All Good Things

It was three years ago this very week that The Job of Work, this labor of love and folly, was born.  Three years of late nights, interrupted sleep, second-guessing, rewrites, and doubt.  Three years of sitting in front of a blank screen and, later, obsessing over a sentence.  Three years of exploring matters significant and trivial, some germane to the workplace and others far afield.  Three years of stabbing at lunacy wherever it may reside.  Three years of outlining a personal point of view about how work and life can be, maybe should be.  Three years of pleading for change during this prolonged economic drought we're enduring.  And, along the way, developing a certain perverse personal sense of accomplishment for having provided for three full years nonstop what might have been inspiration to some but was probably largely drivel to you, my loyal, passionate, foolhardy and adored readers.

After all of that, after three years, it's time for a break.

Looking back, we've been through a lot together.  From that first blog about the lack of significant differences between the generations and how 'HR' and 'strategy' rarely go well together, to an innovative and elegant way to create world-class performers, to a discussion of hipness, to the need for a more tender approach at work (complete with an Otis Redding video), to an urging to choose happiness, to a 4-part series on a new way to approach organizational design, to your life's soundtrack, to soul, to spreading joy (with two terrific musical videos), to the value of laughter, to The Schnur Consulting Group's approach to true culture change and performance improvement, to the joy of living loud, to physical attraction and to the soul-crushing effects of the workplace, we've been there and done that.  And so much more.

We've watched as Chilean miners were saved and devastating earthquakes, tsunamis and tornadoes wreaked havoc, loss and despair.  We were helpless as the Gulf of Mexico filled with oil following a drilling disaster.  We buried personal heroes.  We elated as a certain baseball team from San Francisco won the World Series.  We've tried to live loud, as if each day was our first.

You were there, each step of the way.  Randy, the most soulful person on the planet.  Norene, my absolute favorite escapee from the snapping turtles of Pennsylvania.  Jon, is there a high-end retailer you have not helped?  Jorge, for selling more chocolate in Chile than there are people.  Ted, possibly the funniest, most provocative person I know.  And the many unnamed, faceless readers from around the globe who returned week after week.  Who are you?  Oh, how I wish I knew.

Thank you all for spending a few minutes with me each week.  Thank you for your emails.  Thank you for overlooking the foibles of this space and the shortcomings of its author.  Thank you for telling me I was full of it or, from time to time, that I had touched your heart.  Mostly, thank you -- whether you know it or not -- for pushing me, prodding me, driving me to try to be relevant.

This is not a 'good bye'.  Instead, consider this a 'see you soon', for this is only a break.  Please check back from time to time to see if we've picked up where we left off.  Because unlike Click & Clack (a.k.a., Ray and Tom Magliozzi of NPR's Car Talk), I will be back.

In the meantime, stay safe, sing out loud, make someone laugh hard, and tell your friends and family how much they mean to you.  And while you're at it, have fun at work.

See you soon.

An Unexpected Visitor

Dark.  Horn-driven soul music plays quietly in background.  Fade in.  START ON back of head of Man sitting at computer.  PULL BACK to reveal cluttered desk covered in scattered papers, several baseballs, framed photos of children at various ages, family, friends.  Continue PULL BACK to show walls of what's obviously a study completely filled with snapshots of children, families, colleagues; autographed photos; tributes;  shelves overflowing with books, baseball paraphernalia, bobbleheads, iPod player.  Neatly stacked waist high piles of books fill a corner of the room.  Clearly a place Man spends a great deal of time in.  Man reaches for baseball bat that rests against desk.  Holding it like a cane, he swivels in his chair toward camera.  His shoulders sag as he gives an exasperated look.

MAN

This isn't hard enough as it is?  I've got to have you looking over my shoulder?  By the way, who the hell are you?  And who let you in?

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

 The door was open.  We thought you were expecting us.

CLOSE IN ON MAN'S

FACE AS HE STANDS

MAN

 What in the world gave you that impression?

 VOICE OFF-CAMERA

Your assistant did.  When we called to schedule the interview.

CUT TO MAN'S HANDS

TIGHTENING GRIP ON

BASEBALL BAT

MAN

Assistant?  What assistant?

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

Trudy.  Your assistant, Trudy.  Nice, friendly.  Laughs a lot.  Gives good phone.

CUT TO BAT BEING

LIFTED SLOWLY
FROM FLOOR

MAN

You're joking, right?  Not only do I not know a Trudy, I've never known a Trudy.  And I don't have an assistant.  Aside from Siri, that is.

 
VOICE OFF-CAMERA

Cute.  That's cute.  But isn't this 243 Millhorn Way?

CUT TO BAT PULLED

INTO POSITION TO

SWING.  CAMERA, BOOM

AND CREW NOW

VISIBLE IN REFLECTION

IN GLASS OF SEVERAL

FRAMED PHOTOS BEHIND
MAN OVER DESK.

