Any project manager at home or at work knows that money is easy to spend and hard to manage. It is never fun asking for more from the client or your boss so you need to save wisely. This holiday season, it seems appropriate to talk about decision making for spending since giving gifts is fun and it is easy to overspend. Here are a few tips!
  1. Don't double down
    • Have you ever bought a second gift because you aren't sure if the first one was good enough? Don't do it! You probably bought the first one with similar reasoning and whether it's a backup or replacement, you will always end up with one you use and one you don't. So put it back, and only keep one!
  2. Measuring big and small
    • Do you buy 5 small things so that it adds up to one big thing? Don't! If it's about how much money you spend and not the value it means to the person, you probably aren't doing it right. Take a deep breath and just buy one thing no matter the cost. If you really feel the need to dress it up to be something fancier than add a big bow to it instead!
  3. Spend money on time
    • Remember that the best things in life are free? My favorite thing to ask for is more time together. A promise to hang out again, to visit, and have dinner together then is worth a lot more than some technological gadget. In business and at home, your time is worth more to me and makes me feel more special than any fancy book or software.
Musicians typically start with a piece of already transcribed music. The notes on the page show how they fit together, and the symbols tell you how to play them. But you have the artistic freedom to interpret them, add soul, and turn it into something beautiful that is your own.
Business is the same way. Most offices have a playbook, a SOW, or a tried and true process. Your job is to follow it with your own flare, to know when to take artistic liberties and take something from good to great. Here are some tips on how you can add your own musical hand to your work.
  1. Tell a story
    • Things happen for a reason. The process is in that order for a reason. It may not be fun and it may seem tedious but it works that way consistently, for a reason! Explain why it happens in that way. Maybe your method helped another client solve a difficult problem and it can give another confidence that it will work for them too. Or walk through troubleshooting the alternatives so they understand why your way is best. Stories take time but they add personality to a dry workbook.
  2. Give words of encouragement
    • When the going get tough, what do you say to get you and your team through it? Do you act like it always happens to you like a curse? Your flare might be humor to diffuse the situation or distract from the misfortune. Or maybe you believe that it happens to everyone and that you just need to get through it. Your flare might be keep up the good work. Share the struggle of your teammates learning something new. Recognize it, be a part of it, and then be a part of the solution too!
  3. Mnemonics and Jokes
    •  Memorizing new things takes time. If there is a way to ease the burden, do so! There's no reason to make it harder on them and make them blindly follow the steps. When I train, I make sure to tell them when it's something they don't have to remember or it's something they should write down. I make sure to mention the shortcut way or the funny name for something (aka Print Daddy or alligator icon). I use a few phrases over and over again that will become mental reminders for what to do next.
Love hearing about our daring adventures? This year we did a VRBO to Puerto Vallarta back in September and things did not all go as planned. Sure it wasn't a hurricane (that came in October), but we did have cancelled excursions, broken cars, and money challenges. In a foreign country it can be unnerving in the least to have to think on your feet (in Spanish) but I think it's a great way to practice keeping your cool when things go wrong. Instead of getting angry about the situation, keep your head on straight with one of these techniques.
  1. Keep it general
    • When you travel, you likely have a goal to learn about the people, places, cultures, way of life, everything! What better way to understand and experience that then to step outside of your safe hotel room and wing it! We got rides from friends, took taxis, and drove around ourselves which forced us to go with the flow when you're transportation is always unknown.
  2. Keep a good attitude
    • There was one night that we were supposed to be on the pirate ship party night cruise and instead had dinner on the beach. It was very romantic... until the rains came and flooded town (literally closing the roads, split the city in half for the rest of the night). We were glad we weren't in the middle of the ocean but it still made for an interesting time navigating the streets.
  3. Keep an open mind
    • There were a lot of visitors gathering for the following week's Independence Day celebrations and so there was a lot of Spanish cultural traditions that we got caught up in. Different dancing from Mexican regions, bartering and general shopping experiences, things that everyone does are done a bit differently so you can participate easily even without knowing the language.
We had a great time! Our do not miss sposts: La Palapa Restaurant (above from Yelp) and the tour to the Hidden Beach to see the blue footed booby birds!
I thought it might be useful for some to hear my story about studying for the PMP or the CAPM exam. I did not do the classroom route or the bootcamp expense. I studied alone but I didn't go it alone as I had a support network of mentors. I was also audited. I also failed my first attempt. So here's some studying tips!

  1. Immerse yourself in it
    • Whether that is a bootcamp for 40 hours straight, a routine study group once a week, designated study time every night, you need constant interaction with the content. Even if you're a PM at your regular job, the fundamentals that are being tested are very cut and dry; you need to study for the exam like you would a psychology exam. I highly recommend Carl and LeRoy on the PMP Exam Prep CDs. I'd listen for an hour a day on the way to work and back.
  2. Practice answers
    • Anywhere has test questions, but what you really need to do is go over the answers of the ones you got right and wrong. Many questions don't have one right answer, there are 3 good answers and 1 better answer and you could easily talk yourself into any of them. Rita in the PMP Exam has great explanations. Read the thought process to train yourself to do the same.
  3. The project life cycle
    • I struggled with these questions the most. Does this action happen in planning or monitoring and controlling? Memorizing orders isn't enough; you have to carefully watch the verb used in the question to get it right. Are they creating project members? Identifying them? Or assigning tasks to them? It seems simple, but since the books and materials typically train by section, these questions sneak up on you.






Does the PMP prepare you for a job as a Project Manager? I think it does emphasize the tools and processes needed to be good at it. Experience and networking will help you become a great one, which the PMI community emphasizes as well. I think it's a great group to be a part of!
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
by Brené Brown

I loved this book which doesn't surprise me as I loved hearing Brené speak three years ago at a Denver Conference held by the Leadership Investment. Brené is a strong writer that draws conclusions from her research and then tests the theories in her own life and you can connect with her struggles, realizations, and emotions. I let myself take a lot of breaks reading/listening to this to think and apply her ideas to my own life and I must say that she challenged me indirectly. Here are my top three take-aways.
  1. Overcoming the fear of disconnection
    • If you know me in real life, I'm not afraid to ask questions, even in a room full of experts. In the first weeks at my new job, the product team of 30+ reviewed new features and I just raised my hand and asked a what if straight to the developer. That's me daring greatly, but I don't do that all the time and there are definitely times I worry about what other's think of me. Brené offers tips to stay real and accept our wholehearted selves.
  2. Learning shame resilience
    • Emotional hurt can be as painful as physical hurt and so we try to protect ourselves by putting up barriers. The problem is that these barriers keep us from the good things too. I looked at my instinctive reactions when someone is rude, combative, or upset and learned that I usually try to deflect. Maybe your vulnerability armor is different than mine, but learning to identify it is the first step to avoid putting up boundaries and instead embrace the opportunity to be vulnerable.
  3. Being Wholeheartedness
    • "Vulnerability is the last thing I want you to see in me, but the first thing I look for in you." I worry about having kids of my own or managing a team of my own but I have no doubt that both of those things will happen someday. I learned that I should say what I'm feeling more often. Saying it out loud is my challenge to being more honest with others. I think engineers have trouble admitting these so I use a very direct approach "You make me feel _____ right now." but it is better than nothing.
You should read this book to explore your own areas when you put up vulnerability armor to combat shame. Brené says our society is one in which we feel we are "never ______ enough" (thin, rich, smart, etc.) and we need to instead learn that it is okay to talk about it and it is natural to feel that way. Most importantly, it is also not something we should have to face alone! Next time someone wants to open up, don't just let them; encourage them to be vulnerable in a safe and supportive environment.


