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“Corporate
America and its Betrayal of the Female Work Force"
Webster says that
“Betrayal has to do with destroying someone's trust, possibly by lying”. So if that is where this starts, how does
it apply in the marketplace, especially for women? I should start by saying that my mother and
father were separated and divorced when I was eight years old. So I grew up with a mother and three sisters. I’ve had a real sensitivity for women from a
very early age. In addition, my mother
was chiefly responsible for my upbringing.
She was a strong woman who achieved things that were unheard of during
her career. She ran her own successful
business, was a radio personality before it was in vogue, an accomplished
writer, and a world traveler. She taught
us to be the very best we could be and not ever accept mediocrity.
My sisters and I have advanced degrees and have been
successful in the workforce. I did
recognize the fact that I excelled and was promoted faster than my
sisters. I also received more money in
salary and bonuses during a similar period.
Actually, my two older sisters were much smarter than me but I received
greater accolades. My sisters would not
be the only women who have not been recognized for their achievements. There are a host of reasons given:
- Waiting for the “right” promotional opportunity
- Being married and having children
- Needing the proper mentor
- Requiring more seasoning
The list is endless.
There have been those women who have forsaken everything for the corporate
requirements. If there was a requirement
to travel, they traveled. If there was a
requirement to hang out with the guys and drink, they drank. If there was the need to use crude talk and
tell obscene jokes, they told them.
Finally, if they needed to sleep with the boss, they did that as
well. In the end, many women were swept
to the side lines and told that they weren’t leadership material. It’s happened way too often.
Has that changed? Yes…and no.
There are more female senior leaders than
ever before. These women are talented
and extremely capable. They are
establishing themselves as role models and mentor for women that are following
them. There are more forums for women in
the marketplace and they are trying to raise the bar and change the conversation. The thought is that, given the opportunity,
women provide a diverse set of ingredients that help to drive greater revenues,
increased profits, and enhanced customer experiences.
In addition, the “pay for performance”
discussions are changing as well. Women
are starting to be compensated at levels greater than ever before. But it can’t stop. It must continue, so that there are no
distinctions between male and female contribution. Yes, there are still women who are being put
in compromising situation and told that they have to perform in a certain way
or get passed over. This ancient way of
thinking has to stop. Whenever it
happens, women have to be willing to bring the injustices in to the light.
My mother would say, “Don’t accept mediocrity. If you do, you are giving up on yourself and
your legacy of smart, brilliant women of the past”.
Betrayal
By John
Wendell Adams
Publisher: John Wendell
Adams
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Genre: Corporate Suspense/Novel
Length: 256 Pages
ISBN: 978-0990365099
ASIN: B00MW9X8A6
About
the book:
Betrayal. It’s an ugly word, and virtually everyone has
experienced it in one form or another. The question is, what do you do about
it? Seek revenge? Recover and go on? Or allow rage and despair to destroy
everything you’ve ever worked for?
In his riveting debut novel, author and longtime businessman John
Wendell Adams details the story of a man caught in an ugly web. Jack Alexander
has landed a great job as a divisional director of sales in a Chicago-based IT
company. Hired to turn around a regional disaster, he is rewarded with
additional responsibilities. The problem: his vitriolic new boss, a co-worker's
unwanted advances, and their secret conspiracy.
Fired from his job, forced to confront both his present and his
past, Jack goes through an emotional tailspin before he is able to reconcile
what has happened to him. Eventually, he’s hired as a vice president with a
much larger firm. When his new company decides to acquire his old one, Jack comes
face to face with the two people responsible for his earlier demise. Meanwhile,
he uncovers some illegal activities that could put the acquisition at risk.
Is this the time for revenge, to right the wrongs that have been
done to him? What should he do? Is it possible to act effectively and also with
integrity when confronted with those who compromised his marriage, his career,
and his sense of self-worth?
Adams comments, “I have worked in the corporate world all my adult
life and have witnessed or personally experienced the highlights and moral
failings that come with it. To put it simply, if you’ve ever experienced
betrayal in the workplace, in love, or in a family, this book is for you.”
“Betrayal is simply a stunning, must-read work that will transform
hearts that are open to receive the life lesson within its pages.” ~ Reader
Review
Excerpt
Jack
couldn’t wait until church was over on Sunday. It was a train and a bus ride
for Jack and his sisters. His mother was comfortable with letting the four of
them go alone since his oldest sister was very responsible. They talked as they
went but Jack was consumed with his thoughts about spending the day with his
dad. Janice, his big sister told them,
“Mama
said that we have to stay together. So hold hands and make sure we don’t get
separated.” As they walked the two
blocks from the bus to the address Jack’s dad gave them, he almost couldn’t
contain himself.
“Are
we almost there?” He asked his sister.
“We’ll
be there in a few minutes. Just stay together,” she reminded them.
When
they got to the address his father gave them it turned out to be a parking
lot. Janice looked at the addresses on
both sides of the parking lot to determine if maybe he’d written down the wrong
number. They then walked to a corner store; found a pay phone, and Janice
called the phone number they had. She tried it three times. Each time the
recording was the same…
“I’m
sorry, the number you’ve dialed has been disconnected. Please check the number
and try your call again.” She then called their mother, explained the
situation, and asked her what to do. Their mother’s answer was clear,
“Just
get back on the bus and the train and come home.”
When
Janice told her siblings that they were going back home Jack started talking
and crying at the same time.
“Wait,
why are we leaving? We haven’t seen Daddy yet. Maybe he’s out looking for us.
If we leave, he won’t find us. We can’t leave.” But Janice was direct.
“Mama
said we need to go back home. So, let’s get going.” Jack couldn’t stop crying. He couldn’t
believe that he wouldn’t see his dad. It was as if all hope was gone. Jack was sad all the way back home. He never
saw his dad again until he was grown, married, and had two children.
It
was clear that Jack’s dad didn’t really care about his son or helping Jack
through life. Jack developed a hard inner shell, trusting no one, not wanting
to be hurt like that ever again. And while he didn’t trust Art completely, he
did appreciate Art’s care and concern for him from a business perspective.
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Author: John Wendell Adams has more than twenty-five years of
experience in management, marketing, and sales. With degrees in business and
management development, Mr. Adams has led highly effective sales teams, managed
an executive briefing center for senior leaders, and won numerous awards as a
leader and individual contributor. His senior leadership positions and
assignments stretch across domestic and international markets and include
Aragon Consulting Group and IBM. These experiences served as a catalyst for
Betrayal, his newly published work of fiction. The author of A Man's Story, a
collection of motivational short stories for men, John has conducted seminars
and speaking engagements around the country and is involved in various
charitable organizations. He and his wife Grace have five children and
currently live in Skokie, Illinois.
www.johnwendelladams.com
