Individual incentives - Washington Times
oh, and a bit about how unhealthy our jobs and lifestyles have become.
… and then it was 2012
14 years ago
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Focus, focus, refocus
Pain....I have definitely covered this topic before. Probably the last time I was hurt. Pain has a way of focusing you. First it focuses you on it, then it focuses you on the things you want to do but can't because they hurt.
Lots of focus, but definitely not on the things that I need to focus on right now. There is this giant excel workbook that is staring back at me and I am trying to will it to finish itself. It is not going so well.
Why is it that now that my back hurts a lot all I can think about is wanting to go running. Actually that is morphing into really wanting to go swimming, just cause it seems like it would feel really good. But of course I can't get to a pool because I am stuck in the Buf. :(
So it seems to me that I have been hurt and sick a lot this year. That could partly be due to the fact that I have been working out more this year, but not consistently because of travel. However, the first year I was married I was sick and hurt a lot too....coincidence? I think not.
I know stress tends to manifest itself in physical ways for me. And I think part of my problem this year is probably stress. I think I am also getting old. Oh God! Yeah well not old, but older. And I have to realize that I can't just start and stop physical activity anymore. I have to stretch and I have to eat right and I have to take care of myself.
Interestingly enough the employees of the acquisition of my current client are under a tremendous amount of stress. The whole senior leadership team has had to have chest X-rays this past month. It is bad! So this made me think, at what point do our jobs start to kill us? Actually, physically kill us.
In one way I feel bad for complaining because I look at the generations before us and the conditions and jobs that they endured. But then I realize that in some ways our jobs today are probably equally unhealthy just in less obvious ways. My job consists of sitting, a lot. I sit on airplanes, I sit at desk chairs, conference chairs, in cars, in hotel rooms. I probably sit for at least 12 hours a day. If I didn't get up to go to the bathroom and get water, this sitting would be mostly uninterrupted. I stare at little text on a dimly lit screen, also for about 12 hours a day, sometimes a lot more. I carry my heavy luggage around, I breath in airplane exhaust, I eat fairly well, but still not lots of fruit and veggies, I get to work out only sporadically, or at least not with a consistent, base building repetition, in the same gym with good equipment, I spend 12 hours a day staring at a gray fabric wall under florescent lights, in a mold infested building. Now that the winter is approaching I will never see the sun. Etc, Etc...Oh and then there is the stress. So I guess it really shouldn't be a surprise that I am sick and hurt a lot. (Is it any wonder why I am a proponent of green building standards?!)
We know why we do it. $$$, or the security that $$$ provides. One of the senior leaders of the acquisition told me that he thinks about quitting and then he goes home and his kids come running up to him and he knows he can not. When he said this, I couldn't help but also think about the fact that he just had a chest X-ray done. When framed that way, it hardly seems worth it.
Lots of focus, but definitely not on the things that I need to focus on right now. There is this giant excel workbook that is staring back at me and I am trying to will it to finish itself. It is not going so well.
Why is it that now that my back hurts a lot all I can think about is wanting to go running. Actually that is morphing into really wanting to go swimming, just cause it seems like it would feel really good. But of course I can't get to a pool because I am stuck in the Buf. :(
So it seems to me that I have been hurt and sick a lot this year. That could partly be due to the fact that I have been working out more this year, but not consistently because of travel. However, the first year I was married I was sick and hurt a lot too....coincidence? I think not.
I know stress tends to manifest itself in physical ways for me. And I think part of my problem this year is probably stress. I think I am also getting old. Oh God! Yeah well not old, but older. And I have to realize that I can't just start and stop physical activity anymore. I have to stretch and I have to eat right and I have to take care of myself.
Interestingly enough the employees of the acquisition of my current client are under a tremendous amount of stress. The whole senior leadership team has had to have chest X-rays this past month. It is bad! So this made me think, at what point do our jobs start to kill us? Actually, physically kill us.
