Thursday, June 28, 2007

There never is enough time

The old joke is that on facing their impending death, nobody ever wishes they had spending more time at the office. The joke is that it takes the threat of death to place value on our time and how we spend it. Humans, as far as we know, are the only species that knows that it has a limited life and it can end at any time. Still, we have this built in mental blind spot that allows us to spend our lives without dread.

We do place special significance on death and we ritualize in various ways how we treat the end of life. But even these rites are celebrations of the living. We speak well of the dead, despite what they might have done in their lives. We remember the good times. This is done to bring comfort to the living for it's obvious it can do nothing for the one that has died. And most importantly it creates a time for us all to stop and think of our own mortality.

I suspect that like a drunken New Years Eve promise to change our lives, we think briefly about how we spend our time and if we have our priorities straight. Following that moment of reflection, the burdens of life and the habits we have developed creep back in. We return to spending to much time thinking about work. We waste time watching mindless television. We shove off our kids on organized sports and computer camps. We don't visit our aging parents and we lose track of friends. sometimes. we actually lose them. Have you ever meet an old acquaintance and enquired about a mutual friend only to find that they have died?

I think we need more than funerals, birthdays and weddings to renew our relations with family and friends and I don't have an answer for myself much less anyone else. I do know that while many deride e-mail, it has kept me in closer contact with friends, except those that don't see the value in that crap. (This is the same person who can't conduct a conversation with you in person, but somehow values person to person contact exclusively.)

Our world has changed and will continue to change and is irrevocably on a path of widening our sphere. small towns have interstate highways near by and cities have ever more busy airports and train stations. We move about in ever widening circles to what avail, I do not know. But keeping track of those we love and need in our lives is made more difficult because of the demands of life and the distance between us. It's sometimes easier to feel fulfilled by going to the office.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Lifestyle Vs. Style

Can you live in your house if you're expecting Cottage Living magazine to visit any minute?

My wife, as reported in my blog entitled "Hunks with Hammers", is a big fan of remake and remodel programs on the cable. If you watch enough of these programs, particularly the ones that help the client stage their home for sale, you learn that having your house look good for buyers is not the same as it will look if you actually live in it. Example? Look at your house before a formal dinner party and than the way it looks after the party is over.
So what is acceptable is in the eye's of the resident is the standard. In our case, my vote doesn't count, ever.

I do agree that beds should be made. But our viewpoint is divergent on the issue. My wife learned how to make a bed from her father. The former navy veteran taught her the "bounce a quarter" style that the military is famous for. And I might point out that if you're five four and sleeping in a king sized bed tucking the sheets in at the bottom of the bed is fine. However, if your over six feet and your feet are being confined to the narrow pocket formed at the juncture of the sheets and the turn of the mattress, this is not so good. I learned to make beds from Martha Stewart. She maintains that you shouldn't tuck in any of the sheets or blankets except the bottom one.

My wife, Maria, has a fashion sense that is light years beyond me, but to me life style is as important as style. I need a lamp that gives me enough light to read by. She is does not. Her younger eyes and lack of cataracts allow her to read by the light of a candle. She does not like my high intensity floor lamp, because it doesn't fit our decor. Evidently if you put a dress on a pig it still pretty much looks like a pig.

My friend John Brownson framed for me a commemorative to legendary Green Bay Packer Quarterback, Brett Farve. My wife hates professional sports and in particular football. This piece, no matter how well it's crafted, will not hang on our walls. Fortunately we both agree on the numerous paintings we have purchased form our friend Len Nagler.

Maria has a reputation for her interest in housing and home decorating that is in unassailable. She has suburb taste and an excellent eye. she sees potential were others are thinking of writing the building off.

Where we differ is, when looking at a property or a decor, I think of what my life would be like if I lived in the neighborhood or how that room would work in my daily life. This is not Maria's first thought. She is looking at putting the thing together and making it a masterpiece. Maybe this difference is why all of the things I brought when we put our households together is been sold at a rummage sale or is in storage

Thursday, June 21, 2007

In Service

How difficult is it for you to be in service to someone. I've worked in a number of service jobs from waiting tables to industrial sales positions. We serve our customers, clients and co-workers in a number of ways and often think of ourselves in that capacity. There are a number of characteristics that I find in common; some are exemplary and others are kind of off putting.

In the positive category is the joy of sharing special knowledge. It can be as simple as telling a customer that the special of the day is not as good as the menu is tauting and that something else might be better. Or it can be as complex as passing on new information to a client that has the potential of saving them money, time or effort. At Discovery World Museum, I get the privilege of showing our visitors things they will never see in the real world and how these things affect their lives daily. All in all, these examples are part of the job description, but can give the server a good feeling and the receiver a benefit

In the negative column, we can put the "we versus them" syndrome. Ask retail people how they feel about customer that show up ten minutes before closing, keep them in the store until after closing (most managers will not kick shopping customers out of the store allowing them to linger until they leave of their own accord) and then leave without buying anything.

