🦨 Skunkadelic in Ithaca
Ep 30: If you have feedback about this edition, don't delay. Plus: running for pancakes, chasing skunk cabbages, and some classy James Bond scores.
Well, the racing season is in full swing now that Skunk Cabbage is in the rearview. Funny thing, this week’s drawing harkens back to an epic half marathon from 2016, too. Enjoy the read, and thanks for subscribing!
A Tip for the Modern Worker
Be specific and timely when giving feedback. When you give feedback to someone, give it as close as possible to the action that spurred the feedback. Don't wait for an infrequent time, like a semi-annual or annual performance review. Feedback is more valuable if the receiver can correlate it to something they did or didn't do. Be direct. Focus on specific things you observed, not on generalities like their attitude. Conclude your feedback by stating what you expect to see in the future. Lastly, avoid the feedback sandwich, where layers of praise obscure actual criticism.
This tip is one of 365 in my Handbook for the Modern Worker. Giving feedback is tough, and it’s tougher when the context of the feedback becomes blurry over time. Give it freely, frequently, and as close as practical to what spurred it. And, save the sandwiches for lunch.
#365DayDraw
I drew this and wrote the accompanying annotation as part of my #365DayDraw project 7 years ago today.
Job posting: full stack development. Turned out I'd be flipping pancakes at IHOP.
I remember where I was when I drew this one! I was at a table at the 2016 Syracuse Half Marathon, waiting for the race to start, anticipating the pancakes that’d be served as post-race food. As a software developer, I thought it was a funny play on the phrase “full-stack development” as applied to a pancake artisan. This was the Syracrazy year of the Syracuse Half, a cold, windy, hail-infused, lake-effect snowy affair. It was so bad it warranted a mention in Runner’s World. My blog post has all the details, including a video of us intrepid runners.
Commentary
Speaking of races, this past Sunday marked what I consider the official start of spring for the running crowd: Finger Lakes Running Club’s Skunk Cabbage Classic. This was the 40th anniversary of the race, which starts near Cornell’s Barton Hall. Amy and I were originally signed up for the half marathon, but given injuries and our scaled-back training, we opted for the 10K instead. Even though the start temperature was an uncomfortable 28 degrees, the sun shone brightly and made it a really fun outing on the roads east of Ithaca. I’m really happy with my result, almost 2.5 minutes faster than 10 years ago when I ran the same distance.
The Skunkadelic race shirt was pretty cool swag, too: the design is bound to draw attention during hunting season this fall and keep us warm during the next Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. Next up, the aforementioned Syracuse Half Marathon is in two weeks. We’ll see how we fare!
Miscellanea
📺 HBO’s Succession is back for a fourth season. Amy and I enjoy watching this early on weekend mornings. So nice to be back with the Roy family.
🏍 Looks like Top Gun: Maverick is streaming on Amazon Prime now, too. I’ll give that another go after having seen it in the theaters when it first came out.
🕵 Apple Music Classical hit the App Store. I’m enjoying discovering some fantastic pieces, and I really appreciate the context around composers and works. A particular favorite: Bond 25 by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Hey, I’m a James Bond fan.