March. In like a lion, out like a lamb – great advice for women and girls to hear as they pursue their dreams. Most women tend to be kind and sweet and use the “kill them with kindness” approach to getting what they want or need. This technique works with children’s teachers, babysitters and even with neighbors when you want them to watch your pets. But when the dream is big and the stakes are real, it might take a different approach. I know this lesson well. A few years back (ok, about 20 years) I moved to San Francisco to pursue a dream. Finding my dream job was incredibly overwhelming with all the research, applications, resumes and cover letters. (before the internet, on-line applications and key word searches!) Soon I decided I needed a different approach. I targeted the industry I wanted to work in, wanting to gain experience and knowing one day I would open my own business.
I placed an add in an industry publication that CEO’s of these companies would read. The title – Trailblazer seeks exciting opportunity … and on and on. Well, it worked. I received several calls from companies I was interested in and finally landed the job of my dreams. I was a bit bold, asked for what I wanted with an unfounded sense of confidence and I got it. I worked incredibly hard and made my way through the company into the position I wanted and learned everything I wanted before I moved on.
I tell this story because WR is encouraging women and girls to go for their dreams and sometimes this means you need to be a little bold and think outside the box. March is the month we celebrate International Women’s Day. Not many people in the US know about or even celebrate this very special day. WOMEN RUN is marking this day as a day to celebrate! We deserve recognition and praise for all that we do. We are more than 54% of the workforce, we raise the children, bring home the bacon and we even wash the pan after we’ve cooked the bacon! We are going for what we want, we know we have more options and opportunities than ever before and we are making a difference. We aren’t settling for less than we want – a job beneath our skill set, unflattering maternity clothes, frozen dinners, or waiting for him to bring us flowers. If we need help, we ask for it. If we want flowers, we buy them ourselves. If we want to lose weight – we go for a run. Go for it. Be bold.
We are Women… Watch us Run!
-Kyra