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What ‘moved’ you today?

September 9, 2020 by 38 Comments

Short story.

How did we get here with this random, mid-day post.

Ray, a fellow wordpress blogger, who must be beyond fatigued with my photo hobby posts across social media and my incessant sharing of book passages and quotes, said “ENOUGH already” and asked for a story.  And when Ray demands, I move.

So, I’m giving him one.  And it aligns with the spirt of this blog — if it moves me, it goes up.

My youngest Brother recently passed away.  I am the Personal Representative of his Estate. It has been a journey in this COVID-19 environment to settle his affairs, and we’re far from done. Let’s leave this at that.

I’m sitting in a bank branch this morning waiting to get help. I’m holding my smartphone in my hand, and a file folder with my Brother’s paperwork on my lap.

And I’m waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.

My Gear is on. (Face mask fully covering nose and mouth.)

I’m looking down and paging through screen after screen after screen after screen on my smartphone.

Twitter, Tumblr, work emails, FB, WP, LinkedIn.

And I get vertigo. Eye strain. Mask inhibiting breathing. Feeling woozy. 

Normal functioning Humans make adjustments.

I keep flipping through web pages. And flipping, and flipping.

Wooziness doesn’t let up.

I come to a post on LinkedIn. And stop.

I read the post again.

And as Sawsan would say. “No, I’m not crying.” Not here. Not now.

Air under the mask is getting thin.

Eyes well up.

My glasses fog up, the face mask pushing air straight up.

And just at that moment: “Sir, I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I’m ready for you now.”

I can’t lift my head.

Glasses are fogged up. Floor is spinning.

She sees I’m struggling.

Sir, let me give you a moment: “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

I thank her, and take a moment to gain my composure, and then walk into her office.

Here was the LinkedIn story.

[Read more…]

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30 years. 1 stop. Bravo!

April 22, 2015 by 21 Comments

Lucy-Kellaway

Lucy Kellaway’s Thirtieth Anniversary, Financial Times:

For the past 30 years I have been pitching up to work at the same place, week in, week out, interrupted only by a succession of maternity leaves – all of which are now in the distant past…There is something mildly shameful about being almost the longest-serving journalist on the newspaper…

But last Thursday I cycled into work in the early morning sun, making a journey I’ve made many thousands of times before, and as I passed St Paul’s Cathedral I found myself feeling not only unstale, but borderline joyful… When I got to the office on impulse I fired off an email to the entire newspaper inviting them to eat cake with me that very afternoon – and soliciting reflections on what 30 years’ service means.

Loyalty – mixed with stupidity, one colleague replied. Wrong, I thought…

Narrow, suggested another…

A third colleague, also a long-timer, complained that staying in the same place meant getting dragged down by politics and that old grievances fester. Possibly; though I see it the other way round. Long service has cut me adrift from politics and has meant I don’t have to waste time working out who is trustworthy and who isn’t, as I know that already. [Read more…]

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And the answer is?

June 3, 2014 by 21 Comments

portrait-man-stress
Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath in Why You Hate Work:

The way we’re working isn’t working. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a job, you’re probably not very excited to get to the office in the morning, you don’t feel much appreciated while you’re there, you find it difficult to get your most important work accomplished, amid all the distractions, and you don’t believe that what you’re doing makes much of a difference anyway. By the time you get home, you’re pretty much running on empty, and yet still answering emails until you fall asleep…

…Demand for our time is increasingly exceeding our capacity — draining us of the energy we need to bring our skill and talent fully to life. Increased competitiveness and a leaner, post-recession work force add to the pressures. The rise of digital technology is perhaps the biggest influence, exposing us to an unprecedented flood of information and requests that we feel compelled to read and respond to at all hours of the day and night…

Find the rest of the story (and the solution to the problem) here: Why You Hate Work

Notes:

 

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World’s Toughest Job

May 11, 2014 by 20 Comments

Susan, Rachel and Eric asked that I post this clip for you. Happy Mother’s Day!

