My New Love

Ok. Nothing about work here. Today starts my get some stuff done day. In honor of that I’ll start by talking about my new favorite show. Modern Family. What i like about it is they way it looks at our messed up family lives and say “you are not alone”  I was an avid watcher of Married with Children and what I liked about the family was that no matter how much you saw them go at it they truly loved each other.  (yeah I know its a show but you get my point) Kind of like the Osbourne family.

This show came out of no where for me. One day while flipping through some hulu stuff I thought I should give it a try. I ended up watching all the episodes they had.  Here is what the show consist of a : A father that divorced his wife to marry a Latin princess who already had a quirky kid.  His daughter is married to the typical american dad persona (he’s made to look stupid but has a big heart). Her brother is gay and is married to a dude and they just adopted a kid. Typical huh. Give it a shot you may be surprised.

Peace in the Middle east

Not reading email + Throwing something together = being unprepared for meeting

So I’ve noticed that I have spoken about pop culture in about a week. There will be a new music Friday this week but it seems I’ve been on this work kinda kick lately. Maybe its the added responsibility. I dont know. Its just where I am right now.

So yesterday. I was asked about a week ago to come to a meeting and pitch along with others some ideas for a new project we are working. With this being part of my job I gladly accepted.  That was about the end of me thinking about it. We had a follow up email to ask about what time. I gave what time I could attend and said meeting was even reschedule to accommodate me.  That was my second opportunity to engage.  There were follow up emails giving instructions. I once again did not read. Then came the day of the meeting. When we are talking about lesson ideas I sometimes like trying to think up with those right before the meeting.  This though is different. You have to search and look and dream. I blew it and it showed.  Never throw that kinda stuff together.  This goes back to how a meeting should be run.  From the moment I started talking I knew I was in trouble especially when you see people who had thought about it working. I suck. Because of my guilt I bought the staff breakfast.  A kind of hey please like me and because they are pretty awesome . They continue to take up my slack.  I have a list for being ready for a meeting.

1. Read all correspondence

2. Prepare to prepare for a meeting

3. Know when you can’t contribute.

4. Don’t be afraid to say you are not ready.

5. You are to be a help not a hindrence

6. Don’t be stupid.

Peace

Meetings (persudae or defend)

I think its hard to actually get anything accomplished in a meeting. I don’t know if that’s universal. NO. I think it is. Here is what happens in a lot of meetings I’m in. Ever person has a certain agenda. We don’t always know what that agenda is. So we spend most of the time trying to persuade or defend our agenda.  That happened to me recently.  Two people were engaged in discussion where I do think they both were speaking different languages. It was like the tower of babble you know. Right after the fall or Pentecost.  So, the rest of us also not knowing what language this was just kinda waited until the dust cleared.  Two people trying to persuade and defend.  The funny thing is I don’t think either person was necessarily wrong.  Both had great points and both wanted the other person to understand.

I don’t have a list of things to remember. Well I do have one. Let your agenda be known. You may find that when each person does that you start with what you all hope to accomplish from this meeting.  I do work with one guy that is very good at that. He starts his meetings with “here is what I hope to accomplish with this meeting” From the start we are all on the same page. Good job you. I may bring you a cookie today.

Peace