I'm No Dude, Y'all

So...if you haven't figured it out yet, I work in a male dominated industry: a bicycle shop.  We're definitely on the up-and-up when it comes to girl power with more female sales reps, gals that wrench (one of which I am not!) and girls in shops in general.  90% of the time I'm thrilled to be a rarity in my shop for several reasons:

- I tell it like it is and girls aren't big fans of that, I've learned
- Being dirty & greasy not only accepted, but it's kinda cute
- I can be upset with a co-worker, hash it out and it's over
- We get TIPPED IN BEER, y'all!
- Dressing up and heels just aren't happening in a shop
- I can burp and get applause
And MOST importantly:
- I get.shit.done

Sorry for the profanity, but there's really no other way to explain quite what my kinda personality does in a shop.  I'm a girl.  I'm type A.  I like lists.  If you ask me to do something, I'll do it.  That's unless I forget to add it to said lists which can happen!  I take things (a little too) seriously.  I hold myself responsible for failure.  And I don't often enough pat myself on the back and say to myself, "You're doing a fine job, Miss Helen."

I had a long chat with another girl in the industry recently and she said something that just hit me,  "There won't be another Helen here."
To which I replied, "We are all replaceable."
To which SHE replied, "Yeah, but still, there will never be another Helen."

What I realized is that I don't often enough pat myself on the back and say to myself, "You're doing a fine job, girlie."  I find myself thinking what it was I could have done better more often than praising myself for a job well done.

I find no need in getting into the difference between women and men, but I will say there is a different connection that women and men when it comes to work and business.  I will also say that I don't put all men into a tiny box and label it "typical dude" because that would be unfair, too!  I will say, though, that I've noticed that many of the guys around me have no problem in taking credit where credit is due.  

And then there's me.  The girl that will say things like, "well, it wasn't all me" or "I'm totally replaceable" or "HE knows more than I do"...the list goes on.  I'm no dude, y'all.  And while I don't plan on being little miss my-poo-doesn't-smell, I've decided that it's time to take a step back and appreciate myself for what I do.  I need to remind myself that I've come a long way, I work really hard and I help our business run as efficiently as possible.  

Especially around those stinky boys!  :-)

And now a couple of "Girl Power" quotes that I love:

"When I’ve been unsuccessful, I’ve been controlled. When I’ve been successful, I’ve been in control"
- Katherin Hepburn

"Well-behaved women seldom make history." 

- Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman."

 - Margaret Thatcher

"You can love your job, but your job will not love you back."

- Cathie Black, Former Chairman & President, Hearst Magazines

"Women are always angsting over things.  Guys don't do that."

- Cathie Black

Thanks to:
www.emilybennington.com
www.womenlawyerleaders.blogspot.com