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”.

Other Plans

 

“And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.”- Genesis 11:6

Thousands of years ago, our ancient ancestors came up with a big plan. They had become more than just primitive hunter gathers who had learned how to use fire and make weapons from wood and stone.  These people had learned how to design and manufacture complex products.  They had developed the intelligence and the materials to build ever greater structures.  So, they decided it was time to make a name for themselves by building a tower that reached to the heavens.  But so often as it turns out, God had other plans.

Thousands of years later, we have come up with a new plan. A plan which captures and uses all recorded human knowledge and experience in more powerful and creative ways than ever imagined.  A plan which will create digital genies who can answer every question and someday soon grant every wish.  

Intelligent machines will do the heavy lifting as well as the delicate work of replacing an arthritic knee or repairing a damaged heart.  Robots will conduct massive research projects at unprecedented speeds to find cures for whatever ails us.  Eventually we will not have to ask questions, the genie will just know what we want and when we want it.  Life for flesh and blood human beings will become effortless. 

Perhaps the genies can make life go on forever or so some might wish. But I don’t want to live in a world where my dog walks me, or fish jump in the boat, or reading a book just feels like too much work.  I need to know that things are difficult and some are impossible, but still worth the effort.  It is good for me to solve problems and find the answers on my own.  Oh, I will accept and embrace Artificial Intelligence up to a point.  But A.I. will not make me smarter or feel more alive or draw me closer to God.  Besides, He still has other plans.

The Measure

Something's just not right.

That young man in the high school yearbook 

Is an old man now and dead.

I don't want to know how he looks.

It only reminds me of what's ahead.

 

Inside of us it's the 60's

We are still kids like we were back then

Was it real or just a dream?

At best it was a race against time.

Running past the life that was in between.

 

What’s past is not forgotten.

Would that I could repair,

But I don’t know how.

What’s left of us is never enough.

Regrets are the measure from then to now.

 

Something’s just not right.

The young are old and soon to be gone.

So very much we should have done.

But listen now to the fading voices,

And take one last look at the setting sun.

 

It’s the Economy Stupid…

 

“With audacity one can undertake anything, but not do everything.” – Napolean Bonaparte

The Republicans just won the White House and both houses of Congress on the economy (inflation) and immigration, mostly on the economy.  Sure, there are the culture wars, DEI, gender issues, “wokeism”, etc.  But ultimately, it’s about the economy and how government decisions and policies impact real people in their everyday lives. When it comes to the economy, timing is everything.  And, for the most part, whether it’s the Republicans or the Democrats in control; Washington finds a way to get it wrong.

The Republicans, specifically Trump and his team, have been given the greatest opportunity to positively impact the future of the United States since the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.  And they are blowing it…big time.  First of all, they are just flat wrong on tariffs. Secondly, while cutting government spending is a must and they are to be applauded for making it a priority; they are going about it the wrong way.  Most of these federal government agencies, as bloated and inefficient as they may be, actually do some good and necessary work.  Third, shutting down illegal immigration and deporting violent criminals, drug dealers and sex traffickers is the right thing to do.  Setting off panic among those undocumented immigrants who are here working and behaving themselves will have negative consequences for many industries.

More to the point on the immigration issue.  No question we must clean up the mess of the last four years.  But if the objective is to clean up “the mess” of the last 75 years, by deporting all those who are here illegally, that is a fool’s errand.  Time and money would be better spent establishing rational immigration policies and providing resources to manage it, including a pathway to citizenship for those who have been here for a long time quietly working and staying out of trouble.  

The DOGE project to cut government waste and reduce spending is long overdue and well-intended.  But its approach and methods are ill-advised.  We consider some corporations as being “too big to fail” knowing that if they did, it would have a catastrophic domino effect on the entire global economy.  The fact of the matter is that the U.S. Federal Government is by far the largest institution on the planet.  Its budget dwarfs those of the world’s largest corporations.  Shutting down entire agencies or pulling all funding from them will create unnecessary hardships for millions of people around the world.  The mess that is our federal bureaucracy was created over decades and some of it for good reasons. Attempting to undo it in a matter of weeks is a recipe for disaster.  My advice to DOGE: “Measure twice, cut once”… and realize that while the government is not a charitable organization, it’s not the same as a business either.

And then there are the tariffs. In general tariffs are a bad idea.  When a country is not cost competitive in their domestic production and distribution of a product, placing tariffs on foreign producers only hurts your domestic consumers.  If we had excess capacity (plants, equipment and workers) it might make some sense even if it raised prices on the product in the short run.  If we were not deep in debt and could afford to subsidize domestic producers until they were competitive with foreign producers, it might make sense.  But for now, we are dependent on foreign producers; far too dependent.  It’s a hole we’ve dug for ourselves since the end of WW2.  It may take a generation to restore domestic manufacturing to a level which makes us less dependent on foreign producers.  In the meantime, we could use tariffs selectively in cases where other nations are clearly dumping products to gain market share, stealing technology or engaged in unfair trade practices.  But just because we have a negative trade balance with some other nation doesn’t mean it’s their fault or necessarily a bad thing.

Republicans would do well to understand that if their crusade to correct for all the bad policies and programs established by those Democrats AND Republicans who came before them ends up creating the next Great Recession, they might not win another election for 20 years.  And even worse, the ones who take their place will likely double down on the same old bad policies that got us into this mess in the first place.

The Little Ones

 

11-year old Jocelynn Carranza is dead. Certain classmates at her school in Gainesville, Texas thought it would be great fun to threaten to call ICE on her family and have her parents deported.  In fear of losing her family and being left alone, Jocelynn Carranza took her own life.

 No one should, but many will politicize this tragedy. The Left will say “Aha”, see what happens when you turn the ICE dogs loose and Fox News celebrates the purge of undocumented immigrants.  The Right will counter with none of this would be necessary if Democrats had not opened the borders the last four years and allowed our country to be invaded by illegal immigrants.  Sadly, we know how our politicians and the media will spin this.

 But the real issue here is the behavior of some children toward other children.  Of parents failing to teach their children right from wrong.  Of course, there have always been bullies on the school yard.  We had them back in my day.  But they were few; often wildly unpopular and not in the mainstream of students.  They were also subjected to punishment from teachers and reports going back to their parents who often meted out additional punishment.  At least to a significant degree bullying was held at bay. 

Not so these days.  Teachers may lecture about bullying and post messages around the classroom to raise awareness and discourage bullying.  But it’s a bit like the old Robin Williams joke about un-armed London Bobbies shouting at criminals to “stop or I will say stop again.”  In too many places school yards have come to resemble a prison yard with the guards looking the other way (or at their smart phones). Add in social media bullying and there’s no escaping it when a group of bullies finds a vulnerable target.

 11-year old Jocelynn Carranza is dead.  Who’s most at fault?  Perhaps all of us.

 

“Red and Yellow, Black and White,

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world”