Dream Jobs - Whose dream? Not mine

I just finished reading the MSN.com articles listing five dream jobs for women and five dream jobs for men.

Here are the jobs:

Women
1. Hollywood wardrobe stylist
2. Vacation tour director
3. Ice cream creator
4. Concert promoter
5. Doll fashion designer

Men
1. Video game designer
2. Brew master
3. Toy creator
4. Comic book guru
5. Casino host

Now I am sure that these jobs sound like fun - kind of like those "easy A" classes we would look for in high school and college. But as life's work? What about the person who wants to make a difference. I'm not knocking the people who currently hold these jobs, but is the world really a better place because of Barbie's wardrobe?

I take offense at a list that lumps all women into a category that states they aspire to be an ice cream taster. Sure, I love ice cream. On a hot summer day the idea of getting to try ice cream and get paid sounds fun. But 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year?

Where is the stimulation? Where is the brain activity?

It would have been nice to find just one job that didn't sound like Potsy from Happy Days came up with.

photo courtesy of Scottie

Making a Difference, One Woman at a Time

Today the Women's Network of the Greater Akron, Ohio region held their annual Women of Achievement awards luncheon. The event was well attended, over 300 area men and women, and several women were recognized for their professional excellence.

Two women, Ruth Dean and Diane Johnson, RN, BSN, JD, were honored for their contributions to the community progress of women and the economic progress of women (respectively).

Additionally, three women, Jewell Cardwell, Sister Suzanne Repasky and Rhonda Gail Davis were recognized for their overall achievements in the field of encouraging success among women.

Their contributions were vast, awe inspiring and humbling. We think we are busy doing; for our families, our businesses and our community, until we hear the contributions of award winners like those recognized today.

Yet, they were all regular 'folks' like you and me. They get up every morning and start their day. They have family and professional challenges. They have health concerns. They have doubts; good days and bad.

So what sets them apart?

Many of the women, either in their acceptance speeches or in the speeches said about them, had one thing in common. They didn't set out to win an award. They found a cause they believed in and they just started helping.

ONE WOMAN AT A TIME.

So often you hear the apathetic mantra - "the problem is too big for one person to fix."

I tell you those with that attitude are WRONG.

You can make a difference. Your efforts DO matter. That age old saying "if I can just help one person" is really true.

Tonight as you lay your head down, just before you go to sleep. Look in your heart for that one cause you truly believe in and think: "What can I do tomorrow for one person that might make a difference?"

And then do it.

Sleep tight and congratulations to all of those amazing women recognized today at the Women of Achievement luncheon. You inspire me to take up the cause!

D