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This month is African American History Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

What started as Negro History Week in 1925 — started by Carter G. Woodson — was expanded to a month in 1976.

This year’s theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History,” honors African American women and the roles they played in the shaping of our nation. The theme, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History urges all Americans to study and reflect on the value of their contribution to the nation.

More information here.

The Catalyst Award annually honors innovative organizational approaches that address the recruitment, development, and advancement of all women, including diverse women.

This year’s winners were just announced: Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Opening the Door for Gender Diversity initiative and Sodexo's, Making Every Day Count: Driving Business Success Through the Employee Experience initiative.

Catalyst’s year-long examination of initiatives culminates in intensive on-site evaluations at select organizations. Catalyst assesses a range of strategic approaches related to women's advancement in the workplace, including discrete efforts as well as those that facilitate cultural change. In addition, initiatives must benefit women across a range of dimensions, among them race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, generation, nationality, disability, and Indigenous or Aboriginal peoples.

Click here for more information.  

The Little Pink Book's daily newsletter had an interesting article in it this morning about small businesses run by immigrant women. According to the article, new data shows women owners make up 40 percent of the nearly 2 million immigrant businesses. They have faced challenges and have a strong philanthropic drive.

Be sure to check out the full story!

On January 19, President Bill Clinton announced the fifth meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), which will be convened March 30 to April 1 in Washington, D.C. at the George Washington (GW) University. Building on the model of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), CGI U brings together approximately 1,000 students from all over the world, along with nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities engaged in efforts to create positive change. 

The CGI U meetings consist of working sessions, skill sessions, and large plenary sessions, where participants can learn about innovative approaches to solving global issues. Each CGI U meeting features a large-scale service project where attendees give back to the local community. The CGI U 2012 plenary session topics include:  

• The Power of Public Service, which will highlight the important work of groundbreaking public servants and discuss effective ways to build a broader culture of active civic engagement;
• The Wisdom of Failure: Building a Culture of Creative Problem Solving, which will explore how to embrace failure as an opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship; and
• Futurenomics: Creating Opportunity in an Unstable World, which will address how young people can move beyond business-as-usual and create economic opportunity for generations to come.

Among the many speakers are Chelsea Clinton and Jon Stewart. 

Each CGI U participant makes a Commitment to Action – a new, specific, and measurable plan that addresses a challenge on their campus, in their local community, or around the world. Commitments could range from installing energy-efficient light bulbs to designing medical backpacks for nomadic doctors in Africa.

The CGI U application is available at www.cgiu.org. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 23.

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This week I’ve been working on a new product for my website, Stepping Into Joy.  I found myself very busy doing a lot of activities; but discovered that I was not being effective.  Instead of working on the product development, I allowed myself to be distracted and working on other minor tasks. Overtime I have learned that when I’m not moving forward but am very busy; I need to ask myself why am I holding myself back from achieving my goal?   The answer nearly always comes back that I’m allowing Fear to creep into my life.  

I have developed practical steps to determine how to address these roadblocks.  Click here to view.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of social change was one of nonviolence. In his brief life, he worked against the triple evils of poverty, racism and militarism. Today, on the day that we honor his life, which was declared a day of service by Congress in 1994. It's painfully clear that the three evils still exist today. How do you honor Dr. King?

Learn more about his life here, and the King Center established by Coretta Scott King here.

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<![endif]-->This past weekend my 13-year old daughter and I volunteered to perform a day of service work in our community.   Our commitment to service work started when she was 5 years old and we volunteered time at our church selling pumpkins during October.  I feel it’s our moral obligation to make a regular time commitment to serve in our community with those that are less fortunate than we are.  .  This is a value I want instilled in my daughter and only way I know to instill that value is to live it.  To read more about our committment to serving others the weekend, please see the details at www.steppingintojoy.com

Take a step back? When everything seems overwhelming and you don't want to do anything except watch reruns of 30 Rock (Tina Fey just gets me), how do you get back on track? Or, before that, what do you do to prepare yourself for "getting back on track?" Hobbies? Kids? What inspires you to be your best you?

Here are the stats. 
Here's some commentary.

We've all read about this before, and the gap between men and women in first-world workplaces has shocked us for decades. As Sheryl Sandberg, CFO of Facebook commented, "Women became 50% of the college graduates in this country in 1981, thirty years ago. That's plenty of time for those graduates to have gotten to the top of their industries, but we're nowhere near being close to the top. Men still run the world.” 

Why aren't we 50% of the top?

