Pippi Longstocking, a smart Swedish woman just like you

As you know, I’m a huge fan of Pippi Longstocking. I mean, how can you not be? Probably every girl growing up in Sweden can relate. Pippi influenced me a lot growing up in Sweden. I loved her spunk, and I still do. My friends and I would play Pippi outside all day, climbing trees, going out for picnics and on walks to the local candy store to buy some candy after school. Just like Pippi. We did everything except lifting horses and chasing cops!

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Dear Daughter, I have something to share

Dear Daughter

 I can’t believe you are going to college next year. Where is the time going, and how is this possible when I am still only 25…?! I’m so thankful for our close relationship and that we talk about EVERYTHING. This is the benefit of having a Swedish mom that is not afraid of talking about any topic! Even though we talk a lot, there are still so many more things I want to tell you, and lessons I want to share.  So I’ve decided to share them here. This way you can come back to them as many times you need, as a reminder throughout your life and your career. And also, since I’ve noticed that even though I still sometimes get the  “ok, mom….” comment, I keep catching you following my advice later on. So even if you pretend not to listen sometimes, I know that you still are, so I’m going to keep on talking and keep on writing here. And now you just need to read, and not listen to me go on and on about life and leadership lessons. And come on, who wouldn’t want to catch up on some leadership advice from mom after class?! 

I tell my team of project managers all the time - use me and ask a thousand questions. I’m old and I have a ton of experience. I’ve gone through the things you are experiencing on your projects, and with your clients many times, and can share my learnings with you so that you don’t make the same mistakes as me. I can tell you how to be a strategic leader, how to plan, proactively predict risks, how to read and motivate your team, how to get through challenging projects, how to build relationships, how to build trust and respect with your team, how to learn from both good and bad bosses, and most of all how to project manage the shit out of anything, including life.

So Elsa, be a sponge and listen to what I have to share with you. You are already so much wiser than I was at 17, but I want to give you an even further head start in life. Every woman needs to go for what they want, be the leader of their life and not let anyone else tell them what they can and can’t do.

I love you, and I’m so proud of you.

 Mamma

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A letter to myself

    Hope you had a great weekend!

    I spent my weekend with family and friends in Maine celebrating my birthday. It was an amazing weekend which made me reflect on my life and what has happened this past year. I've decided to start a new tradition. I'm going to send a letter to myself on my birthday reflecting on the past year and to tell myself where I would like to be in a year (when I open the letter). I will also give myself some tips on what to focus on etc.

    The letter starts like this:

    Hi Madlene,

    This is Madlene in year 2014. Yet another year has passed and the big learning this year was to not stress about time. Everything happens when it's suppose to happen....

    ..........

    I will share my letter with you in 2015 when I open it up on my next birthday. Let's see if I learned anything and listened to myself...

    Reflections in beautiful Maine -

    Maine