I wrote this on a napkin for a dear friend. It’s in the mail to her, so I’ll share with everyone here before Spring is over.
Sun warms up the ground.
so slowly. hard to believe.
Suddenly: Tulips!
I have a colleague and former mentor that is blogging about the mental and physical processes she is going through as she accepts that she needs to have an amputation in order to be healthy. It is a courageous and helpful journal. Annie is opening her story to the world in the sure-to-be-realized hope that someone else will benefit. While I admire this I find it has a chilling effect on my own journaling — I mean isn’t it pretty trivial to describe the (relative) anxiety caused by the first trip to the laundromat? Yes, of course it is. Perhaps I can ease into it if I acknowledge that my stuff isn’t at Annie’s intensity.
Today I spent 30 minutes (it took two trips) proving to St. Paul Credit Union that I was worthy to give them $1500 cash in hopes that they would give it back to me at some point in the future. At one level, it makes sense: they want to know if you really are who you say you are, and if you live where you say you live. Still, I wasn’t asking for a line of credit, or a loan — just please take the cash and give me a good way to get it back someday. It illustrates that it’s possible to take for granted people like the woman at a different credit union (Linda is her name) that cashed my ASU checks for 20 years, and the dry cleaner owner/entrepreneur in Tempe that invariably thanked me for my business (Patrick is his name and he is a big Sun Devil fan.) There was an outstandingly cheerful waitress at Village Inn until about 4 years ago named Ember. She rocked.
I am rambling, but I guess the emerging theme is that there are many businesses and people to be thankful for. Don’t wait too long to tell them that they rock. That blend of 50% diet coke and 50% coca-cola didn’t jump in the glass all by itself; that’s what I’m thinking.
I’m writing from my perch on the sun-drenched 16th floor of the Jackson Tower. The good: SW exposure means wonderful light into the apartment all day. I can see my work building from here; it’s a 10 minute walk at most, either by skyway (indoors) or sidewalk (fresh air.) More good: wireless internet is hooked up. The set-up for the short-term lodging is super nice and completely livable. Just a little more good: We have found easy access to a Whole Foods, a Target, and multiple breakfast spots. Great start to the new adventure!
The not so good: It’s windy on the balcony. Sunny or not, it isn’t a place to linger yet. Also, no high-def TV and the Masters is only two weeks away.
Lessons learned so far: Galtier is pronounced Gaul-TEER in these parts. Mall of America is plenty cool with something for anyone. Como Conservatory looks substantial and scrumptious from the outside; can’t wait to have a chance to take a languid stroll through there.
I know there will be adversity. No snow lizard migrates north without some trials. But so far, it’s all been welcoming and enticing. Stay tuned…
My 5 year old granddaughter has more wisdom than most. Yes, yes, every grandpa says exactly that, and I do also agree that just as in Lake Wobegon, all grandchildren are above average. However, in my case she really is amazing. We took her to an exhibition game on Monday, and she delivered life wisdom. She chose to support the Dodgers against the Giants even though we sat in an enclave of orange and black. For the first several innings she was more interested in her kettle corn and her little sister’s antics than she was in the game. But she paid attention as the Giants scored a go ahead run. She knows the object of the game is to return home and the long legged outfielder leaving second and rounding third after a bouncing ball up the middle was hard to miss. So she sat on my lap as the Dodgers had their last chances. There was a pop out, then there was strike out (we reviewed the “1, 2, 3 strikes you’re out” lyric as the batter returned to the dugout.) Soon enough Manny Ramirez grounded out and the game was “over”. (That word is in quotes because it was actually the top of the 5th, but Grandpa had had enough!) No sooner had the out been made than Ashlyn piped up “I am still happy!” I asked what she was talking about. “Even if the Dodgers didn’t win. I am still happy at the ballgame!”
So tonight I watched the Sun Devils lose an opening round game in the Pac-10 tourney. It is kind of sad to watch them for 4 months and then have them lose so convincingly in an important game. Luckily for me, I have Ashlyn wisdom. I can hear her cheerful, sincere voice. “I’m still happy!” Hey, why not?
