Posts tagged change

Going for Three!

Mar30
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

Ever feel shame because you missed a milestone or birthday? Well, I do today. Yesterday was the official end of my second year of writing this blog. I should have had a post up and ready to go to celebrate that fact.  I did not, I feel shame. Guess I will put a self imposed two minute penalty in the penalty box. Here it is my post, be it late…

My wife asked me, “why blog?” Great question, I know I did it internally because I was sharing my experiences and thoughts to my co-workers. Why take it externally? Exactly the same reason. In January this year, it took on a new meaning… I retired from Intel and now only have this one place to share my experiences and thoughts. She then asked, “I don’t see a lot of interaction from others, Does that bother you?” Not really. If you take a look at some of the posts, there are plenty of activity. Others, not so much, but I don’t look at them as generating comments and discussion. Not everything has to be about the comments to the post. Some folks, send an email my way or comment on my personal Facebook page. Each of them help to reinforce why I like to blog. Other folks, tweet out my post to their network. That has been awesome to see… Her last question, “will you continue?” Of course… I enjoy it too much not to.

Last year, I took some very aggressive goals for myself about my personal blog.

  • Improve quantity and goal of my post. Take 175 posts as my goal for my second year.  If we look at the number of posts (112) – I certainly fell short. Did the overall quality of the posts improve – I think so, but I still have some work to do there. I write too much like I talk (my wife tells me that). The hits to the site have increased over double what the first year was. That is pretty awesome. Overall missed the goal, but happy.
  • Fix the broken RSS feed. This one was a tough one. Not sure what I did to fix it, but it is working now. I actually have subscribers!
  • Change the Theme only once during the year. I did that recently, but still looking for something that is more to my liking. I will give this theme some more time to see if I like it or not.

I have made some changes late in the second year that will carry over. I have added some affiliate advertising – sorry for that – just trying to offset any hosting fees! Remember – I am retired now. I also will be changing the title of the blog. Spin-o-rama is definitely a play on words, but it is something that is trademarked. I will be just using the stevebellnow my blog. I hope to have a logo developed and put up on the site soon… So, keep checking back!

Goals for the third year are:

  • Continue to improve my quality and quantity  of posts. I am taking a 125 post goal for the year. Increase the hits to the site by another 75%.
  • Find that one theme that works… Carry over last years goal of only one change to the theme. If I find that the paid part of the blog is higher than expected, then I will hire someone to tailor make a theme that works for me (and you).
  • Don’t just focus on blog posts. Time for me to finally start that writing project (book or manifesto) that I have had bouncing around in my head for years.

I am very happy with my first two years of blogging. I am having fun and meeting new people – what more can I ask for? I hope that you have enjoyed reading…

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Az Government – Where To Begin…

Mar19
2011 2 Comments Written by Steve

I have written only a few posts that really get me fired, but up not in a good way… This one is one of those that I really have had to craft very carefully. I am a very long standing Republican and have been normally a supporter of what the party stands for and most of their actions, but no longer. I have been struggling with the party for sometime now. I am completely fed up with the Republican party. There are two reasons that just have sent me over the edge. Immigration reform legislation introduced has shown a side that I do not want to be associated with. Flat out wrong for even thinking  this stuff. I have had a long standing argument about cutting education and now I have to say that all but one Republican voted to cut more cuts in education from the Republican governor’s proposed budget. I believe now is the time for some real change…

Do those Republicans have kids in Arizona public schools? Maybe some of them have grand-kids – are they in Arizona public schools? Do they really think that cutting education in Arizona is a good move? Have they read how well (or not well) the students in Arizona do in comparison with other states? We may not be dead last, but with continued cuts we can be guaranteed to get closer. What were they thinking? What are they thinking? Do we have to continue to see party affiliation be the death of true change?

Here is a thought? You want to cut education’s budget, fine how about cutting the salary of the newly elected Republicans to their political seats? How about the new Education Superintendent take a leadership role, much like other business leaders in times of crisis? Take a salary of $1 until things turn around. Let’s add all of the state elected “leadership” take a $1 salary until they turn around the budget..

Why continue to cut education? Simple answer – they all know we will not let bad things happen to our kids or grand kids. We will do whatever we must to make sure that they are taken care of. School District’s and cities will have no choice but to put up bond proposals or increase to taxes to help offset the funding cuts. Hell, it has been happening for quite some time. It will continue if the state does not get their collective act together. Here is what it looks to me – the federal government has failed to really make anything done in education work.. They love to pass it to the state’s to handle… Now the state of Arizona is failing to make anything done in education to work… So, let’s pass it to the school districts, cities and their communities to make it happen. What next?

