Face Value — What You See is What You Get

I sometimes wonder who reads my blog, what they get out of it and why they come back. I know many readers come back for the Friday Moments, while others like to read about our weekends and then quite a few of you read what I call opinion pieces like this one, and this one.

I am trying to balance the opinion posts as they’re not for everyone — quite literally. Usually, I have a message to convey and an intended audience — sometimes, just one person. The general idea transcends boundaries and is applicable to everyone.

I work in corporate America. Actually, I work in corporate America in a man’s world. As you read this, count how many women computer science researchers do you know?

One Mississippi,

Two Mississippi,

Three… All done?

Moving on. I have been doing this working in corporate America & in a man’s world for ten years. Before that, I did the going to school in a man’s college department … I encounter very few lady-folks. While that may intimidate some people, it doesn’t faze me and never really did. That doesn’t mean that there are not challenges in being the only or one of a few women on a team. I do have a few rules that help me establish and maintain relationships over the years.

These are my life rules. 1. do onto others as you like to have done onto you. 2. be honest … even if to your own detriment — honesty will set you free. 3. be nice 4. have sympathy and compassion. 5. don’t be jealous — if you want it, work hard for it. and finally — 5. show your [true] face.

Sounds very simple, but you would be surprised how many people are dishonest, mean-spirited and aren’t nice though they try to be on the outside. Those who aren’t nice, also have no compassion or sympathy because … oh who knows, why. They just don’t and those are the things that you are taught early in your childhood. As Dr. Seuss says “I do not know. Go Ask Your Mom[/Dad]!”.

I’ll try to stand by my words, my rules and teach Sophia compassion and honesty.