Co-exist

I'm sure you have seen this bumper sticker, t-shirt or what have you. It annoys me every time I see it. What is it? Aren't we getting along? 

If the people who slap the bumper sticker on their car, wear the t-shirt, would surrender all of their individual rights it would be a big start. 

So who do they surrender their rights to? It really seems that no one what's to give their rights. I don't blame them. This is tried from time to time. Remember Adolf Hitler?

Will we ever see everything eye to eye? No, it's that simple. Are we getting along? Fairly well I think. With a little work and compassion we could do better. Maybe allow someone in the line in front of, and you have taken the first step.

Can't We All Just Get Along? That is not the real quote. Rodney King actually said, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?" Either way, we can if we want to.

Productivity...

..can be measured by how big the pile of dirt is you've moved. It's a fairly simple task. There are a number of ways to measure the pile. Height, circumference, volume, number of shovel loads moved. For different jobs there are different measures. Telephone calls can be counted, tracked and monitored by supervisors. GPS maps your movement. Time clocks log your time so your accountable to your employer. But suppose the pile of dirt is not very big and it has taken to be to long to move according to the person in charge. Then what?

What were the distractions you faced? Were they legitimate to the task or other aspects of the employer? What were the delays and setbacks encountered in moving the pile of dirt? Did you have a spoon-sized shovel, or worse did you choose a spoon-sized shovel over the correct one? Did you have to help out a coworker who could not complete his own duties without help?

There are days when no matter how hard you work, you seem to be in the same place at the end of the day. Can you review what you spent time on and show that work was really accomplished? And did that work count toward your goal or merely distract you from your goal.

We all need help now and then. But another persons work, if not our responsibility, is not work done to our favor. So sometimes the phone is better off unanswered and email unread, until it is time to deal with the distractions.

Complete the task, check it off, then move on.

Cat In A Strange Hat

I will admit, I am not a big fan of cats. Primarily stray cats. If your cat runs around the neighborhood it is stray. I don’t care if you feed it daily. If it’s litter box is the garden of your neighbors then I have to wonder how you treat your children.

If a dog runs through your yard, you dial animal control. I have never had a stray dog on the roof of my car. Never had a dog use the post on the porch as his private scratching post.

The problem with any pet roaming the neighborhood is that trouble happens. And sometimes the pet pays the price. And so goes the story of this morning.

I was leaving for work, locked the door and walked to my truck. Not really looking for anything I was getting the keys ready unlock the driver door. As I opened the door I noticed something in the street, but continued loading stuff into the truck before doing a double take. Just below the curb was a ball of fur and a soup can, not moving, the fur looked like cat. I realized I was right, it was the body of a cat and the head of Chef Boyardee. I had to laugh.

It did not move as I approached. I was sure it was alive. I bent down, thinking I would simply slip the can off his head, he would say thanks. No way, that can fit his head like my wedding ring in the middle of summer after eating a pile of salty popcorn. He was stuck, no slipping here. This was going to take two hands. I took hold of the can again and he flinched as I touched him. A quick petting calmed him down. I pulled the can to the right and kitty to the left. I was amazed at how cooperative he was. But this can was on there tight. I worked at pulling his fur and skin out bit by bit. Finally the can had wiggle room. This time, still with a little pressure the can was removed. Kitty took off like a rocket, no thank you.
I have no idea how long he had been like that. Was he starving to death, was he suffocating? Suppose he made it into the woods or fell in a storm drain? Suppose it was your cat? You abused your cat.

Well anyway I know the cat is thankful and maybe he‘ll find someone who really cares for him.