🫐 A berry nice summer in the Finger Lakes
Ep 44: Eating local, transforming something negative into something positive, and the value of being a go-getter.
The weekend was far too short, am I right? Fear not. Just 5 work days ‘til the next one! We got this.
A Tip for the Modern Worker
Demonstrate self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency is one of the hallmark traits that can help you land – and keep – a remote job. Look for instances in your personal and professional life where you’ve taken the lead on getting something done. On schedule, as specified, within budget ... all that good stuff. Document your successes so you can recall how you took ownership and accomplished your task without a ton of external motivation. Look for opportunities in your work to be proactive and take the lead on delivering value.
This tip is one of 365 in my Handbook for the Modern Worker. I love when I find an opportunity at work – something that needs doing that nobody’s doing – and raise my hand. Being proactive has a dual benefit: the task you identified gets done, and people remember that you’re the go-getter who made it happen.
#365DayDraw
I drew this and wrote the accompanying annotation as part of my #365DayDraw project 7 years ago today.
Spread out a blanket at a summer concert, top with vino and victuals: you've got yourself a fine evening
This is what many summer Saturday nights looked like in 2016 when Taughannock Falls State Park hosted concerts on the South Point lawn. The Taughannock concert series isn’t happening this year, but we’ll still have our wine and cheese.
Commentary
The article about this sign is over a year old but it made the rounds on social media recently.
Genius marketing, right? It got me thinking about this digital world we live in, and –while the vast majority of reviews and commentary out there are helpful and positive – I couldn’t help but wonder why some people feel compelled to put negativity out in the world. It’s especially hurtful when it affects the bottom line of a person or business that’s just trying to do their very best.
I wondered how a few of the negative reviews of my two books would fare in this format. Check out this treatment based on two genuine reviews of my books, and click through for the more positive and helpful reviews, too.
Try reading this vain autobiography with obvious remote work recommendations one reviewer on Amazon said was “a waste of money, really.”
– The Art of Working Remotely
Enjoy this 2.5-star gem filled with duplicative advice from one recipient of a Goodreads giveaway – a retiree – planned to downstream to friends and family.
– Handbook for the Modern Worker
Fun, right? Yes. In Disney’s Bambi, Thumper said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all." I probably uttered those words as a little boy playing the role of Thumper on the stage of my elementary school. It was good advice then, as it is now.
Miscellanea
Summertime may be hot and humid here in upstate New York, but it’s offset by the fantastic opportunities to eat great local fruits and vegetables. The berry and fruit tree crops were harmed by late frosts, but we still got to pick sweet cherries, raspberries from our CSA, and blueberries from our backyard garden. Summer is sweet in the Finger Lakes!