Yvonne Gillick posted a great # Forklift Friday item on LinkedIn last Friday.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry comes with its unique set of challenges and opportunities.
Here’s my personal journey in the forklift industry:
𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Many people underestimate you at first.
But there’s nothing more satisfying than surprising them with your technical know-how and pointed questions.
Suddenly, they realise you know exactly what you’re talking about!
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 — I’ve had countless experiences where customers ask to speak to “one of the lads” or a “salesman.”
It’s incredibly rewarding to prove my knowledge and capabilities, leaving them impressed and sometimes even taken aback.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Over time, you develop a reputation.
I’m known as the “forklift girl” or “forklift lady” in my industry.
While it might seem diminutive, it’s look at it as a testament.
𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 — While being a woman in this industry can be tough initially, it can become an advantage.
People are often so impressed by your knowledge and passion that it sets you apart from the competition.
𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 — You learn to read situations and people quicker.
You become adept at using each situation to your advantage, turning potential negatives into positives.
The key to success?
Passion, knowledge, and resilience.
When you believe in and enjoy what you do, it shines through in every interaction.
And to be honest, I love very minute of it.
That’s why I am with Masterlift over 30 years!
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