Superwoman Syndrome

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By Cheryl Benson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/calcables

Cheryl Benson is a 47-year-old, wife and mother of four children, Alex, Zach, Sara and Elizabeth (ages 18, 16, 12 and 7 respectively). Cheryl currently holds the position of Vice President at Cal Manufacturing, Inc., which is a company that manufactures resistance welding cables. Cheryl is also the sole proprietor of her own business, Medical Transcription Services, which allowed her to work at home and raise her small children during their formative years and which she still maintains. Managing four children, one of whom just graduated high school and will be entering college this fall and the youngest who is just finishing her year of first grade ensures that life is never devoid of drama, that schedules are still full of first grade programs and piano lessons as well as the joys that accompany raising children. As life often does on a dime, it changed due to the fact that the company is family-owned and succession was inevitable, Cheryl is now balancing two businesses and the challenges of being a working mother. While not new to the resistance welding cable industry (the company has been in her family for over a decade and the business itself has been running for over half a century), the challenges that present themselves in running a primarily male-dominated industry are inherent. Her professional, yet fun-loving approach to the business world is key to success in driving sales, attending expos and conventions, managing daily operations and exploring new markets for the resistance welding cable industry as well as being a "CEO Mom".

Superwoman Syndrome

Posted on October 29, 2011

The last few weeks have exceeded hectic and moved into something from the twlight zone. Balancing work and family have become so ridiculously out of control that I actually spent time trying to figure out how to add an extra hour in the day...ridiculous. I actually looked in the rearview mirror the other day to see I applied makeup on only one side of my face..ridiculous. Starting out my workday at 5:00 a.m., on Thursday last week instead of 2:40 a.m., made me feel like I had significantly overslept...ridiculous.

So, I've come to the conclusion that the new diagnosis for this idiopathic syndrome has a name called "Superwoman Syndrome" and like most syndromes, accepting a diagnosis is the first step in seeking a reasonable treatment plan.

Accepting the fact, that I simply cannot please everyone. Oh, wow...that one hurts to the core. Yet, it's true and inevitably when schedules become overwhelming, a ball is going to be dropped and something forgotten. The world will not cease to turn on it's axis, regularly scheduled programming will continue uninterrupted and we, as working mothers or "superwomen" must siimply take a moment to cut ourselves a little slack, learn to say "no" or at least "let me think about that and I'll get back to you".

Be willing to take a few shortcuts. Take and bake pizza is okay, delivery is better. For those days when we roll out of bed at warp speed, keep a separate little make-up/refresher bag in the car instead of groaning when we get a look in the rearview mirror and remembering we forgot to apply a little concealer. Buy in bulk at the super-saver store, it may cost a little bit more, but it's worth it in the end not to over-stress with an extra run to the store for toilet paper and laundry soap.

Letting go of the need to please. I believe this was transferred down genetically from my grandmother, to my mother to me and I'm determined to stop this congenital disorder to please and be liked by everyone. It's simply not possible for everyone we meet to "like us" or to make them "happy", nor is that my objective in life. So, the next time I even consider sacrificing an afternoon planned in my daughter's class to cover an afternoon at work unplanned, I shall stand my ground and hold my course....I think. Well, in every diagnosis and treatment, the first step is acknowledgement, right? It's a work in progress.