5 year Mission Complete!

From 2007-2012, I started this blog and turned it into a book, along with a workbook and a documentary film.

I am in the process of finalizing the cover art and assigning the ISBN's. These will be available soon!

Work vs. Job: Nothing Has Changed in 2012

In a recent article, a former Walmart employee recounts his positive experience working with the company on more than one occasion. In what is commonly seen as a dead-end 'job', Travis Okulski highlights the experience and skills he had gleaned from working at the retail giant, including what to do when confronting co-workers, being in close proximity to customers and what to do about theft. He also mentions that there was an emphasis on training properly and room for advancement in the company.

To be fair, he admits that the pay was $9.00/hr and that the work day was 9 hours with a one hour lunch that went unpaid. Travis also goes on to say that: 

"Some fellow associates seemed content to do the bare minimum and didn't go anywhere in the company because of it. In fact, they are still at the same level.

In my opinion, these are also the employees that you hear speaking negatively of Walmart's employment practices. They want something for nothing from the company and they aren't getting it." 

The bottom line is this - what you choose to do for a living, either permanently or temporarily, will greatly affect your well-being depending on how you perceive your position. Work is work, a job is a job, they all have good stuff and bad, there will always be glory and ugly little details no matter what you do or how much you get paid to do it. The fact is that everybody has a choice of what to do for a living and how to perceive it. Sometimes choosing to be successful can take a while to realize and, likewise, choosing to do the bare minimum can take a while to realize in retrospect. 

If most of us are going to work for a third or more of our day, why not get on a path of fulfillment rather than that of anger, self-pity and resentment. This is not about a retail giant, it's about perception of vocational success.

As a contrast, and for what it's worth, here are is the link to the article and some of the reactions to it (bear in mind I did not come across anything but negative comments, which is a bit of a distortion of perception):

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/i-worked-at-walmart-for-two-years-and-i-actually-really-liked-it.html

"The training is great if the staff would only apply it. Unfortunately at my walmart on hwy 42 in garner nc they do not. I have even been snubbed by a manager there. I was trying to buy an IPOD for my grand daughter and you would have thought that I was asking them to run a marathon for me."


"I really enjoyed this commercial. Thank you."


"What bull.......even the "Greeter" at my local Walmart (Fishkill, NY) never greeted me. Also, try to find someone in a department.....what a joke. Fifty cash registers with four opened, all cashiers having frowns on their face. What planet was this Walmart on?"


"Well, this guy did find filling out the Wal-Mart application difficult. Perhaps he's just deficient."


"Now I am convinced Walmart owns Yahoo"


"I wonder how many employees like seeing 75% of thier paycheck gone on rent lol"


" My wife works at Walmart and she is treated like crap. It is ridiculous that she comes home and cries all day because of the crap she has to take from the bosses and the manager will do nothing about it."

The Challenges of Working from Home

Working from home since the mid-1990's has made me more protective of the time I have to complete my projects. Although I like getting things done in the comfort of my own place, I can't ignore the fact that it is certainly a challenge to be highly productive, but understanding the challenges has given me insight into how to deal with them effectively.

I will state at the outset that a) I am not married, b) I don't have children and c) I do a lot of field work as well. Points 'a' and 'b' are challenges I certainly cannot comment on, so if either of those apply to your situation, please share your experiences!!

The Challenges:

1) Nobody will take your time as seriously as you do - people who are content with working 9-5, Monday to Friday, like their weekends off. When working from home, sometimes you have to do some work on weekends. This means that friends may try to lure you out of the house with the promise of a party of some other fun activity, but you must stand firm sometimes to get your work done, otherwise, you will be procrastinating. Better yet, allow a certain time frame to complete your work so you can enjoy fun activities guilt-free.

2) Distractions are everywhere - from telemarketing, television, email, knocks on the door to wondering what snacks are in the fridge, distractions can throw you off course. Try turning off audible distractions, so you can concentrate and check messages periodically, rather than every five minutes (this includes email, cell phone, home phone and texts). Encourage colleagues to text you as much as possible but keep the ring tone off. The sound of the distraction can be much more stressful than the visual.

3) There is no punch clock - try to schedule tasks the best you can and try not to work too much. If you create a list of things to do, and do them, you will have a better sense of accomplishment and leave the rest for the next day. Start with four or five tasks per day, then whatever you don't complete that day, do the next day, but be sure to complete everything that week, when possible. You sometimes must create your own punch clock hours or time-frames when you can get important things accomplished.

Never feel guilty if you leave some tasks undone. Sometimes you might want closure on certain items, but you can't anticipate the actions of others you rely on, so you should go on to the next item and get back to the unfinished one at some other time when it is possible to complete it.

You might be your own employee, but you must also be your own manager, one who manages with a little more common sense and a little less emotion.

- Buck Moore, thinkworknotjob.com

helpful video:

Brian Tracy - Organize Your Life

Is Your Brand Going Up in Smoke?

