I was catching up on my blog reading tonight and a blog I follow by Greg Bledsoe had a great post about the use of technology and how it can help people traveling to remote regions of the world keep in touch with friends and loved ones.
Take a look at the post HERE, and enjoy!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Navy motivation - W-O-W
So the negative incentive associated with this behavior as in no promotions and potentially getting thrown out of the Navy isn't enough? The command also needs a positive incentive to prevent such behavior?
Wouldn't that be like giving our company a day off for no groping of coworkers genitals for 6 months? Or how about a day off for 6 months of no embezzling money from the company? Perhaps a day off for nobody brandishing a weapon in the office?
I'll have to give some thought to the wackiest motivational tool I've ever seen, but I'm very confident I can't hold a candle to that one!
Wouldn't that be like giving our company a day off for no groping of coworkers genitals for 6 months? Or how about a day off for 6 months of no embezzling money from the company? Perhaps a day off for nobody brandishing a weapon in the office?
I'll have to give some thought to the wackiest motivational tool I've ever seen, but I'm very confident I can't hold a candle to that one!
Getting old?
I don't think any of us are really getting old. None of us is even half way through life yet. And if you strike the first 10 years and the last 5 years of life (depending on your type of decline) less than half and for some of us barely a third of the best years of our life are in the rear view. The problem with the perspective is that the "life span" of sports figures are brief and getting briefer by the decade. To Ed's point, even golf is a taxing sport on the body, so being the best is not sustainable for any reasonable period compared to a normal life.
So instead of thinking about our age/oldness in the context of athletics, we just need a different lens. Look at all the examples of people doing incredible things in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Look at income statistics, which would say that our highest earning years of our lifetime are still well ahead of us all.
To bring it back to our own athleticism, can you believe Dad did all of RAGBRAI less than 5 years ago!? We are all a long ways from that age (no offense intended Dad) and we may fancy ourselves more focused on our fitness and health than Dad realistically ever was.
So instead of thinking about how old we are, I think we should be focused on how many awesome years of adventure, earning, exploration and excitement we have ahead. Marc, are you motivated to do a mountain bike adventure in Utah yet?
And hey, at least both of you guys have younger wives to keep you feeling young!
There will always be only one Michael Jordan...
So instead of thinking about our age/oldness in the context of athletics, we just need a different lens. Look at all the examples of people doing incredible things in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Look at income statistics, which would say that our highest earning years of our lifetime are still well ahead of us all.
To bring it back to our own athleticism, can you believe Dad did all of RAGBRAI less than 5 years ago!? We are all a long ways from that age (no offense intended Dad) and we may fancy ourselves more focused on our fitness and health than Dad realistically ever was.
So instead of thinking about how old we are, I think we should be focused on how many awesome years of adventure, earning, exploration and excitement we have ahead. Marc, are you motivated to do a mountain bike adventure in Utah yet?
And hey, at least both of you guys have younger wives to keep you feeling young!
There will always be only one Michael Jordan...
About perspective
Ed, I really liked your thoughts about the other side of the coin, and I agree completely that it is important to generate some persective on your personal and professional life. The problem is so many times the pace of life gets in the way. Its not an excuse (if it is it is a bad one) but an explanation.
I will give you two examples of this concept that I've personally experienced, specifically around religion and perspective(uh oh!):
1. I went to church with Marc and Jennifer many years ago when I was traveling for work. It was a congregation in which I was not very comfortable being insecure in my faith and being surrounded by a room of very vocal people who were. But the message that day was awesome. He spoke about the Christian bubble and how people of faith often insulate themselves with like-minded people. His message said that people needed to get out of the Christian bubble and surround themselves with people who aren't of the same convictions. I think the moral was one of evangelism but it was a message that stuck with me for different reasons more along the lines of perspective.
2. I've been a long and open critic of the Catholic faith. Not because of their specific beliefs (because I can't really say how they differ from other Christian faiths) but because the routine of a service makes it a very closed religion. We grew up in a church with no shortage of holiday Christians and the thing I think of most about our church is how open it was to whomever, whenever. In a Catholic church, for me, not knowing when to stand, sit, kneel and say all the things that everyone else knows the words to is very disconcerting. To me it isn't a place where I can go to explore my faith or learn about faith.
