Finding My Voice

It took quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.’ - Madeleine Albright

 

I’ve always loved that quote, but really, until now I never felt it applied to me. It had been aspirational, at best.

I think, no, scratch that. I know that with this podcast (as with my initial podcast, Wise Women @ Work) I have a voice.

It isn’t that I didn’t speak up in the past. Heck, I practiced law for many years, worked in government and in the business sector, and most recently as a financial advisor. Somehow, though, speaking up seems different now. I feel a greater freedom. Speaking on behalf of, or to, a client or constituent can be constraining. You carefully measure your words and your tone as you want your answers to be perfect. For the most part, you want to be able to confirm what the client or constituent wants to hear. For me, most importantly, I wanted to be liked.

Ah, to be liked---to make everyone feel comfortable and give them what they want to hear.

But no more. Now I get to exercise my own voice. And I don’t need to care what anyone thinks of what I or my guests have to say. (Well, at least that’s my new aspiration.) It will be hard work for me. I am forced to cast off almost 65 years of being the good girl, the perfect girl.

So, yes Virginia, I finally have a voice. I hope you will listen, or not. If you do listen, I hope you will enjoy it, or not. This isn’t about people-pleasing or being perfect any longer. This is talking about ideas and concepts that appeal to ME, that interest ME. (Secretly, I hope they interest YOU, as well!)