For my blog this week, I want to pay tribute to a special group of American workers: members of our U.S. Military. It is fitting on this Memorial Day to do so. It is, in fact, this day we pay tribute to those whose line of work has cost them their lives! (For a clarification of the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day, see HERE.)
Military men and women know the risks. If you don’t, you have a lousy recruiter. Few lines of work in our nation come with the caveat, “Oh…and this job may cost you your life.” It tends to reduce the number of applicants.
In the book, A Greater Freedom, Oliver North and Sara Horn give us dramatic examples of the depth of commitment of most soldiers. The book is a collection of stories from one of America’s more recent military engagements, Operation Iraqi Freedom. The reader will be touched by many examples of the real life sacrifice of heroes in the military workplace.
One particularly moving story to me was that of Navy Medical Corpsman, HM3 Michael Johnson. He died in action while trying to save the life of a wounded Marine. The wounded soldier survived.
Commander Frank Holley was the senior chaplain in the 5th Marine Regiment during this time. His regiment had a gospel choir that was providing music for the worship services before the war began. HM3 Michael Johnson was a part of that choir.
Chaplain Holley remembers Johnson coming forward for communion on the last Sunday before battle. He states, “As Marines and Sailors came forward for Holy Communion, I thought to myself as I administered the sacrament to each, ‘Lord, what will become of his man? Will I see him again if tomorrow we get the word to go?…Lord, I don’t know what’s ahead, but use me as an instrument of your grace.’”
It was, in fact, the last communion HM3 Johnson would be given. It was memorable to the chaplain only because the tall African American needed a shave. Chaplain Holley noted, “Though we grieved his death, we were comforted by he fact that this man knew the Lord.”
On September 17, 2003, the branch medical clinic at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego was named for Michael Johnson, who posthumously was promoted to HM2. It was there that Chaplain Holley met Johnson’s wife and parents. His eyes were misty as he shared the faith commitment he witnessed in Johnson’s life, hoping to encourage them with Michael’s spiritual legacy.
My father in law is a retired Air Force Chaplain. My father was a Navy Chaplain’s Assistant. My wife, Rhonda, and I were married by two Air Force Chaplains—one of whom was her dad. And I personally have benefited from the military chaplaincy program in many ways. I’m grateful for this service to our military.
The Bible tells us that we shall continue to endure “wars and rumors of wars.” (Mark 13:7) Jesus then adds, “But do not be troubled, for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet.” That’s a heavy message. Sounds like we’re going to need chaplains for quite a while.
Thank you HM2 Michael Johnson. You’ve made a difference. We pay tribute to you and the many who’ve died to make us free. And keep up the good work, Chaplains! Giving a soldier faith, hope, and courage is a true labor of love.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays, 4-6 pm on AM 1160 WYLL in Chicago. Check the web for WYLL and the app for AM 1160 to listen live. Or by podcast.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
Whine Not Served Here
I am a blessed man. And lived to tell my story. I have a new job.
After being unexpectedly “unemployed” for almost six months, I rejoin the workforce this week. Not so for many others. Age comes with certain perils. Re-employment is one of them.
I should say upfront that I never considered myself “unemployed.” There was the blessing of severance pay. That gave me a window of time and removed a fair amount of pressure to find “the next thing.”
Even so, just about every day I was actively moving toward my “next assignment.” That is precisely how I phrased it consistently in my prayer life during this season. There were opportunities that surfaced right away that gave me a sense of hope for the future. I'm big on hope.
Let's be real, though. Many in our country find hope a difficult thing. I read an article shortly after my last radio job ended about how tough it is for some folks to get a job. It was not encouraging. One woman revealed she had been unemployed for two years after having held a well paying, management level job. I knew it could be a rocky road.
Yes, age WAS a factor. I'm 62. And for one who has built a career around being radio air talent, the doors were not swinging open many places. Especially when my focus for 20 plus years has been in radio formats prominently mentioning the “J” word. Jesus. As in Jesus of Nazareth. He’s loaded with controversy.
Paradoxically, that is precisely what gave me hope. Or rather, HE gave me hope. In my daily early morning communication with The Eternal One, I committed to trusting that there WAS a next assignment. I know that the God who created me cares for me. And I relied on the promises that assured me that He was aware of my circumstances and was working in ways I could not see. And He was.
