Category Archives: Daily Drama

Simplifying life and work

What if expectations for new employees were explicitly stated?

What if expectations in a relationship of any kind were stated up front and openly?

What if parents clearly and consistently stated their expectations for their children?

I could go on, but you get the gist of what I’m suggesting. I don’t expect this to occur very often because many people are understandably afraid to say what they really want from employees, relationships, or from their children. They might expect to encounter resistance, outright defiance, and possible ridicule if they were to make their wishes known.

On the other hand, such candor might have beneficial results for all concerned, if the communication could be delivered in a non-threatening manner.

Suppose new employees were told: You are here for the purpose of making money for the company. Conduct yourself accordingly and you will be appropriately compensated. If and when you are no longer able to make money for the company, you will be let go.

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Fall beckons…

woodland-workshop

Things are getting busy here at Lake Monticello. Impudent fawns come prancing up our back slope to see what is going on in the workshop. They and the adult deer are singularly unconcerned about the noise of my woodworking machinery.

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We are owned by our pets

I was wrapping up a long session at the computer tonight and I finally stopped and took notice of my surroundings. Deskjob1
Our two cats, Sherman and Buffy, lie comfortably amidst the litter of papers, open folders, and odd bits of office equipment.

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Feelings are not as important as performance

I keep running across this recurring workplace theme, “This place is insane! If only I could get out of here!”

There is a similar educational theme. “This school is insane! I’ve got to get my kid(s) out of here!”

Lets face it. When companies or other institutions validate feelings instead of performance, the end result is insane behavior.

It is a classic example of getting what you reward. If you put your attention on the whiners instead of the performers, you get more whiners. More precisely, these institutions are rewarding people who are the problems instead of rewarding the problem solvers. That is insanity, plain and simple.

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