  • Pass it onto the teachers?  Well, my wife the teacher gets paid less per hour than minimum wage. She uses that salary to help fund her classroom. I doubt we can squeeze more there.
  • Pass it onto the parents? I mean, 100% home schooling with no help or oversight by the state. Have one administrative person send out all testing necessary. The total cost will be close to nothing.. Stop and think for a minute what you envision the future to look like.
  • Make public school pay per instruction? Wait, that is almost like private school. What I mean is no funding for any school (public, private or charter) from any of the state’s funds. Many countries have close to that situation – how well is it working?
  • Get smart and really refund education? Tough task and one that needs to happen. Are our leaders today capable of handling that? I truly doubt it.. They have yet to demonstrate any real ability to change anything.

Anyone else fired up? Anyone else really sick and tired of what is happening? I have some actions that I am going to do..

  1. Changing my party affiliation to independent.. I can not continue to say I am a Republican – when I do not support the party…
  2. I will continue to be active in education (site council, volunteer in classroom).. I plan on getting more active – by attempting to get myself more involved where I can make some changes… School board, city council and maybe state government. It is time to really make change – I am sick and tired of hearing it and not seeing it..

How about you?

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Retired Guy Series: Vacation

Mar17
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

What a title! Retired Guy and Vacation on the same line. Some would say, retired people are on vacation everyday. Well, that my seem true, but it far from the truth. Since my time table for doing stuff now, is different; I run into plenty of retired people. We don’t go about doing the same things with the working folks at the same time. When I run into a retired person and we start talking – I ask them, “What do you fill your day with?” Here are some of those responses:

  • Exercise – almost all of them commented on going to a gym, trainer or walking programs at the mall.
  • Work around the house - there is always something to do (gardening, fix stuff or just clean)
  • Volunteer - I found that almost all of the retired folks that I have come across they volunteer helping out one charity, non-profit or whatever at least 2 to 3 times a day. I wonder how many hours of volunteering goes on from retired folks? I also wonder if the potential budget cuts to programs – how many fewer volunteer opportunities will be available? What a loss of some value resources that will be when volunteer opportunities dry up…
  • Read and social network - The reading part I fully understand. I have been very busy getting in some reading time. I have more time to just sit and power through books. At first, the social networking part caught me off guard. I knew that Facebook was going to be pretty heavy use (just look at the growth statistics). When I ask deeper, I get other things like community forums, message boards via LinkedIn and others.
  • Spring training baseball games - the Cactus League is alive and well.. Many of the folks that I have come across go to or volunteer at spring training games. They are out there having fun… I got to go with my daughter, son-in-law and grand daughter to the Dbacks and Angels game! Was the first game for my grand daughter – what a day.

For me, the past two weeks were filled with meeting up with many of my old collegues. We got caught up on each others lives and happenings. I had a couple of folks that used the time to get my perspective on something that was happening at my last place of employment. I guess the retired guy has some wisdom to part. I continue my quest for my second career. With a few real opportunities taking shape (after vacation).  From my last post, my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with a couple of small trips. I hope that the next installment of the Retired Guy will have some breaking news…

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Sometimes Change Is NOT Good

Mar11
2011 2 Comments Written by Steve

I guess because I am an older person, with many years and experiences under my belt, that I have seen a few things. Some of those things have changed and significantly over the years. The one that I want to write about today is just plain personal. I can remember from the very first time I went off to school – elementary school and the experience has carried me through my kids going through school and now since I volunteer a lot – I get to witness it daily (with other people’s children).  The title of the blog post is “Sometimes Change is NOT Good” for a reason. I know we need changes in our education system – I truly understand that.. But, the change I want to focus in on is teacher, student and parent. Why? Like I said, years of experience…

Let’s look at this relationship. We can all agree that it takes a village to raise the children. Especially, parents and teachers when it comes to education. Don’t forget the main ingredient – student (your kids). The relationship over time has changed significantly. Let’s look at my experience -

