As a woman, what are your criteria to being “successful”? As a professional woman, you might aspire to have the corner office, to get a well-deserved raise and be recognized in your company as a team leader. Personally, as a woman you might lead your household, be the friend that is a trusted confidant and turned to for advice and have found your passion in volunteering in the community.
The definition of “successful”: accomplishing an aim or purpose. It’s important that you see the parallels that run for success both professional and personal. The two are always entwined and they both matter equally. Professional success lends itself to a happy personal life, and the happier you are in everyday life has a direct impact on your professional job performance. The real question is…who is the woman you aspire to be? And most importantly, how are you going to get there? You must be purposeful.
I want to be real with you though…it took me 30 years to finally figure out who I wanted to be, and some women are still figuring it out! It truly doesn’t matter how old you are, what you do, if you have kids, if you have four babies; it’s okay if you are still figuring it all out. What is important is that you are always striving to be better, to learn new things and keep moving forward.
I found this beautiful image a long time ago and have shared it multiple times with my friends, family and coworkers. I used to think that “changing” was a bad thing. I would lose friends because I changed. What I didn’t see for a long time was that I was changing for the better. I was growing. I was becoming me. I am now more me than I ever have been, and I consider myself extremely successful.
I want to help you become successful, and I want you to know that “success” means different things to everyone. Answer the following questions, not for me but for you.
- What do you love to do?
- Who do you see in the community (or outside) who does what you love?
- What are ways you can do what you love (even if it’s a volunteer role)?
- What do you love about what you are doing right now? Why do you love it?
- When you meet someone new, what do you want them to think about you? What do you leave them with?
These questions sparked answers from me when I got involved with the organization Women2Women. Three years later and I now help to oversee the entire program as well as own my own wedding and event planning business Just Breathe. Weddings & Events. Women2Women’s mission is to develop women leaders in Berks by connecting them with other likeminded women and growing them professionally and personally through workshops. We host two events per month including one for our Latina community! And save the date for our annual Women’s Conference on 4/30/19. Find out more about the organization on our website and until then, go out and be your definition of “successful”!
Rachael Romig
Special Programs Coordinator – GRCA
610-898-7775