EP (39) Ann Shoket: Former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Examines How Millennial Women Can Live the Big Life And be a Badass Babe
If anyone tells you it's easy to find your way in this day and age, they're lying. Plain and simple.
Growing up on the cusp of a few generations, as I was born in 1984 - I've never really identify with one particular generation because there's a lot of issues that overlap- which I can relate to. So what is my year - Gen X? Gen Y? or god forbid, even millennial.
And millennials have gotten a bad rap. For sure there are the spoiled, self-centered, self-serving "kids" that often get singled out in this generation; but for the most part, they are simply trying to find their place in a very new and complicated world.
Navigating what success looks like, career, ambition, money, and love in this modern day/texting/ghosting era, is complicated. And there isn't a guide book.
Until now.
Ann Shoket understands the messy life that a lot of millennial women (and men) are facing these days. She led the charge as editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine from 2007-2014, so she's well versed on these topics. But she also knew there were many things to learn.
With her latest book, The Big Life, she spent countless evenings hosting dinner parties called The Badass Babes Dinners at her NYC condo - with frozen pizza and a lot of rose (yes, please) - to truly grasp all the issues affecting young women in this day and age. Each event was structured in a particular way, with the same set of questions designed to make each attendee examine their current reality, life, and what they ultimately want out of it.
Throw away this idea of work-life-balance. It doesn't exist. Toss out the idea of the perfect man. No one is perfect. But good news - you can have it all. You just need to figure out what that looks like and embrace all the messiness that comes along with it.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
It's a great read, with a lot of thought-provoking topics and ideas on how to truly feel fulfilled and lead the life you always wanted. It's not easy. Not a single person takes the same path, so there isn't a map to follow; but there is support out there and people navigating the same unchartered waters.
And that in and of itself, is comforting.
SOME QUESTIONS I ASKED:
What did you want to be when you were 16?
How did you end up in this line of work?
What was the most impressive moment of your career thus far?
Where does your own ambition stem from?
How do you deal with rejection?
Did you ever think you'd be living The Big Life?
What does The Big Life look like to you?
Did you ever feel the pressure to climb the corporate ladder and make a name for yourself?
Have you ever not achieved a goal by a certain age and how did that affect you?
And so much more...
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
How not to beat yourself up when you don't hit a goal by a certain age
How to network and create a squad that supports you
What her dinners with men taught her and how women and men are confusing each other
What you MUST replace competition with collaboration
Why life can be messy and wonderful all in one
The best advice to take when applying for jobs
How to build a successful career and relationship
The importance of having a side hustle, even if it doesn't lead to a career
And lots more...
OTHER LINKS:
CONNECT WITH Ann
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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Edited by: James Nicholson