Ambition - Not a dirty word today.

My previous post this week was about the book Am-BITCH-ous. I would like to extend my thoughts on it. On Tuesday night I read the first 100 pages and it changed the way that I looked at my ambition at this period of my life.

Ok - it also sparked up some of those feminist issues that caused me to start MsMoney.com. Debra had a section on women who "gave up" their high profile careers, cardiologists, investment bankers, marketing execs, etc, to stay home with the children for 5-8 years. Each one of these women had gotten divorced after that time period and guess what happened? Their careers didn't just start where they left them. They had to struggle to make ends meet while they crawled their way back to the top with a lot less energy then they had when they were young.

Anger is a great catalyst. And I did get angry. Angry that the women are so often left with the short end of the financial stick because they are the loving and nurturing ones who feel the right thing to do is to "care" for their children at home.

Heck, I am one of those. And has my career and income suffered as a result? Absolutely. Does that make me a little upset? Well, only if I imagine that I will have to go it alone in the future. Fortunately, I don't see that as the case, however I have empathy for the women who will have to.

So what did I take away from the first part of the book? Well, I was incredibly motivated to get things done the next day and powered through my to do list, personally and professionally. The message I got from the book is to STOP FEELING GUILTY about my ambition. If I can release that negativity then I am more apt to thrive in every aspect of my life; family, community and work.

And she was right! No matter what, my ambition hasn't died because I have taken time off, I still have very big plans. Now the goal is to embrace those while being happy with my role as a mother and wife. Balancing the work and family does seem a lot easier today because I am not carrying that heavy weight of guilt on my shoulders as I walk the tight rope between the two.

Thanks Debra! Maybe I need to call you for some coaching sessions if I can't sustain the high-wire act forever.