High Wire Woman with Rosanna Berardi

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with stylist Bridgette Raes about how the pandemic has transformed our wardrobes. Bridgette is one of the most seasoned personal stylists and image consultants in the country. With more than 25 years of experience in the world of fashion, Bridgette has built a career helping top-level executives and women in leadership. She joins Rosanna in this episode to talk about ‘the work from home uniform’, how the pandemic has helped us embrace a new type of wardrobe as working women, and the evolution of fashion. You'll hear Rosanna and Bridgette talk about: What Bridgette’s clients are looking for regarding fashion. Women need to spend more time developing our mid-casual attire. Tips on how to prepare quickly for virtual meetings. How fashion is evolving. Retailers will have to learn how to navigate and thrive in the new landscape, or they are going to go out of business. Online shopping is going to make big box retailers less necessary. The different services Bridgette offers and how High Wire Women can get started with her. Style is an investment in time, and it’s about knowing that you’re not only looking good, but feeling good and comfortable in what you’re wearing. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Bridgette Raes | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Cailen Ascher about getting the best out of our lives while spending less time working. Cailen is a business and lifestyle coach who works closely with women entrepreneurs. She has spent her professional life helping working women who value their time and want to enjoy life achieve a full-time income doing part-time hours. She joins Rosanna in this episode to give tips on how High Wire Women can do the same. You'll hear Rosanna and Cailen talk about: What is the three-day workweek concept? Outsourcing frees up your time and allows you to focus on the more important aspects of your life. It’s important that working women find a schedule that honors their energy and their time. Tracking your time daily so that you can see what bad habits you need to break. We should also schedule the non-business stuff in our lives. It’s important to remember that even as working women, our lives are happening right now at this moment, and so we need to be intentional with every minute. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Cailen Ascher | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest CailenAscher.com

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Maria Alcantara about money and financial literacy. Maria is a money coach, investment advisor, author, and the Founder of Millennial Money Queens. She has spent her professional life educating working women about finance and giving them the tools they need to become financially literate. She joins Rosanna in this episode to share her expertise and tips on forming a financial plan, and how High Wire Women can achieve financial literacy. You'll hear Rosanna and Maria talk about: How and why Maria started in the financial sector. Psychology and finance are linked: a lot of our money problems come from the way we view money, our beliefs about money, and our family stories. 52% of women feel that money is the biggest source of stress in their lives. Many women aren’t confident enough to negotiate better salaries or fees because they don’t think they’re equipped to handle those conversations. Maria counsels women by giving them the knowledge they need to ask the right questions about money. “We give different options depending on your lifestyle, but it really always starts with having a conversation with where you are and where you want to go with your money, your relationship to money, how you feel about it…. make you empowered about all financial things in your life,” Maria tells Rosanna. The pandemic has taught Maria to value what’s really important in life. We need to be deliberate about how we’re spending our time and our time with family. Even though it may seem daunting, we High Wire Women need to develop the confidence to ask the right questions around money. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Maria Alcantara | Facebook Millennial Money Queens

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Karena Calhoun about planning for your life, and living an authentic life. Karena is a mindset and life coach and works with women entrepreneurs to level up in their business. She guides them through unveiling their authentic selves, discovering their purpose, and destroying self-defeating obstacles. She joins Rosanna in this episode to share her expertise and give tips on how High Wire Women can unlock our authentic selves. You'll hear Rosanna and Karena talk about: If we don’t change our mindsets, we won’t change our behaviors. Once you begin to unveil your authentic self, and you discover what your true purpose is, you have to be unapologetically in that zone. Discovering your purpose will make people who knew the old you uncomfortable. The process of unveiling your authentic self. What High Wire Women can expect when they sign up for Karena’s website. When we unlock our true and authentic selves, we can be so powerful. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Karena Calhoun | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Warkry

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Jyotsna Ramachandran about being an author. Jyotsna helps aspiring professionals be seen as trusted experts in their fields by becoming bestselling authors in 90 days. She joins Rosanna in this episode to share her expertise and give tips to help you become a bestselling author. You'll hear Rosanna and Jyotsna talk about: How Jyotsna went into writing and publishing her own book. Why books are the best way to share our expertise as thought leaders. The two ways of writing a book, and what is an Angel Writer. The difference between writing and authoring. The timeline of constructing a book, and the process of writing, publishing, and marketing. How to make your book an Amazon bestseller. Your book as a marketing tool for your business. We have so much insight as working women and we should share it with the world. Write the book! Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Jyotsna Ramachandran | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram JyotsnaRamachandran.com Job Escape Plan Happy Author's Tribe