It's No Shave November! Okay, I'm a lady so unless we're talking about my armpits (and ew) it doesn't apply. But there are many things that we would rather not do on a regular basis that this month is dedicated to "allow" us to pass on for a while. Well, here's what I think about it: the opposite!
No Shave November? I'm not sure that's what it's all about.
  1. How about then?
    • We tell ourselves a lot that "I'll do it in 5 minutes" but that excuse constantly gets pushed out 5 minutes at a time. Look at time past instead and ask, the last 5 minutes, should I have just gotten up and done it then? It might make you feel a little guilty and get you to get up now so that in 5 minutes, you can look back and say, ya, that was okay.
  2. Going slow is better than not going at all
    • I like this mantra for exercise but it can be applied to anything. Like that email you meant to reply to, or that documentation you kept putting off. Maybe you never felt inspired or felt ready to tackle a problem. News flash, you may never feel ready; so just get up and do it and take as long as it takes.
  3. Set personal reminders
    • It is soooo easy to set reminders these days. Outlook calendar, smartphone apps, post-it notes. They can popup incessantly and it's too easy to dismiss or delay them. Try having a real person be that reminder. They are a lot harder to get rid of. :-)
How can you not be inspired by the fall season? This year, I'm working with a client in the mid west and oh my goodness do the colors put Colorado's aspens to shame! Beautiful. I do have a lot of trees at my own house and that means lots of leaves to pick up. You bag them up and no matter what there are little bits left behind. What do you do with them?


  1. Leave them and try to ignore the mess
    • Perfection is not always necessary. I mean, they're freaking leaves! Aren't more going to fall down if you waited a few days anyways? For a project that literally never ends, you need to let it go and not worry about what "finished" means in the backyard.
  2. Painstakingly pick them up
    • Honestly, sometimes a job isn't done until it's all done and that means every last little piece. A little leaf pile is still a leaf pile. The effort to get all the equipment out again is more of a pain than making sure it's all as gone as it can be. Finish it now and you can maybe talk yourself out of picking up the rake again until next season.
  3. Spread them around and call it mulch
    • Well, leaves actually do have natural properties that are good for ground cover. Of course you can't make it look like you didn't finish, so spread the love out. In business, you can get a 60 minute job done faster if you give everyone a 6 minute job, right?
Happy fall and happy no more day light savings!
Okay, so you're not a manager of any kind. There are some employees that stand out. You notice them. You know who they are and for a good reason. I think there are three types of employees that take the word "worker" to a different level.
  1. The Cheater
    • Knowing how to cut corners is not a bad thing! It demonstrates that you know how to be efficient. It means you know what to spend your time on and what is a waste of your (and other people's) time. These employees help let you know when to "not worry about it" and that's great for saving time and saving money!
  2. The Suck-up
    • There is the "friend" of the office and that's not a bad thing! When someone knows what is going on in people's private lives, knows what the strengths of each person is, they are the only you go to when you need something. They can help walk you over to the person you need and schmoose them a little bit to work for you.
  3. The Juggler
    • Oh the multi-tasker! You have so many things going on that you are on every project under the sun but that's not a bad thing! When you need to know something technical, they likely know the answer because they've done it at least once. They get s*** done! The tough part will be getting on their calendar but they do love to help out.
I say if you aren't one of these people, you should find a new job. If you aren't one of these people you are simply going through the motions and only doing what is in your job description. You are bored and you aren't going above and beyond. You don't have to be the best at everything, but you do need to have (and show) the passion that you have for your team and/or your job. P.S. That doesn't mean stay late.
What about the Secret Agent type?


One of the age old difficulties of working with other teams outside your own is that they have no prior context of your abilities. There is no trust built and even though you are working together, you aren't on the same team yet. How can you bridge that gap and help them feel confident that you have their best interests in mind and want to get the best outcome together?

There are a couple tactics that I have in mind, but there is no tried and true method yet. What do you think?
  1. Make them feel smart by proving you're not always smarter
    • Okay, that's a little strong but when you're in the midst of change, everything is running a mile a minute in your head. We forget the simplest things. We rush around trying to get too many things done. You need to slow down. Don't always blurt out the answer or say, "here I'll just do it for you". They know the answer, let them get to it at their own pace.
  2. Make them feel like leaders by praising their ideas
    • Everyone loves hearing "good job". They like knowing their hard work is noticed and their efforts are worthwhile. As leaders, you have to be a thought leader. It may be your job to work out the details of how to make that idea possible, but make a point to say "that's a good idea".
  3. Make them feel in control by giving them easy decisions
    • When I'm doing a training session, I am the trainer and the one in charge of the schedule, attendance, and making sure that everyone learns something. It can make managers of that team uneasy. Give the manager a say by asking yes/no questions or letting them choose between three choices in some of the activities. If you give them ways to contribute they won't try to bulldoze your control during the actual training. A good example is asking them who should/shouldn't attend certain session together. Use their social knowledge to make your job easier.
A couple weeks ago, I posted about three key tools that every project manager needs. Being a people managers is tough as a lot of your needed skills are soft skills and are hard to learn, buy, or teach. I do think however that there are a few that every manager must have. I think these few things help "boss" become "leader" and so that a people manager can connect on a personal and genuine level with their team.

