear to the office! So I figured I’d take you all along with me, while I go sneaker shopping online.

Let’s first look through some inspirational looks that you could pull of wearing to work, and then I’ll include my full list of my favorite sneaks at the very end. Also, did you know I have an entire Pinterest Board dedicated to sneaker outfits you can wear to work? And another one with how you can wear sneakers with skirts? Make sure you go follow my Suits & Sneaks Pinterest account here.

So without further delay, I present to you my favorite women’s office casual looks with sneakers that I will soon be wearing to work. Comment below on which ones are your favorite!

Let’s Start With Neutral Looks

Polish off your favorite white kicks

With a light, summertime soft gray suit.

Summertime skin tones +

Can’t-go-wrong Cole Haan sneakers.

Then Get A Little More Black & Bold

TCB in Seavees

With their timeless Huntington Middies

Or run from meeting to meeting

In a pair of comfy slip-ons.

Happy Hour requires comfort

Swap out the heels if you mean business at the bar.

Shop Even More Of My Favorite Sneaks Here

Scroll to the right on each row to see more!

Internal Promotions: Why Some People Get Them, And Why Others Don't

So you work for a company, you’ve been in role for a bit of time, and perhaps lately you’ve been going home at night, a bit frustrated because you know that you’re capable of more.  You hear about a position opening up in your company and you think to yourself, “I could totally do that.” 

You picture your coworkers’ resumes and convince yourself that you have so much more experience than them.  I mean, just think about all of the extra work you’ve done this year, how many late nights you’ve put in, and all of the compliments you’ve received from your manager.  Surely if anyone is fit for a promotion or new opportunity it’s you, right?   

Ok cool.  I’ve been there.  And as a recruiter, I’ve spoken with hundreds of employees who have been there themselves.  And over time, I’ve noticed six very common trends among those employees who actually get the promotion versus those who don’t. 

Trend #1: They Are Open & Communicative

Open communication photo from Unsplash

From. Day. One.  This type of person takes the time to deeply think out their hopes and dreams and has completely open, professional lines of communication with their boss about these ambitions, because it’s that important to them (as it should be). 

This starts with setting serious time aside during that goal-setting period at the beginning of each year and (very important) at least quarterly throughout the year to meet with their manager on how their current job is aligning to their goals.  If there are gaps, these types of people research and discuss certain project ideas that could help get them back on track.  These types of people know they own their careers and will speak up and ask their managers when they need support.

Trend #2: They Are Very Honest With Themselves

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

This is interesting because unbeknownst to many folks, we (interviewers) and hiring managers can actually tell with good accuracy and precision how much you really want (or don’t want) the job.  Are you interviewing for that promotion because it’s the obvious next step with your typical career path, or perhaps because you’ve put in so much time and “deserve it?”  Or, are you interviewing because you really want this particular job? 

Allow me to share a personal story.  Almost two years ago, I sat down with our CAO who had hired me and I told him, in the most professional way possible, that I wasn’t happy.  It wasn’t the job.  It wasn’t the team.  It was the fact that I truly felt I was in a position where the best version of me wasn’t being utilized.    

Now, that was highly summarized for the sake of this blog post, but did I rush into this conversation with the CAO?  Heck no.  I spent a couple months trying to figure myself out first.  Specifically, what made me unique, what part of my job did I love, and what part just didn’t feel like me.  And only after figuring myself out first, did I go to him with a few possible solutions.  I did NOT go to him to vent.  That’s simply unprofessional.  I went to him with my situation, some specific examples, and proposed a few solutions on how I thought I could bring more value to our company.        

Your #1 goal should be to always WANT the best version of yourself to go to work each day.  So think about what really makes you happy, what makes you tick, where your current job falls on that scale, and where this “next step” that you’re going for puts you on that scale.  Then, go back to #1 above and have an open, honest conversation with your manager.

Trend #3: They Put Themselves Out There Early On

I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to develop good, lasting relationships with everyone you meet.  You simply cannot wait to start networking with people only when you need them the most.  Why?  Because there are probably ten people who have already started that networking well before you, knowing that one day they could leverage these relationships to help get them to that next step in their career.  

This isn’t using and schmoozing people.  It’s simply introducing yourself, learning about others, letting them know who you are, what you do, and what your goals are.  It again goes back to developing and maintaining open lines of communication and good relationships.  

