Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less
by Tiffany Dufu
In "Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less," Tiffany Dufu challenges the unrealistic expectations placed on women to excel in both their professional and personal lives. Central to her message is the notion that true success is not about doing it all perfectly but rather about making meaningful choices that reflect one’s priorities. Dufu advocates for a cultural shift where women openly share their compromises and seek support from partners and networks, thereby fostering a community of honesty and collaboration. The book highlights the detrimental effects of societal pressures on women, particularly the stress of balancing work and home responsibilities, which can lead to poor mental and physical health. Dufu urges women to "drop the ball" on perfectionism and embrace the idea that "done is better than perfect." She emphasizes the importance of teamwork at home, advocating for shared responsibilities between partners rather than role reversal. Dufu also calls for a "Drop the Ball movement," encouraging women to redefine success and inspire future generations by openly discussing their struggles. By prioritizing what truly matters and leveraging relationships, women can enrich their lives and reduce stress. Ultimately, Dufu’s work serves as a rallying cry for women to embrace imperfection and collaborate in pursuit of their goals, transforming the narrative around success in both personal and professional realms.
8 popular highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most popular and impactful highlights and quotes from Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less:
What you do is less important than the difference you make.
[These] powerful women understood that success in imperfect. What would happen if we all started speaking honestly and openly about our priorities and the choices we make about how we spend our time? How inspiring would it be to the young women in our offices if they saw female executives who don't pretend to do it all, but are open and honest about the balls they have dropped to get where they are today? Women need to support one another by being honest about the compromises we make and by speaking openly about the help we require from our partners and other support systems.
just because you’re better at doing something doesn’t mean you doing it is the most productive use of your time.
Drop the Ball: to release unrealistic expectations of doing it all and engage others to achieve what matters most to us, deepening our relationships and enriching our lives
Trying to meet impossible expectations will only continue to harm our physical and psychological well-being.
The same man who declined to sign legislation that would allow Americans to earn paid sick time to care for themselves and their families14 told reporters in a press conference, “I cannot and will not give up my family time.
Millions of girls only need their fathers to pick up a dustpan for them to aspire to be engineers.
Women should stop apologizing, not because we do everything right, but because we need to understand that it is okay to do some things wrong.
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