Archive for August, 2009
stay out of the @#$!!*
image by hugh, flickr artist
when i was team manager and assistant coach with the penn state ice lions, we had a saying that we used often:
“stay out of the @#$!!*” … i.e. — poop.
it was a simpler way of saying, when the game degenerates into a bunch of people trying to hurt each other — don’t get involved.
usually when people act out in aggression, it’s because they’re frustrated. they’re unhappy with the way things are going, and they usually act out in aggression because they haven’t the skills, abilities, or position of authority to change the situation to favor themselves. people will act out in aggression because it’s the only thing they can do.
business rule #1: note everything the PPA does
then — do the opposite.
recently i was given a parking ticket from the philadelphia parking authority for an expired meter. the cost was $56. aside from the fact that $56 is an outrageous fine for having an expired parking meter, there’s this other amazing piece of information that confounds me… Read the rest of this entry »
to get where you’re going…
image by elvez40, flickr artist
… they say you have to know where you’ve been.
i say, to get where you’re going — you have to know where you’re going.
stupid, right? or is it?
whenever you start some sort of new venture, you have to know what the end state is. you have to set some sort of goal. otherwise, when do you know that you’ve gotten to where you want to be? when do you call it quits and move on to the next challenge?
the worst words you can ever hear
“well, we can’t [blank]. but keep thinking about these things and bringing them up.”
if you hear those words in your job — leave it.
i’m not joking. those are quite possibly the worst words that you could ever hear from your manager. those words say, “we’re not committed to diverse viewpoints.” they say, “we’re not committed to rewarding people for good work.” and worst of all, they say, “we’re not committed to being agile. we don’t like change.”
you don’t want to work for a company that doesn’t want to change. find a new job while you still have one. in your interview process with any new, potential employers, be sure to ask “how do you solve problems?” and “i have big ideas. if i wanted to change things, what kind of resistance would i face?”
you need to feel free to make the changes you see fit, and you need to have leadership that will allow you to change the world… even if it’s their world.
5 reasons your presentations suck
image by HikingArtist.com, flickr artist
my first “5 reasons..” post seemed to be fairly popular, so — ever the entrepreneur — i figured i’d capitalize on that success with my second installment. this particular list takes a look at your presentations.
if you’re a consultant like me, you live in powerpoint. you may even begin speaking in bullets. you turn everything you touch into simple, easy to read, easy to understand outlines of information.. even when it’s probably better to choose some other form of communication.
hey! we all do it (don’t lie. just fess up already). the problem is that many of us were never given the proper training, or the education that we did get on giving presentations was a bad one. so i hope that you take a look at the reasons after the jump here and make the necessary adjustments for your next presentation.
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