Betty & Veronica

My niece started working for a card company in Massachusetts about eight months ago.  She accepted the position because she felt it offered her upward mobility. To make a long story short, she has been working her tush off, and both her supervisor and the CEO have said that she is remarkable.  She was due for a review and an increase in pay two months ago.  They continually promise her that it’s in the works.  But of course, it hasn’t happened yet.

On almost a daily basis I ask for a status update.  And the reply is the same, “Auntie, I don’t want to seem pushy”. 

Ladies does this sound familiar? 

Why is it that when we stand up for ourselves, we have this fear of being too aggressive? I am 100% sure most successful men do not have that same feeling.

Did you happen to watch the premier of Celebrity Apprentice?  Richard Hatch, the “Survivor”, turned tax evader, was on.  Throughout the entire show, he bordered on being perfectly obnoxious.  Jose Conseco (another bully) wanted to “beat him up.” Yet it was sweet darling David Cassidy who got voted off.  Why? Because he showed no signs of passion or conviction. 

Hmmm…

My granddaughter, Niccie, loves to read Archie comics. Niccie much prefers Veronica to Betty, as do I. Recently I met a gal, Evelyn, who has a 25-year-old daughter named Veronica.  She actually named her after the comic strip character.   Obviously, she too prefers Veronica to Betty.

Evelyn said, “I don’t know why I liked Veronica so much better than Betty.”

I responded, “Why shouldn’t you?”  She answered, “Well Betty was so sweet and Veronica --well she had a bit of a mean streak.”

This is exactly how I responded.

Betty was pretty, sweet and nice, all of which are good qualities. Betty continuously gave Archie lots of attention.   But, and here is a big but, Archie kept dumping Betty for Veronica.  And Betty would go back over and over again to Archie, and receive the same treatment.    If that wasn’t enough, in every competition, Betty lost to Veronica.   Aside from the mean strike, I want my granddaughter to grow up to be like Veronica --not be the doormat that Betty was, and perhaps, still is.

I’m sure this is going to cause a lot of controversy. 

But seriously, why are women so afraid to be driven, direct and aggressive?  Those qualities don’t negate being a nice person.

Remember one of my favorite mantras, “I will compete with any man in the Boardroom, but I never want my bedroom to become a “bored room””. Take the first part of that statement.

Get it. 

As sweet and kind as I believe I am, when it comes to business, I don’t want to be the pretty little rose on the rose bush.  When it comes to some men in business, if I’m the rose, than I am sometimes competing with another part of the bush -- if you know what I mean.

Anyway, it all boils down to self-esteem and one’s own insecurities.

I think I should definitely write about that soon.  Ego’s are in --Insecurity and doormat’s are OUT! 

Tj

Fun Fact: Most of the Archie characters were based on real people from Haverhill, Massachusetts, where Bob Montana (the creator) lived.  The only exception is, of course, Veronica Lodge, was based on the actress Veronica Lake.  Aren’t you glad I give you such helpful information?