Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

A couple of weeks ago I had a talk with Santa Claus about my 2010 HR wish list. After which I received a few requests to go back ask for one more thing...courage. To implement ideas, to learn, and to network, we need courage.

I agree, HR may not need anymore brains or heart. And even though there's no place like it, we don't need to go home right now.What HR needs is nerve. Nerve to stand up for what's right, to step out of our comfort zones, to face our own fears and the fears of our employees.

Unfortunately there is still too much fear in the workplace. And this could be the workplace issue that gets underneath my skin more than any other, so much so I can barely stand it. My blood pressure rises when I read stories about employees who fear their bosses, fear losing their jobs, fear the bear market, etc, etc.

2010 is the Year of the Tiger. So maybe we need to commit ourselves to taking additional steps in our organizations and business lives to not back down. Maybe this year we can channel our inner Sly Stallone in Rocky III and get back the Eye of the Tiger.

Mr. T was 2009. He beat the crap out of Sly Stone in their first fight because Sly was completely unprepared. Before Sly could fight Mr. T again, he had to face his worst fears. He had to get back the Eye of the Tiger.

Tomorrow is 2010. If you're an HR pro and you made it through 2009 a bit busted up by Mr. T, you don't need The Wizard of Oz to tell you you have courage. You have courage. You just need a Carl Weathers to help harness that courage and remind you to get back the Eye of the Tiger.

If the new year gets in your face and says, "I'm going to bust you up." Look it right back in the eye and say, "Go for it." Then proceed to kick its butt.

(If all the Rocky III references have left you scratching your head...check out the trailer here.)

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Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Welcome To The Occupation!
2009 was quite a different year for me.
For the most part it was quite unpleasant. But as the year has came to a close, I am filled with optimism for 2010.

Partly because in November, I started this blog and the support I have received has been startling.
Besides the people I know, folks I have never met have been commenting, subscribing and re-tweeting.
If you would have asked me 2 months ago if anyone would be reading this, I would have said it's unlikely.

All this support has been very encouraging and is motivating me to continue onward.
So as I look back on 2009, I would like to specifically thank some people that have helped make this blog a success for me.
(In no specific order)
Kris Dunn, Joan Ginsburg, Margo Rose, Lance Haun, Ben Eubanks, Shauna Moerke, Steve Boese, Sharlyn Lauby, Mike VanDervort, Tim Sackett, Bob Tarver, Fran Melmed, April Dowling, Jennifer McClure, Stephen Harrison, Perry Block, Dawn Hrdlica, Wendy Tandon, Lyn Hoyt, Karla Porter, Victorio Milian and Jorge Lazaro Diaz
and to all who follow me on Twitter & the fun tweet-ersations I have had.
and if you feel slighted by not being included on my list, let me know.
Here's to a great new year in 2010.

Now let's rock:

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My Visit with Santa: 2010 HR Wish List

I am Natalie Wood and I am sitting on Santa's lap.

I'm going on and on about stuff I want for Christmas: a Droid, a Kindle, a new laptop, an unlimited expense account on Amazon.mp3.com.

Then Santa says to me, "you can do without all of those material things." (what?!) and then asks me, "what do you really want?"

I looked at Santa quizzically, dumbfounded. Impatiently Santa says, "I know what you want, but you have to tell me."

I gave out a sigh and told Santa what I was really thinking.

This is what I told him.

"I wish HR would lose it's inferiority complex"
--- There's no need to cry about not having "a seat at the table" or not getting respect. Find out if it's you or if it's your job. Both you can change.

"I wish HR would lose it's superiority complex"
--- Looking down on others with lesser degrees, less experience or less than desirable positions, or name calling is not necessary. HR is a community. We share the same cause, achievements and disappointments.

"I wish for a New Wave of HR bloggers to emerge"
--- A group of punks to shake up the system, disrupt the status quo, not always be so polite and to introduce a revolution of new ideas to the blogosphere. Think 1977: The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones, etc. and just rip it up.
(I'm too old to play guitar, but I'd gladly play the fiddle.)

