It has been my privilege to have met most of the contributors and to have made faxed, telephoned and mailed contact with them all – spread as they are throughout the nation, indeed the world. My only regret, as a woman who unashamedly celebrated her 64th birthday while working on this book, is that I wasn’t privy to all the combined wisdom of these people when I was younger. For you, the reader, things can be different.
My role as editor included the co-planning of the book with the publisher Lucille Orr, and the welding of the dedicated in-house team. I could wish for no more loyal, patient and good-natured setter of typeface than Carole Weedon, while the “baby” of the team, Sandra Caretti, has graphic art abilities and an acceptance of hard work well beyond the expectations of her age. The four of us have done a lot of laughing, and some creative brainstorming during our weekly production meetings.
How satisfying it has been to us that our first book in this series (The Net Result I, 1992) has been useful in providing a better understanding of the upwardly mobile business or professional woman. In particular, we’ve been warmed by stories filtering back of women who, stumbling upon the book in stores or on library shelves, have been given a glimpse of a galaxy they’d thought was unattainable, and who were thus inspired to take their own first entrepreneurial steps. How wonderful to know that a translation into Japanese has been made by Nobuko Kobayashi.
Because I believe it’s as relevant to this book as to the last, please bear with me while I take an excerpt from that Preface:
Most of the authors had to overcome hesitancy at writing in the first person instead of the anonymous third person of their corporate reports or the figures of their balance sheets. Their reluctance has been summarised by one of the entrants to the 1992 Award who … said: “I found it surprisingly difficult to compile my ‘life story’. Writing about myself and my small achievements made me feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. When I spoke to other women about this I found that, they too, had difficulty standing up and saying, ‘yes, I am good at this’, or, ‘yes, I did that’.
I think our discomfiture arises from the fact that we are conditioned not to put ourselves forward or talk about ourselves or our achievements. The unhappy result of all of this is that women’s contributions to society go largely un-noticed and young women are denied the positive role models they desperately seek.”
Is it because “big boys don’t cry” and don’t discuss their family backgrounds, that their female counterparts making their way in the corporate world are having to play the same game?
In August 1993, expatriate Australian write, Jill Ker Conway, answered some of these questions in an interview with John Lyons for The Australian Magazine. In expressing concern at an historical fact that women “write in the passive, selling themselves short” and at what she sees as the lack of emotionalism in Australia. Ker Conway said, “Human beings have to live a full emotional life and express their feelings, but Australia is a society that says you don’t – except when you’re drunk. Many Australians are unable to show joy and happiness. If you kill off people’s capacity for pain and sorrow, you cut off their ability to feel joy and happiness.”
Well, some of the contributors to this book have dared to express their “joy and happiness” as well as their “pain and sorrow”. We are the richer for their sentiments.
Celebrate the achievements of all these women: from the teenage Tammy Horan though the women in their – well, what matters it how old the others are? Enjoy the stories, assimilate them, use them as stepping-stones, write your own scenarios … and do consider feeding back to the writers. In that way, the net result will be that the circle of celebration is complete.
Formula for SUCCESS
by Lucille Orr
Book Publisher, Founder & President
Australian Executive Women’s Network
Last year when Nancy Flannery, Sandra Caretti, Roz Lawson and I were under pressure to complete the first Net Result book, the national Telecom Award and the second national Conference, I remember Nancy saying, “Lucille if you could bottle your energy you’d make a fortune.”
After successfully completing those tasks all in a matter of eight weeks I decided this year it would be a good idea to share with you how I manage to keep my energy and enthusiasm at a high level all the time, even when I’m physically exhausted. I promise you I’m like every other human being I know: I have my good days and the times when nothing seems to go right. I’m convinced after living and working for so long that the secret of my success is my total belief in myself.
Most of us have great ideas, but few do anything about them. Those who are adventurous enough to decide to put them into practice have to contend with friends and family telling them why their plans won’t work and this discourages most before they’re established and they give up too early.
Use other people as sounding-boards, and weigh their suggestions. If, however, you still believe your initial concept is right, forget any criticisms, and go ahead.
My philosophy in life is, if you’re capable of thinking of an idea you’re also quite capable of seeing it through to fruition.
I wouldn’t say this if I hadn’t proved it to be correct in my own life. Some of the things I’ve wanted to achieve have seemed impossible at the time I dreamt of them, but within days I’d realised the thought had merit and could be achieved.
20 EASY STEPS TO SUCCESS
To help you succeed, here are some easy steps to follow;
1.Record all your thoughts, dreams and aspirations in a log book or on a computer database. No matter how ridiculous they seem to be at the time you think of them, just write them down and go back over them from time to time.
2.When you decide to proceed with an idea, don’t share it with anyone who can’t be of real assistance to you.
3.Act on your idea as soon as possible while it’s exciting you, because your enthusiasm is your greatest asset.
4.Write a plan immediately, listing everything your idea can generate.
Will it create jobs for others?
Do you see yourself starting a business? Or a chain of shops?
How much money do you need to start your venture?
What will you be doing in two years from now when your idea is a success?
5.Take your plan (your document of dreams and aspirations) to a creative accountant or, better still, a general business consultant: someone who has a good knowledge of how to guide you to start your own business.
This person is a positive influence in your life and will be able to help you prepare a business plan and a cash-flow projection as well as assisting you by introducing you to a bank manager or finance consultant who can support your goal.
6.Once you have the advice, and understand the financial commitment and the responsibility you’re undertaking, the next step is to register your business name and start your business.
7.When your family don’t support you (and at times you’ll think they’re right and you’re wrong, because you’re tired and at first it’s all a little overwhelming), remember to hang on tightly to your vision and never, ever give up. Keep believing in yourself.
8.It’s important to remember to set small, achievable goals at first and to reward yourself constantly each time you reach a target. Some of the ways I’ve thanked myself are a trip to the hairdresser, a coffee with a friend, a motivational book, or a night at the movies. However, once I earned more money, I bought jewellery, furs, cars and overseas trips to spoil myself and enjoy my success.
9.If you’re married, share your success