I also realized that even if God did not respond in a way that I would prefer, I would choose to have faith in His care. Hope trusts like that. It relies on unseen activity. I decided to hold fast to the last verse of Psalm 138: “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
My wife Rhonda recently passed along an article on “aging whine.” It attempts to send caution and employment related advice to those whose hair is turning gray. Or white. It raises some very appropriate issues. http://career-advice.comcast.monster.com/in-the-office/workplace-issues/signs-of-aging-out/article.aspx?WT.mc_n=comcast800
Fortunately for me, Salem Communications valued my experience and my talent as assets. They have provided me an opportunity to build thousands of radio relationships in afternoon drive on AM 1160 WYLL in Chicago. It is my second “tour” with Salem, now a much larger and diverse organization. Diverse enough to hire a guy in his sixties. So I’m headed back to the microphone this week.
It’s a good fit. WYLL is a faith-driven radio station. I can mention the “J” word without fear. In fact, people talk about Him all day in their broadcasts!
They're even developing a new theme for the station: AM 1160. Hope for your life.
I’m an ambassador for that message. It’s right up my alley. Thank you, Salem.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
After being unexpectedly “unemployed” for almost six months, I rejoin the workforce this week. Not so for many others. Age comes with certain perils. Re-employment is one of them.
I should say upfront that I never considered myself “unemployed.” There was the blessing of severance pay. That gave me a window of time and removed a fair amount of pressure to find “the next thing.”
Even so, just about every day I was actively moving toward my “next assignment.” That is precisely how I phrased it consistently in my prayer life during this season. There were opportunities that surfaced right away that gave me a sense of hope for the future. I'm big on hope.
Let's be real, though. Many in our country find hope a difficult thing. I read an article shortly after my last radio job ended about how tough it is for some folks to get a job. It was not encouraging. One woman revealed she had been unemployed for two years after having held a well paying, management level job. I knew it could be a rocky road.
Yes, age WAS a factor. I'm 62. And for one who has built a career around being radio air talent, the doors were not swinging open many places. Especially when my focus for 20 plus years has been in radio formats prominently mentioning the “J” word. Jesus. As in Jesus of Nazareth. He’s loaded with controversy.
Paradoxically, that is precisely what gave me hope. Or rather, HE gave me hope. In my daily early morning communication with The Eternal One, I committed to trusting that there WAS a next assignment. I know that the God who created me cares for me. And I relied on the promises that assured me that He was aware of my circumstances and was working in ways I could not see. And He was.
I also realized that even if God did not respond in a way that I would prefer, I would choose to have faith in His care. Hope trusts like that. It relies on unseen activity. I decided to hold fast to the last verse of Psalm 138: “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
My wife Rhonda recently passed along an article on “aging whine.” It attempts to send caution and employment related advice to those whose hair is turning gray. Or white. It raises some very appropriate issues. http://career-advice.comcast.monster.com/in-the-office/workplace-issues/signs-of-aging-out/article.aspx?WT.mc_n=comcast800
Fortunately for me, Salem Communications valued my experience and my talent as assets. They have provided me an opportunity to build thousands of radio relationships in afternoon drive on AM 1160 WYLL in Chicago. It is my second “tour” with Salem, now a much larger and diverse organization. Diverse enough to hire a guy in his sixties. So I’m headed back to the microphone this week.
It’s a good fit. WYLL is a faith-driven radio station. I can mention the “J” word without fear. In fact, people talk about Him all day in their broadcasts!
They're even developing a new theme for the station: AM 1160. Hope for your life.
I’m an ambassador for that message. It’s right up my alley. Thank you, Salem.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Business Bullies
Long ago in a land far away (where I spent many years of my life) there lived a man and his wife who were an enterprising couple. They had come to this particular community after selling their successful travel agency in southern California. They had not wanted to sell.
You see, “Jake” and his bride received a visit from someone claiming to be with a “Behemoth Media Group.” This company was expanding into the travel business and thought Jake’s location was ideal. So they wanted it. Jake resisted. The Behemoth’s raised the ante a bit. Jake still resisted. The Behemoth essentially said, “Sell…or we will open our brand across the street from you. Undercut your prices. And force you out.”
With that kind of “special incentive,” Jake and family decided it was time to get out. And they did. And they made a nice profit. And they were, well, disgusted with such tactics. As we all should be.
