Page 205 - Free Yourself From

188 It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor

for that shift and for social change. We naturally possess a great
deal of personal knowledge, attributes, and natural characteristics
that will be more important in the workplace as time goes on. So,
exploit that! This is an opportunity for you to rise to this important
time and need.

You Have the Choice…

The world is ready, and we are poised to take on more of a leadership
role within our organizations, communities, and the world. What is
wonderful is that you have a choice . . . and how empowering that is.
There is some degree of reflection that causes me to believe that we
always did have the choice, but we just needed to acknowledge it.
Now we do and we know it! The choices we make will allow us to live
our lives on purpose—our purpose, no one else’s. Our job is to know
what we want and take accountability for getting it.
Helen Thomas, my very dear friend, former White House corre-
spondent, and bestselling author, told me recently, “Today, women
journalists enjoy a much higher profile in television and in every news-
room across the country than they ever have had in our history. How-
ever, there is still apparent discrimination in the salaries of men and
women. But, I think there is hope! Women just need to be more
aggressive, more determined, and more courageous in stepping up to
the plate and asking for what they deserve.”
The value of this book is not as much how to do it, although we
talk about tools and techniques. Rather, it is knowing what you want
and believing that getting what you want starts with you. Once you
believe that you set the foundation to ask and negotiate for what you
want, to make your words count, to build and capitalize on your rela-
tionships, to move beyond your fears and take the right risks, and to
show up as that inspirational and powerful leader who brings her
own presence and power to any conversation or situation. You can
do it!