2024 NY Mets > Dumpster Fire Edition

 

N                Earlier today, I read an article asking if the NY Mets had done enough for the upcoming season.

No.  No.  NFW!

Lets look at the offseason.  Replaced a Hall of Fame manager with another Yankee bench coach.  Exactly how many former Yankees coaches have won anything. In the last century?  None.

First base, last year hit .217.  He weighs more than that.  .217, agent who looks to have players WAY overpaid for their value.  Not exactly gold glove.  Damn good player, but not worth what he’s going to demand and expect.

Second base.  Leave him there.  Let him be.  A plus .300 hitter if you just put him in one spot & leave him there!!!!!

Shortstop.  Damn good player, unfortunately committed to him long, long term.  Will be consistent, persistent, but isn’t a difference maker.

Third Base : Black hole, unaddressed.  Automatic out at bat, better off putting a peach basket out there.

Catcher ; Hit .209.  Let that sink in, .209.  Power he has, gold glove caliber.  Hit .209.

Outfield : Signed a play who hasn’t been healthy since 2018 to play CF.  Took last year’s CF, who was signed to superstar type contract, shifting to LF.  Which means will wind up either playing out of position or constantly shifting.  RF is unknown, depends on two factors, health and was it a fluke.  Being the METS, health is an injury waiting to happen and fluke isn’t just a fish you catch in Sheepshead Bay.

Starting Pitching : two real ones, two injury prone reclamation projects, and a whole lotta, I’ll be nice & say yuck.

Relief Pitching : Only one I’m sure about, the one who came back.  The rest, journeymen, questions, gas cans.  Don’t know what Diaz will be until opening day.

No DH, bench is another black hole.

And they want you to actually buy tickets to watch this, what 4^th place team.

I hope I'm wrong.  But its the Mets...

9\11 : A DeadHead’s Tale

The effects of 9\11 still reverberate today.  Each of us, as Americans were affected in some way, shape, or form.  This story is about a fundraising effort for the Widows and Children of the Police & Firefighters, by members of the Grateful Dead.  Kind of ironic, considering the Police would always look to arrest Deadhead’s whenever the band came to town.  But this spirit of humanity that was present after the cowardly attack on innocent civilians changed the world in many different, subtle ways.  This is one such story.

               It was a Monday night, December 3rd, 2001, when I first had a reason to go to NYC.  Phil Lesh & Friends were performing in an Unbroken Chain benefit for 9/11 victims.  Phil Lesh, for those of you who don’t know, was the bass player for the Grateful Dead.  On this night, he is joined by Bob Weir, guitarist, of the Grateful Dead.  It will be the first time these two musicians will appear on the stage since the passing of Jerry Garcia.  The rest of the band is Rob Barraco - keyboards & vocals, Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers, Government Mule, and The Dead) - guitar & vocals, Jimmy Herring – guitar, and John Molo – drums.

The venue, the Beacon Theatre, was built for sound.  It opened in 1929 as a forum for vaudeville acts, musical productions, drama, opera, and movies.  According to its official history on the Beacon Theater web site, it was designed by Chicago architect Walter Ahlschlager in the Art Deco style popular at this time.  It is a building of grace and class, of timeless elegance and excellent acoustics.

I was taking the bus to Port Authority to meet up with my cousin Mitch and a dear old friend David.  The night would start with an amazing meal, surrounded by businessmen in their suits, romance in the air, and me, in my tye-dye du- joir.  After dinner, we would walk down Broadway, a leisurely stroll, to the theatre.  Our seats were in the balcony, chosen specifically because of the way the sound resonates and travels in this grand old theatre.   

I got off the bus and followed a line of fellow deadheads through the labyrinth that is Port Authority.  Across the concourse for one escalator, a quick turn for the next, the steps to the next venue, and down two more escalators to buy my return ticket.   The people, in general, seemed quieted than other times I’ve come to the city.  Everybody still moved with a sense of purpose, but, it’s hard to put into words.  

Ok, concert tickets in my pocket, return home, safe and sound, I walk outside and head for the corner of 42^nd Street & 8^th Avenue.  Since I was meeting everyone, I needed to call to find out where we’re meeting.  As I walked through the second set of doors and turn right, I stop, dead in my tracks.  I see a sight that I never thought that I would see in the 21^st Century, in America.  And that’s when I knew the country had changed.  I saw four US Soldiers, in full combat gear, with weapons, walking the perimeter of the building, on the lookout for anything suspicious.  And I now understood the feelings that could not be put into words.

 

The Last Dance

For the last six years, I’ve been a very lucky Dad (well ever since my little girl was born I’ve been lucky, to tell you the truth). I have had the pleasure of a unique experience, one only a few Fathers that I know, are fortunate to be a part of. See, she is a dancer and at the yearly recital, I get to go on stage as a member of the Dancin’ Dads and perform with her. But this year has a special meaning as it’s our last dance together.

To me, the Dad’s Dance is a very special event that I took very seriously. All year long, the girls dedicated themselves to learning new moves, becoming more graceful and confident in dance. We Dads have about six weeks to learn a dance and look like we know what we’re doing. The better we look, the more we understood the patience, care, and dedication of the Dance Teachers, (Miss Aimee, Miss Vicki, Miss Jean, and Miss Angela). As “afraid” as we were about screwing up, letting our daughters down was not an option. Sometimes we had to fake it, but we tried our best and gave it all we could.
Of course, being typical Dads, we had a good time. We made smart comments about the songs (country, ugh), hated some of the costumes (like the year we wore disco clothes or danced in boxer shorts), busted each others chops, but we learned the dance, even knowing that as much as the audience loved us, some people didn’t. They felt we took away the girls’ thunder; after all the blood, sweat and tears they put in all year. Or that we didn’t take it seriously. But those people missed the big picture. The members of Dancin’ Dad’s didn’t care if people laughed. We were doing it for our daughters, because they wanted to dance with us.
My daughter loves the performing arts. She has danced for 11 years, sung in two choirs, had roles in three plays and is a member of JITS (Junior International Thespian Society). In the fall, she is going to be a freshman in high school and is planning on joining the Drama Club. With the challenges of going to a new school, the increase in studying, and with drama a 10 month commitment, there isn’t enough time to devote to dance.
I’ll miss Dance. I’ll miss the camaraderie. I’ll miss the practices. I’ll miss the rehearsals (but not the costumes). But most of all, I’ll miss the hours I spent with my little girl, dancing the night away.

Commonly Misused Resume Words

At one point in the interview, you’re going to be asked what your strengths are or for three words that describe you (it’s basically the same question). You blurt out reliable or dependable, hardworking and flexible. Why, because these are the most popular words that people use, they are safe and somewhat descriptive. The interviewer nods their head and you feel like you’ve finally gotten a question right. You gave an honest answer about yourself. But was it the best answer?

