Like A Girl – shemakescents

{Business Cents} Don’t Give A Damn If They Like You

Published on April 2, 2014June 21, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason4 Comments

“ The respect of those you respect is worth more than the applause of the multitude. ”

— Arnold Glasow

They Like Me, They Really Like Me

Some of the best career advice I ever received came from a magazine. In an archived issue of Cosmopolitan, Mika Brzezinski, Cosmo columnist and co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, suggested that women concerned about being liked at work, “should not give a damn if they like you”. Work as Brzezinski adds, “is not a popularity contest. It is however a respect contest”. It wasn’t until I was sitting in a performance review that I started to understand what she meant by her advice. People can like you for the person that you are and the work that you do but that doesn’t always translate into promotions, benefits, or raises. Sitting there in that office, I was fighting an internal battle and my career was losing BIG TIME! My fear of not being liked was keeping me from confidently asking pertinent questions regarding career progression and compensation. Would they still like me if I challenged the status quo? To this day, I still get embarrassed knowing I was so worried about being liked at such an important career crossroad. I decided to write this, because I know I am not alone and that is evident in my research of women, business, and money. I hope someone can learn from my experience.

Of course I want to be liked , everyone does, but not at the expense of losing sight of my financial and career goals. If you are a good person and you do exceptional work, then you shouldn’t have to worry about not being liked. Oprah once told me (dreaming BIG…let me try that sentence again). I attended the commencement ceremony of my alma mater, Spelman College, where Oprah was the speaker. She told the women to, “let excellence be your brand”. Others will respect you for being focus driven and being the best you can be, and hey, what’s not to like about that?

What’s More Important in the Workplace?

Being Liked or Respected?

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Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

{Business Cents} Preview to Like A Girl Series

Published on March 26, 2014 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

Last week I posed the question to my female readers, are we [women] losing the corporate game because we are playing “like a girl”? This very question inspired our new Like a Girl series. What does it mean to do something “like a girl”, anyway? As I child, my parents reinforced the notion that I could do anything a boy could do; however, society emphasizes the phrase “like a girl” to describe someone as weak, soft, and less than. Over the next few weeks, we will tackle topics of women, business, and money while rejecting the crippling actions and societal impositions of this “like a girl” behavior. Together, we will redefine what it means to do something LIKE A GIRL…. better yet, LIKE A WOMAN!

When joining us for this discussion, do not forget to use hashtags #shemakescents and #LikeAGirl

Let’s Connect!

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Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

{Business Cents} Is Thinking Like A Woman Not Enough to Become A Boss?

Published on March 20, 2014March 20, 2014 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

I like the quote “Act like a Lady, Think like a Boss”, but after admittedly over thinking it, it might not be as empowering as I once believed. Perhaps, the shift in my thought process came after the quote was expanded to say, “look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, & work like a boss”. First off, I’m not a girl, rather a grown woman climbing the corporate ladder and this quote, in my opinion, perpetuates two very poignant paradigms that have been instilled in our culture. The first, that thinking like a man yields better professional results and the second; thinking like a woman is inferior. Is thinking like a woman not enough to become a boss? Is this part of the reason gender and pay inequality is still very present in the workplace? Better yet, are we losing the “corporate game” because we are playing “like a girl”?

Join SMC next Wednesday as we begin our “Like a Girl” series as I take on topics of Women, Business, & Money explored through studies, career experts, and personal experiences. My goal is to redefine the standard of measurement while shedding light on some awesome women who are kicking ass and taking names in their careers!

Your Thoughts…?

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