Goddess of the Week: Hestia

The Giustiniani Hestia in O. Seyffert, Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, 1894 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lisa needs a goddess that can help her get the recognition she deserves or who can at least help her not mind getting the recognition she deserves.  Lisa needs the Greek Goddess Hestia.

Hestia was the goddess of the hearth.  Her job was to keep the hearth fire burning continuously on Mount Olympus, and she did this quietly and without a lot of fanfare.

She wasn't glamourous Venus for whom all the male gods drooled.  She wasn't brainy Athena or bossy Hera.  Hestia was just Hestia.  She did her work without drama or self aggrandizement.  And, of course, since everybody else on the Mount was into drama and self aggrandizement, Hestia was sometimes seen as a bit of an afterthought by her peers.  

But, here's the thing.  Hestia knew her client base.  She knew what the people wanted, and that was why she had more temples than anyone in Ancient Greeks.  Every household hearth was considered a temple to Hestia.  Hestia OWNED her brand, probably more than any other god.

So, yes, Lisa, recognition matters, but you want to be recognized for the right reasons and, when it comes to careers, you want to think about the long game.  Let others get the limelight if they must, but you just show everyone, everyday, that when it comes to keeping the corporate hearth burning, you are the one who can be counted on to add a steady stream of kindling.

In other words, don't sweat the braggarts and flavors-of-the-month.  Be strong and steady.  That's what wins the race.

Need a goddess?  I got goddesses! Post a comment explaining what you need or want a goddess for, and then check back in a week or two and see what you got.  It's fun!  It's free!  Aw, come on, you know you want to.