Let’s look at the words chosen. Reliable\dependable were the first ones out of your mouth. A car is reliable, a washing machine is dependable. These words are great choices for describing a machine, not a person. A person is responsible. This is a word with meaning and depth. Not only does it imply the reliable\dependable traits you wish to convey, it says you just doesn’t follow instructions, but will take and show initiative. It says you can be trusted, that you care about doing things right, and will take responsibility for what you do. Do you want someone who is dependable or responsible?

Hardworking is another popular phrase that pays. It pops up on resumes and in interview answers all the time. But that is an expectation of job performance. A better term would be diligent. A diligent employee is a hard worker who pays attention to the details of the situation or task. A diligent person uses their mind to solve problems and focuses on the big picture.

Flexible is defined as the ability to change. A better, more accurate term is versatile. Versatility is all about the talent or usefulness of a person, of being able to use all of your skills and abilities to figure out the whys to do more how’s. Simply put, a flexible person is one who is willing to change shifts while a versatile person is able to take on new challenges and opportunities. Versatility has more usefulness to an employer. By choosing words with value, you can stand out in a positive way.

One last example of the importance of choosing the right word is the choice between teacher and trainer. The difference, in a nutshell is you train animals, you teach people. Training is the ability to repeat an action, over and over and over again. Teaching is the building of skills or knowledge and the proper implementation of what was presented. There is a greater wisdom in being taught as opposed to being trained. A teacher is an educator. When taught a new skill, if something happens, you can roll with the changes and develop a proper plan of action. Someone who was trained can only repeat the actions they learned.

By choosing the right words, you can better illustrate why you are the best candidate. It shows you’re not just a doer but a thinker, someone who can make more of a contribution to the growth of an organization. It shows you are responsible, diligent, versatile rather than reliable, hardworking and flexible. So, which words best describe you?

The State Of The Jets

As many of you know, I am a Jets fan. I go back to Super Bowl III when I saw Joe Willie & the Jets beat the Colts for their first and as I’m constantly reminded, only championship. I have followed them for years, with the exception of the Joe Walton & Rich Kotite years (I still shudder at the memory of those pathetically coached teams).

Today, I have heard a HUGE amount of disturbing news about our team. Since trying to make an intelligent point on any Talk Radio in this area is next to impossible, I am left with the best way to have my voice heard, which is my here. So in no particular order, here is my State of The Jets.

Payton Manning as quarterback. NO, as in NFW!!! He had a chance to join the Jets when we had Bill Parcells as coach. He could have come out early and been the #1 pick in the draft. Instead, he said he wanted to return to college and go for the National Championship (we all know how that turned out). So Bill traded the pick to the Rams, who chose Orlando Pace, we picked James Farrier, who was traded to the Steelers. A loss-loss for the Jets as we got nothing in return (2 rings for Farrier, 1 for Pace). So now the cry goes out, get Manning as a Free Agent. #1, he isn’t a Free Agent yet. #2, he’s had 2 neck surgeries in the past year. #3, a quarterback coming off two operations, going behind a suspect line, with a poor excuse for a running game, that’s a sure recipe for success. Personally, Sanchez was anointed too early. He needed to sit behind a good veteran and learn, like Aaron Rogers did. But now that he had 3 seasons of experience behind him, is NOT the time to replace him.

Blame the offense; no let us lay the lost season at the feet of the true culprit, the Defense. Yes, the offense stunk. Most of us sitting on the couch were calling the plays before they were executed. But if the defense makes 1 stop per game, Denver (we got Te-bowed at the end), Giants (Victor Cruz on a 3rd & 10 play), or the Miami 21-play drive (where they were 6 for 6 in 3rd down conversions on that drive), we wouldn’t be having this conversation. It was our vaunted D that let us down. That falls directly in Rex’s lap.

The rest of our offensives woes were because of the flaws in the design of the team and that falls in the lap of Mike Tannenbaum. Left Guard, Right Tackle, Running Backs, the bench, back-up Tight End, these positions needed to be addressed, either in the draft (the best case scenario, or by smart, free agent signings. And TJ Conley, what were you thinking. Yes, Schotty has to go, I agree completely. But to even think of replacing him with Tony Sparano, are you insane! Look at his body of work, Tony Romo (an over-rated, mistake prone, choke-artist, turnover waiting to happen), Chad Pennington (2 surgeries later), Chad Henne 9injury-prone), Matt Moore, none of those offensives run by that group of quarterbacks strike fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators. And Todd Haley as receivers coach, another joke. This is a guy most of his players can’t stand playing for. When he was on Arizona, Antwain Bolden & he had to be separated. The Chief players had a party when he left and they certainly played a lot harder for Romeo.

So what to do? Draft better, which means scout the players properly. For Offensive Coordinator, look at who is sitting behind the Coordinators for the Saints, Packers, 49ers. Or go the college route and hire those coordinators who led their respective teams to blow-out victories by scoring more than 40 points in the Bowl games. Or if you really want to think outside of the box, hire a great former defensive coordinator, one who had to scheme against a high powered offense. Hey, he had to study offense to learn how to beat it, which means he learned a variety of offensives and how they attack a defense successfully.

Marketing 101 : Playing Your Business Card

In the age that we are in, nothing is more valuable than information. This is what drives the generator of knowledge, growth and development. Asking the right question, having the appropriate data, enables companies to utilize a variety of resources more effectively. The more that one knows about a product, service, the competition or a person, the better the decision which is based upon it.

Relating this to job search is vital. If there is a lack of information about what skills and abilities you bring to the table in your network, the less help they are capable of giving. Unless you walk around with your resume on a sandwich board, the question is, how can you create a “buzz” about what you are marketing?

THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT
In a local election for town council, one candidate came up with a distinctive, creative, powerful way for the voters to get to know who he was and what he stood for. It was small, lightweight, ideal to distribute, and saved paper. Because instead of a campaign flyer or brochure, he gave out a business card!

Yes, just a simple, well crafted business card with the key facts that he wanted people to know about him. On the front, there was the typical contact information with something extra, his slogan. The back was where the impact lies. It listed his community service, previous offices held, and a very brief synopsis of his employment history.

For a job seeker, this lesson can translate to you. Your slogan is the one, best reason why an employer would want to hire you. Make sure that what you write s a statement of fact and has value to the career you want. It should be short and sweet, no more than 10 words, but just like a commercial, this will be the message that you want to get across about you. The back of the card will list 2 or 3 job titles and one accomplishment you had, which relates to your slogan. This is a snapshot, with talking points that you chose to highlight.

DIRECTING THE LIGHT
The advantages of this approach are many. When running around, you might not always have a clean copy of your resume handy. A business card fits easily in a pocket, purse or wallet. People save cards because they hold information in a small space. Plus, people might not take a resume, but they will always take a card. This idea shows creativity, a “think outside of the box” attitude that exhibits a pro-active problem solver in action. It helps you focus your message. And it saves paper.

