1. Thou shall embrace perfectionism, for without it, you are a failure.
2. Thou shall not make any mistakes, lest you will be banned from all board room meetings.
3. Always remember, there are no dress rehearsals, only the main performance.
4. Thou shall never be out sick, otherwise, others will rush to judgment and think you are enjoying a stroll in the park, or watching day-time TV.
5. You must exceed all metrics, even the ones that are deemed unobtainable but good for business.
6. Thou shall love the workplace, more than you love yourself and your family.
7. Sacrifice, sacrifice and then sacrifice more. It is the only way you will make it close to the C-Suite.
8. Thou shall only be permitted to wear navy, black or brown suits and stilettos in the same variety of color.
9. Thou shall not look for or expect any praise or recognition for a job well done. In other words, no news is good news.
10.Thou shall always play big enough to remain in the game, but small enough to never win.
While the 10 Commandments of a Professional Woman is satirical in nature, there may be a nugget or two that strikes reality for you. The question is “How much of myself do I have to give up to be successful?” and “What do I need or want right now, in this moment, that I don’t have?”
Being your true self is the most effective formula for success, and while that sounds simple, many of us struggle with understanding who we really are, and what makes us happy.
As we age, and become more centered, we find that happiness and joy come from intrinsic goals, such as spending more time with family and friends, becoming active in causes that we believe in and practicing gratitude.
When you focus on your values rather than chasing achievement, you will ultimately discover personal fulfillment.