Groucho Marx

Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.

Lois Wyse

Today's media and culture tell us we can do anything if we work for it. The opportunities to become leaders in our professional lives increase almost daily. And in many jobs, this means becoming a leader of men. Unfortunately, the chance to become anything has some of us trying to be everything. We are driving ourselves crazy meeting our potential. We are killing ourselves in a white hot pursuit of the perfect life. We strive to be the perfect wife, mother and a leader of men at work, who never misses a PTA meeting, on her way home from a long day at some amazing job, who stops at the store for the ingredients to prepare a gourmet meal, after a quick moment at the salon where our perfect hair was touched up to match the flawless complexion and toned athletic body we have to maintain. We manage finances, take care of the kids, make gourmet meals, plant our own gardens, compost and recycle and conserve and contribute and on and on and on...whew!

There is a paradox between the roles we were conditioned to play as children (girls: caretaker, mother, wife, and future president)(boys: father, husband, head of household, breadwinner, hero)and the reality we encounter as adults in our diverse, politically fluid, high speed society. This is as true for the men we work with and often lead, as it is for us. And as far as we have come from the days of Joan of Arc (way less likely to be burned at the stake these days), there is much left to learn when it comes to managing our lives and learning to play nice together.

Working-with-women.com is a place to land for a moment, or longer if you wish. We offer support, resources and advice for women who lead and the men in their lives. We offer a place to share, vent, rant, laugh, cry or fight it out.

Please join us here at Working-With-Women.com and share your story. You're contributions are most welcome.