  1. The Hard: Feedback Phrase
    • Whether required annual reviews or weekly one-on-one time, you need a way to give and receive feedback. You can ask for it simply and directly but it is rare that you'll find subordinates that feel comfortable enough to actually say something valuable. What I've learned is you need something to coax it out of people. It can be a phrase that puts them at ease, the delivery, or the candor that you create but it has to be yours and it has to be genuine.
  2. The Clever: Email filters
    • If you're a manager, you get a lot of email and if you want to get anything done the hard truth is you can't read them all. In Microsoft Outlook (and Gmail and other email providers) you can create rules that filter and place emails into organized folders. If you do it right, you can keep your inbox to only those that require responses. If you don't have the expertise yet, here's a quick video.
  3. The Silly: Favorite Restaurant
    • No joke, everyone has a favorite spot and if you can share it with others and show them why it's your favorite, you've got instant comradery. Our team did a team dinner at an Italian place once before a client visit and another time we did a cooking class. It was awesome and it was years ago but we all still have photos on your desk with genuine smiles.
There are a lot of star quarterbacks hurt this football season already: Luck, Roethlisberger, Romo. Here's to hoping that they get well soon! What I think is special about football teams is that these injured players are always on the sideline. They don't miss a game, stay at home, or become a lesser part of the team. It makes me think of my own two teammates that are out on maternity leave. They're promising to return to the game as valuable players again too! Here's some thoughts I have on why we should keep the sidelined, benched players.

  1. Morale
    • It's tough enough to not have them playing next to you, don't ship them off entirely! Changing the game can have emotional consequences so keep the team spirit together by keeping the benched players engaged. Make sure to continue including them in your team email announcements and locker room pep talks and keep them as active as possible.
  2. External perspective
    • You can still learn a lot by watching instead of doing. You can see the blitz coming in a whole new way. You can watch the competitor's coach making calls on the sideline. You can think about "what would I do" in a whole new way. For maternity leave, you demonstrate work-life balance and that you can (and should) take time off for your family and it doesn't ruin the football season (or financial quarter).
  3. Relevant related skills
    • Even if you aren't actively engaged in the daily grind, there are ways to stay relevant in the industry. Instead of lifting weights or going on business trips you might have more time to attend conferences or read. You know you're coming back soon so use your time wisely and brush up on industry standards or competitor tricks of the trade.



Here is my version of the good, the bad, and the ugly. A good project manager (PM) has good organization skills and good listening skills, sure, but here are a few things that I think can make or break a PM. The clincher? You can BUY all of these things so it should never be an excuse to stand in your way of going from good to great.
  1. The Obvious: Calendar
    • Every PM needs a good piece of software to do their job and the more people and schedules involved, our jobs become exponentially more complex. (N * (N-1) / 2 in fact). You must have a good calendar that you can move one dependency and shifts or warnings pop up. You must manage holidays and vacation days of your team members too. Pay for the good stuff and you will never regret it.
  2. The Great: Bad Jokes
    • PMs are the ice breakers whether they like it or not. PMs are the bearer of bad news, whether they like it or not. They always find themselves in awkward situations, which is why maybe they are so quirky. So having a back pocket story and funny helps avoid the small talk and anticipating killer silence. And go buy a joke book if you aren't a comedian yourself.
  3. The Annoying: Headset
    • We are people persons and we have to stay well connected. Send email, create videos, write documentation and presentations, call stakeholders. You have to be easy to contact and easy to hear so having a high quality headset is key to being able to refill your coffee or block out the neighbor-cube calls while on the phone.
Happy Monday!


We've all dealt with a micromanager in our lives so I know I don't need to preach to the choir on that one! But what I learned the past week is that the opposite of a bad micromanager as a boss is a good micromanager as a new hire. I have spent the last few weeks training a new team member and she has been doing a great job learning our software. People say you "drink from the fire house" but really the first few weeks is all you need to determine whether you have yourself a good new hire or a tough one. The more they take the initative the better and so the more they micromanaging their learning the better. Here are three things that can help you be classified as "great" too.

  1. Ask "What does this do?"
    • The fact that she doesn't ask me general questions of "What do I do next?" is great! She likes to learn by trying things and practicing hands-on which means she finds things and then asks specific questions about why a feature acts that way, how something gets to a next step in the process, or what this button does. They are specific questions!
  2. Check in every hour
    • I know, training webinars are the worse and waiting for access to every server is a pain. So don't just sit around! When you check in every time you get bored, it means you hate being useless. It sends a good message that you don't like to waste anyone's time, yours or the company's. Even if it is just shadowing something irrelevant, you can learn way more than waiting for permission to work.
  3. Make changes that extend your timeline
    • Oh, micromanagers love to change the font, move a button a quarter of an inch to the right, or name a file differently. But for a new hire? They have to learn somehow! Sure it will take them 3x longer than you to do something, but if they are offering to help than you should be gracious for it. Let them help and learn at the same time even if it isn't exactly the way you'd do it (aka, don't micromanage back if you can help it).
Being a micromanager of your tasks at a new job and trying to learn all the minuscule details of how the senior team members do it so well is a good thing, don't you agree?

The past few years I've tackled many home improvement projects such as a new furniture, painting, building a deck, installing crown molding, and right now it's building a garden bed. Many of these projects are definitely easier if you have the right tools. (I made a lot of trips to Home Depot...) But really when taking on a project like any of these, it is nice to have a partner to help. But whether that is moving materials, measuring, or deciding between two designs, the kind of help varies. Please, stranger, don't offer to help me load wood into my car. But yes, my aunt can offer to pick the wall color. When should you offer your assistance to someone else, whether you know them or not?
  1. When it looks like someone is struggling
    • The best time to offer an extra hand is when it is obvious that one is needed. Whether it is something too big for them to handle or something new to them, it might be hard for them to do something on their own. Please time your offer to help early on though because if you're asking after two flights of stairs, you'll get a glowering reply!
  2. When you are an expert
    • Even if you don't see someone struggling, you may see a better way for the way they are doing things. You've done it so many times that you can do the activity with your eyes closed. You know an efficient method, a better design, or simply more detail that can help them in the future. This is a great time to offer to help BUT ask first. Make sure that your advice is welcome. They might not have time to listen, the patience to care, or they might really want to figure it out for themselves. Respect that and don't butt in regardless.
  3. When it's polite
    • Asking to help because you think "you should" is not a good reason at all. Sure, chivalry isn't dead, but if you aren't asking because of one of the reasons above, you aren't providing a service, you may be contributing to the problem. Offering to help means you think someone needs your help and so asking out of politeness may come across as rude instead.


I saw a great article today (admittedly on Facebook) on the fact that yes, you do use the Algebra every single day. And that dogs do complex calculus. I love this! Sure, there are actual equations we sometimes make like calculating tip on a restaurant bill, counting billable hours this week, estimating time to completion but there are more subtle ways we use it too and I think really good project managers know these.
  1. Knowing what time it is
    • We all know that PMs spend a lot of time waiting on a critical completion stage before sending out notices. Good PMs are always aware of the clock and approximating time remaining. This is during meetings, allocated development time, or overall project health, PMPs are great at telling you the current time. The clock doesn't lie. And they will always be quick to tell you that no, you really do only have 4 more days or it'll cost more money.
  2. Turning data points into max, min, and mean
    • Red flag! Showstopper or minor delay? PMs know projects and they know when things are just a setback or a major rework. Being able to identify outliers is important, and to get outliers you need to define your boundaries of normal. PMs are great at drawing the line and knowing when enough is enough or to hold their breath again.
  3. Values to percentages
    • How far along is the project if 5/100 things are done? How many of the 42 test cases need to be run before we can do a beta release? PMs are experts at the 80-20 rule and are always looking at how much more than how many. Being able to quickly translate dollar values to profit and convert numbers into meaningful statistics is what makes PMs great.

