Everything Ophelia

Cheryl, Thank you for your work, I'm loving your b...

2009-07-14T11:42:22.348-07:00

Cheryl,
Thank you for your work, I'm loving your book! Great info on this band, looks like they are doing great things in the world, thanks for sharing. I posted their info and yours on my blog. Are you planning to attend the NEDA conference here in MN in Sept? Would love to connect and hear more about your book.
Becky Henry
President,
Hope Network, Inc.
www.hopenetwork.info

Cheryl, I came across your blog today. It seems ...

2009-06-15T05:30:36.602-07:00

Cheryl,

I came across your blog today. It seems to be a great fit with our mission. Is there a way to promote your effort? I would love to connect.

Eric
CEO/Founder
Stage of Life.com

I actually had a similar conversation with my five...

2009-05-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

I actually had a similar conversation with my five-year-old daughter.

It's hard to believe that even in Kindergarten little girls are trying to coach each other on being popular. (Do they get this from television shows that are too old for them for from older siblings?)

When the girls tried to get her to follow them, I explained that they misunderstood what popular meant. She had many friends from school, after school daycare and from dance class. She did not need to be bullied or to bully kids to be known or liked by other kids.

She has stood her ground with these kids and they all get along for now. I'm sure we'll fight this battle again next year (we had to do so in pre-K as well).

When I taught teenagers, I knew very few girls who were not bullies and yet not bullied either. I hope my daughter will be one of them someday.

Daniela:Interesting that you bring this up - I too...

2008-11-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Daniela:

Interesting that you bring this up - I too have had this issue, surprisingly to the detriment of a job in which I loved the work.

I worked for a company owned by women, who actively sought to employ women - which I thought was great! My position was Director of Operations and was part of the senior management team.

The thing I started having issues with (being like you brought up in IT and Finance, working with men and communicating in a "business like" fashion) was all the sterotypical and not at all flatttering "girlie-ness" of it all...I loved that we had a beautiful workspace, but I hated when my pricipals blatantly flirted with clients and business partners. I loved the freedom of working with all women but had a distain with all the garbage that seemed to come with it - the favoritism, the "frenemys", the back biting when someone perceived me moving up in favor. It was more intense in an all female enviroment. Worse the employees were encouraged to go to the principals directly, so my authority was undermined daily by underlings who did not have the experience but wanted so much to be considered important and valuable - All hat, no cowboy.

Interestingly enough, things got worse when the partners brought in another partner who was a man, was used to working with men (techs and installers) and would then deal with the women in the office the way he knew how - all extensions on how he dealt with his spouse, to his own admission - "you women" comments or "can't you girls all get along" when I brought up an issue with an employee that I felt needed to be addressed.

Worse than that, the other two owners, women who I liked very much had no idea how ineffective management skills could affect their business. I couldn't do my job because I was incapable of undoing all the knowledge I had of what was right and wrong of effective business management. So I left - and I was seriously depressed because the work, the business that they were running was my sweet spot, was what I knew and not alot of companies were doing what they were trying to do.

I don't know if the "Jo" role applies but I am pretty sure that balance is the key - and that's what I took away from the experience. If I go back and work for someone else, I will have the strength of business knowledge but might allow myself a good smelling candle or personal touches making sure my office is welcoming. I will save the power suits for the boardroom, but dress and feel free to be a woman in the workplace in my professional dress habits. I will show kindness to my co-workers and staff but walk the talk on my commitments and deliverables and strive to be a role model for the women coming up the ladder. Lastly, I believe that men and women need each other in the workplace and will make sure that either in my company or if I go to work for another company, the headcount is more evenly distributed. If that's at all possible.

YeeeeHaaaaa!! quite a ride Cheryl! Natalie says "...

2008-10-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

YeeeeHaaaaa!! quite a ride Cheryl! Natalie says "You're the rootinist, tootinist cowgirl in the Wild Wild West!" (from Jessie in Toy Story 2)

On that note Cheryl, after I read your post I coul...

2008-08-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

On that note Cheryl, after I read your post I couldn't stop thinking about the inequality between men and women's sports. I decided to "google" Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin to see the differences in how they were portrayed. Michael's google search turned up videos of his win's, coverage on his accomplishments of this Olympics and a few pictures of him without his shirt on.

The third website listed for Natalie grabs your attention with "Natalie Coughlin Pictures - Pics of the sexy women of sports." The first article listed under the NEWS section of the google page focuses on her body again, instead of her great swimming accomplishments at the Summer 2008 Olympics. This headline reads, "What it takes to get a body like Natalie Coughlin."

Not only is the media giving more coverage to Michael, but the coverage Natalie is getting surrounds her body and not her talents as a swimmer.

Ironically enough, I just picked up the Wall Stree...

2008-08-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ironically enough, I just picked up the Wall Street Journal and read an article on the first page of today's edition about the millions of dollars Michael Phelps is going to make in the coming months......

As a former coach and still somewhat active participant, swimming is my hands down favorite sport. It's great to see the media coverage and hear a buzz of excitement about World Records and personal bests. How much better it would be if young girls could see their role models get equal air time for their achievements!