Sometimes it's what you don't say

As I've grown older, I've come to realize that the most powerful things you can say to a person are sometimes never spoken. When a conversation takes place and you are able to insert ideas and truth between the lines you get beyond the limitation the words place on your ultimate meaning and give your audience the power of inferring what it is you are saying.

If you continue this argument with the belief that your imagination is one of the most powerful tools you have, then would it not be correct to assume that letting your audience use theirs to capture the full meaning of what you say would make your message that much stronger?

There are a lot of ancillary conclusions that you can draw from this idea, but the one that comes to mind most readily is to never underestimate your audience. When given the opportunity to hear what you say and form their own opinions around your words, you will inevitable have a more powerful and lasting impact on them.

I opened this piece with the classic "as I've grown older" adage and I stick by it. I think this is a skill that comes with maturity (read: age). Allowing yourself to let the conversation unfold; being a patient communicator is the only way to effectively insert unspoken meaning.

Being a strong communicator, then, is as much about what you say as it is about what you don't say...

...and you have to listen.

Should you always have a plan B?

Everything is going right, you love your work and you've worked hard to get there. You may imagine yourself doing something else down the road, but for the moment, you are perfectly content. But with your professional life just where you want it, is it reasonable to be wondering what you would do if it all fell apart tomorrow?

I think the answer is yes. I think it's important to always be thinking about the 'what if'' scenario and have at least a basic idea of where you might go and what you might do if you got thrown out of your office tomorrow.

This thought process doesn't illustrate disloyalty, it's more a recognition that your employer is not beyond failure. It also is a understanding that you, like everyone else is totally expendable. be clear gente, everyone, has a replacement.

I always have my resume around. I love what I do and I love working where I do, but I can't be so naive as to think I'll be here for life. How does your resume look, right now?

Networking

I was caught by surprise this morning by an email from a past colleague reaching out to network with me. It was unexpected because of the way this guy came in and went out of my life. Abrupt - in a word: there were no visible signs from my perspective that foreshadowed a split. But regardless of how someone comes or goes, I welcome these moments. It's an opportunity to recall past friends and co-workers and evaluate for a moment your relationship with them and how you can help them.

As I write this post, I begin to think about all the other people that I have been networking with in the last 5 months. 2009 has been a tough year for many people professionally. Jobs have been lost, career paths altered and a sense of foundation that many once took for granted has been shaken. When a person begins to see the proverbial cracks in the dam I think it's both natural and intelligent to start building a stronger more diversified community around them.

With the proliferation of LinkedIn and Facebook, even the ease with which you can zip your resume around to your contacts via email, make networking that much easier, but I think it doesn't replace the value of getting in front of someone and have an actual conversation. When given the option; get in front of someone, take the meeting, buy someone a cup of coffee. Getting to know someone in the flesh I have found, goes a long way to really begin to understand them.

I love to meet people, everyone has a story... you just have to ask a lot of questions to figure it out sometimes.

So here's a question, is networking a learned skill or are you born with it? I think the finer points of networking are learned (regardless of who you are, practice makes you better), but I don't know if the foundational desire/need/ability to meet and connect with people is learned or given. What do you think?

Hawks pride

This one made me smile. Such a subtle endorsement of our sports teams. Nice series win Hawks, let's go to it again.
Go Blackhawks!

Instant History/Architecture Tour

I wish there was a way to walk down the street, enter the address of a particular building and receive a full rundown of the property, complete with stories, anecdotes and other significant information from its history. (Yes, yes I'm sure there is an iphone app for that, but lets get serious, it would be awesome

I was on my bike this morning and saw this building on the edge of Chicago's River North. It's huge and it's right next to the downtown area. It almost touches the river so you would think that it dealt in water-way commerce at some point. Common to many building of this style there is always a family or company name displayed prominently. I would love to know what happened there. How it contributed to the city's economic growth over the last 150 years. Did the place ever burn down? Were there union riots? Was it a one time gangster hide out?

