Words v. Pictures

By Michelle Meyer|2021-07-13T15:06:22-05:00July 13th, 2021|Blog, Persevering, Women and the Workplace, Women Leaving a Legacy|

I am a words person – I think in words, express myself in words, process emotion in words. I learn well through words. I don’t think in pictures.

I don’t like to have to draw or use pictures to explain things. I don’t want to have to look at a graph and try and decipher what it represents. I want to read the data, then I understand immediately—It’s just how my brain works. I suspect there are a lot more people like me, and we just aren’t accommodated that much in today’s world of images.

A long time ago, I had a conversation with a man about how frustrating it was we had to “create pictures” for our client presentations. He said to me, “you know why we have to do this, right?” I replied, “Well, I can give you the politically incorrect answer as to why”. He responded, “That will probably be the right answer…” My theory? “Because men think in pictures, and we are always presenting mostly to men.” He laughed a little and admitted, “you are exactly right”.

DRIVES. ME. NUTS.

I believe words are one of the most powerful things in the universe, right up there with water and math. Words create worlds – we have to utilize words or math first in order to create something in this world.

I use words to express myself. Often not very well. Often making others uncomfortable – some of that is me. I’m told I express too much emotion – some of that is the receiver. Misunderstandings happen frequently, much to my frustration.

But I like words, because I am usually in my head (words) vs. my heart (emotion) – I’ve been working on that a long time.

So, why all these words about words?

How many times have you heard “A picture is worth a thousand words”? That quote has always irritated me, but I understand it. A “picture” (or some form of visual art) is often a very efficient way to express the underlying emotion. Touching emotion is admittedly equally as important as conveying a concept.

“Fearless Girl”, a bronze sculpture displayed in the plaza across from the New York Stock Exchange, explains perfectly what I was trying to say in 2013 when I launched GirlAuthentic. This art is a perfect visual representation summarizing both words and emotion. I also love my GirlAuthentic logo—it too expresses something visually—immediately.

Many people respond to my use of the word girl – some in a negative way, some out of curiosity. For those who ask, I share that I use the words GirlAuthentic as a way to connect to the sense of power, freedom, fearlessness and capability that women feel as young girls, but often lose touch with as they engage with social structures in the world. These characteristics are covered up, succumbing to a different vibration not our own; the authentic selves we knew when we were young girls retreat.

I want GirlAuthentic to help women remember who they are.

I have gone back and fixed words on the GirlAuthentic website. I let myself be talked out of using some of the words I wanted to: vibration, feminine, structures. I snuck them in over time – but now I have put it out there.

Structures must change.

There is an imbalance between the masculine and feminine.

There are vibrations to both, and we are missing one of them; thus, an imbalance, a lack.

Women can lead the way.

The GirlAuthentic “Movement” should have been described using the words I wanted, but I wasn’t sure how it would work—still not sure—so instead of covering up the un-sureness with a bunch of words that don’t resonate, I’m going to say it plainly. I’ve said it hundreds of times in conversations, I just never put it on the site:

Movement = 3 Steps

Talking to people about women building businesses
1. Encouraging women to do it
2. Explaining why it is important for women to build businesses
Teaching women how to build businesses – not sure how this will look
Finding ways to FUND women building business – don’t get me started

It is time for women to reclaim the strength and power we know is there in that fearless, authentic girl. We are going to need it to help build the new structures that will bring the equality and equity we are seeking for all humanity.

Three reasons “leaning in” won’t work for women

By Michelle Meyer|2015-05-19T14:47:36-05:00December 12th, 2013|Blog, Persevering, Women and the Workplace, Women Leaving a Legacy|

Since I started GirlAuthentic, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Sheryl Sandberg’s book and ongoing conversation “Lean In.” Sandberg is the COO of Facebook and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World; her book is loaded with advice on how women can achieve their goals and realize their leadership potential.

I tell people her advice is fine – if you’re satisfied with what’s behind Door Number One.

If your goal is to become a female senior executive in one of today’s corporate structures – a statistical long shot, by the way – then Sandberg is for you. I have 3 problems with the “Lean In” conversation:

It’s a gender-based conversation.

“Lean In” is a discussion on how women can conform in order to excel in today’s masculine environment – a corporate world built by men, for men. What we need is a discussion on the absence of the feminine and how to bring it forth and have it be valued in the workplace.

It’s not news to a lot of us.

What Sandberg doesn’t seem to understand is that a lot of women have spent a couple of decades saying NO to what’s been expected and what she’s proposing. We’ve taken a good look at what’s behind Door Number One. And our response has been, “You want me to “lean in” to that?! No way!”

This rejection of the status quo is sometimes couched as women being “less ambitious.” It’s the opposite. Many women are MORE ambitious than men. We have been quietly building a new model of “having it all” – a whole and complete life, with time for our families or personal interests, for personal well-being, AND for a fulfilling professional experience.

If Door Number One means giving that up, let’s see what’s behind Door Number Two.

It doesn’t work.

For the majority of women, “leaning in” won’t work – and we have the data to prove it.

In 2011, Catalyst published a study called “The Myth of the Ideal Worker: Does Doing All the Right Things Really Get Women Ahead?” Their study included a hefty list of the “right things” to do to get ahead at work – what Sandberg calls “Leaning In” today. You can read the list on page six of the full report – it includes some obvious things like “develop a career plan” and some zingers like “communicate willingness to work long hours and weekends.”

But here’s the kicker: Catalyst found that while using these strategies worked great for men, it didn’t have the same payoff for women. Women who did the “right things” were more likely to get ahead than women who didn’t (barely). But men were still more likely to find success – “right things” or not.

So in answering the study question “Does Doing All the Right Things Really Get Women Ahead,” the answer was a resounding “no.” The problem isn’t women. We don’t just need to try harder or conform more. Leaning in won’t be enough.

We need a different world to lean into – a world that works for women and for men.

That’s going to mean more women building their own businesses, businesses where the culture is different. That’s what it means to look behind Door Number Two.

I’m ready to open that door. How about you?