To broaden this to the idea of perspective, the running and friendly joke with my boss, close friend, and devout Catholic Chris Klitgaard is they live in the Catholic bubble. Their kids go to Catholic school, many friendships are derived from other Catholics (through their children's school friends), many events they attend are Catholic affiliated, and their philanthropic support begins with the church.
Sheila and I by comparison are not in the bubble. Our kids will go to public school, we attend a variety of social and community events that we are exposed to from a variety of people/organizations, and our philanthopy is broad (although inclusive of among other things our church). It is a stark contrast to the single buying site, volume discount concept of the Catholic church where you commit your "time, talent, and treasure".
So let's all make sure we make time to get some perspective. It makes the colorful banter about any topic more educational which is something I'm sure Ed can appreciate.
I will give you two examples of this concept that I've personally experienced, specifically around religion and perspective(uh oh!):
1. I went to church with Marc and Jennifer many years ago when I was traveling for work. It was a congregation in which I was not very comfortable being insecure in my faith and being surrounded by a room of very vocal people who were. But the message that day was awesome. He spoke about the Christian bubble and how people of faith often insulate themselves with like-minded people. His message said that people needed to get out of the Christian bubble and surround themselves with people who aren't of the same convictions. I think the moral was one of evangelism but it was a message that stuck with me for different reasons more along the lines of perspective.
2. I've been a long and open critic of the Catholic faith. Not because of their specific beliefs (because I can't really say how they differ from other Christian faiths) but because the routine of a service makes it a very closed religion. We grew up in a church with no shortage of holiday Christians and the thing I think of most about our church is how open it was to whomever, whenever. In a Catholic church, for me, not knowing when to stand, sit, kneel and say all the things that everyone else knows the words to is very disconcerting. To me it isn't a place where I can go to explore my faith or learn about faith.
To broaden this to the idea of perspective, the running and friendly joke with my boss, close friend, and devout Catholic Chris Klitgaard is they live in the Catholic bubble. Their kids go to Catholic school, many friendships are derived from other Catholics (through their children's school friends), many events they attend are Catholic affiliated, and their philanthropic support begins with the church.
Sheila and I by comparison are not in the bubble. Our kids will go to public school, we attend a variety of social and community events that we are exposed to from a variety of people/organizations, and our philanthopy is broad (although inclusive of among other things our church). It is a stark contrast to the single buying site, volume discount concept of the Catholic church where you commit your "time, talent, and treasure".
So let's all make sure we make time to get some perspective. It makes the colorful banter about any topic more educational which is something I'm sure Ed can appreciate.
Technology - Brad's belated response
Well gentleman and fellow followers, its been a bit of a dry spell for me as I've had some technical issues with my blogger account (how fitting). But I'm back...
The most insightful comment of everyone's was the idea that technology is supposed to be valuable. I think it needs to be additive in some way that helps you in your job, connect with enhanced personal relationships (see previous conversation about online social networks), or some other value-adding way. Knowing what time someone took a crap in which Starbucks doesn't qualify.
Twitter: I'm actually more interested in twitter than I am FB. I am on Twitter (how about them apples huh boys!), and I follow things that are important to me. I am currently following: Junior Achievement USA, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Iowa Swimming, Terry Reinsager (co-worker), The Iowa Hawkeyes, and MediRevv. I stay informed on what's happening in those environs.
But the big issue I have with technology is when it impedes personal relationships and interactions. Sheila and I have had many conversations about our respective phones being out when it is just us. I've also seen instances where people are just plain rude because they are paying attention to their FB feed on their phone instead of a conversation with me. It is the 2012 version of looking over someone's shoulder at dinner to watch a football game. Most everyone would agree that is rude, yet so many people don't think twice of sitting in front of their phone or other Mac device even when they are present with others.