Today these building often are utilized as loft style condos or hip office buildings. It's a nice way to recycle an old building to reflect the needs of business. We aren't all yarn dealers or textile merchants so turn the old buildings into software developer hubs or consultancy hang outs. But would it hurt to throw a plaque out front that gives me the run down on what the building was built for, when, by whom, and an exciting history of its place in Chicago history?

WSJ.com - Opinion: Chrysler and the Rule of Law

WSJ.com - Opinion: Chrysler and the Rule of Law* A really really good article. Brings to light some really strong points.

It runs in the family

I am always fascinated by those stories of twins separated at birth that get reunited 30 years later and discover that they have been living such similar lives. It always makes me wonder what life would be like with a twin. I think it would be mischievous and comforting to know that someone could always relate to your situation so thoroughly.

The other day my brother came back home from his foreign endeavors to visit the family and catch up. A lot of good stories were traded, we laughed a lot, and drank some good Russian vodka to wash it all down. At some point during his visit, the talked turned world communications and technology. He and I are always on a quest for the one device that does everything for you (and is free). We are sure it's out there we just need to find it. Anyway, I was messing with his shady, stolen, hacked BlackBerry that he picked up in China and asking him questions about the recent quest developments. Being an avid Berry users I also appreciate how people use their device and the unique styling they add to make it their own.

As I looked down at his, however, I was totally caught by surprise to see that he had a very distinct worn down spot on the back of his Berry in exactly the same place that I do.

This wear is a result of spinning the BlackBerry on its back enough to wear down the plastic. I do this incessantly but have never met another person that does. Well, until I saw my brother's phone. I was very please to see that even 7,000 miles away he and I share some common bonds.
This observation made me think of twins separated at birth stories. It shows too that family genes are a strong bond - stronger than you think.

c.e.

When the Cubs play .500 ball

Is it bad to ask the Cubs to play at about .500 for the rest of the season? Yes, it is, but for selfish reasons, I think it's a good idea. Here's why.

I enjoy going to baseball games. I, in fact, really enjoy it. The energy, the rhythm, the sounds and sunshine, they all add something to the experience that makes a day at Wrigley quite amazing. I bet it's the same at many outdoor parks in the league, but since Wrigley is my own and I haven't gone to many other parks, I know little else.

So naturally, I try to get to as many games as I can. Last year I smashed all C.E. personal records and hit about 20 games. But as you may recall, the Cubbies were good in 2008. Right down to the wire we were juggling first place with the Brewers (disclaimer: I don't know if that's true, but I was led to believe it so I'll assume it is fact). As we head into August and September and the Cubs continue to hold the attention of the city ticket prices rise and fans get 'dumber'.

No longer is it possible to walk up at 1:10 and get two choice tickets for the 1:20 matinee. Instead that clown from Schaumburg is paying premium to get into the game raising pricing for all us neighborhood folk (I don't mind Schumburg, it was just stream of consciousness and I moved out of the neighborhood in September so I'm really a poser anyway).

When they play average baseball then there is less interest and fewer people trying to get tickets. Of course I expect them to win every game I'm attending, but that's besides the point.

Oh and the Cubs Win song, Go Cubs Go, I love it!

c.e.

Wedding Register Shopping

I was invited to go on a small adventure yesterday afternoon - Wedding Registery Shopping. If you've ever had a sugar daddy, won a shopping spree or found use of a stolen credit card, you may be able to relate to my experience. Otherwise, allow me to let you in on a little secret. Buying stuff you don't have to buy with real money is awesome! (post on credit crisis coming soon!)

When will you ever get to take a magic red gun, walk all over a big box store and just scan with abandonment till your finger falls off or your gun runs out of batteries. Never, it just won't happen unless you're Jay-Z.

When my dear friend LJet asked me to go with her, I jumped at the chance. This isn't really the territory for dudes but I'm always up for a new and unique experience. We met at Target after work , got our magic red gun from the nice lady at the front counter and then plotted our course.

Our plan: a quick lap around the rather underwhelming first floor and then a concentrated effort on 2 where we were sure to strike gold.

