educate yourself

Now after the last post ladies, take responsibility. Stop being so ignorant. Do your homework and don't deny it-- just like men and sports, we have our own interests. i know it's unfair that we have to try harder sometimes, but it's better than not trying at all and to break the norm that's been established for as long as we existed, you have to start somewhere... just be educated about what’s going on outside of your interests… such as sports, politics (im guilty of this one too), and the local and world news.

Sports. Many women are so disinterested in this topic that they are completely oblivious to the games going on. I don’t expect you to know the exact BCS rankings every Monday morning and the stats of each football player, but at least be aware so you are knowledgeable and ready to participate in a discussion if your boss asks you “who are you cheering for this weekend” or “what did you think of that pass in the last 2 minutes of the game”. Even with my level of interest... I’ve been there before, and I’ve also responded with “which game” before. Not a good place to be. Biggest mistakes ever. If you can’t speak the language of men, unfortunately, its an automatic strike out in the corporate world and your career.

Politics. Know who’s running. Know their platforms. And know the laws and issues that are heated topics in congress. Then have a stance, be able to support your position with logical ideas, and speak confidently to them when asked. It won’t be every day, but there will be situations that come up, and you will have to speak knowledgeably on them.

Read the news. Make the NYT your home page and scan it every morning when you get into work. Sign up for Twitter feeds that will educate you and create awareness on global and societal issues.

These aren't just things that just matter in the office. It will also help you understand your clients and connect with them. It will help expand your network.

Know what you believe, believe in what you know.