When I was working I had a conversation with a customer who shared that her department was reading a series of books and had I read, The Three Signs of a Miserable Job? I remember laughing and asking her if she was giving me a hint? She then laughed and shared that it was a book similar to, Who Moved my Cheese? and that I might enjoy reading not only this book, but the whole series.
I have always loved to read, but hate being interrupted when I am in the midst of a cliff-hanging sentence. So, once the children began to crawl...I could not become absorbed in a book and needed to focus my reading time elsewhere...
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, (authored by Patrick Lencioni) was by far the best book I have read in a long time. OK, so my comparison would be a Harlequin Romance, but seriously; when I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down and by the end of the day, I had completed this 200+ page "novel".
I then sent an email to this customer thanking her for leading me to this book and that when (if) I return to the workforce; "I would be a better employee and/or manager because of it."
Since July, I have had a lot of time for self-reflection and if there is one thing I've learned from my past 20 years of working; I NOW, wouldn't change anything. I grew as a person; both personally and professionally and I know I was a great employee and manager; but not perfect.
My subjective feelings of my past work situations have become objective. I like being on the outside looking in and I owe my gratitude to Mr. Lencioni.
I wish I could say I regret not being able to implement Mr. Lencioni leadership practices...I don't. However, I am grateful for the knowledge I gained through reading; it has provided me with the healing I needed and I am almost done with the whole series.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
Over the Hills and Through the Woods
Grandparents Day. My all-time favorite school event. I enjoy it more than Parent's Day. I've missed only one since my children have attended Sts. Peter and Paul.
The day begins with a Mass for all attending the event. Then it's over to the school to be entertained by each class about how much the students love their grandparents. When my parents attended the day when Erika was in kindergarten, her class entertained us to the tune of "You are my Sunshine...only the words changed to honor their grandparents and ended with, "Please don't take my grandparents away." Tearing up, I knew I wasn't the only one who was touched by those words.
This year Danielle had to write a story using all of her senses. The teacher's chosen topic was to describe what they feel, taste, touch and smell when they are at their grandparent's house. Danielle came home and shared her dilemma of not remembering enough about her grandparents' house to write a story about it. I recommended she use The Commons where her grandpa lived for the past five years. "But, that's not a house," she refuted, "that's an apartment. Can I use Jody and Brian's house? They have a big house and I can write about Jody's smoked turkey." Showing outward excitement about her choice, my heart ached a little. I applauded her decision and we began brainstorming.
On a recent visit to the school, I stopped to read the finished projects of her class on this topic. In the upper left corner of the wall, was the lone paper titled, "My Aunt and Uncle's House." Thankful, it wasn't in the center, I attempted to read the rest of the literary art titled, "My Grandparents House." Staring at those 13 titles, I never read one. My heart broke, I began to tear up and by the time I was in my car, my tears flowed quickly and I cried all the way home.
My kids are blessed they have surrogate grandparents in Linda and Lew. I'm grateful, each year, they are wrapped in the arms of an aunt or uncle who loves them just as much as a grandparent on this day. When Kathy represented my dad in his absence last year, he said to me, "If I knew Kathy was going, I would have liked to go, too. I suppose it's too much work." Regretfully, I hadn't asked him since he said, "I'm just not up to it, Julie Ann," after my mom died. To make things easier on both of us, I never asked him again. Now I can't.
Armed with my camera, I'll be at this event again this year. Basking in the happiness of every child, including my own, I will take candid and posed shots of children interacting with their grandparents. Joy will fill my heart as many grandparents ask, "Can I get a copy of that picture? and some will even say, "I will pay you." It happens every year. My smiling response is always, "There is no cost and I will make sure I send a copy to your grandchild's teacher and they will get it to you." I'll think about how my mom called each of her grandchildren as"treasures," and I will reflect knowing that's what my photos will mean to the grandparents who receive them.
I know this year's Grandparents Day will be my toughest yet, it will also be Danielle's last at the school. While Danielle and Carley will be well represented by their aunts Linda and Patty and Uncle Don, this year will be different. Both sets of grandparents will be able to enjoy the day together, sharing in their pride and joy as they look upon their treasures from heaven.
It will be the first time my children will have all of their grandparents with them on this day.
