THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
EPISODE 15
SILHOUETTE OF SUCCESS | SORORITY SESSION
In this Sorority Session:
Golden Opportunity
Let’s review the Conversation Highlights:
Common Sense | Public Service | Direct
I have to say that each time I replay a past episode I hear another brilliant take away or piece of intentional inspiration from one of the Silhouettes that’s easy to implement. How about you?
As we begin to visit in the Sorority Session about Betsy’s Episode 15, there is something she touches on that I felt was 100% pure gold. If I may recap: Betsy is the Mayor of Fort Worth, Texas which is the 13th largest city in the Nation, and she is one of only three female Mayors of the Top 20 cities of the United States…and even more impressive, for many years, she was the ONLY female Mayor of one of the Top 2o largest cities in the United States of America.
Do you want to read that once more…? Whoa.
She talks to us about so many excellent topics, but today I’m drawn to the moments that she is discussing the way and ability to thrive in a male dominated peer group with such a high-power position. She’s getting the job done, focusing on the business, taking the direct approach all while evaluating the situation to get results. It’s inspiring to listen to the way she frames her wise and polished skillset to be prepared for all types of situations, personalities and opportunities. It would have been nice to have her Silhouette of Success in a soundbite on my playlist gearing up for a few past appointments/meetings that come to mind! I’m visualizing myself channeling Betsy’s gusto into a past meeting setting (but we have it now!).
I can see it so vividly…the massive conference room, all glass doors, walls and windows 20 ft tall. There are the usual pitchers of ice-cold water sweating and strategically placed on the boardroom table, note pads and pens, lots of buzz and bravado as I immediately begin identifying and categorizing the {male} players (this isn’t the same as “judging someone”) in the room as everyone takes their seats. I’m prepared, pulled together and ready to hold my own with clear confidence…then I look down at my coffee cup…lipstick. Sucker punch to the gut, flash of embarrassed heat evaporates my cool, clear confidence. Slowly I reach for the coffee cup, pull it towards me to gracefully use my thumb to erase the markings that have exposed the additional indication of obviousness…I am the solo female in this room. Oh, if I only had Betsy’s inspiration in my head back then. This is just one of what we all have of so, so many similar examples but it was so clear to me after visiting with her that as a female; we must see ourselves as part of the scene without identity reservations and regardless of the perceived environment restrictions or peer dynamics. Our role is to participate in the situation, do our work to the very best of our abilities to hell with any preconceived notions (usually ones we place in our own heads, that I allowed in my head). We enter into the scene with a strong, confident mindset of: What’s the purpose, Why are we here, Let’s get down to brass tacks! Grab those golden opportunities and embrace the role, use the unique gifts we have for a positive advantage, stand tall and walk with purpose…wear that lipstick proudly!
