Why Can’t We Clean Up After Ourselves?

Today I opened a drawer in our small cafeteria to use one of several knives available. Unfortunately, the one I picked had food stuck to it. Naturally, this was irritating, but I washed it and carried on with lunch.  Before I try to push this out of my mind altogether, I wanted to make a few comments.

Why can’t we leave things the way we found them? Why is it so hard for us to clean up after ourselves? I realize that I have this conversation over and over with my kids, but it isn’t just kids that need to adopt the approach. I know my kids are hearing and doing it off and on when requests are made. Sadly, they still need the requests – sometimes demands and even threates. That makes me worry that they aren’t getting it inside.

Now I’m wondering if I always live up to what I’m asking them to do. Do I leave my dishes dirty for others to clean? No, of course not, because there isn’t anyone to clean up ater me at home. But I think I’m going to be more aware about the things I do at work, as well as what we do as a company, from dirty dishes to moving chairs, to how we affect the planet.

Visualization to Creation – What a Treat!

“To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given the chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy. As everyone else, I love to dunk my crust in it.  But alone, it is not a diet designed to keep body and soul together.” — Bette Davis

I wouldn’t have said it this way exactly, but this “chance to create” is one of the things I love most about working in IT. We have the ability to visualize things that are new, or new ways of doing things, then the glorious opportunity to create them – to bring them to life! 

The projects are sometimes awkward, and always complex, but they are rewarding beyond imagination. When we successfully complete a project that changes the way our company works, it is truly amazing!

As Denny Crane would say, “Life is good”. Gosh, I’m a lucky guy.

We need Innovation to Survive

I’m worried about the company I work for, and I want us to make it. I really like what I do, and I want to keep doing it. I’m thinking about it a lot lately. Today I‘m thinking about how innovation can help, but we need leadership at all levels to make it work.

I want us to think of new (innovative) things in lots of areas. We talk about innovative products and I agree with that one for sure, but I’m afraid we’ll need more – much more – to survive the economic disaster before us.

I see that technology changes every two years, and it often feels much faster. However, much of the way we do business is still the same as it was five years ago, and some hasn’t really changed in ten or even twenty years! I truly believe we can be much more efficient in how we operate, especially in the backoffice. I think this is part of my nagging feeling that we are overstaffed, particularly in certain areas.

Necessity is the mother of invention (innovation). I have no doubt that great leaders imposing what seem to be “impossible” goals will cause us to rise to the occasion and achieve them. We’ll find a way to do what has to be done, and we’ll leave the rest. We’ll safely make quality product and ship it on time. That’s what we do. That’s what we’ve always done. We find a way.

President Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon in less than ten years, and we did it. Our business isn’t nearly that complex. Please be that kind of leader. Please challenge us. Help me be that kind of leader in my area of responsibility. Believe me, I’m already trying, but please push me farther and faster.

Please make us the most efficient and effective company in the industry. Why not? Someone will be – why shouldn’t it be us? Why can’t we lead the way? Why can’t we innovate beyond all others and against all odds? Why not?

I have some specifics in mind. Monday should be a good day.

My Blog is Like a Box of Chocolates …

I had lunch with a wonderful friend today, and we discussed a variety of things, including my blog. While I didn’t say it exactly this way, I later realized that this blog reminded me of the box of chocolates from Forrest Gump. You never know what you’re gonna get! 

There are so many different things I want to write about, and this is a good way for me to capture my thoughts. It may be scattered, or even irritating to some, but it shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone that read “Why I’m Writing This Blog” (see top menu).

In fact, this is exactly why I need this blog for me.  I have so many thoughts about so many things that I need a way to capture them, then find them later. Please add your thoughts if you care to.  Thanks!

No Big Deal?

Today I was in a meeting with several people trying to find ways to keep our company in business, keep our jobs, etc.  At one point, I started to present my point of view on the topic up for discussion.  One of the people in the room gave me a firm reprimand for being sarcastic.  I could see that several others in the room had the same surprised look as I did, since what I said could hardly be considered decent sarcasm! 

I thought about telling that person to “grow up”, but decided to let it pass.  After the meeting, I decided to apologize. I truly had not intended to be offensive and I thought she should know.  I knew it was the right way to handle it, but it sure wasn’t my first reaction.

While I thought the apology was private, I didn’t realize that one of the other people in the room overheard. She went out of her way to track me down later and say that she considered me her “hero” and she could learn alot from me. I was a little embarassed when she said it, since I thought it was no big deal when I did it. Now I decided I need to “learn from me” as well. I hope someday that my first reaction will be the right one.

What Really Matters Most?

Here is a video of Dr Randy Pausch giving a summarized version of his original “Last Lecture”. I hope I don’t have to be in his condition to recognize the things and people that matter most.

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

Here’s an Idea: Using Gaming Technology in the Classroom!

Ok, so it’s not a new idea, but it is something I have been thinking about for awhile now. Guess what? I googled some searches and found that there are actually lots of people thinking about the same thing.

Better yet, there are a few people doing things already. Here’s an example: http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-wii-gaming-technology-classroom and http://www.owli.org/oer/node/2423  I wonder how long it would take to visit West Lafayette, Indiana?

Why Can’t We Use Technology To Improve Our Teaching?

I’ve been learning about technology for over twenty-five years. What really makes the learning worthwhile for me it the application of the new knowledge.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what wonderful and powerful technologies we have available today. I’ve decided that I want to see some of that applied to improving the educational process in our schools.

Old-style teaching methods seem ineffective, and the public schools that my children attend are losing the “teacher interaction” and personalization of instruction due to class sizes and changes in approach. It feels like “no child left behind” is turning into “no child pushed forward.”

I think technology can help the situation and I have a variety of ideas. How about you? Care to comment?

Clear Goals Are Mandatory Every Day

I was a little disappointed this week because my Sys Admin was reading a game blog during work hours. I saw it a few times and didn’t really think much of it since I’ve used the internet for personal stuff as well. After all, this guy is no slouch and does a lot of work.

However, when I noticed it several times over the first three days of this week, I decided to say something because that’s no way to start any week, let alone the new year. I reminded him that we needed to be busy on important work. (Okay, I probably used different words.) We’ll review a list of projects and potential projects tomorrow, and I expect the problem will go away.

It just reminded me that it’s my job as a manager to make sure we have clear goals every day. If there’s ever a day when that isn’t true, time and effort will be wasted, and worse – it’s my fault.

I will do my best to make this a one-time event for both of us.

Enemies of Our Faith

Over the weekend, our Pastor discussed four key points that are enemies of our faith.

1 – The Length of Our Journey

2 – The Trial of our Faith

3 – The Cares of the World

4 – The Infirmity of Our Nature