Postcards from the Funny Farm

Have you ever had to ask for one of these on your own behalf? It’s a real drag for me because I hate to ask for someone to take time out of their busy day and write a letter for me that will do nothing for them whatsoever. I’m more into reciprocal favors, that way both sides benefit. I’ve probably had to ask a dozen or so people in my career to write me these letters and it’s always been uncomfortable. But today, I am starting to think maybe it was just me feeling uncomfortable.

An aide here at work asked me for one and even though I was quite busy, I enjoyed writing it for her. She’s a very hard working sub and aide and it made me happy to help her get into the workforce in a new job she is looking for. I suppose I am now the experienced one in the field being asked to do the writing and I can tell you, I don’t mind it at all!

I’ve written on this blog before about how asking for help can really further your career, and maybe now I am closer to accepting my own advice. There are some things I have learned that I must relearn and relearn again. For me, asking for something like a letter of recommendation is one of those really hard things to do: I know it’s my right and privilege to do, but I still hate doing it.

How do you feel about asking for letters of recommendation?

I wanted to let the blog know that I had my observation and post-conference today. It went very well. I received a passing score in all domains and some very nice things were said about me in the write-up.Okay I can breathe now.

I’m not one to hide fear, I think it helps the world to show your weakness. It helps people more than pretending you are always 100% confident.

You may recall I published an article on BlogCritics this month about the whole process I was going through:

My article on BlogCritics on how to survive and th...

(esp. note my response to the first comment about inequity in some evaluation pr... for teachers … Amidst my optimism it’s important to note my view on that.)

-Damien

Great Discovery: $ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglassess

I’ve worn glasses for the past 5 years or so and going to the optometrist is a real drag. Not only that, if I break my glasses (which I recently did) my insurance doesn’t get me new frames for another 2 years. How am I supposed to see? Well, I found an option I am seriously considering until my new glasses benefits rollover. I went to Zenni Optical’s website and I was very impressed. They have really stylish frames the likes of which I don’t see at my doctor where they charge $200-2,000 for a pair of frames. Now here’s the best part, for the prescription, all you have to do is fill out a short form submit … you’re done and your glasses are on the way.

If you’re squinting at your computer screen waiting for your health benefits to roll over, you should go check out this site … it might be the best secret you heard in a long time.

Great Discovery: $ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglassess

Martin Luther King was asked to head up the protest against the bus system when he was 26 years old. 26. Now if you are younger than 26, as I know at least 2 of my readers are, you don’t think that sounds young. Maybe it isn’t. But when you think of the influence this man had on the world to end racial segregation, you have to agree that he was already aware of what he was doing when most people are still trying to find their “calling.”

This is a message to us all that our lives have influence and if we do the right thing, we can affect change. 

Having a friend who is a superstar (Gwen) and working in a field where I come across famous authors and minds frequently, I live in the “I am Nothing Syndrome” quite a bit. I think there is a way to turn it around though. Instead of lamenting not being as famous and effectual as these people, why not realize that life is fleeting and I need to have some influence as I am as who I am now, today.

MLK takes me out of the “I am Nothing Syndrome.” I feel like if I met him in heaven he might say: “You are worthy, you’re no better or worse than I was. You can change your world by doing what matters come what may.”

Online dating helped me find and marry my soul mate Sarah. I even found her during the “free trial” period so the service was free! I thought I’d write a blurb about Yahoo! Personals because I feature them as an advertiser. It isn’t just demographics that makes me do so (most my core readers are married). On the other hand, I chose them because I believe in their product. Most of all, I feature their ads because it worked for me.

I remember at that time feeling quite lonely in a new town with a new job and Yahoo! Personals connected me with Sarah when I really had no friends or family around to help me meet people. (interested readers can find more details on our &#....)

It works like this: You sign up and upload a small picture of yourself (actually this is optional but it really speeds things up!) Then, you fill out some profile questions and send out a few emails to members that you are interested in. Some, you will find, are indeed certified loony cases. Just keep telling yourself “All you need is ONE.” From there, as you sort through replies you will undoubtedly start to make email friendships. You will find yourself at your parents for thanksgiving sneaking to the computer to see what your online romance has to say.

If it works out perfect like it did for me, you’ll get married within a month! That was 5 years ago and now my wife and I have a wonderful family with laughs and memories that keep on going. If you are single and wanting someone special or if you know someone in your friends and family circle who feels that way, get tuned in to Yahoo! Personals. Trust me, it can work. All you Need is ONE. (and don’t be surprised when the ONE plus ONE turns into one or more beautiful kids! Be ready because it can happen fast!)

At work we a have a single job to do but everyone knows there is so much more to work than that. For example: 1. Performance evaluations make us anxious, we wonder if we’ll “measure up,” 2. Co-worker dramas of people getting their feelings hurt can put stress on us and alter the decisions we make, and finally, 3. the job at hand is often changing in today’s marketplace, forcing us to be innovators in our chosen fields. There are no simple solutions for these stresses at work. Try as we might, we can’t please everyone all the time. Not withstanding, there is a mindset, or a mantra, that can guide us through the stormy waters when they rise up against us:

“Just be great at what you do.”