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Jenny Arrington, the founder of Rebel Human. Jenny is a yoga instructor and has been using that knowledge to help individuals achieve mindfulness and better mental equilibrium. She joins Rosanna as they discuss meditation, growth, and helping women develop better mental health. You'll hear Rosanna and Jenny talk about: What inspired Jenny to get involved with yoga as a practice. What Rebel Human is about. Why we need to acknowledge our failures. How Jenny incorporates tools from traditional yogic practices into wellness as an action and not just a statement. Humans are wired for comfort. We need to bring something more compelling into our lives so that we can start to do away with bad habits. Choosing joy. How Jenny launched a business in 2020. How High Wire Women can become Rebel Humans. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Jenny Arrington | LinkedIn Rebel Human JennyArrington.com

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guests from the management team of the Ronald McDonald House of Western New York, Sally Vincent, Lynn Hughes and Marianne Hoover. Sally is the Executive Director, Lynn is the Director of Operations and Marianne is the Hospital Programs Manager. They join Rosanna on this episode to discuss how this charitable enterprise is impacting their community. You'll hear Rosanna, Sally, Lynne and Marianne talk about: What the Ronald McDonald House does, and how it works. The needs of the house, how you can donate, and how the pandemic has impacted the operations of the charity. The House’s hospitality policy, the ‘happy wheels cart’, and the free ‘therapy sessions’ they offer to parents of patients. The House’s upcoming physical and virtual events and how you can get involved if interested. The pull-tab program, what it is and how it contributes to the funding of the Ronald McDonald House. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Sally Vincent | LinkedIn Lynn Hughes | LinkedIn Marianne Hoover | LinkedIn The Ronald McDonald House | Facebook | (716) 883-1177

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Lauren Krasnodembski about finding your deeper calling in life. Lauren is a private attorney turned author and is passionate about helping other women find clarity by guiding them through the self-discovery process. Society has fed us the mistaken belief that our lives should be at a certain point by a certain time frame, and we feel pressured to organize our lives accordingly. Social media makes it worse: the glamorous lives people portray online reinforces the pressure to get it all together. In our struggle to keep up, we end up feeling unfulfilled because we are devoid of passion and purpose. Rosanna and Lauren discuss how finding our passions can help us to live better, more fulfilled lives. You'll hear Rosanna and Lauren talk about: Lauren’s four-year inward quest and her journey to publishing her book. We need to strengthen our mind to get back in touch with our heart space. Why we should not look at other people’s lives as blueprints for how to live our lives. How Lauren’s book can help us reclaim our power. We don’t need to be passionate about just one thing; we can have multiple passions. We reclaim our power when we allow more passion into our lives. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Lauren Krasnodembski | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Reclaim Your Power by Lauren Krasnodembski

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Stephanie Heller about some of the skills and mindsets entrepreneurs need to develop, especially in the early years. They’re also talking about balancing our lives as working women, and how to be strategic and thoughtful. Rosanna and Stephanie give a few tips on how to deal with our emotions, so they don’t control us or dictate how we respond. You'll hear Rosanna and Stephanie talk about: Stephanie’s career change, including how she started life coaching entrepreneurs. In the first three years of business, we need to say yes to everything and not be reactive. We need to stay true to the original mission of our business. Noticing when our brains are giving us false stories. Planning our week at the beginning so that we can always have something to do. Being present in your own life. Stephanie’s platform The Profit Lounge. We high wire women need to be organized so that we don’t become overwhelmed. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Stephanie Heller | LinkedIn The Profit Lounge | Facebook Group | Business In Balance

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking with guest Veronika Childs about overcoming her scares with cancer, her struggles with obesity, and reaching self-acceptance. They're also talking about embracing life and no longer waiting for 'the right moment' to do what we want to do. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis as well as obesity is difficult. Veronika says, however, that those challenges have changed her perspective on life. When you’re confronted with the possibility of death, time suddenly becomes much shorter and doing what you love while you can becomes much more important. Embracing our passions is something we should all do. You'll hear Rosanna and Veronika talk about: How Veronika started her video blog. How surviving cancer has changed Veronika's outlook on life. Working on the 'Last Life Ever' podcast. Why following our passions is fulfilling our life's purpose. How Veronika began her journey of overcoming her struggles with her weight after reaching 304 pounds. How we need to keep moving forward whenever we achieve a goal. Reframing and reprogramming ourselves to think less negatively. There is a reason that you have a burning desire to do something. You have been given that desire because it is your calling. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Veronika Childs Veronika Childs on YouTube

