Then What?

 

“No, his mind is not for rent to any god or government.

Always hopeful, yet discontent. He knows changes aren’t permanent."

 - from the song Tom Sawyer by Rush

 

It has been said that the one constant in this world is CHANGE; always has been, always will be. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said it well, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he is not the same man.”  Change is inevitable. But to a significant degree the rate and direction of change is up to us. Over the past 200 years the rate of change has increased exponentially.  At some point it will come to an end as will everything, but the timing and means of such an event are well above our human pay grade. In the meantime, we must deal with change.  

Change should come to us with a “Then What?” warning label.  Fail to ask that question or fail to come up with reasonable answers to it, and you will suffer the consequences. History is replete with bad outcomes that could have been avoided if those driving change had seriously considered the “Then What?” that comes after the change.  A lot of people pushed for the prohibition of alcoholic beverages. and they got it.  Then what?  Forced busing to integrate schools.  Ok you got it.  Then What?  Go find those WMD’s.  Then What?  Get rid of those nasty old fossil fuels.  Then What?  Make America Great Again.  Then What?  Open the borders, it’s the humanitarian thing to do and besides we need someone to do the work we are too fat and lazy to do.  Then What?

Most of the news today is about people seeking to make big changes.  Changes which, in some cases, will do less good and more harm than expected.  And there is nary a moment taken to stop and ask, “Then What?” if we get the change we are demanding.  Of course, there are changes that have been for the better.  Civilization has only advanced by changing. Without change we would still be walking or riding animals as opposed to moving about in cars, trains and airplanes.  Without change we would not live as long or as well.  Without change we would still be ruled by monarchs and struggle just to survive. Changes in the law as well as in hearts and minds ended slavery.

Change is necessary.  God commands change and it is required if we are to be good stewards of this planet and live righteously.  But change comes with risks and there are always consequences...Then What?

La Cruzada Insensata

"We asked for workers.  We got people instead" - Max Frisch

Guess what? When the authorities decide it’s time to round up all the undocumented immigrants we discover that includes millions of people who have been in this country for years.  Enough years to have children and even grandchildren born here.  We also find there are millions of family members, co-workers, friends and neighbors who are undocumented, or their work-visas have expired.  

 What should come as no surprise is that when laws and regulations are not enforced, be it immigration or anything else, people will ignore them.  It becomes a simple cost/benefit decision.  We have kicked the immigration can down the road for decades. I do not blame people for slipping into this country to work and have a better life for themselves and their families.  I blame our government for failing to manage the process.  And by “manage” I do not mean building a bigger wall.  I mean investing in the resources to manage immigration and passing legislation that makes sense for immigrants as well as citizens.

So, when we go on a crusade to clean up the mess that’s developed because we allowed it to happen; a lot of technically guilty but otherwise innocent people will suffer.  And that’s more than enough to bring out the protesters along with those who will take advantage of the moment to push their radical agendas.

Contacts

 

I don’t travel as much as I used to but recently I made the mistake of taking a flight out of DFW on a Saturday morning in early June. The terminal was crowded and chaotic; packed with families and infrequent air travelers. The TSA and airline employees might as well have been robots.  I take that back, robots would likely have had more personality and been more efficient.  Even the flight attendants were just going through the motions, avoiding eye contact and mostly huddled up in the galley. The flight was completely full and like the passengers, the flight attendants just wanted the whole thing to be over as soon as possible.

 

It got me to thinking about how we relate to other people. I believe our contacts with others are either Transactional or Relational.  Most contacts tend to be Transactional, more so for some of us than others. For example, on the flight back home I got an upgrade to first class. I sat next to a gentleman who was probably about my age. I boarded ahead of him and had an aisle seat. When he came on board he nodded toward the window seat. I got up and let him in. During the flight he got up to go to the bathroom and was nimble enough to step over and around me. Not a single word was exchanged between us…ever during the entire flight. 

 

I know he could talk because he spoke to someone on his cell phone before we took off.  And he told the flight attendant what he wanted to drink and later his choice for breakfast.  He knew I could talk because I spoke with the flight attendant as well.  We were both readers.  He had a real book, a thick paperback about the American Revolutionary War.  I was re-reading Mere Christianity on my Kindle.  Perhaps he caught a glimpse of that and thought better of speaking to me lest I try to convert him. But neither of us made any attempt to speak directly with the other.  It was a silent transactional relationship. We happened to be sitting next to each other on an airplane. We respected each others’ space and privacy.  There was no other transaction to be had nor was there any interest in a relationship, however brief.