Getting information into people’s hands is vital. Having a quick, easy, imaginative way to do so helps you stand out from the crowd in an uniquely positive way. This will increase the number of people you can contact and who can help you find the opportunity that you’re looking for. So the next time you say, “here’s my card”, make it an ace from your deck.

"Pieces Of The Puzzle" Published

Today, there are millions of people Americans who are either unemployed, underemployed or who have simply given up looking for a job. The problem is that there has been a paradigm shift in how to look for a position that one is qualified for. No longer can one go down to a company and apply. With want ads shrinking by the day and constantly changing job titles, many people don’t realize that a successful career search is actually an exercise in effective self-marketing.

“Pieces Of The Puzzle” is a guide for the 21st century job hunter who is actively looking for employment. The book is about change and how to deal with it in a positive, proactive way from the moment that one is told that their services are no longer required to creating the marketing message and carrying it out through the entire job search process. Along the way, the reader will find out how to present their skills in a way that has meaning and value to a perspective employer. These are skills that most people have never learned how to do.

“Pieces Of The Puzzle” is different from the other works out there as it blends the tried and true methods with new ideas for today’s marketplace. It is written in a straightforward, common sense manner, giving the reader options on how to utilize the information. Plus, there is flexibility so the ideas presented can be utilized in a variety of fields. If you’re interested, you can order a copy of my book by clicking in the following link, https://www.createspace.com/3710544.

Forgotten History: A Survivor of Two Atomic Bombs

What follows is a synopsis of a lecture presented at the Brookdale Community College by the Center for World War II Studies & Conflict Resolution.

“Burned by the Hiroshima bomb
then to Nagasaki was chased down
A double-survivor I have become
A Nagasaki native never undone.”

On the morning of August 6, 1945, Mr. Yamaguchi Tsutomu, a Nautical Design Engineer for the Nagasaki Mitsubishi Ship Building Corporation was heading to work. He was finishing up a three month assignment and was looking forward to going home to see his wife and 5 month old son. As he walked across a potato field, he heard the sound of airplanes overhead. They were sounds the residents of Hiroshima had been hearing for weeks, the American B-29. He watched as several parachutes descended to the ground (they were carrying a variety of scientific equipment to measure the effects of what was going to occur). A few moments later, his life changed forever.

“Standing with my entire body,
Scorched by pika-don, (flash-boom)
I looked up to the sky to see,
a giant mushroom cloud,
staring back at me.”

One of the planes was the “Enola Gay”, which carried a new type of bomb. The bomb was known as “Little Boy”. It was the first uranium bomb and was making its first appearance on the battlefield.

Mr. Yamaguchi was knocked unconscious from the force of the blast. When he awoke, he felt a burning sensation on his left side and was now deaf in his left ear. As he staggered to his feet, he watched the giant mushroom cloud grow. He began to walk toward work, to look for his colleagues. Everywhere he looked, he saw the devastation the atomic bomb has wrought. Buildings half standing, fires running wild and unchecked, bodies, in parts and whole, were littered among the wreckage. He saw firsthand the people who had died and those who survived the attack. He found a few colleagues and began to plan for tomorrow.

The next day, he and his fellow survivors began the long walk to the refugee train at the station, which was headed to Nagasaki. They walked through the irradiated city, still burning, filled with the cries of the living and dying and many corpses, whole and in parts, lying in the ruins of this once vibrant city. The smell of burning flesh lingering in the air.

Hiroshima is a delta city; build along the coast, with many tributaries emptying out into the Inland Sea. The men had to cross over streams and rivers to make it to the station. And here, in his own words, is what Mr. Yamaguchi saw and felt.

“The “black rain” that falls in my dreams.
The “human raft” that blocks the streams.
The after effects of the pika-don that consume my being.”

Corpses clogged the waters, floating together like “human rafts”. The men tried to walk over the bodies, but began to sink. Mr. Yamaguchi did not want to expose his injuries to the water. They looked for shallow areas so they could cross safely. It was a long, slow walk, surrounded by death, despair, and destruction. Eventually, they made it to the station and boarded the train to Nagasaki.

When they got to Nagasaki on August 8th, it found a mostly empty city. Because before the train arrived at the station, an air raid siren had sounded and the citizens of the city were hiding in shelters. Mr. Yamaguchi made his way to the Mitsubishi company hospital for medical attention. There he found a doctor who drained his arm of pus and cleaned and dressed his wounds.

On August 9th, Mr. Yamaguchi decided he had to go into work, to tell his bosses about what he had seen. His boss dismissed the story; basically telling him that as an engineer how could it be possible to build a bomb that causes so much damage?

At 11:02am, flying overhead was “Bockcar”, which dropped “Fat-Man”, plutonium based nuclear weapon. Once again, Mr. Yamaguchi witnessed firsthand the giant mushroom cloud overhead. But this time it was different, as the death and destruction had come to the city he called home.

This is just a small part of the story of Yamaguchi Tsutomu, survivor of two atomic blasts, husband, father, teacher, poet, and peace activist. His story and poems were presented by Chad Diehl, doctorial candidate from Columbia University, who translated and published the poems of his friend. His book, “And the River Flowed as a Raft of Corpses” is a series of poems which were written in tanka style and now are available. Tanka poems contain 31 syllables which carry a great deal of expression. They consist of five lines and are tightly composed. Mr. Diehl went on to tell us why, after years of silence, Mr. Yamaguchi spoke up about his experiences and shared his poetic voice with the world.

“My life is a dewdrop.
Living for fifty years after the atomic bombing.
I am still wishing for a nuclear free world.”

This was the first lecture presented as part of the 10th Anniversary Series at the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution. The center’s mission is to educate and inform students, teachers, and life-long learners of the historical, political, social, economic, cultural, and military aspects of the World War II era. The center presents a variety of topics and speakers each year who explore different aspects of the great conflict. The directors of the center are Dr. Paul Zigo and Dr. Laura Neitzel. For further information about the 10th Anniversary Series, go to www.brookdale.cc.nj.us and click on the World War II Center link on the left hand side.

History is always best when shared.

*Original poems written by Yamaguchi Tsutomu, translated by Chad Diehl. Published by Excogitating Over Coffee Publishing, 2010.

A Day at Camp Evans: First Annual InfoAge World War II Symposium

Driving down Marconi Road in Wall Township you see a small, weathered sign, “Welcome to Camp Evans.” Visible from the road is a large brick building and a cyclone fence. There is the customary sign asking that all visitors check in at the guard house. And from there, the amazingly excellent volunteers of InfoAge lead you on a voyage of discovery & knowledge.

Judy greeted me at the guard house with a smile and welcomed me to the Science History Learning Center. Even though I’m a bit early, like by two hours, she is at her post, ready for business. Once she found out that this was my first time on the base, she got Steve to take me on a tour of the facility, starting at the Marconi Hotel.

