Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg on Women in Workplace: “Don’t Leave Before You Leave”

 It applies to men too :)

Num seven in Islam >every muslim must pray when he has seven years.
 num seven in Islam > your normal body degree is 37
num seven in Islam.. rainbow has seven colours
num seven in Islam > Islam’s word > seven words> La _ ilaha _ illa _ALLAH _Mohammed _Rasol _ ALLAH
In the week seven days and the seventh day is Friday the best day in Islam
and The last day after this life will be in Friday the Seventh Day
every one  need 7 hour to sleep every day
num seven in Islam > Muslim must pray seventeen rakah every day
 

 I listened to this speech and was dismayed that this was the best advice she could offer these young women.  For one thing, she started off talking about Half the Sky and alluding to the global plight of women.  I leaned forward in my seat, waiting for some wisdom.  Unfortunately, Ms. Sandberg  quickly returned to the more comfortable and narrow western, privileged measures of success that define the U.S. corporate world.  I’d hoped for some creative or daring proposals that might not mark a person as a “success” but might make a pronounced difference.

For another, her advice to leave the workforce at once and not in stages left me scratching my head in puzzlement.  I’m older than she is and have faced the barriers to excellence in my own career.  The truth is factoring one’s life goals into one’s career choices–yes, even before one has found a life partner–is a really smart thing to do!  She counseled these graduates to choose the most demanding or interesting or prestigious career choice or specialty within one’s career in order to maintain interest and engagement in one’s work.  What she fails to understand is that choosing the most demanding or prestigious or interesting specialty more often damns a woman to making an all or nothing decision!  Sometimes it’s impossible to maintain the surgical schedule or constant presence at the law firm while also pursuing extracurricular pursuits.  If we define our own success on our own terms perhaps we choose the less prestigious, “interesting” or demanding career and end up being able to infuse it with interest while also having the time to sing or paint or run marathons….or raise a family.

And one more thing.  She claims to respect the choice of stay at home moms but it doesn’t ring true.  Here’s something I wish someone would say.  Stay at home moms don’t just raise their own families.  They fill in the gaps in their communities, in  larger communities, globally,  by advocating locally, by serving nationally, by doing the things for which there are no funds but which require doing.  Whether it’s serving on school boards or advocating for the rights of women internationally, or writing blogs or registering voters, or raising money for various causes, their work is important and necessary.  They use their education and intelligence in ways that demand respect.  

I so wish that she’d looked to her boss and reconsidered her remarks in light of his experience.  You know what I’d say?  FORGET other people’s view of success.  Believe in your own vision and hold hard to it.  Pursue what you love for as long as you can.  Think creatively and differently and don’t be afraid to start over and over.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t let anyone tell you that you are a failure.  Here’s where Ms. Sandberg and I agree:  most of all, believe in yourself.