Ask sales people how they feel about customers asking them for new idea's and products when they know that the buyer will take their idea's and shop them to the lowest bidder. The practice of shopping in retail stores and buying on-line is a growing tactic, which is obviously detrimental to local retailers. You will note that many large retailers are promoting their on-line outlets. Live people working in retail outlets never get the satisfaction of knowing if their help produces the sale.

When I was in sales, I had a buyer, will call him Greg, who was new to the profession. Greg was emulating someone in his organization who had the professional persona of an oaf. Greg and his mentor had to maintain an arms length from the sales people that called on them for fear, and this distinction is important, that he might get sold something. You see they are people out their that never, in their mind, get sold, they might buy, but they never get sold. They are in charge. They are the innovator's, the discovers and they make informed decisions.

Greg once asked me how I put up with the humiliation of the rejection and the general lack of respect that he felt my profession suffered from. I gave him an diplomatic answer because he was one of my contacts at a major customer, but it told me a lot about what Greg felt about sales people. The unfettered truth is that the slights I might have felt from him were far outweighed by knowledge that the service I and my team provided to his company that saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars. I knew he took credit for this accomplishment, but I also knew that his co-workers and other key people in the company knew otherwise.

Someone told me recently that if you dealt directly with the public you were doomed to a life of long hours and low pay. This seems to be true. But than most professions that are important to us are not compensated fairly. I don't know why we as a society tolerate this, but we do. I want to have police officers, firefighters, teachers, airline pilots and medical support personnel fairly paid for what they do for me. Instead, we pay more to people that don't benefit us as much. It's not that the doctor, CEO and professional athletic doesn't contribute to my enjoyment of life, but hardly in the difference their pay reflects. From these people, I feel the need to justify their status and worth. In contrast, their underlings are obvious in their value. Maybe it's because the overpaid people are not serving us well

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

What is Creativity?

Even Creative people can't quite agree what creativity is or how it expresses itself. If you were at my house Sunday night where Maria and I deliberately brought together four of our friends that are creative in a certain field but do not make their living at it, you could have come away with a better idea of the nature of creativity.

A painter, screenwriter, photographer, and musician all gathered in our home and discussed their passion. I thought it bit odd that they were more inclined to listen to others than talk about their own efforts, but maybe that was because they didn't know each other that well.

There were a couple of things that I could say were important to all of them. First of all, they would all create even if their work never sold. Steve, the musician, put it best when he said good music was not and should not be about money. Kieth has been active in marketing his poetry and screenplays, but his relative lack of success has not dampened his will to continue writing. Patty has sold her work, but for the most part her photography has been a part of her job description or to enhance her job performance, Ann is changing her style and approach to her paintings and isn't ready to "let them go"at this point.

On the other side of the conundrum, is the desire to be appreciated. Creative people have something to say and their product is their way of expressing it. As such, they all wanted to be seen, heard or acknowledged.

Often the maturity of an artist is marked by the discovery of their "voice" or message that they discover by working with their talent. Practicing our art maybe just a way of finding our heart. It is easy than to see why one would continue to perfect and work on a mode of expression for years and not be discouraged by a lack of success.

We all agreed that most people probably have some creative talent in them. Some have a strong need to express it and others repress the urge. Why? I ventured and most agreed that doing something that produces nothing except personal satisfaction is considered somewhat selfish and wasteful in our society. We need to give ourselves permission to "play" for no other reason than it feels good and gives us insight into ourselves. Easy to say, but difficult to do in these times where demands are made on us that pull us toward the practical rather than the magical

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Mirror of our soul, You are what you buy

I'm reading an article by one of my favorite writers, James Fallows. In this article, entitled "China Makes, the World Takes" written for The Atlantic, Fallows is making the case that what is happening in China is a good thing for all of us.

I have not read the entire article so I want to hold my opinion, but like another one of my favorite writers Thomas "The World is Flat" Friedman, he seems to be guilty of the idea that the market will eventually cure all evils.

The laissez-faire logic goes something like, sure the workers are exploited if you compare their working conditions to US or European standards, but then you have to remember how the industrial revolution affected our society when it first thrust it's considerable influence on our life styles and economic institutions.

What 'these let us not try and influence the invisible hand of the market" people seem to conveniently forget is that the great prosperity of the American and European middle class came only after the labor movement did intervene with the invisible hand of the market.
It is in the name of getting cheaper goods for Wal Mart that has sent manufacture to the lowest cost labor market's of the world. One of the reasons given for this export is the cost and difficulty of dealing with a mature labor market. Read that mature as meaning expensive and demanding work force

The advantages for industry are obvious when the working conditions described are all in the favor of the employer. While the Chinese workers get paid overtime (based on a 40 hour week) the real work week is twelve hours a day six or seven days per week. And while they get free or subsidised meals twice per day, the clock or the quality control police are looking over their shoulder constantly. A quote from and American Manager in a Chinese manufacturing plant spelled it out quite nicely.

