Mother's day is fast approaching.  

Since I am a mom myself, I have a newfound appreciation of the amazing, awesome, incredible ways of a mother.  If G-d gave a workshop on multi-tasking – guess who'd be the VIP guest speaker? 

That's right.  Mom. 

Ever tried applying mascara (without a mirror) while holding a baby over your shoulder while stirring a pot of spaghetti while helping your daughter spell her name in two different languages?  I have.  And believe me, it's loads of fun.  Now you can imagine why I have no patience when my husband is composing a business email and can't even change the channel for the kids on the TV.  Seriously?  Maybe add 6 more tasks at once and then you'll see life through my eyes. 

Motherhood involves both sacrifice and satisfaction (I have 3 kids 5 and under – so I'm still searching for the satisfaction part – I think I lost it somewhere between mayhem and chaos.)

But in my experience – I've learned two important rules: 

1 – Stop worrying about what others think.  Sure, it would be great to look like Tori Spelling with you and your kids dressed in designer clothes, playing in the park for endless hours, eating only organic, locally grown foods.  But in reality, you're lucky if your kids' faces are clean when you drop them off at school and the only association your kid has with fruits and vegetables is a strawberry-flavored yogurt.  As long as you and the children are happy and you're living a relatively healthy lifestyle – you're doing fine.

2 – Slow Down. Slow Down. Slow Down.  In today's technology-driven world everything must be accessible 24-7 with the touch of a finger.  Many of us are busy browsing the internet, updating your Facebook status, remembering to DVR your favorite show, shuttling your kids around town to their various after-school activities.  Guess what?  Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.  Before you know it – time goes by – and you're not going to care how many people followed your Twitter post. You're going to care about the dinner you served that night and the discussion your kids generated at the table. 

This is even hard for me to internalize because I love being on the go.  But I've realized that kids these days are less appreciative and more overwhelmed when they're overly scheduled, surrounded by endless forms of technology, and bombarded by activity and traffic from all ends. 

Sometimes, you need to tune out in order to tune in.

So this Mother's Day – let's take a moment to thank our own moms who have gone through the sacrifice – and hopefully the satisfaction of raising wonderful, beautiful, you. 

I'll leave you on a funny note with Michelle's Top 5 Confessions as a Mom – maybe you can add to list as well!

Confessions:

1. Yes, I drink my kids' juice boxes when they are not looking
2. Yes, I throw out old projects and toys and blame the cleaning lady when the kids can't find them
3. I've poured coffee in the baby's bottle and milk in my travel mug
4. I've washed my kids hair with body soap and shampooed they're bottoms
5. I've slithered across the floor like a snake in the dark to retrieve a fallen pacifier, blanket, or other lovey without the baby noticing me

 Been there?  Done that?  Share your experiences!  Happy Mother's Day to all the great Moms out there!!

I'm sure you've heard that one before.   

But is it really true? What if you really really can't stand someone? Like beyond “he used my 20^th Anniversary Simpsons coffee mug without my permission!!” or “I thought I was the only woman in the office with the navy blue Michal Kors purse… the nerve!!!”      

I'm talking true and utter discontent. 

0 likeability. 

Mean, hurtful, aggravating, annoying, bothersome.    

How can you successfully work with someone you can't stand in the workplace? Can there be peace and harmony among divided personalities and negative feelings toward two employees?   Here's a list provided by BCC Career Services of the various difficult personalities that may arise in the workplace – and some tips on how to overcome personality conflicts:

• The Bulldozer:  The Know it All, often uses threats, sarcasm, and intimidation
• The Bully:  Loud and hostile, abusive, overwhelming
• The Fire Hose:  Dampens enthusiasm, provides negative statements, constantly complaining
• The Waffler:  Reluctant to turn down any request, wants to be liked by everyone, paralyzed by tough decisions
• The Silent One:    Silent/unresponsive, answers with a grunt, avoids situations and conversations
• The Indecisive One:  Postpones decisions, afraid or unable to lead, beats around the bush
• The Sniper:  Excludes key people, withholds information, uses hidden attacks and non-playful teasing
• The Pitiful One:  Always thinks he's the victim, believes everyone is out to get him
• The Control Freak:  Undermines and insults others' abilities, lacks confidence and trust, insufferable – renders subordinates ineffective
• The Super Agreeable:  Overly supportive but doesn't deliver, doesn't follow throw with commitments
• The One That Shies Away:  Always points to higher authority, invokes other powers, never takes responsibility

Does any of this sound familiar? Worked with anyone who fits these descriptions?  (I hope you've worked with one or possibly a few – not all!)  These personalities can be draining, irritating – or even worse – hurtful and inappropriate.  Here are some tips to help address these difficult personalities – and not let individuals' behavior shape your overall work experience:

• Model behavior you'd like others to exude
• Don't escalate
• Avoid negative people
• Focus on the problem at hand – and focus on a solution
• Avoid being purposefully hurtful
• Be specific and be honest with others
• Encourage listening
• Confront in private – praise in public
• Use your commutation skills!