I thought about their story recently when my son passed along an article from Vanity Fair magazine describing the somewhat unbelievable tactics of another behemoth, Samsung. The article is lengthy, but well worth reading. http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war.print
The shortcut version of this article is the claim (supported by significant documentation) that Samsung enjoys stealing ideas and profiting immensely from others’ hard work. Since I have no firsthand knowledge of their practices, I am reacting to what others have researched and claimed to experience. It’s very troubling.
Unlike many, I am generally a supporter of large companies. Many are run well and provide us products and services that improve our lives. But the most intolerable of all is the “business bully.” Rather than work ethically and with healthy motives toward fair competition, the bullies work hard to put others OUT of business through a variety of tactics. In their ideal world mindset, the best competition…is NO competition.
Bullies like to use intimidation. Jake and his wife experienced this. Business bullies relish using legal departments to create needless lawsuits that consume energy, waste resources, take heavy emotional tolls and, eventually, may drive the “enemy” out of the marketplace. Behemoth bullies find it necessary to erase a key word from their vocabulary: integrity.
A basic dictionary definition for “integrity” says that it is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Synonyms include honor, decency, virtue, fairness, scrupulousness, and trustworthiness. Business bullies probably don’t like those words either.
Like many of the bits of wisdom from Proverbs that are often ignored these days, we find this gem in Proverbs 28:18: “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” And Proverbs 2:21 states, “For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.”
My wife and I may never buy another product from Samsung after reading the Vanity Fair article. But hey…maybe they’ll change their ways. Hope so. It fits with another word often out of vogue today: Repent!
For business bullies…it might be the next big thing.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
You see, “Jake” and his bride received a visit from someone claiming to be with a “Behemoth Media Group.” This company was expanding into the travel business and thought Jake’s location was ideal. So they wanted it. Jake resisted. The Behemoth’s raised the ante a bit. Jake still resisted. The Behemoth essentially said, “Sell…or we will open our brand across the street from you. Undercut your prices. And force you out.”
With that kind of “special incentive,” Jake and family decided it was time to get out. And they did. And they made a nice profit. And they were, well, disgusted with such tactics. As we all should be.
I thought about their story recently when my son passed along an article from Vanity Fair magazine describing the somewhat unbelievable tactics of another behemoth, Samsung. The article is lengthy, but well worth reading. http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war.print
The shortcut version of this article is the claim (supported by significant documentation) that Samsung enjoys stealing ideas and profiting immensely from others’ hard work. Since I have no firsthand knowledge of their practices, I am reacting to what others have researched and claimed to experience. It’s very troubling.
Unlike many, I am generally a supporter of large companies. Many are run well and provide us products and services that improve our lives. But the most intolerable of all is the “business bully.” Rather than work ethically and with healthy motives toward fair competition, the bullies work hard to put others OUT of business through a variety of tactics. In their ideal world mindset, the best competition…is NO competition.
Bullies like to use intimidation. Jake and his wife experienced this. Business bullies relish using legal departments to create needless lawsuits that consume energy, waste resources, take heavy emotional tolls and, eventually, may drive the “enemy” out of the marketplace. Behemoth bullies find it necessary to erase a key word from their vocabulary: integrity.
A basic dictionary definition for “integrity” says that it is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Synonyms include honor, decency, virtue, fairness, scrupulousness, and trustworthiness. Business bullies probably don’t like those words either.
Like many of the bits of wisdom from Proverbs that are often ignored these days, we find this gem in Proverbs 28:18: “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” And Proverbs 2:21 states, “For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.”
My wife and I may never buy another product from Samsung after reading the Vanity Fair article. But hey…maybe they’ll change their ways. Hope so. It fits with another word often out of vogue today: Repent!
For business bullies…it might be the next big thing.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Monday, May 5, 2014
A 4 Billion Dollar OOPS!
Certain business stories just make you scratch your head. Here’s one from Forbes during the last week: “Bank of America’s Stock Plunges by 6% after $4 Billion Capital Plan Blunder.” Ufta! (that’s Scandinavian for “whoa!” and “wow!”) http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2014/04/28/bank-of-americas-stock-plunges-by-6-after-4-billion-capital-plan-blunder/
Now this may seem like a lot of moola to you and me, but I guess in the B of A world of $2.2 trillion in assets you can lose track of a few billion here and there. Well, they did. Apparently the financial wizards goofed on adjusting some “regulatory capital.”