MAN

Not...even...close.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

You're kidding, right?

CUT TO CLOSE UP
OF MAN'S EYES

MAN

Do I have the look of someone who is kidding?

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

[After pause]  No, actually you don't.  Not at all.  I can usually tell when someone is kidding.  And you don't have that look.  [Another pause]  Unless this is an example of really dry humor.  Which I appreciate, by the way.  The drier the better, I always say.  [Asking the crew]  Don't I always say that?

PULL BACK TO
SHOW MAN'S
FACE

MAN

I'm thrilled for you.  I really am.  Now, think it might be time for you and your friends here to find 243 Millhorn?  Someone's probably expecting you.  But before you go, would you care for a nosh?

PULL BACK TO SHOW

MAN'S FULL FACE AND

RELAXED STANCE

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

That'd be great.  It's been a long day already.  [Pause]  Wait.  [Pause]  You're being funny.  That's dry humor, right?  You're not really inviting us to stay and have something to eat, are you?

MAN

You're on to me.  I can tell.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

 I've been told that I have a good sense about people.  Does it show?

CUT TO MAN'S HANDS

TIGHTENING THEIR

GRIP ON THE BAT

 

MAN

Thoroughly.  You're amazing.  How do you do it?  [Holds hand palm-out to camera in 'stop' position.]  Don't answer.  It will be a mystery I'll simply have to find a way to live with.  While I do, now would be an ideal time to leave.  Before I find a good use for this bat.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

You're probably right.  [To the crew]  Pack it up.  We're outta here.

SOUNDS OF CASES
BEING OPENED

CUT TO MAN'S FACE WITH
BAT IN POSITION TO SWING
FOR THE FENCES

MAN

I'm probably right?

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

We'll just show ourselves out.

CUT TO MAN'S EYES

MAN

You do that.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

By the way, one question:  How do we get to Millhorn from here?

CUT TO BAT BEING

PULLED BACK INTO

SWINGING POSITION

 

MAN

Once you're safely in your car, should that happen, call Trudy.  I'm sure she can help.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

 Good idea.  We've bothered you enough for one day.

CUT TO MAN'S HANDS

GRIPPING AND RELEASING

BAT AS IF IN BATTER'S

BOX

 

MAN

You think?

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

You're being funny again.  I like it.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

MAN, WAIST UP, READY

TO SWING AT NEXT PITCH

 

MAN

I'm thrilled for you.  Really, I am.  Now go.  Please.  Before I'm forced to get my bat dirty.

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

Okay, okay.  We're gone.

CUT TO CAMERA TURNING

AWAY FROM MAN AND 

DOWN AS IT'S TAKEN FROM
SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF.

SCREEN GOES DARK

VOICE OFF-CAMERA

 Hope we didn't disturb you.  Have a goo-

REST OF SENTENCE CUT

OFF AS RECORDING DEVICE

IS POWERED DOWN

Remembering Those Who Give It All

When work gets truly difficult, a saving grace is the comforting thought that no one's going to die.  No matter how taxing, how political, how frustrating, the vast majority of us know that a bad day at work won't result in anyone's death.

Not so for these folks.

On this Memorial Day, join us in honoring those who put it all on the line every day.  For their family, for country, for freedom, for us.

Happy Memorial Day.

Dreamers

A confession:  I am oft accused of being a dreamer.  It's no doubt related to my strong belief that work and the workplace can and should be stimulating, rewarding and, all things considered, healthy.  A place where you can express yourself, where you can innovate.  A place where you can learn and teach.  A place you enjoy, possibly one that is even fun.  A place where you can truly make a difference.  Call me naive, which many do, but it is possible.  These places exist!  I've seen them up close and personal!  And over the years, enlightened managers have even engaged us to help them create this type of workplace in their organization.  We know it's possible, because we've seen the amazing transformation that occurs -- the enthusiasm and energy that are unleashed, the productivity that is gained -- when certain elegant steps are taken to create an organization built to run.

It all starts with a dream:  A compelling aspiration, a cherished ambition.  Big thinking uninhibited by barriers, politics and history.  A goal that causes excitement.  In our parlance, The Brass Ring.

Where are those dreamers?  Those managers, some might call them leaders, who know that their organization needs remodeling, retooling to become something special?  Have the economic events of the last few years scared them into hiding?  Are they hunkered down behind their desks waiting all too patiently for this economic climate to blow over?  Worse, have they stopped dreaming, accepting instead a compromised reality?

I say it's time to dream again.