I'm inspired this week not only by the Supreme Court ruling on Gay Marriage but also Jurassic World coming out in theaters. Over the weekend I watched the original Jurassic Park... for the first time. I know, it may be as great an insult as not seeing Star Wars, but it was just one of those I hadn't seen all the way through. My reaction after watching this? NO WONDER WHY FEMINISTS ARE ANGRY; THIS WAS FEMINISM IN THE 90'S AND WE ARE WHERE NOW? Back then you could make comments (the chivalry moment) but it didn't change the character from being badass. Take the Alien 1 movie too. Or the Terminator movie. That is feminism. That is being who you want without consequence. That is being treated equally and no one even freaking noticing. Nowadays anytime a comment like that is mentioned you are instantly put into one of three categories:
  1. Crazy Feminist
    • Equality? I bet you wish women didn't have boobs; then we'd be equal. I bet your dreams consist of men on leashes vacuuming your house for you. Why do you want special treatment, you can make babies, isn't that special enough? Why are you trying to turn the world upside down?
  2. Anti-Feminist
    • Men and women have had a good thing going for a long time, splitting responsibilities. They belong in the kitchen, seen and not heard, while men protect them. If they aren't pretty or pregnant they should be killed.
  3. Lesbian
    • If you love another woman then you must care more about your partner's rights than your own. Your priorities are on making your homosexual relationship work and so any heterosexual questions, including work and social ones, are ignored and not important.
WTF?! Putting people in a blame category just makes this whole feminism movement worse. It doesn't matter WHAT your opinion is, we just want equality and then we want to be left alone. We want the fact that we are a woman to be an afterthought; we want you to not worry about if we'll sue after you say something rude. We want you to feel comfortable solving problems with us without asking how we're feeling. We want to be paid the same for our efforts without you thinking we are saving up to leave the company for kids.

We don't want a feminist movement at all. Let's start by getting rid of these labels and just be grateful and respectful of our differences, our strengths, and our actions. Be who you are, love who you want, and treat everyone the same by not putting us in box that is racist or sexist.


*Disclaimer: This post is a bit of a rant and although it reflects my beliefs, it is written in such a way to accentuate extreme views.

It is always about half way through the second week that the small talk turns a bit more personal. You've covered the weather, local restaurants, feelings about the project, etc. and you're out of polite conversation. It's not that you aren't friendly but you know that you won't ever see these people again after the project is over. So how much do you share about yourself? What types of questions can you ask to keep conversations at a safe distance?


  1. Local Weekend Vacation Spots
    • Telling a good story can easily go on for many minutes and if you are visiting a client long term, then asking about what to do for fun on the weekends can be two sided. Do you go to the local state park, the near-by waterway, downtown bars, or the museum? Close or far? It is a friendly topic that you can learn about someone else on a personal level, what they like and don't like, without getting awkward.
  2. Movies
    • There is always something new coming to the local theater near you (like Jurassic World or Inside Out this week!). Whether you like romance or action, silly or serious, there is probably something you can share about a favorite actor/actress or director. A lot of movies these days are remakes or sequels or TV shows are still safe topics. This is great too because you can search or watch something new in your hotel at night to to brush up on their favorites if you need to take that extra step to make friends.
  3. Sports
    • This does have the stipulation of actually knowing about sports, but if you hit a nerve you can have a great thing in common that will forever be a go-to conversation starter. I love football (as you know from reading my blog), but if you talk about college basketball, you've lost me. Even if it's not your thing though, it may be theirs and they will be happy to talk about their trips to the stadium, trading players, and whatever other gossip is in the news.
I am an engineer by heart and yes, I can read binary. I think that the basics of computers are simple and graceful way to evaluate things and when I started thinking about it, there are a lot of applications for the on or off, true or false, one or zero, way of binary. Get inspired by math and see how a little technical thinking can make your projects easier to deal with.

Here is our example:

01010000 01001101 01010000

Step 1: Know how your processing power.

    • A computer is limited by RAM and the processor to how many bits it can do at once. Projects also have limited power by how many people are on the team. You need to know how many people and what their workable hours are that they can dedicate to the project. You know that they can't do all 120 hours of work in one week!

Step 2: Break it down into bytes and bits.

    • A byte is typically one full character (255 options) so in most instances that is 8 bits. The above example is 3 bytes. You have to read each byte individually before reading the next one. Each byte is like a stage of the project such as planning that must be completed before development can start. Don't even try to read ahead; stay focused and do one at a time.

Step 3: Zero or one, not done or done?

    • The classic problem in project management is the answer to the question "Is it done?" and you get the answer "Almost". There is no grey in binary, no maybe. It is either all the way done or not. By limiting yourself and your team to the strict yes or no you can quickly know that status of your project step, project stage, and project deadline.

Special props to those of you that figure out what the example above actually is!
I got back from a long trip (over a whole month) and when I walked into the office Monday morning, I was surprised to be greeted by so many "Welcome Back!"s. It made me feel really special because it wasn't a "Where have you been" or "I haven't seen you in a while", instead it was more of a "Glad to see you". I love working at a company that has colleagues that I would consider friends. A little verbal recognition goes a long way and here are three other things you can say that can turn a work environment from blah to yeah.
  1. "Good job"
    • Coming from anyone whether a colleague, manager, or meeting room, a congratulation of good job can mean a lot. I know most people want it to be specific but it doesn't have to be every time. If you simply seek an individual out to say these words to them, to their face, the effort enough is worth something.
  2. "Have a good night"
    • When you leave for the day, whether at 5:00 on the dot or after the lights start to dim, stopping by the cubes of anyone still there is a good practice. It shows them that 1) You notice they are working hard (or too hard if it is so late), and that 2) you are leaving (which means it's okay if they leave too). Sometimes it is hard to set down the deadlines. Just remember that all of that work and all of those problems will still be there for you tomorrow. Get some rest because it is good for you. It really is okay to leave it be for the night.
  3. "What are you doing for lunch?"
    • This one is kind of an open invitation that you may not be ready for but I feel like lunch is a safe and friendly commitment. Lunch is usually a set time, a cheap meal, and busy and laid back enough to not be weird even if one on one with someone new. You learn a lot about someone from the food they like to eat and how adventurous they are and how they treat the surroundings like carpooling or smiling at the waitress. And you don't have to extend a repeat invite if you don't want to. ;-)
Hope you are having a good summer so far!
I just watched the movie In a World (Netflix!) and boy does it show you a real world example of getting exactly what you wanted. It never is with all the rainbows and piles of money that you imagined but I think it demonstrates the human aspects of true happiness and achievement. I'll try not to ruin the ending, but really the little wins throughout this movie make you rethink the little victories that you yourself have had. Maybe you don't give them enough credit?

