You’ve probably heard me talk about how I have 4 boys…but I’m not sure if I mentioned that when we bought my dog my ONLY request (because I really didn’t want a dog) was that it would be a female. I am sure you can guess where this is going – my dog’s name is Rooney (after Wayne Rooney who used to play for Manchester United my favorite football/soccer team) and he is a male dog.
I live in a house where there is more testosterone than most people would know how to handle, but let me explain why I am equipped. I grew up the oldest of 3 kids, and you’ve guessed it, I have 2 younger brothers – no sisters. I have never known the likes of the drama that can come from living in a home with girls, nor have I ever had the pleasure to have a sister to share my deepest thoughts and secrets with. I know this is why I take my friendships so seriously – they are an escape for me from my current environment and I consider them the sisters I chose.
Even though I live surrounded by all this masculinity, I have never lost my love for my feminine side, in fact, I think I am able to embrace it even more because of what I see around me. I love sports, I love cars, I am not a pushover (and those of you that know me, know this is quite an understatement), I am handy and love to do home projects and fix things, but I also love to shop, cook and make the most of how I look. I don’t think I am an anomaly, I just think I am not afraid to be who I want to be without worrying about what I think I SHOULD be.
Unfortunately we still live in a time where, as a woman, we have to prove ourselves over and over, where we are not always given opportunities to rise to the top in careers, and sometimes we are even blatantly discriminated against. Guess what, however someone else treats us doesn’t have to determine how successful we are. Rising to top in anything requires tenacity, persistence, patience as well as confidence, and these things only come when we are not bitter, resentful or frustrated. Believe me, in my career I tried pretty much every angle to achieve my goals and quite honestly the only thing that did work for me was just being ME and not giving up no matter what. I found that when I embraced my femininity and inner confidence that I felt when I did that, I was able to attract more positivity to my life which also brought more success, fulfillment and happiness.
I found that when I became too aggressive (which I know I have a tendency to do) I intimidated people, which actually gave me negative results. At the time I didn’t realize that my aggression and frustration was causing people to want to move away from me, which included clients, my husband, my kids, my friends, and so on. It’s a weird thing when you feel that people don’t want to be around you, especially when you sit down and think about why that might be and take accountability for your actions in the whole equation.
Life is filled with things we can’t change, and the only way we can work through those things is if we accept that we have no control over them. Letting go is the most freeing feeling, but it requires practice. It doesn’t mean that you are always going to like it, but it means you are able to move on despite how you feel.
I love the fact that I get to be the only girl in my house – sometimes the smells, the disorganization, the untidiness, the laziness, and the constant meal making can be a little much, but quite honestly, I wouldn’t change it for anything. I feel blessed that I can come home and one or more of the “boys” in my house will give me a 20 second hug which is exactly what I need to ease away the stress from my workday.
Staying feminine when all around you is masculine is an art, its a habit, and it is a path to success in business. In any relationship (whether personal or professional) there needs to be a masculine and feminine energy, and most men like to take the masculine lead. If they take that lead the best way for you to have success and create a connection in that relationship is by being the feminine you. I feel very fortunate as a woman to be able to be strong and confident and I don’t have to give up my femininity to do it.