Trend #4: They Start Acting In-Role

How to get promoted. Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash

Adding to #3 above, these people will simply ask if they can volunteer their skills and passions to start gaining some experience in the role they are eventually hoping to be in.  This is a must, especially if you’re trying to move into a role whose scope, functionally, is quite different than your two most recent positions. 

Why do I say most recent positions?  So ten years ago you were in a similar role to the one you’re trying for now.  Surely you’re qualified, right?  Perhaps qualified, but not COMPETITIVE.  Things change at rapid speed these days which is why a hiring manager will want to focus in on your RECENT experience and how quickly that can translate over to their requirements. 

So my best advice to you is to ask for stretch assignments in this space and volunteer your time on projects so managers can demo your capabilities without having to take on the risk of hiring you full-time.  Yes, this is in addition to your current job, and yes, you’re probably like “Volunteer my time? What time??”  Unfortunately, you’ll need to figure out how to make time.  And the easiest way to do this all goes back to #1 above.  Have an open conversation with your manager to see how you might be able to shift work around to fit some side projects into your schedule.   

Trend #5: They Are Grateful for Everything

Happy Coworkers by Ali Yahya on Unsplash

This sounds silly, but I’m speaking facts because I’ve seen and heard it a hundred times.  There is a distinct difference in character in those who get that next opportunity and those who don’t.  Those who do are grateful for every piece of experience, even if it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.  They have an attitude of gratitude.  If something doesn’t go their way, they don’t see themselves as victims of unfair circumstance x, y, or z.  They appreciate everything, big or small, pleasant or tough.

So how, you might wonder, does this translate to actually making any sort of difference in reality?  Well for starters, these types of people are just more pleasant to be around.  They’re uplifting, they’re contagious, and they help bring positive light to any situation at hand.  Who wouldn’t want someone like that on their team? 

Secondly, they see every situation, no matter how crappy, as being a +1 to their life.  A horrible day at work equals just another learning experience to add to their toolkit. 

Contrast that to the victim-mindset where nothing is ever good enough.  Where a horrible day at work equals a “why me” mentality.  Rather than learning from tough circumstances, these types of people choose to spend their energy venting over why those circumstances are happening to them in the first place.

Can you see the difference here?  Don’t beat yourself up if you’re the latter, most of us are.  It’s human nature.  But you’ve heard the phrase “practice an attitude of gratitude.”  And that’s because, frankly, it takes practice.  But look at the difference a simple shift in your reaction can make to your outcomes.  

Trend #6: They Are Never Entitled

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

If you think you will automatically be offered a promotional role because you’ve been on the team, are friends with the hiring manager, or whatever other reason might be floating around in your head, think again.  Because news flash, you are not the only person interviewing for the role. 

The successful person will prepare themselves as much as possible because they know they might not be the only contender. They can’t risk being the silver medalist because they want the job that bad for their career.  Even if by chance they know they are the preferred candidate, they see the opportunity to interview as a learning and development experience.  A way to further refine their presentation skills. 

They come to the table 100% serious and prepared to give it their all.  And that tells the hiring manager that this person can be counted on to always give the job their all, no matter the circumstance. 

In Summary:

These six trends came to me pretty quickly as I was preparing to write this post because I’ve seen over and over again what sets those who move forward apart from those who don’t. 

Now you might think to yourself, “I totally meet all of the above, but I was still rejected!”  And that’s where recruiting is tough, because at the end of the day we could have multiple amazing candidates, but only one person can get the job.  And my best advice to you in that case?  Go back to #1 above on communication and ask for open, honest feedback so you know how to improve for next time. 

If you guys know someone who might benefit from this article I’d love if you could share this with them and your network. Thanks so much for reading!

-Kristin

Menswear: Tom Ford Eyeglasses

Men’s accessories. They’re everything. And we so quickly have fallen for the Warby Parkers and Tom Fords of the world because let’s face it, men’s fashion eyewear has come onto the scene HOT.

Just look at our lovely model for example. This is one of my favorite men’s casual outfits by the way. But look at the way the glasses jive so well with the casual sneaks. And the glasses, quite frankly, really finish off his look.

Are any of you guys rocking the eyeglasses to work on a daily basis? Would you? To help you out, I included my four favorite styles below.

Happy shopping!

-Kristin

Forget Following Fashion Trends, You Do You.

Once upon a time there used to be a season for certain colors and an era for certain styles.

