CEO Stephanie Whalen has mastered the art of managing the details -- two kids, a husband, house, full-time job, online classes -- without sweating the small stuff.
By AOL Editor Dori Fern
Congratulations on being chosen our CEO prize winner in the category of Organizational Development.
Thank you! Gee, I don’t know if I'm as amazing as the other CEO winners!
Clearly our judges disagree. You seem to have an exceptionally positive attitude about your life and the people in it: at home, at work and so forth. Plus you balance all these parts with grace and good humor. This may not seem flashy, but it really is the heart of this Chief Everything Officer program. When asked why you should be chosen CEO, here's what you said:
"I should be named CEO because I understand what it is to work hard for what you want. I am not afraid of any challenge -- no job is too big or too small for me, from painting rooms in my home to cleaning up projectile vomit. I am above no job. I am up for a challenge and I am sure that life with my wonderful family will present many more challenges through the years, but they need not worry because CEO Whalen is on the job."
What do you think is the key to your happy family life?
The fast pace [of my life] requires precision timing -- my day starts at 5:15 a.m. and ends around 10 p.m. -- but all that structure can make you lose sight of what's most important. You have to enjoy life. Every day I try to make my kids and husband laugh at least 10 times. That means making silly faces and noises, being flexible and just plain having fun. That doesn't mean I'm not exhausted at the end of the day -- I am! However, I love my life, my kids and I am blessed to be able to keep up my insane pace.
You have a career in addition to your multitude of jobs at home. A lot of mom's are conflicted about the decision to work after having kids. How about you?
Thank you! Gee, I don’t know if I'm as amazing as the other CEO winners!
Clearly our judges disagree. You seem to have an exceptionally positive attitude about your life and the people in it: at home, at work and so forth. Plus you balance all these parts with grace and good humor. This may not seem flashy, but it really is the heart of this Chief Everything Officer program. When asked why you should be chosen CEO, here's what you said:
"I should be named CEO because I understand what it is to work hard for what you want. I am not afraid of any challenge -- no job is too big or too small for me, from painting rooms in my home to cleaning up projectile vomit. I am above no job. I am up for a challenge and I am sure that life with my wonderful family will present many more challenges through the years, but they need not worry because CEO Whalen is on the job."
What do you think is the key to your happy family life?
The fast pace [of my life] requires precision timing -- my day starts at 5:15 a.m. and ends around 10 p.m. -- but all that structure can make you lose sight of what's most important. You have to enjoy life. Every day I try to make my kids and husband laugh at least 10 times. That means making silly faces and noises, being flexible and just plain having fun. That doesn't mean I'm not exhausted at the end of the day -- I am! However, I love my life, my kids and I am blessed to be able to keep up my insane pace.
You have a career in addition to your multitude of jobs at home. A lot of mom's are conflicted about the decision to work after having kids. How about you?
