Today the Harvard Business Review published an article, Why Peace and Harmony are Bad for Innovation by Andrew O’Connell. I hate it because it’s true, but I also loved this article because it’s the type of insight that I know from experience is so true. So I figure after two posts on cookies, naps and office synergy I can write a bit on less feel-good circumstances and instead on those arduous journeys that (ideally) bring us to some hard-won nap and cookie time.

Entrepreneurship is survival. If you’ve done it, you know it’s true. No ifs, ands or buts and no matter how much preparation is met with luck or opportunity, building something from nothing in this economy is a trying experience. There are moments in running my business day-to-day that are incredibly intense, frightening and of course rewarding. Nothing is ever certain. Once I start to believe that it is, some unexpected force rocks us into action and reaction.

I write a lot about office synergy lately because for many months, we didn’t have much of it. We started gaining momentum in this area when I made a rather bold move to bridge the gap between executive level detachment and production minutia, taking over both creative direction and the majority of the project management for the company. The transition took about two months to complete, but afterward, life at work was eerily calm. I actually started having some significant anxiety at this point, because that lack of stress was stressing me out. I felt like conflict was coming… Well it did, occasionally, but on a different fronts. Thankfully what started working exceptionally well in our office restructuring keeps working. But that doesn’t keep other annoyances from keeping my blood pressure relatively high. (more…)

Warning: This is probably extremely offensive to both sexes. Sorry, it’s just the way I feel.

As a young female in a professional role  typically occupied by men (C.E.O.), in a male-dominated industry (web/software development and technology), it would be fair to say that in order to get through my day I have to be a bit mannish at times. I also work mostly with men on my staff, and I’d say 90-95% of our clientele and service providers are also male. Now, I’m not the type of feminist who feels the need to de-feminize herself to excel professionally in a “man’s world.” I do religiously wear pants and mundane colors to work, but trust me, I celebrate the sisterhood! There are times, however, when I have exchanges that leave me thinking, Holy Trump, where are your cojones? And why are mine bigger than yours?!

Moodiness, wishy-washiness, whininess and above all dramatics are all qualities that I have a hard time accepting in my male or female counterparts, especially when I’m the one with the triple progesterone levels on a daily basis. (Thanks, baby!) In fact when it comes to women, I realize that I may have even higher expectations for attitude, management and professionalism, because of my role and the responsibilities I carry with it.

It is certainly odd to think about gender roles in our particular professional environment. For all intents and purposes, I am “the man” at work. Decision-maker, bread-winner and even at times defender. And while I sometimes bring the boss mentality home with me, truly, I’m more than happy to come home to my two little babies who love me for being their mommy: the nurturer, meal-cooker and house-cleaner. The way going to work can save my sanity at times, coming home to my domestic role can do the exact same thing. (more…)