Remember, you can always defer a situation to a human resource manager – although you should address the issue yourself first. 

Am I forgetting anything?  Please share your thoughts!

P.S. Looking for more tips?  Check out Dealing With People You Can't Stand By:  Dr. Rick Brinkman & Dr. Rick Kirschner

It's April. 

Some of you may have enjoyed a recent get-away over spring break – others may be planning a big family summer vacation.  There may be a sad few that fall under neither category, but we're not going down that road....

Whether or not you are planning a vacation this year – travelling is something you should pencil into your schedule sometime in the near future.  Traveling, especially traveling abroad offers unlimited benefits physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Traveling gives us the opportunity to disconnect from regular life, while increasing our knowledge and widening our perspectives.  Traveling exposes us to new experiences and helps us build lasting memories with loved ones.

Adventurous, imagination caps – ON!  Worrisome, money-concerned caps— OFF! 

Let's take a look at the New York Times top 15 Places to Visit in 2012.  (The Article lists the Top 45 – so if you have your SUPER-DUPER adventurous cap on, Click Here to read the rest of the list)

1. Panama – Go for the canal, stay for everything else
2. Helsinki, Finland – Design. Design. Design. Aesthetics fuel a new cool
3. Myanmar - Back on the tourist map after being off-limits for years
4. London - The Olympics! The Queen! Charles Dickens turns 200!
5. Oakland, California - New restaurants and bars beckon amid the grit
6. Tokyo - With some tourists slow to return, greater opportunities for those who do
7. Tanzania - Coming into its own as an upscale safari destination
8. Chilean Patagonia - Proof that adventure doesn't have to mean roughing it
9. Lhasa, Tibet - New luxury hotels bring respite — and controversy
10. Havana, Cuba - The Cuban capital is once again within Americans' reach
11. Moscow - New cultural venues add a dash of the sacred and profane
12. Glasgow - Zaha Hadid takes on a Scottish waterfront
13. Puebla, Mexico - International mole festival. Need we say more?
14. San Diego - With breweries and brewpubs, a sunny heaven for suds lovers
15. Halong Bay, Vietnam - New ways to visit a natural wonder in Southeast Asia

All of these locations would most certainly expand your mind and body let alone, offer an incredible time! 

Unfortunately, the reality bug is biting harder these days and we are forced to consider budgetary restrictions. Just remember, when planning the ultimate vacation the four primary areas of expenses are airfare, accommodations, food, and site seeing.  There are many strategies to lowering the cost in all of these categories.  Book tickets at less popular times of the year or pack your own food instead of constantly eating out.  Even site seeing isn't as expensive as people assume it to be.  According to GoBudgetTravel, if you were to visit 6 out of 7 “New Wonders of the World” such as the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China – it would cost less than admission for one adult at Disney World.

Bottom line:  Stop whining and start living!  Travel is more affordable than you think.  The memories and experiences you gain from traveling are priceless.  Just keep that adventurous cap on – and you'll be going places – no pun intended :)

**If the concept of "Stop Whining and Start Living" inspires you – it just so happens to be a title in our audiobook library!  It doesn't directly refer to traveling - but in her book, Dr. Laura Schlessinger helps folks conquer the temptation to retreat from living life to the fullest.  Check it out!

To all you GQ wannabes (or the men who are simply forced to wear formalwear to work) – loosen up. 

Literally. 

A recent study from Cornell University stated that men who wear tight collared shirts and neckties experienced blurred vision, headaches and increased muscle tension in the back and shoulders.  

Yikes. 

Another not so appealing factor of your neck accessory is – neckties don't get cleaned as often as other articles of your clothing, thereby posing greater risk for gathering bacteria and other transmitted infections. 

So who's in favor of “loosening up”? 

Many believe that today's “dot-com” industry has evoked a more laid-back style and has taken business casual to a new level.  The standard suit and tie has been replaced with crew-neck sweaters, tailored slacks, and loafers.  Those in favor of the more casual look believe traditional business attire is stuffy, stressful, and unapproachable.  They believe that informal dress fosters creativity, originality, and moreover – a more enjoyable work environment.

However, Loyd Boston, New York-based author of Men of Color:  Fashion, History, Fundamentals and a fashion analyst for the NBC Today Show reminds us:  "Dress depends on the line of work you're in and the image you want to project. It's something that men have to be mindful of. Regardless of how casual we become, clothing marks a certain station you're in.” 

Furthermore, we do find that individuals in higher ranking positions tend to dress with more authority i.e. conservative business wear in the majority of today's corporations.   According to Hosea Belcher, senior vice president of marketing for Artisan Home Entertainment in Los Angeles states, “those who want to follow in the footsteps of their bosses and supervisors up the corporate ladder should first follow with the neckties.” 

Point taken.

So the question remains:  To tie or not to tie? The necktie that is…

Whichever you choose, just don't tie it too tight.