I am probably one of the most humbled individuals you can find these days. Not often in life do you truly understand what drives people with passion to do what they do. I only now believe that I am beginning to understand the lesson of preparing one's self for their own potential - even if they do not quite know what that potential is...
In reflecting upon the life of a recently-deceased and beloved woman, whom I found to be contraversial, epitomizing the regimented discipline of the "old school" way of proving one's self academically amongst a new school of laissez-faire, renegade (almost) educators, I found myself longing for the lessons of what she had to offer me and the hundreds of young men and women who were, either directly or indirectly, pupils in her vast classroom. For 18 years running, she was the "Master" and her students were loyal to their sensai. Her weapon of choice for battle - which she passed down to her pupils through a steady, faithfully-administered diet - was a gigantic, bigger-than-life belief in the capability of her students to be the brightest, most-capable and accomplished research scientists coming out of the university systems of their era. She believed that excellence, exceptionality was not something that happened by chance. Rather, it was something that happened as a direct result of calculated, and disciplined repetitions. So, as a result, "hers" were expected to spend the extra time attending seminars that exemplified a glorious kind of passing-of-the-baton from one generation or cohort to the next. They were on a time-table and while some critics accused her of ruling with an iron fist, in actuality, this petite woman somehow "commanded" the respect of her students - and the attention (and, in some instances, the envy) of everyone else that came in contact with her.
If anything, one could truly say of her that she was so convinced of her convictions about the potential of her students and the way in which she was taking them - committed to taking the journey with each one beyond the few, short years she was entrusted with them - she absolutely refused to be distracted from her task, her purpose. I always admired her for that and, in a way, I feel that her legacy proved the fact that "her way" was absolutely right - as it always does. Legacy, that is.
Now, when I am faced with the question of whether or not a regimen or a schedule or some sort of concerted effort on my part is actually necessary for me to accomplish anything - meaning, even the smallest of tasks - I recall the conviction with which the proud, petite giant-of-a-woman would say to me, "I tell my students 'It's ridiculous! Of course you [my students] can be there with the best of them!'" Then she would run through the coveted wall of her former students, from over more than a decade ago, and provide individual updates on their accomplishments since having graduated from the University.
And I recall that the key to her success, her legacy, and consequently, the legacy of those who chose to believe her, was in being purposeful in her pursuit of being as good as any other person who achieved something great. She would say that the reason why her students were able to leave the University to go on to bigger and better things was because she made them commit to their own success - whether or not they wanted it. If they were going to reap the benefits of participating in her program, they would necessarily have to even feign belief in their ability. But, like it or not, they would practice their craft, what an accomplished presenter looked like, acted like, how he or she conducted his or her self. After a while, even the clumsiest participate was still far better off than most other peers. And this is what I affectionately consider to be her brand of "discipline." That is, self-discipline. Because ultimately, it was the implementation of what was instilled in her pupils, after they had moved on, that has continued to propel them forward.
We salute you, Dr. Fatma Helmy. May you rest in peace.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year's Resolutions 2.0
Hi, there! And Happy New Year, everyone!
So a new year means: what? Well, it can mean promises that we make to ourselves to be better to ourselves and the ones we love. But we make this promise every year, don't we? So what's really different, what's to be considered special about another year? And, more specifically, this year?
My friends - fellow Gen X'ers - and I have long time since stopped disclosing our private promises, futile vows to ourselves - professed in the company of our most closest and intimate of guardians - about how we would finish what we attempted to do the year before. Really, I think, in a way, it's more of a glaring reminder of our failures: to say the same thing (just in a different way), for yet another year, when it obviously was a fruitless expedition in the last! Clearly, I have had my reservations about the whole "tradition" thing involved here. (Besides, we're mothers and fathers, now; we've outgrown such things...or at least, we let the media and the talk shows dictate what our goals will be for the year...)
But this year, I surprised myself. I was sending out my usual New Year's email greetings and realized, in re-reading it prior to sending it out (yes, I do edit most of my emails before sending them out), that there was an unmistakable quality about it that seemed awfully familiar. The best I could do to describe it was to call it a thinly-veiled attempt at "nostalgia" that was infused throughout. And there it was: the reason why, the older I get, I recognize that I have looked at tradition, kicked vehemently against it and the obvious tyrrany and staid resolve that it represented, dedicated my most passionate efforts to defy it, only to then mourn the loss of what I consider familiar and "old-fashioned" - crowded annual family gatherings, Christmas pancakes, sunrise service on Easter morning, the Macy's Thanksgiving parades, our icons and loved ones...
It's the nostalgia, the romanticism that causes us to not be OK with settling (at least, not for too long of a time) for being the janitor forever, when according to the American Dream, if we've put in the time to better ourselves, to educate ourselves, we should see some vertical movement in the company. Or why, even though our views on love may be a little unorthodox, we still seek validation. I.e., we want the wedding, the marriage license, the white picket fence -- even if we also have a penthouse on the water for 180 days out of the year. It is our homing device, the compass that irrefutibly guides and advises our impressions and convictions, without which I think a great deal of us would be LOST (and some of us ARE!). I think it is this sense of security, the comfort in knowing that I have the right to "expect" certain things to be, that fuels aspirations of healthy, well-rounded citizens of the world.
