Category Archives: Leadership

My thoughts on it

Today We Received the News

After dedicating several weeks preparing all the necessary documentation to validate my status as a service-disabled veteran and to establish my business as a legitimate small enterprise, we have successfully obtained our certification as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Throughout this process, we have garnered invaluable insights and experiences, all of which have presented us with another avenue to offer our professional services to other organizations seeking to explore additional work opportunities.

Both Sherri and I eagerly anticipate the prospects that this designation will bring, along with the sense of pride associated with being recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration. We are excited to embark on new ventures and hope to make substantial contributions in our field of expertise.

Has anyone had to fire yourself?

A few weeks ago I was working part time for two different companies. One required so much time with little reward while the other provided great reward with little time invested.

One supported my entry into being a small business owner and strengthen business skills in AI and writing while the other provided me with a human connection and employee benefits for my family. With both of them it seemed I had a complete business life.

I thought this work situation would be great. After several months of no work and an inability to find it after being let go from a Company I worked for for eleven years at the end of last year it was a great relief. I could turn our cable back on and go out to dinner once and a while.

For a few months this was working out prefect then it wasn’t

The Company I was contracted by wanted me to work full time for them which I thought would be great. Except for the great folks at the other job I would be losing contact with and those employee benefits. Also I had a contract opportunity that I would have to give up as I would not be able to fulfill all of the time commitments between the two contracts.

I resigned from working in a call center with all the great people and great benefits but terrible pay and horrible time requirements and then I let the other Company know I couldn’t be considered for there contract as I was going all in with my full time contract. I would be making more money and have some work life balance I didn’t have working in the call center. Two weeks in they terminated the contract.

Now I am back at square one. But am I? I don’t think so, as I learned more about me and what I truly want. How to start a business, how to get a contract, so many new things and I will keep learning and climbing the mountain of life. On to the next bend in the road as I will need to rehire myself soonest.

Its a balance; like spinning plates on sticks

As a mentor to many of my friends that have left the military after me as well as young people I work with in my side gigs….I try and steer them between idealism and our cruel world especially in the area of being a great employee without being abused.

When is setting boundaries seen as not being a team player?

Or a better question: Why is trying to have boundaries seen as not being a team player? Is there a way to have boundaries and still be seen as not a distraction?

Is being on call 24/7 just the nature of the beast that people working for others have to expect if you want a good paying job?

Does part time mean part time commitment? When did three 8 hour shifts turn into a full time job that pays less than 2000 a month?

A mentor once told me its not like juggling its more like keeping the plates spinning. you have to watch over a lot of things and add your strengths and time to those in need…..Of course, some need more time than others and some are worth the extra time. That is where decisions have to be made.

Just some conversations I have had with young folks lately…

Any sage insights would be appreciated to help my people.

#humanresources#mentoring#worklifebalance#savingyourself#choices#hourlyjobs

Idealism meets REALism

I Don’t Understand

This week I failed to understand a work assignment and a personal assignment.

“We need you to write a past performance narrative based on the provided historic record that will be judged on three factors”. I wrote an executive summary that says why we should be selected as the contractor for this solicitation.

My wife told me to make sure our Company provides her HSA allocation as an elective from her pay. I increased her salary which was basically the opposite of what she asked.

Both of these mistakes cost me our most precious thing, time and not making my wife angry. A non-angry wife is pretty much just as important.

So what can improve on? Active listening is something I have always struggled with. Through my life experiences and education I have learned communication is the ability have the receiver understand the message. Communication is not the ability to speak and be heard. The sender must listen to the receiver’s responses. If the receiver is not able to demonstrate understanding a good way to help them understand your message is to ask different questions to stimulate the receivers’ comprehension.

I believe I understand how to effectively communicate, so why was I not able to receive the message? Why was I not able to realize I was not clear on what the sender was sending in that moment?

The first question relates to process. In retrospect, I did not repeat back what the sender wanted. I failed to take notes to refer back to when doing the assignment. My ego got it the way. I keep thinking, I to smart and experienced to not understand what I construe as a simple task.

One of the very first things I learned as a leader in the military was to always have a pencil and paper to take notes. Writing things down always holds true. A person cannot go wrong concentrating by note taking. I thought I had learned very early to be humble. These mistakes are a good reminder to reinforce humility in every situation.

I hope this message is understandable and valuable as it is to me writing it down. I like this image below provided by Lyondellbasell. PMP 101.