The Economist made some interesting points. Many we're all probably familiar with, but I thought a couple phrased the problem in a way I hadn't thought of yet:

1. The system needs to change, not the women. Most businesses are still run with the foundational assumption that their employees have someone at home, taking care of home, family, and personal obligations. That "someone" used to be the wife, but now that "someone" may not exist for most people, because even two-parent families are often two-career families. The system needs to become more flexible to adapt to this new truth. 
2. "Business schools that follow their alumni's careers find that men are promoted on their potential but women are promoted on their performance, so they advance more slowly."
3. There is an essential crossroads in careers, usually about five to ten years in, when a person in a job has massive opportunities to "scramble to the top" and look for promotions. Unfortunately, for many women, this time corresponds almost exactly to the "biological" time of settling down and starting a family. As a result, these women may withdraw from their careers. As Sheryl Sandberg advises, "Keep your foot on the gas pedal until the very day you have to take a break to make room for a child, and then make your decisions." But not everyone is hearing that advice.<!--EndFragment-->

Why do all of you think the gap exists? And do you have any stories or advice for young women just coming into their twenties?

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Goal Setting is one of those important aspects of life that I never did single or married.  I have always just gone with the flow of life.  Not saying that is a bad; it is I just didn't have any focus and just moved along with life events as they unfolded.  After my divorce with my life in complete array, I knew that I needed to start living my life differently.  Four years ago, I was attending a company workshop on Goal Setting and the coach asked us if the life we are living today is what we want in 10 years.  Of course not; was my response and she replied with 'What is your plan and how are you going to accomplish it?'

 That comment started me on a journey on goal setting across all aspects of my life which I would like to share with you, please click Here.

There was a time in my life that every New Year’s I would set resolutions. For me, they seemed to be focused more around my health: Lose weight, exercise more, break a bad habit. Sound familiar? I found that they were focused more around what I should NOT be doing versus who I should strive to be. I usually found that by second or third week of January I reverted back to old habits and the resolutions were forgotten; well at least ignored to be honest. After many unsuccessful years of trying to stick to my resolutions; I finally just gave up making them. I lived for the day was my motto.

That changed four years ago when attending a Goal Setting workshop at my company.  The idea of my life floating like a leaf on a river with no destination in focus didn't set well with me.  I started setting Goals for myself and put a system in place to keep my focus on them.  I have learned 3 important points about goal setting.

1.  I always achieve or exceed 70% of my goals.  Every year I set the bar higher, each year I'm amazed at what I can accomplish if I have focus and purpose.

Read all 3 Lessons learned here and start your Goal setting

I coach women to put themselves on their 'to do' list and practice self-care.  Well, I am doing that big-time.  I am off to a fabulous spa for over a week to rest, reflect and recharge.

To a great year for all!

fondly, Helene

There's an interesting article on CNN this morning, "Six tips from your future self," which has advice collected from surveys given to older people. They were asked the question, "What mistakes should younger people avoid?" The answers are interesting, and include putting too high a priority on money and worrying too much. Take a look at the full story here.

I was reading an article (see link) that stated individuals were fighting over the new Nike Air Jordan Basketball shoes. Now granted I am not a basketball buff, so paying $180 for a pair of tennis shoes is not my cup of tea. However, my question is why are these basketball shoes so valuable as to cause intelligence (???) people to lose their minds? Are they considered an investment and will grow in value in a couple of years? Are they antiques, and therefore have a tidy monetary value? I am truly at a lost, what’s the big deal? Maybe someone can enlighten me.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/seattle-police-pepper-spray-air-jordans_n_1167321.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D122831

_________________________________
Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis
President/CEO
Deline Institute for Professional Development
Website:  www.delineinstitute.net
Email:  women [at] delineinstititue [dot] net

"Finding Your Best Inside"

FROM ALL OF US AT WWW.WOMENWORKING.COM

PROSPERITY, ADVANCEMENT AND POWERFUL CONNECTIONS

My daughter was 7 years old when she spent her first Christmas with my Ex after the divorce.  Having spent the 3 prior Christmas’ with just the two of us, the thought of not having her with me filled me with mixed emotion.  To add to this, I do not have any family within 1000 miles of where I lived and faced the prospect of spending my Christmas alone. Wanting to have a joyful Christmas, I lived by these following guidelines.

Not to harbor resentment against my Ex.  I knew in my head it was my Ex’s legal right to have his daughter for Christmas.  I also knew that it was the right for my daughter to spend Christmas with her father.  Regardless, I still felt I was being cheated for Christmas and could feel a resentment growing against my Ex. I had to get to a place of acceptance that I would still spend Christmas with my daughter it just wouldn’t be on that day. I made the decision that year and every year since to have our Christmas when she returns from her visit. I have been very happy with this arrangement and have found that I enjoy having the wrapped gifts under a tree for a day or two more.