Take for example the idea of Santa Claus. There are probably many of you who know the story. Or, rather, multiple stories about the origin of the jolly, old guy who lives at the North Pole, keeping a list of naughty and nice children. I, honestly, thought I had heard it all when I began the Christmas season. I mean, hearkening back to the days of Father Christmas, and Old Saint Nick, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, It's a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street. These were all stories I had grown up with and looked forward to seeing over and over again -- and, even if I didn't quite choose to watch it for a span of a year or two (2), I still expected to see the broadcast times on the TV guide listing.
This year, however, I have to admit to having watched more variations on the theme of Santa Clause than I imagined ever existed...Never in a million years would I have expected to see so many different stories about the man in the bright red suit lined up, one after the other! And they weren't half bad. Although I must admit that I originally viewed them with some skepticism, expecting sappy, gushing, and sentimental script writing, coupled with bad, overly-dramatic acting. The lesson learned for me was this: if the arts, and in particular, writers, mirror what a society's sentiments are, then we are clearly yearning to believe in what we cannot see, but only feel, or that quality which we see embodied in our neighbors, our friends, a stranger in town. We want to be able to trust people to surprise us by not wanting anything from us in exchange for kindness other than gratitude. We are in desperate need of forgiveness from people that, for one reason or another, matter to us. And many of us will only do with forgiveness from God...This is what we characterize as the Christmas spirit. It's what keeps us on Santa's "nice" list - and off of the "naughy" list.
I had never before given much thought to the personification of Christmas, as portrayed in Santa Claus, but I have since come to resolve that Santa must represent mankind. We get true goodness, when we give true goodness; if we sow seeds of thorns and thistle, we will also reap this from our fellow man.
Simply put, this gives us HOPE and something to aspire towards. Hope of lifted hearts, of relationships free from animosity and strife. Even hope of looking forward to a truce with our own built-up issues. I, for one, haven't given up on "tradition." Even as I promise myself to do better, to treat my self better, to treat others better, I am reminded that my past shortcomings were not necessarily failures. Rather, I am reminded of a famous saying that has remained with me since junior and senior high school days: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again."
So this year, let's BE better to ourselves. At least, let's "TRY." How's that for nostalgia!
So a new year means: what? Well, it can mean promises that we make to ourselves to be better to ourselves and the ones we love. But we make this promise every year, don't we? So what's really different, what's to be considered special about another year? And, more specifically, this year?
My friends - fellow Gen X'ers - and I have long time since stopped disclosing our private promises, futile vows to ourselves - professed in the company of our most closest and intimate of guardians - about how we would finish what we attempted to do the year before. Really, I think, in a way, it's more of a glaring reminder of our failures: to say the same thing (just in a different way), for yet another year, when it obviously was a fruitless expedition in the last! Clearly, I have had my reservations about the whole "tradition" thing involved here. (Besides, we're mothers and fathers, now; we've outgrown such things...or at least, we let the media and the talk shows dictate what our goals will be for the year...)
But this year, I surprised myself. I was sending out my usual New Year's email greetings and realized, in re-reading it prior to sending it out (yes, I do edit most of my emails before sending them out), that there was an unmistakable quality about it that seemed awfully familiar. The best I could do to describe it was to call it a thinly-veiled attempt at "nostalgia" that was infused throughout. And there it was: the reason why, the older I get, I recognize that I have looked at tradition, kicked vehemently against it and the obvious tyrrany and staid resolve that it represented, dedicated my most passionate efforts to defy it, only to then mourn the loss of what I consider familiar and "old-fashioned" - crowded annual family gatherings, Christmas pancakes, sunrise service on Easter morning, the Macy's Thanksgiving parades, our icons and loved ones...
It's the nostalgia, the romanticism that causes us to not be OK with settling (at least, not for too long of a time) for being the janitor forever, when according to the American Dream, if we've put in the time to better ourselves, to educate ourselves, we should see some vertical movement in the company. Or why, even though our views on love may be a little unorthodox, we still seek validation. I.e., we want the wedding, the marriage license, the white picket fence -- even if we also have a penthouse on the water for 180 days out of the year. It is our homing device, the compass that irrefutibly guides and advises our impressions and convictions, without which I think a great deal of us would be LOST (and some of us ARE!). I think it is this sense of security, the comfort in knowing that I have the right to "expect" certain things to be, that fuels aspirations of healthy, well-rounded citizens of the world.
Take for example the idea of Santa Claus. There are probably many of you who know the story. Or, rather, multiple stories about the origin of the jolly, old guy who lives at the North Pole, keeping a list of naughty and nice children. I, honestly, thought I had heard it all when I began the Christmas season. I mean, hearkening back to the days of Father Christmas, and Old Saint Nick, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, It's a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street. These were all stories I had grown up with and looked forward to seeing over and over again -- and, even if I didn't quite choose to watch it for a span of a year or two (2), I still expected to see the broadcast times on the TV guide listing.
