Goodbye.

Obviously it has been several weeks since I have posted on the Leiter Side and for many of you this won’t come as a surprise…

It is without further hesitation that I write this Sunday evening to inform all of my (very few but loyal!) followers that I will no longer be posting on the Leiter Side for the time being.

Where to begin?!

I started this blog two years ago and have written hundreds of posts. That’s a long commitment!

My writing for the Leiter Side started with a much more aggressive approach and acted as a journal of sorts as I was trying to determine where my path would lead. I wrote frequently about the little things a confused 20-something was facing. I think I will look back at this blog and realize that maybe the little things were the big things.  I hope I have faced them with grace and courage.

Writing for the Leiter Side kept me disciplined and focused on my life and what I truly wanted. It has been a long journey and I have felt as though this blog acted as a tool to help me through.

I am so, so grateful for all of you (mostly friends and family) who have remained loyal readers throughout my postings from Maine to San Francisco!

I have chose to put the Leiter Side on hold for now while I…gulp…look to grow my independent consulting business!

It’s a very exciting time in my life and my career, one that I have decided to put all of my focus and energy into at this point.

The Leiter Side will come back in some shape or form someday. Or maybe it won’t!  But either way, the journey has been a fun one.  Thank you, again!

Love,
Melissa

To stay in touch with me, follow me on:

Twitter at @mfearon4 and keep up with my social media blog on www.melissaleiter.com.

Beyonce IS #Flawless

Incase you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, or are just unfamiliar with pop culture, Beyonce pulled an insanely awesome move last month and dropped an entire album (complete with oh ya know 17 music videos!) on iTunes.  The catch- no one knew about it until the day it was released.

(Photo grabbed from Beyonce’s Insta)

Amazing move.

Her music, her business savvy-ness, her incredibly handsome and talented husband who adores her, her beautiful daughter, her class, her style- are all reason enough to admire Beyonce Knowles-Carter.  But what I love most about her? Her fight for TRUE gender equality for women.

Gender equality for women, especially in business, is something I’ve been hearing a lot about recently. From some pretty awesome women I might add.

Arianna Huffington’s speech at Inbound 2013 was the first eye-opener that got me thinking about gender equality in the workplace.

Then, a few months later, I heard Cheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, speak at Dreamforce.  (More to come on this later.)

Now, I’m seeing more and more celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence, speak up about the issues with gender in our society.

Just yesterday I stumbled across this quote from Beyonce in the Shiver Report:

“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet. Today, women make up half of the U.S. workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 percent of what the average working man makes. But unless women and men both say this is unacceptable, things will not change. Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters earn more—commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.” 

READ MORE

On that same web page comes another statistic I’d like to quote: “IF WOMEN RECEIVED PAY EQUAL TO THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, THE U.S. ECONOMY WOULD PRODUCE $447.6 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL INCOME.”

I also believe that in order to achieve gender equality we women need to have more confidence. To truly believe that we are just as deserving to the pay and the positions that men hold in business.

New motto for 2014, ladies?

“I woke up like this
We flawless, ladies tell ’em”

#flawless

Lessons from 2014

I am not big on the New Year’s Resolution trend as I think it’s something a majority of people take part in but never follow through with. 

I do think it is important to take a look back at the year behind you and the year in front of you and analyze what you did that you like, what you did that you didn’t like and what you want to do more of.  It’s almost like a marketing analysis.

I’m taking January to do some serious gearing up for 2014.  Complete with taking a month off from drinking and partying.  Time to get focused! (I find I’m easily distracted by a night out that too often than not can end up a late night out that leaves me tired and unmotivated.) Also time to have some self control!

That being said I woke up after a very early night to bed and some strange dreams (all of which when looked up online could be interpreted as dreams of change- coincidence?) and instantly started reflecting on some very important lessons I learned, some much, much harder than others, in 2014.

Here they are:

• The people you love and trust are still capable of breaking your heart.
• Confidence is the sexiest accessory you can add to any outfit.
• People change.
• There is so much more to aspire to then just aspiring to be someone’s wife.
• If someone/something seems too good to be true, they/it probably are.
• Asking for things seemingly out of your reach is scary. Getting them is incredibly satisfying.
• The more you talk about something the less you get it done.
• Your first instincts are almost always right.
• Friends and family are more valuable then any paycheck. They have saved so many bad days much faster (and cheaper) than anything money could buy this year!
• Losing a family member or friend may never stop hurting, despite the years that have passed, but they are still everywhere. You just have to keep your eyes out.
• Ireland may just come in second to midcoast Maine as the best place on earth.
• Being in a good mood instantly seems to lift the moods of others around you. So smile, laugh and joke more!
• A good night of sleep solves a majority of the little “disasters” in my life.
• Not everyone you love will love you back no matter how deeply you love them but as long as you love yourself, your heart does eventually mend.