This magnificent building, currently being restored, houses several exhibits. We walk down the hallways, where newly discovered pictures of the bases illustrious past are on display. These pictures show the base in its infancy and how it grew and developed over the years. Originally, this was the Marconi Receiving Station and was taken over by the US Navy during World War I. Its purpose was to receive messages from Europe and make sure they got to the proper authorities. As a matter of fact, this is where word of the armistice ending World War I was received and driven down to President Wilson in Washington DC.

As Steve & I walk down the halls, he opens doors to show me the various displays of early RADAR components and radios. Among the items on display are an old Hot Wheels Radar Gun and the GI Joe Normandy Pathfinder edition soldier. He explains how troops went ashore several hours ahead of the main forces with special radios to help guide the gliders and paratroopers make a safe landing behind enemy lines. The radio they carried, to emit a homing signal, had a self-destruct switch, just in case, so it wouldn’t land in the hands of the Germans.

We walked into the Shipwreck Museum and looked at the various pieces recovered off the coast of New Jersey. Steve explained that this museum was being moved to another larger building on the base in the near future. The new space would allow for larger, interactive displays. The cannons, ancient diving equipment, china, and other artifacts on exhibit currently tell a fascinating story of times gone by.

Then, modern technology took over as Steve’s cell phone rang and he had to set-up for an Eagle Scout presentation. But before he left, he introduced me to Nels Warren, the person who rebuilds and restores the military vehicles on display.

As Nels led the way, the first vehicle I was an amphibious assault vehicle, large enough to carry a Jeep. He told me the “duck” frame is still in use today by cities that have land-sea tours. Also on display were Willy’s Jeeps, Ford Jeeps, Deuce & ½’s, ambulances that saw action in m World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Also on display was an officer’s car. These vehicles were discontinued because after awhile even the enemy knew that these vehicles carried officers and were targeted by them.

In another room were the German military vehicles. As Nels explained, it is disrespectful to display those vehicles in the same room as the American vehicles. One of the restored vehicles was a Kubel, the Nazi equivalent of the Willy’s Jeep. It looks like the old Volkswagen Thing and does run, as do most of the vehicles.

I also learned that several of the vehicles restored at Camp Evans are on display at the Smithsonian Museum. These vehicles still have the original paint. The faded look is necessary for the authenticy of the vehicle. Many of these vehicles were donated by veterans from their private collections who didn’t want the vehicles sold on e-bay.

Another gentleman walked in and began to look at the vehicles. Nels excused himself to talk to him. I thanked him for his time and began to walk around the base, eager to see what else I could discover.

I met Dan and his son Daniel by the front gate and we began to talk. Somehow, the conversation got around to our favorite holiday, Halloween and I found out about the Haunted Hotel & Hayride. InfoAge runs this event on Fridays and Saturdays in October and it is one of the most successful fundraisers for the base restorations. And off we went, on a tour.

It was while we were walking that I learned that Judy is the main coordinator of the Haunted Hotel. Also, the students from Shore Regional, Neptune, and Wall Township volunteer their time and are actively involved in creating the displays, making short films, and acting as various Halloween ghosts, ghouls, monsters and creatures. I don’t want to spoil any surprises that are coming this year, but from talking with Dan, Halloween at Camp Evans is going to be a spook-tacular spectacle (go to www.infoage.org to see pictures from the previous Haunted Hotel and Hayride).

Since I was there for the symposium, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about it. Three of the presentations dealt with the importance of radar; its development, deployment, usage, and countermeasures. I learned what happened at Pearl Harbor, how it wasn’t a technology failure, but a series of human circumstances and breakdown in communications that caught us unaware. Ray Chase, a Radar Historian, informed us about the details of December 7, 1941 and more importantly, the people involved.

We learned how radar was used to devastating effectiveness during the Battle of Britain. It was in this lecture that we also learned how applications of existing and new technology eventually minimized the effectiveness of the German radar. John Cervini and Fred Carl of InfoAge gave us an in-depth look at how radar worked and what was done to counter it.

Captain Dan Cromwell presented a documentary he made about the USS Murphy. This destroyer was vital to our war efforts and served with distinction as a convoy transport, during the invasion of Sicily, at the landing of Normandy, as transport for the King of Saudi Arabia where he met with FDR after the Yalta Conference. His film told us the story of how, on a return trip from Europe, the ship collided with a tanker and that the bow was sheared off. We learned the bow rested for over 60 years off the coast of New Jersey. The interviews with the crewman who served aboard the warship put a face to the efforts of the brave men of the “greatest” generation who served with courage and distinction.

Another aspect of how advanced in technology made an impact was in tactical communications. Al Klase of the NJ Antique Radio Club taught us about how frequency modulation, quartz-crystal frequency control, and the use of the very high frequency spectrum improved communications. This presentation, while very detailed and at times technical, was fascination.

The last speaker of the day was Evan Koblentz, the President of the Mid Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists. The brief presentation told us about the scientists who played a role in the development of digital computing at Camp Evans. It’s too bad that the symposium ran tight on time for it was the development of computers that greatly aided the development of post World War II industry and space exploration.

The InfoAge Science History Learning Center at Camp Evans is open on Sundays from 1:00pm till 5:00pm and is located off Route 18, Exit 7, on Marconi Road in Wall, NJ. For more information about the center and future events, such as the Haunted Hotel and Hayride, go to www.infoage.org.

Satisfying The Customer With Great Service

“The customer is always right, even when they’re wrong, they are right.”
Retailers Golden Rule

The most important person in any organization, no matter what size, no matter the product or service provided, is the customer. Without the customer, there is no money generation, which leads to a new “For Rent” sign being displayed and talented workers beating the bushes for the next great opportunity. It doesn’t matter in what department you work, if no revenue comes in, bills don’t get paid.

And before the choir cries out, that it’s not my job, remember the 1st golden rule, soon it won’t be. Cause everything is your job. This is a lesson that every successful entrepreneur learns. Making sure that this idea is carried out and put into practice depends on making sure that employees have what it takes and can deliver it.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE
ATTITUDE
No word is stronger to describe this essential Key to Customer Service. People who are successful in this field look and act professional. They are friendly, good listeners, patient, and polite. Understanding that customers have a plethora of choices, it is not always price that tips the scale in deciding where to spend money. It is a feeling of comfort, of dependability, that makes people return.

KEY SKILLS
There are 3 skills at the heart of Customer Service that we can look at, each equally important: Communications, Problem Solving and a Go-Getter. Active Listening, a key component of Communications, works here. If you didn’t hear what the issues are and ask questions, how can you resolve it? The saying goes,” you have 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them in proportion”.

Customer Service, at it core, is problem solving. Remaining calm, taking charge, thinking on your feet and outside of the box when necessary, means you look for solutions. And if you didn’t accurately hear the details, your solution may or may not work.

It’s being a go-getter, going extra mile for customers, which they remember and appreciate. Instead of dismissing the problem, getting off your best intentions (instead just going through the motions) shows you care.

