Rothacker Reviews

Hollow Smiles

Hollow smiles.  Nervous, hollow smiles.

"Oh, that's nice dear.  So, when are you going to get a job?"

She puts in seventy hours each week...easy.  Time spent thinking, bending and molding words until they reach the pitch of perfection.  Time spent reading, conversing and networking.  Time spent on contests, querying and pitching.  Time spent on revising, revising and revising.  Time spent on obtaining an agent.  Time spent on trying to succeed.

Hollow smiles come from the well intentioned.  They think it's nice that she has a hobby.  It's nice to be dedicated, though they're not really sure to what.  It's nice to keep busy since she got laid off from her job.

The hollow smiles hurt her.  Why can't they understand she asks.  And then she wonders, am I doing the right thing?  Can I really make a living writing?  Should I just get a job like everyone wants me to do?  Maybe my stuff is not good enough.

He says no.  No, with conviction.  He believes in her.  After a round of hollow smiles, he comforts her.  He tells her she has what it takes.  He tells her that her stories are strong, her dialog flows and her descriptive language is refreshingly :-) adverb-free.  He has never doubted.  Not once.  He sees the two of them one day sitting on the porch of their cabin in Maine.  He sees her smile.  He sees peace in her heart.

Not all radiate hollow smiles.  Some effuse spirit-filled smiles of belief.  He hopes that those who matter most to her will one day be filled with the spirit of belief.  He hopes it comes before she breaks out, because it would mean that much more to her.  Until then he will hold her hand, hold her heart and hold open that cabin door.

Aesthetic Aspirations

I was preparing to write a book review of The Substance of Style by Virginia Postrel this morning when the switch of serendipity kicked in and railed my mind toward the open tracks.  A millisecond before reading in The Substance of Style,

"Aspiration is the tricky part of identity, the "world of make believe"...Often the identities we express with our aesthetic choices are not those we have but those we desire."

I thought to myself,

There are no human beings that I work with or acquaintances that I have in the physical world who share my love and appreciation for design, the written word in the world of business, the art of communicating messages, the need to move beyond status-quo, hamster-wheel, business as usual, the incredibly vibrant and stimulating work philosophies of younger generations and what they are contributing today and this aching need to move with fluidity in a world not constrained by judgment-by-looks, suits and ivory towers.

...okay, that last statement might perhaps, be a bit too liberal, but my God, the tie should have faded into history about the same time corsets disappeared from everyday attire.

Additional views on aesthetic aspirations from Ms. Postrel:

Aesthetic aspirations inevitably express some sort of dissatisfaction, a longing for a different sort of life, perhaps even a different self.  Discontent fuels every quest for improvement, regardless of form.

Virginia's definition of aesthetic aspirations is precisely what drove me to express myself on the Internet years ago and still keeps me coming back today.  No doubt that I am to blame for my work situation.  In the nineties I went through a three year stretch where I never disclosed my name on my site.  Today, even though I work for my industry's second largest corporation in the world, no one is even aware of my two sites here.  But that's okay.  I gave up looking for the above referenced aspirations in my industry a long time ago. 

It is most ironic that I am even having these thoughts today.  I have never been more comfortable with my work situation and its separation from my aspirations.  Still, I guess, it would be nice to physically encounter someone who has heard of The Cluetrain Manifesto or Change This or Fast Company or Dan Pink or Virginia Postrel or Thomas A. Stewart or Malcolm Gladwell or Patty Seybold or Seth Godin or Andrea Learned or Pamela Slim or Kathy Sierra or David Armano or Roger von Oech or Jackie Huba or Emanuel Rosen or Gerald Zaltman or Lisa Johnson or Tom Davenport or John Beck or Ted Levitt or Marcus Buckingham or Bruce Nussbaum or Polly LaBarre or Jory Des Jardins or Harvard Business Review or Print or How or I.D. or ...

...but then again, I'm not keeping track :-)

Brazen Careerist

Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk.

Today's world of work is not the same as your father's was.  Thank God!  Penelope Trunk, columnist for the Boston Globe and Yahoo Finance in addition to her own Website has written a spot on, insightful book titled Brazen Careerist.  Penelope hopes to provide a roadmap for Gen X and Y'ers to follow in pursuit of their own life's work.  Drawing on real world experience, she stories upon such topics as:

• Grad School
• Adventures
• Resumes
• Interviews
• Managers
• Office Politics
• Sex Discrimination
• Promotions
• The New American Dream

Penelope's work has been referred to as the modern day version of What Color is Your Parachute?  While the Brazen Careerist is a manifesto and rallying wake-up cry for Gen X and Y'ers, I find that it talks frankly and honestly to a whole other generation of folks.  Mine.  The Boomers.