  • I went off to public school back in the mid to late 60′s and graduated in 1977. I know I am dating myself.. But that is okay. It is a frame a reference! I am not going to tell you I walked uphill in the snow both ways – we all know that is not true, but I did walk to school (and the winters were pretty cold – Canadian border upstate New York). Well, back to the topic; parent, student and teacher relationship. My parents taught me the teacher is right, always right. They are very important and you need to listen to them and do what they tell you. My parents attended all scheduled conferences and shared communications as needed. When I acted up or didn’t get along with a classmate, a call or note would go home – and I was 100% at fault, no questions asked. My parents would tell me, what is your side of the story.. Here was the trick I learned later on – they were baiting me to lie. Fact is they sided with the teacher 100%.  Back in that day, corporal punishment was allowed and I got my share (I liked to be the class clown).
  • Fast forward some to when my kids attended school, 80′s and 90′s. Times were changing some. Teachers we used to see get out and about (we did see them eat in public). They even shopped! I never knew that growing up.. When my wife and I used to discuss the importance of a very good education, we shared that the teacher is a very big part of your success. Listen, work hard and do what you are asked to – these were the important points. Along the way, we had some issues with how things were going. We never once attacked a teacher for anything. We would sit down and work out what needed to be done. I was lucky, my kids were gifted students - they set high goals for themselves and worked hard. Sometimes the school would only focus on working to the middle (or on getting students to passing). When my kids got their calls or notes for behavior issues – we sided with the teacher more times than not. Rarely did we take the stand for the kid. Did I bait my kids like my parents did? Some…
  • Fast forward again to the 2000 and 2010′s. I have seen an increasing number of challenging of the teachers on the simplest of things. Let’s go back to the behavior issues examples. I have witnessed an increased focus on the teacher as the cause of the behavioral issue. Not a complete 180 degree switch – but the first step is to agree with the child’s words. Which puts the parents on the offensive when meeting with the teacher. Upset parents coming to the aide of their kids… Making excuses or defending the behavior – it can not be my child that did it.. Why has it changed? Do we think that the 9, 10, 11 year old is right over the teacher?

Like I said, in my day, my parents accepted the teacher as gospel. When my kids went through school, I was definitely more supportive of the teacher. I can only remember one time – that it was definitely not my child that was at fault, but was there – guilty by association (make a better choice). Watching what I am seeing today scares me. Maybe it was me not being like my parents – 100% support of the teacher no matter what.. Helped to pave the way to what I see today.. I hope not. The village has to raise the kids – it is time for the kids not to raise part of the village. Sorry, but if you are a parent that supports your child 100% over the teacher in all matters, ask yourself one simple question. “What does the teacher gain from what you just heard from your child?” I think that will help put into perspective who has something to gain…. Working together for the best for the child’s future.

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Retired Guy Series: Got Out And…

Mar03
2011 3 Comments Written by Steve

For those of you that have been following the Retired Guy Series, thanks! I get emails, facebook and twitter inquires of what I am doing now that I have left corporate America. I get the jokes about sitting around the house doing nothing, to how is the honey-do list going and even did you get a job yet. In the past, I have wrote about my second career and how it is going. I also wrote that I needed to get out and meet more people and connect to help me with that second career.

Short recap – second career to me is not necessarily going after another corporate America job (I will not rule it out, if it is right in my passionate areas – managing and social media). I have worked very hard over my first career and have learn a lot. Which makes me really want to pass it on and give back. My journey the past couple of weeks has been pretty amazing…

  • Had a lunch meeting with Jeff Moriarty and Melanie McBride to check up on the happenings around their worlds. Jeff was his usual self and was very helpful in pointing me into a couple of areas that I maybe interested in. Especially, when I told him I was really looking for something that I can give back and in the area of the youth. I still have some more work to get to the right places and people, but this looks like a great volunteer opportunity.
  • I decided that I want to help out AZ4Education. Brian Sanders is the director and we go way back together. I really feel that education is important and if we can help out one child or teenager then I am willing to invest. I will be helping to market AZ4Education! So check it out…
  • Met with Valley Big Brother’s, Big Sister’s Big Experience coordinator Linde Harned this week. We had a very nice chat about my experiences and how I could apply them to the Big Experience. Later this month, I will attend one of their orientation meetings and we will figure out where my talents will be best served.
  • I attended a planning meeting of the Intel Arizona Alumni group – to see if this is something that I wanted to actively participate in. I met some amazing ex-Intel folks (Paula Satow, Barbara Mitchell, Eric Keosky-Smith and Rich Andrade. I was impressed by this small bunch of passionate planners and decided why not get involved. They have me helping out with communications! Gets me out to meet more of the Arizona ex-Intel folks… We all have something in common and probably much more. Maybe making those connections will help me with my second career…
  • Met with Laurie Buczek as well! I have written about Laurie in the past… Getting caught up with what is happening in her world is always a nice treat. I was even able to help her with some issues she was having with SPAM on her blog!
  • I also kept up on my reviewing job boards. Decided to drop Ladders (nothing in there ever panned out). I was able to find a couple of more opportunities that peaked my interest and passions. Applied and will be following up on those next week!
  • Finished two books! The Art of Non-Conformity(Amazon) by Chris Guillebeau (Book Review) and Poke The Box (Amazon) by Seth Godin.
  • And of course – some honey-do list items… I still have to do some backyard work. Leaving that for next week, weather is supposed to be outstanding.