We can look back on the decades of our past and pretty much generalize the fashion trends for each era. 70s were the hippies. 80s was total hair. 90s was cutoffs and hip-hop. 2000s were punk rock and skater boys and babes. And now here we are in 2018, with the onset of social media’s Pinterest and Instagram. Photography and fashion are in full swing.

But here’s one thing I’ve noticed about this new digital world that we’ve all come to love and hate. It’s given us an outlet to express our individual style.

You can scroll through Pinterest and Insta feeds for hours and hit the like button on all different types of fashion. Why? Because the pictures look good. Because the ENTIRE LOOK looks good. You fall in love with the person’s overall style. The clothes, the makeup, the expression, the background, the lighting. Take all of that combined and the fact that a girl is wearing white pants in winter is pretty meaningless because, well, her photo completely ROCKS.

Fashion is a massive part of our modern lives, especially since so much of our lives have been shifted towards showing off our looks. And with any industry, some people have such a true passion and love for it that they dedicate their whole lives to it. (Think your major bloggers on Instagram)

Once upon a time we were also taught to dress a certain way for certain circumstances or occasions.

Interviews, weddings, corporate jobs. Shoot, think of the countries where women don’t even have a choice in what they can wear! And while times are changing for the better, the fact remains that if you dress outside what certain people consider “the norm,” you very well might be looked at twice.

Is that a bad thing though?

And honestly, what does it matter to people what you wear if it’s not hurting anyone?

Well the truth is, it does. Because your style speaks louder than your words. Especially on first glance. But just because people make judgments in a matter of seconds doesn’t mean you can’t tailor a polished look to reflect your individuality.

Freedom of expression is important for maintaining our identity as individuals. You can still totally do this even if you work a corporate 9 to 5 job by adding your unique favorite trends to a more conservative polished style. I explain exactly how to do this in fashion posts throughout my site. Crazy story but I actually work in a global pharmaceutical company and I can easily think of 4 coworkers that have tattoo sleeves. BUT they balance that with a more polished professional outfit so the whole look is just totally badass! (Side note, if you’re going a tattoo route, be sure to use barrier tattoo gel)

Remember that you should dress according to what you truly like and feel comfortable in, but by also dressing in such a way that makes others comfortable and shines you in the best, most respectful light. This is what Suits & Sneaks is all about! Follow along for loads more tips on getting dressed each day that gains you respect and authority in the workplace, but also lets the real you shine through at the same time.

Cheers!

-Kristin

Coping and Recovering: Following an Accident

At the moment you thought you had your life together; you're succeeding in your career, you’ve just started dating someone great and you’re planning to take a step-up on the property ladder. Then everything is brought to a halt, an accidental injury occurs. It could be whiplash, a sprained ankle, or fatal injuries imminently rendering the next few months of your life turned upside down. Incapable of picking up your life where you left off, opposed to drowning yourself in sorrow and frustration, let the tough times develop you. Once you have mentally accepted the event, there are things you can do to cope and recover, to build a better stronger you during after your injury.

Change Focus

Your mind and/or body are most likely incapable of completing your routine basic and complex tasks, such as; getting ready in the speed of light, power walking to work, handling meeting after meeting with ease, speed and efficiency. This is when it’s time to refocus your energy on you, which means taking time to rest (a lot), slow down, live purposefully, feed your body nutrients and fluid you've been lacking in your busy lifestyle and adopting a relaxed approach to living. The truth is, without your able body and mind, you will no longer be able to do the things you used to unless you take a step back to let yourself heal. You never know, after some refocusing you may choose to give up your old life altogether, and accept a slower way of life dedicated to your health and wellbeing opposed to clocking in overtime at your corporate job.

Ask For Help

Now’s not the time to be prideful, you need your family and friends so don’t be ashamed to ask for and accept help. Think of it as if your mom or best friend had gone through the same thing you are, you would want to help get them back on their feet. Besides, love, support, and company from your loved ones, you will also need experts. Whether hiring a specialist, therapist or physiotherapist, there are an abundance of professionals who can advise you how to recover from your injury and psychological trauma, advise what medication you need, and what stretches and exercises to do in focus of keeping your body flexible and moving.

Above all, providing you can’t work for a short or long period of time, you will likely be missing money that enables you to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach. Contacting an attorney is in your interests if an injury caused is as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault. Professional legal advice from an attorney will establish whether you might be liable for compensation, this money will hopefully fill your bank enough to take care of you’re out of work. Bare in mind to choose an attorney that has experience in similar cases to your own. For instance, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer for motorbike incidents, a work-related injury lawyer for an accident that happened at work and so forth.