 

In my experience, when it comes to “contact”, most people tend to be either Initiators or Responders. At my core I am a Responder.  I rarely initiate contact unless it’s necessary.  In my work life it has been necessary and I do it rather well. But if a contact is primarily transactional with no apparent reason for it being more, I rarely go beyond saying what is necessary to complete the transaction. If you are waiting in line behind me you’ll be happy. I won’t be chatting up a ticket agent, a cashier or the person behind the counter taking my order.  

 

But I’m also Relational when it comes to contacts. If the opportunity presents itself I will make an effort to know more about you. If it’s on track to being a “relational contact” I will share quite a bit about myself. However, I cannot stand pretense and if I sense someone is not being honest and genuine, or it’s all about them...we’re pretty much done.

 

My wife on the other hand is an Initiator. She will strike up conversations with total strangers and proceed to shower a lot of attention on them. I think she gets away with it because she’s an attractive woman and just has a way of making people feel important. I am certain that she restrains herself when I’m around to avoid my “What the hell was that about?” questions afterwards.

 

My advice, know yourself and be prepared to know your audience. Some people are Initiators and some are Responders.  Some will never move beyond Transactional and some will rush to become Relational.  Be wary of Initiators if you aren’t sure about their motives. Some are like my wife, outgoing and just love people. But many simply want something from you. So watch out and pay attention.

 

Whether you are an Initiator or a Responder, avoid pretense and just be yourself if you wish to move beyond the Transactional level. And if you happen to be sitting next to me on an airplane, don’t be afraid to ask where I’m from or what I do. We’ll have a nice chat.

Knowing It All

 

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” – John Wooden

Have you ever worked with a know-it-all?  The one who is not always right but never in doubt.  They know just enough, to be right often enough, to convince themselves they know-it-all.  Working with or for a know-it-all can be one of life’s most frustrating experiences.  Perhaps the only thing more challenging is trying to manage a know-it-all.

In 1999 two psychologists, David Dunning and Justin Kruger, conducted a series of tests measuring college undergraduates’ logical reasoning, grammar and social skills.  After taking the test, students were asked to complete a self-assessment regarding how well they performed.  When the researchers compared actual test results to the students’ expected results, they found that the majority of those with lower scores had significantly overestimated their performance.

Thus, we now have what is known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect which is the tendency of people with low ability in a specific area to give overly positive assessments of their ability.  This isn’t a matter of intelligence.  For that matter, highly intelligent people may be even more inclined to overestimate their ability in areas where they lack the knowledge, skill and experience to perform well.

As a person with more than a few rings around his trunk, I confess that at times I have been an overly confident know-it-all in certain areas where I knew far less than I thought I did.  When one is younger and has a few wins under their belt, it’s easy enough to fall into the know-it-all trap.  One would do well to consider that it’s not about how smart you are or how much you know, it’s about what you don’t know. Once you can admit you don’t know-it-all you are ready to begin learning.

 

In The Corner

I had a dream the other night.  I was younger, probably in my early 20’s, and with three other young men.  We were dirty and hungry wandering around barefoot in tattered clothes. The dream gave no clue as to who these other men were or how we had come to this place and in such bad shape.  I did have the sense that we might have been soldiers, perhaps escaped POWs trying to get back to our lines.

We were in the countryside, stumbling along by a river.  We came upon a sand bar near the riverbank and saw small footprints.  Some were barefoot and some had shoes.  We walked a bit further along a trail that ran beside the river looking for more footprints when suddenly a boy appeared.  He looked to be 8 or 9 years old, and he had a sack over his shoulder that was filled with canned food. 

We spoke to him, but he did not reply, only motioning for us to follow him off the trail and up to higher ground above the river.  He pointed to a small village in the distance and began walking in that direction.  We followed.  When we got to the village we saw no signs of life.  

It was an old village.  We might have been in Germany, or France, or Northern Italy.  He led us to an empty cottage and unloaded the canned food.  Before we could tear into those cans, a small girl and two other boys appeared.  The little girl was carrying a basket of bread.  One of the boys had a jug of fresh water, the other a bottle of wine.  They smiled and offered us the bread, the water and the wine.

