So far, I've shared with you what Leaning OUT means. Now, let me clarify what it does not mean. If you choose to Lean OUT: it does NOT mean you're lazy it does NOT mean you don't care about your job or your coworkers it does NOT mean you judge others who choose to Lean …
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
In June 2017, I found myself in an impressive boardroom, sitting with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a major, public corporation with whom I was interviewing for a job. We were having a very engaging conversation about the role of enterprise applications in a modern organization and my own interests and experience in managing …
Continue reading "“Where do you see yourself in five years?”"
What do Skye, Owlette and Starla Have in Common?
For those of you who read my first few posts and pegged me as an anti-feminist, here’s some good ole fashioned bra-burning for ya. If you have kids under the age of ten, you probably recognize the names Skye, Owlette, and Starla. They’re all female support characters on today’s most popular gender-neutral kids shows. And …
Continue reading "What do Skye, Owlette and Starla Have in Common?"
Leaning OUT on the Weekends
It’s 5:45 on a Saturday morning. It’s still dark outside and most of the world will be sleeping in for a couple more hours. But in our house, there is no such thing as “sleeping in” because the three little humans in our home barely know their left from right, let alone what day of …
It’s Called “PERSONAL Time Off” for a Reason
The same week I launched “We Lean OUT”, I had a very discouraging conversation with a coworker. It was Tuesday, January 9th so the office was a buzz with “Happy New Year!” as everyone gradually returned from weeks off of work, swapping stories about their Hawaiian vacations and Mexican cruises. Except for me. I had …
Continue reading "It’s Called “PERSONAL Time Off” for a Reason"
80 percent + 80 percent = 160 percent
In Fall 2016, I returned to work from my third maternity leave. I was in survival mode. I had a 1.5 hour commute (each way), a husband who had just become a teacher so was throwing himself into his work, and we were raising a 4-month-old, a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old. I felt like I …
Why I Say “No”
If you’re like the few-years-ago me, you’ll add anything to your to-do list as long as it meets one of these criteria: It’s important (to my health, my marriage, keeping my job, the kids’ academic success, etc.) It’s something I want to do It’s something other people believe is important or one should want to …
Being at Peace with Leaning Out
For a few years now, I have slowly been right-sizing my life; practicing saying “no”, getting rest and exercise, prioritizing my innermost circles like faith, marriage, and children before the outer circles like career, acquaintances, and societal expectations. I have been perfecting the art of “leaning out” of my career and into my life. Then …
Being Perceived as Leaning Out
The term “priority” means something that is more important than another. Two things literally can’t have the same priority. So, when your boss calls a last-minute team meeting for 4pm that afternoon but you’re supposed to leave work at 4pm to pick up your son and take him to his first t-ball game (and you …
It’s okay to Lean OUT
Sheryl Sandberg thinks women don’t “lean in” to our careers because we’re insecure, too busy breastfeeding, or afraid of male executives. Nothing of the sort has ever stopped me in my career. I’m not leaning in because I just don’t want to. But this has waged an internal battle inside of me... I have a …
