Women- We Have The Power 💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾💪🏿

Women- we have the power to create the working world we want.

And it's not necessarily about shattering glass ceilings. And it might not be about 'leaning in'. 

It's about defining ambition... for yourself. 

Now that might mean the corner office, and the big salary, and the important title, if that's how you define success.  

But it might also mean a self-determined schedule so you can pick your kids up from school, or stay home during the day with babies and toddlers, or keep tabs on your teens while you also find time for your aging parents. 

Your ideas of success might include bopping around to different cities or different countries as you pop in and out of remote desks and offices and even apartments around the world. 

It might mean dabbling in your art, teaching yoga, and generating income on a project by project basis with your talent for visuals and quick wit on social media. 

Your ideas for success might mean time for travel, time for friends, time to read, time to write, and time to keep fit. 

You may be a part-time creative, full time parent, loving and committed daughter, with a clean house and a home cooked meal for anyone who arrives.

This may be your vision for ambition.  And it's critical that we honor and recognize all of these pursuits as ambitious and worthy of financial viability and financial security. 

For too long women have been told that in order to be successful, for their work and their lives to really count, they should want big salaries and big offices.  We've been told that we have to 'step away from ambition' to raise kids, and we have been told to accept and expect that 're-entry' after 'time out' from that singular ambition has inevitable and just consequences. In fact, we have entrenched systems that support this inevitability. We have come to accept the story we're being told about what ambition women want. 

And it is an acceptance of these systems that promote a one size fits all definition of ambition that indeed preserves this system. We have all become comfortable with it. There are more men named John and James at the helm of Fortune 500 companies than all the women leaders. There's roughly a 20% pay gap between women and men working the same positions with women receiving 80% of what men do.  Just under 20% of the US Congress comprises of women. 

And yet, we all know many, many women who are doing remarkable things every single day for themselves, their families, their communities, their companies, their organizations and for each other. And they may or may not be running a Fortune 500 company. 

Aren't these women also ambitious? Isn't their work also valid and valuable? 

We know, that, of course, it is. But if we are to change the tide and create the working world we really want for ourselves, then women must begin to tell new stories of ambition and we must honor and support these stories. 

It is the danger of the single story of an ambitious women that limits our potential. 

And so let's start to create the working world we want. A working world that honors, celebrates and supports, both socially and economically, the multitude of women's stories of ambition.  

We can shape a new working landscape for ourselves and for the future.

We will rise by lifting each other.

 

Listen In: 5 Podcasts Worth Keeping An Ear To

Reading rocks. For sure.  Every notable person everywhere reads and recommends reading. It is as they say, 'a no brainer'. 

And we get that. We're readers too.

But we're also the first to admit that juggling solo careers, families, friends, and at least some physical activity often results in reading a couple of pages in bed before falling deeply asleep with little to no chance to even dog-ear the page, let alone absorb what we've read and synthesize what we've learned in any meaningful way.  

As the 'must read' books pile up and the to-do list is ever growing, it can feel like an exercise in futility just trying to finish a book.  (Even worse it can trigger college-level guilt about not getting your homework done.)

Carving time to sit down and read can be a genuine challenge. And we just want to acknowledge that as a truth. Like doing your homework, eating healthy and keeping track of your money, it should be simple and we know it's the 'right' thing to do, but somehow it can be hard.

But fear not.  Instead of staring down that disappointing stack of unread books, we suggest mixing it up a little by adding some listening into your day in order to weave some learning into the hustle and bustle of living.

One of the best ways to do this - podcasts. You can play them out while brushing your teeth, making the dinner, or making the beds. You can tune in while walking the dog,  picking up the groceries, or on those long drives to your next meeting. They're great and provide a multitasking opportunity to listen and learn. 

Now there are a whole lot of podcasts out there, and it can be a chore just finding the right one for you- where you like the host, find the content valuable, and the production quality to your liking. So to help you narrow in on the right fit for you, here's our list of five podcasts worth keeping an ear to to help keep you inspired, current, savvy, successful and realistic about entrepreneurship.  

GirlBoss Radio - Host Sophia Amoruso interviews a different women every week who's carved out a path for herself. Starting with first jobs to present accomplishments, this podcast shows how the whole journey is indeed a journey and not just about fast wins. With wit and wisdom, Amoruso has an unconventional and wildly appealing approach and interviews some really high-profile gals. 

She Did It Her Way - Every Monday and Thursday at noon, Amanda Boleyn interviews top female entrepreneurs who hone in on a specific topics to help move YOU forward as an entrepreneur. With topics ranging from starting a business on no budget to social media marketing, content management, and the importance of a social life, this twice weekly podcast offers you tangible tools and buckets of inspiration to get through even your toughest weeks over your lunch hour. 