"The people here work hard..." "They're young. They're quick. There is none of this ' I have to go pick up the kids nonsense you get in the United States'"

Whatever Fallows writes after this about this subject, the refrain of that American Manager's disregard for his employees' is going to resonate in my mind. Has anybody thought that this manager is in fact the face of American to these Chinese workers? If that is what we are going to represent in the mind of the Chinese worker, than we might as well anticipate the worst. The Ugly American just grew another zit

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Destiny, Fate and Other Excuses

I am often amazed at how often story plots involve the concept of fate or destiny, which are virtually the same thing. Fate is the concept that our lives are predetermined by some supernatural power to turn out a certain way. There is an implication or belief that we can't or shouldn't avoid this life plan.

The idea that events in our lives are predetermined to happen regardless of our efforts to avoid them or that trying to avoid our fate is to court disaster is repugnant to me. There are somethings we can't avoid such as our race, gender and sexual preference, for example (Michael Jackson not withstanding). And there are somethings we can only tinker with such as education and employment choices. But the idea that I, or anyone else, is destined to be whatever we turn out to be is to me silly.

Yet many people cling to this notion with dog on the leg determination and no doubt wars have been fought because of it. President Bush has publicly declared that he feels that God has tapped him on the shoulder to do his work on earth. Rationalization or closely held belief? It makes no difference really. The outcome is the same. Those that believe nod their heads in reverent assent and the rest of us shake our head in disbelief.

I think the reasons for doubt are obvious. If we believe we are human beings with free will than we should be ale to alter our fate, for better and worse by the choices we make. If we believe in destiny than...well...I guess...I don't know. Do we go with the flow and whatever happens happens? Or, do we pray for enlightenment. For those of us who believe that God is not out there waiting for our call, this is a huge pill to swallow and an impossible concept to accept.

Why is this idea of predestination so popular. I believe it's because the idea is so comfortable to those that succeed in their definition of life and allows those that don't to blame someone other than themselves. I don't mean to say it's a cowards way out of failure, but it sure works that way if you want it to.

Like the concepts of turning yourself over to a higher power, admitting that you can't live your life alone, that you need others to discover your true meaning and role in life, I think fate deserves an asterisk next to it's use. Such as, when a young person is killed in an auto accident where they were operating a vehicle at high speed while under the influence of alcohol, we should avoid the bromide that somehow it was fate and God has a lesson in this event that is meant for all of us. This might be good graveside rationalization and comforting for the parents and loved ones of the deceased, but on review it's kind of hallow and damming. What part of fate does the parent have to bare in their grief.

Often life's experiences have no apparent explanation. The issues surrounding events can be complex and confusing. The complexity can lead to frustration over the cause and effect of experience. We have this need to have things explained, to lay blame. This, I submit, leads to the shortcut thinking of, "Oh well, it's just fate."

Friday, June 01, 2007

A Matter of Honor

We all believe that given a chance to prove it, we will behave honorably. While the concept of honor can be elusive, sometimes it just stands out so clearly that the choice is undeniable. We are now considering the conduct of some of our combat soldiers who are accused of killing unarmed civilians in Iraq. The accusations are that these people were executed, in other words, the victims weren't the unintended victims of an exchange of gunfire between our soldiers and actual combatants, but that they were gathered together as prisoners and executed. I do not know if these accusations are true, but if they are, it is obvious that these soldiers did not behave honorably. They represent me and my country and if found guilty the should be punished accordingly.

Than there is evidence that there was an attempt to gloss over or cover up this incident. This has to be considered equally dishonorable. (And let me state here, that these charges have not been proven either.) After all, if true, does this not lead to suspicions that other incidents of this type have been committed and that other cover-ups have taken place and by doing this, the military has more or less condoned this kind of action and it could lead to more of it being done.

What you'll hear, unofficially, is that soldiers will be soldiers and non-combatants will never understand the pressures of War. This is the good ole boy general absolution for putting men in harms way and expecting them to act rational. However, put the same hardened veteran on the stand and I am sure that he will not defend this kind of action as honorable. I believe the Jack Nicholson line from A Few Good Men is, "You don't really want to know the truth."

Take yourself from the battlefields of Iraq and envision the streets of Milwaukee. At your feet is the lifeless body of a four year old girl. Moments before this young and hopeful life was managing a skip rope. Her destiny was strangely tied to her proximity to a young man whom someone has decided must die. His executioner hiding behind the movement of a speeding car fires a gun at his victim. His aim, just like his values, falls short of his victim and kills the little girl. The coward speeds away from the scene leaving a wounded pry, a dead girl and his honor.

But what about the honor of this community? To date, no one has been charged with the crime,yet it is widly reported that people in the community know who the killer is. Yet, no one has stepped up and done the right thing. No one has broken the community practice of not working with the police. Until they do there is no honor in that community, nor is there hope for justice or peace. It is a community corrupted and I do not believe that as part of the whole community that we can stand with honor without the truth.

There is no excuse for gunning down anyone, much less innocent children, in the streets of our city. It doesn't just happen and it is not a fact of life we should live with or accept on any level. It is a vile abomination of the social order and can not be tolerated.