Lately, I have witnessed many workers from many different companies smoking right outside of the business. I thought this might slow down in the wake of more stringent non-smoking policies, but it seems to have gotten worse.

Smoking directly outside of a retail store, grocery store, bakery or restaurant is bad enough, with the smoke-filled air being a real turn-off for non-smokers (and even some smokers!), but when you add loud gossip, loud coughing and spitting, it becomes many times worse.

How can a company let these sorts of thing happen in direct public view? It's bad enough when it's in front of an electronics dealer, but in front of a grocery store, restaurant or bakery? That's just gross. It looks bad on the business, and even worse on the immediate management.

Solution - aside from adopting smoking cessation programs, smokers should be allowed to go to the rear of the building and smoke in a designated smoking area, away from the public and away from any open doors or windows. I'm not against smokers, but when an employee is wearing company colors, a logo or a name badge, they should stay out of sight. People know that people smoke, but don't let your brand look bad!!

How to Tell Someone You Don't Really Like Them

I have discovered something fascinating over the years - some people don't like me! Even if I had tried and displayed my most amicable countenance, not everyone would like me. But, that's great news!

It's great news because not everyone can like everybody, nor can every body like every one, so we struggle with difficult people on a daily basis, which sharpens our people handling skills and helps us keep our guards up.

Admitting that you don't like someone right to their face is probably one of the bravest and relieving things a person could do, especially if you work with them every day.

Pretending to like someone is dishonest. If you were to let them know about it and get it out of your system, you can then focus on your work and not feel like you are holding something in every day, shaking your head every time the person walks past you or making faces at their turned back.

Co-workers and bosses should be able to admit their dislike of someone without consequence**. Not being open about it is an emotional trap, as the book shown describes on the cover, and people should be willing to let go and just be honest about disliking one another.

(** - I once told a 'manager' that I didn't like him. I had to, because he needed to be told. A week later, I was let go. I was a freelancer, so it was easy for him to get rid of me, but I stand by my decision to this day!).

Before you tell someone you don't like them, be sure the feeling is mutual, then think about how you are going to tell them. There's no point getting too emotional and angry about it. If you actually take the time to understand why you don't like them, you'll figure out a thing or two about yourself, provided you analyze the situation honestly. In fact, you probably do some of the same things they do to annoy you.

If they haven't got a clue that you don't like them, first try to find out their side of the story and see if they simply aren't aware that they are annoying you or angering you. Perhaps they haven't been properly trained on a process you know by heart. Instead of building up anger, ask them about it before you tell them you don't like them because you may actually like them after speaking with them.

If you decide to approach the person in question, ask them a few questions to confirm what bugs you about them, then discuss it. If they are doing things just to bug you, consider calling a truce and be done with the built up negative emotions.

How to tell them you don't like them, if you must - after gathering information, if a truce cannot be agreed upon, tell them you don't like them, ask them to tell you the same thing, shake hands and get on with your day. With the burden of built up emotions out of the way, you will surely find a way to work with your new un-friend.

Note - with the proper communication methods employed, you probably won't get to telling them you don't like them as the feelings might wear off following information gathering. But, if you do, it's better to get it off your chest and it sure beats petty squabbles.

I personally think people have the right to know if they aren't liked by someone. At least the problem can be examined and most likely resolved after such a realization.

8-)  Buck Moore

Why Our 'Crappy Jobs' are Important

There are those who work in, or have worked in, a 'crappy job', and there are those who were both lucky enough and unlucky enough to skip that step. A crappy job, although a pre-defined position for most, is a really subjective concept.

What defines a crappy job? A bad boss? A dictatorial atmosphere? Crappy pay? Bad hours, cruddy co-workers or an uncreative environment? There are many definitions. But, what if you saw your job as important, just for a moment? And, what if everybody saw your job as important? Just, 'what if'? Bear with me for a sec, okay? I have a point.

What if you went into work one day and all of the people who were in front of you wished you a great day? What if they expressed their appreciation for what you do? I know...it's not all that common, is it?

But, what if you saw your crappy job as a stepping stone to something else? What could you take from your current job and apply to another position that would make you feel fulfilled?

All jobs are important in one way or another. The ones that lack importance are replaced by something. Similarly, the ones that no longer 'do it for you', are replaced by you. 

Let's face it, we gotta work! We can't all be on vacation all the time because the world would fall apart. My question to you is: "What part of the world are you preventing from falling apart?"

The Organic OS - Listening to the Frontline

In a news article I recently read, the following statement about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford stood out:

"If he was really interested in saving money, he'd sit down with front-line workers who know where to find waste and how to make city operations run more efficiently,..." - CUPE 416 Vice President Dave Hewitt

I couldn't agree more. When you begin to strip down the layers of white collars, blue collars, unions, freelancers, employees, managers and CEO's, it all boils down to common sense when it comes to understanding how to trim the fat in an organization.

You don't need a degree to see that front line workers are exposed directly to the business process and yet, they seem to be ignored more often than not. If we took more time with those in the front lines, we would better be able to streamline any business operation.

