Careers Archives - Melanie Young- Fearless Fabulous You!

Reflections on Ruth

On October 1, 2020 / Careers, Making Things Happen

The recent passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made me reflect on the importance of defying the odds, speaking out for what you believe in and being true to your core values. Justice Ginsburg championed equal rights for women. She worked hard to fight discrimination, gender bias and stereotypes. (NYT obituary). But it was not always easy. She had to prove herself over and over as she started her career rise. Though qualified, she was turned down as a Civil Service GS-5 level claims examiner because she was pregnant and told she could not travel for the

Second Chapters: She Left the C-Suite to Become a Cannabis Entrepreneur

On June 20, 2017 / Careers, Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show

Think you need a college degree to get ahead much less become President of a multi-billion business? Think again. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft’s Bill Gates never graduated college. Look where they are today? That’s not to say having a college degree and, better yet, a Master’s Degree, won’t matter. They do, especially in the corporate world and in academia. But, you can succeed in other ways. That’s the story of Stormy Simon, a single mom who started as a temporary worked at Overstock.com and worked her way to the top to become President. During her tenure, Overstock became a top 25

Here’s to Olderpreneurs! Why Starting a Business After 50 Makes Sense

On June 20, 2017 / Aging Gracefully, Careers

While many decry the lack of women at the top of the corporate chain at Fortune 500 companies, there is much to be said about the numerous successful women entrepreneurs who are making their mark. A few stats from Entrepreneur.com Women own 10.6 million businesses in the U.S.A. They employ 19.1 million workers- one in every seven employees. Their businesses account for $2.5 trillion in sales For many women starting a business is their only option for financial security and independence. This is especially true for women over 50 who are finding their job prospects tougher than ever in the workforce, or whose

Second Chapters- This Woman Had a Career Do-Over Giving Beauty Makeovers

On June 18, 2017 / Careers, Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show

She Helps Women Put their Best Face Forward Picture this: You are a single Mom in a job you hate. Your crave time to spend with your family; yet you need financial security to support them. Then the unthinkable happens……..Read on Gail Sagel left a fast paced career in finance to start a beauty business in Connecticut where she lives. It’s called FACES Beautiful®. Gail’s “Life is short; Live on your terms” moment came when she was hit by a car while riding her bike. During her months of recuperation she rethought what she wanted out of life and

This Filmmaker Nails It

On June 2, 2017 / Careers

Watching “Joy Joy Nails,” written and directed by Filmmaker Joey Ally makes you uncomfortable. Like nails slowly tapping a table, it gets your attention. An official selection at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, the film highlights the untold truth, abysmal pay, racism and sometimes violence that women endure in the roughly 2,000 nail salons across New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, originally inspired by the excellent New York Times investigative report, “Unvarnished.” Joey is a young filmmaker with several credits to her name, with a focus on women. Her other films are “Minimum Wage” and “Partners.” Her production company

Pay Up!

On April 3, 2017 / Careers, Making Things Happen

April 4th is Equal Pay Day in the USA. This date symbolizes how far into the year women have to work to earn what men earned in a previous year. Women working full time are paid 80 cents for every dollar a man makes working full time according to the Economic Policy Institute. The date changes annually. In 2016 it was April 12. The 2016 Equal Pay Day Presidential Proclamation stated that women were making 79 cents on the dollar compared to men. So….Women are earning 1 cent more on the dollar this year and equalizing out seven days early.

January 9, 4PM EST on Fearless Fabulous You!

On January 9, 2017 / Careers, Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show, Making Things Happen, Women's Health

She Created the First Hair Salon for Kids Cozy Friedman knew nothing about cutting hair or raising kids when she conceived of Cozy’s Cut’s For Kids, a hair salon just for children. But she saw an idea and seized an opportunity. Marketing and making things happen is in Cozy’s DNA. In 1992 she heard about a young boy’s bad experience at an adult hair salon. Cozy conceived her kid-friendly salon. Cozy went back to school to learn hair cutting, wrote a business plan and started to shop her idea around. Initially investors just didn’t get the concept. A hair salon

Can You Have Too Many Helpings of Self Help?

On August 21, 2016 / Attitude Adjustment, Careers

Many of us want to improve our lives. That’s a good thing. Whether you want to change your body, your career, your financial situation or your love life, recover from a setback, divorce or illness, there’s a book or coach who can help you. Do you need to build customers, boost your social media following, hone your marketing skills, negotiate contracts? There’s a book or coach who can help you. Many people, including myself, have improved their lives thanks to books, free webinars, conferences, coaching, workshops, videos, podcasts and more. Some wonder if all the hype over self-help benefits the

Fearless Fabulous You! Don’t Work Yourself To Death!

On July 25, 2016 / Careers, Healthy Living

The news report caught my eyes: “Study reveals that women are literally working themselves to death.” Data shows that women who work longer hours – 50-60+ hours a week have elevated (in some cases triple) risks for heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and depression. Women’s health risks are higher than that for men. Women in this country fought hard to win the right to work outside the home, and we’re still fighting to earn the same wages as men. Equity in the workplace has always been a goal and has made many of us work harder and longer

Lessons in SHEconomics- Why Supporting Women in Business Matters

On March 19, 2016 / Careers, Making Things Happen, Women at Work

In college I studied economics as part of my major, and I hated it! I just couldn’t wrap my head around discussing business calculations using the term “widgets.” I’d tell my professor, “Let’s speak a language I can relate to, like shoes instead of widgets.” In 1989, without having taken a single business course, I launched and ran a very successful public relations agency for over 20 years. I tell people my business education came from Street Smarts and the School of Hard Knocks. You find your niche and do it well and promote like crazy. You do something right; you learn to

Fearless Fabulous You! She Has the Recipe for Building a Successful Food Brand

On June 19, 2015 / Careers, Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show, Making Things Happen, Women at Work

Building a successful #specialtyfood brand is more than having a dollop and a dream @mightymelanie #fearlessfabulousyou Are you a dynamo in the kitchen with a dream of cooking up a successful food business? Does everyone tell you one of your signature dishes or a product you make should be packaged, bottled and sold to food hungry-for-new things consumers? According to the National Specialty Food Association sales of specialty foods are at a record high of $109 billion and account for nearly 15 percent of all U.S. retail food sales. Women are more likely to purchase specialty foods than men, according to a separate report by the Specialty Food

Getting Things Off My Chest: Are You Short Selling Your Self?

On April 28, 2015 / Careers, Making Things Happen

I believe everyone has a story to tell. Many have several. Just as the average person dreams 4 or 6 times a night, I think an average person can spin 4 or 6 great stories about her life. I attend many women’s networking events. Women seem to network more than men who usually go for drinks or sports outings while we gals attend wine and food events and empowerment programs. I’m frequently dismayed at how some women are reluctant to state who they are, promote what they do or present themselves with confidence. Some neglect to present themselves at all and