Posts

Andy and Barney were cats from the same litter – brothers whom we named after the sheriff and deputy from Mayberry. They were born together, nursed together, then adopted together to our home. They did just about everything as a pair and appeared to like… Read More »An Unfortunate Series of Events Involving Two Hungry Cats, Their Food, a Fill-In Cat Watcher and a Kitchen Appliance

Danny was my first supervisor and the biggest influence on me as I became a manager myself.  I have already written a few times about him, starting with my first day as his employee. Although Danny taught me a whole lot about how to run… Read More »Not What It Looks Like

During my first few weeks working at the world’s largest library, I was witness to a situation in which a middle-level manager tried to pull the wool over the eyes of an executive-level manager.  It was apparently successful and taught me that a manager –… Read More »Fooling the Boss

Upon graduating from high school, I was dead set on my career path. I was going to become a filmmaker. My graduation gift from my parents was a Super 8 camera, and I immediately began experimenting with it. That fall, my schooling in cinematography began… Read More »Who Sleeps on this Side of the Bed?

Anyone who is the least bit self-aware knows his or her own strengths and weaknesses.  It is a real key to being successful in life. For me, one of my biggest strengths is also a considerable weakness. I would like to remove the weak side… Read More »So, We Got Wet

Have you ever known someone who is just a natural whiz at doing anything of a do-it-yourself nature? He or she is the type who can build a shed, repair a leaky faucet, use a chainsaw to cut down a tree, change a car’s flat… Read More »No, That Is Not Me

I became a manager in 1989 after almost twenty years spent in various jobs and organizations as a mission worker.  Somehow, I thought that as one moved up the ladder, the quality of your peers and interactions with them were somehow on a plane elevated… Read More »A Great Disappointment

Everyone has dreams – goals or objectives that they hope to achieve.  Many dreams are difficult to attain, such as losing fifty pounds or writing a book. But those goals can be realized with enough determination and perseverance. It is possible to reach those dreams… Read More »Is It A Dream or a Fantasy?

Have you ever believed something about yourself for a long time and then found out it wasn’t true?  It’s surprising, right?  In certain instances, it can be painful, too. I recently was presented with one of those surprises. Something I had believed about myself since… Read More »Are You Sure That’s Still True?

As a librarian, I feel fortunate to have spent the past 39 years working at the Library of Congress – the nation’s library.  And I am convinced that I got my foot in the door by separating myself from the crowd.  How did I accomplish… Read More »Stand Out from the Crowd