18 RESPONSES TO "WHAT SORORITY LIFE TAUGHT ME ABOUT BUSINESS"
Anna
Does anyone spell-check these things?
Penelope, your bloggers are making you look like a fool!
April 1, 2008 12:21 pm
Wow
How non-constructive!
April 1, 2008 12:45 pm
Anna
I actually think that suggesting checking over your blog post before you publish it for however many people to read is very constructive. This blogger even has typos in her bio. How does this help her credibility? Would you expect to get a job if you have several grammatical and typographical errors on your resume?
Anyhow, to each her own.
April 1, 2008 1:02 pm
Matt Bingham
I wish my students had your outlook. I am a night teacher at a local tech school for IT and there are organizations that students can join that are sponsored by professional chapters. I am on the board of such a professional chapter and keep telling my students to join and get involved. Not only will it qualify them for a scholorship award it will teach them lessons that will carry over into their career. It will also allow them to join the professional chapter meetings to network and find that future employer before they get out of school. No one even blinks. There will be a vast difference from those who just go through school and those who involve themselves in organizations. College doesn't teach you the real world, these organizations do.
April 1, 2008 1:14 pm
Andy W
Jennifer,
I hope you realize that all of the "learning experiences" you mentioned can all be obtained without joining a Greek society. I have nothing against the Greek system, it's just that the examples you provide are incredibly mundane - i.e. who would've thought that drinking with a company shirt on would be a bad idea? And you give "not lending out your car" as an example of standing up for yourself?
Please, I'm sure you can come up with better examples of how sorority life has helped you then this.
My collegiate experiences as a Greek taught me more about commitment and values than any of the items Jennifer listed. I also think that its the alumnae experiences that should have more impact on your professional life than your undergraduate experiences.
Jennifer - How have your experiences as an involved alum impacted your business career? And why did you move to alum status in 2002 (prior to your listed 2004 graduation date)?
Thank you all for your feedback. I sincerely appreciate it, as your challenges will make me a stronger blogger and author. It's a tough crowd-- but I love it.
Anna- Thank you for your critical feedback regarding spelling. I feel your first comment was not constructive—but your follow up comment did have value. Calling someone a fool is not constructive.
It's important to use spell check. Using proper spelling and grammar adds to credibility but my goals when writing are to be clear & concise. I’m not one to justify problems with excuses so I’m not going to go into more detail about the post. As for the biography, I did not submit that, I believe a colleague did and it appears to be without spelling errors.
To Andy & Vicky- the things I learned from being in a sorority CAN be learned from participating in other organizations, I chose to write about my sorority experiences. While I didn’t specifically write it, I was hoping that my readers would understand that being in a sorority helped me learn how to stand up for myself. I learned that it’s ok to be the bad guy. It is ok to say no. Thank you for bringing it up so I could clarify the point more.
April 1, 2008 5:17 pm
Anna
Thanks for responding, Jennifer.
Look for the problem with this sentence:
"She is a graduate of Montoursville High School in Montoursville, PA and has family Asheville, NC."
I don't mean to come off as a grammar or spelling nazi. But for someone of Penelope's caliber, I suppose I expect better attention to detail from her bloggers.
I spent 1998-2002 at Gannon University, then moved to NC and went to UNCA for a semester. They only took 21 out of 100 credits so I eventually transferred back. I remained an alum when I moved back and finally graduated in 2004.
I agree that you can learn more as an alum but being a collegiate is a great foundation.
My list didn't include everything I learned... just some of the things. I learned a lot about being active, trust-worthy, self-dependant, and strategic.
I actually don't blog for Penelope, I'm just a member of the Brazen Careerist network where my posts are cross published. I'm not sure if they publish everything or just some of them. Knowing I have an expanded audience will challenge me to publish meaningful content.
As a fellow blogger of the Brazen Careerist network, please understand a few things about us.
1. Penelope does not edit our blogs, I'm quite sure she doesn't have the time to deal with editing 60+ people's blogs.
2. Of the 60+ members of this network, I would guess that maybe 20 bloggers make money off of their blogs, and maybe half of that even fewer do it for a living. Most of us have day jobs and are not professional writers, nor do we claim to be, blogging is a hobby for most of us.
3. It is common courtesy to privately e-mail the author if you find an error. I gladly accept constructive criticism of my writings and appreciate it when people send me messages to let me know of an issue. I find errors when I read the Wall Street Journal online, and I sometimes send a private e-mail to those people to let them know, and I have received e-mails back from them thanking me.
I think that privately commenting on errors is great blogging etiquette.
It's a great side note.
I also appreciate that you pointed out many of us have day jobs and aren't blogging for dollars. I blog out of passion for the transmission of information and collaboration.
