Over the past 10 years I’ve had to do a couple of things that I know nothing about. Actually that can go back to college where I had a different job every year and sometimes 2. Ive been a fitness instructor, an actor, runner for a law firm, I did account receivables and much much more. Last year which was just a couple days ago I was asked to take on another part of the company. I had to do that when we put creative and technical together. It wasn’t easy but it was something. So here we are at the start of new adventure. With this one merger the males were quickly outnumbered. Conversation about films have been replaced with the bachelor conversation and I love it. All we need is to hire a black female video director and we may have a hat trick. Any way I’m looking forward to it. So how am I going to do this? I don’t really know yet. Here’s what I think.
I think inspiration counts. I dont want to be a dude that feels that his mark has to be on everything. I hope that I can inspire people to do more than I could ever do.
I think there is something about being challenged by your peers even when they don’t exactly what you do.
I think them knowing that they have a direct line to you ahead of others is a real good thing. I had meant to let the team know that. They can pull me out of a meeting or stop me in the hall. They have access. (that sounds bigger than it is)
Ok. I’ve already broken a rule and updated my blog during work hours.
I decided that I wasn’t going to write a New Year’s post. I will instead post some pictures that I took in 2009. I added a new country, started a great relationship, celebrated ten years at the office, in a new job and sold my car. So much more happened but instead of telling you I’m going to show you. We will be back to our scheduled program on Monday. New Blog post Merging departments.
How do you work with conflict? Some of us are really good at it and some well suck. It seems more and more that I’m in a constant state of conflict. This doesn’t mean that if they were about to go over a cliff i wouldn’t grab them. It does mean that I can be pretty exhausted at the end of the day.
When dealing with this I try not to do a couple of things. One I try not to chalk it it up to a personality trait there by giving them or me a bye. I try to understand how they are feeling. That I think is pretty important. People are people and conflict can have some happy surprises. We’ll see how this partnership turns out. Happy monday to you.
What does your body language say about you. I have a couple of tells that I know of and probably 100s that I don’t.
1. When I’m frustrated my face relaxes and I speak slower.
2. I have a forehead rub that i do when I’m done with a decision I just don’t know how to tell someone.
3. I force a smile when I’m when I know a conversation is not going well and I want to get out of it.
I tend to size people up from the first time I meet them. We all kind of do this. If I work with you I make a pretty quick decision on whether I can work with you or not. If I can’t work with you or I know that the relationship will be a rocky one I make one of these two decisions.
1. I use an intermediary no use in causing a ton of conflict if I can still get the job done. If I can’t well….
2. I point out the problem and plow through. I sometimes make light of it.
I’ve gotten to the point in my life where its just not worth the hassle. I actually have fun at work whether its arguing over some video or laughing about the huge mistake I just made. Why have a job where you hate going to work everyday? Is it worth that much to live in misery? Money? Your body language is a tell and we can all tell when you hate it. So how do you change that? You either change your body language or you change your job. I’m sure your coworkers don’t like it either.
The older you get I think the more we all realize that we work for someone. Even if you own your own business you work for the client, the customer, the eh. It can be some what demoralizing when you come to that realization. I work for someone. When you work for someone your realize that your’s and the person you work for may have different goals, dreams, aspirations. You may have complete different philosophies about life, politics, family and yes even church. I’ve tried to make a happy balance between the two. Me and the person I work for. I try not to answer emails on the weekend unless it affect what happens Monday at 8:30. I try after 8 o’clock not to exchange calls and emails. You bought my service not my life, right. It’s not easy. You find that the longer you work for anywhere the more parts of your life are intertwined with your own. Sometimes I succeed sometime I don’t. But I am trying. This philosophy if you call it that works great when you are doing some thing you may not agree with. We all work for someone. This seems like a bit of downer but its more of a “Take your life back” You work so you can live you don’t live for your work.
And the hits keep coming. Not only am I in the process of hiring one person but I have a second one that is pretty much a big deal. I’m in the middle of looking for a graphic designer to complete the team. I said this before but I’ll say it again. I hate this process. I know that you are trying pimp yourself out during those times. You will do anything and learn anything. My heart does break for you that I have something that you want but there is a line behind you that also wants what you want. I do believe its a crap shoot. The odds are a little better but a crap shoot none the less. You can interview, have an awesome resume go to the best school and turn out to be crazy. It takes having a couple come through your life to know what I mean. It’s pretty shocking the first time it happens to you. You wonder what you did wrong. That’s probably why I take more time just shooting the breeze during an interview. If I can get along with you then things are going to be ok. I also try to have a second person in the room just in case my crazy meter aint working. So here are 5 steps on how to Pimp your self if you are planning on applying to student life well let’s just say to interview with me.
1. Don’t wear a tie. I know that its respectful. I know you were probably taught to over dress rather than under dress. If you are going to wear a tie at least look hip about it. Your paisley purple tie doesn’t make it happen. If you drop off your resume in person you would be able to see the culture.
2. Always, always research on what we do. Nothing irks me more than someone asking “So what type of work will I be doing?”
3. When I ask if you have any questions, come up with one. We have sat here listening to you talk you’ve got to want to know something.
4. When I say “tell me about your self” and you ask “What do you want to know?” It is to give you an opportunity to tell me not only about yourself but you get to tell me the things you think are important about you. I dont do it to try to stump you.
5. I know you are nervous but I’m going to try to make it as fun as possible. Take a deep breathe and have fun.
Ok so these are hard and fast rules. These are ways to work here for me. Try them don’t try them.
I don’t know when I became a John Mayer fan. I think it was actually during the chappelle show when he did a guest appearance. I like him and I like this album. I once again bought and LP off of Itunes. This one wasn’t as cool as the Jay-z album but it was good. It had a couple of videos and of course the lyrics. Ok this is going to be real short. I may give a little write up later but for now give it a listen give it a try.
I’m going to let this speak for him. One of my favorite michael jackson songs.
