CEOs meet MOMs, mano a manoBy Alison Colavecchia
4.9.01 (www.slowtwitch.com)
CEO's and Mothers at Lake Placid: Head to Head Combat
I am thinking about writing to the WTC to ask that mothers be included in the CEO Corporate challenge in Lake Placid. The way I see it, the job descriptions are pretty much the same. Those of us who are attempting to juggle kids, work, homes, training, marriages (not necessarily in that order of course…) display the same skillset required of those who attempt to train while managing a corporation. Only we do it for no pay, with more arguments and with no support staff on which to pawn off our work. Of course both jobs risk high costs when things don't go well. For the CEO, poor decisions can lead to considerable financial losses. On our side, poor decisions can result in years of therapy!
In drawing this comparison, there are some clear inequities. In the pay department, I believe CEO's have a decided advantage. Many receive exorbitant salaries which can be turned to advantage, such as better training and racing equipment (one need only compare the number of Kestrels that show up on the CEO side of the fence); personal trainers; cooks; cleaning people; gardeners or chauffeurs. Imagine how we mothers would perform with someone to cook our meals, take care of the housework, weed the garden and do the chauffering? In the interests of science, I would be willing to try their salaries out, just to see if it does indeed represent an advantage. On the other hand, perhaps having to juggle more of these things makes us mentally tougher, the ultimate edge in any Ironman competition.
Just in case the WTC isn't buying my idea, I have taken the liberty of drawing up a chart for comparison purposes, please feel free to add your own:
Power meetings
Ever tried to have a family meeting and reach consensus with kids ranging in age from 2-20 all at the same table?
Union negotiations
Ever tried to strike a deal with a toddler? Get a pre-teen to the negotiating table in the first place?
Salary disputes
Ever tried to negotiate allowance?
Multitasking
Just watch a Mom prepare supper. Typically she is helping with homework, on the phone trying to help a friend out, cleaning up a spill from snack time …all while getting the table set and cooking dinner in order for everyone to be out the door for hockey practice.
Ultimate responsibility
In the end, if the house isn't clean, the hair isn't washed and they're late for school nobody ever wonders why Dad isn't more on the ball.
Work incentives
Hugs, kisses, Mother's Day presents
Ability to eat on the run
Ability to eat breakfast while fixing the day's lunches and snacks for 5. Ability to squeeze a meal in between a swim workout, school drop-off and loads of laundry
Staff motivation
If you can get the kids out of bed and ready for school or have them try a new food for the first time you can pretty much get anyone to do anything.
Crisis management
Mothers invented this from broken hearts and hurt feelings to spills and broken bones.
Teamwork
Ever watch a family game of shinny? Easter eggs being painted or Christmas cookies being decorated?
Long days
Parenting is 24--7--365. Even CEO's take few days off now and again.
So here's my pitch: Perhaps the WTC could conduct the Iron MOM/CEO Combat Challenge using a match sprint design. A CEO duels it out with a MOM, mano a mano.
Okay, in the end, I have to confess that I have an ulterior motive––the hotel stay. What Mom wouldn't deserve to have VIP status during race week? Five nights at the Mirror Lake Inn and Resort and Spa ? Each family member will share in the joy of her Ironman finish as each will have contributed each in their own ways to her getting there in the first place. I am guessing that for these CEO's this stay will be just one more hotel in a long line of them but what a treat for a MOM and her family. To be wined, dined and messaged in the opulence of the Mirror Lake Inn sounds a heck of a lot better than going home to the laundry!
Meet you at the hotel for cocktails at midnight Bill (Gates)!
Still tri'n
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