THINGS TO REMEMBER
While attitude and the right skill set determine the success of working with the public, other important factors have to be taken into considerations. Knowledge, not just of a particular service or product, but of relationships is important. How well you know the industry and the competition, what your company does better, effects whether or not customers return.

Knowledge of your role in the company, not just job duties, is another point. It does not matter where you work, when some is looking for help, you represent the company. It is about your interaction with people you work with. Are you a team player or a diva? Do you go the extra mile or do enough (in your opinion)? And how do show it; because customer service is more than talking the talk, it’s walking the walk.

CONCLUSION

Providing quality, attentive customer service won’t save you from poor management decisions and financial difficulties, but it does give you a professional appearance and demeanor. As noted by business leaders, the purpose of business is not in profits, but the ability to acquire and keep customers. If this is done correctly, profits follow. We all remember good Customer Service and value it. And come back when we’re happy with the results

Targeting Your Job Search

You can’t hit the target if you can’t see it.

What do you want to be when you grow up? It seems like such a simple question, doesn’t it? When we’re growing up, the answers are typically Doctor, Lawyer, Police Officer, Fire Fighter, Astronaut, and Teacher. Then reality sets in (like educational requirements) and what was once crystal clear, is no longer.

This same thought process holds true if you are a career changer. You had one idea of what you wanted to do and took a position in that chosen field. Now, due to burn out, stress, unrealistic expectations, corporate downsizing, company relocation or just a general lack of opportunity in that field, you are trying to figure out what you want to be when they grow up. Here are a few ideas to help you find your target.

KNOW THYSELF: WHAT SKILLS DO YOU HAVE

To figure out what skills you bring to the table, create a list of job related skills, not duties and responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities talk about what you did, not how you did it and the end results. By starting off at looking at what you bring to the table, you can talk about the how’s clearly and relate those skills to the particular opportunity. It is your charge to draw a bridge between what you did and what you can do. The knowledge of the relationship between your skill set and that required of a job, is yours to present.

There are two sets of skills worth explaining, hard skills (like computer programs used) and soft skills (Communication Skills). The hard skills deal with what you used to accomplish tasks. The soft skills are those you use when dealing with others. The soft skills are sometimes harder to quantify, but are more important because they deal with your ability to be part of a team and to work effectively with others.

WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE OPENING

Next is good, old fashion research with a twist. Use the internet to look up careers. Take an on-line career assessment, to see what fields fit your skill set. Now, you have valuable information that can help you target your search. Find out what skills are necessary for success, prove you have them, and build the bridge of relating what you’ve done in the past to the new opportunity that is in front of you.

One area where people make a mistake is when they say they want to be a nurse. Great choice, however, if you have never worked in healthcare and do not possess the necessary education, you are not going to walk into a hospital and BE a nurse. There are other positions in healthcare where you CAN help people without the degree. Be aware of the fact that without the proper credentials, this could be a dead end career choice; know what is required to grow and develop your talents so you can take advantage of the next opportunity that comes along. And if it means going back to school, get off your best intentions and get yourself in the classroom. Don’t use it as an excuse; use it as a reason to earn your degree (or certificate).

TRANSFERABILITY

You spent 3 years working in security, now you want to work with children in a school setting. Is it a stretch? Depends on how you look at it. If you just go by what security is, watching what’s going on, you will be limited. But when you look at the problem solving that the job requires, the people skills involving Communications and Customer Service, the record keeping and organizational aspects of securing an area, you have talking points.

Relate those skills to the classroom and what a teacher does besides teach. A teacher has to keep a grade book (accurate record keeping), present a lesson (Communication Skills), create lesson plans (goals with results and a way to measure effectiveness), problem solve (Conflict Resolution). Don’t look at yourself in only one dimension.

CHANGE

The hardest part of all this is accepting change. Change in where you work. A change in your self identity (since most people take their sense of self from what they accomplish at work), look beyond what you seek. A change in how you look at who you are.


So there it is, plain and simple. Identify the skills you have, identify the skills necessary for success in your new field, and show how they transfer. Once you take the blinders off your search, you’ll be amazed at who you are and what you can bring to the table.

Hometown Halloween

Hometown Halloween

PsYcHo-DeLiC nEwS

VILLAGERS STORM POST OFFICE WITH PITCH FORKS AND TORCHES

And so it beings, as the calendar prepares to flip toward September, the smell of school opening is in the air. In neighborhoods, hundreds, nay thousands, nay, millions of youngsters, tween agers, and teen-agers prepare for the curious adventure known as school. So some it is a creative paradise of ideas, ideals, expressions, people, of growth and opportunity. To others, school can be a bit more challenging and not so memorable. But the excitement of learning can enable the children to dream of a better place and give them to foundation to do it.

A series of events, like a pebble cast upon a pond, causes ripples. This is one such story, which happened in a tiny community in the Garden State.

Behind it all, is the callous disregard the school district shows towards the parents, and by extension the students. All they wanted is to know who their children’s teachers were so they could get ready for school. Each grade, and each teacher, requires specific materials, as directed by the testing of the year to check competencies. (We should be checking for creativity, problem solving, imagination, and the arts; instead we look for benchmarks that have been prepared by administrators who are sitting on their best intentions, but that’s another story.) The schools don’t want to deal with the outcry of parents, who work to pay their very salaries. And due to a mistake, not caught by postal carrier (who was covering the route for the regular letter carrier), a tray of mail was mislaid. Numerous calls to the confused and befuddled Postmaster, who never received more than 2 calls in any day, threw the office into a state of manic, unfocused energy, and as a result, the mail was unfound, but more importantly, undelivered.

Jamie Quirk was not one to take things quietly. She was head of a powerful block association that gathers every morning, to discuss the state of affairs. She was not pleased. The temporary deliverer of the mail said there was a tray of mail missing and drove feverously off, in the direction of the Post Office, to locate aforementioned tray. She had returned, to deliver the junk mail, and said they (hopefully meaning the infamous mail police) were investigating.

Jamie called once, explained the situation, in a calm and direct Staten Island way, and expected something to be done directly also. She then informed the rest of her organization of her progress.

LATER ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON

There was no further delivery of mail. At 5pm, as detectives were later able to determine, another call was received at the Post Office. Jamie, once again, explained the situation. The person at the other end of the phone had no idea that this was going on! Jamie was told not to worry. We’re the Post Office”, said the official confidently and then she quoted the Greek historian, Herodotus, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds".

SATURDAY

Every one on the quiet street was anxiously awaiting the mail. People were walking past their living room windows more than usual, peering out. Some kept walking out toward the mail box, walking slowly back, shaking their heads, empty-handed.

Jamie had to know what was going on. In addition to involving her husband, she kept calling other members and their husbands into getting involved. All the men wanted to do, was, well, that’s another story, but, none the less, they were being slowly dragged in.