Performance evaluations are one of the biggest stressors in today’s workplace. With “downsizing” and “restructuring” at an all time high, everyone is worried if they will make the grade. And I can’t lie to you, in my line of work and several people’s I know layoffs are happening, they are real. So what can we do do relieve the anxiety of a performance evaluation? Recite the mantra morning noon and night. When we strive to be great at what we do, bosses notice. It also creates productivity for the bottom line. Envisioning being great changes the fear of the performance evaluation that was once: “Will I lose my job?” to the empowered thinking of: “How can this evaluation make me more great?” Turn fear on its ear and be great at what you do.

Co-worker drama is always lurking around the corner. If you’re a teacher, it’s in the teacher’s lounge. If you’re in business it’s at the water cooler, or down a row of desks. The fact is that wherever you have people, you’re bound to have drama. Sometimes the pull is so strong, you can’t help but get wrapped up in it. Other times you will try so hard to avoid it that your work peers will think you pompous or conceited for not talk to them about the latest “gossip.” The solution to this conundrum? Once again: “Just be great at what you do.” There was a psychological study done in the 70’s where a guy looked up in the middle of Central Park. He was looking at nothing but he never looked down. People would walk by and most looked up with him. This is kind of what will happen when you focus on this mantra. Even if you aren’t clear where you are headed, you know your mantra and people will follow that. Gossipy co-workers will become meaningless and they will respect you as you strive to become great.

Last, being innovative is not always easy. In todays marketplace, the products change as fast as the tool. This is also true in education where learning theories come down the pike faster than you can catch them sometimes. We need defining statement, a rule to help us keep learning, growing, innovating the way we find solutions at work. Don’t get anxious or frustrated, recite the mantra: “Just be great at what you do.” If you focus on how much change you are forced to make, you’ll lose your edge. On the other hand, if you simply focus on being great, the changes in the marketplace will be seen as tools rather than hindrances or “chores.” After all, change is supposed to make us better and our lives easier. Unfortunately it isn’t always seen that way. If you heard there was a way to do what you easier and more productively wouldn’t you do it? So it is with technology and new thought in the 2000’s. Don’t fear the changes, look at it as a set of tools to make you greater.

In conclusion, everyone in their heart wants to be successful. Unfortunately there are a host of forces working all the time against our success. I have addressed only three in this post. Getting focus is key to weathering the storms at work and for keeping your calm when it looks like your ship is going the hit the rocks. You need to strive to be great at what you do. This will help you get through you performance evaluation with more knowledge, dignity and success. You need to lead your peers by focusing on being great. This will make their gossip evaporate and they will respect you above those who don’t have vision. Last, you need to be an innovator in today’s workplace, there is simply no room for followers anymore. As you see your greatness as the goal, the changes in the workplace will become your tools instead of your stumbling block, like they are for so many. You can be great at what you do, but even if you don’t, many work troubles can be quelled by internalizing the mantra:

“Just be great at what you do.” You’ll like the results.

1) Write one post/week on my “best of” weekly column blog, Cheese Enchiladas.
2) Write One BlogCritics post/week (these don’t pay but they critique my writing, making it an excercise in good writing)
3) Write One PayPerPost/week.
4) Be open to relevant ad opportunities.
5) Keep having fun at learning, journaling, and tumblelog adventures as usual with this blog: “PostCards from the Funny Farm.”

Chances are if you are reading this, you are a leader. This is not a blog catered to followers ;). But whoever you think you are, all of us have to lead sometimes and sometimes as leaders, we burn out. In those moments when you burn out, you should remember that you are only human and it’s okay to feel that way. You don’t have to be the inventor of every solution, though I know it sometimes feels that way. Based on things I have been through as a leader (including burnouts and success) here’s a couple survival techniques for when your tank’s “empty-light” dings:

• Find something that gives you a recharge and do it: a food? an activity? a hammock? a hike? exercise? you call it.
• Spend time in pure “play mode” with your children or act like a child (safely please!)
• Get in touch with a higher power. As a Christian, this is easy for me to do through prayer but not always easy to remember to do. Remember you are small and something else is much bigger, it takes a lot of the load off you.
• Prioritize the things overwhelming you by making a list, then put it away
• Try and address the items on the list one per day, if you can do more that’s okay but not required
• Become a listener. As leaders, we tend to talk all the time. You will be shocked how answers to your problems often come from simple listening.
• Visualize: your favorite animal in the wild, an empty canvas, a beach, yourself in space, yourself doing somersaults in the waves, add your visual here
• Put the stress out of your mind for a time, the space between the stress may be where miracle solutions reveal themselves.

and finally,

• Don’t stress about any problem until you have a tangible reason to. The “what-ifs” destroy leadership, let them fall by the wayside when they fly up in your face. If your life’s track record for problems is any indicator, you must agree that the ratio of actual problems is far smaller than all the ones you worried about needlessly.

Most the stuff I call inspiration here on this blog is the stuff I write to inspire myself. if you got something out of it, let me know in a comment or email won’t you? Perhaps you have something to add to this conversation.  Good luck fighting back that burnout monster, remember that many people count on you to take care of yourself and you are a very important leader in your family and world!