It could make you wonder, how can you have an accounting for taste in running a mega bank if you lack a taste for accounting? To be fair, let’s not be too hard on B of A peeps. It is happening EVERYWHERE!
I now direct your focus to an important New York Times piece that came out the DAY BEFORE the B of A story. This one is headlined, “No Accounting Skills? No Moral Reckoning.” Quite eye opening. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/no-accounting-skills-no-moral-reckoning/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_th_20140428&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=68618012&_r=0
From the story, we learn that Americans in particular are growing woefully ignorant about finance. More and more of our citizens cannot do basic accounting, nor do they know what to do with a balance sheet. In other words, we’re financially off balance. And get this…there is a MORAL consequence!
The simple mechanism to keep us honest—and from making $4 billion boo boos—is accurate double entry bookkeeping. Properly done, it gets your debits and credits balanced. In financial matters, it keeps everyone and everything accountable.
I recommended reading the Times article since it gives some valuable history on the Italian Renaissance and why this topic is such serious business. And while most of us remember the Dutch East India Company from history classes, they were credited with the invention of modern capitalism. In fact, in the early 1500s the Netherlands became the center of accounting education. The Dutch boys were right on target!
Jacob Soll, who authored the Times story I’ve referenced, believes that the strength of a capitalistic society lies in the citizenry understanding the basics of finance. He believes double-entry accounting should be required in schools along with other basic accounting classes. Pencils and erasers unite!
As for the moral equations at stake, no one likes being cheated. Nor does God like us cheating each other. Here’s what’s on His balance sheet. Proverbs 11:1 states: “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.” After all, “A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.” (Proverbs 16:11 ESV)
God holds His people accountable when it comes to money and finances. Financial integrity is basic to good relationships. Right? Give it some thought. You’ll see. It all adds up.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Now this may seem like a lot of moola to you and me, but I guess in the B of A world of $2.2 trillion in assets you can lose track of a few billion here and there. Well, they did. Apparently the financial wizards goofed on adjusting some “regulatory capital.”
It could make you wonder, how can you have an accounting for taste in running a mega bank if you lack a taste for accounting? To be fair, let’s not be too hard on B of A peeps. It is happening EVERYWHERE!
I now direct your focus to an important New York Times piece that came out the DAY BEFORE the B of A story. This one is headlined, “No Accounting Skills? No Moral Reckoning.” Quite eye opening. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/no-accounting-skills-no-moral-reckoning/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_th_20140428&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=68618012&_r=0
From the story, we learn that Americans in particular are growing woefully ignorant about finance. More and more of our citizens cannot do basic accounting, nor do they know what to do with a balance sheet. In other words, we’re financially off balance. And get this…there is a MORAL consequence!
The simple mechanism to keep us honest—and from making $4 billion boo boos—is accurate double entry bookkeeping. Properly done, it gets your debits and credits balanced. In financial matters, it keeps everyone and everything accountable.
I recommended reading the Times article since it gives some valuable history on the Italian Renaissance and why this topic is such serious business. And while most of us remember the Dutch East India Company from history classes, they were credited with the invention of modern capitalism. In fact, in the early 1500s the Netherlands became the center of accounting education. The Dutch boys were right on target!
Jacob Soll, who authored the Times story I’ve referenced, believes that the strength of a capitalistic society lies in the citizenry understanding the basics of finance. He believes double-entry accounting should be required in schools along with other basic accounting classes. Pencils and erasers unite!
As for the moral equations at stake, no one likes being cheated. Nor does God like us cheating each other. Here’s what’s on His balance sheet. Proverbs 11:1 states: “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.” After all, “A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.” (Proverbs 16:11 ESV)
God holds His people accountable when it comes to money and finances. Financial integrity is basic to good relationships. Right? Give it some thought. You’ll see. It all adds up.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Love & Loyalty: A Tribute to Speck
Perhaps you’ve seen the poster: “Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching.” A lot of wisdom here. Three messages worthy of exploring. Today I will focus on the second one: Love like you’ve never been hurt.
On Easter Sunday I made the dreaded decision to end my dog’s life. Her name was Speck. She was 16 years and 4 months old —a long life for this Dalmatian mix. In the last year or so, caring for her became quite a labor. At the very end, her hips were so weak she could barely walk. Her hearing was significantly impaired and cataracts were setting in. There’s more, but I’ll spare you.
