From Apologetic to Empowered

My a-ha moment came a few years ago when I realized the best way I was going to succeed in moving up the career ladder was to do it my way - as a feminine, sensitive and powerful woman. There was a time in my early career when I felt I had to "apologize" for the power I knew I possessed for fear it might impose on others insecurities. I stifled my own potential because I wanted, above all else, to be liked by everyone. What I came to realize was that people's reactions to me really had nothing to do with me, but rather with their own personal environments and issues. That realization was very freeing. I learned to embrace my own amazing femininity, creativity and, yes, power. After that, the sky was the limit.

I've always been a risk taker, working on creative ventures while still growing in my advertising and sales career. It was through this creativity where I found my true voice and learned how to use that voice to ask for what I wanted. That, coupled with my ability as a strategic goal setter, always prepared me for whatever came next. Opportunities and promotions presented themselves and I embraced myself as the effective leader I knew I was meant to be.

The lovely equation that has brought me the most success in my daily work life - the fire in my belly presented with a natural softer approach - is where some of the initial thoughts began to arise for the Cashmere Glove approach to business. I now like to think of it as embracing my inner terrier and putting a cashmere collar on it!

Striving for continual improvement is one of my personal philosophies. Cashmere Glove: The Feminine Approach to Business™ is a concrete result of that philosophy and one that I can impart to others.

From Miss America to the Boardroom
In my early 20's, I represented the state of Indiana in the Miss America Pageant. The other fifty contestants were amazing young women who were all about finding their own yardstick for measuring success. It was an early lesson in drawing upon the powers within. I took that lesson and have done series of talks for young women on Winning & Success in Indiana and Michigan.

Fast forward twenty years and I find myself sitting on several Boards that support that same empowerment of women. Currently, I'm on the Board of Directors for American Women in Radio & Television, as well as The Art & Soul Center of Los Angeles, which nurtures the lives and careers of people in the arts. As a writer and sometime performer, I established The POWDER Network (The Power of Women Developing Entertainment Resources), a networking organization driving the advancement of women in entertainment careers. We were an active voice in the community for five years.

And, recently as a Vice President of Sales for Blair Television, I was in the lucky position to nurture young women and men in their careers, to give them mentorship and then to see the fruits of that guidance in their growth. As a manager, it doesn't get much better than that.

From Inside to Outside
The real turning point came for me in the middle of night, which is when most of my moments of realization happen! It truly was a surrendering to truth. It was after I had been in management for a little while and had spent many a sleepless night pondering the right way to handle situations with my staff. I had a general dislike of confrontation and found myself continually faced with this. One night at 3 a.m., it was that brilliant little voice that spoke up in the darkness - that same voice that has steered me along my right path for forty plus years. It said, " Your purpose is to help these people grow. Take the focus off yourself. It's about them, not you." Wow, so simple, yet complete truth. Confrontation went away and my powerful, feminine, nurturing self took over.