Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Ivanka Trump, Real Estate Mogul & Mother Inspires Women








As women, we have the challenge of taking on a number of identities or roles such as mother, wife or career person. But what is the best way to decide how to divide our time between business and family? Ivanka Trump inspires working mothers how to best spend their time for the road to success in both personal and professional spheres. 


IVANKA TRUMP | Interview by Fortune Magazine


Ivanka shares how to best spend and leverage your time for the most productive outcome:
"My life is architected around priorities that I've set for myself...My priorities are family first. That doesn't mean that I'm not extremely driven or focused." She emphasizes the importance of organization and honestly asking herself at the end of her day, "Was I with my kids when they needed me? Or was that business meeting necessary for me to attend?" 
Her company reflects the workplace emphasis shift in our society from hours-in-the-office to productivity, performance and results. This recognizes the flexibility needed for women in the work place and provides a place for them to thrive. 


As women in the workplace, there's also this nagging pressure to always be choosing between work or family and with that comes a plate of guilt on the side, no matter what we choose. We need to let ourselves off the hook and see that we're accomplishing a lot by having both a family and job in the first place. And instead of choosing one or the other, you choose both, because they are both important to having a happy, healthy and balanced you. 

I relate to Ivanka's inspirational words as a mother-of-two and luxury real estate professional of twenty-four years. Balancing my real estate business and family has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences of my life. Like Ivanka, I don't compartmentalize my life, but rather what has helped me tremendously over the years is remaining fluid with my clients and becoming a master at leveraging my time for others. 

 SUSAN PATE | Realtor with Village Properties
Over $35,000,000 sold 2015

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Adele balances success, fame and family - How does she do it?


So many women today walk a tight rope in balancing their personal and professional lives. Adele sheds light on how she's accomplished success and fame yet family is what has brought her the most purpose.   
"When I had him (son) my whole life made sense" 
 ADELE | Interview by Shad 
But how does she manage to juggle the pressure of work and family? In her interview with Shad she opens up on how she has strict boundaries, "When I'm at home, I'm at home. When I'm at work, I'm at work". The pertinent point in what she's saying is that as women we need to be present and fully engaged in whatever we're doing. So if we're helping our kids with their homework, that we're not thinking about the ten million other tasks that need to get done. Or if we're in the office, we're not wishing we could be with our kids. This is obviously easier said than done, but practice makes perfect. If we're in the habit of stopping ourselves in the moment from being a million miles away, we'll have happier children and a productive work life.

Adele’s words strike a personal chord in my own life as balancing my business, husband, children and pets is one of the greatest, most rewarding challenges I’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing. However, I don't really think in my case it is a balance; but rather it's been an ongoing juggling act. When our newborns entered our lives through adoption at the ages of 40 and 41, John and I were already well established in our careers. The children brought incredible inspiration and joy that only added a greater purpose to our work lives. I can’t believe they’re already 15 and 16 years old and looking at which colleges to attend. It's been a bit of a blur at times and in a short 16 years, a blink in time.

What has helped me in business is evolving and staying fluid with my clients and becoming a master at leveraging my time for others.  My clients are all business people or retired high-powered professionals and I think most of them have children, young and/or grown and out of the house.  Knowing each of my clients over the years has enhanced my life and the lives of our children.  Now Matthew plays golf with some of them and Taylor babysits for others. We’re one big happy family.  And in my case, we’re one big happy extended family through the miracle of adoption.

 SUSAN PATE | Realtor with Village Properties 
Over $35,000,000 sold 2015


Thursday, December 3, 2015

Ice in Paradise


This holiday season why not take the family and try something new at Santa Barbara's"Ice in Paradise" skating rink.  


For a long time, there were dreams in paradise. Then there were plans in paradise, fundraising in paradise, and construction in paradise. Now, finally, there is Ice in Paradise. 
Two rinks on the floor of Ice in Paradise, the long-awaited skating facility adjacent to Girsh Park in Goleta, received their first coats of ice in October. Steve Heinze, a Santa Barbara resident and retired National Hockey League (NHL) player, watched the lines being painted on the NHL-sized (200 feet by 85 feet) main rink on Monday. “I’m getting heart palpitations,” he said.
A twist of an oft-quoted expression explains how this project came about: “If they come, it will be built.” People from colder climes who came to live in Santa Barbara while retaining their passion for ice hockey became prime movers in bringing Ice in Paradise to reality.

The 46,500-square-foot arena needed some finishing touches before the grand opening took place in November, but it had a full-fledged opening day on Saturday, October 10. 
December 19th, 12:30 & 5:00pm the Ice in Paradise Skating Club will present skating show called "A Sky Full of Holiday Stars on Ice", which should be fun for the whole family. 
Click on this short video to watch more on the grand opening...

To read more click here for the full article and more information.