Tag Archives: life lessons

August 19, 2014 · 8:47 am

Overdrawn

One of the best parts of managing a lot of people over the years has been watching them develop, even after our places of employment diverge. The bankI am still in contact with quite a few of the folks with whom I worked and from time to time they’ll reach out to say hi.

Once in a while, one of them will need career advice or maybe even help in getting a job. Sometimes I can provide nothing more than a shoulder to lean on, a sounding board and a few words to provide prospective. Other times I can be more active since they may be interviewing with someone I know.

Why I bring this up today is  exactly that happened recently. A kid I hired as an intern many years ago grew into a competent professional and through a series of circumstance he was out of work for a bit. He heard of a job working with another person whom I had also started in the business. I was happy to put them together since I think they’re both good at what they do and would enjoy a good working relationship. One thing led to another and the job was his.

Here is the thing.  Did I find that out from the guy I’d helped?  Nope.  I heard it from his new boss.  Have I heard from the guy I helped?  Nope, although he did post his new gig on social media, thanking all of the people who had put up with him while he was unemployed.  Am I angry?  Not a bit, perhaps other than at myself for not having done a better job of training him.  So let me use the opportunity to do so here since I believe he reads the screed once in a while.

One of the last things anyone wants to be is the person who only calls when they need something.  Even worse is the person who fails to express their appreciation for the effort you made on their behalf and who fails to keep you in the loop.  Each of those can be written off as bad manners but that’s way too simple.  Asking for help – which every one of us does from time to time – is a withdrawal from our karmic bank accounts.  Saying thanks is making a deposit back into the account and without them our accounts become overdrawn fairly quickly.

I hope the new gig works out for a number of reasons.  First, I endorsed the candidacy.  Second, I like both of the guys involved.  Third, if it doesn’t for whatever reason, I’m going to have to tell someone who may come back for more help that their account is overdrawn.  Maybe that’s harsh on my part.  So be it.

Thoughts?

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August 5, 2014 · 11:33 am

You HAVE To Read It – It’s My Birthday – Again!

I realize that might be the most ridiculous post title ever but it happens to be true.  It’s also the post I wrote last year on this day.  I’m going to tweak it a bit to reflect that I’m a year older but in reading it again, I kind of liked it.

A picture of a birthday cake

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

OK, not that this is a must-read, but it is, in fact, my birthday.  Maybe there’s an attention whore living deep inside me although I suppose any of us who dump our thinking on to the World Wide Web have some of that.  In any event, birthdays are one of those occasions that prompt introspection.  My favorite author, Mark Twain, said that when he was a younger man he could remember anything whether it happened or not.  Much of what you read here is exactly that – what I remember or have figured out along the way.

I turned 59 today.  I’m not much of a numerology guy, but since today is 8/5 I thought I’d look up what meaning is associated with my birth date.  Apparently 5 is associated with freedom. “5” people seek change and adventure.  What stood out to me was that 5’s are naturally curious and are  constantly trying to find the answers to life’s questions (maybe there IS a reason I’m writing!).   5’s are very persuasive and excel at motivating people which makes them ideal candidates to become salesmen.  Given the early part of my professional life, that fits.

8’s are born with natural leadership skills. We’re very ambitious and goal oriented, with strong organizational skills and broad vision.  I don’t know how they figure this stuff out but I like the thought.  It also applies to what I’ve been doing for the last 5 years as a consultant.  Of course, one can add the 5 and 8 together and get 13, a lucky number in numerology.  For me, that applies as well: I’m fortunate to have my health, a great family, many friends and more close friends than to what one ought to be entitled in one lifetime.

Then there is my full birthdate number, including the year.  I’m a “33,” a “master number”, which is a big deal to numerology people:

Qualities: responsibility, consciousness, mysticism, compassion, indulgence. It provides: ability to worry about other people, resolution of conflicts. Goals: to bring a transformation to society.

I don’t have any big business thoughts today – I’m giving those a rest so I can enjoy the important stuff.  Yes, I’m working but I’m doing so with a smile on my face as I get Happy Birthday calls.  The hard part is holding this feeling for the other 364 days and the realities of business show themselves.  Hey – maybe there IS a business point today.  Thanks for reading – that’s a gift any day.

 

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August 4, 2014 · 10:17 am

Homework

One of the things you might hear at a college graduation party is “well, at least there is no more homework!”

English: Don't waste your time and do your hom...

English: Don’t waste your time and do your homework! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I hear that I don’t have the heart to tell them that the past 16 years of homework they’ve done in school are nothing compared to that which they’ll probably need to do out in the real world. Let me explain.

I’ve written before about the critical skills one needs to learn in school.  In addition to the critical thinking skills I wrote about in that post I’d add the ability to do homework to that list.  After all, what is homework but independent research and preparation for what is about to happen in the next class?  In my mind even when the homework is review it’s making sure that the concepts the teacher was trying to instill have taken hold.  The very act of having the discipline to work outside of the class setting without a teacher looking over your shoulder is a great skill as well.

Fast forward to business.  I expect that when I walk into a meeting everyone in the room (assuming they know that I’m coming) have already checked me out thoroughly.  They’ve read some of the screed, they’ve checked my website, maybe they sampled my Twitter feed and they most certainly checked my LinkedIn profile.  If they haven’t, they haven’t done their homework.  I used to tell my team that if they walk into a meeting and don’t know the agenda, the questions that might be asked, the others around the table, and what they want to have accomplished as they leave the meeting they have not done their homework.  As an ex-teacher, not doing one’s homework puts you on my bad side.

There is nothing more annoying than having a salesperson begin a meeting asking what they can do for me or my organization.  Even worse is when they ask a lot of questions that could have been answered with 10 minutes of searches.  Everyone’s time is valuable and offering solutions and value based on having done your homework decreases the time needed for things to get done.  Doing one’s homework no matter on which side of the table one sits is a basic and critical business skill.  Is it one you’re using?

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