Yup. It’s that time of year when people are telling you how to have the best year. A successful year. A stellar year. A life changing year. Please, have all of those things in 2015. I’m here with a quieter message. I’ve got a few tips for you on how to simplify your start toRead… Read more »
Cancelling a contract is a drastic step, but sometimes it has to be done. The agency has expended time and money with the vendor for a particular product and things just are not working out. Remedial steps of having regular status meetings with the vendor, amending the contract and making specific work plans to addressRead… Read more »
I solved the energy puzzle for the U.S. with the help of two EPA Innovation Team members. We knocked it out in about 15 minutes. We were playing Generate! The board game was developed by several EPA researchers as a way for students to learn about the intricacies of this country’s energy complex, from energyRead… Read more »
Remember the Empath on Star Trek? It was the name of an episode and a character on the original series. It aired in 1968. Empathy was central to the identity of a mind-reading alien. (She was a sort of super-empath who used her powers to absorb the injuries of others by taking them on herself.Read… Read more »
Public servants have a hard enough time without giving each other grief. And yet, how many of us are guilty of taking part in office gossip? I try to be a Good Human, but I sometimes fail. And I sometimes gossip. Reflecting on this, I’ve realized that I had no “Gossip Strategy”. Now I do.Read… Read more »
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn Highly successful people have learned the word “no”. That is the reason they are paid more and promoted faster. When you truly want to do something, like sleep in late, but you don’t because you know that you have a deadline to beat, you’veRead… Read more »
Lao Tzu once said “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” Everyone defines leadership differently in this world. Some believe that a leader exudes charisma, offers a valid vision or inspires the staff to do above andRead… Read more »
Oakland has a new School Superintendent. I like him, partly because of the following statement he dropped at a meeting of the Youth Ventures Joint Powers Authority recently. All the city and county heavy-hitters were there, discussing the possibility of hiring an out-of-state firm to do a data report on Oakland. There was much debateRead… Read more »
I spent the majority of my federal career sitting in a cubicle, and these last few years I have ventured out on local travel as well as trips across the county. I have an accounting background, and most of my reviews pertain to financial issues. Since I work for the US Department of Housing andRead… Read more »
Be Prepared Showing up with a clear mind and a solid strategy is key to performing at your best. In Texas Hold’em this consisted of reviewing previous play, determining what your general strategy will be and making sure your mind is clear and ready to play. This is also important in leadership. Reviewing what hasRead… Read more »