The Lively Show - Designed to uplift and inspire, Jess Lively's podcast is consistently ranked among the top 5 positive podcast for women entrepreneurs. Jess shares her thoughts, experiences and knowledge on living with intention and offers guidance on living a more fulfilling and authentic life. There are interviews with business mavens, leaders, health and wellness experts, authors, bloggers, and other gals who feel just like your pals next door. 

Glambition Radio - Changemakers, business builders, thought leaders, and savvy guys and gals join Ali Brown every two weeks for no-nonsense talk aimed at women to inspire and motivate them to build their success, their businesses, and their financial security.  Sprinkled with humor and equal doses of reality, this show is polished, smart, and on point for creating the life you want, when and how you want it. 

How I Built This - This NPR podcast takes you on a narrative journey every week with different founders from across the nation who share honestly and authentically their stories of trials and triumphs in building their businesses, movements, and innovations. Hosted by Guy Roz, this weekly show will have you connecting with entrepreneurial all stars who will inspire by reminding you that everyone makes mistakes and travels a tough road to realize their dreams. 

So go ahead a give these podcast a try and figure out how to work them into your daily routines. 

But don't quite abandon your book pile completely, just feel okay about putting a few on the shelf. 

International Women's Day-EVERYDAY

THE JILLS honors and champions #InternationalWomensDay, today & EVERYDAY.

Today for #InternationalWomensDay and everyday we honor & recognize ALL women who have shaped our world for the better.  Find your voice. Use it for good. And help lift & encourage others to do the same. Now go change the world. We believe in you.👊🏼

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Women in the Driver's Seat: The Jills 5

Quick 5 minute reads to keep you up to date on trends, tools, and tips for the solo professional.

Sheila Herrling, SVP, Social Innovation at The Case Foundation, shares her insights, along with substantial data, to support what she sees as the biggest trends in social good - women, women, women. In this post, Sheila explores Women as Investors, Women as Consumers, and Women as Entrepreneurs to reveal why our economy, and our social fabric, depends on investing in women. 

Biggest Trend in Social Good? Women in the Driver's Seat | Sheila Herrling | The Case Foundation | January 17, 2017

Susan & Elizabeth- Historical Jills

Regardless of your party, celebrate your right to vote.  

On this historic election day, we are proud to stand with our pioneer Jills, who led the way for our voices to be heard and our choices to be made. 

👊🏼 Susan & Elizabeth- you ladies rock. it. out. 

THE JILLS

#womeninhistory

#suffragettecity

Our Founding Mothers & the United State of Women

We Didn’t Set Out to Be Entrepreneurs. Why Steadying the Scales of Work-Life Balance Compelled Two Women to StartUp.

Megan and I did not necessarily set out to be entrepreneurs.

Megan build an amazing career in fashion and design, climbed the corporate ladder to executive positions in prestigious organizations, shaped brands that changed an industry, traveled the world, was granted patents, was featured on Oprah, made movies, and even dreamed up experiential cruise ship voyages. She earned a top salary, and was beloved by her staff and colleagues. Her nurturing and generous spirit extended through her leadership where she taught many, especially women, to fully embrace the ampersand and be powerful & feminine, direct & kind, humorous & focused, collaborative & independent.

As life changed, as it’s so apt to do, Megan did too.

Children grew, relocations happened, new interests developed. There was downsizing. And Megan found herself contemplative and eager for a brand new dress to wear, one that could bring her closer to a work-life balance so she could soak up more time with her husband, 3 teenaged children, and her extended family living in different states.  She eventually styled her own independent and successful brand strategy and design consultancy business, and after nearly 30 years of leading multimillion dollar projects and being 'traditionally' employed, Megan was now using her talents and skills so she could work when she wanted, how she wanted, and on projects that mattered to her. A flexible schedule with a variety of projects and hand-picked clients suited her as an encore career.

My career story was much more of an 'adapt and go' kind of set-up from the beginning. I loved to teach, I was good at it, and I used it to satisfy my taste for travel, spending the early part of my career in both the Middle East and Europe.  When I moved to the US from Canada, I found myself in Austin, TX where I decided to redirect my talents for teaching and writing to an educational publishing company instead of the classroom, and exchange my evenings of grading papers for night classes to earn my massage therapy license - something I’d wanted to do since high school.

But before long, I too, decided to step out of corporate and embark on what I know see as my portfolio career working as an independent: writing, teaching, and educating. Because besides being wearied by the corporate ladder that only one person can climb at a time, there also came pregnancies that were tougher than imagined, relocations, and superhero mom and dad manoeuvres to ensure one of us was always home with our boys - a portfolio career made sense to me.  There just wasn’t a name for it then.

Together, Megan and I have a very unique 360 degree view of work. We know both sides of being an independent and working in corporate. We see the possibilities, opportunities, and struggles of both.  We know stay-at-home parenting, we know being working mothers. We’ve lived re-entry and are always re-entering so we can routinely adjust the work + life equation. Megan shattered glass ceilings. I stayed off the ladder. We know the merits and downfalls of each.

