Woman Like A Man

Being a chick is pretty great. We get the hot shoes, breasts as built-in toys (oh, yeah right, you’re telling me you don’t absentmindedly play with them when you’re bored?) and don’t tell anyone I said so, but I’m pretty damn sure we’re the smarter of the two gender choices.
But all that said, there are plenty of fabulous things about being a guy. Ideally, I wish more people could get over their hang-ups on being so gender-centric in deciding how to act and what to do and pull the best from both worlds.
There are ways to get the most out of your masculine side without losing your amazing femininity; you should strive to be a girl with balls, not a chick with a dick. Try considering these points when pumping yourself up to work with, around and in defiance of being a woman in the professional world:

1.Use your imagination to level the playing field

As much as we like to tout the end of gender-based stereotypes (or at least hope that the end is in sight), the problem is as much in our heads as it is in the general subconscious. I know some of the most intelligent, capable, rock star business women who would still feel more confident going head-to-head in the professional world against a woman than a man.
To get your mind out of your hesitation and into the game, I say imagine anyone you have to go up against professionally as being your same sex. I know, that sounds insane but trust this…it works. It just levels things off if you pretend your boss is packing the same prize in their pants that you are when you’re negotiating for a raise, for example. Although really carrying through with this little fiction could present some tricky situations, it just makes the whole thing not an issue.

2.On the other hand, remember your audience

Now to completely contradict what I just said, I advise that you never forget the difference between men and women…and use those differences to your advantage. I’m not saying to slut it up to get ahead professionally (or socially, for that matter. Sexual promiscuity should be for sport and sport alone) but perfecting your ability to use your womanly wiles to your advantage in any given situation is something everyone should take time to do.
Remember that while the awesome, evolved men of the world don’t regard women any differently than men, the vast majority of them still do. Fortunately for us, that different view usually manifests itself as feeling intimidated by powerhouse ladies. If you pick up on that, take it and run with it. Let it feed your confidence in your already intensely acute abilities to kick ass…and silently laugh about how the sexism backlash works in your favor.

3.Do like the boys do

As an exercise, I recommend the following: think of something you always thought of as a typically “boy thing” to do and do it. And don’t get a bunch of your gal pals together and do it all girly style…do it for real. Whether it’s wrestling (tight clothes and pinning each other on the ground? Sexy) or fly-fishing (annnnd here come the heaps of comments and email from the fly-fisherwomen in the house), give it a whirl.
Because you’ll do it just fine…duh. That’s the point. You gotta break out of those stereotypes yourself before you can carry yourself in a way that makes the rest of the world forget they even existed in the first place.