In one way I feel bad for complaining because I look at the generations before us and the conditions and jobs that they endured. But then I realize that in some ways our jobs today are probably equally unhealthy just in less obvious ways. My job consists of sitting, a lot. I sit on airplanes, I sit at desk chairs, conference chairs, in cars, in hotel rooms. I probably sit for at least 12 hours a day. If I didn't get up to go to the bathroom and get water, this sitting would be mostly uninterrupted. I stare at little text on a dimly lit screen, also for about 12 hours a day, sometimes a lot more. I carry my heavy luggage around, I breath in airplane exhaust, I eat fairly well, but still not lots of fruit and veggies, I get to work out only sporadically, or at least not with a consistent, base building repetition, in the same gym with good equipment, I spend 12 hours a day staring at a gray fabric wall under florescent lights, in a mold infested building. Now that the winter is approaching I will never see the sun. Etc, Etc...Oh and then there is the stress. So I guess it really shouldn't be a surprise that I am sick and hurt a lot. (Is it any wonder why I am a proponent of green building standards?!)
We know why we do it. $$$, or the security that $$$ provides. One of the senior leaders of the acquisition told me that he thinks about quitting and then he goes home and his kids come running up to him and he knows he can not. When he said this, I couldn't help but also think about the fact that he just had a chest X-ray done. When framed that way, it hardly seems worth it.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The world turns
I had coffee with a friend this past Friday and we were talking about relationships and she said something that stuck out and has stuck with me.
"There will be a guy for whom the world can not turn fast enough for him to get to you."
We were talking about how to know if a guy is really interested in a relationship. It is a common belief that women over analyze their relationships. Wondering what this thing their guy said or did meant. "Is that good or bad?" "Does that mean he's interested or not?" I have decided that it is true, we do over analyze relationships. Because if we really have to wonder, if there really is that shaky feeling in your stomach, then the answer is no, he is not interested in a more long term committed relationship. (Isn't this a book or something...?)
Deep down we know this is true, but we still over analyze because we are hopeful creatures. We want to keep the hope alive and in analyzing we might be able to find something hopeful to which we can cling. Having hope feels good, or at least we think it feels better than not having hope and going back out there into the scary world alone.
I have seen guys who have found the girl for which the world can not turn fast enough for him to be next to her. I know how they act. I want to be that girl to a guy whom I admire, trust and respect. Sometimes it is hard to keep the hope that it will happen someday.
"There will be a guy for whom the world can not turn fast enough for him to get to you."
We were talking about how to know if a guy is really interested in a relationship. It is a common belief that women over analyze their relationships. Wondering what this thing their guy said or did meant. "Is that good or bad?" "Does that mean he's interested or not?" I have decided that it is true, we do over analyze relationships. Because if we really have to wonder, if there really is that shaky feeling in your stomach, then the answer is no, he is not interested in a more long term committed relationship. (Isn't this a book or something...?)
Deep down we know this is true, but we still over analyze because we are hopeful creatures. We want to keep the hope alive and in analyzing we might be able to find something hopeful to which we can cling. Having hope feels good, or at least we think it feels better than not having hope and going back out there into the scary world alone.
I have seen guys who have found the girl for which the world can not turn fast enough for him to be next to her. I know how they act. I want to be that girl to a guy whom I admire, trust and respect. Sometimes it is hard to keep the hope that it will happen someday.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Architecture
I am an architect. It has taken me a while to realize this. I wanted to go to school for architecture. I applied to a couple of architecture programs, but did not get in. So I went into biomedical engineering, but I am not an engineer, so I transferred into organizational theory. So on and so forth....
I have continued to have a fascination and love of architecture and have on a few occasions been tangentially involved in design, but it was not until recently in my professional career that I realized, that being an architect best describes the way I see the world, and problems specifically, regardless of whether or not I actually draw buildings.
When looking at a problem I first like to get a lay of the land. Then I like to get a picture in my head of what the end product looks like, how it will be used , what its limitations are, what are the things that take top priority, what color is it, what does it feel like, how does it make you feel. Once I know these things, I can work backwards, (we have to have this door here, so therefore this window goes here, etc...) to develop plans. In both business as well as in my personal life, I tend to design around use and beauty. I like simplicity and will not sacrifice function.
