By Paula McMillan, CFP, CPA/PFS, CGMA
The Professional Women’s Conference is one event participants look forward to attending each year. It consistently delivers inspiration, new ideas to implement, and the opportunity to meet/reconnect with amazing female professionals from across the state. This year was no exception!
Below are some of the many meaningful nuggets from the conference:
- Women have this belief that if they had just worked harder, they would have won the promotion. However, in reality, the higher you go, the more opportunities are about relationships… You won’t be discovered just by working hard. Think bigger.
- Men apply based on potential (comfortable if they have achieved 60% of what is being sought), whereas women apply on performance (holding back from applying if they have not achieved 100%).
- Build consensus for your ideas/initiatives with people one-on-one BEFORE you are in the meeting.
- Consider saying thank you in place of I’m sorry. For example, thank you for you for your patience instead of I’m sorry for being late.
- Women often feel they don’t deserve their money or success.
- You don’t think your way to confidence. You behave your way to confidence.
- Don’t reject a compliment. Say thank you. Because a compliment is like a gift, rejecting it is like leaving the person standing there with their gift in hand.
- The number one way to forget about fear is to find your purpose. A great way to find your purpose is to answer this question => If you had to teach something because you really wanted to, what would it be?
Conference MCs, Melisa Galasso and Beth Allen presented the Triad Women’s Initiative Group with an attendance award -a signed copy of a book from the keynote speaker – for having so many representatives present. We will have a drawing for the book at our upcoming luncheon – Mastering the Art of Networking – delivered by Abby Donnelly at Bravo in Friendly Center on November 8th from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. Register to attend.
Paula is a Senior Financial Advisor with Stearns Financial Group in Greensboro. She participates in various advocacy groups designed to empower women to learn more about their finances through Stearns Financial Group, Financial Focus for Women, and Family Wealth Advisors Council. She can be reached at pmcmillan@stearnsfinancial.com.