Choosing NOT to Do Business Like a Man

If I had a dollar for every time I've been told to "do business more like a man" throughout my career, I think I would have a couple hundred bucks! Especially in the past week, I think I'd have enough to at pay for lunch at least one day. WTF is up with people telling women that they need to do business more like a man?? I mean, what's wrong these days with actually doing business like a woman?

First of all, I am a woman and can't help that fact. Although I think it would be easier to be a man, we as women have the ability to experience things that they never will. Which I actually think makes us mentally stronger at times. Second of all, I've done business "Like a man" in the past, and been pegged as "a bitch" so either way I can't win. Ok, ok so I know that I'm generalizing a bit on this one - but that's what happens in the real business world. I know that this is a controversial topic and some people may be offended, but this is just my opinion.

Well, maybe now is the time for men to do business more like us women - we actually listen (ok- most of the time), we feel emotions about things (yes, sometimes TOO much, but that's ok), and often have a better gauge on how certain things will effect people. We also have a tendency to remember that relationships in business are equally as important as the business itself. I've tried to not bring emotion into the picture, but I've found it has lead to becoming numb to things - which is actually a scary thing that can often lead to recklessness. I've also tried to "think like a man" - once again which is hard for me to do because I'm NOT one! I can only think like me, be me and approach business the way I know in my heart is right. Maybe my approach isn't your approach, but if it was, wouldn't that make me a robot??

Now believe me, I'm not sexist at all. But regardless of what anyone says, it's still a man's world out there - or at least they are the ones mostly running the show. It's a known fact that they generally get paid more than women. They and are seen as "powerful" for some of the awful things they do politically or the way they act and can get away with more - especially fist pounding. Frankly, I am tired of it.

I'm really looking forward to one day working for someone who is successful in the workplace for doing business "like a woman." Maybe one day, I hope that I can be that person...but who knows since for the time being it's all men who are in charge of my fate....

Here's to Feb - Only 28 Days!

I was really hoping that 2011 was going to be a muccchhh better year, but so far it's not off to a great of a start.

Between battling illness (that stomach bug going around is DEADLY), snow storms, colds, my son going through a really whiny/clingy stage, leaky roofs, work and eyeball issues - January can be summed up as the month of endless hurdles and challenges. It seemed as if each week was a huge ordeal just to get through. A few weeks ago I remember someone at work asking what I was doing over the weekend - I was so focused just on getting through this week that I haven't spent one second thinking about it. And this is coming from me - Type A always planned and scheduled in advance. So that just goes to show you what kind of state I was in.

The good news is that we are all healthy again - hopefully now for awhile. We'd better be after I disinfected the crap out of the house after each bout with sickness. My eyeball issues have been resolved for the most part and resulted in getting LASIK last week. So, I'm actually able to see now - 20/20 for the first time I can remember! Still healing, but really excited about seeing like a normal person again. Dan and I also managed to get out a few times in the month of Jan thanks to good friends giving of their time to babysit so we can spend some time together. And although I turned another year older (bad), but had a great birthday thanks to my wonderful hubby.

That being said, there are still things coming out of Jan that are still unresolved. Things at work and my job are still up in the air. Playing the waiting game right now which can drive anyone crazy. I really don't do well with uncertainty. My son is still going through his whiny/clingy stage that I hope he gets over really soon. I can't do anything without him attached to my leg or crying - which is frustrating - especially when spending so much time together housebound thanks to all the snow and sickness. Oh yes speaking of which - we are only supossed to get another 15+ inches this week which is great. Which could mean more leaky roof issues - gotta love old "charming" homes!

Anyway, I am hopeful that February will be a better, less eventful month. Thank God it's only 28 days!

I know I've been really bad at posting updates and promise to get better at this! (But some of what I felt like writing this past month was probably better not to be put into actual writing)

Uncertainity and a fresh start....

I hope everyone had safe and happy holidays! Was great to have some time off before starting the new year and was looking forward to having a fresh start. To well.... just about everything.

Well, looks like I began to get my wish as I walked into work on Monday of this past week to find out the client I was working on decided to part ways with us. Without giving away all the gory details, this often happens at agencies - this was just very sudden and unexpected. Of course being in agencies forever, I've been through similar circumstances in the past. I've just always worked at large agencies, when there was client turn-over, they always found new things for us left behind to work on usually pretty quickly. But it's much different in a smaller shop, and I would be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't worried.

The good news was that I was able to get myself onto two new business pitches in the past week. They are extremely fast-paced, often grueling, demanding, terribly time consuming, take an enormous amount of coordination and organization - and yet I really seem to enjoy them. Somehow they fit well with my personality and work-style ; ) This was my first time working on new business at this agency, so it was a definite learning experience for me.

The really sucky part was that one of the pitches was due to be submitted on Friday, and come crunch time, I woke up with two infected eyeballs that burned like hell. I almost had to pull over a few times on my way to work and really shouldn't have been driving or operating heavy machinery. In a panic, I ran to my eye doctor for an emergency appointment hoping for some miracle drops so I could jet back to work to get everything done that was needed last-minute.

My eye doc took one look at me and immediately made another emergency appointment with one of the best eye specialists in Boston. As much as I went kicking and screaming, it turns out I have two ulcers on my eyes and am now doomed to wearing glasses for God only knows how long. After spending hours at the specialist, they basically gave me some drugs and told me I had to go home and rest. So much for being a part of the last-minute pitch! I totally felt that I let everyone down when it really mattered. Although feeling guilty and horrible, I also realized that some things are more important in life....such as being able to see! If I can't see, I can't work - it's as simple as that.

Anyway, going through all this in the past week - I have learned a lot about myself. The future is couldn't be more uncertain right now and surprisingly, I'm ok with that. Being a extreme type A control freak, this is new territory for me. Whatever happens, happens and I just need to be able to roll with it. If we don't win new business and I loose my job, we'll survive. And if things work out and we do win, I'll be able to start fresh on a new client.

Only time will tell I guess. In the meantime, at least I'll be able to see! : )