Last fall I attended a women’s award luncheon.  You know the kind: fancy venue, mediocre food, but inspiring women who are making a difference in the world.  These award-y things often leave me conflicted.  On one hand, I admire these women. Who wouldn’t?

But, if I am completely honest, there was a tinge of jealous in me.  I want an award too… or maybe to be placed on an important list or something.  Heck, I’ve done some pretty cool stuff in my career.  I co-owned a company that went from a tiny blip on the map to a well-respected, profitable leader in our industry.  I was at the helm of a highly visible non-profit during a time when funding and staff were in upheaval. I made hard decisions that proved good and turned that organization from being broken to thriving. I’ve led very worthy endeavors, from compelling video storytelling projects to raising funds for organizations that are impacting the lives of thousands.

I don’t get awards.  I go to luncheons where other women get them. <insert pity party emoji>

Even though it was a fleeting thought, it forced me to be honest with myself.  What really motivates me?

Is it honors, awards and recognition?  Or is it doing my best work? What if I do great things and never receive public accolades?

On the drive home, I unpacked my feelings. In the end, I landed squarely back where I started my day: My greatest joy is living out my mission. That means helping people discover theirs and live a life of greater purpose.

It’s because of great women in my life that I am motivated to do my best. Watching them step up has raised the bar for all of us. The diversely talented women I know completely rock my world! If I were to tell you about them all, we’d be here a while.

There is a fine line between admiration and envy, though. When mutual respect (and admiration) is the center of a relationship, we can work together in solidarity… and with that comes unity. Nothing steals progress more than envy and greed. Get a group of motivated, sacrificial, mission-driven people together, and you have the beginning of a revolution.

You and I didn’t have to fight for women’s right to vote.

We certainly haven’t faced the hardship our mother’s did with workplace inequality.

Today, we can work in any field we choose and achieve our very highest potential.

Yet, we still have work to do.

This weekend hundreds and thousands of women (and men) will gather for the Women’s March on Washington.  Collectively, they’ll defend women and minorities under the mission: “We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.” (www.womensmarch.com)

That is a beautiful description of a unity.

When one of us hurts, we all hurt. When one wins, we all win.

Some of my proudest moments have been while helping women advance toward wholeness and self-sufficiency. It’s why I invest so much time in Dress for Success. (www.dfscincy.org) There is an allure to giving freely of yourself, with little regard for what you will get in return. It continues to be the richest experience of my life.

My two cents:

 

Success is about me.

Significance is about us.

 

Success is temporary.

Significance endures.

 

Success is striving.

Significance is releasing.

 

One thing I hope will flow from this past year’s presidential race, is that women will recognize our need for each other and stop competing in a damaging way.  There’s a long line of women who have gone ahead of us and given us this platform. Let’s each do our part.  Honor each other.  And walk in love, not fear.

#letsgo