Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on my life choices. I have two charming children, a supportive partner, and a beautiful home, plus a solid education. Yet, I can’t help but question why I’m not running my own business or living a life filled with luxury. Why don’t I have a wardrobe full of designer outfits? Why haven’t I seized more opportunities like so many modern American career women, including Ivanka Trump?
As fate would have it, I recently picked up Ivanka Trump’s latest book, Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success. After diving into its pages, I discovered the reasons behind my perceived shortcomings as a professional, mother, and spouse.
Initially, I was skeptical about how relevant a self-help book from a former model and successful entrepreneur could be to my life. After all, Ivanka is known for her chic style, global jet-setting, and her family ties to the highest office in the nation. In contrast, I’m a mostly stay-at-home mom whose idea of dressing up involves a fresh pair of yoga pants. While she attends galas, I’m rummaging through garage sales. She has lunch meetings with influential figures, whereas I often find myself eating leftovers over the sink while managing a toddler’s tantrum.
However, Ivanka reassures readers that she is writing for today’s American women—even if that doesn’t include those in common jobs like teaching, retail, or childcare, who make up a significant portion of the workforce. According to her, success is achieved through “proactive” and “positive” thinking. The types of women she envisions reading her book include “founders of companies” and “part-time freelancers”—wait, that’s me!
Valuable Insights from Ivanka’s Guide
What valuable insights did I glean from Ivanka’s guide on achieving a more fulfilling life? How did she assist me in “identifying opportunities, transitioning careers, negotiating, leading teams, and balancing work and family”?
First, I learned the importance of connecting with influential people in my field. Ivanka emphasizes that networking with established figures is crucial for success. She shares her own experiences with industry icons like Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren, and how she received a job offer from Anna Wintour of Vogue while still in college. If you’re rolling your eyes at that, know that she also advises against envy and promotes positivity as the key to achievement.
Next, I realized that I should have been cultivating my personal “brand” by now. Ivanka stresses the significance of creating a mission statement to guide one’s professional journey. I also recognized that I hadn’t fully “chosen” success in the way she suggests is essential. To her, passion is the ultimate equalizer—more vital than education or experience. According to Ivanka, if you love what you do and work tirelessly, success will follow. It seems that her wealth and connections are irrelevant to this narrative; she overlooks her own privileges in the book.
Additionally, Ivanka details how she continuously strategizes, sets goals, and carves out personal time to reflect on her passions and ambitions. This brings me to another lesson: to achieve balance, I apparently need my own full-time staff to facilitate that self-reflection. It’s evident from her writing that having a strong support system—like nannies—plays a significant role in her success.
Another key theme in Women Who Work is self-care. Like many mothers, I often neglect my own well-being. Ivanka admits to struggling with this too, particularly during her father’s presidential campaign. While she faced challenges in maintaining her self-care routine, she confesses that she didn’t even find time for meditation.
Final Thoughts
If you’re seeking a guide to inspire and empower women of privilege to shape the lives they desire (with ample financial help), this book may resonate with you. However, if you’re looking for insights on how a self-proclaimed advocate for women’s rights reconciles her position in an administration that often undermines those principles, or for practical policy solutions that benefit the majority of working women, you might be disappointed. For example, Ivanka has proposed childcare policies that disproportionately favor affluent families.
In summary, while Women Who Work may offer some unique perspectives on success, it ultimately reflects the experiences of a privileged few, leaving many important conversations unaddressed. For those interested in aspects of family planning, you can explore our post on couples fertility journeys. For excellent resources regarding pregnancy and home insemination, check out Healthline’s insights.