The most insightful comment of everyone's was the idea that technology is supposed to be valuable. I think it needs to be additive in some way that helps you in your job, connect with enhanced personal relationships (see previous conversation about online social networks), or some other value-adding way. Knowing what time someone took a crap in which Starbucks doesn't qualify.
Twitter: I'm actually more interested in twitter than I am FB. I am on Twitter (how about them apples huh boys!), and I follow things that are important to me. I am currently following: Junior Achievement USA, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Iowa Swimming, Terry Reinsager (co-worker), The Iowa Hawkeyes, and MediRevv. I stay informed on what's happening in those environs.
But the big issue I have with technology is when it impedes personal relationships and interactions. Sheila and I have had many conversations about our respective phones being out when it is just us. I've also seen instances where people are just plain rude because they are paying attention to their FB feed on their phone instead of a conversation with me. It is the 2012 version of looking over someone's shoulder at dinner to watch a football game. Most everyone would agree that is rude, yet so many people don't think twice of sitting in front of their phone or other Mac device even when they are present with others.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Whacky Motivational Tools
I'm off on Monday because our Commanding Officer gave us the day off. Why you ask? Because no one at our command has received a DUI in the past 180 days! I know, it seems to play into the whole Navy stereotype, and it may not seem like quite that much of an accomplishment, but do you know how many people get DUIs in general?
The difference in receiving a DUI as a civilian or as a military member are like the difference between night and day. Short of killing a family of seven and having the media jump all over it, civilian companies could care less if you get a DUI. As long as you make it to work on time and perform as expected it's your private business and they don't care.
In the military, it's a career ender. Yes, a career ender. An Officer or Chief Petty Officer who gets a DUI will never promote again. A junior enlisted person who gets a DUI will not only likely never get promoted again, but will also probably not be allowed to reenlist for another term, even if they want to do so. They will also get demoted to a lower rank. So not only is their "career" over, but their military time will probably come to a premature end as well. It's serious business.
You might ask if a person could hide it from the military. Well, maybe they can, but it will likely be found out sooner or later, especially for people who have a security clearance. During our five year security reviews you are required to divulge that stuff and they do an all agency pull to see if your name pops anywhere for anything in the United States. If it comes out then, you're in REAL trouble. Local commands also receive blotters from the local police on any incidents involving military members, so chances are the Navy will know about it right away anyway.
So yes, it sounds a little funny to get a day off for 180 days without a DUI, but hey, who doesn't like a day off? What's the funniest "motivational tool" you've ever seen?
The difference in receiving a DUI as a civilian or as a military member are like the difference between night and day. Short of killing a family of seven and having the media jump all over it, civilian companies could care less if you get a DUI. As long as you make it to work on time and perform as expected it's your private business and they don't care.
In the military, it's a career ender. Yes, a career ender. An Officer or Chief Petty Officer who gets a DUI will never promote again. A junior enlisted person who gets a DUI will not only likely never get promoted again, but will also probably not be allowed to reenlist for another term, even if they want to do so. They will also get demoted to a lower rank. So not only is their "career" over, but their military time will probably come to a premature end as well. It's serious business.
You might ask if a person could hide it from the military. Well, maybe they can, but it will likely be found out sooner or later, especially for people who have a security clearance. During our five year security reviews you are required to divulge that stuff and they do an all agency pull to see if your name pops anywhere for anything in the United States. If it comes out then, you're in REAL trouble. Local commands also receive blotters from the local police on any incidents involving military members, so chances are the Navy will know about it right away anyway.
So yes, it sounds a little funny to get a day off for 180 days without a DUI, but hey, who doesn't like a day off? What's the funniest "motivational tool" you've ever seen?
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Yeah, I guess we're getting old(er)
I enjoyed your post about sports heroes that have moved on, Ed, and it coincided with an ice breaker at our church group the other night that involved the question, "Who was your childhood hero?"