  1. Things that don't happen
    • Aren't you glad that you haven't had to deal with some of the drama that fills the movie world? Death in the family, car accident, heart break, to name a few. Thank goodness none of that has happened recently (knock on wood). Be supportive of those that go through tough things because even if you can't relate, you know surviving take a lot of effort.
  2. Others noticing your efforts
    • Did your boss come directly to your desk and tell you good job? Did your quarterly numbers make all the other teams look bad? Sometimes we glance over these major accomplishments and jump into the next one too quick if we don't get a giant party. Sometimes we want more recognition for the amazing things we've done. Well,  there might not be a fanfare but it still counts and people went out of their way to say so. But they are still there so stop, smile, and be proud.
  3. Silent wonder
    • If you are someone's hero, you probably don't know it. Whether your kids, a mentor, or an intern at work, your experience and the skills you have are seasoned and what you've accomplished is impressive. I bet there are those that quietly and politely wonder how we did it and want to be like you. Take a look around and see who watching you and you may realize that your talents are appreciated more than you expected.
I just got invited to become one with Denver's Yelp Elite Squad! Check out my reviews if you're interested. I travel a lot for work and I rely on Yelp to find the good food spots and am glad to share my finds for future out-of-towners. Finding the non-chain places adds an hour of adventure to my necessary on-the-road work. Joining this trend-setter group and following the popular crowd is not something I usually do but there are some pluses to being the leader in social circles.
  1. Forces You to Explore
    • I love trying new things. I've eaten raw quail egg, cooked donkey, fried chicken feet, and duck liver (froi gras). When you are the leader, if you say eww then those behind you will likely follow suit and stay away. If you try it, then you give the option to those behind you to make their own choice. It is encouraging to watch someone else try the unknown first and give other confidence to follow suit!
  2. Describe in Detail
    • You better quickly tell me why this is a 5-star place, especially if my first impressions walking in are not that great. Ambiance, quality, flavor, anything can make remove/add a star. Like if they deliver and it is soggy when you get to your room. Or the knowledge of the server on wine pairings. Maybe what you like isn't the same as others so you need to be specific about what drew you in or drove you away.
  3. One time wonder or becoming a regular
    • There are some coffee shops that are fun and then there are those that you return to again and again. If I travel and visit a place more than once, it is definitely a keeper. If you start being recognized and there is consistency in temperature and taste from visit to visit, they may earn a picture. :-) There is something really special about these places and my goal is to find them everywhere!
Thanks for visiting!

A little bragging of my team: successful day one completed! When you are introducing massive change to nearly 200 people all at once, it can be overwhelming. One bad attitude, one misunderstanding, one mishap and slow correction, can quickly domino the day away... and none of that happened. It was because we have a great team and because meticulous planning was done. Here's what I learned from observing this success.
  1. Give them tunnel vision
    • When you have 20 things to learn, start with 10. Or even better, start with 5. Narrow what people have on their plate to divide and conquer. If you plan and communicate that they only need to worry about their portion of the pie, there is less amount to worry about. Stress can be managed by workload (to an extent).
  2. Keep the code names
    • If you named the project some silly acronym at the beginning, just stick with it to the end. Don't change it because the terminology can easily become a barrier if there aren't people that can remember it. The little things can turn into big things if they trigger an emotional response. Keep it it simple to avoid frustration.
  3. Write it down
    • Wow was I impressed by the notes each person took, the training booklets on everyone's desk, and the helpful hints online at their fingertips. It made questions easier to answer or even solve on your own. When you have a reference point like a diagram, screenshot, or example that triggers that memory of "oh ya, do that next" you can see progress from hour to hour. Amazing!
Hats off to all the effort my teammates put into this project. Congratulations!

Inspired by Mother's Day this week, here's a post to help you think about how lucky you have it. There have been some pretty sweet commercials for Mother's Day this year and your mom really is someone unique and special to you. It makes me think of how many people in my life and career have been amazing. I wouldn't be who I am today without people like my coworkers, my friends, and especially my Mom. Do you have a special figure in your life that you look up to and are motherly, loving, and supportive?

  1. What have you done that enabled me?
    • Is there something you are doing today that you couldn't do if someone else didn't help you get there? I know my Mom pushed me into tough Math classes in school. My mentor referred me to speak at that conference. My significant other picked up the slack when I got laid off. In hindsight, there are a lot of things that I wouldn't have (or couldn't have) done if I didn't have someone else secretly (and fervently) fighting for me.
  2. What have you done that shows unconditional devotion?
    • Sometimes we screw up. Sometimes we make bad decisions. Sometimes we make the right decision for us but someone else sees it as the wrong one. And yet it is usually all okay. The people that forgive you for your mistakes, those that give you a second chance and believe in your character, trusting you're better than that; they are worth so much. 
  3. What do you support me in that no one else does?
    • Who is that little voice that whispers "You can do it" or "Try it anyways"? We doubt ourselves all the time, wondering if it we made the right choice or not. Be thankful for those that see you as someone worthy of respect and greatness and offer confidence that you are on the right path. Be thankful for those that push you to be more than who you think you are on your own.
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!
My inspiration this week comes from a great article full of tips from TED talk speakers. The last one states that "If you have thirty minutes, take 25. If you have an hour, take 50." They say that you are respecting your audience when you are conscientious of their time. Whether it is a TED talk you listen to by choice or a routine meeting that you have to attend, finishing early can earn you a lot of respect back! Here's a few reasons why.
  1. Get on to the next thing quicker
    • We know you are ever so important and are running from one meeting straight to another. And when it is down 3 stories or a virtual meeting that requires 2 different hookups to get connected, travel time exists. After your 8:00 am meeting, all of a sudden you are late to every following meeting that day. Give them time to get where they are going and your audience will thank you.
  2. Be succinct
    • Ending your assigned time early doesn't mean you ran out of material for your audience. It means you took the time to compose your thoughts in a simple yet effective way. People love when you keep things simple for them to understand and you can get to the point quickly so they can make decisions.
  3. What if scenarios
    • You know it happens: the projector breaks, there are tons of questions, a surprise dependency comes up. Any project manager or meeting manager knows it is inevitable and you have to be flexible for whatever happens. If you give yourself and your meeting that extra time built in, dealing with mishaps will be tons easier for everyone!