This year, however, I have to admit to having watched more variations on the theme of Santa Clause than I imagined ever existed...Never in a million years would I have expected to see so many different stories about the man in the bright red suit lined up, one after the other! And they weren't half bad. Although I must admit that I originally viewed them with some skepticism, expecting sappy, gushing, and sentimental script writing, coupled with bad, overly-dramatic acting. The lesson learned for me was this: if the arts, and in particular, writers, mirror what a society's sentiments are, then we are clearly yearning to believe in what we cannot see, but only feel, or that quality which we see embodied in our neighbors, our friends, a stranger in town. We want to be able to trust people to surprise us by not wanting anything from us in exchange for kindness other than gratitude. We are in desperate need of forgiveness from people that, for one reason or another, matter to us. And many of us will only do with forgiveness from God...This is what we characterize as the Christmas spirit. It's what keeps us on Santa's "nice" list - and off of the "naughy" list.
I had never before given much thought to the personification of Christmas, as portrayed in Santa Claus, but I have since come to resolve that Santa must represent mankind. We get true goodness, when we give true goodness; if we sow seeds of thorns and thistle, we will also reap this from our fellow man.
Simply put, this gives us HOPE and something to aspire towards. Hope of lifted hearts, of relationships free from animosity and strife. Even hope of looking forward to a truce with our own built-up issues. I, for one, haven't given up on "tradition." Even as I promise myself to do better, to treat my self better, to treat others better, I am reminded that my past shortcomings were not necessarily failures. Rather, I am reminded of a famous saying that has remained with me since junior and senior high school days: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again."
So this year, let's BE better to ourselves. At least, let's "TRY." How's that for nostalgia!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
What do YOU want?
There are more than a few things that make me angry. But I won't bore you with a lengthy list of pet peeves. I'll just zero in on one, in particular. And this one is a biggie: It's the idea of marrying a career that one perceives to be beneath one's capabilities. I continuously beat myself up, debating the wisdom of immersing myself into a career that exploits one dominant skill set that I know is a gift to have (because no one else wants to do it), but which bores me to death. We all have done it, though, at one point or another: Settled for a less-than-stellar job or career because it was convenient -- and not without its tangible rewards, if the truth be told! Just nothing that I envisioned myself doing when I was preparing to graduate high school, or contemplating a future of adventure, bathing in a feeling of ultimate control over my own set course of destiny.
So what gives? Why do we do it? Settle, that is? Quite simply because most of we who are in the workforce are not blue bloods, having family endowments that enable us to do exactly what we want to do, when we want to do it...Our bills and familial obligations and modest friends and family connections dictate that this job or the other job is appropriate for us. And we quietly acquiesce. You get where I'm going with this...
And the trade-off for us? Untapped potential.
At this point, I could easily slip into a sad, monotone diatribe about how "stuck" one would be under these circumstances. I have, however, come face-to-face with the inevitable "Truth" about my own grievances. The truth is, my parents were right. They were always right about these sorts of things about the haves and the have nots, and what the realities of these states were. I could choose to either whine about something like this and wallow in a pigsty of self-pity, or I could summon up all of the self-confidence I could "fake" (yes, I said "fake"), and spend my energies doing something that put my talents to work. I could write the next chapter of my novel, if I wanted to, instead of working on my latest manual for the job. (Then I could work on the manual.)
The point? Sure I'm talented enough to write the directions to a process in language that is user-friendly and easy-to-understand. And that was how I was rewarded for my talent by being assigned the task in the first place. But anything that is worth working for, seems to me to have a life of its own, fueled by the passion that brings it to life in the first place. So it is not the technical writing that is the point; it is the act of writing in the first place. It's how a person can spend time blogging on seemingly "nothing" when they could just as easily be working on a report or the next phase of a major project or initiative.
The other day I watched part of the Kennedy Honors television broadcast this year, and found myself listening, with great intensity, to the words that Caroline Kennedy uttered about the purpose of the awards. It went on about appreciating the contribution that the artist makes to the American culture. And, to be honest, I found myself surprised that they would be so blatant as to discuss such a frivolous occupation as "the arts" and call it as "essential" to the American culture as that of the teacher, the fireman, the doctor, the scientist, and the lawyer. I was almost repulsed ("envious" is probably a better word for it) that these individuals, who got to pretend all day long, and play, and be "free" as a bird, and vulnerable - the idyllic picture of American royalty - would "need" still more recognition for their "work!" (So, the Emmy's, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards were just not enough, right????)
Don't get me wrong: I LOVE Meryl Streep. Yo-yo Ma does not know that I am forever connected and transformed by his work with the cello. The same with Neil Diamond, Barbara Cook, and Sonny Rollins. I have "mad" respect for each of them.