The day begins with a Mass for all attending the event. Then it's over to the school to be entertained by each class about how much the students love their grandparents. When my parents attended the day when Erika was in kindergarten, her class entertained us to the tune of "You are my Sunshine...only the words changed to honor their grandparents and ended with, "Please don't take my grandparents away." Tearing up, I knew I wasn't the only one who was touched by those words.
This year Danielle had to write a story using all of her senses. The teacher's chosen topic was to describe what they feel, taste, touch and smell when they are at their grandparent's house. Danielle came home and shared her dilemma of not remembering enough about her grandparents' house to write a story about it. I recommended she use The Commons where her grandpa lived for the past five years. "But, that's not a house," she refuted, "that's an apartment. Can I use Jody and Brian's house? They have a big house and I can write about Jody's smoked turkey." Showing outward excitement about her choice, my heart ached a little. I applauded her decision and we began brainstorming.
On a recent visit to the school, I stopped to read the finished projects of her class on this topic. In the upper left corner of the wall, was the lone paper titled, "My Aunt and Uncle's House." Thankful, it wasn't in the center, I attempted to read the rest of the literary art titled, "My Grandparents House." Staring at those 13 titles, I never read one. My heart broke, I began to tear up and by the time I was in my car, my tears flowed quickly and I cried all the way home.
My kids are blessed they have surrogate grandparents in Linda and Lew. I'm grateful, each year, they are wrapped in the arms of an aunt or uncle who loves them just as much as a grandparent on this day. When Kathy represented my dad in his absence last year, he said to me, "If I knew Kathy was going, I would have liked to go, too. I suppose it's too much work." Regretfully, I hadn't asked him since he said, "I'm just not up to it, Julie Ann," after my mom died. To make things easier on both of us, I never asked him again. Now I can't.
Armed with my camera, I'll be at this event again this year. Basking in the happiness of every child, including my own, I will take candid and posed shots of children interacting with their grandparents. Joy will fill my heart as many grandparents ask, "Can I get a copy of that picture? and some will even say, "I will pay you." It happens every year. My smiling response is always, "There is no cost and I will make sure I send a copy to your grandchild's teacher and they will get it to you." I'll think about how my mom called each of her grandchildren as"treasures," and I will reflect knowing that's what my photos will mean to the grandparents who receive them.
I know this year's Grandparents Day will be my toughest yet, it will also be Danielle's last at the school. While Danielle and Carley will be well represented by their aunts Linda and Patty and Uncle Don, this year will be different. Both sets of grandparents will be able to enjoy the day together, sharing in their pride and joy as they look upon their treasures from heaven.
It will be the first time my children will have all of their grandparents with them on this day.
Hit The Road, Jack(ie)!
Names have been changed to protect the guilty.
Many parents had told Julia that she would love it when her children would start driving. She couldn't help, but agree, having one of her children begin driving four years ago.
Julia lived in the country. In the country, she experienced a lot of slow moving vehicles during the Fall. "Why aren't you passing that tractor? Gosh, can't that tractor pulling the plow move any faster?! Pass the feed truck! What's the problem with that truck pulling a trailer full of cows, it should be going the speed limit!" Knowing the answer, Julia kept them to herself. She wanted to be the example of a patient and safe driver for Jackie.
"You know you're too far back (in the turn lane), don't you? Blinded by the sun, Julia told Jackie the sun was blocking her vision. The light turned green. "Julia, it's green!" In an exasperated tone, Julia responded, "I can see that!" Equally frustrated, Jackie quipped, "Well, you said you couldn't see, the sun was blocking your vision." "Obviously, I saw it was a red light because I stopped!" Julia stated angrily." "Geez, I'm just trying to help," Jackie stated, getting the last word. Silence. Julia uttered a sigh of relief (the last unspoken word) and continued on...
"Is it legal to pass on the left?"(at a green light when the car in front of you has its blinker on to turn right?) Jackie asked Julia as she performed this while driving only a block from the last stoplight. "Well, you should always look in your rearview mirror and blind spot on your right before you pass," Julia stated, unsure of the correct answer and thinking to herself, it must be, I've never gotten pulled over and all the other drivers do it...Julia silently feared if it was illegal; Jackie (and Julia) would find out if Jackie performed the action during her road test.