Perhaps those that rise in the ranks start to become out of touch with what's going on up front or a qualified manager from another area is suddenly in charge and takes a quick look around to see what's happening, without spending more time in the front lines before officially 'managing'.

Does it take a reality TV show such as Undercover Boss to awaken people? Perhaps it does. In any case, anyone who has a budget for front line services should investigate more thoroughly the goings-on up front to get a lucid picture of how to better run a business. Listen to the workers have to say about it. 8-)

Buck Moore

The Organic OS - Working Through the Ice Age of Shady, Transient Leadership

 
When a Cold Wind Blows Through 
All too often, team members are faced with the challenge and frustration of a new authority figure, whether they be a new boss, manager or other person with a varying degree of authority. Depending on their degree of authority, they may want to change things as they see fit and this sometimes results in a change of suppliers or new rules that have not been negotiated with the people they affect. It is as though a cold wind is blowing through and the top level staff aren't closing any windows.

In short, the individual team members are on their own to survive the new office ice-age.  Surviving such a scenario includes patience, logic, focus and steps to let your reputation speak for itself, in case there is nobody else to back you up (or, they've backed you up so many times that they feel it's pointless because their suggestions fall upon deaf ears for the most part). If you're on your own, fear not, the new office ice age is no guarantee that you will be completely frozen and locked into the 'new way'.

Anatomy of a Transient, Cold Wind

Very often, it is easy to see the signs of a 'cold air' transient leader heading toward the exit door;  they verbally express their disappointment with company decisions and they engage in obvious networking opportunities, among other activities, that will benefit only them.

Before they leave, though, they will often do favors for outside individuals or companies, and get them involved with the company while attempting to shut others out, simply because they have had previous business relations with them. This is, of course, at the expense of somebody's livelihood.

I'm not suggesting change is bad; on the contrary, change is good. But change is bad when, for example, one supplier is cut in favor of another with no resulting benefit. If the change results in worse service than the previous supplier, a mess has been created  where no mess had existed before. What a mess!

When the CTL (Cold-air Transient Leader) finally leaves, the mess must be cleaned up, but there is the possibility of permanent damage left by the CTL. So, in order to survive a workplace ice age, here are some things team members can do:

1) Protect your reputation, even when nobody has your back! Simply give the best possible service with a smile, no matter what mood you are in, and you will have an incredible amount of armor to protect you, even in your absence. If you are on your way out of the company, but not quite ready to leave, you must still do this and concentrate on how much better off you will be when you are gone.

2) Take note of what changes are affecting you and your team members. Keeping records will give you the advantage when push comes to shove. Do this discreetly, though.

3) Let the CTL know how their decisions are affecting you and your livelihood in a discreet and calm way. Point out the facts and see if they will listen to you and be able to work things out. 

4) Let your voice be heard. Request a meeting either by phone or by office appointment and bring your notes. Ask questions about new policies and procedures and get others on board with you.

So, how do I know all of this? What makes me an expert in dealing with CTL's? Quite simply, I have dealt with this situation in many different industries over the years and have developed a way of a) protecting my reputation when absent and b) have recognized the patterns and used the above solutions to correct the situation. 

The tell-tale signs of CTL's are there, and if a team member recognizes them, they can prepare themselves for the ice age and survive it.

- Buck Moore


   

The Organic OS - A Mood-Boosting Half-Life (for a Better Workplace)

A Mood-Boosting Half-Life
“You can’t change your boss, and you can’t change the culture in your organization,” explains Barbara Glanz, author of 180 Ways to Spread Contagious Enthusiasm. “All you can change are your interactions in your own sphere." That said, a few mere minutes of personable chitchat between colleagues, she says, can leave a mood-boosting half-life that lasts all day.

Above is an excerpt from an article I read at Toronto's Metro News website (metronews.ca), entitled 'Bringing Joy to Your Job' (link below). I think the idea of flashing a few more smiles and avoiding gossip on a regular basis is fantastic and is sorely needed in today's busy, fearful and over-stressed workplace. Starting the day with good news will also make it easier to smile and the effect you will have on others will help create a more positive workplace atmosphere.

I gave myself a challenge a while back to consciously wear a smile all day long, no matter what. Much of my work happens at live events where the constant pressure of producing excellent results is second only to the massive egos I have to deal with on a regular basis. Fortunately, the egos deflate somewhat when they are not challenged by jaded, veteran technicians.

The results of that day were proof positive that donning a pleasant demeanor has a direct effect on everybody around you which inevitably results in a less stressful experience with more efficient productivity; why waste time on criticism and blame when you can focus on excellence and harmony? No matter how you choose to operate, the same amount of time and energy are spent.

The only thing I would challenge from the stated article is the idea that you can't change the boss or the culture or your organization, all you can change are your interactions in your own sphere. But, if you do change the way you interact in your own sphere and encourage others to follow suit, both your boss and workplace culture very likely could change for the better.

