Why Powerful Women Smile

Dear E. Jean:

I’m a thirty-something career woman with zero social skills.

I’ve always been unpopular. My awkward attempts at socializing have been met with scorn and repulsion. After years of humiliation and rejection, I gave up.

I have been enjoying a placid existence working hard and staying out of people’s way. But now I realize my career path is being cut off because I can’t communicate with people. I’m getting married soon and want to have children and I’m worried I may not be a good mother.

I’ve visited psychiatrists; but I got tired of talking about my parents who were nothing but loving and supportive. Is it too late for me? How do I gain social skills? When I open my mouth, people run in the other direction—The Piranha

Piranha, My Sweet Potato:

You’re “awkward”? Fine. “Unpopular”? Excellent. Hell, woman, you can build a trillion-dollar career on being awkward (like Mark Zuckerberg), unpopular (like Steve Koch), rude (Steve Jobs, Elon Musk), unpleasant (Megyn Kelly), repellent (…