DRIVEN Blog
A Childless Woman Gives Birth, Twice.
Yesterday I gave birth for the second time. Confused? Those who know me well have heard about (and some have witnessed episodes of) my 25-year battle with panic attacks. The full attack I endured, a mere three months ago, brought paramedics to our little apartment on Main Street in Cold Spring. As I was on…
The Trials and Tribulations of Working From Home
Things are changing in the workplace; working at home is becoming a more common occurrence. However, as appealing as working from home sounds, it requires a disciplined work ethic the same way an…
Stop Overwhelming Yourself By Overworking Yourself
One of the launch questions that I know everyone has admitted to feeling is: “Do you feel overwhelmed, like there are just too many things to do in a day, and it affects your focus?” If you say no, I think…
Powering Down Helped Empower Me Up!
I was determined and, frankly, a little scared. A colleague had challenged me to not only unplug for two full days, but to do NO WORK AT ALL for those days. I don’t consider myself a work-a-holic, but I do work every day. My logic is that by working ½-days on weekends, I won’t fall…
Give Me Back My Tongue!
Polling Question #5: It’s My Job and I’ll Speak if I Want To! One of the polling questions asked at the launch-event was ‘Do you hold your tongue because you worry about not being liked?’ I find this question very interesting and complex, depending on the circumstances. In a personal setting, I think it is…
Wine and Dine with the WAC
An excited group packed the room at Alston and Bird on June 26th to attend the Women’s Advancement Compact’s first educational wine event! 36 women were ready to participate in a unique wine tasting adventure. Most people in attendance were probably unaware that the event had more goals than just DRINK LOTS OF WINE! In…
GMO Labeling: A NEED to Know
My name is Patti Hayde and my daughter Emily is 8 years old. The last two years of her life she has spent fighting to be healthy and I have spent trying to find the cause of her sickness. It has been a long, frustrating, horrifying, and appalling journey for me. For her it has…
Citi Bike: The Most Efficient Way to Travel in NYC
Interacting with a city by bike is an optimal way to take in a landscape at eye level. A two-wheeled velocity keeps pace with urban streets and yet you move slow enough to observe and absorb the city’s unceasing energy. I rent a bike when visiting new places to achieve this very sensation. I can…
The REAL Vintage Deal!
In every northeast antiquing village, there’s that one antique shop that stocks the true vintage Americana items that the real hawk-eyes are looking for. In Cold Spring, Once Upon a Time Antiques is that…
A Shop That's All About "One of a Kind"
Archipelago At Home 119 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY A Cold Spring staple for 16 years, Archipelago At Home is for those who want to get serious about home decor. Proprietor Timothy Chevtaikin, with his adventurous taste and keen eye for craftsmanship, keeps his shop elegantly stocked with “ever-changing, unique gift items, furnishings and home…
Polling Post #4: Oops, I Forgot Myself, Again
Polling Question #4: Do Something For Yourself! During the Women’s Advancement Compact launch, one of the questions presented was: When was the last time you did something just for you? The answers varied from once a week, once a month, and of course the comical option of ‘are you kidding me?’ While such a…
Divide and Conquer! Two observations and a conclusion
Office Support… Observation #1: In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg references an incident in her life- where a male colleague cut her off during a meeting. Her boss came to the rescue by suggesting that Ms Sandberg hadn’t finished her thought. This was a moment in the book where some women could glaze over…
Polling Post #3: Put the Phone Down and Step Away Slowly
One of the questions asked during the Women’s Advancement Compact kick-off event was: When was the last time you unplugged? While some scoffed at the notion of turning off their blackberry, iPhone, iPad, laptops, etc., others might have come to the harsh realization that…
Wine Tasting - The Perfect Blend of Education and Socializing… with a Touch of WOW.
Oh, I do love planning a party. And this one’s gonna be a SERIOUS affair! -Goldie Wine: Demystified On Wednesday, June 26th Super Star Sommelier Claire Paparazzo will join Deborah Goldstein to take the adventurous amongst you down the path of wine empathy. This educational look at wine practices is ideal for anyone…
A Two Minute Investment to Living a Healthier, Longer Life
A daily 2 minute investment can add years onto your life: 1 ½ – 6 years depending on which gerontologist you believe. What’s this investment? Flossing! Wait, no one ever died from gum disease or gingivitis. While that is true, it turns out that in a way, lack of bad breath is a side benefit…
Polling Post #2: I’m NOT Sorry… But Please Forgive My Yelling.
DRIVEN Professionals community events are structured to present thought-provoking content to the greater community, followed by small-group discussion. The dialogue brings out different experiences, coping mechanisms, and support. At our May 9, 2013 event, we polled the audience and asked 14 questions that served as fodder for these intimate discussions. I offer some personal insight…
Launch Lesson #1: Walking Daily Can Lower the Risk of Lifestyle Disease
One of the more provocative polling questions asked during the Women’s Advancement Compact launch was about exercise: True or False: “walking 20 minutes a day can result in a decreased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and a heightened sense of well being”- The crowd was split as they punched in…
The Women's Advancement Compact Launch: An Inspiring Night to be Remembered by Many!
High Energy Networking, Thought Provoking Conversation, and Great Food & Wine – oh my. An energized crowd overfilled the room at Alston & Bird on Thursday, May 9th to join the Women’s Advancement Compact launch and recognize our new community. David Wolfskehl verbalized the precise goal of the evening when he conveyed: “within 10 seconds…
Sweet Jane Paperie; Hand-Crafted Style from a Stylish Woman
Janine Serio is currently an Associate Creative Director at a pharmaceutical advertising agency with a growing side business creating beautiful custom-made invitations and note cards. She attended art school and comes from a family full of creativity. Growing up in a family with 12 children, Janine learned to express herself through creativity and was able…
An Action Oriented Discussion with Dr. Anne Marie Slaughter
At the Princeton Club on April 10, 2013 Hearing Dr. Anne Marie Slaughter and Andrew Romano speak about work/life balance at the Princeton Club left me energized, hopeful, and armed with an action plan. When Dr. Slaughter analogized this paradigm shift to the evolution of smoking- from commonplace to near extinct, I understood that advancement begins slowly.…