The best way to change the world is one person at a time.
So - are you ready?
If you’re a woman, then you’re probably already engaged in some way in what I have here. But if you’re a guy like me, this might make you think.
And then start to change the world.
Let me tell you a story.
My oldest daughter manages four old and established pubs in the heart of London. A lot of staff, a lot of responsibility. She worked her way up in five years from a part time barmaid to a director of the company.
Why?
Because she’s very smart.
Recently she got a call from a salesman representing an electronic cigarette company. He wanted to put a vending machine in her pub.
She said no.
He said: Can I speak to the manager?
She said: I am the manager.
He said: No the real manager.
It turned out that he did not think a woman capable of holding down a senior management position.
NOW THIS PISSES ME OFF.
Not for my daughter’s sake; she is more than capable of handling herself in any situation.
But as a father of two highly intelligent, strong and independent young women, it brings on the red mist.
But we all know guys like this right? From the locker room, from the office, even if they don’t count among our close friends.
But what can you do?
Then we go home and watch the evening news, and we see the battered wives; we listen to congressmen assert that women can’t get pregnant from rape; we sit through endless stories about priests and football coaches who abuse their young charges.
But what can you do?
Well there is something we can do. I watched this video and decided I do not do nearly enough.
This guy is electric. You can hear the passion in his voice.
His presentation is about twenty minutes. If you can’t spare that, start from the 9.30 and watch the last nine minutes.
(After seeing it, you’ll go back and watch it all anyway. Twice.)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8&w=560&h=315]
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COLIN FALCONER
That guy who said that was an ass….
I’ve fought against being treated like an idiot by some men.
His points are well taken, BUT he doesn’t understand the psychology behind “group think” unless he mentioned it and I didn’t listen to the whole video. There is a sub-conscious need to fit into a “tribe” that is hard wired into our brains. It goes back to an ancient time when if we were shunned, we died.
With groups of women, there seems to be one who knows all the gossip. Being sucked in is almost natural. Once I understood what was going on (wanting to fit in) I was able to stand up and change the subject. I just finished Lord of the Flies which was all about this very thing. I would love to hear him include that concept because really it is a form of bullying that we can stop.
Great point, Susie. I think the general belief is that peer pressure is a teenager thing and it’s not. You should write a post about it! I think you’re right we all try to fit in sometimes, and so make the unacceptable acceptable. He doesn’t really cover that subject in this.
I watched some of this but will return later. I can’t believe the kind of crap your daughter had to put up with is still going on. It’s so 50s. What I did see on the video is true. Women have been driving the change and it’s going to help a lot when all men get the picture.
I’ve watched it through twice, even though I only meant to watch a few minutes. I think the guy is electric and what he has to say is so powerful.
He is AWE-some.