FIRST THOUGHT: It’s Never Too Late to Live Your Dreams and Goals
Why do we stay stuck in things that make us miserable? Whether it’s a job, a relationship or a state of mind, we often feel more comfortable complaining than quitting. We’ve all been this woman, or maybe you’ve been friends with the woman who, when asked “How’s work?” replies with a low groan then, in a justifying tone explains, “I’ve already invested so much time in it, and the pay is decent…” and yada yada yada. Ask yourself these two questions: Does it make you happy? If not, then what does?
WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 6 Percent
When I was a kid, it seemed like there were maybe five jobs out there: firefighter, astronaut, doctor, actress and professional athlete. Fortunately, there’s more than that.
An academic journal called Social Forces found that 6 percent of us have the jobs we wanted when we were little, which I think is actually a good thing because this probably has to do with the fact that there are more than just a handful of jobs out there, and some of them are the stuff of dreams—like a sommelier or an island caretaker.
WOMAN TO WATCH: Holly Dowling, Global Speaker & Coach
If there’s one word that describes Holly Dowling, it’s perseverance. On paper, Dowling was living a dream life. She traveled the world as a cruise director and later, as the spokesperson for Lee Jeans and other big names. Then Dowling found herself as the unhappy vice president of a brokerage firm. During her seemingly dazzling life, Dowling faced situations that would normally break a person, like domestic abuse, her child’s cancer and losing her home.
Her story is about tenacity. Slaving away at a brokerage firm wasn’t in Dowling’s heart, so she followed her bliss by leading women to do the same. With two decades of experience, Dowling is now a women’s leadership expert who has worked with dozens of well-known companies, including Disney, ESPN and Facebook. One of the programs she offers motivates women to take their leadership skills to the next level by finding their voices and supporting other working women.
If you can’t make it to one of Dowling’s speaking engagements, look no further than iTunes. She has a podcast called A Celebration of You with Holly Dowling, in which she shares wise tidbits.
Be sure to check out a short interview she gave at the Empowering a Billion Women conference in 2016. Her glowing positivity will wash over you through the airwaves, leaving you enthusiastic and inspired. Dowling has lived her life by her favorite mantra, “Tell me no, watch me go!” Women like Dowling remind us that not only can we survive adversity, but we can succeed because of it.
QUITE THE QUOTE
I leave you today with this quote by the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher:
“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”
That’s all for now. Be sure to share this so more women can have a voice! Thanks for getting ready with us.
To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.