Bring on 2014! Cheers. 🙂 xx

Make the Most of the Morning

The mornings are a beautiful and powerful thing. Especially when you wake up to them running along side the Pacific and watching the sun rise over the Bay Bridge.

While not all of us can be as fortunate to live in San Francisco, there are things we can do to get the most out of the morning.

I have found I am the most alert and engaged in the mornings- even before coffee.  The tough part is making sure I go to bed with enough time to sleep for at least 7.5 hour (I’m kind of a baby that way) and then wake up and go for a run AND start stimulating my mind. Oh, and most importantly, making sure I don’t awake with a head aching from the outing the night before. Hangovers =  immediate productivity kill.

With this new epitome of the awesomeness that is the morning, I have stared a list of things, for my own sake, of what to do and what NOT to do in order to make the most of my mornings. I know many who could also benefit from this so thought I’d share!

Things to avoid:

• Checking your email. Arianna Huffington recently said in her Inbound 2013 keynote address that 90% of emails are pointless.  I believe she’s correct.  Therefore checking your email can sometimes be a mindless exercise that doesn’t bring you any benefit. Wait until you get to work, or even after you get the most important stuff at work done.
• Checking Facebook.  There’s no doubt about it, many of us, myself included, will subconsciously get on Facebook and waste several minutes perusing a newsfeed with updates from other people’s lives.  Save this for when you need a 5 minute break at work. I mean, don’t get on Facebook at work. Ever. 😉 This rule can apply to other social networks as well, especially say Instagram.
• Cleaning.  Sometimes I will wake up in the morning and start cleaning my room.  Again- something that needs to be done, but can also be fairly mindless and shouldn’t take up fresh morning time.
• Getting on the phone.  Sometimes this cannot be avoided.  As I live on the other side of the country far from my dear friends and family, this is often the only time people can catch me. But I try to avoid jumping on the phone, especially with family and friends, whenever possible. May be harsh- but in reality these are the people I care most about having a sincere conversation with and when that’s the case, that task can overtake the entire morning.
• Chatting on g-chat.  Your email shouldn’t be opened so this should be an easy one to avoid.
• Watching TV. Some nights when I’m extremely exhausted, I fall asleep when the latest episode of Sons of Anarchy is on a commercial. I miss the last 10 minutes. It’s the worst.  But I find that if I try and watch those last 10 minutes in the morning, I instantly set the tone for the day and end up not being as productive as I’d hoped.

Things to try out:

• Reading.  I usually come across at least several blog posts and articles a day that I want to read, but don’t always have the time to.  By setting them aside and choosing at least one to read every morning I find that stimulates my brain enough to start being creative.
• Running.  It’s a great way to further clear your conscious and maybe hash out some of the stuff that’s really been bothering you. After a full night’s rest I always approach problems with a better perspective (usually something along the lines of ‘it’s not the end of the world.’)
• Stretching. Not a runner? I understand. Kind of.  Why not try stretching or doing some yoga?! It’ll loosen you up and who doesn’t love stretching?!
• Writing. I wish I could wake up and write for 2 hours straight every morning.  I probably could if I could wake up earlier. Shoulda, coudla, woulda. No but seriously, if you write for anything- try doing it in the morning.  For me, it’s when I’m the least distracted and the most clear-headed so I find writing becomes a much more seamless process and less daunting task.
• Create a list.  When I create a list of things I want to get done in the morning it helps me stay on task and avoid the things like checking Facebook.
• Make your lunch the night before.  Anyway you can save time by preparing for the next day the night before will give you more time in the morning.  By having your lunch all packed, your boots tied tight (‘Billy Madison’ reference), no but seriously, having your lunched packed, automatically setting up your coffee to brew, etc. are steps that will give you more time for what you want to do in the morning.

The best part about this whole process is that by the time I get to work, I feel quite accomplished, which only inspires me to get more done at work.  Not only is it inspiring, it has me ready to focus on work instead of thinking about the things I would rather be doing in the morning!

Possibility

I’ve started running in the mornings more.  As difficult as it is to get out of bed, it is so worth it to wake up on the ocean with the sunshine! Like look at that photo?! COME ON!