Before I awoke from the dream, I remember a small loaf of bread in my hands.  I broke it in half and began to eat. Then the dream faded away and I woke up....crying.

That's me in the corner

That's me in the spotlight

Losing my religion...

But that was just a dream

Try, cry, why try?

That was just a dream

Just a dream

-R.E.M. song "Losing My Religion" 

(And this was, in fact, a real dream that I am still trying to figure out.)

Job Change? Worst and Best Reasons.

 

“Having a bad boss isn’t your fault. Staying with one is.” – Nora Densel

Ever had a fast-talking recruiter try to sell you on making a job change?  If not, you must be hiding under a rock.  Ever had a family member urge you to change jobs?  If not, you either have no family or your family members are benefitting so much from your labor they are not inclined to rock the boat. Ever have a bad day at work, or a bad week, or maybe even a bad month; and decide it’s time for a job change? If not, then you are truly blessed. I would advise you to stop reading this now and just take the win.

After so many years in recruiting and before that quite a few years in the real world, I’ve learned there are good reasons and bad reasons for making a job change.  I personally learned the hard way back in my “pre-headhunting” career.  And I see way too many people repeating some of the same mistakes I made as well as some I was fortunate enough to avoid.

So here are my top 5 Worst and 5 Best Reasons for making a job change.

Worst Reason #1: Something or somebody made you angry.  You let it fester, eventually it caused you to become negative about aspects of your which job you used to like.  The only thing that’s changed is you got mad about something.  Now the pay isn’t what it should be.  And there’s no room for advancement.  Company leadership is suddenly clueless and you’re just not appreciated.  So a job change is the only answer.  Really?  Why not put the anger behind you and get back on track.

Worst Reason #2: Money.  You’ve got a good job.  You like the work, you like where you work and you like the people you work with.  But someone, a recruiter perhaps, has told you that you are underpaid.  You could and should be making more money and the only way that’s going to happen is to move to greener pastures.  If that seed got planted by a former co-worker who’s moved on and tells you the grass really is greener elsewhere, then it grows even bigger and faster.  Not long until you start “un-liking” things you used to like.  If your downward spiral starts with money, step back and take a deep breath.  Look at the big picture and all aspects of the job including benefits and future potential.  Don’t let the lure of money drive you to make a job change you may end up regretting.

Worst Reason #3: Your old boss has moved on.  They either got promoted, retired or left the company.  Now you have a new boss and he’s not the same as the old boss.  You just don’t have the same relationship and now you feel like you must prove yourself all over again.  And on top of it all, the new boss seems to be a bit of a prick.  You used to be the boss’s favorite and now you’re just another cog in the machine.  All the other things you liked about the company, your job, your pay, etc. haven’t changed.  You just lost your boss, who also happened to be a trusted friend.  Give it time, work through it.  Indeed, if the new boss really does turn out to be a prick whom you just can’t work for, then it’s time for a change.  But don’t make that call too soon.

 Worst Reason #4: Work-life balance.  You’re in a demanding job.  Lots of hours and lots of stress.  Your spouse and kids are complaining that you’re not around much and even when you are, you’re either too tired or your mind is a million miles away or you’re glued to your smartphone answering texts and emails.  You seem to be living to work and not really living at all.  Your family is unhappy and you’re not doing all that great either.  Yep, a job change is the answer…or is it?  Before you make that move, consider how much of your “un-balanced” work-life is your own fault.  It may be more about your priorities and work habits than about the requirements of the job.  If you’re the problem, you will eventually go right back into the rut in a new job. It could be even worse if the new job actually turns out to be more demanding.  Look in the mirror before you blame your ‘work-life balance” problem on the work.

Worst Reason #5: Rumors.  You’ve heard that your company is up for sale.  Someone in a position to know tells you that the owners have people coming in and looking at the financials behind closed doors.  It’s all very hush-hush.  Bet the company is up for sale.  Time to update your resume and raise the old “Open To Work” flag on your Linked IN profile.  No, it’s actually time to tap the brakes.  The company might well be considering offers or it could just be in the process of changing banks or lenders or insurance providers.  It could even be consultants who’ve been brought in to determine how the company might make improvements. (If it is consultants, might want to update the resume anyway…).  Most often, rumors are not a good reason to leave a good job.  They may turn out to be true and it still may not be a good reason to leave a good job…yet.

