How to Be a #GirlBoss

Just [Not] One of the Guys

There’s always been something about being a #GirlBoss that has motivated me. Years ago when I started my career in finance, I caught a glimpse at what it really looked like to be a girl in a “guy’s world”… You want to talk about a glass ceiling–working on the trading floor often seemed like the walls and the doors were all made out of glass too! Yet, for some reason, I loved the idea of breaking any glass barrier–window, wall, ceiling, door, you name it–crushing stereotypes, and striving to exceed expectations.

At one point in my early career, I planned on opening up a brokerage firm that would only employ females! Can you imagine? However, as the trading pits slowly closed and the markets shifted towards a world of electronics, I realized that being a stockbroker may not have been my dream job after all.

Fast forward a handful of years, and I am back to being a girl in the “boys club”–that’s what I like to call the “worlds” [aka: industries] that are dominated by the male species. Rather than being discouraged by these ratios, this is all the more reason to take it upon yourself to be a #GirlBoss. Honestly, you don’t have to work in an any particular industry to have the opportunity to be a #GirlBoss, but here is a list of six qualifications that you absolutely have to adopt in order to be the best version of a #GirlBoss – if that’s the path you choose! 

Do the Work

I mean, really do the work. Don’t rely on other people to do it. And do everything in your power to avoid procrastination. There are only 24 hours in a day and you need to use each and every one to be productive and make your life exactly what you want it to be.

Hustle Hard

Nothing worth having comes easy. You’re going to have to grind. This also means that you’re going to have to give up certain luxuries – sleep, happy hour, friends, Sunday Funday… You know my favorite entrepreneurial quote is that, “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”

Just Go for It

The reason that my company is where it is today is because I just went for it. I dove in head first and never looked back. There was a ton of trial and error, lots of mistakes made, and even more lessons learned! But not once did I stop to write a business plan – I let everything fall into place and then slowly included the organizational items in piece by piece. Had I started my company with a business plan, I don’t know that it would have ever gotten to where it is. Remember, an idea is only an idea until you do something with it. And a business plan is only a plan, until…. well, you get it!

Accept the Consequences

Listen, pursuing your dreams is not only hard work, but it is one of the quickest ways to get a full dose of reality. You are going to find out who your true friends are and what love really means. Choosing to pursue your passion means that you’re going to lose some people in your life along the way – and that’s okay; who wants to spend time with people who don’t believe in you, your work, or what it means to sacrifice and work hard? Emotions will run high – yes, it’s okay to cry… and then laugh two minutes later. You’ll understand stress and anxiety, but on the flip side, you’ll also learn how to cope with these in the most productive manner.

Fake it Till You Make It

As long as you look like you’re supposed to be there, no one is going to stop you. My sister was recently telling me that one of her friends was going on and on about how she envied my life – that she could only imagine what it would be like to have so much money that you didn’t know what to do with… If only I could have been there to see the look on my sisters face when this came out of her friends mouth [pretty sure she somehow knows how much money is consistently in my checking account]… when my sister asked why she thought that, she replied that I always looked so put together and “rich” on my Instagram photos [please insert the ‘laughing so hard you’re crying emoji here’]… again ladies, Fake it till you Make it.

Surround Yourself with other #GirlBosses – And life them up!

We all know that females have strong convictions and can be overly critical. This often comes across as not being interested in supporting other females, and creates caution behind our intentions. It’s time to let the guards down and lean on one other. The #GirlBoss world needs to unite! Encourage each other. Build relationships. Give referrals… I could go on and on about this aspect in particular because I’m so obsessed with other influential females who just get it and want to simply BE NICE and support one another. Mother Teresa said it best, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

Ladies reading this, I want to remind you that you absolutely have what it takes to seize each day and truly own it like a #GirlBoss. Mentality is key here. Guys reading this, please reach out to a woman in your life who is a #GirlBoss and encourage her to keep going! There are plenty of glass structures that need to be shattered, and who better to do it than the latest and greatest addition to any “boys club”? #GirlBosses.

With Love,

– LW