But there is a part of my Generation X constitution that makes me feel more than just a little cheated, that I have not had the time to devote to writing my single all-American novel that would revel Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Or that I haven't had the time to spend hours and hours on-end immersing myself musically, rehearsing arias by Mozart for all of the hours of work I've spent straightening out messes that people who simply don't want to put forth the effort to do the work create: out of sheer LAZINESS! It fuels, probably more than anything else, my smoldering resentment concerning my "situation" more than just a little bit.
Without getting political, I will say that the working-class man or woman does, in fact, possess more control over their destinies than may appear on face-value. For all the diary-keeping that I may do, or commiserating with friends, if I do not break my pattern of conditioned servitude, I will not feed my appetite for the creative, "original thought." Then the inhibition to my own destiny becomes my self, my own inability to prevent entropy by "using my limbs" - the extensions of my self in the form of my talents, the thing I do as naturally as the act of breathing. It is my own doing, then, that prevents that novel from being completed. It is my own fault that the dream of being a journalist, and having a "voice" lies still dormant.
Nothing worth anything happens without real effort. Just as a boulder cannot be moved without a force greater than the mass acts upon it. So it is with the prospect of realizing our personal dreams and aspirations.The only place that a person can hope to truly stand out is in his or her mind. It is the only place that the playing field is truly level, where the competitor knows the competition more intimately than he or she cares to admit and can use that knowledge to his or her advantage: strengths, triumphs, and, more importantly, weaknesses and shortcomings...
So: what is it that YOU want? And, more importantly, what are you doing to work towards accomplishing it? Nothing much, you answer? Maybe you should start...Happy New Year.
So what gives? Why do we do it? Settle, that is? Quite simply because most of we who are in the workforce are not blue bloods, having family endowments that enable us to do exactly what we want to do, when we want to do it...Our bills and familial obligations and modest friends and family connections dictate that this job or the other job is appropriate for us. And we quietly acquiesce. You get where I'm going with this...
And the trade-off for us? Untapped potential.
At this point, I could easily slip into a sad, monotone diatribe about how "stuck" one would be under these circumstances. I have, however, come face-to-face with the inevitable "Truth" about my own grievances. The truth is, my parents were right. They were always right about these sorts of things about the haves and the have nots, and what the realities of these states were. I could choose to either whine about something like this and wallow in a pigsty of self-pity, or I could summon up all of the self-confidence I could "fake" (yes, I said "fake"), and spend my energies doing something that put my talents to work. I could write the next chapter of my novel, if I wanted to, instead of working on my latest manual for the job. (Then I could work on the manual.)
The point? Sure I'm talented enough to write the directions to a process in language that is user-friendly and easy-to-understand. And that was how I was rewarded for my talent by being assigned the task in the first place. But anything that is worth working for, seems to me to have a life of its own, fueled by the passion that brings it to life in the first place. So it is not the technical writing that is the point; it is the act of writing in the first place. It's how a person can spend time blogging on seemingly "nothing" when they could just as easily be working on a report or the next phase of a major project or initiative.
The other day I watched part of the Kennedy Honors television broadcast this year, and found myself listening, with great intensity, to the words that Caroline Kennedy uttered about the purpose of the awards. It went on about appreciating the contribution that the artist makes to the American culture. And, to be honest, I found myself surprised that they would be so blatant as to discuss such a frivolous occupation as "the arts" and call it as "essential" to the American culture as that of the teacher, the fireman, the doctor, the scientist, and the lawyer. I was almost repulsed ("envious" is probably a better word for it) that these individuals, who got to pretend all day long, and play, and be "free" as a bird, and vulnerable - the idyllic picture of American royalty - would "need" still more recognition for their "work!" (So, the Emmy's, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards were just not enough, right????)
Don't get me wrong: I LOVE Meryl Streep. Yo-yo Ma does not know that I am forever connected and transformed by his work with the cello. The same with Neil Diamond, Barbara Cook, and Sonny Rollins. I have "mad" respect for each of them.
But there is a part of my Generation X constitution that makes me feel more than just a little cheated, that I have not had the time to devote to writing my single all-American novel that would revel Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Or that I haven't had the time to spend hours and hours on-end immersing myself musically, rehearsing arias by Mozart for all of the hours of work I've spent straightening out messes that people who simply don't want to put forth the effort to do the work create: out of sheer LAZINESS! It fuels, probably more than anything else, my smoldering resentment concerning my "situation" more than just a little bit.
Without getting political, I will say that the working-class man or woman does, in fact, possess more control over their destinies than may appear on face-value. For all the diary-keeping that I may do, or commiserating with friends, if I do not break my pattern of conditioned servitude, I will not feed my appetite for the creative, "original thought." Then the inhibition to my own destiny becomes my self, my own inability to prevent entropy by "using my limbs" - the extensions of my self in the form of my talents, the thing I do as naturally as the act of breathing. It is my own doing, then, that prevents that novel from being completed. It is my own fault that the dream of being a journalist, and having a "voice" lies still dormant.