Either way, articles such as these are great reminders of the importance of maintaining positive workplace attitudes.

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/work/article/747135--bringing-joy-to-your-job

The Organic OS - Critical Updates for a New OS

When I use new operating systems, I often wonder why they weren't finished to begin with. I mean, updates and service packs seem never ending; why couldn't they just foresee all of the problems instead of just rushing things to market?

As much as I feel that the end user should be offered a better experience with new operating systems, I must also accept that not everything could have been predicted accurately with their  introduction (Windows Vista excluded!). So, when a new business begins planning and implementing systems, they soon find out what is working and what is failing miserably because the planning has been transformed into the human side of things.


That being said, part of the planning should include alternate avenues when problems arise, because not everything that looks good on paper actually works when human emotions get involved. 

On several occasions, I had been informed that the 'new system' that was being planned was going to be solid when implemented because the people who were in the front lines could 'take it or leave it' with an attitude of 'my way or the highway'. They even went as far as saying that the workers would have to work around the plan no matter what and not the reverse. One problem with that kind of attitude is that the planner in charge of the operation didn't want to hear the human side of things because everything was so neatly illustrated on paper and there was no way the plan could fail, but if the people doing the legwork aren't consulted, there is the risk of losing great people.

Getting to know the team members is essential in order for the plan to be more realistic. The team members will, no doubt, offer keen insights that will help iron out the potential wrinkles of a new plan. It would seem very egocentric of a planner not to do thorough team research and big egos have been known to cause system failure.


Bosses, Consultants & Planners:

1) Check with your team members about possible hiccups of a new system. The front line workers see all of the deficiencies that will cause any new system to be less effective than it should be.

2) Update attitudes by communicating every detail of a new system to make each team member feel as though they are a part of a brilliant plan rather than just a pawn.


3) Update your own attitude after you've investigated thoroughly. This will happen once you've heard from the front line workers.


4) Update the plan to reflect newly discovered problems and ask the workers for possible solutions rather than try to figure it out all by yourself.


5) Most importantly - update your methods before you start a any new plan.

100th post - Treat Every Day Like New Year's Day

The new year is upon us once again. This is the time when the average person wishes everyone around them, including strangers, a happy new year. It is also the time when many people set resolutions for themselves in order to have a happier and healthier year ahead. What follows for a lot of us, of course, is the failure to live up to the goals we've set and with it, the failure to wish everyone around us happiness on a daily basis. The new year is indeed once again upon us, but with degrees of failure built in.

As the first couple of months of a new year unfold, many will lose the will to sustain their resolutions and go back to treating people the way they did during the previous year. Gym memberships will be left in the cold, cold turkey quitters will have relapses and warm sentiments will ultimately cool down as the new year unfolds.

Wait a second! What??

When I was a kid, I began to understand irony when I watched the Bugs Bunny show with the coyote and dog fighting it out only to refrain from violence as they punched their time cards out for the day and said good night. I understood hypocrisy when I witnessed weekly acts of violence absolved every Sunday with a prayer service. Then, every year, I see people giving each other the warmest of holiday greetings, sometimes in sincerity and sometimes just to be polite, only to go back to treating them less than favorably.

I can't be the only one who sees the problem here. 

Everybody should avoid a New Year's resolution. Quit smoking and lose weight without the pressure of a promise and if you fall off the bandwagon, give it another shot. Eat better during the year 'just because' and treat people, on a daily basis, like you would during the holiday season (except replace 'happy holidays' with a better suited phrase, or you'll sound crazy).

Thought for the new year: sport a holiday expression all year 'round and encourage others to do so as well. Don't let the negative people take your positive countenance away; maintain it and try to eventually turn them. Better yet, remind them that they should try a holiday smile.

New years challenges:

- give a homeless person some change, a coffee or a sandwich

- greet the grocery store checkout person like they were your sibling

- thank the coffee shop server for getting your coffee

- treat the janitor like a CEO

- hold the door open for both men and women

Happy New Year!!!

- Buck Moore

The Organic OS - Why We Need Idiots

Nobody likes to work with a complete idiot every day.  Although we put up with each others occasional idiotic moment, a complete, every day idiot can make things intolerable at work. But, we can only learn to deal with idiots if we are exposed to them from time to time. Therefore, we should look forward to those times when we find ourselves face to face with idiotic behavior.

Idiots are like germs - we need to be exposed to them so we cab build up a resistance and deal with them more effectively. We can't simply wipe them all away with a clean sweep, because they tend to evolve over time rather than just being born into idiot-hood. In fact, good people can turn idiotic and sometimes it never wears off. Idiots crop up, fade out and sometimes sustain themselves; or worse, we sometimes sustain them.

Idiots can be influential and, under the right circumstances, can attract and convert co-workers to side with them. This can happen when a new person either doesn't know any better, is outnumbered or is just paranoid about making waves at a new workplace.

Overt time, common sense must prevail and we need to turn idiots around without hurting their feelings because an argument can never be won. Therefore, learning how to convert a person from idiot-hood to relative normalcy is an essential skill we must all strive to possess in order to create a better workplace.