So, I took action on getting out and about.. It definitely has opened some areas of interest and possibilities. How cool is that? To paraphrase from Poke The Box – I just need to get STARTED.

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Fear…

Mar01
2011 7 Comments Written by Steve

#LeadershipChat on Twitter tonight will be a very good one. What is #LeadershipChat? Check it out! Well, the topic tonight is fears as leaders. Since I will be unable to attend the session tonight, I thought I would write it on my blog instead. Too bad, I have a first meeting to attend on a volunteer position that I am interested in at the same time.

To set the context, Lisa Petrilli’s blog post, Three Personal Fears to Conquer for Leadership Success, has a much deeper look. Check it out, it is a very good post. I want to tackle what I believe was my fear of leadership success. My was always hanging around my fear of lack. Lisa’s post pointed out:

Fear of Lack down deep in a leader may say…

  • If I make the wrong decision I might lose my job and not be able to care for my family
  • I can’t give up this position that doesn’t fulfill me, working for this unethical/inept Board, because I won’t be able to find a comparable opportunity and my standard of living will suffer
  • I can’t follow my passion because it won’t provide a title that is acceptable in my community/circle of friends – or even to my family…
  • If I lose my job all those people who admired and followed me will think less of me
  • I must demand respect because I can’t bear for my peers to see me without it

* An interesting note about lack: when you find yourself saying you “need” something, it generally points you toward where your fear of lack lies…and then you have to peel back a few layers to figure out where that need and fear of lack is coming from…

Well, that was definitely me in a nutshell. I had spent most of my career not afraid of success or failure but of lack. The point that drove it home for me was “I can’t give up this position that doesn’t fulfill me.” I spent the past couple of years of my corporate America career having this playing in my head… Boy, did it suck. I know it had some definitely impact on my overall performance. Once I may the decision and announced my retirement (4 months from the actually end date), I felt a huge burden lifted from me. I was able to really feel better about myself and what I was working on. The successes that I achieved my last 4 months, were stronger than the ones I had achieved from a year or so before.

I knew I was unhappy with my position and who/what I was working for/on… I knew that my fear of lack, kept me just doing what I had always done… I completely knew I had to get over my fear and did. I just decided that I needed a total change to make it happen. Fear is a powerful. It can make you successful and also drag you down. Challenge yourself to hit your fears head on. Acknowledge them and insure that you are address them when you are doing your best leadership work. Your success depends on doing just that.

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Tailor or Force Your Approach

Jan25
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

I woke up this morning to see an email from one of my past new managers at Intel. Nice surprise! He was looking for an answer to a question that had been burning at him for awhile. He asked his current manager, “should managers tailor their approach to fit the personalities of the team that they have?” He remembered that I touched on that subject during “New to Management: Managing Teams to Higher Performance.” Just could not remember exactly what I said. His manager told him that he should do what comes best to him. In short, do what has made you successful and get the team to follow you. Very simple and not very helpful answer I thought. What I liked about the answer was the get the team to follow… Or provide leadership! 

So, here is what I wrote back:

Great question! I think your manager was a bit vague in his answer.. I did like his part on getting the team to follow. So, building on that… Leadership is based in helping others succeed, having a vision, and the capability to utilize the knowledge, skills and abilities of your team to fulfill it. I truly believe a leader must adapt to the personalities of the team. When we discussed this in the class, everything was situational. If you have ever taken situational leadership or anything like that – key to success is in communication. Learning how to get through to each person and best motivate them is the leader’s job. By doing so creates a team of loyal, hard working team of individuals committed to the cause. That will follow you! Trying to have the team adopt to you would be like an old sports coach that only knows how to lead by bullying with a “heart” or setting up competition for the few scarce prizes. Those two ways may get results when you are around, but leave and so do the results. I have had those coaches and managers over the years, maybe good for short term results but no one every really wanted to follow them anywhere.  I hope that answered your question, if not we can always discuss further.

