Pledge for Parity: The Threat of Being Luke Warm #IWD
I’ve encountered bias a few times – even in myself at times. The ingrained patterning of childhood that wars with maturity and heritage, dividing truth and overcoming self doubt with each new test of faith and perseverance.
PLEDGE FOR PARITY – 2016 Theme for International Women’s Day
Did you catch the Periscope interview with Patricia Arquette on #PledgeforParity recapping her now famous Oscars speech? I love that this topic remains top of mind. We need to keep speaking truth and standing in the gap for one another as women leaders.
Importantly we need to equip women leaders to seek out champions that help them articulate their value and be better negotiators.
Angela Mentis NAB Group executive of business banking in an article by Glenda Korporaal and Damon Kitney in The Australian Newspaper, says ‘in a speech to be made in Sydney on March 8, 2016… that she will argue that it is important for women to raise their profile to inspire younger women to ‘set the bar high for themselves’.
Fear is a dangerous weapon. So too is comparison. As women we toy with desire and doubt like a ship tossed in the sea. At some point we must settle it. We must determine that our lives matter. We must acknowledge that people watch our lives and how we dare to fulfil our potential.
No More Luke Warm – Be Hot or Cold. Choose.
I recall in the months leading up to me launching Corporate Cinderella in 2011, I was working my butt off to develop a brand, leading change and helping others realise their potential. It was hard work and I was seriously shifting to an entrepreneurial, disruptive model of Leadership. I was blindsided by doubt and walked out to my living room one morning. I sat in the upholstered chair, placed my smart phone on the side table and had a little chat to myself that went a little something like this….
“Who am I kidding? Maybe I should just get a job at Bunnings. I like Bunnings [it’s like Home Depot]. I’m great at customer service. I like their organic rainforest cafe too. Maybe I should get a real job,” weary and exhausted I sat bolt upright when I heard the Voice of God – no, not Morgan Freeman. He sounded a little frustrated with me, “Will you settle this?!” Oh. my.goodness. The Bible verse came to mind, and that was it for me! There was no Plan B.
To the women in our world I say, “Back yourself. Be either hot or cold. No more lukewarm. Standup for what you believe to be important. Pursue faith. Seek wisdom and make a difference. Serve others and plant yourself in a community that will build you up, challenge and inspire you!”
Suffragettes the Movie
I caught the film Suffragettes while on a recent flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and I was deeply, deeply moved. how can humanity abuse each other so? Male and female alike. We all have blinkers on of some sort. The film portrayed it. Deep down there is a knowing that we can be more, do more, love more.
Today more than ever we would be well placed to honour the price paid by so many others and stand for equality.
Watch My 7 Minute Conference Talk
Catch a glimpse of my Opening 7minutes of the International Women’s Day Australian Institute of Management Lunch. It was Brisbane’s largest event at the time with 1,650 women and men in attendance.
It’s a timeless message and the first PLEDGE FOR PARITY is to ourselves. How can we do this? How can we navigate uncertainty, ambiguity and arrive at a point where we stand on principles.
Watch it below:
International Women’s Day with Tarran Deane CEO Corporate Cinderella on
“Why You Do Have to Be an Iron Lady to Make Your Mark” at the AIM IWD Debate
Iron appears everywhere.
It has multiple uses. It describes people, places and behaviour:
No, not an iron-ing Lady
- Iron man [image slide]
- Iron woman [image slide]
- Iron chef [image slide]
- Iron curtain [image slide]
- Iron rod [image slide]
- Iron lung [image slide]
- Iron maiden [image slide]
We know that it simply means to have an iron fortitude; an enduring capacity. Iron provides the framework and scaffold for our lives.
Iron is the 6th most abundant element on the planet.
Why, only last week when I turned to my bedside table and reached aside for my trusty scientific table as only we women do, I was thrilled to discover, the symbol for iron is feminine!
Why look – iron ‘Fe” [image slide]
Female – Fe [image slide]
How can we doubt that you are required to have an iron fortitude to make a mark?
Yet 20% of women are iron deficient! If you are iron deficient, you cannot operate to your potential. Without the right levels of iron you’re:
- increasingly fatigued
- unable to think straight
- drained of energy
- experience increased stress
- & unfocused
It is important to supplement your life with clarity, courage, humility, wisdom and strength.
Without an iron fortitude you won’t stand the test of time. Without iron you won’t have the scaffold or framework to go the distance, to make a mark.
You must be an iron lady to make a mark.
Making a mark
Is to leave an impression, a legacy, foot prints for other people to follow.
To make a mark is to inspire, equip and empower.
It is to influence change.
It is to have your voice heard. It is to be a voice for others.
To make a MARK you need an IRON FORTITUDE
What MARK are YOU leaving?
You and I are gathered here today, celebrating International Women’s Day because other women have walked ahead of us through time.
In the face of personal opposition they brilliantly demonstrated that an iron fortitude is to be revered, not feared!
Standing on the courage of their convictions and pursuing causes greater than themselves, we too are compelled to embrace principles, courage, strength, wisdom, and confidence.
You and I will need to draw on iron fortitude everyday to make a mark.
Vote in Upcoming Elections
Elections are coming up in a few weeks time. You and I will have an opportunity to make a mark.
Why, in fact only last week I received in my letterbox a postal vote application inviting me to apply for a postal vote: “sign here” or “make my ‘mark’”
Many sisters around the world don’t have that opportunity or fail to exercise it fully.
Ensure your voice counts.
You must be an Iron Lady to Make a Mark!
Yet that doesn’t imply we’ll receive the recognition that we would like.
It’s not about being Maggie Thatcher, a former Prime Minister or a mineral magnate, it’s not about academy awards – but I love Meryl Streep
You see you and I and others like us do things day in and day out that require an iron fortitude with little recognition.
Whether you are at work, in corporate land or family land, you have a choice everyday to draw on iron fortitude that equips you to stand the test of time and be the scaffold for the people around you. To have the courage of your convictions, working together for the greater good and standing on your values.
Please understand. You will be challenged.
You will encounter opposition. You will have to make a choice.
To not lie down in the face of opposition but to ‘press on’. An iron lady who leaves a mark presses on with integrity, and purpose determined to leave a mark .
One’s life must matter.
We will stand on principle, or we will not stand at all!
That is the fortitude of an Iron Lady who Makes a Mark!”
ABOUT THE SPEAKER TARRAN DEANE
~ Tarran Deane, is CEO of Corporate Cinderella. A Business and Theology Graduate, a passionate leadership expert, executive coach and change consultant. Wife, Mum and Step Mum, Tarran’s also a contributor to publications including RescueACEO, Australian institute of Management, Coaching Life Australia, author of numerous resources. May 2016 marks the release of her first book “The Alphabet Principle – Your A-Z Guide to Being a Compelling Leader” and is available Pre-Release Orders at https://www.tarrandeane.com/alphabet/
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#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #Diversity #Parity #tarrandeane