Again...

Frustrated. Need sleep but of course, work called 1 hour after I passed out.

Amazing how we are so dependent on others to get our jobs done and how one person can screw up many... dominos at it's best.

Some day I am going to get out of the management business and become an individual contributor again but until then - back to the fight. I'll get a nap soon and then back to the office.

What a Game

So after a long, ugly week at work, I decided to watch the USA Women's Soccer team take on Brazil in the quarter finals of the Women's World Cup.

What a match!

Up 1 - 0 after only 2 minutes into the game, Brazil tied the game late in regulation forcing extra time. So 90 minutes in the books and another 30 minutes guaranteed!

Brazil goes up on what I think was a bit of a lucky goal scored by one of the best players in the world at this time (Marta) and it looked like the end. The US was playing with only 10 players - a big disadvantage in soccer terms.

But the US kept pushing... and pushing... and pushing... then near the end of extra time with Brazil trying to do everything they can to stall for time, the US scores to tie it up on a brilliant header by Abby Wambach! NEVER SAY DIE!!!

From there, they move on to penalty kicks - one on one with the goaltender from 12 yards out. One of the most difficult shots for a keeper to stop - but also one of the most difficult to make. I speak from experience on this one from both sides of the ball.

Enter Hope Solo - the new sweetheart of US Women's soccer... beautiful save by a beautiful gal moving the US into the semi-finals against France!!


USA!! USA!!

Oh yeah - moral of the story - no matter how hard you think things are, keep pushing, plugging and trying - hard work WILL pay off and there are no shortcuts to a great outcome!!

Is the Work Ethic a Lost Concept?

Seems to me that younger folks (some, not all) have no concept of what work ethic actually is.

People seem to be forgetting that it is a pay for performance world and this is not Major League Baseball!!

There are a number of people who instilled my work ethic in my life. Those people include my parents of course, my first baseball coach who took a bunch of "minor leaguers" and turned us into champs who could take on the "major leaguers" under the lights and kick their asses and my high school soccer coach.

Basically the message was the harder you work, the more reward. People who skate by will not get the bonuses and may not get the bigger raises. They certainly will not get the promotions!

Tenure in a position does NOT give you the right to be promoted. I'll promote a hard worker willing to learn over a person with twice the time in the position who is what I call a "banger" - the one who is in at 8 and out at 5 with no additional efforts.

Hell - I started delivering newspapers at age 11 and something as simple as putting a paper between the storm door and front door on a rainy day netted me HUNDREDS in Christmas tips - just for delivering a dry newspaper... sometimes it's the simple things.

People think I'm crazy to work as hard as I do, but I hope to God that I am able to show my kids that a little hard work can lead to great things!

I want to be an example to my kids and all the kids I have coached in the past years - I hope I live up to the legacy of the people who inspired me.

Rewind... rewind... rewind...

what a strange day...

New hire that started on Monday forced to resign due to medical issues... I feel really bad for him because he's a real nice guy but it would have impacted his ability to do the job... prayers to you JH... be well

sales escalation took up another 2 hours this morning... stupid shit - support gets thrown under the bus and we have to jack it up ourselves and prove we were correct... Just ONCE I'd like to get some support from the sales team... sticking up for the customer is one thing, but throwing the people who bail your ass out time and time again is just plain wrong...

Had one guy "flake" on me this afternoon after offering him a new role that he interviewed for... oh well - back to the drawing board.

Keep smiling and keep the team together (mentally)... I'm glad my boss is so supportive of me... she really appreciates me being there and for that I'm thankful... 'Tis the Season!

Feeling Drained

Not sure if it's work, family or the recent time change but I've been "off" for a couple weeks now.

Work is stressful - new releases, lots to do and not enough time during the day to get things done... I know - same for a lot of folks. I still love the job and I know it's just a temporary bump - I just haven't felt it like this in the year+ I've been there.

Family stuff is OK - lots going on - very busy ... that feeds the stress of course and the holidays loom just around the bend.

The time change is always tough - haven't been sleeping good - trying to get adjusted as best I can (and as fast as I can). Not seeing the sun can weigh on a person - need to try to get out at lunchtime to take a walk a couple times per week.

Slow Down - You Move Too Fast

Everyone seems to be on edge lately... customers, staff, co-workers, family, friends.... everyone...

Maybe it's the unknown of the upcoming election... or maybe the economy.. or the upcoming holidays.... or how about all of the above?!?!?

Customers want everything now and are quick to escalate... staff is stressed because of new software coming out soon ... family and friends just because... it's somewhat wild and not much relief.

I tried to relax tonight but too many things to do ... I checked e-mails before I started this and uncovered a problem at work... 30 minutes later, here I am...