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about employment and maintaining that high wire in the new normal with her guest Michele Olivier. Michele is a certified career coach, a former director of talent acquisition at YMCA, and now an entrepreneur helping both companies and individual job seekers. They’re also discussing the problems working women have when it comes to balancing our work and our personal lives. A lot of the time, we take on too much and don’t let ourselves take breaks; that’s detrimental to our mental well-being. You'll hear Rosanna and Michele talk about: How the pandemic has affected the job market. Who are the hardest hit in society by the lack of availability of jobs. How we as women sometimes look for compensation for the ‘invisible jobs.’ When seeking employment we need to chat with our partners or our support system and help them understand that the endeavor we are embarking on is serious and that they need to treat it that way. We need to stop micromanaging our partners and our loved ones. Being good at one thing doesn’t mean that you are good at another thing. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. We should let others take some of the weight we carry and allow other people to do things for us without feeling guilty. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Michele Olivier | LinkedIn Hey I Want Your Job | Podcast | YouTube O&H Consulting | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Instagram: @oandhconsulting

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is joined by special guest Em Hollis, who is the owner of The Freedom Project. She credits her amazing journey - from opiate addiction through a divorce to being the owner of The Freedom Project - to Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work in psychology. According to Dispenza, what’s in your mind sets off a chain reaction throughout your decision-making that affects your life. You’ll hear Rosanna and Em Hollis talk about: The society-wide victim mindset. Taking pride in who you are. How breathing the right way can shake off stress. Listening to your body’s needs. “It's the most freeing thing in the world to really understand that it all starts and ends with you.” Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Em Hollis on LinkedIn | Instagram The Freedom Project You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter by Dr. Joe Dispenza

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about balance with guest Audrey Hall. Audrey is the CEO, guru, owner and founder of Eco Serve Pest Services. Like Rosanna, she’s a working mother who runs her own business and understands the daily struggles of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It is hard work, but it is doable. Rosanna and Audrey want us to strive for that and give us some tips on how to achieve it. You'll hear Rosanna and Audrey talk about: Having something in your life that helps make tasks easier or helps ease your daily stress. Surrounding yourself with people smarter than you who want to support you. Having someone in your life outside of your family who understands your struggles whom you can vent to. Paying for menial tasks to be done - having your groceries delivered, for example - so you can have more time to focus on more important aspects of life like family and work. Being intentional about everything to keep your sanity. Understanding that life will never be perfect and appreciating the messy moments. We need to stop trying to do everything at once and accomplish every possible task. Knowing what to put all our energy into is how we can achieve a healthy work-life balance. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Audrey Hall | LinkedIn Ecoservepest.com Eco Serve Pest Services [email protected]

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about being there for your children. Parenting in itself is a hard job, one of the hardest jobs in the world, but she makes the point that a lot of the time, we parents make it harder than it needs to be. Coddling our children in the misguided hopes of protecting them won’t help us, and won’t help our children develop as responsible individuals. You'll hear Rosanna talk about: The parental inventory. The ‘parenting memo’. How parenting has changed from generation to generation. Why you have to let your kids lose sometimes. We need to stop trying to protect our children from every possible unpleasant event or emotion and just spend time with them. Put your phone down, and just be there. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is joined by special guest Sunil Godse, who is a teacher at Intuitionology. Sunil is an intuition expert and is so confident in the value of going with your gut that he based his entire career around teaching it to others. He discusses why we should trust our intuition. Intuition is an inclination or deciding factor in the decision-making process, backed up by your previous experiences. According to research, it activates between 7-10 seconds before you make a decision. You'll hear Rosanna and Sunil Godse talk about: The science behind intuition. Positive and negative intuitive signals. How women channel their intuition to their benefit. The importance of removing bad influences in your life. “When you are unsure of what decision to make, your intuition is already looking into the past to help.” Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law Sunil Godse on LinkedIn | Twitter SunilGodse.com

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about fitness. The rapid switch in our daily routines due to the pandemic has made it harder to move more and eat less sugar. It is much more convenient to grab some cookies while you work than it has ever been before. Understanding the importance of a good diet and frequent physical activity is a prime motivator to taking charge of your health and wellness. You'll hear Rosanna talk about: The precursor to every horrible disease. The effects of reducing her sugar intake. Why too much processed sugar is bad for you. Why you shouldn’t focus on being 100% perfectly committed to your diet plan. “Sugar is like putting fuel on a fire.” Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law