What do you think? Did I answer that question?

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Change Is A Good Thing, Really!

Dec20
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

How many times have we all heard, “I don’t like change” or “Change is never good?” I hear it all the time. Frustrates me to no end. People complain about what is happening today, but yet they don’t want to change. Why complain? How about doing something about changing the situation. Afraid that change will be good? Afraid a bad situation, may become better? People are funny sometimes. So, how do you make change happen? I have three things that I like to do to help with change (as a leader and workplace evangelist)

  •  Model the change. Demonstrate the way you want things to change through your own language and behavior. Often, seeing someone doing something first gives people the courage to try it themselves. Especially, if that change is bringing about some solid results.
  • Turn negatives into positives. Find ways to re-frame people’s resistance as opportunities for change. This requires that you listen carefully, understand the underlying reasons for the opposition, and address them directly.
  • Find allies. Chances are someone else in the organization wants the change as badly as you do. Find that person and pool your resources and ideas.
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Need For Better Safety Precautions

Dec08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

I for one am not big on having our government in our daily lives, but maybe we have to. Over the past month, when I am driving around – I have been observing and taking mental notes. Some of the things I have witnessed are -

  • 3 out 5 female drivers are driving around on their cellphones glued to their ears.
  • 2 out 5 male drivers have one finger stuck in their nose while driving around.
  • Putting on make-up has become a sport while driving.
  • Over 80% of observed city (any city) workers are have cellphone in their ear while driving around.
  • Still I hear on the news of yet another youngest falling in the backyard pool.

What is happening out there? Are we too distracted to follow some basic safety rules? Do we think nothing will happen to us? I wish we would step up and make some necessary changes to improve safety for all folks.

  1. Every city employee must use blue-tooth or headset technologies while driving in city vehicles. No law needed, just a mandate by the city to insure that their investment in their folks is insured some. The added bonus is the rest of us, can drive about more safely. Some of those city vehicles are a bit large and require two hands to drive safely.
  2. A law needs to be put in place for hands free driving. When I go to CA, they have that law. I forget at first, but after a quick look around, I remember. Has this made the streets and highways in CA any safer? Depending on who you read or listen too – the opinion is mixed. I say, let’s err on the side of caution first. Make hands free a reality in AZ.
  3. Personal hygiene must stay in the house (or the workplace bathroom). Let’s face it – we are busy and in a rush all the time! Putting on your make-up or shaving while driving is probably worse than the cellphone. Focus on the road!
  4. Watching our children is something that we as parents are supposed to do. All the time! Everywhere! Especially when there is water around. It turns my stomach to hear about a youngest that has fallen in the family pool. We must insure that they are safe.

I know I am not alone with many of these items. I really think it is time for personal ownership and social responsibility to kick in here. We must add safety into our daily lives. The life that maybe saved – could be yours.

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House Projects – Always Scope Creep

Dec03
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Steve

What is it about anything that you do around your house that makes it seem like the simplest of projects just grow and grow? Scope creep is just a way of life with every single project that I do around the house. Why? At work, I really have that problem. Why? Is it because I have much more experience at scoping out my projects at work? Not sure..

  • At work – I have stakeholders that I am accountable too.. At home – only one clear stakeholder.
  • At work – Set up a project plan.. At home – do the same thing.
  • At work – Really look at every possible alternative or risk that will come up.. At home – maybe not so much.
  • At work – have a budget to work within.. At home – have a budget for sure, its our dollars.
  • At work – review of the project is set.. At home – well, maybe not so much.
  • At work – closure on the project when completed.. At home – closure sure, usually means done and onto the next project (like work).

So, looking at that list – there definitely are a few things that I could do better with the home projects that I do well, within the work projects. Clear definition of all alternative, risks and necessary contingent elements. Take order new desk for home office. We focused on the colors, the size and what to do with the other older furniture. What was missed some was the amount of work cleaning out 10+ years of stuff. The carpet needed to be replaced. Now the color on the walls maybe a bit of a problem. Under-scoped that project a bit.. Reviewing the project really happens when you are doing most of the work yourself. You just do… I think I have added more things to that to do list, because of every step I found something else that needed to be done (or should be done).

I need to really do a better job of practicing everything that I do at work, at home too!

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