Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
If the memes on Twitter are any indication, 2016 has been rough for a lot of us. For me, it’s been painful. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this year, but the huge professional successes seemed to drown in the shadow of my personal life. I wish I could say that I feel like everything has leveled out, but even now, my personal struggles often prevent me from seeing the beautiful world that is around me.
As a result, I have spent a lot of 2016 on the treadmill and at yoga reminding myself why I need to be optimistic about the future. Here are a few I thought I’d share with you in hopes that you’ll find some reasons to be optimistic as we say goodbye to what has been a rough year for nearly everyone, it seems.
If you haven’t taken the time to try and find the things that you’re grateful for in 2016, be wise and take the time. Grief and pain and loss are part of life always - and sometimes the most painful parts of life all stack up. But, the thing that will make us survive the downs are realizing that the ups have happened and they will CONTINUE to happen.
My world is full of amazing women. I am so grateful to know each one of them. And while I’m usually all about gifting experiences like my dear friend Megan - sometimes badass women are also crazy busy women. In those cases, this list of awesome gifts will let them get back to taking over the world.
Clear Membership ($179 Per Year)
If a strong woman in your life is a frequent flyer, then a Clear Membership will be a huge time saver. Fly through security and then even go through to the front of the TSA PreCheck line. It’s truly the best. It saved me HOURS this year.
Tile Slim Tracker ($49 for 2)
This is my whole life: Where are my headphones? Where’s my phone? Where’s my Kindle? That is why Tile is like an extra brain. It always knows where my things are - and shows me the way.
Physician’s Formula Boosting Serum ($11.99)
Let me tell you what I need in life - makeup that lasts from 7AM to 7PM. This is the one and only liquid eyeliner that I’ve found which can withstand 12 hours of hot or cold. It’s a winner in every way.
Any of These Books (Up to $20)
It’s easy to lose enthusiasm for business books after you have read more than 3. They are all meant to teach and rarely do they get you pumped up to do the work. These non-business books for bitches who mean business are the east right thing.
Old School Desk Nameplate ($28)
I can’t think of anything more silly or funny or true than these nameplates. They would charm any girl boss and certainly give them something fun to talk about with their team before getting down to work.
Chatbook’s 2016 Book ($15)
I’m obsessed with this service. Get your instagram photos and ANY photos from your awesome year in one beautiful little printed book. And here’s a great bonus: Rifle Paper Co partnered with Chapbooks to offer some gorgeous designs.
Sugar Paper Business Card Holder ($5.99)
I love this. It’s cute. It’s easy. It does what it is supposed to do. And it’s stylish and wonderful. And it’s super affordable.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
This time of year is an awkward thing: it’s when we are reminded that women don’t win awards in al the big ceremonies - but it’s not because women aren’t making movies - they just aren’t making as many as men. How do we move forward? By voting with our dollars to support the very few films that do feature, star and are written and directed by women at a time when blockbusters are getting all the attention. With that, here’s your December with ladies opening the weekend:
DECEMBER 2:
Things to Come (Directed and Written by Mia Hansen-Løve)
A philosophy teacher soldiers through the death of her mother, getting fired from her job, and dealing with a husband who is cheating on her.
Jackie (Starring Natalie Portman)
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband’s historic legacy.
DECEMBER 9:
Miss Sloane (Starring Jessica Chastain)
In the world of political power-brokers, Sloane takes on the most powerful opponent of her career and will do whatever is required to win.
DECEMBER 16:
Rogue One (Starring Felicity Jones)
The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.
DECEMBER 23:
Julieta (Starring Emma Suárez and Adriana Ugarte)
After a casual encounter, a brokenhearted woman decides to confront her life and the most important events about her stranded daughter.
DECEMBER 30:
Toni Erdmann (Written and Directed by Maren Abe)
A father tries to reconnect with his adult daughter.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
There are so many ways that you can measure success. Happy clients. Happy teammates. Growth. It’s all rewarding. And these are the things that keep you going.
But truth be told, it’s just as easy to find ways to get frustrated and sad because of the hard decisions and the tough mistakes and the exhausting hours. Until you see everything you’ve done in one minute and twenty seven seconds with incredible music.
What I’ve come to realize as I’m closing in on the fourth year of business, is that measuring success is exceptionally hard. It’s hard to know what is helping you and what is holding you back. You don’t want to get too comfortable with the wins, because they can just as easily be taken away by the losses.
The truth is entrepreneurs have to figure out how to measure success in the unique way that will allow them to succeed on their own terms and motivate them to KEEP succeeding.
If you decide to measure your success based on any one else’s definition of success - you will not only fail to succeed - you will fail to enjoy all the things that come with success.
So today, I’m gonna enjoy that little flutter in my tummy that I get when I see our work whiz by in that player.
How do you measure the success that is all your own?
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
The awards season is about to begin while we gorge ourselves on holiday eating. It’s like a double whammy. Endless movies. Endless office cookies. Whatever your gluttony of the day may be, things are looking up for women (slightly) at the box office this month.
NOVEMBER 4:
What Happened Last Night (Directed and Written by Candice Cain)
Two college students, Danny and Sarah, are strangers until they wake up together after a night of partying. Told in reverse time order, the story follows what happened the night before.
NOVEMBER 11:
National Bird (Directed by Sonia Kennebeck)
This documentary follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers who are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial current affairs issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war.
Arrival (Starring Amy Adams)
Linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) leads an elite team of investigators when humongous spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors.
NOVEMBER 18:
The Edge of Seventeen (Written and Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig)
Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine, who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian starts dating her best friend Krista. All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until an unexpected friendship with a thoughtful teen gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.
NOVEMBER 23:
Dear Zindagi (Directed by Gauri Shinde and Starring Alia Bhatt)
An unconventional thinker helps a budding cinematographer gain a new perspective on life.
Evolution (Written and Directed by Lucile Hadžihalilović)
In a hospital on an island populated solely by women and boys, Nicholas is subjected to a medical procedure. He senses everyone is lying to him, and with help from a young nurse, he learns the secret of what the women do on the beach at night.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