The hardest decision most working women face every day is deciding “what’s for dinner?” Why do we have to eat dinner every single day??? After trying several options including, a private chef (too pricey), prepared meals (tasted awful), meal kits (took forever to make), I’ve figured out a few short cuts. The Rotisserie Chicken is your best friend! I don’t love chicken. But the rotisserie chicken is the base of simple and easy meals. I buy one every week (Instacart delivers them) and get at least two meals from one chicken. Here’s a simple formula: 1. Use the chicken for: · Chicken sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, tomato, mayo on a roll or wrap) · Chicken tacos (chicken, instant rice, avocado, lettuce, tomato) · Pulled chicken sandwiches (shred the chicken, add BBQ sauce, heat and serve) · Chicken burrito bowl (instant rice, chicken, cilantro, lettuce, cheese) · Chicken salad (chicken, mayo, salt, pepper) 2. Use the leftover chicken for: · Easiest chicken soup ever! Chicken broth, large-sized mirepoix (pre-cut carrots, celery and onions), salt, pepper, entire chicken carcass. Add pasta or rice to “beef” it up. The Ninja Foodi should win the Nobel Peace Prize! At the beginning of this year we were looking for an indoor grill that didn’t create a huge mess and was easy to use. We bought the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill at Walmart on a whim. You guys…it has been life-changing to say the least! Here’s what it comes with: Ninja® Foodi™ 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Quart Air Fryer 5 cooking functions - grill, air crisp, bake, roast, dehydrate Foodi™ Indoor Grill Grate Foodi™ Indoor Grill Crisper Basket Foodi™ Grill Brush 15-recipe book 1-year VIP warranty Let me tell you—this grill is worth the $200 price tag and type. We use it almost every day. It is a fantastic grill that perfectly cooks chicken, steak and pork chops in minutes! The air fryer has been life changing. It crisps up chicken fingers and french fries just like your local pizza joint. It makes crispy bacon without the mess! It cooks small roasts in under 20 minutes. The possibilities are endless for the Ninja Foodi—it will surely simplify your meal planning. Breakfast for Dinner There is nothing easier to make than breakfast for dinner. Whip up some scrambled eggs, toast some bread and have some pre-cut fruit. Or there is always ingredients for french toast! And pancakes with butter and syrup. Breakfast for dinner is cheap, fast and easy!

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about thoughtfulness. The world has suddenly been thrust into a virtual landscape of daily life, with little to no person-to-person interactions. Hatred, division, and controversy is widespread within the current political and social climate. What we need right now is connection; with our families, friends, and loved ones. You'll hear Rosanna talk about: Sending cards and gift cards. Checking in on people. How to be empathetic. The importance of social interaction. “Think of the ripple effect; if we all spend some time daily or weekly doing something for someone else, maybe we can change the tide.” Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law

This week on the High Wire Woman podcast, Rosanna Berardi is talking about the true cost of doing everything yourself. We women often take on more than our fair share of responsibilities. Spending money on some tasks - like paying for someone to clean our houses or using delivery services for our groceries - can free up our time. This is valuable time we can spend with our loved ones or doing things we enjoy. We’ll boost our mental health as well. You'll hear Rosanna talk about: Common myths about paying for services. Investing in yourself vs saving $8 a week on groceries. Letting go of your inner control freak. “If you don’t find ways to shorten your to-do list, you’re gonna suffer greatly.” Delegating and outsourcing tasks is the only way to make strides in your personal and professional life. Spend the money! Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are some of Julie Andrews' favorite things, and they’re great – but today, we’re talking about mine. This time of year, in the cold, and in a pandemic, it can be a little hard to find things to be happy about, so I wanted to put together a list of things that I have really loved in the last little while. None of these links are affiliate links, I just think they’re great, and you might too. First of all, reading. It’s hard to avoid doomscrolling our social feeds, but it is considerably easier if you have something more pleasant to consume. Amazon Prime Reading and the New York Public Library are two of my favorite resources, and some of the books I’ve really enjoyed recently are Pretty Little Things by Janelle Brown, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. If you’re more in the mood for something to watch, check out The Prom on Netflix if you like a feel good song and dance movie with Meryl Streep. (Who doesn’t?) Another show I enjoyed recently is Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist o NBC – if you’re a theatre fan like I am, you’ll enjoy it. Finally, I watched A Million Little Things – on ABC – this is a show with wonderful character development as a group of friends navigate the aftermath of a tragedy. Taking care of our bodies is as important as entertaining our minds. As you probably know, I work with Dr Brandon Mancuso for training, and you can watch a video I made with him last year about conquering next and back pain for good! For workout clothes, on the recommendation of a friend, I finally tried Lululemon leggings. I was surprised by just how comfortable they are. By the same token, Sketchers socks. Trust me. I’ve also found a couple of new body products I’m really enjoying: Thrive Mascara is good for the earth, vegan, toxin free, and goes on beautifully, and silicon makeup sponges, which I know everyone else has been using forever, but I just tried and loved. Finally, it’s important to remember to take a little time for yourself. I know you’re busy, but you can find 10 minutes. Have the tea. Read the book. Have your groceries delivered. You can do it.