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Seeking Qualified Candidates Only

July 12, 2013 by 30 Comments

funny-green-dragon-newspaper

Source: Pinterest

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20 lessons learned in my first 80 years

July 9, 2013 by 38 Comments

Byron Wien

Byron Wien grew up in Chicago during the Depression.  “He was orphaned at 14 and overcame a difficult childhood to attend Harvard undergrad and business school.  He recently turned 80, and in response to a request from a conference organizer moments before he was supposed to speak, Wien committed to paper some ideas which surely contributed to his success, but more important, they are lessons that shaped such a rich and remarkable life.”  Here are a few excerpts:

  1. Network intensely.  Luck plays a big role in life, and there is no better way to increase your luck than by knowing as many people as possible.  Nurture your network by sending articles, books and emails to people to show you’re thinking about them.  Write op-eds and thought pieces for major publications.  Organize discussion groups to bring your thoughtful friends together.
  2. Read all the time.  Don’t just do it because you’re curious about something, read actively.  Have a point of view before you start a book or article and see if what you think is confirmed or refuted by the author.  If you do that, you will read faster and comprehend more.
  3. On philanthropy my approach is to try to relieve pain rather than spread joy.  Music, theatre and art museums have many affluent supporters, give the best parties and can add to your social luster in a community.  They don’t need you.  Social service, hospitals and educational institutions can make the world a better place and help the disadvantaged make their way toward the American dream.
  4. Younger people are naturally insecure and tend to overplay their accomplishments.  Most people don’t become comfortable with who they are until they’re in their 40’s.  By that time they can underplay their achievements and become a nicer, more likeable person.  Try to get to that point as soon as you can. [Read more…]
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Be grateful. Be VERY grateful for your current job.

May 2, 2013 by 29 Comments

13 of the Worst Jobs in the World

Source: Lapham’s Quarterly

Related Post: Best Jobs in America

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Stressed? Try Butterflies.

October 16, 2012 by 22 Comments

Fifteen years ago, I would have told you to get out of my office (get out of my face) and stop wasting my time.  10 years ago, I would have called “bulls-” on this malarkey.  Today, the image above calms me.  And I’ve come to believe that I need this…It’s good for me.  It’s good for the team around me.  (But let’s not get too excited.  I’m a toddler here.  I’m on the 3rd step of a 107 step program.)  And since it has now been endorsed by the Truth, the Wall Street Journal,  I’m in. (:)  Lao Tzu (604 BC – 531 BC): “A Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes a Single Step”…Time to take that step… [Read more…]

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The World Would Simply Stop?

October 15, 2012 by 6 Comments

Juliette: He’s not into languages. He’s not into anything.  Except himself and his job
Gianna: That’s good. A man must love his job
Juliette: We also work, but with moderation
Gianna: Moderation is our choice, whereas they can’t help it.  
Gianna: For them, not working is not breathing: impossible!
Juliette: I never asked my husband to stop
Gianna: Of course not.  How could you? The world would simply stop

Source: Certified Copy

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Best Jobs in America

September 9, 2012 by 11 Comments

Job, Jobs, Employment, Work, Business

Click on image above and then click again on the image in the article for a full size view of the Best Jobs In America. No surprise – Technology, Healthcare, Telecom and Professional Services rank high on the list.  Interesting research and findings. Best Jobs:

  • Online Affiliates posting links for Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter (Categorized as high pay, low stress).
  • Mathematician
  • Actuary
  • Statistician
  • Computer systems analyst

Hit msnbc.com for full article titled “Want a Tough Job?  Do the Math.”

Source: Thank you eclectipundit.com for the share.

    Note: Rachel/Eric, I hope you are reading and digesting this too!
    Related Posts:
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Mission for today…

July 12, 2012 by 13 Comments

try harder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The answer will only arrive after we stop looking for it,” says bestselling author Jonah Lehrer. Examining recent research into what drives creative insights, Lehrer breaks down how and why we have “aha!” moments, using examples that range from Bob Dylan writing “Like A Rolling Stone” to a Tibetan monk’s zen puzzle-solving powers. But insight isn’t everything. Those who achieve great things in the long-term also have another important quality: Grit, a single-minded persistence that helps them keep their eye on the prize and pushing ever-forward even when the “aha!” moments aren’t around.

