In the world of Save. Spend. Splurge.

What I liked this week:

Baby hippo. BABY HIPPO.
Why everyone hates the yuan percent in China (the uber-nouveau second generation rich kids). It’s a sad article. They all seem so lonely and lost. Reminds me of that documentary Born Rich. An excellent fiction chick-lit book that can kind of give you an idea of how these kids live, would be Kwan’s China Rich Girlfriend: A Novel
I want this organized travel packing kit for electronics and cables .. you don’t even KNOW how badly.
What goes up must come down. No? Don’t invest what you can’t afford to lose and don’t need to be liquid in the next 5-10 years.
Want to be a boss? Here are some tips for young women. Note: thinking about the tips, I guess I thrive on being the only woman in the room. I don’t shy away from that because I see myself as equal.
Famous quotes, the way women would have had to say them. I used to say “I’m sorry” but I’ve cut that out of my vocabulary unless I’m actually sorry & I’ve noticed that the more direct I am in meetings, the more half-shocked / embarrassed some people (men mostly) get for me. Why? I’m just being direct & speaking my mind the way everyone should… AT WORK. What’s the big deal?
This father left a heck of a lot of money to his daughters, but with strings attached. Of course.
How Hermes has become so successful. I can tell you exactly how in a nutshell: They’re geniuses in marketing & know how to reach the upper echelons of shoppers who crave being the only one to own X, Y & Z. Plus they have a signature, bold colour like Tiffany, and their products are impeccably made without any brand cachet dilution like outsourcing all of it to Third World Countries which makes them look cheap & make consumers feel cheated. That’s how.
Negotiations. How to do it right, in the real world & for something that matters.
Into Instagram? Check out these popular fashion bloggers’ first and current photos.
Are you rational? I got 2 out of the 3 right.
I am sort of obsessed with French artist Stromae right now. Here are two of my favourite songs of his:

10 responses to “In the world of Save. Spend. Splurge.”

Yetunde

October 19, 2015

I actually attended a work training a few years back and it was facilitated by 2 ex-army women. My main takeaway from that was to never say sorry at work for things you’re not directly responsible for. The lady told the anecdote about a whale washing up on a beach in (I think Florida) and she having to call her superiors on Saturday to get a rescue mission organized. She started each conversation with “I’m sorry to disturb you” and recalls how a highly ranked male officer told her she had absolutely no reason to start the conversation with I’m sorry since she didn’t drag the whale to the beach.

It stuck with me. I work in a male-dominated industry and career but my pleases and I’m sorrys are used only on a need-to basis

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1. save. spend. splurge.
  
  October 20, 2015
  
  THAT is a good story. She didn’t drag the whale to the beach. I will never forget that, but I have certainly cut it out of my vocab long ago.
  
  I NEVER say “Sorry but..”; I just start with whatever it is I want to say and I never couch my words with: But I think, maybe, if possible, we could take a look, what does everyone think?
  
  My approach is: Seek no one’s approval to say what it is you want. If they don’t like it, they shouldn’t have asked in the first place.
  
  I hate beating around the bush, I hate back stories, I just want to know what the question is and what the problem is.
  
  I only say Please a lot, but “Sorry” never enters my vocab unless I am actually at fault. Happened once.
  
  Reply
The Asian Pear

October 19, 2015

D’awh… Baby hippo. 😀

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1. save. spend. splurge.
  
  October 19, 2015
  
  So chubby and cuddly right?
  
  Reply
SarahN

October 17, 2015

I just read about the Fuederai in the Eocnomist (with the same dog/watch photo). Ha! I’ve never felt like being the only woman in the room was a reason not to speak up. I suppose that’s what sets us apart? I do feel that seeking out a mentor within my company (when it was no longer something HR had a program for) spoke silent volumes and probably has lead to some of the opportunities I’ve have. My direct boss more or less called me in when he saw the equivalent of his boss chatting to me in a room one on one – so I was also strategic with who I asked – someone high enough to be helpful for a few years, in a role I would want. It’s my third mentor whilst an Engineer, but the first I’ve sought out, and it’s done the best to date 🙂

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1. SarahN
  
  October 17, 2015
  
  @SarahN: Also, on women in a meeting – I think it’s just a play we can SOMETIMES use for the guys who are delicate little petals who can’t handle hard and forceful. I pick my moment to use the ‘poor, dumb girl’ and the times to use the to the point, the data backs me up ‘why the F is this happening Fred?’
  
  Reply
  1. save. spend. splurge.
    
    October 18, 2015
    
    Ooo.. yes. I do the poor dumb girl sometimes but it never comes off well because I find it hard to play dumb unless I’m REALLY dumb / ignorant on what is happening.
    
    Reply
2. save. spend. splurge.
  
  October 18, 2015
  
  I think girls are intimidated at a young age to not say anything unless among their peers. The problem is young girls don’t think young boys are their peers (taught to us by society and parents)… then you have women like us who don’t care and assume everyone is our equal.
  
  I think it is a brilliant idea to have a mentor who can help you along, just for exactly that reason — visibility that you are being mentored.
  
  Reply
Cassie

October 17, 2015

I’ve never seen a baby hippo before. Those tiny ear flickers are just adorable!

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1. save. spend. splurge.
  
  October 18, 2015
  
  I wanted to cuddle it. Reminded me of Baby Bun, while napping.
  
  Reply