Just Plain Bill

Confused

Catch 1 fish, win a pole – Catch no fish, win a tackle box!

When I was seven years old, my father took me to a fishing derby at Lake Merritt, an inland lake near downtown Oakland, California. My experiences at that event and another derby the following year highly influenced my lasting feelings about effort and the resulting reward. 

The first year, I remember baiting my hook, throwing the line into the lake, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more. After what seemed like a really long time, there was a nibble on my line and my dad “helped” me jerk the line out of the water. I was excited to see a little smelt on my hook! We continued to fish for the rest of the day and then took my catch to the judging stand where they presented me with a bamboo fishing pole – the first thing I’d ever won.

The following year? Same place and same routine, but with different results. No fish were caught by anyone at the lake – a really bad year for fishing, but maybe a good one for the fish. At the end of the day, we reported to the judging stand where I was presented a shiny tackle box – which confused me.

After these two events, I believe I’d learned my first lesson of reward for effort, which surely has contributed to my upside-down perspective on motivation and consequences. More specifically:

·     “Reward or consequences are not always in sync with the effort, resources, or results that were invested!”

And now, over six decades later, I find myself living next to that very same lake where my fishy (though true) tale took place. Makes me feel that life is truly special and presents me with many wonderful surprises!

Just Plain Bill

Acknowledgement!

When I started my career in the business world back in the early 80s, I was introduced to two books: Corporate Culture, by Terrence Deal and Allan Kennedy, and In Search of Excellence, by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman. 

Coming from the not-for profit sector as a public school educator and youth worker, these books highly influenced my perspective and approach to my career as a learning and development consultant.

Over the past 30 plus years, I’ve been especially encouraged, educated and inspired by the works of Tom Peters. His website consists of a treasure trove (a phrase I love and save for the truly remarkable) of thought-provoking writing.

My most favorite of his writings was first read in 2012 and was titled Acknowledgement! In addition to some personal examples of receiving and gifting acknowledgement, he includes what he calls “caselets” about a variety of people responding to acknowledgement. The nine examples are golden, and are followed by “A Note About Body Language and Acknowledgement” – a must-read for anyone striving to influence the work and lives of others.

I’ll share two of my favorite quotes that Peters sprinkles throughout the 12 pages:

“The only true gift is a portion of yourself.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“It is the burning desire for the creature to count.

What man really fears in not extinction, but extinction with insignificance.”

- Ernest Becker

I’d like to close with a suggestion from my editor and dear friend, Allyn Geer: “Mr. Peters reminds us that meaningful acknowledgment is not accomplished by words alone, but by the sincerity perceived “…by the incredibly complex way in which we attend to the person we are addressing.”

Whom have you acknowledged lately? There’s still time today – so just do it!

Just Plain Bill

“If I am what I do, if I don’t am I not?”

(Author unknown)

Last summer

Many years ago, I heard this Zen-like saying that stayed with me and seems so relevant to me at the moment. I’ve been out of a full-time job for over nine months now. I’ve been presented with the opportunity to take the very advice that I’ve so freely given to others over the years: “Note to self – get on the path for what you’d like to do – not be – in your next career.”

In my role as a corporate trainer and consultant, I’ve encouraged those with whom I work that they are much more than what they do. It’s a natural tendency to introduce ourselves by the title of our current job. This especially restrictive habit is all too common in both casual and networking conversations.

Without gainful employment…without a job complete with some type of title…it’s become a challenge to define who I am in a way that conforms to conventional wisdom.

I’m interested to learn how you addressed this conundrum if you were ever in the same position. Ideas welcomed!

Two months later

Stop the Presses!

Eleven months from leaving my last full-time job, I’m now employed in a full-time position on a short-term development contract. I wonder how my perspective will change now that I have a “what I do” to influence how I introduce myself, how I look at myself, and “Who I am?”

Stay tuned!

Eight weeks later

Next chapter in the self-reflection based on how “what I do”, influences “who I am.”

Finished the development contract and observed that I felt energized, motivated and responsible for adding value to an organization – which all felt good. But, now that the work contract is over, will that feeling of euphoria continue?

I’ve also been energized to organize a new endeavor, offering a wealth of developmental opportunities for the 275 residents of the complex where I live.

Once again, stay tuned! 

Just Plain Bill

My Dear Friend Steve

Most of us go through life experiencing health challenges of varying degrees. From the broken arm on the playground, to the flu bug that morphed into pneumonia. From the car accident with treatable injuries, to the all too common maladies – tonsils out, teeth straightened, acne treated, bunions removed – and so on. 

I’ve known my dear friend Steve since first meeting during an interview in the early ‘80s. From that moment, there was an immediate connection in spirit, values, and creativity. We also shared an active sense of humor.

Over the years, we worked together and we worked apart. We raised our families, stayed in close touch, but experienced some time without contact too. All in all, I’ve always considered Steve a dear friend, one with whom I could share both pains and pleasures, as we travelled our different paths to our relative success and fulfillment.

That sense of equilibrium continued unabated for about 30 years – until something changed. A few years ago Steve entered the hospital for what was supposed to be a routine appendectomy. During recovery, something major went wrong.

Throughout my life, I’d heard references to “code blue” – the announcement that calls “all hands on deck”…all available health care providers to provide immediate aid to a patient in distress. A “code blue” had to be called out for my dear friend Steve.

From the few details I was told, there was a problem with the closing of Steve’s operation, which resulted in the temporary loss of blood to his brain. While temporary, the condition resulted in an impairment of Steve’s cognitive process that has lingered to this day.

While I was out of work for nearly a year, Steve and I met regularly for breakfast. While enjoying the comforts of each other’s company and great meals, we shared some laughs, some fears, some hope, some apprehension, and more than a few tears.  During our breakfast chats, we talked through some tough subjects, like how much of my dear friend’s abilities had been impacted, how much was the same or on the mend, and how much might never come back. Although I’ve come to recognize that some of my functions and capabilities have been impacted by aging and the` passage of time, I can only empathize to a minute degree what adjustments my dear friend Steve must make as life goes on. We must adapt in our roles as the one who takes care of our families.

Steve has always been an incredibly gifted and talented writer and artist. I feel it is important that I share the personal reflections of my dear friend and his gift of this thoughtful verse.

I love you Steve!

The working class and a purple scarf -- January 2013

Most of my life

I’ve held up the roof beams

of our home.

My hands, at times,

bent

under the weight

of redwood.

I am blessed to be

part of the working

community---

those of us who labor

with mind or shovel

in the noon

of our own time.

Shoulder to shoulder

we have created

the painted walls

that have protected

our families.

But now my mind

has gone astray

hit by a loose

surgical bullet

that has robbed me

of my ability

to hold a blueprint

in one hand,

a people puzzle in the

other,

while re-wiring a problem

with the strands

of red copper wire.

My days of herding

belief, fractured facts

and people

through the narrow gate

are over.

Will I love myself

now that I can no

longer hold the roof beams?

Will those around me

see

this hidden failure

and hold my

name

in respect?

The precipice ahead

is high

with granite rocks.

I see the new land

below

with spiced apples

and a river

running like a herd

of blue gazelles.

Now is the time

to leap

or walk away.

If I only knew

the color of my soul,

the decision

would come

without the pain

of consequence.

Alas.

I am but a journeyman

In the realm

of unseen places

where truth

is wearing a purple scarf

and moving in the wind.