Speck was a dog, yes, but she qualified as a true friend. Not everyone understands the deep connection we humans have with our pets. I saved a wonderful blog by Dr. Paige Patterson from a few years back when he lost his beloved Noche. I’m providing the link for any dog lovers to read. Or those who want a glimpse of a devoted canine relationship. http://m.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=35777
Some say dogs don’t really have emotions like humans. An article from Dr. Stanley Coren in Psychology Today in 2013 disputes that. He writes, “…we now understand that dogs have all of the same brain structures that produce emotions in humans. Dogs also have the same hormones and undergo the same chemical changes that humans do during emotional states. Dogs even have the hormone oxytocin, which, in humans, is involved with feeling love and affection for others.”
But do dogs have a full range of emotions? Dr. Coren believes it so, saying “…a dog will have all of the basic emotions: joy, fear, anger, disgust, and even love. However based on current research it seems likely that your dog will not have those more complex emotions like guilt, pride, and shame.” \http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201303/which-emotions-do-dogs-actually-experience
It’s that love emotion that gets tricky. And what about those intangibles to which all dog owners can testify: the relational prizes of loyalty and devotion. I can’t be sure dogs know how to forgive, but it certainly seems so. Either that, or they are blessed with short term memory for our faults.
Readers of my blog know that I write to connect ways to improve the workplace. I can hardly think of four more powerful words that would radically improve our business relationships than love, forgiveness, loyalty, and devotion. And consider this: We often fail to give these gifts even though WE are the advanced species!
The oft quoted “love chapter” from the Bible comes to mind to guide us: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.“ (I Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV)
Want to make a serious impact on others? Read those words daily. The “hound of heaven” has His eye on you!
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
On Easter Sunday I made the dreaded decision to end my dog’s life. Her name was Speck. She was 16 years and 4 months old —a long life for this Dalmatian mix. In the last year or so, caring for her became quite a labor. At the very end, her hips were so weak she could barely walk. Her hearing was significantly impaired and cataracts were setting in. There’s more, but I’ll spare you.
Speck was a dog, yes, but she qualified as a true friend. Not everyone understands the deep connection we humans have with our pets. I saved a wonderful blog by Dr. Paige Patterson from a few years back when he lost his beloved Noche. I’m providing the link for any dog lovers to read. Or those who want a glimpse of a devoted canine relationship. http://m.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=35777
Some say dogs don’t really have emotions like humans. An article from Dr. Stanley Coren in Psychology Today in 2013 disputes that. He writes, “…we now understand that dogs have all of the same brain structures that produce emotions in humans. Dogs also have the same hormones and undergo the same chemical changes that humans do during emotional states. Dogs even have the hormone oxytocin, which, in humans, is involved with feeling love and affection for others.”
But do dogs have a full range of emotions? Dr. Coren believes it so, saying “…a dog will have all of the basic emotions: joy, fear, anger, disgust, and even love. However based on current research it seems likely that your dog will not have those more complex emotions like guilt, pride, and shame.” \http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201303/which-emotions-do-dogs-actually-experience
It’s that love emotion that gets tricky. And what about those intangibles to which all dog owners can testify: the relational prizes of loyalty and devotion. I can’t be sure dogs know how to forgive, but it certainly seems so. Either that, or they are blessed with short term memory for our faults.
Readers of my blog know that I write to connect ways to improve the workplace. I can hardly think of four more powerful words that would radically improve our business relationships than love, forgiveness, loyalty, and devotion. And consider this: We often fail to give these gifts even though WE are the advanced species!
The oft quoted “love chapter” from the Bible comes to mind to guide us: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.“ (I Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV)
Want to make a serious impact on others? Read those words daily. The “hound of heaven” has His eye on you!
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Anger Management
Who can forget the torturous experience actor Adam Sandler witnessed in the movie Anger Management? (Well, I guess anyone who missed seeing the film can forget it.) As a refresher, Sandler becomes very annoyed at a fellow passenger’s behavior on an airplane flight. The passenger is played by Jack Nicholson.
The situation on the plane escalates to the point where Sandler must be subdued. He is sent to anger management classes, much to his frustration and amazement. The experience gets worse for Sandler’s character when he discovers the class instructor is the annoying passenger from his plane ride!