Planning and Setting Up a #Backoffice for a #Small Business that brings #value, is #agile and keeps you focused on your services.

Does your Company offer a health plan? How about an 401K or HSA? A FSA to help with my commute? Pet Insurance? Why not? and If not, I’ll probably work somewhere else.

Even for a Company with as little as one employee benefits security and just plain old concern about their future provides a differential that will set you apart from so many other Companies. I hear all the time the excuses that we can not provide these benefits: it’s too costly, too expensive to the employee, too much time and effort to administer and how does it help me get more customers, retain customers and provide the services I have promised?

In my experience, I have heard of and witnessed many organizations that failed to pay social security taxes for their employees. The employee is faced with sometimes years of no credit towards federal retirement. This does not take into consideration the legal implications on the business for failing to pay taxes. I know of nationally known Companies that offer no health insurance or retirement and can get away with it because of their organizational structure. Providing a vanpool for a group of people might provide a great tax benefit to your company and allow folks to get to and from work easily and endear them to the organization.

Below is the diagram I use to manage my back office. Its our background image with hyperlinks to all the partners and systems we have relationships with. It might help your business let me know if it does or I can help you in your journey.

Daily Management to Focus You on Finding the Next Opportunity

I have been looking for my next great opportunity for half a year now.  
I started a small business and I’m working for a Fortune 15 coming but 
Why stop looking for the something amazing.  I don’t want to settle any longer.
This minimum effort at daily management effort I use on my search.

David

Take a Holiday

Several years ago, I embraced the European philosophy of “holidays”. A vacation lasting longer than two weeks sometimes a month or longer, completely cut off from work and most of my personal life.
During that time I try and stay present mentally by not using my phone and staying active both physically and mentally. This really has benefits on my return to my home as I can “see” my situation much clearer than before.
I just returned from a three week holiday, and immediately I feel more empowered in my daily work life. I understand more and more that my work is just that, and I need to enjoy it and feel that I am providing a benefit or any financial gains that I receive are fleeting and ultimately nothing beyond the basic requirements of shelter, food and comfort.
The Holiday helps me to see areas I can improve. Taking away distractions a person can concentrate on interpersonal relationships. Am I this needy? Do I need to offer my opinion? Why do I need so much time alone? I ask many questions of myself. Does it have any benefit? I hope it does as change is possible but its hard. I have to see an issue (clear vision) to analyze it (ask questions) and decide to make a change. The Holiday helps me do this abridged scientific method.
The Holiday provides a better perspective of people and things as true experience is the best teacher. People are good. The dark side is present in us all but for the vast majority of life experiences the idea that People choice right over wrong good over bad this philosophy holds true. Through my travels on Holiday this is always reinforced.
Time to get ready to go to my next job….

The Bottom is the Top

In 2019 I was falling

Yesterday I was reading a post on Linkedin entitled; “What was your key to success?” The responder said; “I got my priorities right”.

I didn’t want to exercise this morning, but I put my shoes on and got at it…..Its been four years of that decision. Looking beyond the feelings and seeing what I want. Pushing past the easy to the hard and the hard becoming the easy.

Its hard to share this photo…

In 2019 my father, my hero past away.

To say the least he was quite a man.

In his last two years of life he lived with us.

I stopped doing the foundation work we all need.

I started to deal with the anxiety and stress with poor diet, no exercise and no work life balance. Drinking became a relief.

I couldn’t see beyond the moment.

I reached my highest weight, my highest body fat percentage, my sleep was poor, my mental health was going downward.

My excuse was I was over 50 everything is supposed to hurt. I have already done everything I wanted to accomplish.

I’m done.

Luckly, with the belief in me from my extended circle and my upbringing, Pops didn’t raise a quitter. I began to realize that I needed to be here and not just here I wanted to be here to give back and continue to grow and I couldn’t do that without the basics.

Slowly and methodically I changed my priorities.
I joined “Orange Theory” and I’m still at it today. HIIT is awesome and my OT family provides Love, esteem and safety that support the basics.
I joined “Noom” to learn and understand food. I eat eggplant and spinach. I love food, but Noom taught me to be aware of my choices. For me, it is just like when I don’t want to exercise I’m aware of what the decision long term produces and I don’t want that.
Most recently I left an unfulfilling job and despite losing a tremendously sum in income my outcome holistically is much much better.
The road in my opinion is never down just different levels of incline as we must always be climbing.