The Reset.

Fail to plan, plan to fail - or whatever that adage is...

I dithered about writing an intro that was less ‘elevator pitch’ and more ‘chill bio’, but this is not a corporate retreat, we all know what the deal is so let’s get into it.

We’re deep in the thick of new year resolution frenzy punctuated by pretty pink planners and gratitude journals. No shade, if this is your thing. It’s however something I opted out of a few years ago because it just wasn’t working for me. I found it too noisy, other people’s goals were confusing me which meant I was losing focus of what I wanted to achieve. I also find January a really tricky month to get my head in the game. It’s dark, cold and I can’t escape the sluggishness I feel after 2 months of indulging – my birthday is in November after all.

So I adjusted the approach, and let me tell you, it’s paid dividends. How many corporate financial metaphors can I fit into one stack?

My planning month typically starts in November and I split my focus across three main areas: Personal, Professional and Financial. I’m an analogue babe so I write everything down – you can’t beat the brain chemistry of putting pen to paper. Before starting on this exercise I look back on what I’ve achieved or didn’t get to in the previous year; and I honestly challenge myself on why that is. Did I achieve it because I was doing something I found fulfilling; or did I drop the ball because of fear, boredom or a change in priorities, which sometimes does happen given the dynamic nature of life and work. I then decide if I’ll take anything I haven’t quite completed into the new cycle or decide if I’m going to move on? Sometimes it’s best to let things be. There’s a side of professional success you don’t hear or see much of – you have to kiss quite a few frogs before you land on the thing that’s going to work. This is however not your opportunity to stop doing something just because it’s hard, we don’t give up unnecessarily over here.

The planning…

I start with the personal because you can’t expect to have your life in order if the foundation has been neglected. Starting with relationship goals which, since having a child, has really been about figuring out how we can spend one-on-one time together for an extended period of time, because the DMCs just aren’t happening after doing bath/bed time with a toddler preceded by a full day’s work. So couples holidays/weekends are etched in the diary. I appreciate this is a privilege that not all people have but I’m not trying to win a relatability contest here and I’m going to be transparent about what works in our household. This section also encompasses my physical and mental health; where do I want to take my running this year, how disciplined am I going to be about my yoga practice, is this the year I’m going to be a better friend (last year was dire) and will I continue to take those supplements that 100% do me good but I somehow falter on – I’m human after all.

Once this is done I move on to my professional goals. At the risk of using management consulting speak I use the ‘zoom out – zoom in’ method here. I have a clear idea of what my long term goals are – pro tip vocally articulate this to the people around you. I then work backwards to understand what I need to do to get to where I want to be – call this your medium-term outlook and put a rough timeline on it.

Then break it down even further by a year, by quarter and by month. As you work down each measure, the goals will become more detailed. This is where the importance of having good stakeholder and sponsor relationships comes to life (more on this in another stack). They can sense check, validate and challenge you on what you’ve set out in the first instance, to save you going down a road that won’t bear any fruit. And invariably they’ll push you to achieve more. You’ll find that these goals will vary from being quite time intensive – e.g. building out and documenting a business case; to being fairly quick and easy to tick off – like upskilling in the area you’re looking to excel in via reading or listening to a podcast. Be very specific when you set these goals – don’t give yourself a way out by committing to something that is not measurable and certainly not anything that won’t move you closer to where you want to be.

When it comes to my financial goals I have an amazing Financial Adviser. But that doesn’t mean I abdicate responsibility for this area of my life. It’s not easy because I’m not naturally a numbers girl, I do however know what I want my lifestyle to be now, in future and in retirement and is there any better motivation than that? I would recommend that if you’re partnered up – have the money conversation with your person, put it all on the table, understand what the asset and debt situation is, and align on your current and future financial/lifestyle goals. Do this before marriage or seriously committing. Too often I see people caught out on this when they shouldn’t be. And for the love of all things holy don’t leave it all to your partner – yes, they may take care of all the bills and money matters (blessed princess you are) but that doesn’t mean you need to be blind about what the game plan is. Ignorance is not cute.

You might think this is too prescriptive but I’m a planner and the more you leave things to chance or within the control of others the less likely you’ll get the results you want.

Refer back to these goals regularly, schedule time in your diary – I do it on the first Monday of the month to set the tone, keep yourself honest. The impact is unmatched, I promise.

