For a very long time, my interpretation and vision of a successful
business woman looked like Miranda Priestly from the movie The Devil Wears
Prada. In other words I held the belief that in order for me to be successful
in business I had to be ruthless, stern, completely dedicated to my work and let’s
face it, kind of a bitch.
Now, although I love my work, and have the ability to
be stern, those other characteristics are not traits that I believed describe
me very well, I considered myself to be more of the sugar and spice and
everything nice kind of girl.
Being aware of the large gap between how I thought I needed
to be and how I thought I was, brought forward the fear that possibly I did not
have what it took to be successful in business,
and that I may be “kicking oxygen” as we say in Bolivia.
Ironically, last month I was invited to go to Arequipa Peru
to participate in a Empowered Women seminar and workshop organized by Yente, a
non-profit organization from the Netherlands that has the intention of
strengthening female entrepreneurship via missions, matchmaking, network
strengthening, exchange of information, it’s an online community for women
entrepreneurs.A total of 20 women from Bolivia where chosen to participate
and travel to Arequipa for this 3 day event and to my surprise I was asked to
represent Bolivia during the event inauguration and give a speech about my
experience of success with Knitting Peace. I was flattered of course, but mostly nervous
since I did not consider myself to be very successful, however with my heart on
my sleeve I accepted the challenge and prepared a heartfelt story of Knitting
Peace and how we were making a difference in all the lives we were touching.
At the end of the event what I learned was that woman of all
walks of life and traits were leading successful businesses, and these women
were amazing and not at all bitchy or intimidating. I also learned that I had
nothing to change about myself in order to be successful, because I already am.
Success is living in full alignment with one’s purpose and there is little room
for ruthlessness in authentic success.
This shift in awareness has brought me to a space of self acceptance
and an inner knowing that I am not kicking oxygen, I am being fully guided at
all times and being gifted with synchronistic miracles which have paved my
path with inner peace and authentic self expression. Which… YAY, is such a relief!
~Namaste
