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Saturday, November 22, 2014
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
It's been a while... almost a year!
Not even sure why I'm back here but never the less I am. Another year has passed and I'm looking forward to things slowing down for the holidays.
I started a new job in late 2012 so 2013 was really the first full year. It is a totally different job as before but as it turns out uses the same skills. There is always the technical context which is the easy part. But the other two components of the equation are always personalities and decisions.
Everyone is different. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Many people have no idea what they are strong or weak at. Maybe that is a self protection mechanism we have, I'm not sure. But if you can recognize what peoples strengths and weaknesses are you can utilize them to their maximum potential to get the task done. You also have to know how to pair people up so their strengths and weakness don't clash. For whatever reason I am good at doing this with people. I also know what I'm strong and weak at and lean on people for my weaknesses (remember, we ALL have those!).
The other key piece is decision making. Anything that has to get done always has many road blocks. Tasks are complicated and not everything can be anticipated. Most people get lost on these road blocks. They can't put many pieces together to know what direction to take after hitting an issue. So this is the other thing I am strong at. I can see the next steps, I can weigh the trade offs, I can set the new direction to keep things moving. It isn't relevant that it was the correct decision most of the time anyway. Once you get things unstuck people kick back in to moving forward and often self correct anything that wasn't quite correct in the new direction. But the trick is you have to do this quickly with a reasonable input of information and others have to believe it is the correct direction.
So after a year on the job now everyone calls me. They are stuck or in a crisis. Call the wrong person and its a major ordeal to go through the entire situation and still end up stuck. They have found out if they call me things start moving and all are at ease as they focus on their strengths.
While I'm no one's boss the larger team is defaulting to me. While I'm happy to do it there is a price. I'm getting stretched in many directions and asked to be in a lot of different places! It will be interesting to see how things unfold in 2014. It will be either time to retract and let those who are the ordained leaders take care of business or move back into management. Or who knows what other opportunities are out there.
I started a new job in late 2012 so 2013 was really the first full year. It is a totally different job as before but as it turns out uses the same skills. There is always the technical context which is the easy part. But the other two components of the equation are always personalities and decisions.
Everyone is different. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Many people have no idea what they are strong or weak at. Maybe that is a self protection mechanism we have, I'm not sure. But if you can recognize what peoples strengths and weaknesses are you can utilize them to their maximum potential to get the task done. You also have to know how to pair people up so their strengths and weakness don't clash. For whatever reason I am good at doing this with people. I also know what I'm strong and weak at and lean on people for my weaknesses (remember, we ALL have those!).
The other key piece is decision making. Anything that has to get done always has many road blocks. Tasks are complicated and not everything can be anticipated. Most people get lost on these road blocks. They can't put many pieces together to know what direction to take after hitting an issue. So this is the other thing I am strong at. I can see the next steps, I can weigh the trade offs, I can set the new direction to keep things moving. It isn't relevant that it was the correct decision most of the time anyway. Once you get things unstuck people kick back in to moving forward and often self correct anything that wasn't quite correct in the new direction. But the trick is you have to do this quickly with a reasonable input of information and others have to believe it is the correct direction.
So after a year on the job now everyone calls me. They are stuck or in a crisis. Call the wrong person and its a major ordeal to go through the entire situation and still end up stuck. They have found out if they call me things start moving and all are at ease as they focus on their strengths.
While I'm no one's boss the larger team is defaulting to me. While I'm happy to do it there is a price. I'm getting stretched in many directions and asked to be in a lot of different places! It will be interesting to see how things unfold in 2014. It will be either time to retract and let those who are the ordained leaders take care of business or move back into management. Or who knows what other opportunities are out there.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
2012 Almost Done
The year came and went fast. Seems as I get older they move by faster. It has been a crazy year. Mainly with the job change. But life has been blessed and we continue to move on. What will 2013 bring?
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Half a year gone by already!
Summer is here, my favorite season. But this summer seems to escape me. I find myself caught in a crossroads of life that was unexpected but maybe inevitable. The house is empty (mostly), the job is done (virtually) and somehow 30 years has gone by since I graduated high school. That last one is the kicker, a monumental moment in life that started the look ahead to endless possibility. Now, knocking on 50 and the wisdom that life is full of forks in the road sinks in.
