Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
On Leadership...
"Could this be what leadership is often about—not asking people to take a risk for you, but rather taking one for them? That is what leading is."
"BEING A TRUE LEADER isn't always glamorous. There are not always hundreds of people wanting to be like you and do what you do. We can witness this in the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. During the restoration, enemies threatened to attack the city as the wall and gates were rebuilt; it wasn't necessarily the safest place. That is one reason the average Joe didn't immediately sign up to live there.
Jerusalem living also meant leaving a previous place of residence, which had one's farm and livelihood. At this point, Jerusalem was not yet finished and business would have been slow. But we read that the leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the rest drew lots. These leaders made a sacrifice. Someone had to live there and start the process of creating a once again bustling city.
Could this be what leadership is often about—not asking people to take a risk for you, but rather taking one for them? That is what leading is. We learn how to do this in its purest of forms through Jesus and his substitutionary death on the cross. He calls us to lay down our lives for others, because He has laid down his for us. Have you been a leader lately?"
This devotion is adapted from shortdailydevotions.com.
"BEING A TRUE LEADER isn't always glamorous. There are not always hundreds of people wanting to be like you and do what you do. We can witness this in the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. During the restoration, enemies threatened to attack the city as the wall and gates were rebuilt; it wasn't necessarily the safest place. That is one reason the average Joe didn't immediately sign up to live there.
Jerusalem living also meant leaving a previous place of residence, which had one's farm and livelihood. At this point, Jerusalem was not yet finished and business would have been slow. But we read that the leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the rest drew lots. These leaders made a sacrifice. Someone had to live there and start the process of creating a once again bustling city.
Could this be what leadership is often about—not asking people to take a risk for you, but rather taking one for them? That is what leading is. We learn how to do this in its purest of forms through Jesus and his substitutionary death on the cross. He calls us to lay down our lives for others, because He has laid down his for us. Have you been a leader lately?"
This devotion is adapted from shortdailydevotions.com.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Millennials Fight Back...
I found this article in the Red Eye today. It is snarky and sarcastic, which I enjoy, but I think the points the author makes are interesting.
Sandals in Office Not the Problem - Stephen Markley
I recently read a Bloomberg Businessweek story by Teddy Wayne, plugged on the cover as "Millennials: the New Office Morons."
Armed with prosciutto-thin anecdotal evidence, Wayne makes the point that my generation doesn't know proper etiquette in work environments. He backs this incisive point with pictures of Warren Buffet in a suit and Mark Zuckerberg in sandals.
I single out the Businessweek article only because it's the latest in the rising trend to dump on Millennials as spoiled, lazy, entitled jerks, who listen to their iPods at work.
But while we're making generalizations, boy do these other generations sure think a hell of a lot of themselves!
And why not? After all, they've done such a great job.
They spent 30 years creating a political and economic system that let wages stagnate and income inequality spike. Then they started working more hours, which made them more miserable, so they quieted their personal dissatisfaction with a bunch of useless crap like gargantuan homes and gas-guzzling SUVs. And because they failed to innovate anything other than useless financial instruments that made only 1% of them richer, they started running up mountains of debt.
But you're right: Millennials do spend too much time at work on Facebook!
Armed with prosciutto-thin anecdotal evidence, Wayne makes the point that my generation doesn't know proper etiquette in work environments. He backs this incisive point with pictures of Warren Buffet in a suit and Mark Zuckerberg in sandals.
I single out the Businessweek article only because it's the latest in the rising trend to dump on Millennials as spoiled, lazy, entitled jerks, who listen to their iPods at work.
But while we're making generalizations, boy do these other generations sure think a hell of a lot of themselves!
And why not? After all, they've done such a great job.
They spent 30 years creating a political and economic system that let wages stagnate and income inequality spike. Then they started working more hours, which made them more miserable, so they quieted their personal dissatisfaction with a bunch of useless crap like gargantuan homes and gas-guzzling SUVs. And because they failed to innovate anything other than useless financial instruments that made only 1% of them richer, they started running up mountains of debt.
But you're right: Millennials do spend too much time at work on Facebook!
Speaking of debt, they left a pile of it for us so they could cut their own taxes and fund their retirements. They charged everything they could on credit cards and bought the biggest homes they couldn't afford in useless, unsustainable suburban wastelands that we'll one day be stripping for the copper wire.
But I know: our generation totally doesn't know how to dress for the office! Did you see Bill wore a T-shirt the other day? What's up with that!
In fact, these previous generations did such a phenomenal job in the business world they managed to create the most unequal society since the 1930s, nearly collapsed the entire world economy, sent a great chunk of my generation to two really awesome, really helpful wars, and did it all while completely ignoring the overheating climate, soon to be the most catastrophic environmental crisis in human history!
Now that's what I call business savvy! To think of all that we could learn from you.
See, I have anecdotal evidence, too. While you guys take your fourth cigarette break of the day, I'm thinking of the people I know, the ones I've come of age with--smart, motivated and always dreaming big even as they understand that the rigid structures of the workplace, the pre-conceived notions and prejudices have as much to do with success or happiness as drinking a gallon of egg nog has to do with running a marathon.
So I kindly ask previous generations to shut the hell up while we prepare ourselves for the long, arduous battle of figuring out how to pick up the dirt that you dropped.
But I know: our generation totally doesn't know how to dress for the office! Did you see Bill wore a T-shirt the other day? What's up with that!
In fact, these previous generations did such a phenomenal job in the business world they managed to create the most unequal society since the 1930s, nearly collapsed the entire world economy, sent a great chunk of my generation to two really awesome, really helpful wars, and did it all while completely ignoring the overheating climate, soon to be the most catastrophic environmental crisis in human history!
Now that's what I call business savvy! To think of all that we could learn from you.
See, I have anecdotal evidence, too. While you guys take your fourth cigarette break of the day, I'm thinking of the people I know, the ones I've come of age with--smart, motivated and always dreaming big even as they understand that the rigid structures of the workplace, the pre-conceived notions and prejudices have as much to do with success or happiness as drinking a gallon of egg nog has to do with running a marathon.
So I kindly ask previous generations to shut the hell up while we prepare ourselves for the long, arduous battle of figuring out how to pick up the dirt that you dropped.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Bit of the Hot Stove...
Yesterday it was announced that Sandberg is leaving the Cubs organization, and Cubbie Nation is an uproar.
When Sleepy Lou Pinella stepped down as Cubs manager during the season Cubbie Nation was hopeful that either Joe Girardi or Ryne Sandberg would be the next man for the job. Instead General Manager Jim Hendry gave Mike Quady the job. Quady, who replaced Sleepy Lou on an interim basis, led the team to a 24-13 record to close out the season.
For the past several season Sandberg has been making his way through the Cubs minor league system as manager. He's managed A, AA & AAA. Many believed he was being groomed as Sleepy Lou's replacement. Cubs fans are angry about about the decision not to hire him. Obviously Sandberg is upset as well. Following the Quady announcement he declined multiple positions within the organization.
Many are pointing the finger at Jim Hendry. There is nobody less sympathetic to the Cubs plight than myself, but I will give Hendry a break on this one. Quady going 24-13 was the worst possible thing to happen. If the Cubs finish out the season as they did under Sleepy Lou Quady gets a 'Thank you,' offered another role and the Sandberg era begins.
As it happened Quady got a dead ass team to play for him. Players went public with their support of him remaining the manager. The team showed signs of life for the first time in two years. Hendry was in a difficult spot. I can't say that he wanted to hire Quady. I think he had to. Quady's deal is only two years. If it is a disaster what is 2 years when the team hasn't won anything in over 100?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)