Are you in a place where you love what you do? Are you excited about coming to work every day and feel like you don't work a day in your life. Haha, no probably not. I think there are a rare breed that is that certain about their life choices. But just because you aren't one of those doesn't mean you don't have a perfect fit and enjoy your work. You'd at least like to not feel like the grass is greener on the other side, right?
  1. Do you prefer Tuesdays or Thursdays?
    • A colleague's comment last week made me realize how glass half full or half empty this statement is. Are you thankful that it is Tuesday and you have days left to still get stuff accomplished? Or if it is Thursday, are you already looking forward to the weekend? You might enjoy what you do if you don't count the hours you have to do it.
  2. Do you attend optional after hours or lunch time events?
    • With two choices, to attend or not to attend, do you choose to spend more than your 40 hours around the people you work with? Developing relationships with those around beyond the tasks and paperwork can be a strong sign that you should stay where you are. The people you work with have a much larger impact on your happiness than your paycheck!
  3. Have you been with more than 3 companies in your career?
    • Job hopping does seem to be the thing of the times if you want to advance or get a pay increase. While that may be true, it also means a lot of other change that equates to unhappiness. Having to accrue vacation time, having to gain trust, having to learn the basics. Starting over too many times will make you feel like you are moving backwards instead of up. There are ways to move laterally internally if you are looking for a challenge. And don't forget that asking for a raise is an option!

It is no lie that even with all of the great minds, great resources, and great intentions that projects can still fall apart. It is frustrating when dealing with missed deadlines, budgets, or worst of all, both. So what can you do if you are off track? Well, obviously you need to change what you've been doing.

Here are some ideas:
  1. Add or remove one project person
    • Sometimes you need some fresh blood, or to figuratively spill it. By adding or removing one person you can change the dynamic of the project team. Remember the communication channel equation: N(N-1)/2 ? How people interact with one another whether it is bulldozing decisions or passively agreeing to everything can change if you change the involved parties.
  2. Add a personal touch
    • When you get wrapped up in tasks, agenda items, and meetings project members may begin to coast. Get their attention by doing a kickstart like when you did a kickoff. Do a ice breaker game or another team building activity. For example, take the meeting off-site, bring in lunch for a socialized hour, or tell some personal stories/jokes to get everyone in a collaborative and friendly spirit.
  3. Give them the time of day
    • I know, you are busy. They are too busy tackling all sorts of problems in conjuncture to your project. Sometimes all you need is a break, mental or physical, to get rejuvenated. Take the time to talk to each of your project members and ask them about their vacation time or about anything else that is not project related. They might feel tied down and so give them the benefit of the doubt and a little freedom and then the renewed energy will come back around eventually.
As you can tell, I'm an advocate for positive reinforcement. It is easy to get bogged down by the snowball affect but a little smile and pat on the back can go far. Tell someone today about how their efforts have made all the difference in your project!
Last month I hit my one year anniversary at my new (can I still call it new?) company. Hooray! What I realized though is that emotionally it is more a relief than a celebration. A year ago I was unemployed after being laid off and well, it still stresses me out to think about it. It wasn't a fun time and having a new company that values me makes me feel like I did come out ahead in the end, but that doesn't make it worth it. That feeling, that experience, sticks with me and has become a part of me in ways that I wish it wasn't.
photo credit: Pleister(werk) via photopin (license)
  1. Badge of Honor
    • I mention it to others more than I'd like. I never wanted to be laid off; I wanted to find and stay with a company for a long time like my Dad did. It's funny how a few words can say so much about your professional life and describe how you got to where you are. I feel like I gain some respect from older generations when I share "the tough times" but I guess I don't know for sure.
  2. Fear of a Repeat
    • At the end of the 2014, I took my last vacation day to just relax at home; and I will never do that again. Having the house to myself during a weekday felt like being unemployed for a day and it was an unsettling reminder. I don't like that the memory is so easy to recall and that it affects home and work. I'm in a good place now, why do I hold onto this old burden?!
  3. Still Conservative
    • I've always been a conservative spender and now I feel that it has gotten worse! Money doesn't make you happy but when you don't have it, now that can make you unhappy. I do a lot of safe investing now "just in case" because I relied upon it for 6 months. I want to be better prepared for what I hope will never happen again. I survived but that doesn't mean it'd be easier the next time around.
Regardless of my past unfortunate events, I hope that my confidence will improve and that things will be different this time around. Here's to many more future anniversaries!
The Answer? Laughter. Seriously. It is the key to a good team, to easing tensions, and for simply brightening up your life. It is a body language tool that you can use to your advantage whether intentionally or not. Whether you have a hearty boom, a snickering smile, or continuous stream of haha's, a laugh is almost as contagious as a smile. It can turn a situation into one of friendship and personal. More specifically, a laugh:
  1. Show you're having a good time
    • My cube mates are loud. But they are our support team and when I hear giggling, see jokes on whiteboards, and can join hallways gatherings I know it is a good thing. They obviously are enjoying themselves at work and there's nothing bad about that! It creates an environment of happiness.
  2. Show you're human and make mistakes
    • Being able to laugh at yourself is important. And if you physically and literally do that in front of others, it can put them at ease. "Haha, I knew that." or a "woops" with a smile. Instead of getting stressed out, laugh it off and get to fixing it!
  3. Show your personality
    • Laughter demonstrates what you find entertaining, funny, and worthy of your continued attention. If a comedian, speaker, or colleague jokes about the weather or the competitor's shortcomings, you find a commonality which is vital in growing relationship. You will hang out with people that you enjoy being around more so be one of those people!
Yup, it happened to me. And I think there are two reactions to this scenario: you love it or hate it. You're either jealous or proud. Honestly, it was a bit of both for me as I have similar ambitions but for our team, this change will be good for me too. And I'm relieved a bit that we didn't bring in fresh blood at the top because we're already a solid team. Anyways, now you have to start building a manager-employee relationship. How can set yourself up for success?
  1. Be the first to reach out
    • Communicate communicate communicate! There is a lot of unsure feelings circulating and someone needs to break the ice. Call them and congratulate them. Give them at least one reason why you are excited for them to be in this new position so it isn't canned. This admission of their position will start this new relationship out on the right foot because your initiation of this new communication makes them feel comfortable coming to you in the future.
  2. Come prepared to your first meeting with them as the boss
    • Whether it is a one-on-one or a team gathering, make yourself and your work known. Your new boss might have been on your team but they may not know the efforts you've been put it. Have examples, speak up, and show that you are a valued member of this team. Become their go-to person for just one thing and it will create a good foundation for this new team dynamic.
  3. Plan your next move together
    • Okay, so maybe you wish you got it. Or you've had so many managers that you hate having to constantly prove yourself. If you are interested in promotion (or maybe simply not being the top of the list for getting laid off), you have to show your value to your new boss whether you like it or not. Talk to your boss about where you want to be so they can be your advocate and mentor. They just lived a personal experience so learn from their success!
Congratulations to Mathu! We know that you are enthused about your new challenge and we have lots of great things coming for our team this year with you as our leader.
Holy moly, my last post was #100 and I wasn't even paying attention! To be honest, I'm a little surprised myself that I've been blogging [almost] once a week for 2.5 years. It's time to rethink my goals of this blog so there may be some changes coming soon so thanks for being a reader! What does it mean when you accomplish something and you don't even realize it until someone else says something?