Everybody is allowed to do something idiotic from time to time and we should accept that, because we are all human and nobody is pereftc. However, idiotic behavior should be the exception, not the norm. If it is the norm at a place of work, efforts must be put into place to turn the situation around.

So, let's accept the fact that idiots are out there, but learn how to deal with them; and, as we practice dealing with them, we will be much better at creating and sustaining positive works environments.

The Organic OS - A Fulfilling Career Path through Gradualism

I began recording sounds when I was 11 and making short films well into my teen years. I started to learn how to play electric guitar so I could write my own music for my films (which took a lot longer than I thought). Since I could draw and had an idea about how to make movies, I enrolled and got accepted into the classical animated film making course at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, in 1985, where I completed one year, then decided to pursue other interests.

When I started working in Toronto around 1986, my sister told me that there was a need for security guards and that she would cut mine and my friend's hair so we could get jobs. My friend and I both ended up getting jobs as security guards and that meant we had to do shift work - five days in a row, five afternoons and five midnight shifts over the course of a month. The lifestyle was very draining and not conducive to social butterflies like us.

As I got moved from location to location, I finally found myself working at a large site with a large crew and worked my way up from the lowest rung to the third highest on site, but the shift work was killing me. I then accepted an offer from a former supervisor, who went on to become director of another large account and I became one of his supervisors, but for a smaller on-site crew.

I realized that I needed to move on to a 9-5 job in order to be able to perform in the evenings and hopefully work at something related to my role as guitar player in a rock band. I began looking for day work and got hired at a lumber yard as I was finishing shifts for the security company, sometimes working many hours in a row to gradually phase out the security work. The lumber yard was difficult to be a part of as I was a minority and everybody let me know it by completely ignoring me or avoiding me, except for one or two individuals who didn't follow the 'us and them' mentality.

I stayed with day work as I switched to a hardware store, since I now had experience with hardware and building supplies. I would continue to look for more relevant employment and had an interview at a well known musical instrument retailer where I didn't get hired because I said the wrong thing during my interview (actually, it was a trap set up to see what kind of attitude I had toward certain brand names and I fell for it).

I continued at the hardware store until I just couldn't take it anymore, so I applied at another music store. I began to show up to the hardware store later and later and was finally given the choice to quit or to be on time, so I decided right there to quit and take one more chance at getting the music store job, which I did end up getting.

My goal was simple: suffer through the music store routine and do the best job possible in order to get a glowing reference and use that reference for a higher paying job elsewhere. During my days at work, I would continually think of services I could offer companies and start up some sort of business so I could be the boss and not have to listen to bad managers and abusive co-workers anymore. In the meantime, the band was getting better and more popular which inevitably led to us touring across the country and selling CD's across the world. I still had the entrepreneurial spirit, though, which led to developing my skills as a sound mixer when I wasn't at work or on tour.

As my future vision became clearer with each passing day, I made the choice to quit the music store job, take my chances on the road with the band and start planning my business ideas whenever I got the chance. After touring and being unemployed for a while, I made the choice to move forward and learn as much as possible about sound mixing and audio technology through the public library system. I started requesting certain textbooks as presents, or cash to buy textbooks, so I could build my library. I became a member of the Canadian Acoustical Association and bought a book on how to become a consultant, for future reference.

During this time, I had to get a job, so I followed a lead from a friend who was quitting his job driving blueprints and other things around for a printing company. He thought that with a strong recommendation from him and no need for advertising for a driver, I would probably get it, which I did. But, I didn't have a proper license, so I had to fake it for a bit and take a chance until I was able to get the proper license. That job was to be a stepping stone only, so I could develop my business ideas while I drove. I took advantage of the job by purchasing motivational tapes and business development tapes to listen to every day until I reached a boiling point which forced me to quit and move on.

Over the course of driving, I looked for and got part time work on nights and weekends mixing sound for live bands and other events. That was over a a year and a half until I quit driving and took a chance on starting to mix sound full time. Instead of a resume, I made some business cards and set up shop as a freelance sound mixer. I was offered a position as a full time mixer at a downtown club, where I worked for for years.

During that time, I explored the possibility of teaching classes, so I could follow the path of becoming a consultant. I also pitched story ideas to major magazines to build credibility. I also began recording sound effects to hopefully sell to the entertainment industry. After becoming an instructor at a career college teaching sound mixing, selling the sound effects to the largest publisher in the world and having the opportunity to write six articles for two major publications, I asked myself what was next.

What was next was a gradual shift from mixing sound at night and teaching, to working in the corporate world of audiovisual and entertainment, the very business ideas I was thinking of when I was working at the music store, only now I had the right skills and credibility to actually do it. That was 2003. I continued writing, teaching, mixing and recording sound effects over the years. I also picked up a lot of work making and editing short films and videos from my skills as a sound mixer and editor (I learned to edit while I was making my own shorts films with friends whenever we got the chance).