Following an accident, it’s essential to take a step back and refocus all of your energy on taking care of you, furthermore accepting help from family and the experts who can support or advise you through a difficult time. Together these elements will help you both cope and recover following an accident.

How to Save on Corporate Style: Clever Cost Saving Tips

Polished casual styled with Seavees

If you’re like most, you’re anticipating the arrival of the new year with hopes and dreams to bring out a new and better you. New mindset, new habits, new routines, new goals. Heck, maybe you’re even on a mission to find a new job that you love for 2019. So what better way to package up this NEW YOU than with a fresh, new wardrobe?

Except that, this is the busiest shopping season of the year and you’ve probably already spent a TON of money. (And I’m guessing well beyond your budget?) So, how do you now build a stylish work wardrobe with the little that you have left in the bank?

I’ll give you a hint. The answer is not always to start from scratch. To take the pressure off you a little, here are six ways I typically save on my corporate style.

1. Stick with the simple

I’m a huge fan of basics for two reasons. One, because they never go out of style. You can wear them in different ways forever. And two, because it’s not as noticeable when you repeat a basic piece of clothing as it is when you repeat a flashy or trendy one. (Case in point, I haven’t gone shopping in OVER A YEAR.)

Get these basic pieces for Men and Women

I would even advise being strategic with your COLOR choices and stick with basic colors like black, white, or gray. I know this sounds boring, but remember, this is your foundation. Spend minimal dollars on a few basic things and your opportunities to style in different ways on top of that are endless. See #2 below.

2. Mix and match with layers and accessories.

Shop the look here

An added bonus to the basic foundation above is that any accessories or jackets you layer on top will instantly stand out. Whether we’re talking about a diamond necklace from Ritani or a scarf from Target, if you have a basic foundation, then most likely you’re pretty much guaranteed that any accessory or layer you add on will match.

Men’s Flatlay

This is genius I tell you for yet another reason: Accessories DON’T WEAR OUT! They don’t fade with washes, they don’t get ruined from spills. They take up little space. And what’s more, they typically go on major sale at certain stores throughout the year. Set this 1:3 spending rule for yourself: I will figure out how to buy a single shirt-price worth of accessories that can translate into three different looks. Boom, financial win. It’s that easy.

3. Always check the labels.

I completely stay away from anything that needs to be dry-cleaned. It’s just not worth it to me. I actually take it a step further and stay away from anything that needs to be ironed, because well, ain’t nobody got time for that. If you’re looking for money AND time savings, checking the labels is super important.

4. Shop out of season. Heck, shop out of style.

I could care less if clothing is in season or not. Why? Because quite frankly guys, it’s not so much about the clothes as it is the person wearing them.

Let’s all get real here for a moment. Think about when you see fashion bloggers on Pinterest or Instagram. What about the pictures attract you to it? Is it 100% the clothes? Or is it the model’s hair, his or her fitness level, the camera angle, the lighting, a statement accessory? There are a number of factors that can take a look from being blah to wow, and it will always be more than just the clothing pieces themselves.

So with that, buy that’s-so-last-season clothes! They’re cheaper! Because guess what? You can make anything look attractive by adding additional layers like a blazer or accessories, and most importantly, you will strut into your office silently screaming that this look is yours to OWN.

5. Look for deals online.

Like most purchases in life, you can usually find work clothes cheaper if you shop around for them online. You can use price comparison tools to compare similar items from different stores. You can leverage online voucher sites to find coupons for money off products both in-store and online. Heck, you can go sign up for mailing lists or newsletters for your favorite retailers because they will give you a discount code. Don’t want spam mail? Who cares! You just got 25% off!

6. And lastly, wear what is provided.

I’ll save the best scenario for last, in that if you’re a uniformed worker, then you luck out and don’t have to buy wardrobes of clothes. Though many might argue this and say you wish you could wear what you want, how easy and cost-effective is it to wear the same things everyday?! Am I right? But even if you’re not a uniformed worker, many companies give out branded shirts, polos, socks, etc. for free. Why not wear them?? This means one less outfit where you can save the money to buy something else.