  1. It must be a passion
    • There are some things that we do no matter if we get paid to do it or not. Volunteering comes from the heart. What we do in our free time says a lot about our character. Do you have a second job? A child? A sports team? No matter who or what it is, your energy is solely directed on it for many hours and your commitment hasn't wavered. Wow!
  2. Realize your skills
    • Often we don't take credit for the things that come easy to us or that we do just for fun. Sometimes we are blind entirely to how uniquely gifted we are to those around us. Are you the only one that has the right local connections? Are you the only one that can get a whole room of listeners on their feet? Maybe you really are good at what you do!
  3. Celebrate
    • I've said this before, but it is important to celebrate your achievements! Too much of our time is spend working hard towards a destination so put your feet up and reminisce on your efforts.  Have a beer, tell a friend, or change your theme on your website - you deserve it.
It has been over a year since I completed my MBA and not being on the education system schedule is... weird. I haven't stopped learning though - right now I'm reading about the stock market at home and SQL scripts at work. Why do we feel driven to learn and better ourselves? It isn't just our human nature.
  1. Learn more about someone else
    • We all crave (to different levels) human interaction and if we listen to someone, we grow those kind of relationships. Whether we are learning what they are interested in, learning how they feel about something, or learning what their boundaries are. Now we can interact with them differently next time. You might ask specific follow up questions to continue relationship growth. You can determine whether you should seek their help when you run into problems yourself. Or you can learn when to avoid them altogether.
  2. Become an expert
    • The most common reason that people learn is to build upon their existing knowledge. You learn a new serving technique in tennis to be a better tennis player and win matches. You learn modern marketing trends to be better at your job and get a promotion. There is a selfish element to this and an element of for the greater good too.
  3. The journey not the destination
    • I know many self-proclaimed "life long learners" that always are going to a class, seminar, or conference. They love school, traveling and reading. These types of people enjoy the constant challenge of uncovering the unknown piece by piece. By exploring the world and growing out knowledge base we feel we are "well rounded".
Now the real question is how you apply what you've learned. Do you teach others? Do you learn from your mistakes? Make sure you are learning for a reason!
I finished my first sci-fi book of the year and when I learned it was made into a movie I watched it right away. This 2010 movie, Never Let Me Go (which is actually also a song), just didn't live up to the book. There seemed to be so much left out, implied, or communicated in different ways that it was almost distracting. But then I realized, it was very similar to business in items you turn from report to presentation, proposal to pitch. Converting something written to something visual can take concentration and grace. What makes it so difficult to communicate the same content in a different medium?
  1. Time investment
    • It only takes 2 hours or less to watch a movie, but many weekends to finish a book. The same is true for presentations in the compressed time of hours to minutes. Our interest in the ending is built over time, drawn by clues leading us to answers. An fast action-packed film doesn't let us look away, but a poetic mystery may keep us on the edge of our seat when reading. And presentations? Something that doesn't make us crave a nap within 20 minutes is what I call success.
  2. Pictures mean 1000 words
    • When you look at a farmer in a field of dead corn, or a president at a podium with a stern face, or a , you notice little things that set the mood. Cloud cover can bring you down, or a chatty audience can perk you up. With words, such a scene would need pages to describe the detail and set the stage. Color, art, handouts, and gestures can keep people watching you.
  3. Speed of listening
    • Have you ever read a book out loud to someone? It is a very different experience. The speed at which we speak is much slower than the speed in which we listen and think. Influenced only by vocal tones of the reader, your imagination runs wild bringing the story to life in your own perspective. A balance of control, the best listeners take an active role in the story or presentation.

It is hard to ignore the winter storm that Colorado had this weekend. My house got over a foot with some drifts closer to two. It is amazing how snow can bring out the cuddle bunny in all of us: reading, hot tea, family movie time, snowman building, and lots of baking. The white that covers everything seems to put everything to sleep and everyone seems to put busy things away and relax with it. Isn't it wonderful?
  1. Abnormal time for normal results
    • When it snows, you have to shovel the walk, warm up your car, and bundle up before going anywhere. It take an extra 10-20 minutes to just get out the door! But we all do it; we prepare more than usual and we make accommodations without much complaining. Why? I think we just don't let a little obstacle stand in our way!
  2. Overly cautious and slow
    • No, you aren't sure if there is black ice under you or not! All you can do is know your physics and have experience with walking/driving in this stuff to avoid causing a scene. Locals and non-locals alike can possess poor judgment rushing into the unknown. The speed of our actions drastically changes when we approach something we aren't sure about or are scared of.
  3. Quickly acknowledge the unfortunate situation
    • Everyone happily accepts a snow day from school/work. Even knowing the consequences of how much make-up effort will be needed, the weather conditions aren't something you can change. So, somehow, we take it in stride and relax. We sleep in, sip our tea, and enjoy the extra bit of weekend before the inevitable and hectic week begins.
So I guess I feel sorry for those that pick the beach over the mountains... you are missing out! Haha.
I finally finished Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer and the story of the Busch family, politics, commerce, and more. It was interesting because this truely "American" company is a very strong brand that has evolved over 100+ years before its monarchy ended in 2009 with the InBev partnership. What I enjoyed about the book is the factors that made the company great and their leaders so iconic.
  1. Influence of popularity
    • When your name is synonymous with a brand, you flaunt your money in ways that sometimes seem unethical. Popularity causes crowds of people to flock to you and as a result you feel obligated to keep them there. The Busch family threw parties, built theme parks, and gave away free beer.
  2. Quality above Quantity
    • Beer and other perishable goods must meet very strict demands to taste good and stay fresh. Busch never changed their formula to meet demand and instead stayed true to the fermentation processes and would inspect distributors for old beer past its shelf life. They never compromised on their recipe and it helped them gain loyal drinkers. This enabled Busch to hold a majority market share in the competitive market of beer for years and years.
  3. Trends Come and Go
    • As the company grew and supply chain sped up, Busch branched out to some but not all "comparable" markets like food, baseball, and merchandise. They stuck through Prohibition by lobbying. They didn't join the light beer party until well after it was established. They did make an Australian style lager and hard alcohol options when tastes changed. Knowing your market strategy can guide you to making the best decisions for you and whether or not you should participate in certain trends.
Fame and fortune did a number on the Busch heirs named August (3rd and 4th specifically) and the story really does have a sad end. Partnerships can change your values and change your brand and it has taken its toll on Busch beer. Do you know another brand that has an interested history? Share!