Possibly like this guy.   An engineer believes that a version of Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise can be created in 30 years at a cost of roughly $1 trillion.  Regardless of whether you are a fan of the series or think $1 trillion is excessive for an vehicle without an integrated iPhone connection and one that doesn't park itself, the idea of building a spacecraft capable of exploring the universe is compelling, is it not?  Save for warp drive, much of the technology required to build such a vessel apparently already exists.  The remainder will require invention during the design and construction phases.  But don't let that deter you.  Velcro, Teflon, even Tang were products of our quest to land on the moon in the 1960s.  That was over 40 years ago.  Think of what we're now capable of and what might follow some of the Star Trek-inspired inventions already part of our reality.

The same can be said for the workplace.  Is it not the time to explore what steps can be taken to create a workplace that stimulates, excites and inspires people to perform their jobs brilliantly?  Is now not the time to develop an organization that operates with creativity, energy and high productivity?  Is now not the time to captivate the aspirations and ambitions of your people?  Is now not the time to travel by star ship rather than by bus (thanks, Jim Collins)? 

Now is the time.  Dump the bus.  Build a star ship.  It won't take 30 years or anywhere close to $1 trillion.  And we won't endanger the entire universe by attempting to create warp drive.

It is time to dream again.

Enough With the Lists Already

Reader beware: It's rant week.

Those damn lists.  Have you had it about up to here with all of the seemingly millions of business- and lifestyle-related lists that seem to be everywhere?  One can't seem to get through Fortune, Forbes, Yahoo! or Entertainment Weekly these days without a barrage of dos and don'ts lists.  Ten things never to do in an interview.  Ten things always to do in an interview.  Five expressions never to use with your boss.  Seven behaviors of successful managers.  Five articles of clothing never to wear at work (beyond stripes with plaids).  Ten ways to make her happy.  Seven things that will make him totally furious.  Ten ideas never to think while riding a bike, especially a red one.  Five ways to ensure a happy marriage.  Nine things to never, ever forget.  Seven foods that cause insanity.

And that's just lists we've stumbled across in the last couple of weeks. 

Granted, some of the myriad lists have useful suggestions.  Yes, we know not to make racist, sexist and/or vulgar jokes during an interview.  Or ever.  They're not funny.  Yes, eating fatty foods will make us fat.  Yes, being honest is a good quality for the successful manager.  It's a good quality for everyone, for that matter.  Yes, a bathing suit at work is not likely a very good idea, even if you're ripped.  And, yes, banana creme pie does, without any doubt whatsoever, cause insanity.  (Look it up if you're skeptical.)  But, really, most of the guidance provided in these lists is vacuous at best.

And even if the lists contain a modicum of accuracy, how in the world are we supposed to remember all of the information in them?  We're talking hundreds if not thousands of dos and don'ts.  Impossible.  Overwhelming.  And no way to stay current.  Too much thinking; not enough doing.  It was so much easier when all we had to remember was to be a good bee.  (Romper Room?  Remember?)

I say enough with the lists already.   Save for this one.

Living life according to my Uncle Bill.  In a personal, seminal, whiskey-induced moment a number of years ago, my then-aging (and now long deceased) Uncle Bill laid out his approach to life.  Beginning with the insight that 'it took me getting old to finally figure it out', my uncle claimed that a wonderful life could be had by doing just a handful of things.  I present them here as a way to honor him and, just possibly, to undermine my argument above about lists.  This one might be worth remembering.

Imagine a gravel-voiced, 90-something New Yorker, pipe in mouth, glass of whiskey in hand, outlining the following:

1.  Be afraid of no one.  Not the authorities, not the police, no one at work.  Especially no one at work.  (This from a Jew who grew up among Nazis.)

2.  Make sure those you love know you love them.  Assume nothing.  Tell them.  You can't say it often enough.  You can't prove it enough.

3.  Always tell the truth.  Your honor is all you have.  Don't jeopardize it.  (His actual words were more graphic...) And the more you lie, the more stories you have to remember.  So why bother?

4.  If you like stuffed cabbage, eat stuffed cabbage.  Don't let anyone tell you how to live your life.  Aside from your wife.  It's her job.

5.  Grow old, but don't grow up.  Maturity makes people boring.  Don't be boring. 

I miss you, Bill.  I haven't forgotten.  And like I promised you, I'm trying.

Attraction

Thanks to the many of you who took the time to answer the two questions we posed last week.  If you recall (and who can, given that it was an entire week ago?), we asked:

• All things equal (i.e., job, pay, benefits, commute, physical work space), what would attract you to an employer?  And,

• All things equal (i.e., education, experience, skills, abilities), what would attract an employer to you?

In essence, we are interested in attraction, that curious power that draws us, pulls us, compels us to something or someone.

