More than a living

There is an uncomfortable, anxious pang that wells up in you when the halls have been empty for hours, and you know that you and the janitor are the only people in the building – again. You feel like maybe the fault is yours, that you aren’t quite working effective enough, that you could manage […]

Do you employ experts? Do you wish you did? What’s the hold up? A review of some past rants on Pride and Workmanship have me wondering,
Does the conferring title of “expert” on members of your team result in a higher quality of work?
I’m inclined to think it does.
Right or wrong, when I am invested in […]

Here are good ol’ More than a living, we like to think we’re pretty upfront about our mistakes.
It’s not that we like making them.
But once they’re made, there’s a certain amount of catharsis in delving into the causes and results of the mistake. Especially when it helps us see the correct path for solving the […]

I was thinking about Kumquat, again. Constantly.
This time, I was trying to figure out why the idea behind Kumquat appealed to me, so that I could explain to other people why its an important shift in thinking.
Somehow, “I think it’s a good idea” just doesn’t carry that sort of cache I’m seeking.
And then it dawned […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

(Feel free to hum along with Peter Tosh while you’re reading this.)
When I was on the corporate side of the desk, I tended to place a great deal of emphasis on writing plans.
So much so, that some people still cringe when I mention that I’m working on a plan.
“Does it have an executive summary?” they […]

I work with contractors and consultants in nearly every aspect of my life. How is it that the idea of “workmanship,” or the pride of a job well done, can vary so greatly among the masses that work as independent contractors and consultants?
I’ve done a few remodels over the last few years, and find that […]

I love my daily dose of Systematic HR. A great reflection on millennial talent resonates.
I think that “life indeed is the pursuit, not the fulfillment of one’s work life” is a key point that Gen Xers had to slowly stumble into, whereas Gen Ys have had the advantage of watching their Baby Boomer parents discover […]