What I appreciate about working with and interviewing so many women is that it affords me the great privilege of learning something new every day (sometimes every hour) from the stories they share. Once we start talking to each other, we realize, “Hey, I’m not the only one going through this. I’m not a freak. And my ambition is the best of who I am. I’m going to go for my dreams.”

Ambitious women often isolate. We don’t always ask for help because we think it will make us look weak. Break the isolation! Form your own informal advisory board. Any time I’m having a hard day or week or month (hey, last year was hard–the whole thing), I force myself to pick up the phone and call one or two of my trusted peers or colleagues. It always helps. Even a five-to-ten minute conversation can help get me unstuck and inspire me to forge ahead.

Getting support for learning practical, nuts and bolts ways that we as ambitious women can earn our worth and fulfill our career dreams -— with integrity, and without sacrificing our personal goals — is a smart and easy strategy. We just have to tell each other our stories, our truths.

I’m always afraid of people I do business with thinking I’m a bitch but honestly… when I think about the “bitches” I deal with in business, I always give them what they want because a) have you ever seen a “bitch” when she’s not happy with something? b) I know they know exactly how they want something done and will not be afraid to tell me if I’ve screwed up my end of the deal.

I can also be a “bitch” sometimes but I don’t mind that people KNOW that I’m straight forward, don’t waste time, I know what I’m talking about and in turn the job gets done in less time and less “misunderstandings” along the way.

can’t wait to read it thanks….

Thanks so much Debra for taking the time to make a comment. Your book is so inspirational and has really made a difference in my life. There were so many relevant points that I want to do a number of posts on it. I have encouraged every woman I know to read it and I hope you are very proud of yourself for the exceptional job you do in encouraging woman to be all that they can be!!

And LaTrelle trust me this book will help you shed any insecurities you have and set you up with all you need to get you on your way to earning your worth!

Make sure to check out Debra’s website, it’s so informative!

http://ambitionisnotadirtyword.com/

Thanks again Debra! You’re truly an inspiration!

xoxo,
Coco

“The best advertisement for empowering women is an empowered woman.”

“I am a smart, educated woman that knows what she wants and how she wants it.” This is a great Coco mantra.

also:

“And although I really do care how you are and what’s going on in your life don’t think for a second because I’m nice I’m dispensable.” Another great Coco mantra.
I think that we all [women] have to keep learning this one over and over again. We’re so used to putting our own needs at the bottom of the priorities pile that often our turn never comes.

LaTrelle: Now that you’ve stated your own business, stare down your insecurities. (But realize that you’re in good company; almost all of us women have these feelings and fears that come up, that we somehow don’t know our stuff and our going to be found out as a fraud; that we’re charging too much (who do we think we are? We have this audio tape playing between our ears: “Will we lose clients if we charge what we KNOW, deep inside ourselves, that we are worth? Will we alienate our friends and coworkers? Will our children suffer? Will we repel a mate? Does it make us greedy to go after our biggest dreams — and get paid well for doing meaningful, challenging work?” And on and on…

We all do it. But once we Realize what we’re doing — doubting ourselves, questioning our talents and our right to make the contribution we were born to make — once we make that conscious, we learn to Stop doing it. That’s the great news.

I do hope you’ll read my book. I also have many advice columns, including many on starting and running your own business, on my website.

Thank you again, Coco.

Women: The world deserves to hear from us.

Sincerely,
Debra