#71 Every Woman's Dilemma on Work & Life!

Never thought that book will change my outlook and fill me with the positivity of doing what I want to. Read more to know!

I am not a person who picks up an Indian author to read and there aren’t many non-fictional famous writers who write best-sellers. But this book has moved my belief and maybe you will find me reading more Indian authors in future.

So, What’s this book and How did I get hold of it?

This book was gifted to one of my close friends when we met after three years and He knows that I am a workaholic woman trying to build something for myself. He envisioned that this book might answer some key questions that every working woman is faced with when she begins thinking of settling down.

The book I am talking about is 30 Women in Power! Their Voices and Stories by Naina Lal Kidwai. Do give it a read if you are an Indian woman and aspire to build a successful career!

Well, What is this book all about?

This book is about the top 30 Indian women setting an early example for the future women’s generations by putting their best foot forward to build a successful career, and making it big with timeless efforts. Each of them broke the societal norms and openly spoke about all the key questions that run in the mind of a woman around the age of 25-35.

Confused about your Questions now?

Don’t worry, I have got you covered here! This book decoded the minds of these quintessential and influential women who made a mark in the professional world. The book decoded their thought processes on some key questions that ultimately define a woman’s life and her fate in managing work and life. Pick this book to get behind why they think the way they do and how they managed to make it big for themselves. The below points shared the key norms and their viewpoints along with some essential points that might help you either declutter your mind or leave you with a neutral outlook to frame yours.

1. Leading your way towards a successful professional journey

   Surprisingly, most of the women who have spoken about their career trajectory in the book have given substantial limelight to grabbing the opportunity and taking risks as their metrics to reach wherever they are today. The unknown road of career gets back on track and seeks the desired direction if you plug your inputs of hard work, tireless efforts and your time in the right manner.

   If my career stands testimony to one fact, it is this: If you ask, Doors Open ~ Chitra Ramkrishna

2. Does Gender diversity hinder their success?

   No matter how much we blame the patriarchal society for pushing women to the back foot, some strong-headed women have always found ways to outshine and take the steering wheel of their lives in their hands. Speaking of Indian society per se, women have always been influential but in small chunks which get unnoticed by the larger audience.

   Gender Diversity is a mental concept and if you keep gender out of the work zone, you can unleash your immense potential. Well, this takes a good amount of courage and preparedness for a woman but once that is achieved, this concept doesn’t come in way of your goals.

   (P.S.: I got reminded of my first consulting job where the team had 10 women and only 3 men and we have never spoken about gender as a hindrance to our growth or success.)

   If one wishes to enjoy the opportunities as men do, if one expects a level playing field, one needs to fulfil the same responsibilities, whether it involved travel or working late. There can be no gender-driven excuses ~ Chanda Kochhar

3. What Work-Life Balance looks like?

   You may call it a facade, but it is a crucial requirement for a woman to build her professional success along with her one. Commonly, a woman is known as the queen of building a personal life and is often asked to restrict herself to those four walls as a priority.

   Home & office are like two sides of a weighing scale and is nothing less than a balancing act for a woman. If one keeps the societal pressure out of her mind and makes her life revolve around these two tips, she can ace it all:

   1. Prioritization of tasks and maintaining a clear calendar/ to-do list so that you don’t miss the important events (helps us remain up on your game on all fronts)

   2. Understand the importance and need of ‘Me-time’, taking breaks from your multiple roles and incorporating them into your life goals at regular intervals (helps you realize that you are an independent individual and need rejuvenation for self)

      Women should be proactive about building the right-support structure around themselves. Finding the perfect work-life balance is not a lone ranger’s game ~ Anjali Bansal

4. Let society say whatever they want to

   Our upbringing and norms have always made us feel guilty for not ensuring a perfect personal life just like other homemakers or staying out of home for most of our day time or not spending time with kids as we should be. These women not only broke those stereotypes, openly talked about the shortcomings that are associated but also left us with two-truth bombs that can make our lives easier.

   1. Acknowledge the support of your family and in-laws as they are indirectly the pillars for our growth

   2. Choose a supporting and understanding life partner. They said it all. A wise choice of this decision is a game-changer for these beauties. (And, I guess you know why?)

   3. Be very clear and outspoken about your needs, goals and your outlook. Adjustments and compromises are an integral part of everyone’s life but they shouldn’t be the base to live your life.

   4. No one knows better than you when it comes to how you see your life 10 years down the line. Seek advice but follow your heart because once you opt into a certain style of life, there is no option to opt out and no one can fill the void of your life.

      I have no regard for the many restrictive so-called 'norms' of society. These are often excuses to rationalize actions which might attract some level of disapproval. It requires courage to stand up and fight for what one truly wants. ~ Aruna Jayanthi

5. Pursue your dreams closely

   Last but not the least, live your dreams even if they come at some cost. Your judgement has to be neutral and unbiased so that you don’t develop a long-term guilt trip for yourself. You are the best person to decide the direction and outcome of your dreams.

   Women are notorious for falling into a guilt trap by worrying about compromises and adjustments ~ Debjani Ghosh

This might be the end of today’s blog but I have much more to share, what my mind and heart have devoured through the read. If you liked today’s blog, make sure you hit a like and comment down how you feel and think about a woman building a niche for herself in the professional domain!

P.C.: The picture used for the blog post is owned by Samayra Singh and we have no ownership of the same.