🤯 From the crowded corners of my consciousness
Caring about others, preparing for a journey, and the pure delight of singing in a group
No fair. It hasn’t been 7 days since the last time I landed in your inbox or browser, has it? I guess it has been! These shorter days are tripping me up, and some days I really long for summer when the sun sets at 9. At the same time, I’m also grateful to live in a region that experiences the extremes of all four seasons. We’ve had our first snow and more is on the way, I’m sure.
A Tip for the Modern Worker
If you want to retain the best people, treat your people the best. As a manager, your biggest fear might be losing the talented people around you. Do what you can do treat your people as your greatest resource. They're not a commodity. Once you start treating them as cogs in a wheel, you’ve lost. Remember that we’re all human, and manage accordingly. You’ll know you’re doing a solid job when your team sticks around for the long haul.
I tweeted that out exactly a year ago and it’s part of my Handbook for the Modern Worker. There’s a reason for my professional longevity, and it has to do with the people I surround myself with. I’ve been really lucky to have people around me at work who truly care. Sure, I’ve had some exceptions, but through intention and some serendipity, those have been short-lived relationships. I was just telling my manager this week that one of the things I loved about our group is that we cared about each other as people. It doesn’t get better than that.
#365DayDraw
I drew this and wrote the accompanying annotation as part of my #365DayDraw project 6 years ago today.
Months of planning had led me to this moment. One pack. One trail. The first step.
A loaded backpack. What a perfect metaphor for a journey! What trail shall we take? Where does it go? What did we pack to bring with us? What was that first step like? Was it tenuous or enthusiastic? Confident or apprehensive? I’m preparing for what’s next, but my pack’s not yet packed. And I’m still figuring out where to go. You can’t take all the trails at once, you see. Drawing, piano, guitar, acting, singing (which is ironic, given below), writing, and creative technology projects all vie for my attention, sparring for elbow room in the crowded corners of my consciousness. Can’t do ‘em all at once, you see. How to decide? Well, perhaps time will tell. Stay tuned.
Drawing, piano, guitar, acting, singing, writing, and creative technology projects all vie for my attention, sparring for elbow room in the crowded corners of my consciousness.
Commentary
This past week was all things singing! First, I had the wonderful opportunity to sing with a small group at Trumansburg’s Winterfest. We had three rehearsals leading up to the event, held in conjunction with a craft sale at the Conservatory of Fine Arts. I sang bass and really enjoyed the vibes of singing with others. The following day, another opportunity to sing: my neighbors organized a caroling group. This is the third year we’ve done it, and it was a really special time to sing throughout my neighborhood. The weather cooperated, too, which was a nice touch! Lastly, in a sign of recovery, the Trumansburg Community Chorus is starting up again. I threw my hat in the ring for their spring session, which starts mid-January and culminates in a series of mid-May performances.
Miscellanea
🩸 We subscribe to Dr. Mirkin’s free weekly email newsletter (he should be on Substack, right?) We won’t hold that against him, though. The newsletter is packed with really good information from the tenured sports medicine doctor and fitness guru. This week’s edition had us heading for our calculators. He cited a correlation between triglycerides and HDL that can predict an increased risk for diabetes. We’re in the green, but simple stuff like this can really help conversations with your doctor.
🎁 Are you looking for a gift for that special someone who works hard, day in and day out? I’m running a special promo for my books: the holiday bundle of The Art of Working Remotely and Handbook for the Modern Worker is deeply discounted. Plus, I’ll sign them before I ship them out!