The New Rules Of Moneymaking

In Today's Dog-Eat-Dog Workplace, How Do You Get To The Top?

(CBS)  America's daily routine: climb out of bed, climb into the car, and - with any luck - climb up the corporate ladder. But in today's diverse dog-eat-dog workplace, how do you make sure you get to the top? Susan Spencer takes a closer look at the new rules of the corporate game.

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Almost fifty years ago in "The Apartment," Jack Lemon made it by letting his bosses use his place for their mistresses.

"You're on your way up, Buddy Boy," one higher-up told his character. "You're also out of liquor."

By 1980, in "Nine to Five," Dolly Parton showed off a new way for a working woman to "rope in" results.

Advertising executive Nina DiSesa recommends a slightly more subtle approach today. She is the first female chairman of McCann Erickson New York, and even more priceless is her advice to women. Her new book, "Seducing the Boys' Club," sums it all up: "Well, seducing is a metaphor, of course. I'm not talking about sex, you know? People have asked me, 'You're talking about sex?'" she says. "And I say, 'Sex is easy. Seducing and manipulating a man is what's hard.'"

Face it, DiSesa tells women, men are still in charge. If you're a woman, the key is to make them see your success as their success.

"It's a male-dominated culture where women are only allowed in at certain levels," DiSesa says. "For the first 15 years of my career, I was always yelling at them 'cause I was always mad, you know? And then I had an epiphany. I said, 'Wow, maybe if I just find something in them to really like, and concentrate on that. And maybe I could get them on my side if I do that.'"

Why should women be the ones making the compromises -- and in today's workplace, do they really have to? Who better to ask than the quintessential corporate man, Donald Trump.

"I'm not sure necessarily they teach you this at the Wharton School of Finance," he said. "But I've seen many women go very far with seduction."

On the other hand, Trump admits that what DiSesa calls "flirting with integrity" is not just for women.

"Men also can use their charms," Trump said. "You know, there's such a good thing -- there's such a thing as great-looking men."

"Oh I know," Spencer says. "I've noticed. Have you, on occasion, you know, flirted? Used your charms?"

"Absolutely no comment," Trump said. "I would never do a thing like that."

So everybody flirts, but DiSesa says other male traits that work at the office are much harder for women to use.

"I think that men are more confident than we are. They say to me that, you know, they're scared, but, they don't show it," she said. "Oh, I said, 'Great. I could learn that. I can pretend that I'm brave.' Men love to fail big. They go really big failing. Because then it says to everybody, 'wow, you really shooting for something.'"

And that's true if you're a woman as well?

"I try to make as big of mistakes as I possibly can," DiSesa said. "If I see a chance to make a really big mistake, I'll go for it."

And she says that old Fred Astaire-Ginger Rodgers line still holds. She did the same thing as he did, only she did it backwards and in high heels. Women often are working twice as hard to go half as far.

"What has transcended from a glass ceiling is currently now a granite ceiling," said Head hunter Kenneth Roldan.

"A granite ceiling implies that you can't break through it," Spencer said.

"It's almost impenetrable," Roldan said.

Roldan helps place minorities in high level executive jobs. He says for all the talk about diversity, it's a struggle for both women and people of color.

"There are probably about four African American CEOs in the Fortune 500," he said.

And the same limitations apply to women?

"Absolutely. Again, with the Fortune 500, there's probably less than a dozen women that are holding the CEO role," he said.

Trump disagreed: "Women are doing very, very well in my company and in virtually all companies. I believe they have broken that glass ceiling many, many times over. Now, they have a certain ways to go. But women have made great strides. "

Speaking with Roldan, Spencer said that CBS News talked to Donald Trump for this story. And his view of the glass ceiling, at least for women, is that it's pretty much disappearing. What does Roldan think?

"I think Donald needs to focus on his haircut," he said. "It's a matter of being able to be part of the boy's club. I mean, who would've thunk that most women would go out to NASCAR on a weekend to hang out with, in order to move up the corporate ladder, part of it is being able to … have that cultural fit."

But that takes work, says DiSesa. You may find "Easy Buttons" in her company's ads, but don't look for them on the corporate ladder.

"If we're strong and we're smart and we're, you know, leadership material than let us get where we need to go," DiSesa says. "And if we have to use manipulation, if we have to use -- seduction and manipulation to get there, whatever we need to do, whatever we need to do."

[nwarky1]

I think DeSista is probably right. A woman can screw herself into most positions, and then somebody with experience in something besides laying on their back smiling can pull the load for them just like we have been every since affirmative action started. You go Girls!!!

[anonbene]

This article is BS, About how hard it is for women to reach the top, it''s easy, start there. Take the friggin responsibility I had to take when I started my company and NO you can''t have my job or position or my salary. By what right do you "deserve" anything? Women always want more than they deserve but never shoulder the risks of what it takes to get there. Go "seduce" yourself.

[random_radar]

maxify55,

I read, but won''t quote, your long diatribe about the problem with young people who won''t learn and won''t work. Being older now than I used to be, I am grateful that the rising generation has no work ethic. It will keep me employed far beyond what corporate America would like. You don''t really want motivated young people to take your job, let alone be your boss, do you?

[ciarrai3]

Concerning the segment about bridge: just what America''s youth need, another excuse to sit around for hours. What about that epidemic of obesity we always hear about. Gates ought to invent something that makes kids go outside and run around and sweat and laugh and get a little fresh air and sunshine. Instead, it''s more sit on your *** and get fat and unhealthy. Jimmy Breslin calls Warren Buffett the most boring man in America and I can see why.