The theme of this week’s episode of High Wire Woman with Rosanna Berardi is all about fresh starts. A new year is a new chance to embrace our lives and gain a new perspective. We don’t need to work on the big things—losing 20 pounds, quitting sugar—instead, the little things—turning off social media for 10 minutes a day—add up. We have to “Marie Kondo” our lives to the best of our ability to really develop. You’ll hear Rosanna talk about: Decluttering your life. Keeping things in your life that bring you joy. Stepping away from the over influx of digital information. Spending time away from your home to reflect. And don’t forget - hydrate like your life depends on it - because it does. Resources Rosanna Berardi | LinkedIn Rosanna Berardi | Berardi Immigration Law

Rachel Jackson is the ultimate High Wire Woman. She is a corporate lawyer, mother of two young boys and founder and CEO of Rachel’s Remedy, a company that provides products to help new mothers recover from childbirth. Rachel experienced discomfort when breastfeeding her first son, Samuel, and was diagnosed with mastitis and clogged ducts. Her doctor advised her to hold warm, wet washcloths or diapers in place for 20-minute intervals all day. Rachel knew there had to be a better way and created Rachel’s Remedy. Learn how Rachel launched a new business, raised capital, and maintained her law practice all while taking care of a newborn. You’ll learn so many things from this High Wire Woman.

High Wire Women: Can you imagine this? Moving from California to New York when you are six months pregnant. Studying for the New York State bar exam. Starting a new job. Our guest today, Jessica Shpall Rosen, did just that and will share with us her secrets to staying on the high wire. Tune in to learn more from her!

Hello High Wire Women: The most common question I’ve received in the last couple days is “do you have your Christmas shopping done?” I always laugh because one of my favorite hobbies is shopping. Some may even say I have my Ph.D. in shopping. My love language is gifting. And I have to say, gifting for women is SO much easier than men. Men are so one-dimensional—you can buy them clothes, cologne, socks and that’s it. Now women—that’s a totally different ball game. So today I’ll share some of my Favorite gifts for the people in your life! Give an international experience! Our friends at Air BNB have recently started to offer amazing online experiences. You can sign up for a pasta making class from Italy, a tarot card reading from Spain. There are a ton of them and they are cheap (generally less than $20 a person) and are so many options. My law firm is doing a Coffee Masterclass from Mexico, where we’ll learn the science of a perfect cup of coffee, make one and enjoy our time together on Zoom! I’m also doing a “walking tour” of Venice with a native Italian for the holidays with my family in Canada. Check out the link for more ideas! Grow your indoor garden Like many people this year, I really enjoyed my outdoor flower garden. I spent so much time planting, weeding and enjoying the beauty of my flowers. Since I live in Buffalo, I am missing my flowers and plants so much! Not to worry! I recently found a really cool Hydroponic Garden on Amazon and bought one for my home and one for the office. It’s a great little system that grows herbs with lighting. It’s incredible and so fun to watch. We are well on our way to a great Caprese salad from our hydroponic garden that is growing basil for us in December! Ring light Everyone and their brother are spending time in front of a camera these days. Enter the Selfie Ring Light. This little darling clips to your laptop, iphone or tablet and provides professional level lighting. It will enhance your image and smooth your wrinkles on camera! This one comes with a rechargeable battery. Herban Essentials Stand back Oprah—these babies were my favorite things long before they hit your list!!! Herban Essentials are hand wipes made of essential oils. They come in lavender, lemon, orange, peppermint and eucalyptus. They are AMAZING and will make you so happy when you wipe down your keyboard, steering wheel and iphone. Trust me—once you use these, you won’t be able to stop! They are perfect for travel! RB

Hello HWW: It’s the first week of December and we’ve officially entered the “busy” season. I’m not talking about tax season for accountants. I’m talking about the holidays, which is the crazy, busy, madness season for all working women. Think of the last time you asked a friend or colleague “how are you doing?” I guarantee all of them responded “busy” or “busy, busy” or “crazy busy.” We wear this badge like a medal of honor. It protects us from all of the things we don’t want to do in life. But I challenge you to think about what wearing your “busy badge” really does to your life? I’ll go first. When I say I’m “busy,” that’s a signal to leave me alone because I’m disorganized and don’t have a grasp on what needs to be done in my personal and professional life. I go from one thing to the next, putting out the hottest fire, responding to the client who is screaming loudest. I don’t have a plan on my “busy” days. I’m a hot mess. Sound familiar? Us “busy” ladies go through our lives this way. We teach our kids that their lives will be like this too. Wait—what? Do you want your kid to live your life? Especially on your worst days, when you have too much to do and not enough hours? I certainly don’t. In 2021, I am throwing my “busy badge” away. Flushing it down the toilet, where it belongs. I’ve been researching time efficiency methods over the last few months and think they are my ticket to freedom. Here’s a few I like: 1. OHIO—this stands for “Only Handle it Once.” This nifty acronym can apply to your personal life (your mail or laundry) or your in-box. Stop reading the same emails over and over. Instead, block 20 minutes on your calendar to read and RESPOND to emails. Read and respond…ONCE. If you do this cumulatively, you will get back a lot of time and feel way more in control of your life. 2. Pomodoro technique—this is an oldy, but goody. The concept is we can only effectively focus for 25 minutes at a time. The Pomodoro technique encourages us to set a timer for 25 minutes and devote our attention to a project. It then recommends taking a five minute break. Depending on the task at hand, you can get an alarm for a series of focus times and breaks. There are plenty of apps that mimic this concept. Try it—it really works. 3. Time blocking—this one is HUGE! As lawyers, we have a lot of responsibilities each week. Meetings, conf calls, emails, drafting, marketing. It’s tough stuff to get accomplished. However, I recommend two ways to time block: a. Weekly: on Sunday night, spend 10-15 minutes and look at your week ahead. Enter all of your “musts” in your calendar as appointments. Please include time for getting your nails and hair done! Block out your client appointments, calls, etc. b. Daily: look for gaps in each day. Or pick a day or two that you will only work on drafting or client correspondence. If you have the flexibility, make every Monday or Wednesday am your drafting days. Block 25 minutes each day for emails. These ideas are brain surgery. They are simple and basic techniques. However, they work. Just like we know that if we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and move more. Not that complex. But few of us ever accomplish our weight goals because we don’t have a plan. Spend a few minutes every day and time block. Time block as if your life depends on it. Being “busy” wasn’t your life or career goal. Rather, you were put on this earth to do meaningful work. Try some of my recommendations and let me know when your “busy badge” start to collect dust. RB