My daughter, kid number 3, 22 years of age, came home last weekend to take me to a Led Zeppelin tribute band (why is this kid listening to Led Zep?). I comply like a good parent but in the back of my mind I'm thinking really? To my surprise the experience was fantastic. Certainly the musicianship was top notch and the performance was incredible. But like most people music is tied to memories. What she didn't realize is that this band was a connection to my real life back then and these songs had connections well beyond the band itself. She doesn't know the first time I heard Led Zeppelin was Mrs. Smith next door vacuming to Whole Lotta Love when I was in the 6th grade, the time Ken and I worked out the chords to stairway to heaven in his bedroom, the trance of Kashmir while cruising central on a Saturday night, or Steve Combs blasting Going to California while I'm doing his Algebra homework, or Led Zeppelin 3 as a masterpiece discussion in Daves's basement, or the endless argument of Stones or Zeppelin in the wee hours of the morning while our parents slept. We waited at Tower Records in anticipation as these records came out. We bought the tickets to the shows. It was a different time and place that suddenly hits you in the face. 30 years, no, can't be. How can I tell her it will flash by? How can I not remember every detail? So many thoughts and ponderings all over a musical band and a high school reunion.
*Sigh*
Summer is here, my favorite season. But this summer seems to escape me. I find myself caught in a crossroads of life that was unexpected but maybe inevitable. The house is empty (mostly), the job is done (virtually) and somehow 30 years has gone by since I graduated high school. That last one is the kicker, a monumental moment in life that started the look ahead to endless possibility. Now, knocking on 50 and the wisdom that life is full of forks in the road sinks in.
My daughter, kid number 3, 22 years of age, came home last weekend to take me to a Led Zeppelin tribute band (why is this kid listening to Led Zep?). I comply like a good parent but in the back of my mind I'm thinking really? To my surprise the experience was fantastic. Certainly the musicianship was top notch and the performance was incredible. But like most people music is tied to memories. What she didn't realize is that this band was a connection to my real life back then and these songs had connections well beyond the band itself. She doesn't know the first time I heard Led Zeppelin was Mrs. Smith next door vacuming to Whole Lotta Love when I was in the 6th grade, the time Ken and I worked out the chords to stairway to heaven in his bedroom, the trance of Kashmir while cruising central on a Saturday night, or Steve Combs blasting Going to California while I'm doing his Algebra homework, or Led Zeppelin 3 as a masterpiece discussion in Daves's basement, or the endless argument of Stones or Zeppelin in the wee hours of the morning while our parents slept. We waited at Tower Records in anticipation as these records came out. We bought the tickets to the shows. It was a different time and place that suddenly hits you in the face. 30 years, no, can't be. How can I tell her it will flash by? How can I not remember every detail? So many thoughts and ponderings all over a musical band and a high school reunion.
In the days of my youth, I was told what it means to be a man,
Now I've reached that age, I've tried to do all those things the best I can.
No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam.
Good Times, Bad Times, you know I had my share;
When my woman left home for a brown eyed man,
Well, I still don't seem to care.
Sixteen, I fell in love with a girl as sweet as could be,
Only took a couple of days 'til she was rid of me.
She swore that she would be all mine and love me till the end,
But when I whispered in her ear, I lost another friend, oooh.
I know what it means to be alone, I sure do wish I was at home.
I don't care what the neighbors say, I'm gonna love you each and every day.
You can feel the beat within my heart.
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part.
Now I've reached that age, I've tried to do all those things the best I can.
No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam.
Good Times, Bad Times, you know I had my share;
When my woman left home for a brown eyed man,
Well, I still don't seem to care.
Sixteen, I fell in love with a girl as sweet as could be,
Only took a couple of days 'til she was rid of me.
She swore that she would be all mine and love me till the end,
But when I whispered in her ear, I lost another friend, oooh.
I know what it means to be alone, I sure do wish I was at home.
I don't care what the neighbors say, I'm gonna love you each and every day.
You can feel the beat within my heart.
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part.
*Sigh*
Monday, January 30, 2012
January's Shows
Jan 7 - Fever and the Funk House at Poor David's Pub in Dallas
One of the original, original bands back in the late 80s/early 90s leading the Deep Elum resurgence.
Jan 13 - Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton
Willie's son with heart of a rocker.
Jan 7 - Fever and the Funk House at Poor David's Pub in Dallas
One of the original, original bands back in the late 80s/early 90s leading the Deep Elum resurgence.
