This isn't a chick thing!

November 2000 was the best of times and the worst of times. I had just sold my first company, and had by any number of measures reached a pinnacle of success. And yet at the same time, I was burnt out and my self esteem was at an all time low.

In this curious place, I was celebrating the sale of my company with some female friends ALL of whom were incredibly successful. As the evening wore on, I became increasingly conscious of two themes that kept bubbling to the surface.

• 1. None of us seated at the table owned their accomplishments
  
  
• 2. We were unclear about what success really meant to us, how we defined ourselves through success.

• Why do women rush from one project to another and not taking the time to savour and enjoy their accomplishments?
  
  
• Why do women keep asking themselves 'what more could I have done?' rather than 'look at what I have achieved?'
  
  
• What does success really mean to women?
  

• The impact on society of an ageing workforce, while women have entered the workforce in large numbers (one of the biggest social changes in the past three decades) their skills are underutilized. Employers can't afford to be hidebound.
  
  
• Men and women perceive success differently therefore promoting success in a woman is very different to promoting success in a man. The traditional organisation is based on the conventional stimulus for male success. Expanding the corporate environment in which success can continue to evolve for women will also have a positive impact on men who don't feel successful in traditional based organisations. This will transform the organisation as a whole.
  
  
• What women want from work is what employers need to compete in a fast changing environment. What will make it successful for women will ALSO make it successful for men.