I’ll start by saying that participating in the 5k was a success in that it encouraged me to continue to step-up my fitness goal and make my 4 times a week gym visits a priority. I ran it in 28.26, which sure doesn’t make me an Olympian but I am proud that I kept it under a ten minute mile! This has given me even more motivation in strengthening my legs and building my stamina.
Unfortunately after running a 5k, flushed face and sweaty, I didn’t feel as though I would make the greatest first impression to any new contacts. I did get introduced to several local law enforcement officials!
Not to worry, where the 5k lacked, I picked up the slack later at my department’s largest team-building event of the year in Pasadena. Working at a branch location of the company, I don’t have many opportunities to be seen and seek out the “big wigs” of the organization. Up to this point, the majority of contact with the senior staff has been a once-a-week phone call to my mentor at the Los Angeles office. At the team-building event I had the opportunity to put a face with the voice and meet several other individuals including the VP of marketing, several directors, as well as our company president. On top of getting to finally meet the individuals who I had heard so much about, it became very clear that my boss had already laid the foundation for my introduction. I couldn’t be more excited by my boss sharing her enthusiasm about having me as a new addition to her team. She went as far as to announce it in front of the entire event and personally walk me up to the president during the mixer. The president charged me with the task of becoming San Diego’s team leader. Now to keep my name on their mind and in front of them.
With all this progress I thought it was about time I reward myself with a little wardrobe CPR. The biggest challenges when dressing for work has been that the company is a fashion forward organization so being professional and fashionable are equally important. On top of that, I walk to work which means I switch from flats to heals. I tailor all my pants as every polished woman should, however my boot-cut slacks are tailored well more my quite tall heals. During the warmer months, it hadn’t been such a problem because I would wear skirts and dresses primarily so I didn’t have to worry about my hems dragging on the concrete on the way to work. Thankfully as a result of our fashionista dress code, black tailored skinny legged slacks are the best pants option. I bought black, charcoal, and khaki pairs at Express and tailored them to my ankles to work with both pumps and flats. I can wear them with numerous blouses in my closet and pair with a tailored jacket and look equally polished and stylish. I also picked up some new tights both in plain black and trendier options such as argyle to turn those summer skirts and frocks in to fashionable fall wear. After all, with all my hard work at the gym, I still want to be able to show off my legs!
–Cassandra Altmann
Tags: Fashion, Go-getting, Healthy Lifestyle, Networking