"I wish more HR people would network when they are employed, not just when they are looking for a job."

Lastly, "I wish HR people would not put politicians on pedestals and expect our political leaders to be something more than what we are: people at work."
---Politicians did not invent politics in Washington. Just like we didn't invent politics where we work. It's just there, and they deal with it the best they can.

After all that, Santa says to me, "it sounds like you're looking for the home of your dreams."

I said, "you ain't kidding...So what's the deal, am I going to get my Miracle on 34th Street or what?"

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Continue on your Purple Plan

This morning before work, I was on Twitter and I saved this tweet by Alicia Arenas: "Small business owners - a new post: Purple Cow Prospecting http://bit.ly/75cImn" simply because of the words Purple Cow.

As I suspected later when I clicked the link this evening, Alicia was singing the praises of The Purple Cow by Seth Godin. To quote, "In case you have not read “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin, go get it – today. It’s about being remarkable, how to exceptionally market yourself, your products and your services. The idea is that in a field full of cows, if you’re purple, you’re going to stand out."

The coincidence occurred when I got into work today. My HR colleague next door to me was wearing purple. I overheard a conversation she was having with a co-worker, but only caught the tail end when she said, "I am continuing on with my purple plan." I took what I heard out of context and exclaimed what a great phrase. She thought I was crazy for my exclamation (it wasn't the first, and it won't be the last) even after I explained myself.

I loved reading the Purple Cow. It was given to me by a colleague a couple of years ago. And at some point, recently I passed it on to someone else I thought would appreciate it.

This in turn reminded me of another book I loved that was given to me called "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass. That book was given to me twice and twice I have passed it on to someone else I thought would appreciate it. (I'm still hoping it will come back a 3rd time) "Be Here Now" has some of the best advice I have received about life. The title is still my mantra today. In fact, I realized it's my Purple Plan. This is how I personally want to be exceptional.

As far as Purple Plans go, it's not very grand. But Purple Plans don't need to be. They just have to be exceptional. Exceptional to yourself.

I knew about the Purple Cow, now I realize I also have a Purple Plan.

What's your plan for continuing to stay purple?

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My 2 Cents on Diversity in the Workplace

To my fellow co-workers: I frankly do not think that you should care that I am a 44-year old diabetic Jewish Asian-American lesbian that is pregnant, or any derivative of such; Or express your hate for me at work because I am this way. What we should care about is one thing: the mission of our organization. Which implies we will work collaboratively in a respectful manner.

Additionally, you were hired as an adult so be an adult. Just because you think or feel something hateful does not mean you have to act upon it. That is what separates adults from children.

This is the simple basis for respecting diversity in the workplace. But it's not really that simple. People bring their personal thoughts and feelings to work. Sometimes they struggle with what they can and cannot express. Sometimes it leads to disrespectful behavior. So how should this be handled in the workplace?

There are many ways to approach this. Fran Melmed's recent article on Fistful of Talent called, We Don't Need No Stinking Diversity Training does a good job of explaining the problems with diversity training and offers some good alternatives. Which ever path is chosen though, I believe it's important to keep the program based in reality.

For example, a program that attempts to eliminate thoughts and feelings of hate and prejudice is unrealistic. Even though I wish for it to happen, I just don't think it is possible. Besides, where does it say in your organization's mission statement that employees should think or feel a certain way? It probably doesn't. Your organization's mission probably says something about moving forward toward some goal. Which as I just pointed out implies we agree to come to this workplace and work collaboratively in a respectful manner.

If you tell employees what they are not allowed to think and feel and they are full of hateful feelings, they will turn that hate toward you and your organization. Try achieving your mission then.

I was lucky. My personal diversity training occurred during childhood. Between the ages of 4 and 9, we lived in a cul-de-sac in Tacoma, Washington. Our next door neighbors were an Afro-American couple with a daughter one-year younger than me. Across the circle was a husband and wife. He was from Mexico. She was from Japan. They had a son one-year older than me. And around the corner was a family from Puerto Rico with a son my same age.