Standing on the edge with sweat on your forehead looking down, down, down into a deep blue pool of water. Count down, 3, 2, 1 and... do you jump off the cliff into the certain fun? Do you know that combined feeling of fear and excitment in this song? This is my inspiration this week. I hear a splash of a cannonball but I just watched the music video and the playful but serious aspects are portrayed in that same exact smile of fear and excitement. Watch it below and read what I think this feeling is about:
  1. Run before you can fly
    • Smart people don't wait for good things to come, they go out there and get them. Almost always this means due diligence and practice practice practice. So you know you have to take on the small challenges that look scary before you can take on even greater and bigger things.
  2. Not afraid to crash and burn
    • It isn't that you have no fear, instead it is acting in spite of it. Saying to hell with it to stepping out anyways. Trying new things means you assess your risks, ask what if, and then carefully disregarding them, haha!
  3. Enjoying the journey
    • Half the fun is getting there! You know the struggle and the work and the dream is what earns you the reward and you will look back on the fond memories and emotions that led up to the final moment. Here's to taking a big breath, taking a chance, and running for it head on!


Sheppard - Geronimo
I've been tired this week. The constant travel has really taken a lot of my energy and all I really want to do is get some sleep and take it easy for a couple days. Unfortunately, life doesn't always let you take a break when you need it. Sometimes you have to power through until you can catch a breather. Here are the symptoms and my recommendations for not losing your cool when you feel like crap.
  1. Short temper
    • Your emotions sometimes get the better of you when your normal levels of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can't keep them in check. I know that I am guilty of being quick to anger when I'm tired and it usually turns out I just made a bad assumption somewhere. Know when to step outside for a breather and do all you can to not talk about (or think about) work at dinner and bedtime.
  2. Miscommunication
    • Ugh, I hate this one. An email comes in and you reply with an answer and you get a short response back pretty much asking "wtf". I either didn't make sense or didn't solve the right problem. My best solution for this one: apologize. When you make more mistakes, you need to own up to them and not be afraid to just say "woops" and "sorry".
  3. Losing concentration
    • Honestly, when you are wiped out there is no where else you'd rather be than chilling in front of the TV half asleep. It is hard to stay focused and actually get work done. The stress, added mistakes, and never ending to-do list makes you put more than your usual 40 hours in. Even though you feel like you aren't finishing anything, try to remove distractions or set mini-deadlines. I actually block out my calendar with each task so that I stay committed to the task at hand.
You are probably like me and if you aren't already, growing an addiction to coffee and other unnatural caffeinated ways to stay awake. Try to manage it and remember that being awake doesn't mean you are alert!
I had a few lunch meetings in the last two weeks and there is just something about some people that makes you feel good after you hang out with them. I feel grateful to have some of these people in my life so thank you shoutout to Miranda, Jung, Jeanne, Guy, and the ladies of Butler County. I leave feeling rejuvenated after we simply share personal stories about our families, personal challenges, or just plain gossip. Typically it is because these special people are one of these types to me:
  1. Optimistic
    • Maybe misery loves company, but I would choose a friend with a you-can-get-through-this attitude any day. That friend's shoulder is for the tears, the complaints, and the drama with no regrets. I love these people that always look on the bright side no matter what; it helps us remember how good we have it now and make those challenges ahead look less fierce.
  2. Fun
    • Sometimes all you need is to have a good time. That shopping trip, couple of beers, or remember-to-be-a-kid joy of a silly movie. I always feel ready to take on the world with a smile after I've maxed out my fun level. No matter how grumpy of a face is looking at me today, yesterday was awesome and you can't ruin that wave.
  3. Resourceful
    • Then there are those people that you look up to. They make smart decisions and give sound advice. They seem to know everyone and offer to help you in any way they can. I don't know how they do it! But they are always there and it makes you want to be a better person and make better choices yourself.
photo credit: Celebrate 6 via photopin (license)

Why do we work 40 hours a week and can the government do anything about changing that? Actually, just this last week the Save American Workers Act of 2015 is in the news about Obamacare workers' hours. There are a bunch of great books out there that advocate a 30 hour or at least a different structure of work week. I totally agree and here is why.
  1. Necessary to achieve work-life balance
    • In my opinion, the math is realistically something like this: 8 hours of work + 1.5 hour of meals + 1.5 hours of getting ready morning/night + 1 hour commute + 8 hours of sleep = 20 hours. That leaves 4 hours to ourselves and our family, much less time (1/2 the time in fact) than we spend at work. If you add weekends, the ratio barely reaches 50-50 of home-work time (a ratio of 44:40). Doesn't that make it tough to fully care how you spend your time at work when someone else designates how long?
  2. More time at the desk doesn't equate to more done
    • How many of us actually work the whole time we are at work? Turns out very few. We need breaks. We need distractions. We need other things in our lives than work to stay motivated, creative, and hard-working. Just admit to it and be okay with getting up to leave for lunch, go workout in the middle of the day, or leave early that one time to pick up your kid.
  3. Guilt
    • I think in general we are breeding a society that feels guilty for not spending enough time at home or at work and instead of trying to find a better balance, we blame reality and say "there aren't enough hours in the day". Seriously?! No, we just need to give ourselves permission to enjoy life away from the desk and to feel confident when we are in charge at work. Take control and be 100% there wherever you are.
At the very least, use all of your vacation time so it isn't every week. You know what I'm saying?


IT'S GONE! Finally. We had bought a keg of Dale's Pale Ale for my dad for his retirement back in November and it is finally empty! Now that we have gained more weight than anyone should over the holidays, we can start the New Year's weight loss resolutions on the right foot. A few things I've learned from this "adventure":
  1. Repetition
    • When you have that much "work" to get through, it can become repetitive and lose the initial excitement. It becomes almost a chore. A great way to "stay hungry" is to bring in other people to enjoy it like new again. Everyone enjoys a good beer and a good cause!
  2. Nearing the End Goal
    • I can't even count how many times we said "it feels so light, it must be almost there". It felt just like any project when you are almost done and somehow more and more keep coming and preventing the inevitable. You have to remind yourself that it is not only about the destination but also the way you get there that is worth while.
  3. Rules of General Upkeep
    • Because it took so long to finish the keg, there were many times (like below) that we had to bring it inside to keep it from freezing in the sub-32* temperatures. It is easy to become lazy and let things slip "just for today" since it is an ongoing project. You just can't afford to put things off though - the health of the project needs to stay consistent!

Jones the cat and the keg

About Me



So if you want to be happy at work like I am, then thanks for being a reader! I am a consultant that travels constantly and is always working with new people. I love what I do! I'm formally trained with an MBA and BS Engineering. At home and in my free time, I like to drink beer, travel, garden, read, hike with my dog, and play board games.

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