Friday, March 22, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Personal Review
Yesterday I had my yearly review. It went well.
This year we instituted a new system where part of your yearly review is that up to 15 people throughout the company judge you on how you do your job. Things such as integrity, delivering information in a timely manner and collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit and other such things. On the whole, I think its a great idea. Its possible for people in some workplaces to get away with acting any way they want to their coworkers and still get rewarded by a company for production. As a whole, I think this review process sends a strong message that a culture of cooperation matters.
From a purely personal viewpoint, there were 2 things I learned from this new review system.
1. There are probably times when I am too hard on myself. My boss and the 15 people that I work with throughout the company scored me higher than I scored myself. I scored myself lower because I know there are things I could be doing better. There are things that I am not satisfied with. Nevertheless, I need to remind myself from time to time, the rest of my colleagues and boss are satisfied enough that I can't take myself so seriously that work becomes a drag.
2. Getting along with people, taking care of their needs, just doing what I can to be a good person still affects my overall performance-in the end probably on an equal footing to actual production. I read about a silicon valley company that has two interviews for prospective employees-one to determine their qualifications for a job and another to see how they will mesh with company culture. I hope that more companies start to consider this in hiring.
Work is not simply a bunch of superstars producing outside of each other. There are many people out there who believe that their qualifications make them an incredible addition to the any corporate machine. But there comes a point at which it doesn't matter if your casing is titanium, your springs highly polished beryllium, or even if your bearings are hermetically sealed and lubricated for a life time, if you can't fit into the machine you are part of, and if you can't work with the other components, you're just a useless tool that doesn't fit in...
In my job dealing with Latino customers, I have seen this played out time and time again. Good relationships are the warm social lubricant that makes the day to day world work smoothly and not feel like metal wearing against metal, chipping away at what makes us all truly human.
I'd also like to point out that the company I work for has quite possibly the coolest, nicest, and most awesome HR benefits administrator ever, and I would say this even if she didn't read this blog on occasion (but that does contribute to her overall awesomeness matrix).
This year we instituted a new system where part of your yearly review is that up to 15 people throughout the company judge you on how you do your job. Things such as integrity, delivering information in a timely manner and collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit and other such things. On the whole, I think its a great idea. Its possible for people in some workplaces to get away with acting any way they want to their coworkers and still get rewarded by a company for production. As a whole, I think this review process sends a strong message that a culture of cooperation matters.
From a purely personal viewpoint, there were 2 things I learned from this new review system.
1. There are probably times when I am too hard on myself. My boss and the 15 people that I work with throughout the company scored me higher than I scored myself. I scored myself lower because I know there are things I could be doing better. There are things that I am not satisfied with. Nevertheless, I need to remind myself from time to time, the rest of my colleagues and boss are satisfied enough that I can't take myself so seriously that work becomes a drag.
2. Getting along with people, taking care of their needs, just doing what I can to be a good person still affects my overall performance-in the end probably on an equal footing to actual production. I read about a silicon valley company that has two interviews for prospective employees-one to determine their qualifications for a job and another to see how they will mesh with company culture. I hope that more companies start to consider this in hiring.
Work is not simply a bunch of superstars producing outside of each other. There are many people out there who believe that their qualifications make them an incredible addition to the any corporate machine. But there comes a point at which it doesn't matter if your casing is titanium, your springs highly polished beryllium, or even if your bearings are hermetically sealed and lubricated for a life time, if you can't fit into the machine you are part of, and if you can't work with the other components, you're just a useless tool that doesn't fit in...
In my job dealing with Latino customers, I have seen this played out time and time again. Good relationships are the warm social lubricant that makes the day to day world work smoothly and not feel like metal wearing against metal, chipping away at what makes us all truly human.
I'd also like to point out that the company I work for has quite possibly the coolest, nicest, and most awesome HR benefits administrator ever, and I would say this even if she didn't read this blog on occasion (but that does contribute to her overall awesomeness matrix).
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Friday, March 08, 2013
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
The Dream of America
I'm afraid to turn on the news lately. The President and the Congress and Sentate are struggling to deal with tragedies, taxes and budgets, and I am getting more and more disgusted with government as a whole.
I understand that there is a huge divide on many things between the two parties. I get that. There are many large issues that can't be just worked out easily. There will never be a magical day when congress can get together and just hug it out and all the social ills go away forever. I can accept that.
I'm not a naive hippy. ( I still love the word hippy)
That said, I've got this reasonable dream. I have this paradigm that I know is possible. Its like a taste on the tip of my tongue, but it never fully realizes itself.
Why is it not possible for both parties to approach an issue, such as gun control, healthcare, or abortion and simply start from their intentions, their larger goals and desires and work their way back to small reasonable solutions? Many small solutions could make a huge problem less and less monstrous. It sure beats doing nothing and blaming the other side until you hope you can get a majority again.
Its like we have this huge house to be painted and we're trying to find this one magic giant brush that will paint the whole house in 1 stroke, instead of using little brushes and starting on the trim and moving on to the siding and on from there. Why does it seem that our government hates small solutions?
One of my favorite songs by Sting is "The Russians", where he talks about the nuclear threat during the cold war.
It's a dream, but its worth believing in. We can still work together to make a better country. Every politician can't be without virtue and no one party is utterly corrupt-there has to be some good left. Cooperation has to be possible.