If you’ve not seen the film, I won’t spoil the rest of the story. Throughout the movie, I felt a steady uneasiness wanting the unwarranted treatment of Sandler to get resolved positively. Which it did…in the end.
I thought about this recently when reading an article by Rebekah Campbell, the chief executive of Posse. It was titled, “No More Ms. Nice Guy.”
http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/no-more-ms-nice-guy/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_sb_20140402&nl=business&nlid=68618012&_r=0
Here are some of her thoughts:
“Back in school, I was the good girl who enjoyed her role as teacher’s favorite. When I started my first business in 2001, I acted in much the same way: Little Miss Perfect who worked hard to ensure that clients, colleagues, and partners all liked her. I thrived on positive feedback and placed everyone’s interests ahead of my own. I suspect that this need for praise and harmony is more prevalent in women; it feels like the way my instincts are wired.”
Ms. Campbell then shares a very difficult situation with a board member over which she had significant disagreement. Her efforts to find a “nice solution” were unproductive. She was very frustrated. Probably angry. Seemingly justified in her feelings. After getting counsel, she made a determined stand and revealed a true spine. It worked. Her business life was changed.
We often view anger that derives from great frustration to be a negative. But anger can have very positive consequences, and is a totally appropriate human emotion, when viewed properly and acted upon responsibly.
Bestselling author Gary Chapman (The Five Love Languages) has written an excellent book on anger. It is titled, Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way. Read up on this if anger is an emotion you need to better understand.
Many issues in the workplace can cause us frustration. Unresolved frustration can lead us to anger. Unresolved anger can defeat us and sometimes take dangerous turns. Witness the recent Ft. Hood killings!
The Bible has many things to say about anger. Among the most quoted is, “Be angry, but do not sin.” And it is followed by another important statement: “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” (Ephesians 4:26) Truly this is easier said than done. However, learning to master this emotion may be one of the most important things to do to make you effective in the workplace.
And remember this important word: goosefraba. Why? I have no idea.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
The situation on the plane escalates to the point where Sandler must be subdued. He is sent to anger management classes, much to his frustration and amazement. The experience gets worse for Sandler’s character when he discovers the class instructor is the annoying passenger from his plane ride!
If you’ve not seen the film, I won’t spoil the rest of the story. Throughout the movie, I felt a steady uneasiness wanting the unwarranted treatment of Sandler to get resolved positively. Which it did…in the end.
I thought about this recently when reading an article by Rebekah Campbell, the chief executive of Posse. It was titled, “No More Ms. Nice Guy.”
http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/no-more-ms-nice-guy/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_sb_20140402&nl=business&nlid=68618012&_r=0
Here are some of her thoughts:
“Back in school, I was the good girl who enjoyed her role as teacher’s favorite. When I started my first business in 2001, I acted in much the same way: Little Miss Perfect who worked hard to ensure that clients, colleagues, and partners all liked her. I thrived on positive feedback and placed everyone’s interests ahead of my own. I suspect that this need for praise and harmony is more prevalent in women; it feels like the way my instincts are wired.”
Ms. Campbell then shares a very difficult situation with a board member over which she had significant disagreement. Her efforts to find a “nice solution” were unproductive. She was very frustrated. Probably angry. Seemingly justified in her feelings. After getting counsel, she made a determined stand and revealed a true spine. It worked. Her business life was changed.
We often view anger that derives from great frustration to be a negative. But anger can have very positive consequences, and is a totally appropriate human emotion, when viewed properly and acted upon responsibly.
Bestselling author Gary Chapman (The Five Love Languages) has written an excellent book on anger. It is titled, Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way. Read up on this if anger is an emotion you need to better understand.
Many issues in the workplace can cause us frustration. Unresolved frustration can lead us to anger. Unresolved anger can defeat us and sometimes take dangerous turns. Witness the recent Ft. Hood killings!
The Bible has many things to say about anger. Among the most quoted is, “Be angry, but do not sin.” And it is followed by another important statement: “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” (Ephesians 4:26) Truly this is easier said than done. However, learning to master this emotion may be one of the most important things to do to make you effective in the workplace.
And remember this important word: goosefraba. Why? I have no idea.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Mozilla Godzilla
We are just a few weeks away from terror coming to a movie screen near you. The release of Godzilla (is this version 3.0?) is due out in May 2014. It may well be a true “monster” of a movie.