My vice when I'm stressed is food... I snack... i'm a "grazer" and it's not good - especially going into the winter months. Tonight was the last soccer practice with the kids so I did some running around but I can always use more.

Reading helps but reading at night just puts me to sleep :)

I want to take up a hobby .... woodworking or pick up my guitar again... not sure which but I will pick up one or the other over the winter. In the summer it's yardwork and gardening that are my release. Still need to find something for the winter months. An excuse to stop working so much. The wife and daughter don't talk much because they're so busy... we do make a point of eating dinner together every night and it's good - just the way it was when I grew up... the youngest is still too young to sit and carry on a "good" conversation but it's getting better... sitting on the floor playing games with him is a great relaxer too.

Just need to take other's advice and slow down from time to time... I was never one for listening though so it's up to me ...

Why are people stupid?

Sometimes you have to wonder why people do what they do... I have a tech who overall is good. Nice kid... considerate, fun, technically sound...

Unfortunately he did something really stupid and it will cost him his job... I feel bad about it but I have little choice ... Friday's gonna be hard.

Be smart - take your crap off the printer at work... better yet, DON'T EVEN PRINT IT!

Fluff is Gone

That's it... she finished on Friday... gave what she said - 2 full weeks of solid work and I thank her for it... nothing less than professional - period.

Many laughs at the happy hour... me, Fluff, Pooch, the Saint and others in attendance of course... the core, the lifeblood...

Big hole in the team - professionally and emotionally... the company that lured her away is lucky and will be happy with her I'm sure...

You'll be missed Fluff! Thanks for everything and thank you for the friendship and all else over the past few years. Keep in touch!!

Slow Down - RELAX!!!

Wow! What a day... down 3 techs and a 4th calls in "sick" (read that as hung over!)... sales people pissed off, customers pissed off and I can't get a lick of my own work done all day.

Snapped at one sales guy and apologized... pissed off the bosses because I put myself in the situation... no one to blame but myself... Am I trying too hard or taking on too much? Maybe...

Serves me right for trying to be the nice guy... a couple of people are taking advantage of it I fear... plus I'm losing one of my best techs to a different company/job this week... good move for her and it will leave a big hole for a little bit... I'm happy for her though.

Need to suck it up, slow down and relax a bit... been working out again (but missed tonight because of other stuff that needed to be done)... need to work an 8 hour day here soon and not feel bad about it... maybe tomorrow...

Good night all.

Fluff's Final Week

Fluffy is leaving! Waaaaahhhhhh!

Bummer, downer, exciting, happy for you.

You were a big supporter of me in the past two positions... You will be missed for sure.

Relax - It's the Olympics

Relaxing weekend so far... Olympics on TV, my daughter had friends spend the night and I ran some errands... relaxing the rest of the day... GO USA!

Weight down 1 more pound... Blood pressure still good - have to work hard next week though to beat the 190 pound mark... sitting at 191... Friday and Saturday are usually my worst days but you can't totally deny yourself - reward yourself with a little something after working hard the week before.

Work was tough this past week - lots of escalations but still somewhat productive other than the fact that I wasn't able to talk to my friend much - I hope she doesn't think that I'm avoiding her or pushing away. That's the last thing I want to do.

Work, working out and "Stuff"

Rough couple days at work. Lots of escalations all being handled, but just taking up too much of my day. Nothing my techs can do about it though - some customers just need to be held.

Looking for an excuse to sacrifice the rubber chicken and this might be it... need some good mojo!

Personal note - workouts have been good and I'm dropping some weight. Need to see my friend for a little more alone time. Maybe later this week or next. Grab a beer and watch the ballgame and talk.

Crazy Mondays!

Monday... great workout this morning at the gym and a hell of a day at work...

The workday started out just fine but then escalation city!! One user just yelling at one of my techs, me and 2 people from sales. Root cause = IGNORANCE. Not necessarily his fault but he needs to shut his mouth and listen for a few minutes.

We'll get through to him but it might take a couple of days. It will be interesting to see his response in the morning.

Might have to sacrifice the rubber chicken at work before the original plan if this shit keeps up!

Personal note - got an e-mail from a former soccer player of mine that I used to coach - glad to hear she's doing good in this crazy grown up world... I've known her for at least 10 years now - hard to believe.

Where did the Weekend Go??

Time flies but did I really have fun? Woke up to a phone call from work at 1:15am Saturday morning. Youngest kid woke up early that morning so no go on catching up on the lost sleep.

Saturday afternoon spent with a contractor for 4 hours. Sunday flew by doing all kinds of other stuff... kind of crazy.

Monday was fast and furious at the office. Hoping to hear from a friend of mine today - maybe, maybe not... hoping to get to lunch with her this week... need to say hello.

Side note - back to the gym today for the first time in a long time... need to get back into the habit... bad day diet-wise though... I need to work on dropping this weight (10 - 15 pounds) in the next 3 months)... I'm gonna work hard at it - for my own good...