April 1, 2008 10:10 pm
Joe
I'm American with Chinese roots so it was strange for me to become Greek. Nonetheless, I learned a great deal from the Greek experience. Long live Sigma Chi!
April 2, 2008 12:54 am
DW
I went back and read many of the blogs - you all ask what made you a better person or stronger.
I have to add that I was made better by my friends, contacts and just knowing that there was something bigger than me. May Sororities are based on religion and give strong guidance. If you are looking for a blanket answer, I cannot give it. I know that for me it was the sisterhood (I have one brother)and just a network of friends (not just women) that you can keep in contact with as they move around.
Some people mention that you can learn this outside of a Sorority. I agree that all of this can be learned outside of the Greek network. I just think that this is very structured and you have a different network. I am sure that many people belong to LinkedIn - this is a less informal network.
The other question you ask - would I be the same person if I was not in a sorority? As I mentioned, leaders need leaders to show them how and to lead the way during changing times. I was very reserved, although moved very quickly in my career while in college as well as very motivated, yet I did not think I was worthwhile of a growing role. My chapter and the involvement I have had that has helped me progress to in a role and a career that is great.
I hope this clarifies.
April 11, 2008 11:13 pm
DW
I would like to say that as a member of a sorority that this has tought me many lessons. I waited until I was JR in college before I joined. Now I actually direct a college chapter - and a large one at that.
The networking and friends that you can make as we are mobile society is very critical. I have moved from one end of the country to the other and used this base to keep myself grounded as well as see women grow during and after college.
I think that there are very different opiions on sororities. Mine is that it had made all of my moves with different companies to different areas during my life much better. I also think if you find an area you want to stay in - you have contacts and can make friends. That is hard as you move around.
I did not buy my friends and they are life-long friends. I also learned that to be a leader you needed to have a good one. This is what I want to give to the 100+ women of the chapter I advise.
Jennifer,
Did you learn more that relates to the real world in a sorority than in any other place, e.g. more than in college classes, internships, as a DJ, as a promotions assistant, etc., etc. ?
Obviously, I'm certain you learned something in each case, but I just wonder why you chose your sorority over any of the other impressive things you've done with your career.
Also, would you be the same person if not for the sorority, i.e. would you have learned the same things through the maturation process that happens between 18 and 22 if your efforts were in a service organization, or on a sports team?
18 RESPONSES TO "WHAT SORORITY LIFE TAUGHT ME ABOUT BUSINESS"
Does anyone spell-check these things?
Penelope, your bloggers are making you look like a fool!
How non-constructive!
I actually think that suggesting checking over your blog post before you publish it for however many people to read is very constructive. This blogger even has typos in her bio. How does this help her credibility? Would you expect to get a job if you have several grammatical and typographical errors on your resume?
Anyhow, to each her own.
I wish my students had your outlook. I am a night teacher at a local tech school for IT and there are organizations that students can join that are sponsored by professional chapters. I am on the board of such a professional chapter and keep telling my students to join and get involved. Not only will it qualify them for a scholorship award it will teach them lessons that will carry over into their career. It will also allow them to join the professional chapter meetings to network and find that future employer before they get out of school. No one even blinks. There will be a vast difference from those who just go through school and those who involve themselves in organizations. College doesn't teach you the real world, these organizations do.
Jennifer,
I hope you realize that all of the "learning experiences" you mentioned can all be obtained without joining a Greek society. I have nothing against the Greek system, it's just that the examples you provide are incredibly mundane - i.e. who would've thought that drinking with a company shirt on would be a bad idea? And you give "not lending out your car" as an example of standing up for yourself?
Please, I'm sure you can come up with better examples of how sorority life has helped you then this.
What specifically about being in a sorority helped you gain confidence not to lend your car out to people?
Agree with Andy W-the experiences you cite aren't remarkable.
My collegiate experiences as a Greek taught me more about commitment and values than any of the items Jennifer listed. I also think that its the alumnae experiences that should have more impact on your professional life than your undergraduate experiences.
Jennifer - How have your experiences as an involved alum impacted your business career? And why did you move to alum status in 2002 (prior to your listed 2004 graduation date)?
Thank you all for your feedback. I sincerely appreciate it, as your challenges will make me a stronger blogger and author. It's a tough crowd-- but I love it.
Anna- Thank you for your critical feedback regarding spelling. I feel your first comment was not constructive—but your follow up comment did have value. Calling someone a fool is not constructive.
It's important to use spell check. Using proper spelling and grammar adds to credibility but my goals when writing are to be clear & concise. I’m not one to justify problems with excuses so I’m not going to go into more detail about the post. As for the biography, I did not submit that, I believe a colleague did and it appears to be without spelling errors.