It’s the week of Thanksgiving and the unofficial start of the holiday season. For most working women, this is also known as the season of chaos and unmet expectations. Our thoughts are dominated by the “should.” What we “should be doing. Baking cookies. Decorating the house. Buying gifts for friends and family who don’t need a single thing. And let’s not forget the gorgeous holidays cards on Minted.com. Does anyone even have pictures to share this year? Let’s take a moment and step back from it all. This year is different. And while it’s been different in many negative ways—think remote schooling—it’s forced us to slow down, take inventory and reinvent ourselves. This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. It’s my favorite holiday. I am beyond grateful. Eight years ago, my mother passed away and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 40 years old. Our son, Salvatore, was six-years old. I was grief-stricken and terrified. I couldn’t do anything other than put one foot in front of the other. I will never forget the day I was diagnosed. I was with a client at the US/Canadian border and received a phone call from my local radiologist. “You have breast cancer.” I still shudder when I think of those words. 2012-2013 was a horrible time. I had a bilateral mastectomy on Dec 18, 2012 and struggled with grief and fear for years afterwards. I was so afraid to lose everything I loved—my husband, our son, the small life we built. I know what it feels like to lose a mother. I didn’t want my son to know that pain. I’m here—healthy and happy—eight years later. I am beyond grateful every moment of my life. I never take a single day, breath or moment for granted. I celebrate being alive. I have to. I live like a lunatic and travel, experience and enjoy everything I possibly can. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I will cook dinner for 12 on Thursday (don’t tell Governor Cuomo). I will be stressed out and annoyed that I’m having a hot flash while making my mother’s stuffing recipe. I will complain that my back hurts and I’m tired. But under it all, I will savor the moments. The first sip of coffee on Thanksgiving morning. Enjoying the “reimagined” Thanksgiving parade. Watching our neighbors play in our annual football game. Watching my mother-in-law walk in with her amazing soup. I know these days won’t last forever. Our son, nieces and nephews will grow older. Possibly move away. There will be empty seats at our table. I will embrace Thursday, no matter how hot or tired I am. I encourage you to make this holiday season different. Put the “should” away. No one will care if you bake cookies or order them from a bakery. No one will care if you don’t decorate every portion of your house. Our lives are not like the Pottery Barn catalogues. Pottery Barn decorates bedrooms for Christmas because they sell Xmas bedding and sheets. You don’t need to hold yourself to those false standards. Embrace the small stuff. The extra time you have with your partner or kids. Yes—they can be annoying but they won’t be around forever. Take a walk. Get some fresh air, even if it’s cold and dark. Look up at the stars. Put your phone down. Be present. Fully present. 2020 is certainly different but it’s also amazing. We have been excused by the world from doing things that make us crazy—attending too many holiday parties, traveling great distances, etc. We have been permitted by the world to stay home and look out the window. And in some small way, that is a magical blessing. Happy Thanksgiving, High Wire Women! RB

Working women all have the same problems—what to cook for dinner, how to sleep better, how to juggle work, family and life in general. It’s not easy. The world of a working women is super complicated and challenging to say the least. How can we realistically do it all? Today’s guest, Natalie Caetano Feitoza, is a Brazilian national who currently resides in Canada. She is a pharmacist by training and also holds a Master’s degree in Applied Health Sciences. She currently works as a Nutrition Consultant. Natalie has some great recommendations that we can integrate in our daily lives: 1. Eat your veggies! Natalie recommends 4-10 cups a day, which sounds insane but also recommends using them in omelets, smoothies, and as side dishes. 2. Meal prep: even if it’s one or two things. It’s so much easier to have food to warm up waiting for you at home. 3. Supplements: Vitamin D is the super-star-supplement. It can help with anxiety, depression, and a host of other maladies. Vitamin C is also a super star. 4. Sleep! Eight out of 10 working women have difficult sleeping. Magnesium glycinate is a terrific supplement that helps relax the body. It can also be used for headaches. Our lives don’t have to be as hard as we make them. Try one or two of Natalie’s recommendations and I promise, you will walk with ease and grace on that high wire! Reach out to Natalie at [email protected].

