Don’t be an idiot!

Long ago I stopped arguing with idiots. Seriously, it’s not good for your health.  The stress of continuing a conversation with someone, who you will never convince they are wrong, could send you to an early grave- or make you pull your hair out.  I’m flexible, open minded and don’t always have to be right.  As a matter of fact, for the sake of the impending argument, I often want to be wrong.  I have friends who like to exchange with idiots.  Almost like they have this strange need to make sure that they (the idiots) know that they are wrong.  Why?  Why would you waste energy on these people?  Perhaps this comes from a place where they need the […]

Hey Jude! (let go)

St. Jude was the patron saint of lost causes.  I know these things because I grew up Catholic and my parents were Beatles fans.  In life, we all have a soft spot for the underdog or the person who just can’t get it together and we enable them by constantly dragging them, kicking and screaming, into success.  But do they ever really become successful? Often, we want it for them more than they want it for themselves.  Like everyone else, I’ve made this mistake with these people in my life.  You see potential or maybe just pity them and if you could just spend a little more time with them- you know you can turn them around.  More often than […]

Hey, where’s your bench going?

When the larger companies have to cut costs and eliminate their bench, the smaller companies become the farm system for those larger companies.  Investing in talent and people is imperative to being successful in business.  It’s equally important to run the company effectively and profitable.  Often times these things do not go hand in hand.  Smaller companies need to invest in ways of building and keeping their key people.  Almost as if they are making an offering to the radio gods, they hand over their big prospects only to have to start over again and hope they can get a little more time out of the replacement.  This is life. Yet, if they perhaps tried a little harder to maintain […]

Tales of a 4th grade nothing (thx Judy Bloom)

While flying to Boston to watch my best friend Geoff get married, I sat next to a kid named Taylor during the first leg of the trip.  Taylor is a 4th grade student heading into 5th when his summer comes to an end.  Taylor has no idea what he inspired.  About 45 minutes into the 2 hour leg to Atlanta, curiosity got the best of him as he repeatedly looked over at my tray and read the words that I was typing on my iPad.  He asked me what it was that I was writing about.  Those who know me, know that my brain doesn’t shut off very often and I don’t do well with “me time”.  I was, of […]

Your experience doesnt mean anything! (damn shame)

“I have 20 years of experience”. “I am a seasoned vet”. “I’ve been around the block and I know what I am doing”.  All things that people might think are helping them get the employers attention are actually the things that are preventing you from getting the job.  20 years of experience might mean you are un-teachable, bull headed, set in your ways.  It could also mean you have been doing this job wrong for 20 years. Experience is great.  People want to hire smart successful people who can act like they have been there.  I have seen both sides of experience. I have been blessed to work with seasoned vets who know how to take it to the next […]