Lately, I’ve been pondering where I might have missed the mark. Sure, I’ve got two delightful kids, a supportive partner, and a cozy home, not to mention a solid education. But why am I not at the helm of my own business? Why haven’t I struck it rich? Why is my wardrobe lacking in designer pieces? Why haven’t I tapped into the myriad opportunities that modern American women, like Ava Stone, seem to seize effortlessly?
By chance, I picked up a copy of Ava Stone’s latest book, Women Who Work: Reimagining the Path to Success. After reading it, I finally grasped what I’ve been doing wrong all these years as a professional, mother, and wife.
Initial Doubts
Initially, I questioned whether a self-help book penned by someone like Ava could resonate with my life. After all, Ava is a polished, stiletto-clad former model with her own shoe and handbag line, and she has a father who served as the 45th president of the United States. Meanwhile, I’m a mostly stay-at-home mom in the suburbs, where looking put-together for work means reaching for my best yoga pants. She attends glamorous galas; I rummage through garage sales. She dines with world leaders; I savor last night’s leftovers while a toddler wails in the background. You catch my drift.
However, Ava immediately reassures me that she wrote this book for contemporary American women. (Well, not for the majority of women engaged in the most common jobs, like receptionists, teachers, or waitstaff, or those making minimum wage. According to Ava, these women simply aren’t thinking “positively” or “proactively” enough to uplift themselves and become leaders.) She suggests her audience includes everyone from “the founder of your own company to a stay-at-home mom, an assistant in a larger corporation, or a part-time freelancer working from home.” A freelancer? That’s me!
Pearls of Wisdom
So, what pearls of wisdom did I glean from Ava about how to become a balanced, successful, and fulfilled woman? How did she assist me in “spotting opportunities, transitioning careers seamlessly, negotiating, leading teams, launching businesses, juggling work and family, and helping to reshape the system”?
First off, I learned that I need to rub elbows with more celebrities. In Ava’s world, famous figures play a massive role in mentoring and guiding her. Her advice to all women is to network with influential people in their fields, just as she did in fashion. She notes that she met with industry giants like Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren. She even landed a job offer from Anna Wintour while in college. (If you’re rolling your eyes right now, like I did, remember that Ava teaches us that only positive thinking—not envy—can lead to success.)
Next, after reaching out to celebrities in my field for mentorship, I should have already crafted my own “brand” as a woman. Ava emphasizes the importance of defining your personal brand and mission statement to achieve success.
I also realized that I haven’t “chosen” success in the way Ava believes is essential for unlocking my potential. According to her, the key to success is “passion,” which she describes as “the great equalizer, more vital than education or experience.” (Of course, inheriting wealth from family is a non-factor in this equation. If only the less fortunate could just cultivate more passion!)
Ava credits her dad, who also inherited a fortune, with teaching her that “if you love what you do and work really hard, you will succeed.” In other words, any woman can achieve her dreams if she maintains a positive attitude and works diligently. It’s not about going to elite schools like Wharton, as Ava did, or landing a prestigious job through family connections, which she doesn’t dwell on much in her book.
For Ava, cultivating the right amount of passion necessitates hard work. She spends a lot of her time strategizing, making lists, and mapping out her personal and career goals.
The Need for Support
This leads me to another key takeaway: I really need to hire a full-time staff to carve out that coveted time for reflection and productivity! It’s evident from Ava’s book that a woman with a vast network can achieve immense success—but she must also have nannies and other support (her nannies are graciously acknowledged for helping her raise her children).
Self-Care Matters
Another major theme in Women Who Work is self-care. Like many moms of young kids, I often neglect my own sleep, fitness, and hobbies. Ava relatable shares her own struggles in this area. During her father’s presidential campaign, she admits that self-care took a backseat. “I went into survival mode,” she writes, recalling how she focused solely on work and family without indulging in massages or even meditation.
If you’re searching for a guide to “inspire and empower women [of privilege] to create the lives they desire” (with plenty of paid help), this book might be just what you need. However, if you’re hoping for insights from this so-called advocate for women’s rights on how she reconciles her position in a White House led by a president who has made derogatory remarks about women, or for policy solutions that genuinely assist the majority of working women, you may want to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
In summary, while Ava Stone’s Women Who Work offers an aspirational view of success for women of privilege, it falls short of addressing the broader challenges faced by the majority of women today.