When I was 9, we moved to a little town in Indiana. It was predominantly white and protestant and people there vocalized their prejudices toward those who were not. By the time I was 10, it was clear I was not like other Hoosiers due to my family's non-church participation.

In Tacoma, it was peaceful. I knew my friends were different culturally but I don't remember this affecting our friendship. In Indiana, those differences meant everything which made no sense to me; which made me even more of an outcast.

As much as it sucked, I'm glad I experienced this prejudice. I think I'm a better person for it. Fortunately one does not have to experience prejudice and hate to see that it is a problem in our society. Some people get it, some people don't. Some people will eventually see it, some will never see it.

I know this simply...
The ridiculousness of prejudice seeps from our society into the workplace and I can offer tools that can enlighten. But it's not my job to make employees think or feel it otherwise. It's my job to make sure they keep their heads on straight, work together with respect and get the job done.

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My First Childhood Memory of Interviews

I must have saw this for the first time when I was eleven or twelve.
I wonder now if this somehow subliminally affected my decision to go into HR:

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Keep It Simple

A couple of weeks ago, I met Perry Block, who is a funny HR guy. And I suggested that if he wished, he could be a guest blogger on WTTO. He said he would think about it but also inquired, "what exactly is your blog about?" Not to make excuses, but my blog has only been live for a little over a month, and I really did not know how to answer Perry.

Also a couple of weeks ago I was approached by Jorge Lazaro Diaz from CareerJockey.org. He liked the article I wrote about Arthur Kane and wanted to write about it. I agreed and he posted his article a couple of days ago. Jorge's article starts out:

"I just ran into “Get the Right Balance“, a blog post written at a simple blog site”Welcome to the Occupation” written by Paul Smith. Paul identifies himself as “an HR manager at a non-profit organization in the Northeast.” A simple guy promoting a simple way of life per this article."

Then it hit me. The answer to Perry's question is simplicity. My blog is simple; I'm simple; and I'm promoting a simple way of life.

The Occupation is something that has most of us captured everyday. I say then make it for the better and feel Welcome.

People are complex; work is hard; so make it as simple as you can. This is my philosophy and the theme behind Welcome To The Occupation.

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Google Wave and I are Officially Dating

I don’t remember where I was when I first heard about GW. But I knew he had a presence on the web. He had this really long video about himself. His parents were even in it. His dad gave him a great tagline which I never forgot “Imagine if email were created today”. GW sounded great. But I had doubts that we would ever become involved.

On November 10, Mike VanDervort asked me if I would like to meet GW. Even though I was nervous, I went with my gut instinct and said yes. So he made the arrangements. A day later, GW emails me and asks to meet up.

So we meet up later that day after work. And I have to say, after the first date, I was thinking I had a lemon on my hands. In other words, it didn’t work out too well. But I still agreed to another date.

One day later on November 12, we went to a party together called HR Happy Hour at Steve and Shauna's place. Again, not a great date. In fact we didn’t even kiss goodnight. If you remember the scene in the movie Goodfellas where after Ray Liotta & Lorraine Bracco’s first date, he practically pushes her into her front door because he can’t get away fast enough ... that was me and GW.

Well a couple of weeks go by and I am not returning GW’s calls. I just don’t know what to say.

Even my new pal, Joan Ginsberg, is emailing me saying GW still wants to see me. She told me about a party and that GW would be there. I ended up not going.

Shortly after that, on November 30, I agree to a double-date with some people I know from work. And wow, did we hit it off! I guess it was just the right set of circumstances. I remember I didn’t want the date to end.

But no worries, we have ended up talking almost everyday since then. I have shown GW where I work and even had a laugh over a funny picture of a crazy cat. In fact, I have a cute nickname for GW I haven’t even said out loud yet. It’s Goovy.

I had not really thought about our status. We’ve just been having a good time together. But when I woke up yesterday morning, the first thought I had was of Goovy. I thought I guess we're officially dating. And this made me feel really happy. I can’t say we are in love yet or that we are officially boyfriends. But it’s a start.

I’m curious. What’s your status? Are you happy with your Goovy?

