Page 79 - Free Yourself From

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

Build Your Support Network and Actually Use It

We look at strategic networking from a work/career perspective in a
later chapter, but now I want to address what I have recently heard
referred to as your lifeline or life support group. As professional
women and high achievers, too often we feel we have to go it alone
to do something well and get credit for it. In some situations that’s
true, but it’s definitely not true when it comes to work-life balance
issues. In this sphere, we need people to fill in our gaps, make up for
our shortcomings, and provide the emotional, moral, and practical
support we need to stay energized enough to keep our priorities
straight and keep ourselves in balance (or to get back on track when
that balance slips out of our grasp).
Think of it this way: As human beings we run on energy. Occa-
sionally our tank is drained and we need to fill it up again before we
can keep going. Our family and friends are the source of that “refu-
eling” process.
For me, my sister, Cindy is always willing to listen with her heart
and hear the struggle beneath my words when I have a personal
dilemma. I always have my assistant block my calendar twice a year
for me to spend time out at my favorite retreat, Telluride, Colorado.
The energy of the mountains, skiing, and beautiful views and vistas
I take in while hiking help me to recharge and maintain a healthy per-
spective on the things that matter most. This has been a wonderful
time to connect with my family and good friends in a calm and beau-
tiful part of the world and avoid the distractions that everyday life
presents back at the office. I also have a colleague who makes me
laugh when I feel totally frustrated with a work situation. Together
they provide me with the emotional energy I need. I turn to others
to provide me with new insights into work situations and guidance
on particular projects. These are my mentors and coaches. Finally, I
have a small board of directors who provide me with guidance on