They say kids are sponges, but I think adults can be sponges too. After spending some time with a glass-half-empty kind of acquaintance, I realized that negativity rubs off on me easily. My disposition can too quickly turn into full-blown Debbie Downer, so I have made a concerted effort to see the bright side of things.
An important component of living a life full of good vibes is surrounding oneself with positive people. When we’re around excited, bubbly colleagues or friends, we’re more likely to feel energized and unstoppable. Who could say no to that?
WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes
We all need a little of that positive energy when it comes time to get to work on that mile-long list of chores waiting at home. Is it just me, or do piles of dishes magically appear in the sink? I swear my kitchen was spotless yesterday!
Something tells me today’s number is going to cause some curt marital dialogue this evening, but it’s still worth pointing out. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women spend two hours and nine minutes every single dang day working on household activities and chores, everything from food prep and laundry to mopping the floors and scrubbing the toilet. And if that realization doesn’t make you nutty, get this: All that time women spend on daily chores is almost twice as much as men do. Whew, I’m tired just thinking about it!
WOMAN TO WATCH: Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit
We’ve always known us ladies do a ton of work, but now that it’s proven, what can we do about it? Stacy Brown-Philpot has the answer. She’s the CEO of an online marketplace called TaskRabbit. Available in 18 U.S. cities, TaskRabbit makes it easy to get minor and major projects done. Need someone to clean your house, run errands, fix your fence or hang art on the walls? TaskRabbit is for you!
A great characteristic of TaskRabbit is that users aren’t boxed into anything. You can hire a Tasker to do your laundry just once, or more regularly. It’s totally up to you, making this an affordable and helpful option, particularly during those weeks when the sight of your overflowing hamper makes you rage. And I can have Taskers move that hulking settee up two flights of stairs, and stand in line for an hour at the mall with my holiday purchases so I don’t have to? Sign me up!
While TaskRabbit offers a welcome array of services for busy folks, its CEO is just as enterprising. With a background in finance, Stacy worked for Google back when it was a 1,000-employee company. During her time at Google, where she spent nearly a decade, she founded the Black Googler Network, a key component of Google’s diversity program. The program’s goal was to provide a resource for African-Americans at Google to network and find mentorship, and to also give them the tools necessary to become Google’s next great leaders. After her time at the tech giant, including a term as entrepreneur-in-residence for Google Ventures, Stacy would go on to become the chief operating officer and then CEO of TaskRabbit.
Stacy is nothing if not resourceful, a trait she’s regularly employed in her life from a young age. Raised by a single mother in inner-city Detroit, Stacy says she worked hard for everything she has become. She was accepted to the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, but balked when she learned the tuition was the same amount as her mother’s annual salary. Undeterred, Stacy conducted some extensive library research, and was able to qualify for several grants and scholarships that would cover 90 percent of her tuition. Now that’s what I call tackling one heck of a task!
QUITE THE QUOTE
Doesn’t Stacy Brown-Philpot’s story make you want to take on the world? Leave those dishes in the sink and take British author Rose Macaulay’s advice. She said:
“At worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived.”
This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.
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