As I always tell you, use the links...
Click the picture:
Posted on 09/29/2008 10:17:28 PM PDT by seastay
People are talking about Sarah Palin, now that she has burst onto the national political scene. What do you think? Is she ordinary or extraordinary? Do you think she is beyond what is usual, ordinary, and regular, which is the dictionary definition of extraordinary? Is she extraordinary because she is a woman governor? She’s among several. She certainly wasn’t the first female mayor. So does that make her ordinary? Consider that she could be the vice president. Does that make her extraordinary? I don’t think so.
Palin has five children ranging in age from 4 months to 19 years old. She used to run 7 to 10 miles almost every day. Now she’s worked her way back up to running three miles every other day. When her kids were small she worked full time. Look around your workplace. Do you see women who work full time and have family responsibilities? Do they exercise? Do they juggle carpools, work deadlines and employee issues? Of course they do. There are plenty of women in business who have very full lives.
Sarah Palin is not extraordinary because she does the things that many, many women do every day of their working lives. She is extraordinary because she has done what some women have the opportunity to do and then don’t. Here’s what I mean.
I was reading the marvelous book How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership by Marilyn Carlson Nelson. Carlson Nelson is Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer of Carlson, one of the largest privately held companies in the world. In the book, she talks about offering a significant promotion to one of the most talented women at her company. The promotion came with a prestigious title, significantly more responsibility and a hefty raise. The woman’s response dumbfounded Carlson Nelson. When I read the woman’s response to my twentysomething daughter, who is a business professional, she gasped. The woman turned down the fabulous promotion. Why? She said that she couldn’t make more money than her husband. It would kill him.
Extraordinary women don’t shy away from big challenges. Think back to your last big challenge at work. How did you respond? Did you take the tough challenge or did you walk? I can remember early in my career when I was tapped to be Mobil Oil’s first female lubrication engineer in the United States. I was scared to death, but I knew I couldn’t show it. I knew management was watching me to see if I would succeed. The soon to be retiring engineer that I replaced was not happy that a woman was replacing him. The first day, he introduced me to my new customers, who were plant engineers and plant managers at major corporations. He said, “Here’s the new girl.” I was appalled. That night, I studied the plant equipment that I would be seeing at the next day’s appointments. He gave the same lousy introduction the next day. I immediately launched into a technical discussion with my customer about plant maintenance and my plans for lowering costs. At the next sales call, I was introduced as the new engineer. By the last call of the day, he introduced me as the best candidate to replace him.
Ordinary women can do extraordinary things. Some find it easier to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. For others, it’s much harder, but you won’t see them sweat. You can be extraordinary. Seize the next big challenge that comes your way and do the best you can. That would make you extraordinary
Ordinary or extrordinary; she’s a leader.
confident....stable...patient....
she'll be a terrific vice president....
(Same question)
Obama: Ordinary or Extraordinary?
Ordinary, very ordinary! Only because of his color, media and Obama himself believes he is extraordinary.
Why white americans are always eager to put down one of their own?
Learn something from minorities, they are always there to support their kind (ok, may be 95% of the time).
I agree.
They are?
I get where this writer is going, but her first paragraphs are kind of a muckup because Palin does ALL of these things; many people only do one or a couple of them, at best.
She is REAL - and has already done many extraordinary things in her 40+ years. The reason she is ridiculed is that those who are of-the-manor-born don’t think anyone of her “breeding” can be extraordinary. That’s because they are not REAL.
she’ll be a terrific vice president
And a Terrific President some day.
I can barely wait for Thursday. She will decimate Biden.
I come from a large family with many, many strong women, and I proudly put myself in that category also. Sarah Palin is a strong and capable woman. In comparison to my family she could be called ordinary in that sense. She is extraordinary in that she is a strong, capable, conservative woman who quite likely will be the first woman vice-president in our nation’s history!!
Yes, and she’s not a northeastern liberal nor a denizen of Washington, D.C. Something tells me there’ll be a lot of nervous D.C. regulars the moment she shows up in a room. That’s how I like my sleazy representatives- squirming and sweating. Go Sarah.
The question is a divisive one. The correct question is, will Gov. Palin be able to fulfill her role as Vice President with the obvious talents she posses? Absolutely.
I’m in agreement with you
Let every truth be truth in the mounth of two or more.
HOW ABOUT THOUSANDS?
but you won’t see them sweat.
That is something I wish Sarah had taken from this story. She is extraordinary, but unfortunately she has shown herself to be twitchy and nervous during interviews. She was a bit better today with McCain at her side directing the conversation with Katie.
I think Obama is rather ordinary, but I think both Obama and Sarah are much better reading teleprompters than actually doing interviews. Sadly we are not in the position to have other candidates so you must vote for Sarah and John no matter what.
She’s new blood, fresh, untainted by the corrupt self-centered beltway......a rarity. And she’s the only
reason I’m headed to the ballot box in November.
As I always tell you, use the links...
Click the picture:
In my opinion, that man has serious problems. When my wife started making more money than I do, a number of years ago, I might add, I was very proud of her. When she gets a raise and or a promotion I share in her happiness and success.
It's our money and our success.
Who cares. She can be green with purple polka dots. I am looking at her leadership. The world is sorely lacking in leaders. Yes, there are people in leadership positions; but they are not leaders.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.