And we know the world of work is changing. And so do you. You’ve seen the statistics; read the headlines. 70% of us will work freelance in the next 10 years.  Lifetime employment is over. The gig economy is the new economy.  It’s a Freelance Nation. Our work will come from our alliances, not recruiters, and not employers.

So no, we didn’t necessarily set out to be entrepreneurs.

But after nearly 30 combined years of trying to steady the scales of work-life balance, we’re compelled to be. 

We’re turning directly to the problems felt by both the independents and the hiring clients in this gig economy and creating a solution.  And it is our combined 360 degree view, and our lifetime of experiences that make us uniquely qualified to take on the challenge. We’ve lived the problems, see a path to a solution,  and know it’s time for us to step up and lead a workforce revolution.

Join us on our journey.  

Because we know in our core that when women come together,  link arms, and lift each other up we have the power to change everything.

Time Out Before Burn Out: THE JILLS 5

Quick 5 minute reads to keep you up to date on trends, tools, and tips for the solo professional.

Kate Shea reminds us of the importance of taking some ‘time out’, especially when we’re burning the midnight oil and juggling multiple projects. With some helpful strategies and some solid reminders of what we need to work our best, Kate’s blog, and a break, might be just what you need to ramp up and get some work done!

Making Time for Relaxation (even when you’re overworked) | Freelancers Union Blog | August 23, 2016

Women Entrepreneurs Helping Women Entrepreneurs

In so many ways, THE JILLS OF ALL TRADES™ was co-founded in celebration of women and their constant deftness at reconfiguring the work-life equation. We’re women, and our personal and professional lives have morphed so many times, and in so many directions, as our families changed, our children grew, our mother’s needed us, and as we needed our mothers. And in all the inventing and reinventing, and keeping to our core and leaning in, we have loved all its iterations. And it was from these experiences that we knew we wanted to create a platform where all women were empowered to work when they wanted, how they wanted, on their terms, and on projects that made sense to them. We didn’t necessarily set out to be entrepreneurs, but we found ourselves compelled to do what seemed right for many women.

Having established portfolio careers ourselves to try and find the balance and flexibility we sought in our own lives, we decided to turn directly into the problems we encountered in our pursuit. Using our experiences both in corporate and as independent consultants, we noticed two clear and synergists problems:

1. Companies had a growing need to hire highly specialized consultants, freelancers and independent contractors in an on-demand, a la carte capacity, and;

2. Many talented and highly qualified women who craved and created flexible work experiences were fragmented and ‘off radar’ to these hiring clients.

Both the independents and the companies alike, lacked efficient and effective ways to seek and find each other. For us, it was time to bridge the gap between companies and consultants and aggregate a community of independents into a one-stop shop for diverse on-demand talent. The emerging gig economy fueled our fire, as did the importantly growing voices of women demanding pay equity, leadership experiences, and work flexibility.

And THE JILLS OF ALL TRADES™ was born - a community-driven platform to support and promote women entrepreneurs, consultants, freelancers, scientists, attorneys, designers and engineers and to connect businesses to a highly qualified on-demand talent pool.

Much like the way Etsy carved a community from the big-box shop of Ebay, so too does THE JILLS OF ALL TRADES™ carve a niche for women in the landscape of the freelance hiring marketplace, without job-bidding, or brokering or taking fees for work engagements. Instead THE JILLS are incentivized to join to gain community, collaborative partnerships, and large-scale marketing exposure.   

As we embark on our entrepreneurial journey, we recognized the opportunity this new economy is creating, and we’re audacious enough to believe that women can lead it.

Join our journey and let’s get started. If we want to lead in this new working space, we must first link arms, lift each other up, and walk the path together so we can get out in front.

Dear John...

Dear John.

Things aren't working out. Women are powering together to move up, so it's time to move on. Don't worry- it's not you, it's us.

Love,

THE JILLS

workihttps://lnkd.in/eVzkyW6

Happy Mother's Day, every day from THE JILLS

A Salute to our Iconic Women Leaders

May the Workforce be with you.

WORK (HAN) SOLO-NOT SILO™

THE FIRST JILLS

we are the founders of THE JILLS OF ALL TRADES™ and we are on a mission to work smarter, live fuller & lift others who wish to do to the same. 

After our corporate 9-5 gigs became more grind than growth, we were convinced there was a better way to do work, find work, and get work done. We knew you could have an independent business and still feel professionally connected. We felt sure it was possible to feed our brains & fuel our hearts, without sapping our souls, without missing out on life's special moments….And still stay busy. And still make a living, while keeping a life. 

Naive? Utopia? Nope.

We're doing it here at THE JILLS OF ALL TRADES ™. Join our journey. 

Corinne and Megan

"THE LIGHT OF ONE ROW BOAT IN AN OCEAN IS HARD TO FIND. BUT LINKING MANY TOGETHER MAKES A BEAUTIFUL BEACON".