SELLING IN A SKIRT
Women want to be treated equally... Not identically
Excerpt from Walking on the Glass Floor By Judy Hoberman “The other day I was asked to name the most influential person was in my life. That was easy. It was my grandmother Sadie L. Flaum (and when you asked her name, the “L.” was always included). Grandma Sadie told me I could be and do whatever I wanted, and it did not matter that I was a girl. Recently I was reflecting on the depth of her impact. Not only did she encourage me to follow my dreams, she inspired me to do the same for thousands of other women through my company, Selling In A Skirt. In our celebrity-obsessed culture, it can be easy to lose perspective on what makes a positive role model. Merriam-Webster defines role model as “someone who another person admires and tries to be like; a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others.” While you may find you are drawn to different role models as you grow, I believe the best role models—and the best leaders for that matter—share fundamental attributes. Qualities that never go out of fashion such as: integrity, excellent listening skills, openness, confidence tempered with humility, passion, vision, talent, perseverance, resilience, ability to inspire, and generosity.
single mother, as I was, I was the one she tried to mimic. If a woman was offered a promotion, I was the one she reached out to for “the real scoop.” Although I had not set out to be a role model, I became one. Was I perfect? No. But I always did my best, and I made a point to be available and accessible. I listened to, empathized with, and included other women. I supported them and encouraged their successes while remaining true to my values. You may find it helpful to widen your lens when searching for a role model. There may not be one person who can meet all your needs. If you have multiple challenges, you may be best served by finding several people, each with their own expertise or niche.”
Some of us need search no further than our own families to find strong, positive role models. While other women might benefit from seeking role models at work, in their industry, or in the news. With the Internet, we can learn from and connect with inspiring women around the globe. Every day women are making tremendous strides in science, technology, finance, engineering, medicine, education, business, and entrepreneurship. There is no shortage of fascinating women.
Judy Hoberman, Speaker, Coach, and Author Walking on the Glass Floor sellinginaskirt.com
Life is a constant give and take. Sometimes you will hunger for a role model, while at other times (or sometimes simultaneously) you will be a role model for others. When I was at the height of my career in the insurance industry, I was one of a handful of women in my company. I stood out. As I found my rhythm, I became a top producer, widened my network, and thrived in the business. This drew even more attention to me. If a woman applied for a position at my firm, I was the one she looked up to. If a woman was a
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