Nothing worth anything happens without real effort. Just as a boulder cannot be moved without a force greater than the mass acts upon it. So it is with the prospect of realizing our personal dreams and aspirations.The only place that a person can hope to truly stand out is in his or her mind. It is the only place that the playing field is truly level, where the competitor knows the competition more intimately than he or she cares to admit and can use that knowledge to his or her advantage: strengths, triumphs, and, more importantly, weaknesses and shortcomings...
So: what is it that YOU want? And, more importantly, what are you doing to work towards accomplishing it? Nothing much, you answer? Maybe you should start...Happy New Year.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Down the Rabbit Hole We Go!
So...there's this phenomenon I refer to as going "Down the Rabbit Hole." And basically what that means is that, at some point, a person has lost his or her personal perspective. Anyone familiar with the Jim Jones debacle can feel free to use the analogy of saying "Don't drink the Koolaid."
For our purposes, I'll just cut to the chase and say the moral of this lesson is to never let organization or office politics guide your decision making. I know that sounds like words of a rebel speaking, of someone naive to the ways of the world. And I may have mentioned some variation of this lesson in an earlier post. But truly, I am anything but naive about things like this, knowing full well the importance of not falling prey to the whole "loyalty" trap.
If you work long enough and pay attention to how the workplace has evolved, you are savvy enough to understand that no one is safe these days from replacement -- even downsizing. This is because there is a new version of company loyalty in force. The kind that is not nearly as interested in company men and women as they are in having people that are not certifiable and certainly are competent enough to get enough of the job done to keep them from having to do it themselves. Live to see another day is the new mantra. Maneuver, meet the right folks to keep it moving (because stagnancy can be a point of vulnerability), and along the way "pay the Pied Piper!" No one wants to be the odd-man-out, or seen as the naysayer in an organization. However, it is important to understand that in these difficult economic times no one is safe from scrutiny or job security vulnerability.
What can you do to protect yourself? Keeping a level-head is about as much as an individual can do to protect one's self from getting sucked into political plays. Even that great boss that says he or she has your back will do what is necessary - from his or her perspective - to live-to-see-another-day (I love James Bond, don't you?). So caution is paramount. Do your job, and do it well. But continue to build upon your skill set. You will likely need it later on - even if just to have in your repertoire.
A final word: Be vigilant but not vigilante. Even though the boss may like your spunk, and the benefits thereof, understand that the stakes are significantly higher for you than they are for the boss. Again, a little perspective goes a long way. Always advocate for things that will make your life (at the job) easier or better. If what your boss is advocating for doesn't make sense or will make things more difficult for you, be cautious and aware. Don't become the mascot, but neither should you become a hindrance. But be the diplomat, representing the true advocate. In the end, the truth always comes out: just don't let the truth prove that your over-enthusiasm about a cause has caused you to overplay the hand that you've been dealt.
For our purposes, I'll just cut to the chase and say the moral of this lesson is to never let organization or office politics guide your decision making. I know that sounds like words of a rebel speaking, of someone naive to the ways of the world. And I may have mentioned some variation of this lesson in an earlier post. But truly, I am anything but naive about things like this, knowing full well the importance of not falling prey to the whole "loyalty" trap.
If you work long enough and pay attention to how the workplace has evolved, you are savvy enough to understand that no one is safe these days from replacement -- even downsizing. This is because there is a new version of company loyalty in force. The kind that is not nearly as interested in company men and women as they are in having people that are not certifiable and certainly are competent enough to get enough of the job done to keep them from having to do it themselves. Live to see another day is the new mantra. Maneuver, meet the right folks to keep it moving (because stagnancy can be a point of vulnerability), and along the way "pay the Pied Piper!" No one wants to be the odd-man-out, or seen as the naysayer in an organization. However, it is important to understand that in these difficult economic times no one is safe from scrutiny or job security vulnerability.
What can you do to protect yourself? Keeping a level-head is about as much as an individual can do to protect one's self from getting sucked into political plays. Even that great boss that says he or she has your back will do what is necessary - from his or her perspective - to live-to-see-another-day (I love James Bond, don't you?). So caution is paramount. Do your job, and do it well. But continue to build upon your skill set. You will likely need it later on - even if just to have in your repertoire.
A final word: Be vigilant but not vigilante. Even though the boss may like your spunk, and the benefits thereof, understand that the stakes are significantly higher for you than they are for the boss. Again, a little perspective goes a long way. Always advocate for things that will make your life (at the job) easier or better. If what your boss is advocating for doesn't make sense or will make things more difficult for you, be cautious and aware. Don't become the mascot, but neither should you become a hindrance. But be the diplomat, representing the true advocate. In the end, the truth always comes out: just don't let the truth prove that your over-enthusiasm about a cause has caused you to overplay the hand that you've been dealt.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Professional accountability for who?! Humbug!
Accountability is such a funny thing. You can be held accountable for things you are cognizant of, things you know nothing about, even things you are a little fuzzy on. The thing to be aware of, however, is that ultimately you are only truly "accountable" for something if there are definite rewards and punishments involved.
I know: this can be a tricky business if you think too long on it, but bear with me briefly.