Recreate Your Surroundings: Simple and easy ways to brighten up your home and office The pandemic has caused all of us to stay home more. Whether we’re working from home or supervising our kids’ remote learning, we are definitely in our homes now more than ever. I don’t know about you but when I’m home more often, I start to take inventory of our décor and start thinking about some new paint colors or furniture. And out comes the Pinterest board or endless scrolling through Houzz. Today I’m chatting with Erin Kent, owner of Erin Kent Interiors, based in Buffalo, New York. Erin has the eye for interior design and can transform your personal space on any budget. I’ve personally worked with her on several projects and the results are amazing. Despite the pandemic, Erin is busier than ever as people are deciding to spend money on home transformations and improvements rather than travel. Tune in today to hear: 1. How COVID has changed the interior design business. 2. What is trending now? 3. Is the “gray” trend fading? 4. How we can upgrade our workspace on the cheap. Check out Erin’s website to see some of her work. She’s available for virtual and in-person consultations.

It’s mid-October here in New York State and the days are getting longer, darker and colder. The first thing I notice during this season is the drying of my skin. You know that feeling when you get out of the shower and your face feels tight? Or when your hands are suddenly rough and scratchy? We are in that season but don’t fret! Today I’m chatting with Michelle Giamberdino, owner of Face Fitness. Michelle has decades of experience in the skin care world and is the owner and Skin guru at Face Fitness where she helps women and men love the skin, they’re in. Michelle recommends a few key things to do NOW in order to prep your skin for the winter: 1. Hydrate—drink an ample amount of water each day. You don’t want your skin to look like a dry sponge. 2. Moisturize—this will help prevent acne and create a great barrier between your COVID mask and your skin. No more mask-ne! 3. Use sunscreen—we need this year-round regardless of the weather. It will prevent aging and burning. Check out Michelle’s website for a ton of fabulous tips and information on getting your best skin. Hydrate, moisturize and stay on that high wire!

The hardest decision most working women face every day is deciding “what’s for dinner?” Why do we have to eat dinner every single day??? After trying several options including, a private chef (too pricey), prepared meals (tasted awful), meal kits (took forever to make), I’ve figured out a few short cuts. The Rotisserie Chicken is your best friend! I don’t love chicken. But the rotisserie chicken is the base of simple and easy meals. I buy one every week (Instacart delivers them) and get at least two meals from one chicken. Here’s a simple formula: 1. Use the chicken for: · Chicken sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, tomato, mayo on a roll or wrap) · Chicken tacos (chicken, instant rice, avocado, lettuce, tomato) · Pulled chicken sandwiches (shred the chicken, add BBQ sauce, heat and serve) · Chicken burrito bowl (instant rice, chicken, cilantro, lettuce, cheese) · Chicken salad (chicken, mayo, salt, pepper) 2. Use the leftover chicken for: · Easiest chicken soup ever! Chicken broth, large-sized mirepoix (pre-cut carrots, celery and onions), salt, pepper, entire chicken carcass. Add pasta or rice to “beef” it up. The Ninja Foodi should win the Nobel Peace Prize! At the beginning of this year we were looking for an indoor grill that didn’t create a huge mess and was easy to use. We bought the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill at Walmart on a whim. You guys…it has been life-changing to say the least! Here’s what it comes with: Ninja® Foodi™ 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Quart Air Fryer 5 cooking functions - grill, air crisp, bake, roast, dehydrate Foodi™ Indoor Grill Grate Foodi™ Indoor Grill Crisper Basket Foodi™ Grill Brush 15-recipe book 1-year VIP warranty Let me tell you—this grill is worth the $200 price tag and type. We use it almost every day. It is a fantastic grill that perfectly cooks chicken, steak and pork chops in minutes! The air fryer has been life changing. It crisps up chicken fingers and french fries just like your local pizza joint. It makes crispy bacon without the mess! It cooks small roasts in under 20 minutes. The possibilities are endless for the Ninja Foodi—it will surely simplify your meal planning. Breakfast for Dinner There is nothing easier to make than breakfast for dinner. Whip up some scrambled eggs, toast some bread and have some pre-cut fruit. Or there is always ingredients for french toast! And pancakes with butter and syrup. Breakfast for dinner is cheap, fast and easy!