Now, let’s get sartorial…

Last year I attended an event where I saw the CEO of Net-a-Porter speak. I was immediately taken by her innate sense of style and I thought I WANT THAT! Cue a wardrobe audit of epic proportions. I tried everything on to see if it still fit and more importantly to get a sense of how it made me feel. I quickly realised that I was severely lacking in the basics. How does a lawyer not have a pair of black trousers?!? Now I don’t really subscribe to the idea of having a capsule wardrobe, I find it too limiting and lacking in personality, I do however understand the merits of having fundamental basics. Tautology in the first stack? A writer I am not.

So here’s a list of my Corporate Girlie Swag : The Basics Edition.

Black Trousers: How could I expect to be a corporate baddie without the key ingredient to my sauce? Elevate your everyday style with good tailoring, if like me you reach for black trousers on a very regular basis you’re going to want to find a pair you feel really good in – so invest, invest, invest!

• Tempted to get another pair of these Toteme trousers as a back-up given how often I wear them to work

• I love a tapered leg design in trousers, it feels a bit more streamlined and easier to wear with a variety of shoes

• Pleat fronts on high waisted trousers always look good to me, keep the top half close to the body so the proportions don’t drown you

• Style these wide leg trousers with a fitted roll neck. Add a shirt over the rollneck for expert layering . Love that you can wear knee high boots with this given the width of the trouser leg

  Slim fitted Rollnecks are the hardest working items in my wardrobe for at least 9 months of the year – so is our cross to bear in the UK. Wear with trousers, skirts, under shirts, layered under dresses – the possibilities are endless. Unbeatable ROI. I’m convinced I have them in most available colours, my most worn being burgundy (burgundy is a neutral right? Right), cream and buttermilk, with black, grey and navy coming in quite close behind. But I see they have one in Sage Green – off I trot to add to cart.

Dresses: I’m a bona fide dress girl! I find them really easy to wear - minimal decision-making and they give me that ‘put together’ feel with limited effort. I've recently found myself wearing more maxi dresses in the office which I've been loving. Maxi dresses don’t have to be synonymous with the wafty pieces you buy on holiday in Ibiza to never be worn again. They can be structured, professional and multi-purpose; working both for the office and outside of it - with a bit of styling you'll have your maxi dresses putting in a serious shift because why should you be the only one grafting?

• Recently wore this burgundy dress with white Staud boots and I felt sensational. Jessica Pearson who?

• I don’t often wear minis, especially in the workplace but this is easily toned down with black knee high boots, tights and a cream roll neck – refer to point above, see I told you; hardworking

• Wore this dress on a shoot and it was a love at first situation. The length, the layering over the white peek-a-boo top and the cinched belt – perfection! Wear with these Red knee high boots for a pop of colour

• There is A LOT of Proenza in my wardrobe, they do workwear very well – professional with an edge, and it’s timeless. This dress ticks all my boxes. ALL. OF. THEM.

White Shirts: If you want to look cool, calm and deep in your Jenna Lyons bag then you need to add a crisp white shirt to your armoury.

• Oversized but not clown-esque. It won’t feel sloppy in the office, just a touch is enough for me.

• Love the slightly longer length in the back. Easily worn with a jumper with the cuffs pulled to peak out – with jeans, trousers or belted under a jumper and styled with a maxi skirt

• Always partial to a simple structured white shirt. I don’t like pockets on shirts so this is perfect. Probably why I have multiples in this very shape

  Blazer: The over-sized aesthetic still has the gworlz in a chokehold but nothing will make you feel more bozo the clown than gesticulating while giving a presentation in an over-sized blazer. Been there, done that, will not be repeating.

• The fit of this is sensational. The pull of Blaze made complete sense to me as soon as I put this blazer on. They’re known for their tailoring for good reason

• This Self Portrait blazer reminds me of the one Andy wore in Paris in Devil Wears Prada. If you don’t immediately pull this imagery from the recesses of your mind then have a word with yourself. Perfect with a pencil skirt, dark denim jeans or wide leg trousers. 10/10

• This beauty has been living rent free in my mind since I saw it on Hattie Brett this Autumn. I think of it 3-5 days of the week.

Clothes are a valid tool of self-expression in the work place, they lend gravitas to an already incredibly capable woman.

And remember; back yourself. Always.