By the time I get to this halfway point I’ve been running by the water staring at the sun and inhaling the smell of the Pacific for about 2 miles.  I’m finally awake now.

Staring out at the Pacific at the end of this pier, as I always take a moment to reflect/stretch, I generally have this enormous boost in confidence, this drive to make the day count and the belief that anything is possible.  The whole day is ahead of me and the possibilities that could happen in the next hours are endless.

I’m further encouraged when on those runs I recap the moments of the past year living in San Francisco. All those moments have strung together to bring me to a place that I continue to smile & laugh and ache & cry at.  Every single second was worth it.

Anything truly is possible if you have a dream, the will to pursue it and the courage to pick yourself back up when life knocks you down.

Arianna Huffington on Leadership

Throughout college, while I was majoring in Journalism at Northeastern University, Arianna Huffington was an incredible inspiration and gave real insight to what the future of journalism might actually look like.  Her leadership in journalism and media are only trumped by her leadership in life.

She’s always been an incredible inspiration for me because of her work starting the Huffington Post.  When I heard her speak at the marketing conference I attended last week in Boston, Inbound 13, she only further continued to fuel my inspiration and my desire to be better.

As we grow up and see more and more, there are less and less things that actually capture our attention enough to make us put down our phones and fully absorb the moment. There are very few moments where something or someone gives us chills or brings us to tears for the mere simplicity and beauty of the moment.

Her speech was like that for me.  She dared to dream, to imagine a better world and see it become a reality.  She dreamed and because she dreamed she did. She took action and continues to strive to live a full life.

Arianna Huffington’s name will be spoken in history of journalism classes for years to come. And if not, she will at the very least be responsible for moving me to be that much more fearless and to embrace all the moments of life.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from her speech on leadership at Inbound 13:

“Basically, look at Washington, it’s incredibly depressing.”

“You cannot manage creativity, you have to manage for creativity.”

“Right now, our success is mostly defined in two metrics: money and power.  And that’s like a 2-legged stool.”

“It’s as though we’re afraid of space and silence.”

“And that’s why you have this language of war metaphors in corporate America: ‘We’re killing it. We’re crushing it.'”

“People are living their lives in a constant fight or flight mode…We just need to learn to graze. We are running all the time.”

“Burnout is the disease of our civilization…Women will have to lead the way out of it. Not because men aren’t going to be huge beneficiaries when we are out of it, but because you guys have designed the world we are living in and it’s not really working.”

“Our lives are so outbound at the moment, we need to make them more inbound.”

“Illumination and wisdom is what we need desperately now.”

“Whenever we create something new, we don’t abandon the old.”

“We live like we are always running out of time.”

“People want more time than they do money.”

“You just have to decide what you are going to put energy into and what you’re not going to do.”

“Everything that happened in my life happened because a man wouldn’t marry me…Life only makes sense when you look back.  It doesn’t make sense while you’re living it.”

“The only think we are in control of is our attitude.”

“You’re bigger than whatever happens to you.”

“The worst thing you can do is to hold grudges…Holding grudges is like drinking poison.”

“If you’re not willing to fail, you’re not willing to be great.”

“If you are going to be a media company, you have to be a global media company.”

“Sleep is a leadership tool; a performance enhancement tool.”

“Stress is causing American business $300 billion.”

“If we can take these values we eulogize people about after they die and actually incorporate them into how we live, we would actually change the world.”

“‘Give me a place to stand and I can move the world.’ – Now that place is inside each one of us. It’s that place of strength, wisdom, peace. We all know it. We’ve all been there. And we all also know that most of the time we are not there.”

Okay so I could have quoted the whole thing, but I just love this speech!  She is just so well spoken. To see the whole thing:

Satisfying Work

My apologies for no photo last Friday! As you can probably tell, I have started to post less frequently.  This blog has always been an outlet for me and something I have thoroughly enjoyed and loved, when it’s not and it becomes a chore, I don’t want to contribute.

That being said this photo holds some serious significance and I felt it was well worth sharing for a “favorite photo” post.

Last week I was back in New England for a marketing conference.  It was great.  Except what I didn’t account for was that conferences are intense.  Especially this one, Inbound 13. I didn’t account for the fact that I was already going to be overloaded with new information, so I assumed I could manage a whole boatload of other work and catching up with some very dearly loved and missed friends. Wrong.

Needless to say the ten days flew by with very little sleep involved and I was left rushing from moment to moment taking notes, physically and mentally, as I went. It was amazing but incredibly intense and difficult attempting not to let any of the moments be fleeting.