Once I have complete plans drafted, I can get to work building. Like in a real life building, I like to do this part step by step. First, site prep, second, the foundation, third the steel structure, etc, etc, and finally the finish work. I get flustered when people try to mix up the order. I also get flustered when people try to rush though building the foundation and core structure. I see these as the most fundamental, and critical parts of the process, that which everything else is based on. I also get flustered because I can still see the final product and can clearly understand how it is impacted. Similar to architects I am interested in building things that endure. Things that are classic, adaptable, functional, beautiful, and purposeful.
Not everyone works like this. In fact I think many of them ended up in the architecture field, and not in business. It seems that sadly today many businesses are not built for endurance, beauty, steadfastness and functionality. They are mobile homes instead of bungalows, McMansions instead of brownstones.
I have continued to have a fascination and love of architecture and have on a few occasions been tangentially involved in design, but it was not until recently in my professional career that I realized, that being an architect best describes the way I see the world, and problems specifically, regardless of whether or not I actually draw buildings.
When looking at a problem I first like to get a lay of the land. Then I like to get a picture in my head of what the end product looks like, how it will be used , what its limitations are, what are the things that take top priority, what color is it, what does it feel like, how does it make you feel. Once I know these things, I can work backwards, (we have to have this door here, so therefore this window goes here, etc...) to develop plans. In both business as well as in my personal life, I tend to design around use and beauty. I like simplicity and will not sacrifice function.
Once I have complete plans drafted, I can get to work building. Like in a real life building, I like to do this part step by step. First, site prep, second, the foundation, third the steel structure, etc, etc, and finally the finish work. I get flustered when people try to mix up the order. I also get flustered when people try to rush though building the foundation and core structure. I see these as the most fundamental, and critical parts of the process, that which everything else is based on. I also get flustered because I can still see the final product and can clearly understand how it is impacted. Similar to architects I am interested in building things that endure. Things that are classic, adaptable, functional, beautiful, and purposeful.
Not everyone works like this. In fact I think many of them ended up in the architecture field, and not in business. It seems that sadly today many businesses are not built for endurance, beauty, steadfastness and functionality. They are mobile homes instead of bungalows, McMansions instead of brownstones.
Friday, September 11, 2009
House Design Ideas
humm...feeling the urge to look at pretty things that I would love to have in my home one day...
a great NYC apartment. I love the calm and neutral colors. I also love the orange circle painting, and love the tile work in the bathroom. I would love to do my bathroom like that. Simple, black and white, possibly with a tan and black floor tile.
Apartment therapy Michael NYC tour
a great NYC apartment. I love the calm and neutral colors. I also love the orange circle painting, and love the tile work in the bathroom. I would love to do my bathroom like that. Simple, black and white, possibly with a tan and black floor tile.
Apartment therapy Michael NYC tour
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Inspiration
I had a little epiphany last night while I was out running. I have been thinking a lot lately about what it is that really attracts to me a man. I know I have talked a lot about this throughout this blog. It it is good thing to apine on is it not? :) I have talked a lot about all my boxes that need to be checked and about the "one thing" and humble strength and all that. All of these are good things. I have another thing to add to the pile.
The man has to inspire me.
I can't quite find the right words to capture the enormity of this for me, but I think that if I distill down all the things that I have talked about in the past, this might be the one thing that I can't live without.
I am inspired by:
The man has to inspire me.
I can't quite find the right words to capture the enormity of this for me, but I think that if I distill down all the things that I have talked about in the past, this might be the one thing that I can't live without.
I am inspired by:
- a man who has strong principles and values and sticks by them
- a man who will stand up for himself, his friends, his family and me
- a man who will fight to protect what he believes in
- a man who has bigger dreams than I do
- a man who volunteers
- a man who is more organized, focused and dedicated than I am
- a man who is more forgiving, patient and understanding than I am
- a man who sets goals for himself and follows through
- a man who makes me want to be better
- a man who encourages me to be better
- a man who is consistent and steady
- a man who is respected and liked by his peers
It is funny that my original list of boxes I need checked touches on most of these things, but doesn't quite frame it like this. There are also a lot of boxes that I now realize are very secondary. While it would be nice to have these boxes checked, if the above mentioned items were present, these secondary boxes would most definitely be things that I can live without.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Why do dreams get lost?