Have to figure out how I can cut/burn a combination of 3500 calories a week for the next 12 weeks - that will do it... 500 calories a day to drop the weight... good luck to me... it will make a few people in my life very happy if/when I do it.

Mish-mash of Things

Not much peace the past 2 days at work... lots to do but lots of interruptions... giving a class that is being somewhat well received. JW not engaged at all - par for the course with him... he's a tough nut.

Was a busy weekend - last soccer game of the girl's season - brilliant 2 - 1 win in the final seconds... well played all around.

Men's team could have used some of that magic but lots of injuries. Chris played with a busted rib from the previous week. Daughter had a 3 hour softball practice after her game on Saturday.

More $$ about to be spent - unplanned of course... rain last night and found a little water in the house by the fireplace... either a problem at the roof-line or with the chimney cap allowing water to wick in... called the roofer today to have them come out to look at it tomorrow... fingers crossed!

Thoughts for Thursday

Bummer - lost my original post due to a computer issue (wireless sucks sometimes)

Good day at work - calmer.. filled 2 open positions (and quickly) - boss likes that...

Talked to the person who resigned last night - burned out... good luck... glad he gave me 2 weeks

Avalanche lost big tonight to the Red Wing scum... only the Flyers left now to root for (other than anyone playing the Rangers and Red Wings)

Rough/physical indoor soccer game tonight... I'll feel it tomorrow morning for sure... ankle, ribs, legs all sore...

Snowed today - 80 degrees yesterday - 45 w/snow today... gotta love Colorado

Friday looms - gonna make it a good day and a good weekend... Happy Friday!!

Unreasonable Customers

Some people are just unreasonable... we had a situation at work tonight (we're a 24x7x365 operation) and the people on the other end of the phone were just so unreasonable...

We tried to reassure them that we were taking all measures to get in touch with the right people, but they would just not accept that..

Finally one of my techs to prove to this jackass on the other end of the line that we weren't just bullshitting him conferenced him into the calls he was making to prove that no one was answering the phones ...

Still - the jackass continued braying away... "I want it NOW", "you don't understand", "I want retribution".... on and on the guy went...

Problem is that the guy's client is the one that caused the problem in the first place by not abiding by the rules... and you want ME on a HOLIDAY that I am spending with MY FAMILY to jump through flaming hoops for you? KISS MY ASS!!!

Goodbye and Thanks for Nothing

Had a person on my staff resign today. Not that big a deal, but the way he did it left a lot to be said of his professionalism.

He showed up at about 5:30pm, after I had left. According to the people who were there, he dropped a note on my desk, dropped off his equipment, cleaned out his desk, bad-mouthed a member of the team, dropped a couple of F-Bombs and left.

Gee - thanks for giving me an opportunity to try to resolve some of your concerns. You were good, but you burned that bridge pal. You'll be lucky to get name, rank and serial number from me in a reference.

It's too bad because I thought that you could have helped me with this team. Guess that was asking too much from someone who waited less than 48 hours after I started to start raking me over the coals for not immediately changing things.

Change takes time, change takes patience. My advice to you? Get out of the technology field. Go into something where you don't have to interact with people and where there's no chance of any conflict. You can't handle it.

For my part, sorry charlie. For your part, you should be sorry and embarrassed by your behavior.

The Last Day

Last day at work today... it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, yet it was harder in some respects.

Caught myself a couple of times talking to different people getting misted up... I'm an emotional person anyway and saying goodbye to people isn't a pleasant thing no matter what the circumstances...

In some cases I felt like I was abandoning some and leaving others to die... shit.

Dealt with HR, a final staff meeting and making "the rounds".

The staff meeting was probably the toughest and I reminded the group that was there that they are a good crew and they need to press on because if they didn't I was gonna come back and kick their asses... at least that got them laughing.

In the end, I think I did what I had hoped and that was to leave quietly, with dignity and leaving behind a couple of potetial "fires" to burn carefully selected bridges... the world is too small to burn a lot of bridges - makes for a lonely existence - so you just need to be very selective...

Every ending is another beginning - so time to start with chapter 1... but afterI take some inventory and spend some time with the kids... With that, I leave you so I can go be with my youngest.

Peace, love and whatever else floats your boat!

Out!

Happy Sunday...

Got on the motorcycle for a bit today... rode to nowhere in particular but did have to stop at work to let my Sunday crew know about my "resignation".

They weren't happy but were supportive. It's a good crew overall and it'll be tough to leave, but it's the right thing to do.

While riding, was just taking in some of the scenery - landscapes on houses, clouds in the distance and the foothills to the west. If you don't ride, it's worth learning just to experience it in the open instead of in a "cage".

Need to ride more.