"Why are you going this way?" Jackie asked Julia when she took a left vs. the right she usually took to drop Jackie off at school. BECAUSE, I'M THE DRIVER, DAMMIT! Breathe...one. Two. Three. Julia took a deep breath and responded, "I have a doctor's appointment and if I go this way, the doctor's office is easier to get to, it will be on my right..." "I don't think it makes a difference, you know I hate it when you take this way," Jackie interrupted.
Silence, once again, until they arrived at school. "I love you, have a good day at school," Julia told Jackie as she quickly got out of the car and walked away. On a "good" day, Jackie would respond to the ritualistic goodbye with a, "Thanks for the ride, love you, too" Not today.
Julia enjoyed the quiet ride home and had time to think. Maybe, this would be a good time to change the rule of the oldest in the family always rides shotgun in the car...until they take driver's ed...and then they would have to move to the backseat to observe the driver's skills? Julia was in her mid-forties and was getting better at the selective hearing she observed from her husband after 23 years of marriage...when Jackie asks or states something about her driving, a few "What's? from Julia would eventually frustrate Jackie into silence while sitting in the back seat.
As Julia pulled in the driveway, she knew it was best not to change the "rule" they made 10 years ago (about the oldest riding shotgun) and reflected. She was glad that Jackie was observant and interested in applying what she had learned and appreciated her heightened sense awareness about the laws of driving. Knowing Jackie was observing and was more aware about her driving skills, made Julia a (slightly) more conscientious driver. Still, Julia, couldn't help but be excited for another driver in the house. This time for a different reason.
Many parents had told Julia that she would love it when her children would start driving. She couldn't help, but agree, having one of her children begin driving four years ago.
Julia lived in the country. In the country, she experienced a lot of slow moving vehicles during the Fall. "Why aren't you passing that tractor? Gosh, can't that tractor pulling the plow move any faster?! Pass the feed truck! What's the problem with that truck pulling a trailer full of cows, it should be going the speed limit!" Knowing the answer, Julia kept them to herself. She wanted to be the example of a patient and safe driver for Jackie.
"You know you're too far back (in the turn lane), don't you? Blinded by the sun, Julia told Jackie the sun was blocking her vision. The light turned green. "Julia, it's green!" In an exasperated tone, Julia responded, "I can see that!" Equally frustrated, Jackie quipped, "Well, you said you couldn't see, the sun was blocking your vision." "Obviously, I saw it was a red light because I stopped!" Julia stated angrily." "Geez, I'm just trying to help," Jackie stated, getting the last word. Silence. Julia uttered a sigh of relief (the last unspoken word) and continued on...
"Is it legal to pass on the left?"(at a green light when the car in front of you has its blinker on to turn right?) Jackie asked Julia as she performed this while driving only a block from the last stoplight. "Well, you should always look in your rearview mirror and blind spot on your right before you pass," Julia stated, unsure of the correct answer and thinking to herself, it must be, I've never gotten pulled over and all the other drivers do it...Julia silently feared if it was illegal; Jackie (and Julia) would find out if Jackie performed the action during her road test.
"Why are you going this way?" Jackie asked Julia when she took a left vs. the right she usually took to drop Jackie off at school. BECAUSE, I'M THE DRIVER, DAMMIT! Breathe...one. Two. Three. Julia took a deep breath and responded, "I have a doctor's appointment and if I go this way, the doctor's office is easier to get to, it will be on my right..." "I don't think it makes a difference, you know I hate it when you take this way," Jackie interrupted.
Silence, once again, until they arrived at school. "I love you, have a good day at school," Julia told Jackie as she quickly got out of the car and walked away. On a "good" day, Jackie would respond to the ritualistic goodbye with a, "Thanks for the ride, love you, too" Not today.
Julia enjoyed the quiet ride home and had time to think. Maybe, this would be a good time to change the rule of the oldest in the family always rides shotgun in the car...until they take driver's ed...and then they would have to move to the backseat to observe the driver's skills? Julia was in her mid-forties and was getting better at the selective hearing she observed from her husband after 23 years of marriage...when Jackie asks or states something about her driving, a few "What's? from Julia would eventually frustrate Jackie into silence while sitting in the back seat.