The majority of working women are working from home these days. But are we really? A friend of mine coined a new phrase for the way we work and I couldn’t agree with it more. COVID-19 has forced us to all live at work, without leaving our homes! Working from home has made it difficult to establish boundaries, work hours, set realistic expectations and maintain any type of work-life balance. We no longer have scheduled lunch dates with colleagues or a commute home to listen to a podcast or just unwind. We are always “at work” and it’s taking a toll. Every year, McKinsey and Company, a global consulting company, issues a “Women in the Workplace” study where they survey more than 40,000 people on their workplace experiences and conduct more than 45 interviews to dive deeper on the issues. This year’s study is concerning. Alarming. It found that ONE in FOUR women are contemplating what many would have considered unthinkable just six months ago: downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce entirely. Ladies…let that sink in. 25% of working women are contemplating leaving the workplace. That is troubling and is creating an emergency for corporate America. And more importantly, for working women everywhere. This can’t happen. Women have worked so hard to get to where they are today. To educate ourselves, work our way up the corporate ladder, to demand fair pay and equal opportunity for senior management positions. We can’t give this up. What can we do? We need to act and act now. You can’t afford to wait. Here are some tips for recreating your work from home life and to stop living at work. You don’t need to quite your job. 1. Schedule a call with your boss. Today. Discuss how COVID-19 has impacted your work life and identify what is no longer working for you. Is it possible to work hours other than 9-5pm? Is it possible to have “on call” hours for meetings and calls? Are there other ways to accomplish your tasks? It is better to have a conversation like this in person, but if it’s not possible, schedule a call and be prepared to send a follow-up email. Do not create a problem for your boss. Rather, frame the conversation by: a. Discussing your issue; b. Proposing your solution; c. Requesting a follow-up call in 30 days to reassess d. Writing your proposed new schedule in a follow-up email. 2. Create a functional work space. Look at where you are working right now. On a dining room table? Kitchen table? STOP! Please don’t do an important Zoom call from your kitchen. Pick a corner of a room (not your bedroom) and set up a professional space. Even if it’s in your partially finished basement. A dedicated work area that you can leave each day is critical. Stop working on your laptop from your couch. This is a bad habit. Your couch is for napping and watching bad TV. Instead, only work from one area in your home. 3. Time blocking. This is critical for planning your day. You need to block out times of the day for important tasks. Instead, only work from one area in your home and set a timer to work in 25-minute periods. Then take a five-minute break. This is called the Pomodoro technique and it works. The human brain can’t pay attention for more than 25 minutes. There is even an app to help you track your time.&

The Covid-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting working women. A recent Buzzfeed article highlights the stress of the working women and it’s impact on her partner/spouse. It’s not good! Women are now not only trying to work but cook, clean and teach their kids. We are home 24/7, often under the same roof as our families. It makes focusing impossible and creates a ton of tension. We are seeing a “Pink Recession”: Women are trying to do it all, can’t and quitting their jobs. This can’t happen! We’ve come too far to backslide. What do we do? Today I have some simple action items and tips for you to use in your daily lives! Stop being a martyr—ask for help. You need to have a serious conversation with your partner, kids and boss. You need to discuss your “new normal” and how they can help you. Pick ONE THING to let go of—one that you hate. Cooking? Laundry? Teaching? Find a way to delegate or automate it. Cooking? Get a rotisserie chicken, some pasta and some frozen pizzas. Dinner for a week. Have the kids/partners make their own lunches and help with dinner. Laundry? Everyone does their own. Or send it out to your local dry cleaners. Teaching? Delegate it or hire a tutor or college student to assist. Commit to a 20-minute treat: you have to find 20 minutes for yourself every day. What do you love to do? What can you fit in? Online shopping? Netflix? Bad TV?Walking? Doing your nails? It doesn’t have to be this hard. I promise. As working women, we create a lot of our own obstacles. Let go of perfection. Your kids will survive if they eat Pop Tarts a few times a week for breakfast. We live in a world of modern conveniences. Take advantage of them and improve your life!!!

Working women: how many things are you expected to do on a daily basis? Work, raise kids, make dinner, walk 10,000 steps, prepare plant-based meals and oh…don’t forget to plan interesting date nights with your partner and amazing vacations! ENOUGH! It’s impossible to do it all, yet we’re asked to each day. Listen in to hear how one High Wire Woman, Rosanna Berardi, stays on the high wire while managing a busy law firm, a consulting business, teaching at a law school, parenting her 14-year-old son, maintaining a happy and healthy marriage and visiting Disney four to five times a year. Let Rosanna show you how to make sense of your life and stay on that high wire!