Around 1:47pm, as the puzzle was being put together later, the white truck pulled onto the block. It crept up the block, up to each house, going up the hill, toward the sun. The sound of the engine grew louder, as it came down the hill. As it turned the corner, husbands ran down the hill, with Mr. Mac Murphy sustaining a rather large, purplish blacktop burn due to sliding on the slick pavement. The sudden stop of hitting the telephone pole didn’t help, as he managed to slide hip first into it. The medics have said he will be cleared to come home in a few days, after the wound has been cleaned and dressed. As a precaution, he is being flown by helicopter to Special Hospital For Surgery.

The Post Master was on his private 32 ft baby, coasting up down from Seaside towards Point Pleasant, unaware he was part of a National News Story. For Jamie, was not one to be trifled with. She was not Block President for nothing. And she had an army behind her. When her husband went to work, so did she.

She called the women and their families over for a BBQ. Her plan was to wine and dine them, as her prowess in the kitchen was legendary. She called up a few baby sitters, so the parents could listen, as she told them of the next move in the chess match, and the ultimate goal. To get the mail, and the legendary school letter which held the promise of creative learning and endless discussions over homework, such as why do we have so much, why can’t I do it later, why do my teachers hate me, and the ever famous, but so and so mom’s says she doesn’t have to finish it all, why then oh why I do I. But that’s another story.

A few of the husbands, Air, Sky, The Kid brought over their favorite liquid lubrications, which should never be mixed together, and Jamie, being a former mixologist at Studio 54, was cooking up Fuzzy Navels, Slo Gin Fizzes, and Alabama Slammers. By dusk, the crowd, which grew to include the parents of the surrounding blocks, do what unruly crowds do, when faced with such a crisis in the lives of their precious kids.

They went into garages and into their sheds. They raided patios and decks. They headed toward Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Lowe’s and Home Depot. They headed to local hardware stores, who all believed that Christmas had come in August. And they bought, took, stole, and acquired all the Tiki torches and pitch forks in the land. And they headed down the block together like never before, to the Post Office they go. Also lost in all of this, was the voice of reason.

SUNDAY MORNING

The road would have to be closed till morning, due to the massive clean up. The Sheriff wanted to ask for volunteers, but most of the possible recruits were lying on the ground, soaking wet, face down, in the mud, handcuffed and didn’t seem inclined to help. A few were over by the ambulances, being treated for various scrapes and abrasions. Sally Jenkins was bring treated for broken ribs, as the force of the water through the fire hose caused her to fly into The Kid, who slammed into a parked car, where he injured his back. He was lying in the ambulance, helping himself to the Nitrous Oxide they had taken instead of the oxygen tank.

The pitch forks were stacked in piles and burned by the few torches still let. The rest lie smoldering on the battlefield. It was a rather easy victory for the Police. A few smart parents dropped their torches and ran when they were asked tp stand down by the 6ft 7inc, former starting offensive tackle for the local football team and most intimidating officer on the force. The rest chanting, “We want our bloody school letters”, kept marching. The shit hit the fan when Jamie, who had had enough with being “madam-ed” by Chief of Police Tinkler, lit his uniform jacket on fire, by putting the touch to the back of it. Fire Marshall Bill turned the hoses on The Chief and Jamie. Then the gathered throng rushed forward with all the calm and rational thinking of a European Soccer crowd.

As there was no damage done to the facility, or any officer harmed, except for the Chief who is recovering from second degree ass-burns and has to sit on a do-nut for the next 6 weeks. No charges were filed, however Jamie was stripped of her title and cannot even participate in the school annual Baking Cookoff and Sale. Thus, did die her plans to storm the Offices of the Superintendent and all schools, while chanting,

“We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.”

And all of this happened to avoid interaction with the taxpayers and a mistake, since the mail tray was found; it was switched with a tray of outgoing mail and went back to a central facility. It was delivered, on time, to each home early Monday afternoon.

A Brick Bandits Interview: A Few Minutes With Darnell Stapleton

Darnell Stapleton Super Bowl Champion with Mike V. CEO Brick Bandits

When you first meet Darnell Stapleton, you meet a young man who is deeply committed to his community, be it his hometown of Union, NJ, or his teammates out in Pittsburgh. A graduate of Union High School in 2003 and of Rutgers University, where he earned a BA in Labor Studies and Management, his road to NFL success has not been easy. An un-drafted free agent who had “8 or 9 teams call after the draft, looking to sign me”, he chose the Pittsburgh Steelers. Through hard work, attention to details and a commitment to his dreams, he was the starter at Right Guard for the Super Bowl Champions.

Mike V, CEO of Brick Bandits talked about how he first met Darnell when they moved in down the block. “He was the first neighbor who came over to meet us. He told us, if we needed anything to talk to him.” This impressed Mike because the spirit of neighbor, of being a part of the community, is one of the driving forces of Brick Bandits.

Darnell is a role model and it a role that suits him. He spends the off-season in the home he grew up in, going to elementary schools in the area and talking to the kids. His message is a simple, yet powerful one, “never give up on yourself.” As a student, Darnell’s favorite subject was Math and his favorite teachers were his gym teachers, who, in his words, “took care of me.”

After High school and before his time at Rutgers, he attended Hudson Valley Community College to “get his grades straight” since he wanted to attend a Division 1 school. This dedication to education shows he values developing his mind as well as his football skills.

When asked about his NFL career, he is very humble. He spoke about how Center Jeff Hartings helped him in his first year learn about life as a Professional Football player. As a rookie, he had to do the usual stuff, like carry the vet’s pads during training camp, buying breakfast for his fellow lineman on Saturdays, and paying for dinner at the end of the season,. (“I dropped about $15,000.00 on that meal”, he chuckled). He has met former Pro-Bowl Center Dermontti Dawson (one his favorite players) and Mel Blount. When asked about the past Steelers, he said the attitude is “once a Steeler, always a Steeler”, so the players from the past are always there, willing to talk to the players and help them out with words of advice and encouragement.

And here are a few bricks that make him who he is:

Favorite Foods: Gyro’s Pizza and Burger King (Double Whopper with Cheese, no onions)

Favorite Music: Rap, R&B, and Reggee (“ I find it very relaxing”), and will listen to anything. As he pointed out, his teammates come from all over the US and everyone exposes each other to what their favorites are

Favorite Movies: “Coming To America” & “The Last Dragon”

Favorite Toy Growing Up: Nintendo, especially the Duck Hunt Game and Track & Field, with the finger pads

Favorite Superhero: Superman (who is also Mike V’s favorite)

4 People from History who he’d like to have dinner with:
President Obama
Dermontti Dawson
Martin Luther King Jr.
His Grandmother on his father’s side (“I never met her, as she passed before I was born”, he said. “I want to find out about what they had to go through and how they did it.” He is very close to his other Grandma, who calls him with words of encouragement and is an inspiration to him.)

Hobbies during the Season: Video Games

In The Off-Season : Video Games and Golf (I’m hooked on Golf. Ping set me up with custom clubs (due to his size). I like the game because you can play like trash one day and the next, I got an eagle & a birdie.”)

