Words We Heard: 'You can't really be effective if you aren't bold enough to have those conversations.'
Generalizing. We all do it. And often, it doesn't even come from a place of malice; it's human nature to try to compartmentalize things, or in this case, people, into neat packages that we can understand. But I've been making a huge push in my own personal mindset not to shove people into a box and to try to see every individual in my life as an individual, instead of as the always judgy friend, the perpetually disorganized co-worker, or the constantly nosy relative. Perhaps this comes naturally to other people; it doesn't to me, and it's been a really fulfilling and rewarding train of thought thus far.
Do you guys struggle with this idea? Do you have any good stories to share? Drop us a note; we'd love to get into a good discussion.
-Kiersten
"We specifically designed everything in here for grownups to use, too, 'cause I hate when adults are like, 'Oh, I'm too old for that.' Why? What happened to you that you became too old to play and have fun?" –Julia Fischer, founder of The Play Library, in an interview with Women of Cincy
"What this is is a trend of women becoming more educated and more mature. I’m not sure that’s bad." –Donna Strobino, professor of population, family, and reproductive health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, discussing new trends in American birthrates in an interview with The Washington Post
"These kids begin to realize that all of their emotions they are feeling, that somebody was writing about those emotions more than 500 years ago. They learn they are not alone. Shakespeare can do that for you." –Jeanne Golliher, president and CEO of the Cincinnati Development Fund, in an interview with Movers & Makers on the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
“I read Mike Massimino’s book, ‘Spaceman,’ and he talks about looking back on Earth, and you see it without any boundaries. That’s really cool. When you are in the States, and you maybe didn’t grow up with that perspective, and maybe your family has gone back several generations here, you maybe lost sight of what it was that made America America in the first place. Maybe I have a fresher perspective on it because my family did come over here." –Jasmin Moghbeli, an Iranian-American astronaut candidate, in an interview with The New Yorker
"We are about spreading our love further and wider to more people than making quick cash. For us it’s about impacting people’s lives." –Stephanie Zier, co-owner of Funky Sunshine tapestry shop, in an interview with CityBeat
"I think people assume that Republicans are always going to work against Democrats and Democrats are always going to work against Republicans, but sometimes I’m disagreeing with members of my own party. Sometimes I’m building coalitions with Democrats that think more like I do on a certain policy than maybe members of my own conference... You can’t really be in this job and be effective if you aren’t bold enough to have those conversations." –Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem discussing gender roles in Congress in a study conducted by the Center for American Women and Politics, the Eagleton Institute of Politics, and Political Parity, as reported by The Huffington Post
"Studies have shown that traveling reduces overall stress, enhances creativity, boosts happiness, and decreases symptoms of depression. All of which would have a positive impact on you as an employee." –Deena Drewis in "Want to Make Yourself More Employable? Just Travel More" on girlboss