Jan 13 - Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton
Willie's son with heart of a rocker.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
moe.
moe. Yes, lower case and with a period on the end. One of the hardest working jambands on tour. They are one of the top rated bands of the genre with soaring jams and amazing light shows. I've seen fantastic shows at the best festivals with moe. at the big stages (such as Bonaroo!). These guys started out in the '90s and finally made it to Texas in 2000. I haven't missed a Dallas show yet!
Interesting how the venue's in Dallas have progressed over the years.
Keep coming back, I'll be there!!
Thanks moe.! See you in 2012...
moe. Yes, lower case and with a period on the end. One of the hardest working jambands on tour. They are one of the top rated bands of the genre with soaring jams and amazing light shows. I've seen fantastic shows at the best festivals with moe. at the big stages (such as Bonaroo!). These guys started out in the '90s and finally made it to Texas in 2000. I haven't missed a Dallas show yet!
Interesting how the venue's in Dallas have progressed over the years.
Keep coming back, I'll be there!!
10/03/00 (Tue) Trees - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Akimbo, Understand, New York City, Yodelittle, Water, Meat
Set 2: Timmy Tucker, Spine of a Dog, Buster, Waiting For The Punchline, Bring It Back Home
02/15/01 (Thu) Deep Ellum Live - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Crab Eyes, Understand, Akimbo, Kids, Gone > St. Augustine
Set 2: Head, Time Ed > Lazarus, Tambourine, Yodelittle > Rebubula, E: Sweet Emotion
01/30/03 (Thu) Gypsy Tea Room - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Godzilla, Stranger Than Fiction, She Sends Me, Crab Eyes, Happy Hour Hero (1) > Mexico
Set 2: Not Coming Down > New York City, Bullet > Brent Black, Yodelittle > Rebubula, E: You've Got A Friend In Me (2), Deep Elem Blues (3), Sensory Deprivation Bank
Comment: (1) with Seat of My Pants teases
(2) Al solo. (Randy Newman - from Toy Story)
(3) not technically a debut, last played since 8/11/99, at a surprise moe. show with Gibb Droll, and billed as Gibb Droll and Friends
10/09/03 (Thu) Gypsy Tea Room - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Jazz Wank > Not Coming Down > Wormwood > Brent Black > Time Ed > McBain > YOY
Set 2: Livin' Again > Rec Chem > Happy Hour Hero, Reboob > Water > Head, E: Threw it all away
02/25/06 (Sat) Lakewood Theater - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Water, Not Coming Down > Wormwood > Okayalright, Blue Jeans and Pizza, The Road > CalifornIA > Bullet
Set 2: McBain (1) > Down Boy, Moth > The Pit, Buster > Where Does The Time Go? > Buster, E: Deal > Waiting For The Punchline
Comment: (1) unfinished
03/15/07 (Thu) Lakewood Theater - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Okayalright, Wicked Awesome, Stranger Than Fiction, Conviction Song, Blue Jeans Pizza, Time, hi&lo > head
Set 2: Rebubula > Spaz Medicine, Four, Timmy Tucker > Living Again, George, E: Not Coming Down > Rebubula
Source: Chris Pontti
03/29/08 (Sat) Lakewood Theater - Dallas, TX
Set 1: head. > The Pit, Tailspin, Queen of Everything, Letter Home > Faker > head.
Set 2: Crab Eyes, She Sends Me, Happy Hour Hero (1), All Roads Lead to Home > Captain America > Baba Oriley > Recreational Chemistry > Wind it up, E: Raise A Glass, Rebubula > Dear Prudence > Rebubula
Comment: (1) with Josh Clark (Tea Leaf Green) on Guitar
11/13/09 (Fri) Lakewood Theater - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Seat of My Pants > Sensory Deprivation Bank, It, Strychnine Waltz > New York City, Wind It Up > You Can Call Me al., Mexico
Set 2: Faker > Kyle's Song > Threw It All Away, hi&lo > Faker, She > Kyle's Song, Plane Crash, E: Willin', St. Augustine
11/04/11 (Fri) Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
Set 1: Dr. Graffenberg, Gone, Timmy Tucker > Skrunk, Time Again >(nh) Captain America
Set 2: Tambourine, Shoot First, Suck A Lemon, Puebla > Smoke > Tubing The River Styx > The Pit > Rebubula, E: Okayalright, She
Thanks moe.! See you in 2012...
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