~ The99percent.com

Image Source: abirdeyeview via graff14

Related Posts:

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Worried about your job? Hope is not a strategy…

July 3, 2012 by 15 Comments

Klaas Verplancke, ParapluieHBR Blog Network: “…It would take something like 1,000 hours — and maybe a lot longer — to recover from a forced career change…

…If disaster were to hit, you’d like to believe that you could find another job. Well, as the cliché goes, hope is not a strategy. Especially in this job market.

…It certainly seems we are running harder and harder to keep up with the required knowledge in our specialized fields. What would you actually have to invest in order to stay in this race? In this race, information is the tiger and there doesn’t seem to be an end to how fast the tiger can run. But remember, the good news is that you don’t have to outrun the tiger. You simply have to outrun your competitors, people like you who are going to be looking for a job, once their industry becomes obsolete…”

[Read more…]

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Feeling Blah about work?

June 26, 2012 by 14 Comments

job rainI received some backchannel email blow-back on my last post (10 Most Loved Jobs. And 10 Most Hated) and the related posts on Doing What You Love.  (Whispering to me: Here you go again.  Not everyone is in the situation YOU are in.  Try to walk in someone else’s shoes for a change.  Tired of you preaching about Doing. What. You. Love.  Some of us can’t walk away to a lesser paying job to Do.What.We.Love.  We need to pay the bills.  We can’t relo away from aging parents, family, friends.  We can’t walk away from our house and the mortgage. We need to keep the Don’t-Love-My-Job we have.) 

OK.  I get it.  Yet so many are unhappy.  Feel stuck.  Are unfulfilled. Or are frustrated in their current station. The three articles below share some excellent advice on how to make the most of the current job you are in.  My Cliff-Notes recap is summarized here:

  • Do. (Continue) to do an excellent job.
  • Connect. (Develop deeper relationships with people you work with)
  • Learn. (Learn & apply new skills and knowledge which will fuel higher levels of engagement)
  • Contribute. (Achievement and contribution gives us a higher sense of purpose.)
  • Don’t Complain.  (…And drag down your colleagues and pollute your brand.)

“There’s no justification for an employee to wait expectantly for the organization to furnish engagement, as if it’s something somebody can give you. The key to sustainable high engagement is taking primary responsibility for it. Now is the time to own your own engagement. (FastCompany)

Here’s the 3 self-help articles on the topic…

[Read more…]

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10 Most Loved Jobs…(and the 10 most hated)

June 24, 2012 by 21 Comments

From the HBR Blog Network: Happiness Will Not Be Downloaded.  I draw the line on a solve being fixing things yourself Smile otherwise a great post.  A few excerpts from the post below along with the charts for the 10 Most Loved Jobs and the 10 Most Hated…

Ten Most Loved Jobs

“…The proliferation of cooking shows, blogs, celebrity chefs…taps into something more primal: it’s one of the last jobs that still does what most of us don’t — make things…In this sterile, white-collar world, where meat comes from ShopRite and homes are built by “guest workers,” cooking is the last physical job many of us can relate to.”

[Read more…]

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So, let me tell you about my day Dad…

June 21, 2012 by 32 Comments

daddy and daughterWeek 3: Rachel’s summer job in Manhattan where she’s interning in a Human Resources Department.  She’s been coming home and thematically asking this line of questions:

“How’d your day go Dad?”  (For 19 years, I’d come dragging through the front door at the end of a long day. She’d be lying on the couch watching continuous loops of reality TV.  Not a peep from her on how my day went.  Now she’s asking.  Hmmmm. Until you walked a mile in a man’s shoes…) 

“Let me tell you about my day Dad.”  (She proceeds to jabber on and on and on about her day…giddy almost…youthful exuberance.  Anxious. Yet excited.  Learning.  Being stretched into new territory.  Unsure footing.  No worries Honey.  It will come.  It will surely come…) 

“Dad, did you read about the Greek vote in the Wall Street Journal?”  (Read what, where? Rachel reading a newspaper?  The WSJ?  I’m getting woozy.)

[Read more…]

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The “Boredom” Test…

June 19, 2012 by 19 Comments

yawnBrainpickings.com shared a post on the Anatomy of Boredom.  I’m drawn to personality self-tests like a moth to flame.  This test boosted the ole’ psyche this morning: My Score – 79. (Naturally that led me to think that there is something wrong with me if I’m such an outlier with my great score.)  Check out the entire post to find what researchers say a high or medium boredom score means for you.