This photo started my trip.  The night after I arrived back in Maine we went out on the boat and had a party at my parents house.  All the chairs and tables for the party and the coolers had to be washed and the tomato plants had to be watered and fed.  While my father quickly avoided my mother’s plea and snuck down to the boat and my sister jumped in the shower to avoid my mother’s nagging, I gladly turned up my music and grabbed the hose.

In a world where I am constantly behind a computer and caught up in the hustle and bustle of a city, to be outdoors, in my bare feet and feel the sunshine on my back and do something so simple was probably the most satisfying work I have done in months.

I cannot convey how big the smile was on my face as I fed and watered the tomato plants listening to my dad’s rock ‘n’ roll. It was something so good, something so different from what I do every other day of my life. Unfortunately, it seemed to have a lot more meaning than everything I do in my day-to-day life as well.

I can assure you, up until I arrived back in San Francisco, this was one of the last peaceful moments I had on my trip. But it stuck with me as I attempted to truly live in all of the moments of last week.  As life has now slowed down to a manageable roll with decent hours of sleep, I find practicing living in a moment last week has become a much easier reality to do this week.

Life is beautiful. Don’t let it pass you by.

Oh, Hello!

My sister recently recommended this folk band called, The Oh Hello’s. Their album “Through the Deep, Dark Valley,” was released last October.

The folk tunes created by this sibling duo from Texas were made with help from a variety of musicians.  The sound they create is inspirational, beautiful and real.  I like the stories they tell and the music that accompanies them.  One of my favorites for those very reasons is, “Wishing Well.”

This is one of those humbling, life-isn’t-always-easy songs that instantly makes your heart ache bringing the world to a halt. One of those songs that forces you to stop and reflect on where you stand and what has passed. While that may seem sad and depressing, I actually find that during moments like that, I’m also forced to pick my head up and see the other side, see the growth, see the tremendous amount of beauty and good that tends to accompany the dark moments of life. It’s enlightening.

The last time I was forced to feel that deeply from music was when I heard the Lumineers last summer. I can’t but help be reminded of their sound when I hear the track, “Eat You Alive.” No?

Favorite Foto Friday

(Photo from Time)

This is one of my favorite photographs, taken by Dennis Stock at Venice Beach in 1968. A large copy of it hangs on the wall in my room. I love the perspective of the shot. I always felt like I could relate to this girl. The want to be free, unique and different; not part of the crowd.

At the age of 16 my need to be rebellious really came about. The idea of being the same as anyone was unacceptable. Why couldn’t I be smart and have fun? I attended class with the “smart” kids and partied with the “bad” kids.

While the need to rebel so extravagantly has subsided a little, my skin still crawls at the idea of being the same as everyone else. This photograph, this girl is a reflection of a very important part of me and I love that I get a little reminder of that every day.

Plus it’s Venice Beach in the late 60s. I’ve always had a soft spot for LA and the 60s, it most likely stems from my obsession with Jim Morrison and the Doors.

Favorite Reading Spots in SF

One thing I said I would do when I got a 9-to-5 job was read more.  I most certainly do that, however it’s generally only for a little bit before falling asleep.  So I also try to make a point to go enjoy the sunshine and read for an hour or two on the weekends.  Throughout my time here in SF I have found many enjoyable places to do so, so I thought I would share!

The most convenient, thought not necessarily my favorite, is the park by Grace Cathedral.  There’s a little fountain with several benches but also a few grassy areas where late in the afternoon the sun hits just right.

Another favorite is Alamo Square.  I generally adore this neighborhood.  It’s unique in so many ways and the people who live there  have a great community vibe going on.  Though on windy days it can be a little chilly up on the hill, it’s a great place to watch the dogs play in the park on the weekend and get some awesome views of downtown SF.

Two other awesome spots to hang out are Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park. However, both are pretty far off from me.  Ocean Beach can also be very windy and the weather can be entirely different from the weather in downtown San Francisco therefore making it not so ideal of a “go-to” spot.  As for Golden Gate Park, there are about a million different spots you could pick to enjoy a good book.

My all time FAVORITE place to read in the Bay Area, though impossible to get to without a car, would most definitely be Stinson Beach. Stinson Beach is one of my favorite places anyway. I actually fell in love with this adorable little town when I was first deciding to move to San Francisco a little over a year ago. A huge part of me fantasizes about living in Stinson Beach for several months, never leaving and just reading, writing, surfing and hanging with the locals.  It probably wouldn’t be as perfect as I imagine it to be, but I still really admire this little beach town.

Stinson Beach, CA. February, 2013.