The only way the full benefits of the utilization of subscribing to the value of accountability are realized is if there is a conscientious decision by the people that matter - the true decisionmakers. So, in other words, even though everyone else may scream at the top of their lungs about the proverbial "elephant in the room," until the right people hold the decisionmakers responsible for the execution of what everyone knows should happen, individual efforts are futile. As much as one would be tempted to try to make meaningful, fundamental changes, just know that you can't take perceived, marginalized success personally.
Your efforts are not in vain, however, maintaining perspective will help the self-motivated understand that culture change is not a "culture" change until behavior and expectations of behavior are modified among the most resistent of persons. And we all know how behavior is modified: through exposure and conditioning - all of the greatest of psychologists and scientists attest to it being the most effective way to effect "Change." And, ultimately, let's face it. that's what we all want: for odds to be in our favor - even so far as including how people's actions affect us.
So keep conditioning, keep influencing, keep exposing others to efficiency, and competence, and professionalism and watch as, over time, small, gradual changes in behavior of those "exposed" to you, are made. Sometimes people don't know how good things can be until they are actually exposed to "better."
I know: this can be a tricky business if you think too long on it, but bear with me briefly.
The only way the full benefits of the utilization of subscribing to the value of accountability are realized is if there is a conscientious decision by the people that matter - the true decisionmakers. So, in other words, even though everyone else may scream at the top of their lungs about the proverbial "elephant in the room," until the right people hold the decisionmakers responsible for the execution of what everyone knows should happen, individual efforts are futile. As much as one would be tempted to try to make meaningful, fundamental changes, just know that you can't take perceived, marginalized success personally.
Your efforts are not in vain, however, maintaining perspective will help the self-motivated understand that culture change is not a "culture" change until behavior and expectations of behavior are modified among the most resistent of persons. And we all know how behavior is modified: through exposure and conditioning - all of the greatest of psychologists and scientists attest to it being the most effective way to effect "Change." And, ultimately, let's face it. that's what we all want: for odds to be in our favor - even so far as including how people's actions affect us.
So keep conditioning, keep influencing, keep exposing others to efficiency, and competence, and professionalism and watch as, over time, small, gradual changes in behavior of those "exposed" to you, are made. Sometimes people don't know how good things can be until they are actually exposed to "better."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Over-doing it...Again
I know, far too well, what it is to "overdo it."
I have known for a while. No, I don't over-eat. I don't over-drink. I'm not an exercise fanatic or a health food nut. I am not OCD (at least, not by all accounts), so I am not necessarily a control freak (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!).
Let me qualify what I stated earlier: Around Thanksgiving, I always over-eat. Sometimes when I'm doing my eyebrows, I do over-pluck them (that really is something that is such a "bad" thing to do...). But, on a more serious note, from time to time, I must admit to being a bit of a workaholic. Only at certain points, though. And this can be one of the deadliest vices a person can have: A situation where he or she fails to pace one's self, and create a kind of balance in one's life whereby he or she can go to sleep without having literal "jitters" from being so "wired" and tired. I know this feeling. And I know the onset of this trend (as I originally stated, I have been a repeat offender).
It starts with the long hours at work for more than one week, even though you still take the work home with the intention of doing still more work there. It's just "one more thing" that needs to be done. But it is never just one more thing. The To Do list never gets completed, and you begin to recognize this, much to your chagrin. And, here's where it gets evident that you're not disengaging from the day's task: even when you take the work home, you don't touch it until you get back at the job the next day. Ladies and gentlemen, that is a sign - a "saving grace," if you will - that you need to re-evaluate what you're doing and how you're viewing yourself and your role.
You MUST build recreation time into your busy schedule. You MUST be able to take time to eat lunch, sometimes all by yourself, if your job requires you to do the obligatory "face time" thing, more times than not. You MUST be able to leave the work on the desk sometimes -- even when there are "too many people depending on you" because you are in a "you-just-don't-know-the responsibilities-I-hold" kind of position. Stress kills and maims far too many for this not to be true. But it doesn't have to claim you. And you know I'm right.
One of the difficult things about being really good about what you do is knowing when to turn off the gift, so to speak. You hear about CEOs of extremely successful corporations suffering from being workaholics all of the time. As well as really good teachers (overworked and underpaid), and those that work behind the scenes making things happen (makeup artists, movie directors, detectives, political activists, etc). Because we understand that we make the world go round. If we were not in place, where, in the world, would all of us be?
The answer: Exactly where we will be when you and I are no longer on this earth (i.e., we go the way of the earth, as we all must). I think that at some point one can become tied up in a web of creating a kind of competition with one's own reputation (when they know they occupy a position in a certain class of few elite), often setting up our own expectations against near-impossible standards: of our own making. Don't let this happen to you.
Keep your career in perspective: it is only one portion of who you are. It represents only a part of what you do. Your character, how you impact the people you know, like family, friends, neighbors, church family, etc, is far more important. The process (Life) is more important than the product (any individual tasks and activities you can come up with) - a variation on the mantra that "the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts." Let this precept guide you in how you approach your work, and life, in general, and you will find the time you've been looking for to relax. Because you will appreciate that you are no good to anyone "dead." And that you do "need to get a life" -- and you can.