To Andy & Vicky- the things I learned from being in a sorority CAN be learned from participating in other organizations, I chose to write about my sorority experiences. While I didn’t specifically write it, I was hoping that my readers would understand that being in a sorority helped me learn how to stand up for myself. I learned that it’s ok to be the bad guy. It is ok to say no. Thank you for bringing it up so I could clarify the point more.
Thanks for responding, Jennifer.
Look for the problem with this sentence:
"She is a graduate of Montoursville High School in Montoursville, PA and has family Asheville, NC."
I don't mean to come off as a grammar or spelling nazi. But for someone of Penelope's caliber, I suppose I expect better attention to detail from her bloggers.
Vicky-
I spent 1998-2002 at Gannon University, then moved to NC and went to UNCA for a semester. They only took 21 out of 100 credits so I eventually transferred back. I remained an alum when I moved back and finally graduated in 2004.
I agree that you can learn more as an alum but being a collegiate is a great foundation.
My list didn't include everything I learned... just some of the things. I learned a lot about being active, trust-worthy, self-dependant, and strategic.
I actually don't blog for Penelope, I'm just a member of the Brazen Careerist network where my posts are cross published. I'm not sure if they publish everything or just some of them. Knowing I have an expanded audience will challenge me to publish meaningful content.
Anna,
As a fellow blogger of the Brazen Careerist network, please understand a few things about us.
1. Penelope does not edit our blogs, I'm quite sure she doesn't have the time to deal with editing 60+ people's blogs.
2. Of the 60+ members of this network, I would guess that maybe 20 bloggers make money off of their blogs, and maybe half of that even fewer do it for a living. Most of us have day jobs and are not professional writers, nor do we claim to be, blogging is a hobby for most of us.
3. It is common courtesy to privately e-mail the author if you find an error. I gladly accept constructive criticism of my writings and appreciate it when people send me messages to let me know of an issue. I find errors when I read the Wall Street Journal online, and I sometimes send a private e-mail to those people to let them know, and I have received e-mails back from them thanking me.
-Daniel @ Young and Frugal
P.S. I sincerest appologies for leaving out the word "or" in the 2nd point. There is no edit function.
I think that privately commenting on errors is great blogging etiquette.
It's a great side note.
I also appreciate that you pointed out many of us have day jobs and aren't blogging for dollars. I blog out of passion for the transmission of information and collaboration.
I'm American with Chinese roots so it was strange for me to become Greek. Nonetheless, I learned a great deal from the Greek experience. Long live Sigma Chi!
I went back and read many of the blogs - you all ask what made you a better person or stronger.
I have to add that I was made better by my friends, contacts and just knowing that there was something bigger than me. May Sororities are based on religion and give strong guidance. If you are looking for a blanket answer, I cannot give it. I know that for me it was the sisterhood (I have one brother)and just a network of friends (not just women) that you can keep in contact with as they move around.
Some people mention that you can learn this outside of a Sorority. I agree that all of this can be learned outside of the Greek network. I just think that this is very structured and you have a different network. I am sure that many people belong to LinkedIn - this is a less informal network.
The other question you ask - would I be the same person if I was not in a sorority? As I mentioned, leaders need leaders to show them how and to lead the way during changing times. I was very reserved, although moved very quickly in my career while in college as well as very motivated, yet I did not think I was worthwhile of a growing role. My chapter and the involvement I have had that has helped me progress to in a role and a career that is great.
I hope this clarifies.
I would like to say that as a member of a sorority that this has tought me many lessons. I waited until I was JR in college before I joined. Now I actually direct a college chapter - and a large one at that.
The networking and friends that you can make as we are mobile society is very critical. I have moved from one end of the country to the other and used this base to keep myself grounded as well as see women grow during and after college.
I think that there are very different opiions on sororities. Mine is that it had made all of my moves with different companies to different areas during my life much better. I also think if you find an area you want to stay in - you have contacts and can make friends. That is hard as you move around.
I did not buy my friends and they are life-long friends. I also learned that to be a leader you needed to have a good one. This is what I want to give to the 100+ women of the chapter I advise.
Jennifer,
Did you learn more that relates to the real world in a sorority than in any other place, e.g. more than in college classes, internships, as a DJ, as a promotions assistant, etc., etc. ?
Obviously, I'm certain you learned something in each case, but I just wonder why you chose your sorority over any of the other impressive things you've done with your career.
Also, would you be the same person if not for the sorority, i.e. would you have learned the same things through the maturation process that happens between 18 and 22 if your efforts were in a service organization, or on a sports team?
Thanks,
Michael
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?