I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR

Lion roaring, sitting, Panthera Leo, 10 years old, isolated on white

Did it really start for me in 1972? My mindset, that is?

I was just 6 years old and in the second grade at Nayatt Elementary School in Barrington, RI and I just loved to sing. This is going to freak some of you out, but I knew every word to Neil Sedaka’s “Laughter in the Rain” and “Sad Eyes” and Diana Ross’s “Baby Love” and “You Can’t Hurry Love” and I had all the dance moves just like the Supremes.   In fact, my earliest childhood dream that I can recall was my absolute desire “to be” DIANA ROSS.

I dreamt about being on stage, with a microphone, singing, wearing a long sparkly gown, a feather boa, with diamonds everywhere, with big hair and lots of glamour. I loved her.

I would take my parent’s record albums to school, go outside for recess and practice singing songs and learning the lyrics. I would do that instead of playing on the swing sets or playing marbles in the dirt (yes we played that back then). There was one particular singer that I became totally obsessed with. It was Helen Reddy, considered the Queen of 70’s POP.   Her new pop song, “I Am Woman” was the hottest song on the radio, and I knew every single word by heart.

When I learned Mrs. Collins, who was my second grade teacher, would allow the class to have “show and tell” on Friday’s, I decided that I would share my melodious voice with my classmates. I sang “I am Woman” with no fear, because I was completely competent and that gave me the confidence to do it. Why? Because I practiced singing the song a million times privately before I felt ready to sing it publicly. Back then I am not sure I really understood the meaning of the song, but I knew it by heart.  My husband always tells me I am the most prepared person he has ever met. I am. It has served me well. I never wing it. #preparation #confidence #competence

Recently I spoke at an event about this concept –Competence before Confidence.   Whatever you decide to tackle in life or business, preparation and practice is the key. Confidence will come with repetition. Do it bad enough times to get good at it. Repeat. Refine. Replicate. 

Fall, Get up. Fall no more.

But back to the song….  What really impacted me was recently reviewing the lyrics to the song, which I belted out at the top of my lungs in the second grade in front of all my friends and classmates.

Was I making a statement back then?  Did this song empower me at age 6? Would this become my unspoken mantra throughout the rest of my life? I can tell you this, I do represent every single word in this song.

For those of you who are my age….you will remember the song and you probably know all the words too!

I AM WOMAN

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back an’ pretend

’cause I’ve heard it all before

And I’ve been down there on the floor

No one’s ever gonna keep me down again

Chorus

Oh yes I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

You can bend but never break me

’cause it only serves to make me

More determined to achieve my final goal

And I come back even stronger

Not a novice any longer

’cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

Chorus

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land

But I’m still an embryo

With a long long way to go

Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to I can face anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

Oh, I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

Fade

I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

I am woman

For all my young fabulous female followers, you should all Watch the Performance! There is nothing you can’t do.   #girlpower #ladyboss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZMZ7_w4RDM

Love Gina

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