tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post1053142662734625039..comments2024-03-20T09:32:16.592-04:00Comments on Michael James on Money: The Glass CeilingMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-61909727009455030332014-07-18T09:14:42.375-04:002014-07-18T09:14:42.375-04:00Sorry I was unclear. I intended to make two points...Sorry I was unclear. I intended to make two points:<br />- psychopaths at the top of banking industry are so common that this fact has been already depicted in the TV series<br />- every one has a choice of what to be. The only sure way to avoid a risk of becoming a roadkill is to avoid roads. imhoAnatoliNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937984526970646627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-30881835643724503242014-07-18T07:54:52.314-04:002014-07-18T07:54:52.314-04:00In terms of glass ceilings, the insurance industry...In terms of glass ceilings, the insurance industry is excellent. I've seen no distinction between sexes when it comes to middle management at insurance companies. Upper management, I dunno, but I don't think there's a glass ceiling below that level at insurance companies.<br /><br />I also really like the actuarial career for the same reason. The only thing that matters is passing actuarial exams - sex, age, race, almost nothing else matters. If you can pass actuarial exams, your career choices are excellent. Life Insurance Canada.comhttp://www.lifeinsurancecanada.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-54249012761465525512014-07-17T11:12:14.389-04:002014-07-17T11:12:14.389-04:00Yes, the people who work as hard at keeping their ...Yes, the people who work as hard at keeping their family together as at their paid jobs can succeed at both. I'm glad that executive made the effort.BetCrookshttp://financialcrooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-10485216252606992282014-07-17T09:04:59.541-04:002014-07-17T09:04:59.541-04:00@AnatoliN: I'm not exactly sure what point you...@AnatoliN: I'm not exactly sure what point you're making, but certainly people have a right to pursue happiness when it doesn't harm others, and I have a right to avoid ending up as roadkill from being in the way of a psychopath.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-47641269554377964182014-07-17T08:52:58.235-04:002014-07-17T08:52:58.235-04:00"You think I am a psychopath, Sherlock? Let m..."You think I am a psychopath, Sherlock? Let me tell you, here we all are" - said a bank CEO in a recent UK Sherlock Holmes series. <br /><br />In a book I am reading now author brings attention to a distinction between doing and being. Starting from certain level, doing determines being. This is a choice everybody is making, consciously or not. An informed conscious choice leads to a happy life, whatever 'happy' is for each person.AnatoliNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937984526970646627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-31921198494377292162014-07-16T17:53:25.722-04:002014-07-16T17:53:25.722-04:00@BetCrooks: I've seen my share of workaholic c...@BetCrooks: I've seen my share of workaholic climbers lose out on their family lives as well. But I've also seen a few executives who keep it all together. One in particular made a point of calling his kids at 6:00 pm every day and his wife at 10:00 pm every day no matter what time zone he was in. It's tough for him to get up in the middle of the night while traveling in Europe, and calls aren't as good as being there, but he felt certain that his habits were worth it.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-62396248494248493812014-07-16T17:42:14.534-04:002014-07-16T17:42:14.534-04:00I've watched relatives and friends have to mak...I've watched relatives and friends have to make the decision of whether to go for the next level of management or not. The ones who decided to stop climbing seem to have "won" in terms of overall life experiences. (e.g. still married; adult children like them; no or low debt; better health; better transitions into retirement.) I'm sure there are some upper executives who have managed to keep it all together, but personally most of the ones I've met have given up and lost an awful lot to get to be "king/queen of the hill."BetCrookshttp://financialcrooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-83002399927105600602014-07-16T15:57:49.949-04:002014-07-16T15:57:49.949-04:00@Sandi: Sounds like some more personal experience....@Sandi: Sounds like some more personal experience.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-49002763825581212312014-07-16T14:38:10.945-04:002014-07-16T14:38:10.945-04:00At the bank the mountain-climbing psychopathic beh...At the bank the mountain-climbing psychopathic behaviour starts well below C-level jobs...anecdotally I'd say somewhere right between Branch Manager and District Vice President. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834456794278162752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-76180302519788378572014-07-16T13:57:19.744-04:002014-07-16T13:57:19.744-04:00@Robb: While I was an observer, it sounds like yo...@Robb: While I was an observer, it sounds like you were an unwilling participant. I've tried out my psychopath and king-of-the-mountain analogy several times verbally and I got a couple of people who said it was obviously true, but far more who think the top tier of a company couldn't possibly work that way.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-34978443733374992332014-07-16T13:40:17.875-04:002014-07-16T13:40:17.875-04:00Early in my career I had aspirations to run my own...Early in my career I had aspirations to run my own hotel, or a group of hotels. I spent 10 years in the hospitality industry, including five years running the sales department. I also trained new sales directors at sister properties all across the country.<br /><br />When the general manager left, I was named interim manager for three months while they looked for a replacement (I also applied for the permanent position). In those three months I quickly learned that I was not cut out to run a $12M company with over 200 employees. I just wasn't tough enough to hold people accountable for poor performance (some who had been working there 20+ years), and didn't have the stomach to play the "kiss up and kick down" game that so many others seemed to enjoy.<br /><br />Psychopath sounds about right.Robb Engenhttp://www.boomerandecho.comnoreply@blogger.com