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Mammy, what way does 10% Braver work?
'Mammy, what way does 10% braver work?' my nine-year-old asked.
'I suppose it all depends on your starting point,' came my sluggish reply as I thought back to when we began the #WomenEd Northern Ireland network over four years ago, and I remembered me, then.
I'd been working in education for over 20 years. Standing up for pupils, for their rights and their needs - all day, every day. Standing up for myself, for my rights and my needs? Not so much.
The years had taken me to a place and time where being a highly qualified, experienced woman in leadership brought a whole raft of new experiences.
For me, what seemed like the first time, I needed to stand up for myself.
Work wasn't working.
A book entitled '10% Braver' surely held the answers. It couldn't just be me.
So, what way does 10% braver work?
Supposing my bravery back then was as low as it gets, maybe a millionth of a percent or 0.0000001%.
By being 10% braver every day, a month later I'd be 0.00000011% brave.
Six months on, at our first unconference, I would be 3.11% brave.
And that's pretty much how I felt: Was I making headway at all?
Intentionally being 10% braver in one conversation, in being true to my values, in honouring the pupils and teachers I served. 10% braver in speaking up for myself, in recognising the strengths I bring to a team, in honouring the role I'd signed up to, in improving my new workspace.
Yes, I was braver. I still had a bit to do.
I'd changed the way I looked at things.
Beyond my immediate context, I could see #WomenEd diamonds sparkle all around me, brightening my days and my weeks.
Inspired by their excellent work, I could feel them lift me, as I lifted them. I and we grew in strength from our collective, intentional 10% braver agency.
What way does 10% braver work?
Slowly and steadily, purposefully and powerfully, by committing to you.
Commit to being 10% gentler with yourself, 10% kinder to yourself, 10% happier in yourself, and 10% braver for yourself. It all culminates in being exponentially gentler with you, exponentially kinder to you, exponentially happier in you and exponentially braver for you.
So, be 10% braver for you, for every woman around you, for every girl coming after you, and for every single person who in this world, by default or design, is visibly invisible. And in your agency, you inspire and unite others.
Enrich the world by being exponentially you: that's the way 10% braver works.
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