So, where am I now? I still teach (9+ years later), I still mix live music occasionally, I still shoot and edit videos, I have picked up several clients in the corporate sector, I still record and edit sound effects and I am finished writing my first book on work experience. I am gradually getting into the public speaking circuit to talk about positive work environments and I have several blogs and web pages to maintain. Oh, and I still perform several times per year. I am using my writing and video skills to develop marketing materials for my speeches and AV business and am seeking more teaching opportunities.

I am in it for the long run and as I look back, I see that I gradually made it to the work I wanted. Since leaving college, it took approximately 10 years to get on the direct path I have followed since (from ages 19-29). Every new job was preceded by a desire to move toward it and I new it would happen one day. Even though ten years seems like a long time, it really isn't, when you consider the solid foundation of skills needed to succeed in the future. Diversity in employment and life's work is important in today's world.

In closing, I can truly say that if a person goes on a path of their choosing, has a fairly clear objective and has a positive mental attitude (for the most part), they will benefit any company or client they become associated with.

The Organic OS - Don't Just Blame the Hardware!

Computers can be frustrating, indeed. How many of us have not thought about throwing a misbehaving computer out of a window at one time or another? It would be so satisfying to release a monitor through smashing glass, then watch and listen for that beautiful crashing sound as it breaks into a million pieces, just to make a point...but, what's the point?

Would we have clearly demonstrated our inability to control our impulsive behaviour and hurl blame at something that had nothing to do with the failure of the system which we had chosen to trust? I think so.

The fact that this kind of situation is worth considering says a lot about the power of forethought, which we are all capable of. Given a few seconds of consideration before grabbing the monitor and hurling it, we would instantly know that not only would we be losing control, but we would clearly be blaming the wrong thing.

The monitor may have displayed system failure to whomever looked at it, but was it the cause? No. If we do end up with a monitor smashed on the pavement, we will need to replace it and continue to replace it until we are able to recognize that the monitor is not to blame, but repairing or replacing the software will usually solve the problem.

If this scenario seems logical, then why do we continue to blame people for their actions without gathering more information about why they might be acting the way they are? Why do we just assume someone is an idiot when it is quite possible that they were trained a certain way and they just don't know any better?

I'm not ruling out the possibility of an individual's ineptness, but in many cases front line workers get the blame for serious errors and compromises within an organization. Sometimes the blame and subsequent hostility can lead to violence which, if the situation were carefully considered beforehand, would probably not happen.

I hope many consider this information and work on reducing impulsiveness and fast blame, so we can reduce negative outcomes in both our workplaces and our lives.

The Organic OS - Giving Orders vs Asking for Solutions

People usually hate to be told what to do. It makes them feel like pawns in the game of work who don't know any better than to take orders every day and not think too much for themselves. If we want better results from people, we must treat them like insiders and ask for their help in solving problems. Putting on a facade is not the way to go about this, but reprogramming ourselves as better leaders is. We must genuinely feel like we are seeking solutions instead of giving orders. 

If an order is simply a task to be fulfilled, it only becomes a problem when left unfulfilled or done wrong. When a person is hired to do a task, or series of tasks, we can assume that they have been properly trained to carry out orders on their own. If they are falling behind in terms of productivity or quality, we must find out why that is, rather than push them and push them to do it right, under the threat of being fired. It is essential, therefore, to investigate instead of react impulsively. We must care 'why' there is a problem before we can come up with a fair and logical solution.

With a great amount of effort put into forethought, a team leader will be inclined to pull the team member toward a solution by engaging them to help solve the problem and therefore the team leader is changed for the better as a result. If a once productive team member suddenly starts to slip, we can assume that there is a problem in their life, such as with a relationship, debt, depression, low self esteem, stress, etc. It's only fair to investigate why the work problem is  occurring either by speaking candidly with them or communicate the issue through the proper channels such as human resources. In any case, we should avoid adding stress to someone's life unnecessarily.

In summary, even if a person is having problems outside of work, if we get them involved and help pull them toward a solution to the workplace problem with an even tempered demeanor and genuine friendship, we will make them feel at ease and they will get back on track sooner rather than later. But, a great leader must be genuine and work hard to acquire such interpersonal problem-solving skills.

Build a better workplace by following the best practices of leadership in the Organic OS (tm).

The Organic OS - Bad Days, Attitudes and Rubber Chickens

So, You're Having a Bad Day...Where's Your Rubber Chicken?

You spill your coffee on your keyboard, burn your last piece of toast, break a shoelace, you're running late, discover frozen car door locks and get stuck behind a garbage truck on a one way street with a dozen cars behind you. You haven't even started work yet, but when you arrive, nothing there seems to be going your way, either.

Every one of us has had a bad day at some point and brought the associated attitude with us into work. It's hard to shake those negative feelings after half a dozen things go wrong before you even start working and when you add to that all of the other 'bad' things in our lives, it's easier to stay angry than it is to fake ourselves happy. But, what if there were a way that we could genuinely lift our spirits and not have to feel like we'd be feigning happiness by putting on a fake smile just for the benefit of everybody around us? Well, there is a way! In fact, there is more than one.