So, with the Worst behind us, what are the Top Five Best Reasons for making a job change?  As it turns out they are just the other side of the Top Five Worst Reasons.

Best Reason #1: Anger. Justified, irreversible anger is reason enough to make a job change. There are situations where you should be angry and if you stick around, it’s likely to get worse.  Sometimes anger is more than enough cause to leave a job.

Best Reason #2: Money.  Money should never be the primary motivator for taking another job, but a lack of money can be a good reason for leaving a job.  If by all accounts and measures you are compensated well-below market (all things considered including benefits, cost of living, etc.) then it’s time to seriously consider a job change.  But before you make a money-driven change, make sure you factor in all the elements of the job.  Money isn’t everything, especially if for a few dollars more you’re miserable.

Best Reason #3: A Bad Boss.  People work for people, not just the company.  There are times when a person is stuck working for a really bad boss. If the only way you can get out of that situation is to leave the company, then get out.

Best Reason #4: Work-life Balance.  People often find themselves in a job that demands a level of commitment that cannot be met without sacrificing relationships with family and friends.  If that’s the job, then either sacrifice work-life balance or find a different job.  It’s not that simple of course.  Usually those high-commitment jobs come with higher compensation.  There are no free lunches.

Best Reason #5: Rumors that turn out to be true.  Major changes in ownership or the financial well-being of a company are solid reasons to consider a job change.  But it’s not automatic.  You may be in a position where it makes sense to stay and the downside risks for you personally are minimal.  Otherwise, you have good reason to make a job change.

And I have an additional Best Reason for making a job change.  This is absolutely, no questions asked, the all-time best reason for making a job change. If you are faced with an unethical, immoral situation in your job that remains uncorrected, change jobs as soon as possible.  I need not give examples.  We all know the messy stuff that can go on in the workplace.   Do not ignore it and do not tolerate it.  

My Two Cents Worth…Making or Breaking America?

 

It’s been a few months since my last Two Cents Worth ramble.  I thought it best to hold my fire until I saw what Trump and Company would actually do on tariffs and how far DOGE would go in cutting government waste.  I knew the deportation of undocumented immigrants would be more difficult than it should be and lawfare was not dead yet by a long shot.  Now properly locked and loaded, let’s do this.

 _The adults left Washington a long time ago and the downward spiral seems to be accelerating. Both parties are to blame.  In the vacuum of leadership, we have government by the worst of us for the rest of us.  One incompetent group replaces another; each with a few good ideas and a lot of bad ones. A small step forward, two giant leaps backward. Rinse and repeat. 

 _I had always considered the talk of another American Civil War to be total click-bait nonsense.  It’s still mostly click-bait, but it’s no longer total nonsense.  If there is another Civil War, it will be driven by weaponized ideas, misinformation and technology.  Americans will become increasingly tribal.  There will likely be an increase in targeted as well as random acts of violence and destruction of property.  We will become further separated geographically, economically and spiritually. We are becoming the Dis-United States of America.

 _”Give us a protective tariff and we will have the greatest nation on earth.”  Who said it? And don’t cheat googling the answer.  Hint: Trump may have said it in so many words, but he was not the first. Abraham Lincoln is actually the one who said it. The truth is our founding fathers really liked the idea of tariffs and up until the 1930’s we had significant tariffs in place.  But there is a good reason why we became advocates of free trade. Overall, free trade is in our best interest. Perhaps not for specific industries. But when things can be made as well or better at lower costs in other places, that’s fine as long as a nation doesn’t sacrifice its strategic production capacity.  Yes, we allowed free trade to go too far and to our detriment in certain industries.  But Trump and Company are over-reaching and over-correcting when it comes to tariffs. This will go down in history as one of the most wrong things that was ever done for the most right reasons.

 _Musk and DOGE may also go on the list of wrong things done for the right reasons.  It’s not nearly as bad as the tariff fiasco.  However, the unintended consequences and collateral damage of their sledgehammer, lightening strike approach is going to backfire when the next regime, most likely a Democrat regime, returns to power.

 _The good news is that it’s not all doom and gloom.  We have some very bright, hard-working young people in this country. There is some evidence many of them are leaning back toward more traditional values of faith, family, education and hard work. It’s not too late to save what’s been lost and rebuild, God willing.

 _Lastly, one of my biggest regrets in life is that I did not copywrite and register “Click Bait”.