Over at re:inventioninc, Kirsten Osolind has posted on Fortune magazine's latest announcement of the world's most powerful women. She has some great comments on the article. Jane would like to add her two cents.
Here are Jane's 5 Most Powerful Women in the World Today, not necessarily in order of importance:
1. Moms...everybody's Mom. My Mom, especially. We had some trying times during my youth (who doesn't?) but that was then, this is now, and my Mom is my biggest supporter.
She is also the one who convinced me that my writing was worthwhile. I would not be the woman I am today, I would not have the accolades and the awards I have, had my Mom not been there to keep me going, buying me pencil after pencil (as a teenager I would write only in pencil), until I finally graduated to a computer keyboard. So, Mom's are VERY powerful. The hand that rocks the cradle and all.
2. Sisters...Jane has three sisters all of whom are vital to her success, to her well-being and to her happiness. Granted, there were times during our formative years that Jane would gladly have traded a sister or two for her dog, but...in the end, the old saying Blood is thicker than Water holds true. Jane's sisters -- Mary Anne, Suzzie, and Jan -- are better friends than the best friend you could think of.
Jane knows other women who have terrific, supportive sisters, also. The bond between sisters is not stronger or better than the bond between brothers, but it's all encompassing. In other words, sisters remain strong throughout their lives, despite the miles that may separate them, despite marriages and the onslaught (yes, we said onslaught) of children, or the interference of others. Sisters are strong women because they are there for you -- morning, noon, and into the wee hours of the night. Jane knows that without her sisters...she would be just another dissatisfied woman in a job designed to 'keep her in her place.' Sisters make you strong.
3. Daughters...Jane has two daughters. There is not enough space to expound on the importance of daughters. Maggie and Chloe are grown women in their own right, but they were great influencers to Jane as she embarked on this journey to entrepreneurship.
Daughters look up to their Moms and show their devotion in their encouraging words, their "You can do it, Mom," support, in their, "Wow! Mom, that's great!" advertising, and in their, "That's my Mom," pride. Women who are not lucky enough to have daughters of your own, borrow one from a friend or relative. That works, too. Sometimes daughters are other women, younger women, who give their support and show their admiration unconditionally... that's dynamite power!
4. Friends...specifically, those women who stand by you when you're sure you're life is going to hell; those women who applaud you for just getting up in the morning when you are struggling with a debilitating medical condition; those women who gravitate to you because they recognize something nice in you -- the quality of sharing, the friendly way you help with their business or their homelife (helping people move is major!); those women who drift away, but always come back, sometimes years later, because true friendship sometimes takes a different turn, but always circles around to come back to you. Those women are so powerful, the world feels their presence on a daily basis.
Just look at all the women in the blogosphere.
5. Mentors...if we had time, Jane would cite the many mentors who have given of themselves, freely and openly, to help Jane achieve her goals over the years. Jane would like to recognize ALL mentors, women who put themselves out there for others. In this world of swirling confetti, where black clouds loom on the horizon now and then, where happiness is like a crystal, fair, exquisite and clear -- broken in a million pieces -- shattered, scattered, far and near -- and lo! along life's pathway, some shining fragments fall -- but there are so many pieces, no one ever finds them all -- in that world, mentors are there to put a warm shawl over cold shoulders, slip a few dollars in the till now and then...unnoticed, guide us in the right direction, around all the curves and deadends.
Mentors hold our hands until WE are ready to let go.
These are powerful women. They represent ALL women.
If you do not have one of each in your life, go out and find her...having all five, as Jane does, gives you more power and strength than any recognition by Fortune magazine could give you. Because having all of these powerful women in your life means... you matter.
What's not to like about that?
Yvonne:
What a wonderful list! These are indeed powerful women. And underappreciated heroes. Women friends like you make business worthwhile. Appreciate your shout out and link. And relish reading your blog...
kindly,
kirsten
Posted by: kirsten | October 07, 2004 at 06:14 PM