In the end, what makes you "good" is your set of experiences. But some of the best training, the sources of the best ideas, happen outside of the work environment. We hear about finding a niche and working it, but embrace diversity in your life. In academia, a liberal arts education is still considered valuable in helping to prepare (academically) the well-rounded citizen, not because it is necessarily an overly-specialized or "superior" education. But because it provides a global view, of all aspects of life. You, too, must embrace opportunities to do something different. Something fun, even. Even as diversity of activity will help you do your job better, it will also enhance how you relate to your loved ones, family and friends better. Most importantly, it will help you learn to not take yourself (as narrowly-defined by your job) too seriously. The job will be there when you get back in the office.
So take some time for you: because you can't afford not to. And: You will be glad that you did.
I have known for a while. No, I don't over-eat. I don't over-drink. I'm not an exercise fanatic or a health food nut. I am not OCD (at least, not by all accounts), so I am not necessarily a control freak (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!).
Let me qualify what I stated earlier: Around Thanksgiving, I always over-eat. Sometimes when I'm doing my eyebrows, I do over-pluck them (that really is something that is such a "bad" thing to do...). But, on a more serious note, from time to time, I must admit to being a bit of a workaholic. Only at certain points, though. And this can be one of the deadliest vices a person can have: A situation where he or she fails to pace one's self, and create a kind of balance in one's life whereby he or she can go to sleep without having literal "jitters" from being so "wired" and tired. I know this feeling. And I know the onset of this trend (as I originally stated, I have been a repeat offender).
It starts with the long hours at work for more than one week, even though you still take the work home with the intention of doing still more work there. It's just "one more thing" that needs to be done. But it is never just one more thing. The To Do list never gets completed, and you begin to recognize this, much to your chagrin. And, here's where it gets evident that you're not disengaging from the day's task: even when you take the work home, you don't touch it until you get back at the job the next day. Ladies and gentlemen, that is a sign - a "saving grace," if you will - that you need to re-evaluate what you're doing and how you're viewing yourself and your role.
You MUST build recreation time into your busy schedule. You MUST be able to take time to eat lunch, sometimes all by yourself, if your job requires you to do the obligatory "face time" thing, more times than not. You MUST be able to leave the work on the desk sometimes -- even when there are "too many people depending on you" because you are in a "you-just-don't-know-the responsibilities-I-hold" kind of position. Stress kills and maims far too many for this not to be true. But it doesn't have to claim you. And you know I'm right.
One of the difficult things about being really good about what you do is knowing when to turn off the gift, so to speak. You hear about CEOs of extremely successful corporations suffering from being workaholics all of the time. As well as really good teachers (overworked and underpaid), and those that work behind the scenes making things happen (makeup artists, movie directors, detectives, political activists, etc). Because we understand that we make the world go round. If we were not in place, where, in the world, would all of us be?
The answer: Exactly where we will be when you and I are no longer on this earth (i.e., we go the way of the earth, as we all must). I think that at some point one can become tied up in a web of creating a kind of competition with one's own reputation (when they know they occupy a position in a certain class of few elite), often setting up our own expectations against near-impossible standards: of our own making. Don't let this happen to you.
Keep your career in perspective: it is only one portion of who you are. It represents only a part of what you do. Your character, how you impact the people you know, like family, friends, neighbors, church family, etc, is far more important. The process (Life) is more important than the product (any individual tasks and activities you can come up with) - a variation on the mantra that "the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts." Let this precept guide you in how you approach your work, and life, in general, and you will find the time you've been looking for to relax. Because you will appreciate that you are no good to anyone "dead." And that you do "need to get a life" -- and you can.
In the end, what makes you "good" is your set of experiences. But some of the best training, the sources of the best ideas, happen outside of the work environment. We hear about finding a niche and working it, but embrace diversity in your life. In academia, a liberal arts education is still considered valuable in helping to prepare (academically) the well-rounded citizen, not because it is necessarily an overly-specialized or "superior" education. But because it provides a global view, of all aspects of life. You, too, must embrace opportunities to do something different. Something fun, even. Even as diversity of activity will help you do your job better, it will also enhance how you relate to your loved ones, family and friends better. Most importantly, it will help you learn to not take yourself (as narrowly-defined by your job) too seriously. The job will be there when you get back in the office.
So take some time for you: because you can't afford not to. And: You will be glad that you did.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Hardest Part About Being 'Good'
Hi, again!
Today's topic is one of my all time favorites: How to be really 'good' at what you do. Now, I know what you're thinking: Well, this is a stupid topic. I mean, everyone knows you have to prepare yourself, be it educationally, or else by obtaining the proper professional training, or by aligning yourself with a really great mentor who will at least tolerate your presence as you glean from him or her as they go about their glorious careers, making others' efforts appear to be nothing more than ant-like activity in comparison.
