2011 January » Nonsense At Work

#461: Outcomes from my mouth

Jan 312011

In speaking, what do you emphasize, what do you stress? Let me guess. You emphasize what the other person is obviously not getting and then you stress that personality flaw which prevents the ‘getting’ of it. Why? Because we often have time enough to repeat ourselves while lamenting the obtuseness of the listener.

Speaking through your radio, I don’t have that luxury. I must know the outcome I want before I give it voice.

How do I remain focused on outcome? By asking myself these two questions and noting where I place the emphasis in my mind. Do I have something to say or something I want you to hear? Do I want to tell you something or do I want you to think something, feel something or do something as a result?

Here’s my mantra. Try it for yourself. What outcome do I want from what comes out of my mouth?

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Listen to the radio version of Outcomes from my mouth (including the 10 most recent radio files)

#460: Thriving on making a bigger mess

Management, Nonsense No Responses »

Jan 272011

Many years ago I lived in Cape Town and often went for a dawn walk with the mountain on one side and the sea on the other. Absolutely beautiful. Except for the litter. Even though there were many trash cans, empty fast food containers with scraps of fish and chips lay spread on the ground. I often cursed the hooligans I thought responsible until I caught the culprits in the act.

Although America is a fairly clean place, I see the same sort of soilers in action. Whenever a tasty tidbit of left-over trouble is sighted, they swoop in, make much noise by dumping their hind-sighted opinions before flying out again.

Ken Blanchard, originally of One Minute Manager fame, identified these people at work as ‘seagull managers’.

Actually, people in Cape Town do use trash cans. Seagulls are the culprits. Like some managers and public personalities, they thrive on making a bigger mess of things.

~ ~ ~

Listen to the radio version of Thriving on making a bigger mess (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#459: Change what must be altered

Change, Motivation No Responses »

Jan 242011

Here’s something I thought I knew well: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

As evidence now points to Reinhold Niebuhr as the original author, it is worth pondering his original words: “Give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.”

Consider the main difference between the two. The new version asks for ‘courage to change the things I can’ whereas the original calls for ‘courage to change what must be altered’. The one allows for choice; the other demands action.

The original leads with an action statement, a warning that some things must be altered. And the new one? It begins with a plea for serenity to accept, to give in.

It seems to me that we have adopted the wrong version.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Change what must be altered (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#458: Hiring in your own image

Management, Workers/Employees No Responses »

Jan 192011

Finally, some economic good news. More jobs are being created than are being destroyed. Here is the bad news. If you are hiring, then you are likely making a classic hiring mistake.

You are about to hire someone who fits in.

Of course you are going to read the resume and study the form. You might even do background checks. And then you are going to select the candidate who fits your culture, the person who is ‘one of us’. The one made in your image.

Maybe you won’t do so consciously, but chances are you will. It’s human.

You might believe in diversity and you might practice color diversity. But do you have social diversity, cultural diversity? Above all, do you have mind-set diversity? Remember, groupthink and like-mindedness got us into this mess. Don’t hire in your image. Please, not again.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Hiring your own image (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#457: Going for hope, kicked by bliss

Perception/Reality No Responses »

Jan 152011

My young daughter was going for Hope when she got kicked by Bliss.

Seriously. This is a true story.

My daughter helps to rehabilitate abused horses. Recently, a new horse arrived at the stable. As my daughter walked to the horse called Hope, she moved past the horse called Bliss. Bliss took offense and kicked my daughter, who landed in the mud. Ouch!

Kicked by Bliss going after Hope. This got me thinking. How often do we not make the same mistake! We look to hope when bliss is right here. We count on hope for a better future and we ignore bliss in the present. Then we are surprised when we land in the mud of the moment.

From now on, I’m going to lavish attention on bliss right here and let hope take care of herself. As they say in the classics, bliss at hand is worth two hopes in the mud.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Going for hope, kicked by bliss (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#456: Exuberantly back to irrational basics

Business, Goals No Responses »

Jan 122011

The economy is growing in a way that might finally benefit ‘we the people’ here on ‘main street’. However, I must warn you, here be dragons.

To prevent Mr Greenspan’s irrational exuberance getting the better of us again, I suggest that we get back to foundationals. Yes, you heard correctly. And yes, my nonsense word is meant to irritate you into paying attention. Foundationals.

We glibly say ‘get back to basics’ but we conveniently forget to clarify ‘which basics’. Getting back to basics only makes sense if you know which ones are fundamental to your business. And what is a fundamental? Anything that is key to the wallets of your customers.

Can you prevent exuberance from again corrupt your fundamentals? Yes, by linking them to a solid business foundation. Then you will know which basics matter enough to get back to.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Exuberantly back to irrational basics (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#455: The secret to meaning

Success No Responses »

Jan 102011

Are you still hoping to make this year more meaningful? Well, stop hoping and pay attention. I know the secret to meaning and here it is: Meaning is created through relationships. There can be no meaning without relationships.

Do you want me to be objective about this? Objects on their own and in isolation have no meaning; the meaning is derived from the relationships between objects. For example, your new gadget-toy has no meaning, until you interact with it, until you relate with it.

Life only makes sense to us through our relationships. However, it is your relationship with people that really matters. As Carl Jung, the great psychologist, explained, “We need other people to be truly ourselves.” Your new gadget or social media page just won’t do, so stop letting them isolate you from real, live people.

The secret to meaning is to be part of, not apart from. So get out there and relate.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of The secret to meaning (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#454: Calling on Dear Prudence

Change, Success No Responses »

Jan 052011

This year I’m going to be a prude. No, not a prude as in ‘easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity’. At my age, it takes a little more to shock me.

Like how easily circumstances can change, how quickly some things so right can become so very wrong, how past success can create current failure.

This is why I’m going to be a prude, as in prudent. I plan to avoid undesired consequences. Whenever I am tempted by a golden opportunity, or faced with a risky situation with ‘up-side potential’, I’m going to hum that Beatles song from their White Album. The one called ‘Dear Prudence’.

Apparently, John Lennon wrote it as “a simple plea to a friend to ‘snap out of it.” So that’s how I plan to have a better year in twenty eleven – by making sure that prudence snaps me out of twenty ten behavior.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Calling on Dear Prudence (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#453: Irritated into being a better me

Goals, Motivation No Responses »

Jan 032011

I want this year to be better than last year. What to do, knowing that resolutions don’t stick easily?

I know! Choose one tiny resolution, one with huge clout, and then make it stick at least once a week. How about this – I will spend time with a friend.

Easy, yes, but where’s the clout?

The clout is in the meaning of ‘friend’. You see, acquaintances and so-called ‘friends’ on social networks accept me as I appear to them. So do most people I interact with daily. I don’t mind them and they don’t mind me.

But friends! They put up with how I project myself today, yet they persistently see me as how I could be. And then they love me into wanting to be this better me. How irritating!

So, here’s my resolution: I will visit at least one friend a week and be irritated into being better than last year.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Irritated into being a better me (10 most recent radio files)

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday – 7:19am and Saturday – 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#461: Outcomes from my mouth

#460: Thriving on making a bigger mess

#459: Change what must be altered

#458: Hiring in your own image

#457: Going for hope, kicked by bliss

#456: Exuberantly back to irrational basics

#455: The secret to meaning

#454: Calling on Dear Prudence

#453: Irritated into being a better me

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