As a Boomer manager, I feel as if Brazen Careerist is my own personal undercover spy, infiltrating the Gen X and Y'ers' world.  Of course for me, there isn't a trace of spying or undercover that goes into dealing with folks from these generations.  It is all about collaboration.  And if one wishes to collaborate, they must understand the other collaboratoree.  Brazen Careerist introduces us, stays in the conversation and provides that much needed understanding.

For Boomers who do not recognize the workplace change today, there is no help.  But for those of us who relish in the new environment and who cherish the spirit and attitude of those who will one day be placing us in nursing homes*, I find the Brazen Careerist positively fascinating!!

*Our Gen Y daughter has for sometime reminded us of her role in this potential eventuality, helping to explain why we should see and support her point of view...or perhaps our nursing home will not have all of the amenities that we would expect.  She tried to explain the concept of an outhouse...

Why Should I Work For You?

I am one chapter short of smoking and signing Mavericks at Work by William C. Taylor & Polly LaBarre.  Bill and Polly present insights and case studies on companies and people who are today, running the companies of tomorrow.

As I read about these present day mavericks who build on purpose and fuse character with innovation to make a difference for their employees and customers, I couldn't help but to think of a theme that the authors weave throughout their work:  Why should great people join your organization?

I work in an industry that is starved for technical people.  And I don't mean hungry, I mean Ethiopia.  As a manager who hires these folks, I myself need to be able to articulate this answer with crisp clearness (which I've never satisfactorily done).  In tune with some words I wrote the other day about working in transparency, I'd like to answer this question with a public statement about why folks should work with my team.  I probably will have to return and tweak this - which is the point.

Once we've established that a candidate fits our culture of:

• The need to develop personally
• Respect for each other and our customers
• Loyalty to each other
• The desire for excellence
• The desire to move forward

...then I can say with confidence:

You should work with my team because:  We are going to dial you into a world of learning, a world where we channel your strengths toward finding solutions for our customers...(in progress)

A Timeless Post

In the tenth grade I was asked by a guidance counselor, "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  The thought that I put into my answer was equivalent to a four-year old saying he wants to be a fireman.  The year was 1972, and I said I want to work with computers.  To quickly dispel any thought that I took this statement and dedicated my life to it - I just learned how to copy and paste on computers about four years ago...although in reality I have been working with computers for twenty two years...the same way a clerk at Target works with computers.

While trolling around doing research for our last Starship Mission, I came upon Penelope Trunk and her site Brazen Careerist.  Penelope is an old school blogger who has cataloged a ton of useful information over the years.  Penelope is also a prolific syndicated columnist.  She might find it odd that I find more significance and relevance in her blog than that of print media (advertisers will eventually figure this out).  Penelope writes a thought provoking post in Answering the question, What do you do?  She links out to Pamela Slim of Escape from Cubicle Nation and Pamela's most timeless post:  How do you introduce yourself? 

When asked the question, "What do you do for a living?" I've never been able to look someone confidently in the eyes and say, "I am a...."  I am not trying to do the "whoa is me thing" here.  It's simply a fact.  I believe it has been that way because I have never been satisfied with any position in my entire life.  As Pamela says, "By wobbling around in your introductions..."  I've been a master wobbler.

Here is an example introduction from Pamela:

The way you will start really owning your new business venture is to introduce yourself as an entrepreneur.  Examples:

New Acquaintance:  "So, what do you do for a living?"

You:  "I help homeowners use solar technology to reduce their energy bills by 400%"

New Acquaintance: "Wow, that is cool!  How long have you been doing it?"

You:  "For the last year or so" ("or so" is the key word ... )

New Acquaintance:  "And this pays your bills?"

You: "It will in the next year as I complete the first phase of start-up.  In the interim, I moonlight as VP of Marketing for IBM."

Of course I have no business ventures but there is much to be learned from Pamela's words.  She finishes with:

A Buddhist friend once told me that the words that you say form a force field of attraction around you.

Pamela shines a beacon of light with this post.  I should be able to see it once I get the chicken feathers out of my eyes.

Hugh of Gaping Void published Pam's Work Manifesto this past Sunday.  This is good!

Update December 9, 2006 - So I go to a party armed with this fresh new knowledge.  I am ready and set to introduce myself as a writer when the first bloke I happen upon turns out to publish and own five magazines.  The dude doesn't ask me what I do, but I was prepared to chuck the writer spiel and labor down the "I am a manager..."  Yuck!