The statements to follow can be answered using a 7-point scale — from ’1′ (highly disagree), to ’4′ (neutral), to ’7′ (highly agree).

  • It is easy for me to concentrate on my activities.
  • Frequently when I am working I find myself worrying about other things.
  • Time always seems to be passing slowly.
  • I often find myself at “loose ends”, not knowing what to do.
  • I am often trapped in situations where I have to do meaningless things.
  • Having to look at someone’s home movies or travel slides bores me tremendously.
  • I have projects in mind all the time, things to do.
  • I find it easy to entertain myself.
  • Many things I have to do are repetitive and monotonous.
  • It takes more stimulation to get me going than most people.
  • I get a kick out of most things I do.
  • I am seldom excited about my work.
  • In any situation I can usually find something to do or see to keep me interested.
  • Much of the time I just sit around doing nothing.
  • I am good at waiting patiently.
  • I often find myself with nothing to do, time on my hands.
  • In situations where I have to wait, such as in line, I get very restless.
  • I often wake up with a new idea.
  • It would be very hard for me to find a job that is exciting enough.
  • I would like more challenging things to do in life.
  • I feel that I am working below my abilities most of the time.
  • Many people would say that I am a creative or imaginative person.
  • I have so many interests, I don’t have time to do everything.
  • Among my friends, I am the one who keeps doing something the longest.
  • Unless I am doing something exciting, even dangerous, I feel half-dead and dull.
  • It takes a lot of change and variety to keep me really happy.
  • It seems that the same things are on television or the movies all the time; it’s getting old.
  • When I was young, I was often in monotonous and tiresome situations.

To find out your own proneness to boredom, add up the total of the scores you gave each question and see results below:

[Read more…]

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Gender shouldn’t matter, but apparently it still does…

April 11, 2012 by 4 Comments

HBR Network – Gender Shouldn’t Matter, But Apparently It Still Does

Guess who comes out on top (again)!

Related articles
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Why you will fail to have a great career…

March 11, 2012 by 13 Comments

Larry Smith is a professor of economics at University of Waterloo. He coaches his students to find the careers that they will truly love. The most notable start-up he advised in its infancy is Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry. (No commentary please from the audience on how his advise is working for RIM now…Smile)

While I didn’t find any earthshattering revelations here, I did find Smith to be an engaging and inspirational storyteller in his presentation of the excuses we invent in failing to pursue our passions – – excuses including:

  • “There are no more great jobs, all the good jobs are disappearing”
  • “Great careers are a matter of luck”
  • “People who have great careers are geniuses, special one-of-kind”
  • “In 1950’s, competency would land you a good job. Today, not so much given how competitive it is…”
  • “I would do this (pursue my passion) but I’m not weird or obsessive…there is a fine line between great, weird and madness…and this is why normal people don’t have great careers”
  • “If you work hard, you can have a good career. But you need to work really really hard to have a great career and you are not prepared to sacrifice _____ (family, children, friends, etc.)
  • “I value my relationships more than my accomplishments. I will not sacrifice them in pursuit of my passion or a great career.”

[Read more…]

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Is your job killing you?

March 5, 2012 by 14 Comments

Nice way to start off our Monday Morning, huh? A few nuggets pulled from the info graphic below:

  • Middle-aged workers who have poor relationships with their colleagues were 2.4x more likely to die sooner.
  • Women who reported having control/power in the workplace were 70% more likely to die than those who did not feel in control.  (Really?)
  • Surprisingly, relationships with Bosses had no ties to increased death, even though it was the top cause of leaving a job. (Really?  Now I’m wondering about sample size)
  • Top 10 Most stressful jobs.  (Oh oh)
  • 44% say that their job is excessively stressful.
  • In the UK, stress is now the #1 cause for leave of absences.
  • Stress has been called the 21st century’s equivalent of Black Death.
  • Prolonged stress is equivalent to carrying an additional 40 pounds.

[Read more…]

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Career Planning in 60 Seconds

December 10, 2011 by 1 Comment

 

Source: Simon Kemp: Career planning in 60 seconds – a recreation of +Bud Caddell’s “How to be happy in business” diagram

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