First Word

When I was younger I wanted security and family. I wanted a good, steady career path. I wanted to find a slow, gradual ascent toward my dreams. Then I hit pesky mid-life. I achieved many, many goals. Yet I found I had many more things to accomplish. In my professional life, I realized I wasn't enjoying the career I wanted. In my personal life, my relationship was lopsided and unsatisfying. Mid-life became not a crisis but a time to make some scary, but important decisions. Was I going to look back at my life with regret? Who wants to regret anything? And why not live the fullest possible life? I never considered myself a risk-taker, but in reflecting on the last several years I realized I am definitely a risk-taker. I started my own company on a shoestring budget, and I have succeeded and stayed in business even during this protracted Great Recession. I also met the man of my dreams. Instead of staying in the status quo and accepting my lopsided and unsatisfying marriage, I decid...

I always see this self-help advise that suggests women, in particular, need to learn to say "no" more often. We say "yes" and over book our lives. The funny thing is that many women probably say "yes" to things that affect their personal lives, but they do not say "yes" often enough to professional opportunities. In fact, I would suggest the opposite. They say "no" way more often than they should when it comes to seizing opportunities. The reasons usually have to do with fear: fear of failure, fear of change, fear of even success (yes, some people are subconsciously afraid of success). When asked to "leap" fear holds them back. Opportunities show up daily if you look for them. Opportunities to take risks and try something new with great potential. So, my challenge is not to tell women to learn to say "no" more often, but rather than to "yes" and take those risks. Try new things. I'm always experimenting...