Successful Corporate Mom

Starting over again -> Decision 2016

2016-11-09T10:50:00.002-05:00

In truth, maybe it was the climate in the country when I stopped posting my thoughts and pulled down what I had put out to the world. Had I been embarrassed? My very conservative views and thoughts had not found a place along with the single or stay at home moms back when I started my blog in 2011.

After all I am a working mother and even though this blog had nothing to do with my career in corporate America it was born out of a need to tell my story about having to leave my children everyday to go to work and wanted to do that. I did not want to leave my corporate career for my children. Now they are 11 and 12 attend the best private school in my city and are on the Honor roll. They are doing fine. Although I have an entrepreneur spirit I don't have that drive or desire, maybe growing up in a family where my mother worked in a family business and struggled influenced me.

I will say after yesterday's election all bets are off. The working class has elected a billionaire self made man. He is a CEO, he has made tough decisions. Can we change our country or will the question be can we unite our country, if not for us what about our children? This is not up to one man, we all need to find common ground and come together. We all have a responsibility to the next generation to leave this place better than we found it so they can maintain their freedom and have better opportunities then we had. No crying in our cheerios today. What happens next? Tell me your thoughts.

LEANING IN each and everyday.. thanks mom!

2013-04-15T23:53:00.003-04:00

First posted April 15, 2013

Sheryl actually started to make sense at the end of chapter 2 today when she cited her gracious dismissal of well wishes in making the Forbes's list of most powerful women in 2011.

I took notice of her point that women do not always brag of their accomplishments as men. I am not sure if I am upset that her point has merit, yes merit, or if she has not yet recognized that the women are not the problem.  I am reminded of Tim the tool man Taylor from the 90's show, Home Improvement. A man's EGO is bigger than his stomach. Saturday evening while at a friend's our husbands became engaged in a contest of who could do the most pull ups in the basement.

This book has been the subject of most of my conversations around the dinner "club" table of late.  My "successfully hardworking mom" friends and I had been a little upset when reading the book, mostly because Sheryl is right and mostly because we don't want to put women in a sterotype. Confidence is a state of mind, a state that anyone can put themselves in given enough ambition or desire. Maybe women do not desire power, maybe women do not have as big of egos as men?

I started this blog to encourage women to not give up on being a successful career women and a great mom! I still believe it can be done, some may criticise me for thinking it so and I have been slapped down enough to know. I once missed a doctors appointment, when the secretary called to reschedule she said, "I know you are one of those crazy working moms with a blackberry aren't you." I was embrassed, now when I am late I say, "yes, crazy working mom with a blackberry at it again!"

Excuses for not being successful or allowing someone to dismiss your dreams - are just that.  I recently sat down with a man, who was in our management development program three years ago. He has not gotten a promotion since, so what is the problem I wonder? Confidence not gender? Stop waiting for other people to tell you - you are good enough and give you your big chance. GO find IT! If you want someone to take care of you and tell you what to do all the time get a husband not a career! LOL....

At the end, today like all the days before, I do know that I am one of the lucky ones and I am thankful, but I made my luck.   I made choices. I had no choice but to think success was my destiny otherwise I may have never survived, went to school or got a professional white-collar job. I was miss-diagnosed and put on drugs to slow my brain activity at an age when brain development is very necessary to becoming a successful tax paying, "member of society", contributing adult, never mind what I have accomplished.  I was called names and made to feel like an idiot, falling a sleep in class, spending hours in the nurses office too tired to pick my head up.

So I do not feel bad for people that did not get the job they wanted it or feel like they don't deserve a promotion. It is a huge issue in this country I agree with you on that Sheryl Sandberg.  I think it is more about how we are raising our daughters and sons and not how corporate America is built. Although our daughters and sons will some day run corporate America.

So parents, let your children believe they can do anything? Let them color outside the lines and tell them it is the most beautiful picture you ever saw. When they turn working age, make them work. Don't buy them everything they want, just what they need. Teach them the value of a dollar. Send your girls to science camp and your boys to dance camp.  INSTILL in them to believe in themselves no matter what obstacles get in their way!    THANKS MOM....

Day 1 - Why NOT!

2011-02-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

How come, when I search corporate mom on google - the first thing that comes up is ....about corporate mom dropouts! Really? Are you a successful corporate mom? I am (- most days) and I love it. Why can't I have both? Why must I choose one or the other. Not me, not yet....