To elevate or not to elevate? THAT is the question.
And what does it really mean to truly elevate oneself and the people around you? I am going to approach these questions both from an internal, individual perspective and that which I see to be helpful for women in business at large.
The Chutzpah Question
Having started my career in photo and video production almost 15 years ago now, I realized that in order for me to elevate my own vision and my own work in the world, I had to have a certain amount of chutzpah. In many circles known as BALLS. However, what I quickly noticed was while I do have a fair amount of gall, I do not have any balls. Good news though, I do have a courageous and large chest. In many circles known as BREASTS.
The bummer of this realization is that when I began to work in my respective field, my big chest was not lauded for its courage, boldness or even business chutzpah. It was instead ogled at and then also diminished as being "just how it is" for women in business and if I really wanted to level up, I needed to grow some balls, cover up my cleavage and keep my nose to the grindstone.
"Be more professional!" they said. As they ogled and touched inappropriately. #MeToo
Stand Tall, Chest Proud
So I tried. I kept trying. And tried again still to elevate my own mission by grinding and by playing masculine so I could get to the "top" of my career. And guess what? I just could not grow any, grind any harder or pull myself up in the systems that consistently oppressed me for being me. And guess what else? The courage I had did not come from my physical anatomy. But it sure helps to stand tall.
This is not a cry for sad little women. Instead it is a call to myself, of myself and from myself to: stand tall, chest proud and elevate myself, even when the structures of sexism, racism, xenophobia and all the other -isms want to keep women in business playing small. But guess what Patriarchy? I am not scared of you any more.
Say it with me: TITS UP! (Love you Mrs. Maisel!)
Swipe Left on Competition
With my own courageous tits up and my ugly cries set to occasional, let us talk about how we can truly elevate one another and swipe left on that competition nonsense that those old ways have tricked us to believe is necessary for our survival. It is simply not true.
What We Are Elevating
Our economic impact through our businesses. Our access to additional training and education. Our access to business funding. Our ability to share tools and resources globally. Our bank account balance. Our circle of influence. Our health personally and for that of the planet. Our wealth template. Our overall wellbeing. When we build new economic structures, we raise all of this at once.
We know this is both an inside job and a collective project to help us be a sustainable force that significantly shifts the old paradigm into this new age of digital renaissance where we buy back the internet and all its resources. Because when women are at the helm of more roles of leadership, business and driving commerce, and we turn our attention from bottom line focused to heart led organization, this world will evolve to a more hospitable place for everyone.
We cannot simply put pink on the patriarchy. We need new structures entirely. And we are building them from the ground up.
Love,
Rose