As far as sports is concerned, the one that comes to mind for me is Bobby Hansen. I was a big Hawkeyes fan as a kid, just like you guys were, and for some unknown reason he was my favorite guy. I wish I still had that autograph that I got from him after the exhibition game in Oelwein circa 1982. Can you believe that the Hawks played an exhibition game in Oelwein?? Anyway, Hansen retired from the NBA after winning a ring with the Bulls in 1992. Brad, if you see him around campus this winter, tell him I said hello.
On the football side of things, I bounced around a lot until I finally settled on the Steelers. I remember liking the Cowboys when I was little, with Too Tall Jones, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, and Randy White. In Junior High it was the Dolphins with Dan Marino and receivers Mark Duper and Mark Clayton. Who couldn't love the 1985 Bears and the Superbowl Shuffle? One of my many school age hair disasters was going to Baker's Barber Shop with a picture of Jim McMahon and telling them I wanted my hair to look like his. Somehow the cutting edge hair fashion pros in there couldn't quite figure it out and I walked out of there looking like what I can best describe as a baby bird. McMahon retired as a back-up quarterback with the Superbowl champion Green Bay Packers in 1996. Dan Marino retired in 2000 after the worst AFC loss in playoff history (62-7 to the Jaguars). Don't get me started on Brett Favre!
In pro basketball, all the guys that I loved to watch from the "golden age" of basketball are gone. There are too many to name, but I suppose of all the pro sports, basketball is the one that I've followed the most. I know that I always loved Charles Barkley, especially when he was with the Suns. The guy averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game during his 16-season career, and shot almost 75% from the free throw line (Shaquille O'neal shot 50%). Barkley retired in 2000. You can check out his views on the 2012 Presidential election here.
Okay, can't forget tennis… My absolute favorite stars have in fact moved on. I loved Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, but my most favorites were Lindsay Davenport and Todd Martin. They were both really class acts and great tennis players. Davenport had a lot more success than Martin, who never managed to win a Grand Slam. He was runner up at an Australian Open to Pete Sampras, and a runner up at the US Open to Andre Agassi. Sampras retired in 2002, Agassi in 2006, Martin in 2004, and Davenport is still technically a player. She didn't play at all in 2012 due to the birth of her third child, and she only plays doubles now. Who knows if she'll be back again.
What was the title of this post? Oh yeah, about getting older. Professional athletes come and go, but if anything makes me feel old, it's when athletes who were born in 1982 (Andy Roddick) retire. I'm 12 years older than him! On a side note, Andy Roddick is like the Utah Jazz of tennis. He was a really really good tennis player, but unfortunately his best days were during the reign of a legendary tennis player named Roger Federer. If you look at his career stats, he was runner-up to Roger Federer in 3 Wimbledons, a US Open, and 2 Masters Series tournaments (end of tennis year tournament).
So who are the favorites now? NBA: Kevin Durant. NFL: Aaron Rodgers (since Hines Ward is now retired). MLB: San Diego Chicken. NHL: Chris Pronger (Captain of the Flyers). MLS: Ronaldo Consuego Hidalgo Pena Smith. NASCAR: Tony Stewart. ATP: James Blake and Andy Murray (yes, bandwagon pick). WTA: Anyone playing one of the Williams sisters (yes they are awesome but I don't like them). WBA: who cares.
I'm not old. 42 is the new 22.
Back on the Bike II (too)
Ed, if it makes you feel any better, I checked my own mapmyride and discovered that I have a lame 241 miles logged on the bike this year. I didn't set any goals for riding this year, but if I had, I'm sure it would have been a lot more than 241!
I got out this morning for the first time since I rode with you guys on July 5th, which happens to be the ONLY day that I rode in the month of July. I got blanked in August, too. My ride this morning was just over an hour on my favorite ride out to El Capitan Reservoir. I averaged 17 mph but it's practically a flat ride, 20 miles out and back.