Overwhelming discouragement
We get lost
Other things become more important
We forget them
We forget what it feels like to realize a dream
We are the type of person who is perpertually hard on ourselves, so we only see the failures
Constantly striving, so we move onto the next dream before the first is realized
We are a scattered mess
Not believing we deserve that dream, we settle for less
I realized a really big dream this week: To own a home. I have thought about it for a long time and been looking for places for a long time. It hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe when I go and lay down on the floors and run my hands along all the walls and sleep there and eat there, then maybe it will be real. But it is so funny how I am already moving on to the next dream, without really enjoying the fulfillment of this one. Typical. I spend a lot of effort thinking about the dreams that are impossible, or at least currently unattainable. For this one I am going to try to take it slow and enjoy it.
We get lost
Other things become more important
We forget them
We forget what it feels like to realize a dream
We are the type of person who is perpertually hard on ourselves, so we only see the failures
Constantly striving, so we move onto the next dream before the first is realized
We are a scattered mess
Not believing we deserve that dream, we settle for less
I realized a really big dream this week: To own a home. I have thought about it for a long time and been looking for places for a long time. It hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe when I go and lay down on the floors and run my hands along all the walls and sleep there and eat there, then maybe it will be real. But it is so funny how I am already moving on to the next dream, without really enjoying the fulfillment of this one. Typical. I spend a lot of effort thinking about the dreams that are impossible, or at least currently unattainable. For this one I am going to try to take it slow and enjoy it.
Slacker
Yes, I know, it has been ages and ages since I have written. So sorry. All my loyal readers probably stopped checking my blog now and I will have to completely re market my self. Alas, I have been writing, it is just that the things that I have been writing about were more suited to going in my handwritten journal than out on the web. That is quite a statement for me, since as most of you know, I have been pretty open about lots of things on this blog. But most of the things that I have posted about in the past, were, just that, in the past. And I had processed them and the other people had processed them, so while they were humbling, they were at least mutually known.
The things that I have been writing about lately are not mutually known, so I don't really want the various people who are involved to find out about my thoughts through my blog. So therefore you all will have to wait to hear.
On other exciting news, I have new digs, and I expect that I will be hanging out in these digs for longer than 9 months (my average homestead for the past 6 years). I have great plans for the new digs, and in the spirit of Apartment Therapy, I will be posting photos of all my work. Very soon I will post photos of the "Before" trust me it is a great "Before" as the place needs a lot of work. Right now it smells like stinky cat and has stains on the ceiling from an old roof leak. The toilet is pink porcelain and the stove is from 1964. So I definitely have my work cut out for me.
Additionally, I gave up on the triathlon ambitions for now, as getting to a pool has proved almost impossible. So now I am focusing on a duathlon. I can handle running and biking. I am aiming for one on Oct 25th. So I would love to post about training schedules. I am trying to put one together now.
The things that I have been writing about lately are not mutually known, so I don't really want the various people who are involved to find out about my thoughts through my blog. So therefore you all will have to wait to hear.
On other exciting news, I have new digs, and I expect that I will be hanging out in these digs for longer than 9 months (my average homestead for the past 6 years). I have great plans for the new digs, and in the spirit of Apartment Therapy, I will be posting photos of all my work. Very soon I will post photos of the "Before" trust me it is a great "Before" as the place needs a lot of work. Right now it smells like stinky cat and has stains on the ceiling from an old roof leak. The toilet is pink porcelain and the stove is from 1964. So I definitely have my work cut out for me.
Additionally, I gave up on the triathlon ambitions for now, as getting to a pool has proved almost impossible. So now I am focusing on a duathlon. I can handle running and biking. I am aiming for one on Oct 25th. So I would love to post about training schedules. I am trying to put one together now.
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