Lynette Lewis - Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos: 10 Strategies for Stepping Up to Success and Satisfaction at Work

Praise forClimbing the Ladder in Stilettos

Though I know nothing about stilettos, I do know good business practices, and so does Lynette Lewis. In Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos she offers insightful strategies that will positively impact your work. Every woman needs to read this book!

JOHN C. MAXWELL

New York Times Best-Selling Author and Speaker

Founder of INJOY Stewardship Services and Equip

Books and shoes are my weakness! After reading this practical guide to success in your career and personal life, you might agree as you pair the combo. How beneficial to use them as a competitive strength!

GABRIELA FERRARI

Global Business Intelligence, Nike

A fun read and worth it!

GENEVIEVE BOS

Co-Founder and Publisher, PINK Magazine

Lynette is a national treasure! Not only did she inspire and motivate our CEOs, but she also equipped them with practical, proven tools that they could use to connect their corporate purpose to the individual purpose of each of their team members.

LANE A. KRAMER

President, The CEO Institute

As a frequent speaker for the Leadership Forum, Lynette Lewis is always a powerhouse of seasoned expertise, savvy insight, and fun. Now she puts these same ideas to paper, a gift to every reader! Speaking or writing, she captivates an audience like few others I know.

CAROLE HYATT

Founder and CEO, The Leadership Forum

Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos is a fabulous strategic framework for achieving professional and personal fulfillment that draws on real life experiences.

CELINA REALUYO

Former Senior U.S. Diplomat and

Goldman Sachs International Banker

Lynette Lewis has compiled magnificent lessons, valuable insights, and sound strategies for women eager to advance their careers, and more importantly, to find joy and satisfaction at work.

JOYCE ROCH

President and CEO, Girls Incorporated

CLIMBING
the
LADDER
in
Stilettos

CLIMBING THE LADDER IN STILETTOS

2006 Lynette Lewis

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or any otherexcept for brief quotation in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Cover Design: Karen Williams

Page Design: Mandi Cofer

Acquisitions Editor: Debbie Wickwire

Managing Editor: Adria Haley

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lewis, Lynette.
Climbing the ladder in stilettos : ten strategies for stepping up to success and satisfaction at work / Lynette Lewis.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-978-0-8499-0186-7 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-5955-5144-3 (trade paper)
1. WomenVocational guidance. 2. Women in the professions.
3. WomenPromotions. I. Title.
HF5382.6.L49 2006
650.1082dc22

2006025932

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 12 RRD 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I joyfully dedicate this book to my parents

Geneva Troyer
Mom, you're my lifelong best friend.
For forty-four years, your love, comfort, and prayers have
carried the constant, joyful theme of Yes!

Howard Troyer
Dad, you are wisdom, character, and faith personified.
You taught me about the world of business.
Without saying a word, your life shouts success.

CONTENTS

Strategy #1: Create a Purpose Statement for Life and Work

Strategy #2: Become Personally Whole

Strategy #3: Adopt Methods for Gaining New Joy and Satisfaction

Strategy #4: Discover Gifts in Surprising Places

Strategy #5: Follow the Four Principles of Promotion and Build Your Personal Brand

Strategy #6: Organize a Personal Board of Directors

Strategy #7: Implement Creative Tools That Maximize Everyone on the Team

Strategy #8: Follow an Approach to Speaking That Works Every Time

Strategy #9: Expand Your Definition of Mentoring

Strategy #10: View Your Life Through the Lens of Hope and Possibility

I wanted to write a book but didnt know how. These are the gifted artists who helped turn an average voice into a symphony.

Esther Fedorkevich. From our first conversation over coffee at 50th and Broadway, your enthusiasm and confidence have kept me believing. I am so grateful for you.

Amy Gregory. You took my many random ideas and molded them into one concept that made sense. What a talent you are!

Brent Cole. My coach and guide. Thanks for the excellent education and for the calm confidence you brought on all those Friday mornings.

Angel Wolfe. Tireless even after midnight, you parachuted in at just the right moment and added so much.

Debbie Wickwire. Meeting you has been my favorite gift in all of this! You are the epitome of professionalism and a treasured new friend. Thank you for helping craft and carry the vision for this book from day one.

The Thomas Nelson team. I've heard of publishing nightmares, but you have been a dream. Thank you for taking the seeds of an idea and making them great.

Eutha Godfrey, Genie Lewis, Lois Cox, Pam Pulsfort, Alice Rhee, and Katye Rone. Someday a full accounting of your investments will be adequately rewarded. Thank you for the strength of your agreement, for every note and every call.

Carole Hyatt. You generously brought so many incredible women to this project. I am filled with gratitude for youmentor, encourager, partner, and friend.

The MSNY and KPIC families. If you see me dabbing my eyes on Sundays, its because Im overwhelmed at the privilege of doing life with you.

Nathan, Christian, Jordan, and JohnLuke. You are the most treasured surprise gifts of all time. Thanks for being genuinely interested in this story.

My husband and soul mate, Ron. You are my over-and-above-all-I-asked-or-hoped- for love! Thank you for your joyful smile that continually says, Go for it!

And God, my Savior. This is all for Your glory. I am humbled You would open doors as rich and satisfying as these.

Riding the subways of New York City each week, Im amazed at how many women wear one pair of shoes to work, change into another pair at work, and carry yet another pair for plans after work.

Our lives as working women can often be reflected in our collection of shoes. We have so many roles and so many shoes to fill.

I often think of a friend who was asked to fill a bag with items that would help the others in her group at a leadership event understand more about who she is. She filled the bag with a dozen shoes and described the experiences shed had wearing each one: the running shoes she wore in a marathon, the sensible heels in which she defended her PhD dissertation, and her favorite pair of stilettos worn at a black-tie event where she received an achievement award.

Ah yes, we do enjoy our shoes. Last year, American women spent nearly $17 billion on fashion footwear between October 2004 and October 2005. If you think that sounds like a lot, youre right; its a 10 percent increase over the year before!