This past Wednesday I started to make some small changes to try to improve my overall fitness - not huge changes, since I usually can't sustain huge changes. I didn't drink any soda on Wednesday or Thursday and watched my portions a little bit. I was doing great until I tore up a 3-pound (it seemed that big) burrito last night and washed it down with a Mountain Dew. I'm still of the mind that I can't give up soda altogether, but I'll work on reducing how much of it that I drink. I love those little cans, but sometimes the economics of it pisses me off so much. I was going to buy some at Target today but an 8-pack of the small cans costs $3.69, while an 8-pack of the bottles (12-ouncers) was $3.99. I went with the bottles, and will try pouring half of the bottle in a glass for dinner. My plan is to NOT drink soda at work, and reward myself with a little bit at dinner if I'm dying for it.
I wasn't happy with the 194.6 in my birthday suit on the scale the other day. Let's hope that I can STAY on the bike, even though I'm not the biggest fan of riding by myself. At least it's a beautiful ride!
I got out this morning for the first time since I rode with you guys on July 5th, which happens to be the ONLY day that I rode in the month of July. I got blanked in August, too. My ride this morning was just over an hour on my favorite ride out to El Capitan Reservoir. I averaged 17 mph but it's practically a flat ride, 20 miles out and back.
This past Wednesday I started to make some small changes to try to improve my overall fitness - not huge changes, since I usually can't sustain huge changes. I didn't drink any soda on Wednesday or Thursday and watched my portions a little bit. I was doing great until I tore up a 3-pound (it seemed that big) burrito last night and washed it down with a Mountain Dew. I'm still of the mind that I can't give up soda altogether, but I'll work on reducing how much of it that I drink. I love those little cans, but sometimes the economics of it pisses me off so much. I was going to buy some at Target today but an 8-pack of the small cans costs $3.69, while an 8-pack of the bottles (12-ouncers) was $3.99. I went with the bottles, and will try pouring half of the bottle in a glass for dinner. My plan is to NOT drink soda at work, and reward myself with a little bit at dinner if I'm dying for it.
I wasn't happy with the 194.6 in my birthday suit on the scale the other day. Let's hope that I can STAY on the bike, even though I'm not the biggest fan of riding by myself. At least it's a beautiful ride!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Back on the Bike!
I'm trying to put in my first 100 mile week of the year on the bike. And it's showing. Tonight I rode 27 miles and on Saturday I rode 35 miles. When I started my ride tonight my legs were already tired. Between that and the wind (at my back on the way out, in my face on the way home) I was traveling pretty slow by the time I returned to the house.
So for all you keeping track at home I have 38 more miles to ride in 4 days. That will be a challenge. Not sure I'm going to make it.
To make matters worse I checked out the total miles I've ridden this year on MapMyRide. I log almost all of my workouts there. And the total so far year to date was 400. My goal was to ride 1,000 this year so it's unlikely I'm going to make it. But I guess that is what goals are for right?
So I have a lot of riding to do over the next couple of months!
I'm finding that riding (alone) gives me solitary time to think, similar to being on a plane at 35,000 feet. So Brad, be forewarned. I'm likely to throw some pretty crazy posts your way if I do half the riding I intend to do.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Another Sign I'm Getting Old
Like I need another ...
Seems all my most-admired athletes are in the sunset of their career, or already retired. The new list of athletes that are headlining their respective sports are closer to my kids age than mine. And are better known by them than by me.
The stars that I've followed for most of my adult life? Some are headed to the HOF, some are now coaching or commentating, and still others are broke or in jail.
There are a few notable additions to this list that are worth mentioning lately:
Lance Armstrong - the blog was silent when his seven Tour de France titles were stripped and he gave up the fight, but I remain a big fan. What he has done with his foundation and for the sport of cycling is commended by everyone in the sport. That is, unless you were caught doping and therefore want to implicate anyone and everyone who can to drag them down with you. But, retired and accomplishments removed.
Tiger Woods - he's not the same golfer he used to be. It's nearly unarguable that this has a lot to do with his off the course personal challenges. He's not retired, but he'll never again be the feared competitor he once was. And he's now considered old and in the limelight of whatever career he has left.
Andy Roddick - I'm not a huge tennis fan but I always liked Roddick. He was fun to watch and fun to listen to post match. He was pretty much the face of American men's tennis for the last decade. And I hate to see him go. But I will say this, he went out with class.
