When I was a teenager, I listened to some Elastica.
And some Blur. And some Pulp.
Misspent youth?
I like to think not. (Though you may disagree.)
But it did make me think about what makes a band successful.
Later as a lawyer, I got thinking about what made the women lawyers at the top successful.
I concluded, most professionally successful women have the same handful of things in common:
They know what they want
They are experts in their field
They balance multiple priorities
They manage their time effectively
They are comfortable with a degree of risk.
But in the legal industry in particular, I noticed that the most successful women have one other thing in common:
Connection
They've built deliberate and interwoven networks which run both deep and broad.
From friendship and logistical support networks in the personal sphere, to mentorship and professional sponsorship in the workplace.
They prioritise community and collaboration over individualism and competition. (Bands, anyone?)
It raises them up and carries others with them.
It's never to late to start weaving your own web of connections. One person at a time.
So who will you reach out to today?