At some point, it can seem comedic that so many bad things happen to us in a row and it's easy to feel like a walking target for the day. But, when many things go wrong at the same time, it's worth tackling them head-on rather than let them get to us until desensitization sets in and we simply feel numb and just want to go home. People react to the way we look and feel on a daily basis through facial expressions and body gestures alone no matter what mood we're in (we don't even have to say anything). So, if people are going to react to our expressions anyway, why not give them some positive energy amidst the darkness of our 'bad days'.

Attitude Changers to Keep You Laughing on the Inside

The "Bring it on!" attitude - when things go from bad to worse, frustration will only result in a downward spiral and eventual crash. If things are going to go bad anyway, what's the point of getting upset about it? Save time and energy by starting corrective action right away and think of yourself as a pro wrestler who is up against someone bigger and losing to them is not an option (pretend you have big muscles).

The walking sitcom attitude - lighten up during a bad day and pretend you are the star of your own sitcom. You might feel like Bob Newhart or Jennifer Aniston when people think you're the nut or things just fall apart around you. Create your own character and laugh about your bad day when things pile up around you, because...what the heck!

The rubber chicken attitude - pretend you have a rubber chicken in your pocket when things go wrong. This will force you to laugh and be able to handle the situation better as it offers a little grace under pressure. Go ahead, try to even say rubber chicken five times without laughing.

The cartoon character attitude - every cartoon series has a sad, pathetic character that we take pity on, from Sad Sack to Bad Luck Schleprock. Adopting this attitude will let nothing phase you because you'll just accept the circumstances and work your way through them without blowing up. Be sure to have fun with it, though!

Multitasking, Over-tasking and Productivity for the Organic O.S.

Multitasking is not for everybody and definitely not for all workplaces. In fact, multitasking is inversely proportional to detailing as the two just don't play well together. If you insist on pushing many tasks of high priority upon someone, you must accept a loss of details as they fall through the cracks in order to allow 'just one more thing' to be completed (and I use the term 'completed' lightly!).

The Problem - Verbal Records

During busy times, a 'go to' person may have numerous requests from a handful of different people, with only a fraction of said requests being of absolute priority status and if the person is interrupted with every request, details will surely be left out. 

Verbal interruptions are a major contributor to reduced productivity. Cutting corners to save time, by going directly to a busy person with a verbal request, is not only a cause of reduced productivity but also very frustrating to a person who is already involved in a series of tasks. This type of frustration can build within a person until they reach their boiling point and react accordingly. Every one of us has some sort of boiling point with the potential to boil over,  and depending on what 'life factors' are upon us, it can be mild or very explosive. When we learn to control our boiling point, we have taken a great first step to avoid catastrophic events. But what about the requests?

A key question to ask before interrupting a busy person with a request goes like this: "Is that person too busy to drop another request onto them and expect them to do an excellent job in record time?" Many co-workers sometimes hold out on their team with some tasks because they want it to be perfect before they are done with it (if they haven't plain forgotten about it). The problem lies in that person's own multitasking which forces that 'perfect' task into a cycle of procrastination. When they finally do present the task, time rapidly runs out and all of a sudden a crisis is created. Presenting a crisis to a busy co-worker puts undue stress on them as they now have to complete a more than one task at the same time.

We all know that an already busy person doing more than one thing at exactly the same time does not work very well, but we still somehow expect them to multitask. A follow up key question then would be: "If I do present this task, what am I willing to live without?"

Let's face it, we all want to please our clients in the end, but if a person is already very busy, consider another method of presenting 'yet another task' to them. Here are some solutions:

Solutions - Friendly Paper

Speak casually to or meet officially with all involved about ways to avoid over-tasking anybody in your workplace. Consider drafting a task schedule with both priority and casual tasks tables that can be filled in and agree that everybody on the team must follow it, bosses included. Also, even if you are able to casually speak about the task during slower periods, still take a moment to write it down. This will help the person in question keep track of what they must do (hey, did I just invent the 'to do list? I think not!). Set up a task box with two slots, one for casual and one for priority and be sure to use it during busy times.

Also note that emergency interruptions should be few and far between if tasks are to be done quickly and efficiently because, if emergencies are the norm, then there are no emergencies. Anybody running a company should be constantly aware that their organic OS is made up of people, not machines, and that people are better left doing one thing at a time for best results. The only time a task should be left incomplete is when it cannot be completed for whatever reason.

If you are the go-to person and are faced with three people requesting things at the same time during a peak period, simply ask them: "Which should be done first?" But, get them all together, if possible, and let them know that you are not ignoring their requests, you are simply completing a 'to do' list. If you cannot get them together during a peak period, implement the task schedule or task box system as described above.

The Organic O.S. - How to Properly Feed the Machine

Working with so many different operating systems and programs for computers for so long has forced me to ask the question: "Are new operating systems really the key to higher productivity in the modern workplace?"

