exam day

Even reading some of the book for the exam on wednesday helped. I didn't memorize the 5 principles as well as i could have and totally blanked on them during the exam. Oh well.

We have to do our group memo soon, and I'm getting scared we're not going to get it done on time. I did my assignment but I don't know where the whole group stands on it, the communication between groups or between individuals is bad right now I think. No one else seems to know or show that they care about this assignment. I guess I won't either, if no one else is worried, what do I have to be worried about?

So Leadership...

I'm actually kind of looking forward to the leadership seminar, it seems like it will be long, but hopefully it will be good. I don't know what I would do instead, except maybe get more of my stuff for the fashion show done, but I have to go to the seminar. 

I wonder what I'll learn there...

So far, everything about leadership seems to be something a little common sense could figure out with experience. Basically, if you are genuinely a screw up, leadership roles will not come easily to you. I guess a good leader needs to have common sense.

on a different note,

Prince Harry has been serving in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban (on netscape news)

good for him. being a leader on many fronts. I hope he doesn't get killed. I wonder if he's trying to show up his brother. Its honorable for someone who has a lot of influence, a lot to lose, and who is a valuable asset to his people....to take on the warfare game. I don't really know what to think of it.

2.18.08

So I walked into class 10 minutes late today, and, thank God, Fineberg didn't embarrass me in front of the whole class...I would have died or made a complete fool of myself. 

In class we looked at some serious videos, I'm so used to seeing funny clips and commercials that I was kind of bummed that the videos today weren't as entertaining. 

I was actually going to skip class today because there was a lecture I wanted to see instead, but I had to meet my Living Obituary partner after class outside the room, so I ended up foregoing the lecture. It was on Dispelling (or another word meaning that) Native American Stereotypes in Film. I thought it would be very worth missing a day of CSR 309. 

It turns out there would have been an amazing speaker tomorrow, but she got sick so it turned out to be cancelled. It was supposed to be Wilma Mankiller, the First Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation speaking in LOEB. I was SO MAD when I found out it was going to be cancelled. I would have loved to have been there, in the presence of a true leader. I know that I'm going to want to read up on her to see if she would reschedule her lecture. I think it would be of help for people in the leadership class to have attended too. There is much need for a strong woman leader to inspire other women to lead. 

I met with my Living Obit partner today, we talked for a long time in the Union after class. I think if not for the sake of doing the living obit., that it is a good exercise for just getting to know people. 

I sometimes feel bad for the leaders because I know what it's like to be one, or to be appointed as one. I am a leader in another realm of my life besides 309, and I have a pretty large responsibility, I'd say. Being in charge of the models team and directing models and team members is hard, and there are about 130 people that I am influencing, corresponding, working with and leading. 

I know what it's like to try to keep people on task and to form cohesiveness when people aren't willing to give their all. 

I know what it takes to be a good leader, you have to multitask everything, even your personality. Being stern and direct is just as important as being team "cheerleader" and being well liked. I don't know how much people devote to their own individual tasks of being leaders in their own way, but it gets tiring. 

So, for now in 309, I am complacent with being just a team member, as long as people don't try to shove me into a lazy category. I work just as hard as they do and possibly even harder, so NO OFFENSE team leaders and sub leaders.... please remember that there are some of us that have more responsibilities than you may think, on our plates. Part of being a good leader is not spreading yourself thin and knowing your limits to what you are capable of, I know mine. Just a thought.

2.1.08

Losing 50 points in class today was a bummer, but i expected it. How could you possibly expect that a handful of people were going to take care of 250 other people and make sure they were all accounted for. No company president can tell you all 250 or even maybe less, of their own employees' names. At least not one that is anywhere near fulfilling their president-ly duties correctly. 

SO 50 points in the hole is where I'm at and I think I should be reading the leadership challenges book. 

I saw the book at borders and wondered if anyone else even looked at the book that was not in the CSR 309 or 390 class. Who reads this kind of book unless they're "required" to. I wonder how much money the publishing company made off this book. 

I wish I could write a "self help"/"betterment of yourself" book. I think I'd make a lot of money.

Probably not actually.

I actually read (flipped around and read parts until i recognized every part of the book) this book called "the 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene, he has also written another book like "The Art of Seduction" which looks like fun, but seems a little stalkerish to buy. 

The 48 laws is a great book if you like history, or are power hungry, or are bored. It actually teaches you important maneuvers in the business world, and who has used them (important figures in history all over the world) and if they failed or succeeded.

I have to admit that I really only like reading the stories about the old war heroes, or emperors, or tricksters worth historical mention. It's fun to read about their experiences using the laws. 

I have to think how similar the book I've read is to the leadership book, honestly, I haven't opened the aforementioned so I really don't know how similar it is. But you have to think that they're under the same umbrella book sign in Borders or Barnes and Noble. 

So I guess the answer to my question is yes.

I am the type of person who would buy this kind of book NOT for class. 

What does that make me?

A sucker? or a better person?

2.11.2008

http://www.forbes.com/busiess/2007/08/28/biz-07women_all_slide.html

Forbes 100 most powerful women: (2007)

Women leaders from around the world that lead companies in activism efforts, healthcare, politics, commercial business, goods and services.

It looks like women al over are climbing up the social and business ranks to become bigger and better than ever before. The U.S.' own Oprah Winfrey is number 21 on the list, followed by the president (woman) of ebay and the queen of England.

This is a good blurb read for the women in CSR 309, because when we think of business leaders of the world, most people think about men, and it might inspire us to work on our handshakes too.

Jan 30th and Feb 4th class

Things NOT to do in my next interview, that I've learned so far in CSR 309:

• come in with a giant, singing coffee stain on my shirt
• wear anything that will help my potentially male interviewer imagine me without my clothes on
• make vague statements about what I've learned, what I'm going to do, and what I've accomplished
• wear a big grey mouse costume and pummel my interviewer
• pretend that I have skills that I don't (i.e. singing well)
• make statements that I am (insert skill/quality that obviously won't help my employer)

Things to do in my next interview:

• treat myself like a brand, sell myself to the employer
• talk up my accomplishments that fit well with the company's value
• dress professionally, no low cut tops, no high hems
• have an accurate view of myself, pay attention to what people think of me
• have a great handshake

I really love this article (hopefully it appears below) about thank you notes, it gives more information that I ever thought I needed for the thank you note reply. I love writing handwritten thank you notes to my contacts, I also think it gives a personal touch and is much better than an email reply in my book.