Work Cultures

Time to fire up the ride, kick out the jams and go cruising today.  A rumbling muscle car, a little Space Truckin' by Deep Purple and vapor trails in Cyberspace - does it get any better?

By way of magic and technology, I begin the day in Hawaii at Starbucks sipping hot coffee with my friend Rosa Say.  Rosa and I can discourse deep into spirituality, growing up or working at Woolworths, but today she simply tells me to check out a wonderful writer by the name of Verna Wilder .  Rosa knows that I will connect with Verna because she knows Verna admires creative writer-coach Julia Cameron.

Back in the Cutlass, I change the eight track tape to The Best of Bread and a little Baby I'ma Want You.  I roll into Colorado late morning and hook up with Verna.  Spend one minute on Verna's site and you smell the fresh morning flowers of soulful expression...

  "I like the idea of finding the shape of my life and defining it by stepping into it, and as Marilyn says, opening my heart to who I am, which means a lot of letting go of who I thought I might be or who I was trying to be. Who I am is in there already, in my heart. I find that very comforting."

...Verna's love of sculpting words to fit her thoughts is postively neon! 

"Dave, what's any of this got to do with work cultures?"

"Chill.  I've got a half tank of gas and two more tapes.  Lets get back to the Magic Carpet Ride."

Paperback Writer is just finishing up on the Kenwood as I pull into Terry Gold's  office parking lot.  Verna's directions are perfect.  Walking through the front door, something strikes me as unusual.  I think it's this conversation that I am over hearing.  Terry is talking about the office of the future .  His assistant, Angela Watson, injecting her thoughts on what should be in the office of the future:

"As part of my job as your assistant, I typically remind you of your next meeting and often times have to run around the office to locate you. My idea for “the office of the future” is to have a GPS tracking devise on you at all times that would enable me to pull up a map online and find your precise location."

pssssst, this is where the culture part starts surfacing...

The tone in Angela's voice is both serious and mischievous.  Angela's demeanor perks my curiousity.  Remember, she is talking to her boss here.  I picture Terry as an entreprenuer always on the move, a cat with a high metabolic rate.  I sort of fade back, away from their conversation and notice a matchbook lying on the floor.  This seems odd.  I get the feeling not many folks working here smoke.  Inside the cover I notice an address.  Back to the Cutlass.

The car's headers roar to life as the speakers roar The Wizard by Uriah Heep.  The song is barely over as I pull into Angela's place.  If there was any doubt before, this seals the deal.  Terry Gold has created a tremendous work culture!  Or perhaps more correctly, he has let a tremendous work culture evolve. 

As a manager, I have an enourmous amount of respect and admiration for the culture at Terry's company Gold Systems .  This type of work environment can do nothing but enhance a company's product and service!!

Well, it's been a lovely Saturday, thanks for cruising along.  Now, I think I'll go to the park .

Note:  I do not own a muscle car :(

               

Nine Lives of Leadership: Sally Hogshead

I read a few more stories into Lisa Haneberg's book Nine Lives of Leadership and ran right into another beauty:  Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead.

Before going further, I'd just like to say:  I am not familiar with the coin trail, but somebody better be filling Lisa's pockets for her Nine Lives effort!  Her description of the book contents along with her conversation with the authors, is making me want to suck up all of these books!

I am not going to repeat what Lisa has already said about Sally.  Just download her e-book.  (links below)  What I'd like to tell you about is Sally's manifesto over at Change This.  It is titled Cherry Bombs:  A Supplemental Kit to Radical Careering.

Cherry Bombs is not a replication of Sally's book.  It stems from research she was conducting - why do people succeed right now, amidst the insanity of today's workplace?  Sally uncovers three trends that explain.  The trends break down to personal or organizational paralysis.  Cherry Bombs blow up paralysis.  If paralysis is something like toliets, I can say that Cherry Bombs will work pretty well.

Go to Change This and read Sally's Cherry Bombs right now.

Lisa Haneberg
Nine Lives of Leadership
Change This: Cherry Bombs
Radical Careering.  Sally's Website

Danger Quicksand Have a Nice Day

Have you ever worked for the boss from Hades?  Have you ever been shafted at work?  Do you feel like you're going nowhere at work?  Did you ever think of starting up your own business?  David St Lawrence, in his book, Danger Quicksand-Have a Nice Day , answers these questions and many more just like it.

David worked for fifty years in design and marketing for high tech companies.  His experience reaches out from the book and pulls you in.  His experience saddens, gives one hope and coaches.  It saddens because you feel he has gone through many ugly situations.  It gives hope because now he is doing what he enjoys.  It coaches because David leads the reader from identifying sordid workplace situations to methods of coping or improving one's lot.

