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1. Enough abuse,
where do
we start?
By: Madelaine Cohen
www.lipsticklearning.com
Enough abuse,
where do
we start?
By: Madelaine Cohen
www.lipsticklearning.com
Enough abuse,
where do
we start?
By: Madelaine Cohen
www.lipsticklearning.com

2. Enlightening, humbling and numbing are the words I would use to describe
the recent insight I was given into the extent of abuse relating to women in
Australia. Through my involvement with “The Little Black Dress Group” and
Janine Garner I attended a boardroom lunch with Elizabeth Broderick,
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner.
The statistic discussed at the luncheon was that 1.2 million Australian
women, representing 10% of the female workforce in Australia endure some
form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
In my late teens I had a taste as many women maybe do of where I did not
want my life to go. Enjoying the party scene, nightlife and wanting to be a
part of the in crowd. It was the late 1980’s. Soon enough I found myself
with friends who seemed in a great place until I saw the impact of alcohol,
social drugs, endless party nights and low self esteem. This spilled over into
seeing the results of the over binge, violence and dramatic hospital
admissions. I thought I could save the world, me the teetotaler who still to
this day more than two decades later does not ever drink alcohol and has
never even held a lit cigarette. I had no idea. In a desperate and angry blast
one of the women I so thought I could save told me the truth of my
complete lack of understanding and deciding she was right I moved on and
left the scene.

3. Who did I take myself to be exactly?
Actually I wanted to avoid the void. The void of realising that the only
person I could ever lead in this lifetime is myself. Be the example to yourself
only. I thought going to this place would feel so unsupported and so chaotic
and yet even though my life continues to ebb in and out of the flow that is
so awesome to experience the more I realise that sitting in the void creates
freedom.
Coming back the luncheon with Elizabeth Broderick I was excited to hear all
the women at the table go into fix it mode and discuss all the ways as
businesswomen and leaders we could help the situation other women find
themselves in. The despair of violence, abuse and insecurity must be
horrific. Is thinking big the best way? Or do we need to think small?
With Lipstick Learning an outcome very dear to my heart is to assist as
many women as possible to be successful business owners with autonomy,
flexible work hours and early profits. What I have learnt is that a one by one
approach is the key to making a difference.
Taking the same view as Jeff Olsen in his book, The Slight Edge, I have
come to realise that helping resolve many big issues could be better
achieved by the compound interest of the things we can do in small ways on
a daily basis to affect big changes. When you start an exercise program for
example you don’t feel great after the first week of 5 sessions, and yet after
52 weeks of 5 sessions a week the compounding effect of the activity adds
up and you feel incredible.
After the luncheon with Elizabeth and all the fabulous big ideas for change
that were spinning around the table I realised that each one of these great
ideas would take time and resources bigger than the individual. What could I
do as an individual right now today and every day to be the source of
change for women? My decisions were easy and achievable: take an interest
in communicating with women anywhere and anytime. Supermarket, train,
co-workers, mums at the school gate, neighbours.
We have no idea the power of looking at another person in the eye and
connecting with them in positive conversation so they know nothing more
than another human being cares for them today. It was not until I heard the
story of a woman who was in such a terrible state emotionally and feared
the worst that I saw the impact of something as small as the time to chat
with a stranger. She was shopping in the supermarket. Another woman in
the queue bothered to talk to her and to make her feel like a valuable
human being. She is here today to tell how this seemingly tiny event

4. Author
changed her life. We have no idea if a conversation we have today with
another woman will help her beyond measure. So have the conversation just
in case.
Madelaine Cohen
Lipstick Learning is an initiative of Sydney based business
leader & entrepreneur Madelaine Cohen. Sharing information
to increase the success of people who choose to lead. With
more than two decades in her own businesses in consumer
products, sports marketing and healthcare Madelaine takes a leading role in
helping people transition from employment to their own business in the
health, beauty and anti-aging sector. She works on a 100%, 10 x 10, $100K
model leading people to success and an income of $100K per year or more
in their own business.
Follow @madelainecohen
Visit http://lipsticklearning.com/enough-abuse/ to know more information.