Photo by John P. http://onemansblog.com
If you’ve ever driven one of these vehicles and had reason to go backwards, you’ll understand this post better. One of my primary goals right now is to look forward. Having left one big institution, with an understandably large group of friends and colleagues, for another large institution (with friends and colleagues largely undiscovered) it is tempting to look backward and thereby miss the journey. I have been toying with a way to direct my attention to the forward path. Each time my mind starts to wonder what’s up at Maricopa and pondering what I hope they are thinking or doing, I counter it by making the golf cart’s BEEP BEEP BEEP sound that comes when it is placed in reverse. No one wants to hear that noise for long, and it’s also a warning that backward motion is not the norm. You can call me wacky if you want to. You won’t be the first.
Photo licensed under a creative commons share-alike. Use freely but give attribution to John P. and link to onemansblog.com.
Today is my first day emerged from the protective wing (and in some contexts the dark shadow) of Maricopa. Some things are private, others are personal, and still others are public. If you’ve come looking for the tell-all inside scoop, well… sorry to disappoint. For one thing it will take some time to process the complicated nature of my experience there and for another it isn’t in my nature to indiscriminately dish the dirt. What is worth talking about, I think, is what comes with the chance to begin (a little older and hopefully a little wiser) at a new place that is likely more complicated with probably more opportunity to make a difference. What to do? How to do it?
All I know at this point is that it is a little embarrassing to realize my brain has started to speak “spreadsheet”. I’m developing a mental matrix with several columns, i.e. what am I proud of, what didn’t work, ways I won’t change, and ways I hope to change. I’ve got columns now all I need is some rows.
One thing that may have been misunderstood by some is optimism and vision. People value honesty, and when I spoke as a leader that I foresaw things getting better it probably rang hollow for some. When your organization is going through turmoil and you choose to envision (and declare) that the future looks bright you run the risk of losing some of your audience. Going forward I know my optimism won’t change because that’s a core value for me. I believe attitude creates reality… not in the face of all obstacles mind you… but in a situation that is ambiguous if you choose the positive interpretation then you get the positive reality. While my optimism won’t change I do hope to get better at separating the vision statements from reports being interpreted as dishonesty or delusion. There is lots more to think about…
This morning I am listening to Neil Young Unplugged from MTV in 1993. This leads me to remember that naysayers are just that; people that say Nay. Nothing more respected or expert than that. Just “nay.” What if Neil Young had believed his childhood friend’s mother when she told him he wasn’t a good enough singer to make a living with music? What if Steve Nash had believed experts when they told him he was too scrawny to play in the NBA? Here’s to Neil and Stevie: long may you run!
I learned a quote long ago, “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am.” It sounds like intentional confusion, but it isn’t. One application is to think about your ability, as a member of an audience, to create a better musical performance. For example, that street performer isn’t the quality of musician that he thinks he is, for he may overestimate or underestimate his talent. Similarly, you may be prepared to dismiss his music by the visual quality of his guitar, or even his wardrobe. However if that busker comes to believe that you are being entertained, and that you are enjoying his music, then he can transform into the entertainer he believes that you believe him to be.
Now granted, there are limits. But who among us hasn’t become a little better behaved in the presence of mom or dad or supportive uncle that truly believes us incapable of being a grumpy, petty person?
I am reminding myself to give it a try. Expect the best of people; treat them as if they are accomplished and excellent. Applaud. Put a (figurative) tip in the imaginary open guitar case. See what happens.
It can be numbingly easy to play it safe. Further, a good analytical mind can always think of 5 reasons to do something, and 5 contrary reasons not to do that same thing. However, to be bold is to take a stand and to let that stance lead to action. I am not resolving to be agressive or pushy… being pushy has to do with imposing one’s viewposts on others. Instead, I am resolving this year to take bold steps more frequently. The old cliche has meaning: you have to stand for something, or you’ll stand for anything at all.
Happy New Year.
Several years ago I was attending a folk music festival in Lyons, Colorado. It was a warm almost hot August day with the stage set up less than 50 yards from a gently flowing river. The view included a Rocky Mountain blue sky, and a few trees moving mildly in the breeze. About 300 of us were lounging on blankets in the sun enjoying the music. A musician whose name I have forgotten stood on stage and looked out at the scene. He took it all in and said “It’s a miraculous day! But.. in fact you know… everyday is a miracle”, he said. “The really odd thing is that you can’t look anywhere, anytime, without seeing a miracle.”
It is so easy to get caught up in the turmoil of traffic and tasks, people and projects, that I can forget that it is all amazing. It’s not my intent to go over the top, or get soft-headed and dreamy. However the t-shirt people do have it right when they say Life is Good. I resolve to notice the miraculous in everyday living.