Make use of company-provided shirts

So there ya have it folks! I live by these rules every time I look for something new to wear. I honestly am a cheapskate when it comes to fashion and style. I buy everything at discount prices, and at most, once a year. Building a work wardrobe from scratch can be costly, but, hopefully, with these tips, you can save yourself some money as you start the new year with the new you!

Kristin, Suits & Sneaks

-Kristin

Advice For Purchasing A Wedding Suit

It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! The holidays are here and love is either madly in the air, or it’s most definitely not. But the fact of the matter is, right around the corner, is wedding season.

There are fewer and fewer reasons to wear formal clothing these days, but one of those that still holds on is that of a wedding. Now, while wedding season might still be a few months away, being prepared for that time of year, believe me, is the right thing to do. Whether you’re buying suits or dresses, here are some things to consider before you find yourself overwhelmed shop-hopping trying to find your wedding best.

THE POCKET SQUARE

suit pocket squares

Men are in a somewhat fortunate position (actually a lot of fortunate positions if you ask me lol) in that suits tend to come in a small variety, and are quite frankly, the only expectation people have of you when it comes to formal attire. Especially for a wedding.

That said there are parts of suit buying and wearing that we should discuss, especially if you’re not used to the clothing, such as how to fold a pocket square .

And let me share with you my thoughts on pocket squares: I FLIPPING LOVE THEM. These little guys will take a look to the next level. They come in so many different styles, colors, fabrics. Oh my gosh, I just get so excited by them, for ALL looks and styles, from wedding formal to street and smart casual.

I included some of my favorites here, scroll to the right to view them all!

THE SUIT STYLE

While the number of jobs requiring suits has decreased in the last couple of decades, so too has the need for men to own them, so let’s take a look at the different styles and the etiquette of wearing one.

SINGLE OR DOUBLE-BREASTED

Suits do come in various styles, and this tends to be for different reasons. If you’re not the groom, you’ll likely be considering a single-breasted or double-breasted style and the decision will come down to your personal preference.

The double is more traditional for a taller man to wear and will usually have four or six buttons. Whereas a single-breasted jacket will have only one set of buttons - up to three - and holes that do not overlap. There’s a great article on this here

Now if you’re the man of the event, or in the main wedding party, there are of course the wedding suit and tuxedo for the much more formal look.

THE WAISTCOAT

Once you have chosen a style, you may then wonder whether or not you should purchase a waistcoat. Well, for starters, most suits will come as two or three-piece and so the decision will be made for you. The waistcoat is a personal choice once again, but it does a little more than just adding to the style. It in fact should be doing two things. One, to direct attention towards your face, and two, to keep your tie in place. It can be a great complement to your suit, but again the personal preference is yours.

SHOES

Once you have the suit sorted, you’ll need to start considering the shoes. Your dilemma could be around the color, whether to match the shoes to the color of the suit (black, brown, or burgundy are most common). OR, your dilemma could be on style, i.e. formal or casual, slip-ons or laces, minimal or funky loud. Suits or Sneaks. :) But for all the shopping in the world, make sure they are comfortable and fit you properly. Weddings can be lengthy affairs.

I just started a Pinterest Board - Wedding in Sneakers and pinned some of my favorite looks. Go check it out and follow along if you think you’ll be in the market soon! :)

ACCESSORIES

Wooden bowtie

The most important, of all the accessories that make up formal wear, is the tie. This is where it gets overwhelming and I feel for you guys. There are so many different types of ties! From the skinny traditional, to the wide traditional, to the bow tie. Your selection will need to consider several details, most importantly, your size. If you are a tall man you will require a longer tie, if you’re a short man then bow-ties are great! If you’re a skinny man then you might want to consider purchasing a tie that isn’t too wide.

The Tie Bar

And then there’s the colors. I love this part. First consider two factors - the color of your suit and your complexion. Then figure out the statement you want to make. Formal and serious? Go with your traditional colors and patterns. Prefer to be loud and proud? Then the possibilities are endless for you my friend. Go bright, crazy-patterned, and flashy for that matter if you want. Here are some of my favorite looks.

You can shop some of my favorites right here! Scroll to the right to view them all.

Finally, other accessories include the aforementioned pocket square which should complement your tie. Cuff links for a shirt with French cuffs are a nice addition to the formal attire and give you an opportunity in a limited environment to add some character to your wear. And lastly a dress watch or tie clip; both of these can complement the suit you are wearing and add an air of elegance to your wedding appearance.

Oh Happy Day!

Happy shopping!

-Kristin