Now there are several others: Michael Jordan, Brett Favre, Ken Griffey Jr ... on and on. But I'm finding myself increasingly disinterested in the individual athletes of today. I just don't relate to them like I did their predecessors.
Best get the Laz-E-Boy ready. I'm just about there.
Seems all my most-admired athletes are in the sunset of their career, or already retired. The new list of athletes that are headlining their respective sports are closer to my kids age than mine. And are better known by them than by me.
The stars that I've followed for most of my adult life? Some are headed to the HOF, some are now coaching or commentating, and still others are broke or in jail.
There are a few notable additions to this list that are worth mentioning lately:
Lance Armstrong - the blog was silent when his seven Tour de France titles were stripped and he gave up the fight, but I remain a big fan. What he has done with his foundation and for the sport of cycling is commended by everyone in the sport. That is, unless you were caught doping and therefore want to implicate anyone and everyone who can to drag them down with you. But, retired and accomplishments removed.
Tiger Woods - he's not the same golfer he used to be. It's nearly unarguable that this has a lot to do with his off the course personal challenges. He's not retired, but he'll never again be the feared competitor he once was. And he's now considered old and in the limelight of whatever career he has left.
Andy Roddick - I'm not a huge tennis fan but I always liked Roddick. He was fun to watch and fun to listen to post match. He was pretty much the face of American men's tennis for the last decade. And I hate to see him go. But I will say this, he went out with class.
Now there are several others: Michael Jordan, Brett Favre, Ken Griffey Jr ... on and on. But I'm finding myself increasingly disinterested in the individual athletes of today. I just don't relate to them like I did their predecessors.
Best get the Laz-E-Boy ready. I'm just about there.
The Other Side of the Coin
Here's a generic post about a generic topic, but one that I've become intimately familiar with over the past 4+ months. It applies to work, to home, and to most anything. And the benefits are worth every minute you invest. Sounds good right?
The advice? Explore and experience "the other side of the coin". What I mean by this is:
The advice? Explore and experience "the other side of the coin". What I mean by this is:
- If you live in an urban area, occasionally spend some time in a rural area
- If you like the beach, then check out the mountains
- If you are in a management role, shadow someone who is in a line role
- If you are a sales person, hang out with someone who is in operations
- If you are a republican, then genuinely listen to the democratic messages
- If you have a large family, you might want to hang out with someone who doesn't have one
- If you work in corporate America, I would recommend you interface with someone who owns their own business
- And if you are an HR professional who has some role in recruitment then you should occasionally check out what it feels like to be on the other side of the table
I'm certain you all get the picture.
That last one is the experience and perspective I've most recently gained over the past months. I must admit that I had almost completely forgotten what it was like to be on "the other side of the coin". Or in this case, the other side of the table. Being an applicant or candidate for a position is hard. It's emotional, and often with no feedback. Most companies today don't reach out to you and say you're no longer being considered, and they certainly don't tell you why. Doing these two simple things can pay big dividends for an employer and could differentiate you amongst other hiring companies. But it takes effort and time, and most HR people (myself included) just weren't willing to commit that time. I know one thing - I'll be better at this when I do get re-employed.
But the advice here goes well beyond business to my personal life as well. During my 4+ month bout with unemployment I've been on the other side of the coin a lot personally as well. Worrying about the things Holly (my wife) took care of and things I just didn't pay much attention (or appreciation) to. Bills, groceries, kid's school and after school activities, laundry, meals. Again, it was my mistake to take these for granted and being on the other side of the coin has helped me renew my appreciation for the things Holly does to keep the home fire burning.
But I think it's easy to fall into the trap I did. Going about your business, your life, without a real recognition of what others might be experiencing around you. If you do spend time on the other side of the coin it will re-energize your existing relationships and help you forge new ones.
So when you start to get comfortable with your life, business or pleasure, just stretch and see what it's like "on the other side of the coin". I'm certain you'll learn and be better for it!
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