Do We Need to Be More Selfish to Be Successful?

Periodically I invite other authors to publish an article on the Love Yourself-It Matters! Blog. Following is an article written by Bonnie Marcus.

Do We Need to Be More Selfish to Be Successful?

When we came into this world as infants, we were very focused on having our immediate needs met. Life was simple. With more "socialization", we began to respond to those around us and our thoughts turned outward. Our parents, friends, and teachers were more interested in finding ways to have us please them than to have us please ourselves and we lost touch with whatever internal guidance system we had. We became more OUTER directed and motivated by the approval and disapproval of others. We started to look for ways to please everyone else and if we made a decision to please ourselves and meet our own needs first, we were labeled as selfish.

As women, we have extra baggage around this issue because our society has taught us that women should be nurturers. The assumption here is that we need to take care of everyone and make sure that they are happy and healthy and all their needs are met. According to traditional roles, the fact that everyone is happy should be enough to make us happy because that is our responsibility. If everyone is happy, we are doing our jobs well. Of course, if there is some time after all this is done, it is acceptable to do something for ourselves. Otherwise, we are SELFISH.

These limiting beliefs have so many implications for women in our society. As more and more women enter the workforce and are trying to keep their lives in balance, the stress builds. If we believe that we need to please everyone in our families, our relationships, our work place, what happens to US? How can we do all this and be successful at work too?

How many times at work have you taken on other people's needs before tending to your own?

How many times have you taken on the work of others with the attitude that "If I don't do it. Who will?"

How many times have you avoided necessary difficult conversations because you did not want to offend someone? You want to be well liked.

How many times have you not taken credit for your work well done because you want to be viewed as THE TEAM PLAYER. Perhaps you don't accept compliments graciously.

There have been SO many articles, books, blogs done about the necessity for balance in our lives and how important it is to take care of number one. What about taking care of number one at WORK? What do we need to do to advance our careers and get credit for the work we've done? Maybe we need to be more focused first on our needs and our career path than meeting the needs of everyone else at work.

Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed, CEC
Certified Executive Coach
Email: bonnie@womenssuccesscoaching.com
www.womenssuccesscoaching.com

Bonnie and I would love to hear your opinions. Do we need to be more selfish to be successful?

Please leave your comments on the Love Yourself - It Matters! Blog and Bonnie will get back to you.