What Sheryl Sandberg, my mom and Yogi Berra have taught me about work-life balance

This past Mother’s Day was my last as a non-mother, so naturally I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being a mom, and more specifically, being a working mom. Above all, I keep asking myself one thing: Do I have what it takes to balance work, life and motherhood? No doubt, this is a question many young, professional females have grappled with.

While we don’t have generations upon generations of working mothers to look to for advice, we do have some very accomplished women who have shared their recipes for success when it comes to balancing work and motherhood.

Over the past couple months, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has been perhaps the most widely-discussed advice-giver with the release of her book “Lean In,” which she describes as a "sort of feminist manifesto." In my opinion, the book provides valuable advice for women, especially those beginning their careers in the business and legal fields.

Many rising female attorneys are faced right away with the decision of whether to commit to the partner track or choose another path. Sandberg advises that women shouldn’t plan for future “either/or” forks in their career paths. Instead, Sandberg advises to “lean in,” and when the time comes, learn how to juggle.

Personal Branding Corner: Is Your Personal Brand Lopsided?

We've all heard people referred to as "technicians" of their craft/ job/career/business/profession.  Sometimes people call it an "expert".  But what does it mean to be a "technician" and is it the same as an "expert"?

In my personal branding opinion, they are not the same. In fact, I encourage you all to be an expert IN ADDITION to being a technician.

I often find clients come to us because they are suffering from being a really good technician.  All they know is their substantive work.  They are really good lawyers, CEOs, senior management, CPAs, doctors, dentists, engineers, etc.  By the time they get to me, they realize that something is missing. While they are really good at WHAT they do for a living, they are usually not happy, not promotable, not memorable, not liked, not prosperous if they are running a business, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Want to know why?

Click HERE to read the rest.

Compromising Work and Social Life: Why it Must Happen

The fields of criminal investigations and criminology have grown and expanded in both popularity and demand in recent years.  You may be familiar with recent television programs such as C.S.I., Law & Order and NUMB3RS that have popularized and even glamorized the contribution of crime scene investigations and analysis.  These television series have made DNA evidence, ballistics reports and criminology common terms among a whole new generation of television viewers as well as a potential pool of future Criminology majors, but they seriously downplay the amount of work that goes into compiling a case. They also don’t clue you in to the kinds of hours you might work and how it impacts your personal life.

I’ve found that those around me in various professions and walks of life have experienced a similar situation to mine.  We are driven, successful females putting in hours after plenty of people have gone to bed but we don’t feel truly fulfilled.  I love what I do, and I love the feeling of pursuing justice, but when I want to kick back on my occasional day off, I wish I had spent more time getting to know people and less time studying by myself. Today I have my dream job, but the people I have on hand to celebrate my achievements are friends I’ve had forever. 

Has Your Intuition Been Crushed?

The Girl’s Guide to Law School and Amicus Tutoring recently organized a terrific conference for law students and new lawyers with the apt title of “Catapult.”  I was honored to be included on a panel moderated by Lee Burgess about the twists and turns of legal careers.  Lee posed several penetrating questions about the lessons the panelists had learned along the way.

She asked each of us to describe how we had overcome fear to make changes in our career. I confessed that I had failed to overcome fear and stayed in a position that I found unsatisfying. That may seem to be an odd admission because I spent 17 years in the same Big Law (10 as a partner) and left to become the General Counsel of a Fortune 300 company.

When I was about two years away from hearing the partnership verdict, I began to wonder if a life in (or more accurately a life of) Big Law was what I wanted. My work overshadowed everything else in my life, and by then I had lost some of the buzz from earlier days when I reveled in every aspect of being a Big Law corporate attorney: seeing my deals on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, staying in the finest hotels and taking clients to the final game of the NBA Championship.  

Using Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness to Increase Focus and Memory During Periods of High Stress: A Beginner’s Guide

In a previous Ms. JD blog post “Mindfulness in Manhattan,” you mention ways to find tranquility in the hustle and bustle of New York City.  Can you recommend methods to find peace in law school settings (e.g., classrooms, the library, and even the exam room itself)?

Have a sanctuary—a place where you go, whether that is under your favorite campus tree, perched on a sunlit windowsill in the library or curled up on your favorite armchair at home—where you go to find your inner calm.  I personally don’t do any work in my bedroom because my bedroom is a place for rest.   Remember that you’ve been doing great things that have gotten you to where you are, so just keep doing them!

Another way to find peace is to practice mindfulness, which is a way to find a sanctuary, wherever you are, within yourself.  Mindfulness means focusing on the current moment. Even just closing your eyes and finding a few moments of calm can be a powerful tool for productivity, rejuvenation, and balance.