As for the future, he’d like to get into coaching once his career is over (hopefully a long time from now). And even though he did not give a reason, it would be safe to say that as a student of the game, it would be his way to help others and be a part of the game he loves to play.

What We Used To Know

"COMMON SENSE IS THE MOST UNCOMMON SENSE OF ALL"

I must have missed the memo. Somewhere along the line, it became acceptable to be totally self-centered. It became ok to not hold doors open, to say “please” or “thank you”, to answer the phone with “whatta ya want” rather than “hello”, to forget about common courtesy. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We could talk about the disrespectful ways that kids talk to parents and the way some parents respond back (my favorite is I’m gonna beat your a** when we get home).

What, it’s not ok? So I didn’t miss the memo or misread it. But if it isn’t ok, why is it happening more and more. Let’s take a look at 2 specific examples and see where the solution could be.

Two people are walking side by side down the street. Each is engrossed in their own little world due to the magic of wireless communication. Their gestures become grander and more animated as their volume rises and the tone of their voice grows confrontational. They bump into each other and exchange angry looks, since each believes the other to be rude and not paying attention to the surroundings. They try to eavesdrop on the argument the other is having on the phone, while conducting one themselves, and getting ready to start a new one. Because you are “getting in my business” while on a public street, yelling and carrying on.

Does this seem familiar? You can have this experience EVERY DAY, in the parking lot, in the malls, walking down the street. It doesn’t matter where, because it’s everywhere. This is such a total lack of common sense and common courtesy that it would be funny if it wasn’t tragic. The common sense part is easy to see. If you don’t want people in YOUR business, don’t discuss it over the phone where people can HEAR you. Find a quiet spot where you can sit down and talk. And just because the phone rings, doesn’t mean we have to drop everything and answer it.

When you’re checking out and the cashier is on their private phone, talking and not paying attention to you, the customer, you have a right to be upset. I see people leave shopping carts full of merchandise and walk out when they are treated rudely. The cashier always says it was “an important call” and they “had to take it”. But you are being paid to provide a service. Phones have this wonderful feature known as voice mail. This way you can return the call at your convenience and not inconvenience others with your selfish behavior.

The examples of a lack of common courtesy are just as numerous. Flailing your arms, knocking into people, talking loudly and aggressively in a crowd by acting with an over blown sense of self importance, inappropriate language, and a general disregard for others are apparent for others to experience.

Then there is my personal favorite example of inappropriate behaviors, elevators and bus stops. In each case you have one group of people, who are in a small, confined area trying to get out. There is a second group, who are trying to get into said small space. Common sense should tell you that people have to get out before you can get in, right. Then why do people crowd around the doorway, preventing people from exiting? Common courtesy should tell you to back up, out of the way, so there will be room.

It boils down to manners. The decline in interactive skills is due to the changing nature of our lifestyles. We are becoming more solitary, spending less time developing new relationships with our neighbors, while finding new excuses went we haven’t called our BFF in two years. As we stop interacting with people, we forget the little things and thus, our interaction suffers.

Building Success Habits

Every year it’s the same thing as we reflect on what we did and what we accomplished. Then, with pen in hand, we write our list of resolutions, of changes we’d like to make in the next 12 months. The health club parking lots, which are filled to capacity in January, have no shortage of spaces by March. The kick the cigarette pledge is gone at the first sign of stress.

Breaking a habit or creating a new one takes 28 days of work, a relatively short period of time but not to the person making who’s trying to change. Change is the one area of our lives that we struggle with, even though it is inevitable. By planning and hard work, we can develop a plan for change and improvement. Here are a few success habits that we can make our own in 2008.

1. You wouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car without directions, so why drive your career into the ground?
Achievers write out a list of goals, broken up into long term and short term, to focus their energies on the important. This is a habit we can get into. Our long term goal is to find a new career. In the short term, we have to research the field we want to get into, gather information about the companies we want to work for and contact our network for leads, ideas, and advise. Next comes crafting a resume, writing an effective cover letter, and preparing for those interview questions. By creating a list of goals, we are better able to stay on the right path and get to where we want to go.

2. Turn off the TV and turn on your mind.
Or to look at it another way, learning is earning. By reading 15 minutes a day, we are exposed to new ideas and are improving our communication skills. By taking a class, we are able to try something new, learn a skill, earn a certificate, and develop a hobby or interest into a moneymaking endeavor. But when the TV is on, all attention is drawn to it like moths to a flame. So instead of reading the TV Guide, look for something of interest or for some career information. It will pay off in the long run.

3. Dream
Dream? What do you mean dream? I dream when I sleep, right. So why should I have to dream. It is our dreams that guide and inspire us. Make a collage of what you want, showing pictures of places you want to live, cars you want to drive, and stuff you want to buy. This will help you to see the potential rewards of your hard work and effort.

4. Be a friend, make a friend.
No man is an island. We need people to talk to, to help and help us, to guide and to guide us. As we grow up and move on in life, we need new people to encourage and inspire us. By joining clubs or organizations that interest us, we will meet new people, who we can add to our contact lists.

CHANGES

“Things do not change. We do.” H.D. Thoreau

If there is one constant in life, one thing that occurs, that we have no power over, is change. Change happens whether we want it or not. Sometimes we are agents of change and then there are those times where we are its pawn.

Change is inevitable.

It signals challenges to be overcome, opportunities to learn and discover new things. It happens. And the only part of this entire process that we can have control over, is how we handle change.

The funny part of all of this is that change is a constant companion to our life. We deal with changes in attitudes, changes of thoughts; it appears in the clothes we wear, music we listen to, shows we watch. It is part of the fabric of the workplace, with new employees coming while others are going, either upward or out the door. There is always a new improved plan, to replace the last new and improved plan. The computer changes how we perform our jobs, but even then, it changes. New software, flat screens, faster connection to information, more information about any topic we can think of is at our fingertips.

Yet we treat change as an enemy, as something to fear. We are hesitant to embrace change, mostly because it is the unknown, but also because it is different. Instead of treating the differences as an opportunity to learn, to grow and develop new talents, ideas and skills, we hunker down and draw a line in the sand. For that’s all it is, an imaginary wall build to ward off the prospect of change.

We change tires, change our socks, change the channel, change our hairdo, change diapers, change our address, change our number, change our mind, change our friends, but accept change, well, that’s another story.

But we can beat change at its own game.

We can embrace it! We can learn from it, and inevitably profit from it. We can use change to grow new opportunities, to be exposed to new ideas, new experiences, which will help us further develop our talents. And the chances to step out of our shells, get off our best intentions, and DO.

See, here is the secret. We change a bit every day. We are exposed to new people, new sounds, new ideas, new books, and bit by bit, we are not the same person we were last week, last month, or last year. Because all living things change. It’s a part of life.

Finding A Home In Non-Profits

“I am a jack of all trades kind of person, with a variety of interests, skills, and talents. Is there a place for me in today’s workforce?”

