Sometimes people take the words right out of your mouth.
I felt the need to post this blog because it really made me think for a second about what it really means to ask someone for help.
http://sassafrashill.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/help-i-need-somebody/
Thanks for the words, sassafrashill.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
We Are Just Not That Organized
Ok, I will readily admit, I am a conspiracy theory fan. I find it fascinating that maybe we really didn't land on the moon or that the government keeps cigarettes legal in the pursuit of population control or that there is this mysterious group of individuals called "free-masons" or "illuminati" who have sold their souls to the devil and are sex slaves in return for money and fame. But, honestly, I just don't think humanity is that organized. Do I believe there are plots behind the scenes and conspiracies that we don't have any control over? Yes. Do I think that there are people out there that use others to get ahead or pretend to be your ally, when in reality they are your enemy? Of course! But do I think that there is a specific group of people in this world whose sole purpose is to keep us all, for a lack of better words, "in our place"? No, I really don't.
Working for a government entity whose main priority is the betterment of a specific area of the city has really opened my eyes to the reality of the unorganized professional and public world. To properly describe what I mean, I will have to digress a bit.
An older man said to me the first month I was working full-time,"When you work for the public, you can give them a $100 bill and they will complain about the wrinkle." That comment has stuck with me and rang true over and over again. Add 92 free parking spaces, and the public complains about the placement of them. Add hours to an extremely successful event, and the businesses refuse to stay open as late as required. Pull a very small amount of money together to fund a contract to clean portions of the streets, those who are missed are "unappreciated." Really and truly, you can't win. I'm not getting on a soapbox today (though, expect one in the near future), my point is that no matter how many public meetings, how many discussions, how many bids, how many emails, how many phone calls, how many memos, how many fliers or how much research, you will never, ever be able to communicate every detail to everyone because, honestly, we are just not that organized!
Technology has given us amazing tools for communication, yet I still find myself hearing, "Well I never knew about that," or, "why didn't anyone tell me?" WE DID! You just didn't read your email. My favorite people are the ones who call 45 minutes before an event that has been scheduled for months, upset that they aren't a part of it. "Did you read the email I sent you every single day in the past two weeks? Or the contract I hand-delivered to your business twice?" People, no one is out to "get you." This is not "the man" laying down the hammer. This is a civilized society that goes by certain rules and if you aren't aware of something so close to home, it's probably because you weren't paying attention. All organizations are constantly trying to get out certain messages and information and if you if think there is one group controlling it all, you have too much faith in humanity's organizational skills and error prevention.
All the being said, I do think there are some unexplained coincidences and unresolved problems out there that could be the result of certain conspiracies, but at the end of the day, I think we only have pockets of true organization. A good example could be a national champion athletic team with one message, one goal and one job for each player. Simplicity encourages organization, not secret societies. Think about it.
And in honor of the our most recent "revolution" (who I'm pretty sure are convinced in the existence of the illuminati) a chart on "Who is Occupy Wall Street."
Working for a government entity whose main priority is the betterment of a specific area of the city has really opened my eyes to the reality of the unorganized professional and public world. To properly describe what I mean, I will have to digress a bit.
An older man said to me the first month I was working full-time,"When you work for the public, you can give them a $100 bill and they will complain about the wrinkle." That comment has stuck with me and rang true over and over again. Add 92 free parking spaces, and the public complains about the placement of them. Add hours to an extremely successful event, and the businesses refuse to stay open as late as required. Pull a very small amount of money together to fund a contract to clean portions of the streets, those who are missed are "unappreciated." Really and truly, you can't win. I'm not getting on a soapbox today (though, expect one in the near future), my point is that no matter how many public meetings, how many discussions, how many bids, how many emails, how many phone calls, how many memos, how many fliers or how much research, you will never, ever be able to communicate every detail to everyone because, honestly, we are just not that organized!
Technology has given us amazing tools for communication, yet I still find myself hearing, "Well I never knew about that," or, "why didn't anyone tell me?" WE DID! You just didn't read your email. My favorite people are the ones who call 45 minutes before an event that has been scheduled for months, upset that they aren't a part of it. "Did you read the email I sent you every single day in the past two weeks? Or the contract I hand-delivered to your business twice?" People, no one is out to "get you." This is not "the man" laying down the hammer. This is a civilized society that goes by certain rules and if you aren't aware of something so close to home, it's probably because you weren't paying attention. All organizations are constantly trying to get out certain messages and information and if you if think there is one group controlling it all, you have too much faith in humanity's organizational skills and error prevention.
All the being said, I do think there are some unexplained coincidences and unresolved problems out there that could be the result of certain conspiracies, but at the end of the day, I think we only have pockets of true organization. A good example could be a national champion athletic team with one message, one goal and one job for each player. Simplicity encourages organization, not secret societies. Think about it.
And in honor of the our most recent "revolution" (who I'm pretty sure are convinced in the existence of the illuminati) a chart on "Who is Occupy Wall Street."
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Purpose
I suppose I should begin this blog with a little info on what I plan to accomplish. Well, I consider myself a positive realist- I think that would make me an opportunist. I don't settle, I never give up (some may call me overly persistent at times). But, overall I am just a hard/smart worker who wants to make a difference and I just don't believe in wishing for things- I believe in making things happen and knowing when the right time to do so is. Therefore, this blog will be inspiring at least half the time.
That being said
sometimes I just need to rant. It is almost never personal, just normal frustrations with technology, humanity, education, etc. Our society is so incredibly unorganized, misinformed and cruel sometimes I can't help but get on a soapbox about it all. These rants will usually possess a hint of humor because if I don't laugh I'll cry, and laughing just feels better. And they will almost always have a silver lining.
Some of the topics I will be addressing will be: my battle with procrastination, fear of ignorance, need for exercise, belief in athletics, power in planning, obsession with wine, love of children, recent cooking disasters/successes, reality versus the media, random acts of kindness, learned resourcefulness and any other topic that peaks my interest.
On a personal note, while I believe in the goodness of people, at the end of the day we all serve our own self-interests first. I will readily admit one of my goals in life is to be financially secure enough to travel when and where ever I want, volunteer regularly, send my kids (or my nephews and niece) to college and not have to worry about financial burdens. Therefore, don't be surprised if my topics touch on financial interests occasionally.
My first inspiring share is a "pin" I found on pinterest recently that made my heart swell. Enjoy.
A couple and their one-year-old went to
dinner and this is what was on their check.
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