Before this robotic nightmare arrives, a different attack has already struck from another kind of monster. That one is titled P-C — for “political correctness.” It hit hard at the head of a high tech company which has plenty of woes to work on besides removing their chief executive for having family values.
By now you must be aware of the story. Brendan Eich was in his early days as CEO Of Mozilla (developer of Firefox) when it was “discovered” that he had the audacity to give a personal contribution a while back to support the infamous California legislation known as “Prop 8.” This referendum, supporting marriage between a man and a woman, actually passed with majority vote in an election! And in the Golden State!
It should be no surprise to anyone that corporate executives everywhere, including Planet Silicon Valley, have been helping influence American politics for…well…FOR-EVER! Many support agendas that people have strong disagreements about. The difference is…these execs keep their jobs.
But not Eich. Here was a corporate leader in a company that prides itself with Monday “town hall” meetings where employees are encouraged to speak their minds on most anything. Imagine! But support one of the basic, fundamental building blocks of human society and you have crossed a line that can cost a job.
Sad. But VERY real.
We’ve learned the hard way over the years that societies pay a price when they restrict freedoms so basic as free thought and speech. Here’s the greater concern, though. What is next? What if Mr. Eich had dared make a private, personal donation to the CREATION MUSEUM? (Gasps heard around the nation!) Why he must be a…(fill in the blank). Or suppose he gave a dime to a non-global-warming environmental group? C’mon…he must a be a nut! Send in the Terminator!
But wait! Mozilla Godzilla has turned its face. It's now looking at…YOU!!! And that, my friend, is the scariest part. What would you dare support in the coming days that might cost you a job? Better find a way to give anonymously if you know what’s good for you.
Get ready. The days of darkness are here. Best buy a subscription to Political Correctness Daily so that you’re up to speed on the latest social trends.
Want to know what happens to bold men who live by their convictions? I heartily recommend reading the first several chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. It’s a burner of a page turner.
Do it quickly. Before The Good Book goes on the RESTRICTED list. And for goodness sake, don’t get caught reading it where you work! You could wind up moving from the corner office…to the lion’s den.
Before this robotic nightmare arrives, a different attack has already struck from another kind of monster. That one is titled P-C — for “political correctness.” It hit hard at the head of a high tech company which has plenty of woes to work on besides removing their chief executive for having family values.
By now you must be aware of the story. Brendan Eich was in his early days as CEO Of Mozilla (developer of Firefox) when it was “discovered” that he had the audacity to give a personal contribution a while back to support the infamous California legislation known as “Prop 8.” This referendum, supporting marriage between a man and a woman, actually passed with majority vote in an election! And in the Golden State!
It should be no surprise to anyone that corporate executives everywhere, including Planet Silicon Valley, have been helping influence American politics for…well…FOR-EVER! Many support agendas that people have strong disagreements about. The difference is…these execs keep their jobs.
But not Eich. Here was a corporate leader in a company that prides itself with Monday “town hall” meetings where employees are encouraged to speak their minds on most anything. Imagine! But support one of the basic, fundamental building blocks of human society and you have crossed a line that can cost a job.
Sad. But VERY real.
We’ve learned the hard way over the years that societies pay a price when they restrict freedoms so basic as free thought and speech. Here’s the greater concern, though. What is next? What if Mr. Eich had dared make a private, personal donation to the CREATION MUSEUM? (Gasps heard around the nation!) Why he must be a…(fill in the blank). Or suppose he gave a dime to a non-global-warming environmental group? C’mon…he must a be a nut! Send in the Terminator!
But wait! Mozilla Godzilla has turned its face. It's now looking at…YOU!!! And that, my friend, is the scariest part. What would you dare support in the coming days that might cost you a job? Better find a way to give anonymously if you know what’s good for you.
Get ready. The days of darkness are here. Best buy a subscription to Political Correctness Daily so that you’re up to speed on the latest social trends.
Want to know what happens to bold men who live by their convictions? I heartily recommend reading the first several chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. It’s a burner of a page turner.
Do it quickly. Before The Good Book goes on the RESTRICTED list. And for goodness sake, don’t get caught reading it where you work! You could wind up moving from the corner office…to the lion’s den.
For more, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/05/technology/personality-and-change-inflamed-crisis-at-mozilla.html?emc=edit_th_20140405&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=68618012&_r=0
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)