 Don’t play martyr.  A friend had asked me that first year what my plans were for Christmas.  I had no desire to hop on a plane and be so far away from my daughter even though we wouldn’t be together. I told my friend I had no plans. She made the observation that it sounded like my plan was to sulk all day. She was right and is what I needed to snap myself out of being self-centered.  I went on that year to volunteer my time locally to be of service to those less fortunate that I am.  It was a special holiday for me and a lesson in humility and gratitude.

Enjoy the Holidays. I needed to remind myself that Christmas Day alone does not make up "The Season." I needed to make sure that my daughter and I still enjoyed the activities we’ve come to do each year. I knew I needed to be upbeat about her going to spend Christmas with her father.  She was excited and I didn’t want to send her out the door feeling guilty about Mom spending it alone. I talked with her about how much I was looking forward to my holiday and the holiday we would spend together when she came home.

Tradition of Being of Service.  I have had several Christmases by myself and on each one I’ve done something a little different except for the common theme of being of service. One year when my Grandmother was 101, I traveled to spend the holiday with her in a nursing home when I learned she was going to be alone. That was a special year since it was her last Christmas and I was able to assist her in wishing every family member a Merry Christmas by phone.    

This year, I will be spending the holiday without my daughter as well. It will be a bit different. I’ve been dating a wonderful man for the past year who is a single father as well. We’ll be celebrating at my house with his extended family in the immediate area. I love to host dinner parties and am looking forward to having everyone over. Upon hearing about our Christmas dinner together; my Ex offered to bring my daughter home mid-afternoon that day so she can enjoy the afternoon and evening with us. I truly am blessed and so grateful that I elected years ago to halt that resentment with her father that was building. Her presence at the Christmas table is the best gift he can give me.

About Author

Using my own life as living proof that extraordinary choices lead to an amazing life, I help others women do the same. As a divorced mother, I empower other divorcees to move out of their comfort zone and begin creating an extraordinary life for themselves and their children.  For additional information about me, please join me at www.joylaughterpeace.com 

There are plenty of museums about our forefathers in DC, but what about our foremothers? Women's E-News reports that Meryl Streep is trying to change that, by working to win congressional approval for a building next to the National Mall to house a museum dedicated to women. It would be funded by private donations — Streep has already donated $1 million. Read the full story here.

What do you think?

A story on ForbesWoman discusses the media's harsh portrayal of female executives such as Carol Bartz and Sallie Krawcheck, who left their roles this year. Are we doing women, or the business world in general, a disservice by buying into this portrayal? Will this cause other women to shy away from following in their paths? Read the full story here.

If you are feeling less than thrilled about the holiday season, know that whatever you feel is okay.  And be especially good to yourself.  You are not alone.  There are many people who feel the same way.

Do something special to honor yourself--whatever that may be for you.

fondly, Helene

The first Holiday after a divorce can be a challenge on so many different fronts; especially when you have children.  For me, how to handle my Ex In-Laws and Ex Stepchildren were the waters I’ve had to navigate over a few years.  The following points can be used to maintain healthy relationships:

1.       Sending Christmas Cards to Ex Family members.  I will never forget my first Christmas as a divorcee.  I had asked my mother if I should send Christmas cards.  She gave me the answer that I’ve used in numerous situations ‘Why make something out of nothing’.  It was so simple and to the point.  I was married for over 13 years and had good relations with my Step-children and In Laws.  I did send Christmas cards that year to them and every year since.  I also send Christmas Cards to some of my ex’s Aunt and Uncle that I only met one time about 15 years ago while married.  I  had such a lovely time with them that one day; that I started exchanging Christmas cards with them.  To this day, we exchange personal notes and pictures in our annual Christmas cards about a niece they have never met.  The cards I receive from them are cherished because it taught me that although I divorced the man; I did not divorce the family.

2.       Gift Giving.  The gift giving has evolved over the years as well.  My Ex In-Laws and I always exchange gifts for the holidays and birthdays; that practice continues to this day.  For my Ex Stepchildren, it is a different story.  They were never into sending Christmas cards nor much into giving gifts when I was married and I wasn’t expecting it to change once divorced.  The first couple of years I would send them gift cards to local restaurants since that’s what I did when I was married.  Since gifts were never sent to my daughter, their half-sister, after a few years, I just stopped sending gifts; but have always sent a Christmas card.   I can almost always count on one of them calling to wish us a Merry Christmas; which is better than any card or gift they could send.

3.        Spending time with Ex-Family during the Holidays.  I’m a stronger believe that it’s important for my daughter to spend time with family and it makes no difference to me if it my family or my Ex’s Family.  It has been 8 years since the divorce, my daughter and I recently traveled back to Southern. California where part of my family and all of my Ex’s family reside.  We spent a few days at my Ex In-Laws house. I also had an opportunity to take my Stepchildren and their families out for lunch and spend the afternoon with them.  For myself and my daughter, that is enough … they give me the greatest gift of all; their love and time.