Corrine Dayman, International, Model and Spokesperson

 Corrine Dayman,

President, TAP International, Model and Spokesperson

As I embark on my 10th year of being a female entrepreneur in the marketing and public relations biz, I ask myself one simple question….. What the hell was I thinking? A lone wolf in the woods where the predators are men and the game is to keep your wits about you, your credibly in check and your shirt on is one that I was certainly not expecting.

Looking back, I recall finding myself in various situations where I would wonder – how exactly did I get myself here? Walking a fine line between business associate and friendly colleague, the daily challenge is to stay afloat and keep the client satisfied, while not giving in to his suggestion of something more…..

Ah yes, something more….an obvious distraction that no one likes to talk about but is oh so relevant in the world of small business. A constant dance of sexual tension, mixed with blatant come ons with a hint of flirtation. Just add alcohol and you have yourself a disaster waiting to happen.

If only I were warned that being a female in business could be so demeaning. Fortunately, like many of you, I have personal standards and a code of ethics that I run my life by. Sure, I can go head to head with the “big boys” and come out relatively unscathed, but it doesn’t mean that this protects me from the natural predator vs. prey condition that hides in the corner at every business meeting.