We also have had the infrastructure in place to allow people to work remotely for 13 years. People work from home, in the evening etc. We now have 2 employees who used to be in our physical office but moved away for spouse job changes who are still employees but live 250 and 500 miles away. We have the numbers to prove that productivity increased vs. the fear that many have that it will go the other way.

This was a heck of lot more expensive to do 13 years ago that it is now. Cloud computing, IP phones, IM, cheap/free video conferencing makes this within the reach of almost every firm.

And guess what…..there are a couple of Saturdays I don’t work either!

Maybe it’s me, or I come in contact with more fakers, maybe my time and efforts is too valuable to waste on those not receptive, or after sufficient interaction aren’t worth that time and effort. Most likely it because I would describe myself as Practical rather than optimistic.
There is only one person I know is not a faker and his name is Alex although I never met him in person. I just worked with father, Jeff Stimpson and I got to know Alex through Jeff.

Jack, Jan and any others: What’s’ your favorite book? Why?

“I read a lot of self-help and business books and always get a few kernels of brilliance from them. However, the self-help books often bother me as many are constructed as workbooks filled with exercises and warnings if you don’t do the exercises you won’t get anything from the book. The business books are also heavy-handed, as authors after making one keen observation apply it in every context he or she can think of to prove its worth.

The most recent book I read was Paper Airplane by Michael McMillan mentioned by Tim Storey in Utmost Living. It was very good, but not my favorite. It tried to be too many things: a self-help book, a business book, and camouflaged with brilliant design work, also as a children’s book. In the end, it reminded me of my favorite book.

Tom and Pippo Make a Mess by Helen Oxenbury is hard to find as I believe it is out-of-print. I discovered this so-called child’s book at well over age 50, when it was brought to my attention by Alex’s father. He had been reading the book to Alex for many years (my guess at least eight). Alex, a remarkable young man, who has fought with tenacity since he was born at a birth weight of 21 ounces, loves the book, and often, after his father finishes reading it, rips up the book, and makes a mess.

Every adult and child can benefit from its message whether as a gentle reminder or as a wake-up call. Unlike the many self-help and business books, Tom and Pippo Make a Mess has an ever so-light touch, and encourages the reader to think and reach his or her own conclusions. Equally important, the book’s message with Alex’s comment resonates louder the more times you read it or have it read to you.

What’s your favorite book? Why?”

Your commentary is identifed as “Uncategorized.” May I suggest you categorize it as “Work/Life and/or LIfe/Work.

Taurus

Hope you and those close to you are doing well. I think I commented on one of your earlier commentaries months ago.

One of my keys to creating and maintaining trust is to see if someone is looking at me and not scared of me. I then try and make a connection, and if successful, try verbally to look for commonality. If they speak a foreign language (Da, that is anything other than Brooklynese), I use my hands and try and simply repeat a little slower what I want to say. Many times I will also try humor. No matter what and no matter who I always look them in my eye because you/I/we must always determine if I/you/we can trust them or if “they” are faking trust (people, corporations, etc., are become very good at faking it), so even I can’t tell when I call them on it.

Most importantly, to create and maintain trust you must waste as little time and “spend as little as possible” with the fakers once you determine that they are. Just don’t let them know it. (FAKE THAT! OR DO THAT!!!!)

What do you, Jennifer, and others think and want to say?

Happy Holidays and Peace Be With You.

Howard

Hope you are doing well in all areas. Love your piece especially the title, Do Something New: Be Bold, so here goes. I will need those reading this comment to close their eyes and minds to whom specifically is doing so.

Dignity: Woman pushing empty wheelchair, just in front of older woman looking at fruit, treating her client like her mother.

Happy Holidays!

A Fellow Traveler