Here are my take-aways:

• The workplace is changing faster today than it ever did.  As individuals, we must keep our heads out of the sand.  We need to observe and note what is happening.
• We must take advantage of all learning opportunities at our present jobs.  What skills can we improve upon that we will need in the future?
• Continuously build your support network.
• Maintain your integrity - always
• The future might be Me Inc. - prepare for it.

There is much, much more to David's book.  In fact, so much, it must be sipped.  For this reason I recommend keeping your copy on the bookshelf that is with in arm's length.

Quotes from the book:

There is only one long-term solution.  Every job you take should be part of a plan to equip you for full self-employment.  The ideal jobs are those that prepare you for long-term job security as your own boss.

You should get as much experience as you can running projects, handling finances, purchasing, and dealing with customers in a sales and service capacity.  Being your own boss requires all of these skills and more.

David St Lawrence

David St Lawrence is author and master architect of the Ripples Blog.   Ripples is like a diamond.  It took years to form.  In David's case, fifty years in high tech design and marketing.  I hate math, but let's give this a try.  Fifty years of work plus nine equals fifty-nine.  So in conclusion, David began his career working overseas for Phil Knight. 

Readers of Ripples bask in the richness of its formation.  There is practically no other way to reach the mile marker on David's journey, than to walk it one step at a time.  I for one do not have fifty-years to invest.  Because when I am seventy-three I'll be working on running my kids and their kid's lives.  So, the next best thing is to read David's stuff...and learn.

My personal favorite topics that David discusses are:  Micro-Business , Self-Publishing and Doing What You Love.  Another treat you'll enjoy at Ripples is meeting the most interesting people like, Jane Chin. 

If Ripples isn't enough to save your butt many times over, in addition to shaving time and miles off of your own journey, David brings us a second jewel:  Danger Quicksand - Have a Nice Day .  David took the time to write a book about his work experiences and life in the corporate world.  By his own definition, it is a survival guide.  What to watch out for; Who to trust; Prepare for change; Stay current; Keep your eye on the horizon; The ideal job... are all interspersed with crisp stuff on life like integrity and honesty. 

I will focus more on Danger Quicksand - Have a Nice Day in posts to come.

Top Ten Dream Jobs

Curt Rosengren posted on the Top Ten Dream Jobs the other day.  Here is Curt's post minus his own commentary at the end.  (Click on Top Ten Dream Jobs for entire post)

Top 10 dream jobs

Kevin Kelly over in Ireland points to a survey of 2000 people done in the UK for Creative & Cultural Skills that asked people about their dream jobs, both when they were kids and today. Here are the top ten dream jobs.

TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR KIDS

1) Doctor/Nurse
2) Vet
3) Footballer
4) Teacher
5) Actor/Movie Star
6) Writer
7) Dancer/Ballerina
8) Pilot
9) Pop Star
10) Astronaut

TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR ADULTS

1) Writer
2) Teacher
3) Landscape Gardener
4) Paramedic
5) Photographer
6) Police Officer
7) Physiotherapist
8) Movie Director
9) Restaurant Owner
10) Musician

I first learned of this post from Troy Worman's  blog.  I thought, if anything could go viral and permeate its way into at least the delight cortex portion of our brain, this topic could.

Rothacker Review readers:  Let your hair down, remove any article of clothing that is restricting blood flow, take a deep breath, relax and let it all hang out.  If you have mentally transported yourself back into the 1960's, stay with me before you start to see Yellow Submarine's and Lucy dancing in the Sky.  Now, please answer the following question:

What is your dream job?  Forget college degrees, salary and what your mom wanted you to be.  Dare to bare your soul and go for it!

Dave's Challenge:  Curt asks a soul-jarring question .  Let's make this thing rock beyond the blogosphere!!  To start, encourage one other blogger to run the Top Ten Dream Job post and ask / answer the ultimate question.  Cite Curt and give the lad credit for initiating this thing.  Then, cite the person who you heard about it from, like I did to Troy.  Pitch your readers and get them to participate.

Let's make a good thing viral and let's create some goodwill along the way!!

Dave's Dream of Success:  Seth Godin, brother, I love you to death man!  But when it is all said and done and the last person in the world answers this question and doesn't know Seth Godin, we will have succeeded.

Dave's Dream Job:  I would like to tour the US in a motor home, interview older folk, asking them to tell me about the old days, growing up, their work (even stay at home moms work) and life's lessons.  I would be one step away from Heaven if I could then write about these experiences and share them with others.