I understand that there is a huge divide on many things between the two parties. I get that. There are many large issues that can't be just worked out easily. There will never be a magical day when congress can get together and just hug it out and all the social ills go away forever. I can accept that.
I'm not a naive hippy. ( I still love the word hippy)
That said, I've got this reasonable dream. I have this paradigm that I know is possible. Its like a taste on the tip of my tongue, but it never fully realizes itself.
Why is it not possible for both parties to approach an issue, such as gun control, healthcare, or abortion and simply start from their intentions, their larger goals and desires and work their way back to small reasonable solutions? Many small solutions could make a huge problem less and less monstrous. It sure beats doing nothing and blaming the other side until you hope you can get a majority again.
Its like we have this huge house to be painted and we're trying to find this one magic giant brush that will paint the whole house in 1 stroke, instead of using little brushes and starting on the trim and moving on to the siding and on from there. Why does it seem that our government hates small solutions?
One of my favorite songs by Sting is "The Russians", where he talks about the nuclear threat during the cold war.
We share the same biologyThe two sides are not that far apart that they can't get some things done. We all love our children, want to have a job and a place of our own. Why can't we start from what we have in common, as little as it may be, and work from there?
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is that the Russians love their children too
It's a dream, but its worth believing in. We can still work together to make a better country. Every politician can't be without virtue and no one party is utterly corrupt-there has to be some good left. Cooperation has to be possible.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Eddie the slam-dunking sea otter at the Oregon Zoo
Eddie the slam-dunking sea otter at the Oregon Zoo:
An Oregon Zoo sea otter has been trained to dunk a basketball as part of its treatment for elbow arthritis.(2/19/13)
FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather
An Oregon Zoo sea otter has been trained to dunk a basketball as part of its treatment for elbow arthritis.(2/19/13)
FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Shocking Revelation...
There are some days when I find snarkiness and cynicism more life-affirming than love.
That my friend, is a personally revealed character flaw.
Things gettin' real up in this room...
What room is that?
The room for IMPROVEMENT!!
I don't know if I'll leave this up, but its a masterpiece of lameness that makes
me giggle-so just for a little while.
That my friend, is a personally revealed character flaw.
Things gettin' real up in this room...
What room is that?
The room for IMPROVEMENT!!
I don't know if I'll leave this up, but its a masterpiece of lameness that makes
me giggle-so just for a little while.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
"Dear Esther" Video Game
Video games are bad for some people, we get it. No dates, no talking, anti-social tendencies, no exercise, rickets, scurvy and all manner of physical, mental and social ills come from their abuse. I truly get this.
However, I stumbled on a different sort of game that I really want to check out, because its not a game in the normal aspects of shooting things or finding this key to put in this door, or talking to this person to get this thing to get to another level.
Its called Dear Esther and is set on a deserted island. Check out the trailer and reviews below.
What intrigued me is that the game world is a vehicle for poetry, prose, visual art, music and ambient sounds. You explore the islands and certain locations trigger the narration from your uncle who is writing a letter to you, Esther.
However, I stumbled on a different sort of game that I really want to check out, because its not a game in the normal aspects of shooting things or finding this key to put in this door, or talking to this person to get this thing to get to another level.
Its called Dear Esther and is set on a deserted island. Check out the trailer and reviews below.
What intrigued me is that the game world is a vehicle for poetry, prose, visual art, music and ambient sounds. You explore the islands and certain locations trigger the narration from your uncle who is writing a letter to you, Esther.
Friday, February 08, 2013
The Grown Up Test
If you are unable to giggle by making silly faces at another person-its too late.
You have become a grown up.
You might as well start moving your waistline to your armpit and asking why
Matlock is off the air.
You have become a grown up.
You might as well start moving your waistline to your armpit and asking why
Matlock is off the air.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Petsami Presents: "Dog Eat Dog" starring Zachary Quinto
Good story. Its got a little bad language-PG-13, but anyone who adopted a pet
from rescue will like it.
from rescue will like it.
Monday, February 04, 2013
Walt Whitman Quote
"Washes and razors for foofoos .... for me freckles and a bristling beard."
Leaves of Grass, "Song of Myself" Stanza section 14
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Why Drummers Should Learn Jazz
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Jazz
A very excellent article on why drummers should learn jazz from different sources. The quote below really spoke to me.
"We play drums because we love it, but the world doesn’t need another drummer. What it does need are creative, problem-solving critical thinkers who can help transform society. I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but learning to play any music that requires a high degree of improvisation, spontaneity, and listening develops skills that are transferable into other areas of life. The following are just a few of the life skills heightened by learning to play jazz: working effectively as a member of a team; improvising and thinking creatively, spontaneously, and imaginatively; entrepreneurial thinking; a willingness to experiment and take calculated risks; adaptability; self-reliance; self-confidence; synthesis skills (combining different ideas and theories); self-awareness (knowing your role and respecting others); empowerment (enabling your own voice and contribution); resourcefulness and problem-solving (modifying, altering, and adjusting); a sense of being an originator (playing, designing, and building unique parts); and collaboration (working with others to produce something different or unique)." - Marc Dicciani
Friday, February 01, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Its My Birthday.
You know, I have never been this old before.
That's all the deep thoughts I have for today-need coffee...head hurts...
Chau
That's all the deep thoughts I have for today-need coffee...head hurts...
Chau
Saturday, January 19, 2013
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