The answer, as I see it, is: "No!". As far as I know, every computer I have ever had, had used an operating system in order for me to get any work done (like electronic music, SMPTE, Excel, word processing, video editing, audio production, website building, creating logos, electronic marketing, e-commerce, blogging and the list goes on). That being said, it is well known that the typical, modern workplace must rely on computer technology (and operating systems) to, doggonit, get things done!

It may be interesting to note that the first computers were human beings (women). Women were charged with the task of calculating 'bomb trajectories' of war planes during World War 2; in other words, to 'compute' said trajectories (source: Inventor's Digest - the magazine I was addicted to in the mid 1990's). ENIAC eventually replaced them in 1946.

We now still, as humans, tell computers what to do and they supposedly help us produce results in most cases, if they don't give us the dreaded BSOD or 'hang' on a command because of low resources (Mac users, I applaud you; you almost never get this, but twice I can tell you that a Mac almost stopped an event cold in two major North American cities! So, you ain't perfect, neither!). In short, computers, with their operating systems, are 'supposed' to help us increase our productivity, and so we sometimes look beyond the human touch and say: "Well, it should work! Why isn't it working?"

In fact, all the computer needs is some electricity and a gentle set of fingers to 'doggonit, get things done!' Hold on a sec! Fingers? Who's got the fingers? The computer doesn't have fingers! Oh, the humans have the fingers and they use them to make the computers do things for them quickly. The computer needs to eat electricity and it needs fingers to do their job properly. Feed them the juice, massage their keys and tap their mice/pads and they work wonders...when they don't freak out!

So, computers are great and they help get things done fast, and companies spend millions of dollars on software, upgrades, hardware and other stuff but...what about the fingers? What about the brains behind the fingers? Let's not forget that there are brains and fingers behind every workstation at every place of work. Humans are behind it all, right? So, what about the care and feeding of the humans who work the machines that make the money that make the world go 'round? Why should they have to come into places of work that stink of negativity day in and day out? What's that about?

I'll tell you what it's about. It's about leaders who forget what it's like to be part of something small that grows into something big. It's about leaders that are allowed to take advantage of the little people who actually run things from the front lines.

So, how do you feed the organic machine? You feed it with appreciation, incentives, potential for growth, a positive work environment and everything you can think of to keep things from falling apart because your front line, and every step in between, have the brains and the fingers to doggonit get things done! Just remember - on paper, things may look good, but until the paper gets dog-eared with fingerprints, coffee stains and drops of sweat, it's just a piece of paper.

Think like an Expert & Avoid 'The 'Rut'!

If you are not currently employed in a profession of your choosing, you may consider planning your way out and starting a career that you daydream about. You may be already taking steps such as reviewing courses you can take or activities you can get involved in on evenings or weekends (or during the day, if you do shift work). During those quiet moments at work, you might do some quick internet searches or even stare at those reminder pictures around your work area to help you visualize your escape to a more desirable work situation. After all, if you must work, why not enjoy what you do? Why stress out over it?

A problem arises when you get worn down by the grind, you are not giving your current position your 'all' and as a result, your productivity goes down and you get into a rut; not that you care, because you are on your way out, anyway. However, something magical happens when you make the decision in your mind that your days at your current position are indeed numbered after you've decided to pursue better things. Your posture will straighten up, your countenance will appear confident, yet pleasant and you will pay more attention to your wardrobe and be sure everything is symmetrical and professional looking. This happens because you are starting something new, even though you have not yet left your current workplace.

The truth is, you don't actually have to wait for the epiphany to happen before you undergo a noticeable change. In fact, you can preempt the epiphany by acting like an expert well before any sort of sudden, intuitive insight takes place. That way, you are better prepared for a major change in career and more doors of opportunity will open as a result.

Consider this: two people, working side by side, both dream of a better workplace or career. One of them sports a negative attitude every day they go to work and everybody notices it. The other is always in high spirits and acts like a professional, no matter what the situation. Both of them are wanting a change but only one of them is well prepared for it. 

In fact, it is doubtful that the first person actually has any sort of exit plan because if they did, they would probably be in better spirits. That person also runs the risk of being let go first if business slows down and if they aren't at all prepared, they may be in trouble, whereas the second person would already have some sort of plan in place, but it is unlikely they would be let go first because of their pleasant demeanor.

Acting like an expert day in and day out raises a kind of force-field in front of you that others cannot easily affect; they must treat a pro like a pro. Acting like a 'crabby crabberson' every day removes any safety shield and instead puts a target on you. Crabby people are no good for morale.

So, no matter what you do for a living, acting like an expert will help achieve an untouchable status and buy you time to figure out where you want your career to go, whether it is further up the company ladder, a well thought out lateral move or a completely different career. Positive-thinking experts are less likely to find themselves in any kind of rut, no matter how rough the waters get.

(Cartoon courtesy of Mike Moore at motivationalplus.com - thanks Mike!)