More than a living

So, I’m watching some gangster flick the other night. Basically any gangster flick. Pick one.
At some point in the movie, someone will go and do something dumb. And then the heavy will decide to spare the idiot’s life but revoke all of his “privileges” for a certain town.
Take Marsellus Wallace and Butch Coolidge from Pulp […]

I know. I know.
If you just wanted to listen to me, you would have subscribed to hypocritical. I get that.
But, at least, this is more focused drivel from your truly.
Well, slightly more focused.
Rest assured, gentle reader, Amy and Toby are still working on articles. They’re still here. I haven’t locked them in the basement or […]

We like to think we’re pretty smart around here at More than a living. But reading and re-reading your own posts can get dull for even me. Sometimes.
When that happens, I like to venture out and do a little extramural blog reading. Being the kind soul that I am, and being how you are my […]

It’s been said a thousand times, so my saying it one more time won’t hurt. In fact, it may help.
People don’t quit jobs. People quit people.
Why do I mention this, today?
Maybe because I’ve been noticing a recurrent theme in some recent articles and blog postings. The theme that us older folk to really don’t understand […]

So, prior to our CSS search, the last time I had to do any significant due diligence on a potential co-worker was roughly two years ago. And then, I was hiring for a position on the other side of the desk. So, it was an employee, not a contractor.
It dawned on me, this morning, how […]

I was just re-reading “Are you obsolete? Why not?” and thinking, “Man, this guy is completely full of crap. Who listens to this noob?”
And then I realized I had written it.
So, then I thought, “Maybe I should give an example. Practice what I preach. Put my money where my mouth is. Show where the rubber […]

Management, listen up.
You’ve got some good employees working for you. Yes, I know. He is a screw up. You’re right. But the rest of them? The rest of them are diamonds in the rough. The leaders of tomorrow. Pure gold.
But you’re losing them.
Right now, as you read this, they’re busy reading want ads, networking with […]

Your ultimate goal–at any job–should be achieving your own obsolescence. When you achieve that, you’ve really succeeded.
You should be extinct.
Not only that, but you should plan to be extinct. You should strive to be extinct.
You should be gone. Remember that.
That, and that alone, should be your only goal as an employee.
“What cockamamie bull is he […]

I’m a big fan of sustainability.
I’m, admittedly, not as good at as I could be. But I’m constantly working to get better. I’ve been recycling for nearly 20 years (yes, kids, there was once a time when people didn’t recycle), I purchase clean energy, I shop for organic goods, I frequent Portland’s veritable plethora of […]

Tough question, and one that shouldn’t be answered too quickly.
A referral, a reference, a recommendation - these things just happen on the fly, over casual lunches and at backyard barbecues. At little league. Over beers. So easy for someone to make.
This is how service people get work. Earn a living. Do a good job, people […]