Summer 2012

Summer 2012
BibeauArt of Santa Rosa

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Chicky Poos need to back each other up!

A random thought that's been speeding through my brain as of late.  Why is it, that as women - in general - we don't support one another in the workplace?  Why is it that some women just don't want to 'manage up' (as they say in the biz) one another?  Why is it that instead of mentoring younger women and supporting them to the best of our ability, that we cut them down, supress them? 

I'm not saying that working with men is better, but at least they support you and help you along your path.  I've had more MEN mentors in my corporate life than I can count, but not too many women.  You'd think, since we're the same sex and feel that pressure of getting on in the corporate realm, that we'd HELP one another more often. 

Well, I'm here to report that I've had possibly two real mentors who were female in my LIFE - meaning, older than me, more experienced than me, who actually gave a crap about who I was and where I was going in life.  As for the men that we were told 'supress' and 'keep us back' because we are women, um, I have a TON of them that I can say are/were my mentors that helped me to succeed in life and the corporate world.

So, I ask again, where are these mentor women?  Why are most women so spiteful and bitter when it comes to helping another woman out?  Maybe I'm just being silly, but when asked to help or mentor any young lady or woman MY age or whatever, I'm IN!  I truly enjoy passing on what I have learned, ideas I have and celebrate their accomplishments with them.  To me, that's the joy of life - sharing what you know, what you have, who you are - to others.

Call me old fashioned, silly or just plain stupid, but that's how I view things and that's what I do when asked for help or when someone is younger and looks like they need some help - professionally or not.

Sigh.  I just wish others would help out willingly and as much with young women in the professional realm - share best practices, be there for them and allow them to experience some of what we do in the office.

I was allowed to mentor a college student recently and LOVED it.  I cannot wait to see what she does with her life - and keep in contact with her!  I just wish every woman who is accomplished and/or has a talent to share would pass it on to a younger gal who could use it.

Try to pass along something YOU are great at today - share some of your light to someone and watch how it enhances YOUR life as well as theirs!

1 comment:

Jo Schaffer said...

Sad. And we say men are competitive! So many things women do are rooted in getting ahead of each other. Including starvation!
But you know there are circumstances when women will mentor and that's the best kind f support. It is totally encouraged and fostered in my church... but in the end it is mostly a personality thing. Some women are self centered and feral when it comes to getting ahead. Sad. A sure sign of insecurity...like you said though-- banding together is more logical in the attempt to make it in a "man's world".
I have been Young Womens President in my area and have fostered many young people... and now that I am Relief Society Pres. I foster the "older" ones. It is very gratifying and such good karma.