As Julia pulled in the driveway, she knew it was best not to change the "rule" they made 10 years ago (about the oldest riding shotgun) and reflected. She was glad that Jackie was observant and interested in applying what she had learned and appreciated her heightened sense awareness about the laws of driving. Knowing Jackie was observing and was more aware about her driving skills, made Julia a (slightly) more conscientious driver. Still, Julia, couldn't help but be excited for another driver in the house. This time for a different reason.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Time is Money
I just don't have time. When am I going to find time? I wish there were more hours in the day to get everything done.. I'll get to that...tomorrow...I'm too exhausted today, besides that, it's eight o'clock and it's bedtime.
I've read two books, that I bought online. Loving the series, I was about to go online and buy the rest of the books, but then had time to think (and remember) there was this thing called the library. Off I went.
My information was no longer on file and I had to sign up for a new card and then proceeded to reserve the books I wanted to read at, here it is...at no cost! The library. What a novel idea. (No pun intended).
I had time to drive to St. Cloud to return a textbook Chuck had ordered through Barnes and Noble. What? They wouldn't accept returns for textbooks at the store? I was then told I should follow the instructions on the return label that I received with the order. Hmph! I went home and read the fine print. It stated I could return the book to the store or with the return label, but postage would not be covered.
I had time to call customer service. Within minutes I was emailed a new return label that would cover the postage. Forget about the fine print, it was worth the time I took to make the call.
Chuck had been taking the time to remind me, daily, that he was out of cologne. The Goodwill Sale. Yes. Perfect timing. I carefully went through my closet for clothing items I didn't like anymore and found ten items. Ahhh...the 30 minute drive to St. Cloud with my 10 items, netted me 10-25% off coupons. I bought the cologne. I had a time to spare (240 minutes) before the kids got home and nine coupons left in my pocket. Might as well kill some time, right?
120 minutes later, I walked out of the store with not only the cologne, but winter jackets for my three daughters. When they got home the smiles on their faces were worth every minute of my shopping trip. And when one jacket was too small and I had to make a return trip to the store the next day to exchange it for the right size; I took the time and made it worth my while and found myself a winter jacket with one of the remaining coupons. On the way out of the store, I handed the rest of the my coupons to a woman waiting in line. She responded, "THANK you! You don't know how much time this will save me. I was going to have to put them on hold and come back after work! You saved me a trip! Thank you!" She made MY day.
Sometimes, during the day, I can hear the clock tick away each second and watch as it turns into minutes. But, I've come to realize that with each passing hour, I'm happier than I was months ago. So are the kids and Chuck...and we can't forget the dogs...and that's worth my time...all of it!
I've read two books, that I bought online. Loving the series, I was about to go online and buy the rest of the books, but then had time to think (and remember) there was this thing called the library. Off I went.
My information was no longer on file and I had to sign up for a new card and then proceeded to reserve the books I wanted to read at, here it is...at no cost! The library. What a novel idea. (No pun intended).
I had time to drive to St. Cloud to return a textbook Chuck had ordered through Barnes and Noble. What? They wouldn't accept returns for textbooks at the store? I was then told I should follow the instructions on the return label that I received with the order. Hmph! I went home and read the fine print. It stated I could return the book to the store or with the return label, but postage would not be covered.
I had time to call customer service. Within minutes I was emailed a new return label that would cover the postage. Forget about the fine print, it was worth the time I took to make the call.
Chuck had been taking the time to remind me, daily, that he was out of cologne. The Goodwill Sale. Yes. Perfect timing. I carefully went through my closet for clothing items I didn't like anymore and found ten items. Ahhh...the 30 minute drive to St. Cloud with my 10 items, netted me 10-25% off coupons. I bought the cologne. I had a time to spare (240 minutes) before the kids got home and nine coupons left in my pocket. Might as well kill some time, right?
120 minutes later, I walked out of the store with not only the cologne, but winter jackets for my three daughters. When they got home the smiles on their faces were worth every minute of my shopping trip. And when one jacket was too small and I had to make a return trip to the store the next day to exchange it for the right size; I took the time and made it worth my while and found myself a winter jacket with one of the remaining coupons. On the way out of the store, I handed the rest of the my coupons to a woman waiting in line. She responded, "THANK you! You don't know how much time this will save me. I was going to have to put them on hold and come back after work! You saved me a trip! Thank you!" She made MY day.
Sometimes, during the day, I can hear the clock tick away each second and watch as it turns into minutes. But, I've come to realize that with each passing hour, I'm happier than I was months ago. So are the kids and Chuck...and we can't forget the dogs...and that's worth my time...all of it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)