Want to love what you do? Make a difference? Learn about people and yourself in the process? Are you an encourager? Are you emphatic? If this sounds like you, there is a great place to find your niche and those challenging opportunities for personal and professional growth and development, work for a Non-Profit.

Yes, the wonderful, rewarding realm of the Non-Profits could be just the ticket. These are organizations designed to help, either people or causes, in some way, shape or form and come in a variety of opportunities. Social Service agencies, local, county, state, and federal government positions, and public education are places to consider.

The benefits of working at non-government social service organizations are as numerous as the types of positions that are available. Most of these agencies consist of a small, versatile, dedicated staff that is committed to an ideal. No, you don’t have to drink the kool-aid to join; just care, show up, and be accountable. These are the types of careers that are worth more than a paycheck. They are a way to make a positive difference by giving people a hand up. Being lean, these agencies value flexibility, the ability to multi-task, and the willingness and ability to learn on the fly. They look for problem solvers who can think outside of the box and be up to trying new ideas to resolve problems.

The government is one of the largest non-profit employers. True, most of us do not think of the government as a non-profit, but it is what it is. The role of government, on every level, is to provide services to its citizens. These services run the gamut from accounting to Zoology, from Law Enforcement to Forestry, from, well, you get the idea. And in terms of a benefits package, the government, especially state and federal employees, is not to be sneezed at. This is a field that relies on people who want to serve and is always on the lookout for talented individuals. Yes, you do have to jump through more hoops, and the pay in the private sector is higher, but there is a dignity, a feeling of pride, in working for the government.

Public Education is a great place to explore when looking for the right work “home”. Classroom teachers rely on creativity and effective communication skills to impart knowledge to their students. With summers off as the primary perk, life in the classroom means being organized, observant, understanding, and being prepared are essential for learning to occur. And if you have the ability to remain calm under stress, and think not only on your feet but outside of the box as well, will mean you are one of those teachers who your students will remember.

And teaching is only one career opportunity in this field. There are numerous positions in administration, food service, maintenance, medicine, support staff, and transportation, which insure our children are taken care of properly and are ready to compete.

The real impact of Non-Profits is in community based organizations. Most of these organizations were founded by people who saw a need and filled it. These could be support groups, which provide someone to listen, to empathize, and to inform. They are environmental groups who fight for the “greater good” by making people aware of what is going on and who are not afraid of getting their hands dirty to help clean up the mess.

So if you want a career where you can make a positive difference, help your community, help others, and get that warm glow of accomplishment in your heart, look into careers at Non-Profits. All you touch will be glad you did.

Just What Is It You're Trying To Say

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Cool Hand Luke

When I sat down to write this article about the importance of Communication Skills in the 21st century workplace, you would think that this story would write itself. It seems like an easy idea to explain. Just look at all the different ways we have to get a message out; TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, t-shirts, telephone, fax, e-mail, voice mail, a memo, reports, the way we dress, the tone of voice, body language, choice of words, but how to approach this subject.

As with any broad based topic, we need a place to start. Going to a handy dictionary, this was the definition that was written; Communication is an act or instance of transmitting information. The key here is passing along information. And the more effective we are, the better opportunities for career advancement and growth will appear.

When most of us think about this topic, we think of the spoken word. And one thing we learn, is that there is more to this than meets the ear. The tone of voice, pace, diction and the words we choose play into whether or not our message is understood (not just heard). Good communication allows others to hear the message and pass it on. Knowing who your audience is and the reason why you are talking to them enables you to focus the message so the person you’re talking to can not only “hear’ but understand what exactly is being communicated.

To help strengthen this part of communication, the key is to listen. Listen to a reporter or an education\nature program. Hear how people use words to describe events and ideas. Then, talk to someone about what you heard. Put the information into your own words so you can understand it first. Then, pass the knowledge along. Listen to what the listener is saying so you can try to hear what they heard. Make sure that both parties have an understanding of the idea and build on it. Listening is a passive skill that pays a HUGE dividend. To be able to solve a problem, one needs to listen to the details, the story behind the event. Asking questions, repeating back what was said, allows you to see where the problem lies and sometimes offers simple solutions. There is an old saying, “we have 2 ears and one mouth and they should be used in proportion”. Listen twice as much as you talk.

The most intimidating and therefore uncomfortable way of Communicating is by the written word. Brevity, the right choice of analogies, and the words chosen paint a picture. Great writing is an art, but good, effective writing, delivering information in an easy to understand way, is what communications are all about. Pace and flow are important, but spelling and grammar more so. With spell check, dictionaries, and thesauruses at arm’s reach, there is only 1 excuse for mistakes of this type, carelessness. When you take your time and put the effort into developing your writing skills, it is an investment in yourself.

And how do you develop this skill? By writing, of course. Yes, you have to sit down with a pen and paper (or sit in front of a computer) and write something. Get used to writing again. Write out instructions on how to make ice cubes or do laundry. Look at how you present each step. Make sure the key points are covered. Use easily understood words. Let someone else read it and see if they can follow your instructions.

Reading is a very important aspect of strengthening Communication skills. As you read, you begin to see how others generate an idea clearly. You can learn how to use words better and develop your vocabulary.

We communicate in many different ways. Each brings a dimension, a depth to the information, such as its importance and how we recall and use it. Like most skills, you can make it stronger thru practice. The clearer you can get to the point and make it successfully, will determine the opportunities your future will hold.

Key Word Games

“Why don’t they do what they say, say what you mean, one thing leads to another”-The Fixx?

We’ve all heard the expression choose your words carefully and in writing your resume, the right words can mean the difference between a great resume and an ineffective one. One helpful clue to remember is choosing words what fit your mouth. And make sure you know the meaning of the words you use.

Choose Action Words

Use power words, words that describe action. Watch out for wishy-washy statements such as assisted. Assisted brings the image of someone who stood around in the background and only did something when asked. Say instead, part of a Team. You did the work, get the proper credit.

Use Ad Words

In the Ad you answered, the company told you exactly what they were looking for. So why don’t we tell them exactly what they want to hear?

When you answer an Ad, your resume is placed into the company database. Once here, it is scanned by a computer program, looking for Keywords. Which words?

The words used in the Ad, of course! The ones with the highest number of matches are then selected, by the computer, to go to the next step. This is a prime example of why you should tell the company what they want to hear.

Depth

When choosing words, look at the deeper meaning and which fits better. People constantly say they are reliable and dependable. But what they really mean is responsible. Create vs. develop is another example. Flexible vs. versatile. Assist vs. part of a Team.

Know the Industry

This is one area where your knowledge of and research will pay off. By using the “language” of the industry, you can make your points meaningful. It shows interest in the field and respect for the job/company. The more you know, the better you can stand out and make an impact.

When you say what you mean, with words that fit, people notice. And since success in your career depends on your communication skills, make sure you choose the right words.