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Get The Balance Right

As you may be able to tell if you’ve been reading this blog, I have a tendency to refer often to music. It’s because I love listening to music. I am constantly listening at home, at work, out walking , riding the subway or a plane. (The only forbidden place is on my bike.)

I also watch any rockumentary, VH-1 Behind The Music, etc. even if I know very little about the musicians. The other day I watched a documentary called New York Doll. The description on Netflix read “tells the story of glam-rock-punk band the New York Dolls, from their meteoric rise to their drug-and-alcohol-riddled demise.” It has a 4-star rating. So I thought sure, I’ll watch it.

I was never a New York Dolls fan though. In fact, I could not tell you much about them except they influenced the 70’s CBGB crowd in NYC and their lead singer is David Johansen, who later found fame under the alias Buster Poindexter and in supporting movie roles. Logically it didn’t make any sense for me not to listen to them; I’m a big fan of Bowie, The Stooges & the CBGB 70’s scene.

The documentary skims over the entire Dolls story though and focuses mainly on the bassist, Arthur Kane. Arthur is the Doll to the farthest left on the cover of their 1973 album. By 2004, Arthur was a recovering alcoholic, devoted to the Mormon church and working as a librarian. While watching this movie, you could not imagine a more unassuming person. I had no idea they were speaking with a former rock star or a former Doll until after a couple of minutes when Kane’s name appeared on the screen. He spoke with no arrogance, humbly riding the bus and expressing serious concern about doing a good job as a librarian.

Yet he still thinks about the days as a Doll as his fondest memories and longs for a reconciliation with his former friends. He doesn’t exhibit any strange obsessions with this. They don’t show him prattling on as is if his best days are behind him or portray him as being in some mental rut. Instead he is portrayed as having a focus, some type of inexplicable unsaid purpose.

This really comes to light when from out of the blue, the musician Morrissey is commissioned as the 2004 “curator” of the annual Meltdown Festival in London and invites the Dolls to reunite for a one-off show. Even though he had months to prepare, he still had to raise money to buy his bass guitar back from a pawn shop and then had only a week of rehearsals with the band, a band he had not seen for 30 years. Knowing all that had happened to him with the alcoholism, the beating he sustained during the Rodney King riots, the impoverished conditions of his life, along with the entire string of bad luck that had been his life, it did not seem possible that he would pull this off.

Yet what you see in this movie is a guy so focused in the moment. He’s not thinking about the past or the future. He’s thinking about this moment now. This job now that has to be finished. Granted it would be easy for them to go onstage, to sloth about, to rest on their laurels, to take what cash they were getting and go home. Why should they bother working for this? Where is the glory? They’re not going to reunite. No one’s going to throw buckets of money their way for a reunion tour. The glory was in that sole moment of completing that job, right then.

After the show, Arthur returns to the States. Twenty-two days later, he feels ill and decides to go to the emergency room. He is diagnosed with Leukemia. Arthur dies two days later.

When this bombshell hits, my jaw hits the floor and I think how horrible. This guy is just getting his life back and then it’s gone. But then on second thought, no, what a complete life he had. Despite all the hardship, he pulled it together in the end and came full circle.

All of this makes me think about the many articles I have been reading about work/life balance. For me, the ideas I hear on work/life balance are similar to standing on an upside down bosu ball. If you’re focused and strong, you can stay balanced. Any change to your internal or external environment, you fall in one direction. You get balanced again; you fall to the side again. Repeat, over and over. As a result, you never get anywhere. You stay in one spot and just bounce from one side to another.

So I have wondered lately, due in part to Kane’s story, does work/life balance even really exist? Isn’t it all just life? Isn’t life just a combination of things we like to do and things we don’t like to do, with the hope there is more “like” than “dislike”? Perhaps the phrase work/life balance is just words made up by HR to show employees we care so as to keep retention rates up.

I decree there is no work/life balance. There is only life. And life is really a journey, made up of good and bad. Work is part of that journey. And if you can get the journey to come full circle, then that is the true balance.

R.I.P. Arthur Kane

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