Finals: How to Eat, Sleep and Study for Maximum Success!

How to eat: Focus on nourishing yourself.  After a long day of studying, cook or eat your favorite healthy foods.  If it’s relaxing for you, cooking at the end of your day will give your brain a break and relieve stress.  Eat light, healthy meals interspersed with healthy snacks you love to keep you focused and keep your energy up.

How to sleep: People are different; it’s all about knowing yourself.  Some people can sleep less than others. The night of the exam I value sleep over study.  Sleep is so important for being able to think on your feet.  At least during the night before an exam, I recommend getting your full nights sleep, whether that is 7 hours, 9 hours or something in between. 

How to nap: Naps can be valuable reset buttons, but only if they work for you.  Naps can make some people feel sluggish.  If you’re not taking a nap, take some type of study break that restores you—have a cup of tea or walk your dog.  You can’t focus for 5 hours straight and expect to retain it all. 

Work, Life and Leadership: A Conversation with Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson and Pennsylvania Bar President Tom G. Wilkinson

Hello Ms. JD!

For my first blog, I am writing to you about this week's Ms. JD event:  “Work, Life, Leadership: A Conversation with Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson and Pennsylvania Bar President Tom G. Wilkinson.”  The event started like any other – with a brief introduction of our honored guests.  Though, once you read through their bios, there is no way to give justice to this real-life power couple.  Kathleen and Tom poked fun at each other as they discussed their careers, experience with their respective bar associations, raising children, and supporting each other.  Here are some interesting points that Kathleen and Tom made throughout the evening:

1.        Starting a Career – Be a “Doer”

Both Kathleen and Tom opened with what brought them to law.  Kathleen jumped right in explaining her interest in law started with the movie Adam’s Rib – Kathleen’s first exposure to a woman kicking-butt in the legal professions.  She explained that she had always been a “doer” – volunteering at every opportunity and excelling in law school.  

How Do You Set Realistic Timelines in Law School and Legal Practice?

Interested in learning about the transition from deadlines in law school to deadlines as a lawyer?

Have you wondered how BigLaw firm associates manage their time and participate in other organizations?

Interested in learning how Ms. JD board members plan Ms. JD Events while working a full-time job or being a law student?

Then listen to this podcast at Happy Go Legal!

In this Happy Go Legal Podcast, Chelsea interviews Kim Watson, a Ms. JD Board Member and a first year associate at an international BigLaw firm, to have a conversation about how a recent success in putting on a major event on behalf of Ms. JD has translated into strategies and lessons for future career and personal development.

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Work, Life, Leadership: A Conversation with Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson and Pennsylvania Bar President Thomas G.Wilkinson

Ms. JD, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association invite you to join us for: Work, Life, Leadership: A Conversation with Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson and Pennsylvania Bar President Thomas G.Wilkinson

Kathleen and Thomas Wilkinson are spouses leading the two largest Bar Associations in Pennsylvania.  Join us for an evening where Kathleen and Tom will discuss firsthand how to succeed in the legal world while maintaining your private life.  It is a night not to be missed!  You will leave with knowledgeable insight on both the professional and personal skills needed to succeed in today's modern world.

When: April 2, 2013, 5pm sharp, immediately followed by networking session.  

Where:  Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor Conference Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Who: Law students and young attorneys in the Philadelphia area.

Attendance is limited so please RSVP here by March 31, 2013.  For issues with registration, contact Dawn Petit at dpetit@philabar.org.

Best Friends at the Bar: The Law Insider Features BFAB on Sheryl Sandberg

 Check out my article on The Law Insider that came out today.  Lots to think about there for women lawyers who also are reading the Sheryl Sandberg book or the press surrounding it.

My article, Five Things Women Can Learn from Sheryl Sandberg, addresses Ms. Sandberg's message to women in traditional business but also distinguishes the value of that message for many women in the law.  I wish it was different---honestly, I do.  I wish that I could tell you that Sheryl Sandberg has all the answers for young women lawyers.  But, I cannot.  She has some very solid advice for women in business, but she also skips lightly over the realities that some women, even those in traditional business, do not have the resources to make it all work to get to the corner offices and flex their muscles---especially during the childbearing and childrearing years.  Without the nannies, the cooks, the housekeepers and the personal shoppers it all becomes very challenging.  While it is true that some husbands and mates are pitching in more at home these days, I do not think that is going to free up enough time for many women in business for the open field run that Sheryl Sandberg seems to respect singularly and advise above all else.  The approach narrows the definition of success and leaves out too many women for my taste.