Can you truly have it all?
What does that actually mean?
To even begin to answer that question, I think you have to start by defining your all.
We grow up being told what it means to be a good daughter/son, mother/father, wife/husband, friend, employee or boss. It’s impossible to excel at everything, which is why we often feel like we can’t have it all. As I embark on a new journey — as a business owner and mom-to-be — I’ve become hyper-aware of the pressure to conform to societal norms. That doesn’t really work for me though. Instead, I want to test a different approach. My new mantra? Define your all. Don’t let others define it for you. (Want to share that with your Twitter friends? Just click here!)
It’s a topic I’m fascinated with, even more so recently as I watch the coverage (unfair, in my opinion) surrounding uber-successful women who break conventional norms. In talking with a number of other women, particularly new moms, I’ve been struck by the number of times I’ve heard that there aren’t a lot of helpful resources or productive, realistic discussions out there for people like us who are trying to fulfill ambitious career aspirations without sacrificing a growing family.
There’s a line in the documentary Miss Representation, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” If that’s true, then we need more people to share their experiences and perspectives so other women facing similar challenges understand that they can — and should — define their all.
This conversation extends beyond work-life integration. I plan to explore work environments, media coverage, pros and cons of bucking the norm, amazing women who are thriving by defining their all, the realities of “leaning in”, so-called parenting “rules,” and a whole host of other topics. I realize this isn’t exactly a conversation that all prTini.com readers will want to join, which is why I’ve launched DefineYourAll.com. I’ll continue blogging about PR, social media, entrepreneurship and tech trends here at prTini. But, I invite you to join me for a look at what it means to “have it all” on your terms.