But that's not what I mean. I happen to believe that more people have the capability to be 'good' at things than most people even know of themselves. The key here is that laziness can nullify capacity. You may be brilliant: but if you don't do anything that demonstrates that brilliance, then you really don't know whether or not that suspicion of greatness was correct. Likewise, many who have thought themselves to be lacking of any real talent (take Albert Einstein, for instance), have gone on to change the world through their raw tenacity.
And this is where I come to a very important point about how one can be really 'good' at what one dones (career-wise): Even if you do something relatively well, the challenge is not to do it the first time, or even the second time. The challenge that presents itself to the doer is the follow-through. Often one will find that the most difficult part, the most tenuous aspect of doing anything that one aspires to set themselves apart by doing well, is sustaining that same level of performance, even as the challenges become greater and more frequent, and as temptation to slack off or relax the level of attention increases.
A word of caution is in order, here: Do not give in to it. What makes one 'good' at something is just that: the ability to do a thing with a consistency about their work, and an ability to adapt to a variety of external stimuli without compromising the quality of your product. To the extent that you are able to do this relatively well, you have succeeded. If not, maybe what you think is your strong suit is nothing more than something that you are, simply, 'proficient' at doing...Not my intention to burst anyone's bubble but one cannot ignore the fact that there may be some things that you do that are "forgettable" while other things may prove to become signature moments for you - no matter how much more time you spent doing that "forgettable" (but important) task! Using this as a rough and dirty assessment tool (or rather, measuring stick), one could call this a person's natural talent. One thing is certain: It is obviously an activity that distinguishes one person's from another's efforts. If it's worth doing, you will find yourself compelled to do 'good' at what you're doing even when you're tired. Something in you will know how to detecting the errors - even through red, blood-shot eyes that are so glossed over from fatigue they are barely open. And the end result, my friend, the end result -- whether it is a masterpiece painting, or an architectural drawing that truly pushes design limits, or a meal or pastry that is simply incredible -- it speaks for itself. Because you, as the conduit for its being, have given it Life. That's when you know you are 'good' at doing something. You don't need to brag about it (first off, because you know the story behind it would be utterly embarassing, most of the time!); you just master the task, and, as the saying goes, "walk in your gift..." It will open doors for you -- if you dare to follow the path it leads you by...
Who knows: Perhaps your greatness beckons. Check yourself, and see what you are truly 'good' at.
Today's topic is one of my all time favorites: How to be really 'good' at what you do. Now, I know what you're thinking: Well, this is a stupid topic. I mean, everyone knows you have to prepare yourself, be it educationally, or else by obtaining the proper professional training, or by aligning yourself with a really great mentor who will at least tolerate your presence as you glean from him or her as they go about their glorious careers, making others' efforts appear to be nothing more than ant-like activity in comparison.
But that's not what I mean. I happen to believe that more people have the capability to be 'good' at things than most people even know of themselves. The key here is that laziness can nullify capacity. You may be brilliant: but if you don't do anything that demonstrates that brilliance, then you really don't know whether or not that suspicion of greatness was correct. Likewise, many who have thought themselves to be lacking of any real talent (take Albert Einstein, for instance), have gone on to change the world through their raw tenacity.
And this is where I come to a very important point about how one can be really 'good' at what one dones (career-wise): Even if you do something relatively well, the challenge is not to do it the first time, or even the second time. The challenge that presents itself to the doer is the follow-through. Often one will find that the most difficult part, the most tenuous aspect of doing anything that one aspires to set themselves apart by doing well, is sustaining that same level of performance, even as the challenges become greater and more frequent, and as temptation to slack off or relax the level of attention increases.
A word of caution is in order, here: Do not give in to it. What makes one 'good' at something is just that: the ability to do a thing with a consistency about their work, and an ability to adapt to a variety of external stimuli without compromising the quality of your product. To the extent that you are able to do this relatively well, you have succeeded. If not, maybe what you think is your strong suit is nothing more than something that you are, simply, 'proficient' at doing...Not my intention to burst anyone's bubble but one cannot ignore the fact that there may be some things that you do that are "forgettable" while other things may prove to become signature moments for you - no matter how much more time you spent doing that "forgettable" (but important) task! Using this as a rough and dirty assessment tool (or rather, measuring stick), one could call this a person's natural talent. One thing is certain: It is obviously an activity that distinguishes one person's from another's efforts. If it's worth doing, you will find yourself compelled to do 'good' at what you're doing even when you're tired. Something in you will know how to detecting the errors - even through red, blood-shot eyes that are so glossed over from fatigue they are barely open. And the end result, my friend, the end result -- whether it is a masterpiece painting, or an architectural drawing that truly pushes design limits, or a meal or pastry that is simply incredible -- it speaks for itself. Because you, as the conduit for its being, have given it Life. That's when you know you are 'good' at doing something. You don't need to brag about it (first off, because you know the story behind it would be utterly embarassing, most of the time!); you just master the task, and, as the saying goes, "walk in your gift..." It will open doors for you -- if you dare to follow the path it leads you by...
Who knows: Perhaps your greatness beckons. Check yourself, and see what you are truly 'good' at.
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