Let’s just call 2020 the year of the female — yes? We are seeing glass ceilings shatter across the board and in every industry. Yet, while women are busy shattering those ceilings, they are also likely the ones grabbing the broom and cleaning up the mess.
According to a 2017 Modern Family Index Study, women are two times more likely to manage the household than their male counterparts, and three times more likely to be in charge of their children’s schedules.
Which begs the question: How do busy wives and moms, who also just happen to be automotive executives, bring it all together? We went to three women who are rocking it at work and in life to find answers to this elusive question.
Erin Coate, Director of Marketing, Force Marketing
You’ve got to find balance and set boundaries for your marriage to succeed. I work as hard as I can from first thing in the morning until 6 or 7 o’clock at night. But when I get home, my husband and I have a rule that we stop what we’re doing and focus on each other until after dinner. We sit down for dinner together and don’t talk about work. Well, we can talk about our days, but it has to be positive. It has to be along the lines of, “Hey, I learned something cool today,” or “I found something that inspired me today.”
Denise Casagrande, President, PCG Digital:
Look at your life as a pie and consider how much time you are going to give to each thing. In the past, my pie has been 50% career and 50% all of my other stuff. But recently I realized that as much as I love what I do, I have given up on things I used to love, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I used to love yoga and I haven’t done it in a while. So, this year, I’m focusing on how much of the pie I need to give to yoga, how much I need to give to housework and how much I give to my career. I take it day by day, but I also now put a lot of thought into how I spend my days and really look into where my hours go each week.
Jacci Grillo, Director of NE Sales, Cox Automotive:
When you’re traveling constantly, like I do, communication is key. I make a calendar for my family and communicate regularly, even while on the road. I will call and do a recap of my week with them and tell them what is happening on the road. I’ll ask my son how his homework is going and Facetime if he needs help with it. I check in on his life, even on the road, and say, “Hey, don’t forget you have this project due!” It’s so important to show that you’re watching and you care.
The ideas above represent easy ways to bring balance into the hectic lives of working females. What are some of your favorite ways to save your sanity?
