Good morning!
This weekend, I was on NPR’s Marketplace Weekend. Host Lizzie O’Leary interviewed me about my recent article in Harvard Business Review, which is now the #1 most read piece of the month at HBR.
The article is my deeper dive into that statistic we’ve all heard so much about – that men apply for a job if they meet 60% or more of the qualifications, but women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. The standard advice is for women to get more confident…but I think it’s more complex than that. The article is HERE.
And the NPR Marketplace interview audio clip is HERE.
In the spirit of the HBR article, a question for the day: is there any aspect of your life or career where you are by default “following the rules” or assuming the rules are set in stone, when they just might not be? When advocacy, coloring outside the lines, or not following the rules would better serve your goals?
Tara
omg you are amazing!
the #1 most read piece of the month at HBR.
Congratulations! Well deserved.
I’m a rule-follower. That may be because I’m female, or because I’m the youngest of 5 siblings — it was easier to just do follow the rules than be corrected and scolded by several others. Even so, I took a career path that still is rare for women and was an investment/trust manager for wealthy families, non-profits, and corporations. In truth, following rules was essential in that world, to comply with law and corporate policies.
Breaking out of that has been tough but I find it easier all the time. As a quilter, designer, and writer, there aren’t a lot of hard rules. I do things my way. I can find my power. I can become myself. I wrote about using my creativity to find my power. http://catbirdquilts.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/be-powerful-create/
I adopted the very simple, almost silly, very effective mantra long ago. “If a dumb boy can do it, as a female, I can do it better.”
Hello, that’s a good question….when should we follow the rules and when should we not. I think it borders on conscience and common sense and when either of them are present in those situations; but there are times maybe neither apply..and you have to go with principle..in the matter..either way you always come out a winner in the end.
This is a fantastic interview Tara. Well done! I absolutely agree and relate to what you said about girls and young women being socialized to “follow rules” in school as a path to success and achievement and that no one is talking to us about what is really happening and how things are done/can be done when we get out of school. I’m so excited for the conversation you are putting forth in a big way Tara. I love seeing you PLAY BIG.