How does she manage it all? You may wonder this reading about a woman you admire or a friend who is constantly juggling many projects. The answer is: She doesn’t necessarily. Something must give. Or she has help; she delegates.

Recently, I spoke on a panel called New Year. New Career hosted by the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a national organization whose members are comprised of leading women in food, fine beverage and hospitality. I was one of four panelists who shared their career transition stories. The other three were:

Joan Coukos, an investment banker turned chocolatier whom I have interviewed on both Fearless Fabulous You! and The Connected Table Live!  Joan makes exquisite artisan chocolates at her company, Chocolate Moderne.

Rita Jammet, who owned the famed French restaurant La Caravelle in New York City, with her husband, Andre, for many years. Rita now has a label of Champagne called La Caravelle which is sold in many leading restaurants and wine shops. She has been a guest on The Connected Table Live!

Julie Hartigan, an engineer who went to culinary school to become a chef, recipe developer and culinary content creator and launched a consulting business called Cooking with Julie

We all sound like super women, but as the conversation continued we each revealed that we learned more about our strengths as well as our vulnerabilities in the process of change. To grow and move forward sometimes means being more prudent with your finances and you time. It takes focus. Pursuing a dream is less about wearing rose-tinted glasses and more about having a razor sharp magnifying glass to view every opportunity, warts and all, to avoid missteps. It’s also about creating a close community (tribe) of supporters and advisor whom you trust and realizing that you can never be too trustworthy.

Even super women are not super human. Here is what I learned and share with you:

  • Put the business of your health first. Not the health of your business.
  • Take time out for exercise, personal enrichment and creative pursuits.  You cannot work 24/7. It is not natural or beneficial to you or your health.
  • Think with your head and lead with your heart. Be thoughtful and compassionate but don’t lose your head becoming emotional about what you are working on. If something in your gut says, “It is not right.” It probably isn’t.
  • You may need to have ice in your veins when making tough business decisions. A business advisor told me this when I needed to let my staff go. I was shocked by the harshness of it  Later, I used his advice when I fired him.
  • Do your homework. Read books. Watch webinars and videos. Ask questions and for advice from people whom you respect.
  • Pay it forward. Help someone along who needs to get their footing. Be supportive. Last week, a former employee who I had not seen for many years took me to lunch to tell me how working with me inspired her in her own career path. I cannot begin to tell you how much that meant to me.
  • And finally, express gratitude. Take that friend or colleague out to lunch or tea to say “Thank You.

After all, we may all be super women but not super human. We are just human.

Before you take the leap make sure your cape has no holes and your parachute works. #FearlessFabulousYou

Photo ID: ID 75083867 © Sergey Khakimullin | Dreamstime.com