Scan one: A welcome mat. Nice find LJet! We were presented with several options but we thought that this one said Welcome better than the rest. Boom.














2. Toilet paper - Scan it!
Red thin belt - Skip it (whoa that was close!)

We spent no less than 20 minutes matching the shower curtain to the towels, to the floor mat, to the hand towels. LJet, you don't even know what color the place will be yet. Scan it.

3. 6 towels
4. 4 hand towels
5. 1 shower curtain
6. 2 bath mats (shag and short)





Beyond bath we hit bedding then over to small appliances.
7. quesadilla maker (escanear por favor)
rice cooker (skip it)

And quickly ended up in kitchen.
8. apple core'er (this is why she brought me along)
9. beverage tub
10. strainer

The find of the day was a 6 foot foldable table perfect for hosting parties and playing games with beverages.
26. 6 ft table (scan of the day)

Leaving Target after only an hour of work (a land speed record) we felt like we had done what we had set out to do. We only added about 30 items to the registry but we subscribe to quality over quantity.
Wedding Registry Shopping was fun. I think if I was with my significant other getting ready for my own wedding it would be a totally different experience. Also, if this had lasted all Saturday afternoon instead of 1 hour on a Monday night, I think it it would begin to suck.

But we had fun... and that's why we play the game.

Intelligent Security

I appreciate this. You the home owner are making a simple statement to any would be burgler of the state of things. I suppose that would not necessarily stop a really tenacious crook but for those high class cat burglers they might find another window or better yet, a different home to enter forcefully. So my question gente, what are some of the more creative burgler deterrents you've seen out there?
C.e.

Hallmark Holidays - Mother's Day

The facts are that this Sunday, Mother's Day, is a totally fabricated holiday. There is a lot of grumbling from the non-mothers of the world about what they need to get their mother to show appreciation and how much its going to set them back. These are legitimate grumblings because it's going to cost you - if you're thinking in the vein in the first place.

But there are ways around this wallet emptying . Take the time to appreciate your mother all year long.

Everybody has a different relationship with their mother. Some talk everyday on the telephone, others on Sunday afternoons, and there are those that can never find the time to even say hello. To each their own, but taking the time to spend time with your mother periodically - honest, unselfish time - will reduce the need and sense of pressure to spend buku bucks for Mother's Day.

I can't say where I fall in this spectrum, but I will say that I want to fall into the spend more time, spend less money category. What if we made Mother's Day Resolutions, like a New Years Resolution? Much the same as that often made, seldom kept January 1st promise to yourself, what if you made (and kept) a promise in the name of your mother to do something positive for her or for yourself?

While I think about what that Mother's Day Resolution might be, I will be looking around for something to get her that will make her feel good about herself and give back some of what she continues to give to me. It will probably cost me a lot of money... baby steps.

c.e.

Full length

I just couldn't resist. Not sure if its a throw-back nostaglic experience or a convenience but I just wanted to share - what a great find!

Nice work Matilda

Mass transit - the case for it

I have yet to be convinced that taking your four wheeler to work is a better deal than the train or the bus. If your office mate is a corn field, you have reason. However there are countless folks, working in the city that just don't do the math. Convenience, heavy loads, time crunch - I've heard them all. But really gente, why is that?

Wednesday rain

There's something great about spring thunderstorms. Reminds me of my childhood.

multimedia

Matilda's car turned a cool 100,000 April 16, 2009.

Mobil blogging

Team,
Still trying to expand my options with this blog, I want to be able to post as I am moving. Let's give it a try.
Btw. Setup seems rather straight forward. I fiddled with the settings on the blog and came up with this.

Let's see,
c.e.

Welcome to The Community Around Me

Hi,
Welcome to The Community Around Me - a blog. I have no idea why this began today but it seemed like a great idea. Thank you for being a part of it. I want to point out that I have no clear idea where it will take me or what it will used for but I felt that I had to begin now and figure that out later.
You'll see pictures and learn ideas and more than anything else participate in discussion about the community around me.

I hope it changes often and provides an opportunity to think critically about the things in your community.

Lets begin,
c.e.