When I was in pre-school my teacher took my mother aside and said, "Mrs. Winbourne, we play pretty intensely here at school - finger paint, playground time, play dough - and I just want to let you know that you really don't need to send your daughter to school in dresses every day."

To which my mother suggested that if she'd like to see me in more play appropriate clothing that she should come over to our home and dress me every morning as I refuse to wear anything but dresses.

Point taken.

Imagine an ENTIRE conference dedicated to serving individuals who are reentering the workforce.  Imagine an ENTIRE conference focused on issues that pertain SOLELY to renetering the workforce.  Imagine an ENTIRE conference geared towards making these people SUCCESSFUL!

Many women are under the assumption (fasley) that they have to take a pay cut when they return to work - JUST because they have been out of the workforce.

Not true.

Want to return to work AND get paid?  Then remember this: a job is worth what a job is worth.  And if you can do the job the same as the next person, you shouldn't get paid less just because you haven't been working.

It was back in 2008 that I found myself, at the age of 47—a published writer, former spokesperson for TV and radio, once well-known in my field—mopping up splattered spaghetti sauce from the kitchen floor and catching watermelon pop-ups,  while two small children took their best shot at killing each other from across the kitchen table.

As far as the business world was concerned, I’d hopped a flying egg-beater to Outer Mongolia and was forgotten with crushing ease and rapidity.

What had happened to my life?

If I wanted to hear first day of work horror stories, I’m sure there are many of you who may have at least one to tell.   Some may be too embarrassing to tell.  In any case, starting a new job can be exciting and stressful all at the same time.  Getting to know new co-workers and managers, feeling like you have to prove yourself worthy of

I’ve been searching the web trying to figure out who first said, “Done is better than perfect.”  Long before it became synonymously attached to “Lean In” author Sheryl Sandberg, it was a phrase that perfectionists and endless tweakers used to break them of crippling, obsessive behavior.

Best selling English author Elizabeth Haynes is coming to the US in September when she attends Bouchercon, the mystery/thriller fan convention in New York as well as signings at the Rust Library and One More Page Books in Virginia.

 Most of my clients spend most of their energy working on getting better at what they do.  They build areas of expertise in their respective industries.  They want to be better lawyers, bankers, and influencers.  

I get it, I want to be the best at what I do.

The problem is that I might be the best mentor but if I don’t successfully manage my business, I won’t have the time and opportunity to mentor these women who are changing the world.

“Watch out for Balls” reads the sign in the private, ocean-front, golf-course that I pass through on my long runs. In addition to posting a sensible fear, this sign is also a signal for me to literally speed up.  My mom’s best friend was once struck in the hand by a golf-ball as she ran through this course. Her hand swelled and was black and blue for weeks. The warning sign reminds me to train at varying intervals and not be lulled by the beautiful scenery into a slow trot.

Do you know the work of Seth Godin?  Seth calls himself a writer, speaker and  change of agent.  Everyday, he produces and publishes thought-provoking ideas at www.sethgodin.typepad.com.  It’s the kind of content that make the reader say, “Hmmm, interesting.”<