Much has been written about physical attraction.  The psychological research literature is littered with studies attempting to explain the peculiarities and vagaries  of human attractiveness.  Rather than asking you to read the many studies that have been conducted, let me, as a public service to you our cherished reader, sum up the entire body of literature on human attraction thusly:

1.  We are attracted to other humans we find attractive.  (I'm not kidding.)

2.  What we find physically attractive in others varies from person to person.  (This is a very important finding, as you'll soon see.)

3.  Certain emotions -- happiness, optimism -- can increase physical attraction while other emotions -- unhappiness, anger -- can decrease it.  (A key learning:  Smile!)

4.  We tend to be more attracted to those who wear clothing suitable ('flattering') to their body and who are clean.

5.  Familiarity breeds attractiveness.

6.  Our attraction for others tends to increase if they are attracted to us.

That's about it.  But before we move on, take a moment to review Findings #2 and #5 above.  These hold huge implications, as they clearly imply that:

• Attractiveness takes many forms, yours being one of them; and, statistically speaking

• Someone currently finds you attractive.

It's true.  I could walk you through the probability argument -- which would take some time and a good deal of space on a white board -- but suffice it to say that there is, without doubt, at least one person outside of your family you see regularly -- during your commute, at work, around town -- who finds you physically attractive.

Argue if you must, but it would be futile.  Data never lie.  Someone is physically attracted to you.  And the more people you see regularly, the more who are attracted to you.  Accept it.  Better yet, enjoy it.

But while there's been much examination of physical attraction -- for obvious reasons -- little thinking has been devoted to what attracts us to employers or what employers find attractive in us as workers.  That's where we come in -- and where your input has already been so very helpful.  For we are in the process of developing a research study to explore the two questions we posed last week.  The results we believe will hold important implications both for employers and individuals seeking work.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, who do you think it is who finds you attractive?  That guy on the train?  The woman down the hall?  The man who makes your latte?  The woman at the gym?  Maybe the one you see in the elevator.  Yes, maybe.

Keep your eyes open.  It's going to be a good week.

Choices

Imagine having 3 job offers.  (No, this is not an exercise in fantasy.  In the not-so-distant past, we're talking the late 90s and earlier this century, multiple job offers were a regularly occurrence.  Remember?)  The offers are identical in nearly every way.  The job is the same.  The money -- both base pay and bonus potential -- are identical across the 3 jobs.  Benefits are also the same in each job.  The commutes, while different, are virtually identical in terms of time, distance and degree of difficulty.  And while the job offers are from 3 different companies, the work place itself is nearly identical.  Same office, same work space, same physical environment, same coffee and tea.

So, how do you decide which job offer to accept?  More specifically, what is the first thing you'd want to know before making The Big Decision?  What would be the next most important piece of information you'd need?  What type of information would come third?

Take a moment to scribble your answers.  Be as honest as entirely possible.  Don't be shy to admit even the most potentially embarrassing things that might enter into your decision-making process.

[Insert musical interlude here.  And, no, not the Jeopardy theme music.  Something with soul.  I'm thinking Tower of Power's Knock Yourself Out.]

Now class, let's consider another scenario.  Imagine that you are a manager in a company.  You've been looking for the ideal candidate to fill an important job in your department.  This person will work directly for you.  You have 3 finalists for the job.  They are identical in nearly every way.  They have the same education, the same work experience and identical skills and abilities.  Their resumes are essentially identical.  Their references are all equally stellar.  They each present themselves with equal professionalism -- both in clothing and presence.  They each speak with equal eloquence.  As best as you can tell, they all have the same potential to do the job brilliantly.  You won't go wrong with any of the 3 candidates.

So, how do you decide which person to offer the job to?  More specifically, what is the first, most important thing you'd need to know before making The Big Decision?  What would be the next most important piece of information you'd need?  What type of information would come third?

Again, take a moment to scribble your answers.  Please be as honest as entirely possible.  Don't be shy to admit if age, gender, physical attractiveness, ethnicity, religion, politics or other factors are important to you.  We're looking for truth and, yes, we can handle it.

We ask one last favor:  Please send your answers to alan@schnurconsulting.com.   Your input will be invaluable as we finalize a research effort to study these two questions.

And, yes, we have a number of specific hypotheses that this research will help address.  Either proving us right -- brilliant, actually -- or, perhaps, completely out to lunch.  Or both.

Speaking of brilliant, we urge you to check out a marvelous new feature of Shazam:  LyricPlay.  Tag a song, which is already a near-miraculous capability, and then select 'LyricPlay'.  Shazam provides the lyrics, verse by verse, synchronized with the music.  Absolutely fantastic!  Yet another example of our technology being more advanced than on Star Trek (save for replicators, transporters and warp drive, that is).

If you don't have Shazam, get it.  Then use the app to identify any song you're listening to.  Press 'LyricPlay' and sing along.  When you do, be grateful for the marvelous age in which we live.