Ambition: A Four Letter Word for Women?

I know, I haven't blogged for a long while. I've been very busy building something brand new and very, very exciting. I am about to transition AGAIN! and while I'm not giving up my current business, I am embarking on a new journey into unchartered waters. Marci Alboher, of the New York Times blog, Shifting Careers ,(http://www.shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/) would say I am a business coach slash entrepreneur. Yes, I am truly entering the domain of entrepreneurship making it an excellent time to reread Michael Gerber's The E-Myth Revisited (http://www.emythrevisited.com/). I will be sharing more about this new venture in late June, early July, so stay tuned.

So, what does all of this have to do with the title of my post? I'll digress for a bit. Last week, I attended a panel discussion of 4 women - two very successful women, each mothers of a grown daughter. Both of these daughters are successful in their own right. These moms shared their experiences and stories about how they created very successful professional careers while being successful as mothers. These daughters shared their experiences and views about having working career moms, and how that contributed to where they are in their lives, professionally and personally. A true generational expose.

Powerful stuff, because all these women were proof that stay-at-home momming is not the only way to raise well-adjusted, happy, and productive children. It might be one way, but it is not essential. A woman who wants to work AND raise children can do so effectively. What was impressive also is that one of these mothers was a SINGLE mom as well as a WORKING mom. The secret according to her: A great NETWORK of people in her life to help with the care of her daughter when necessary.
Another example of how important your NETWORK is.

I saw HOPE and INSPIRATION written on the faces of the attendees to this panel discussion because they felt that they were not alone in feeling the guilt sometimes accompanying the necessity and/or the desire to have a career while raising children. And they learned that guilt is not a necessity. Women who choose or need to work are just as capable of giving their children great skills and lives as moms who choose to stay at home. And women really a great disservice by judging each other for the path they choose.

So what does any of this have to do with the title of this post - Ambition:A Four Letter Word For Women?

The moderator of the discussion, Debra Condren, who blogs at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-condren-phd/ask-anything-ambitchous-_b_39225.html, and is the author of the book AmBitchous, talked about the issue of women being criticized for having a desire for accomplishment and success in their professional lives, while men are acknowledged and honored for the same desire.

I am an AMBITIOUS woman. I always have been. A friend of mine long ago once told me "You have a fire in your belly." How right she was. I just simply want to create and accomplish alot before I turn the switch of my life off.

I didn't start really coming into my own until the age of 50. And now I have the desire, the experience, and more importantly, the willingness to RISK and to FAIL in order to take a quantum leap forward in creating something powerful.

I support all women who choose to take on new challenges, risk failure, and raise the bar on themselves. I hope you see your AMBITION as a beautiful part of your evolution as a person and as a woman.

And please comment and share your stories of your AMBITION - be an inspiration to others!