There are times when rather than being the launcher of verbal barbs, The Jenius is on the receiving end. A few examples suffice...though why they are being presented is a mystery to Me.
There are times when The Jenius refers to Himself as "an idiot." After several of those remarks in conversations with the steadily impressive Iván Merced, who always agreed with Me immediately, The Jenius said "The least you can do is take a few seconds and think about it before you agree." Iván asked Me to repeat My remark, so The Jenius called Himself an idiot again. (Very Jenius-like of Me, doncha think?) Iván pretended to think about it for two seconds, then agreed that yes, The Jenius was an idiot. My curiousity compelled Me to ask him: "Why don't you argue with Me about it?" to which he replied "I respect you too much to argue." Zing.
In a recent e-mail with the delightful Carol, from Texas via Louisiana, (or as The Jenius calls it, Baja Arkansas) The Jenius went off on a typical ego-boosting paragraph that included the word "bask", as in "bask in My glory." Tickled by the word, My next paragraph had Me writing "baskbaskbaskbaskbask" in imitation of saying a word out loud many times until it loses its meaning and becomes silly (or stupid.) Carol replied that "bask" repeated so often did lose its meaning, until she realized it made sense because The Jenius was "a bask(et) case." Zing.
A recent work session had The Jenius offering to help write a few pages of an important document that the hard-working José Rodríguez was putting together. In a moment of wit, The Jenius asked José "So you want it spelled correctly?" He quietly asked back "Is that an option?"
Floored Me. Cracked Me up! Practically bust a gut laughing. This is the same guy who frequently misquotes a commenter to these posts who called The Jenius "egotistical and self-centered." José believes the commenter called Me "egotistical and obnoxious."
Maybe they're both right. And yet, The Jenius does get a kick out of being taken down a notch or two by these flashes of superior wit.
But, rest assured, none of these people are on My Christmas list.
The Jenius Has Spoken
17 November 2005
16 November 2005
Local Detallistas: Feebleminded Freeloaders
The Centro Unido de Detallistas--the local Retailers Union--is the so-called representative of small businesses in Puerto Rico. While moistly trumpeting how small businesses are "the heart of the economy" and how the so-called Union represents "families versus megacorporations", the bottom line is that the Detallistas are a throbbing cancer on the throat of local economic growth.
Let's begin with its "leadership," most of whom cut their teeth on business issues when Roosevelt--Teddy Roosevelt--was in power. Cursed with an affliction caused by greed and self-serving hindbrains, known as "politics," the "leadership" of the Detallistas plays a game of Incontinent Musical Chairs: whenever one goes deaf, the president is changed. New blood, like at a vampire barbecue, is on the table, not in the chairs.
Then there's the sheer volume of their "woe is me" whine, coupled with a deep and abiding sense of total vulnerability to any outside force, be it rain, taxes or intelligence. The combination creates a constant stream of variations of their basic howl: "Protect me!" To listen to this flow of addle-pated diarrhea is to get the sense that the Detallistas see small businesses as soap bubbles in the hands of spastic cretins. As the Spanish proverb says: Ladrón juzga por su condición. A thief judges others based on himself.
Add all this together as we review the Detallistas' own take on current legislation pending in the Senate. On page 40 of their September 2005 issue--a magazine as visually appealing as vomit on a doily--is a list of bills submitted and the position the Detallistas squats on, along with their REAL position:
Senate Bill #458: To establish a wage subsidy of up to $2.75 an hour for new microbusinesses established in Urban Centers (downtown areas the C.U.D. screams about protecting.)
Detallistas Squat: "...study the issue to extend the subsidy to new businesses not located in Urban Centers."
REAL Detallistas Position: GIVE ME FREE MONEY! GIVE ME FREE MONEY! Rather than improve to compete, I will beg/plead/grovel/suck up/kiss ass, but GIVE ME FREE MONEY!
Senate Bill # 245: To allow private businesses to set up workshops and production centers, as well as hire convicts to do the work. [NOTE: The bill description implies that the hiring is to be done at very low or even "deferred" wages.]
Detallistas Squat: "The Centro Unido de Detallistas extended its congratulations to the legislators and approves of this bill, subject to our recommendations."
REAL Detallistas Position: GIVE ME SLAVES! GIVE ME SLAVES! Murderers and crack whores? Who cares! GIVE ME SLAVES!
Senate Bill 139: Extend the rest period granted to pregnant women.
Detallistas Squat: "The bill pretends to extend the rest period benefit based on theoretical expressions rather than evidence. It errs in equating the public and private sectors without considering economic factors, fund sources, business/industrial sector factors and, more so, the current fiscal reality of the Government and, by extension, our Country. The Centro Unido de Detallistas does not approve of this bill."
REAL Detallistas Squat: Free money? Let me at it! Prisoners as captive workers? Yeah, ba-bee! But extra rest for pregnant women? Uh, no, sorry, no can do. See, it's the government's fault. They screwed things up so, well, it's obvious we can't give our employees an extra 20 minutes, right? I mean, maybe pregnant women don't NEED extra rest. Where's the evidence? I mean, pregnant cows don't go around asking for extra rest, right? You gotta understand, these are workers and pregnant or not, they have to work. Family values? Hey, this is business! We're the heart and soul of the economy! If we don't produce, the country goes to pot! But while we're on the subject, the economy sucks, it might rain next week and I could use some free money and maybe a couple of them extra bodies to help me out at the store.
The Detallistas are a disgrace that gags the fullest expression of Our entrepreneurial power. They are Feebleminded Freeloaders. They are Fools. The sooner We are rid of them, the better.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
Let's begin with its "leadership," most of whom cut their teeth on business issues when Roosevelt--Teddy Roosevelt--was in power. Cursed with an affliction caused by greed and self-serving hindbrains, known as "politics," the "leadership" of the Detallistas plays a game of Incontinent Musical Chairs: whenever one goes deaf, the president is changed. New blood, like at a vampire barbecue, is on the table, not in the chairs.
Then there's the sheer volume of their "woe is me" whine, coupled with a deep and abiding sense of total vulnerability to any outside force, be it rain, taxes or intelligence. The combination creates a constant stream of variations of their basic howl: "Protect me!" To listen to this flow of addle-pated diarrhea is to get the sense that the Detallistas see small businesses as soap bubbles in the hands of spastic cretins. As the Spanish proverb says: Ladrón juzga por su condición. A thief judges others based on himself.
Add all this together as we review the Detallistas' own take on current legislation pending in the Senate. On page 40 of their September 2005 issue--a magazine as visually appealing as vomit on a doily--is a list of bills submitted and the position the Detallistas squats on, along with their REAL position:
Senate Bill #458: To establish a wage subsidy of up to $2.75 an hour for new microbusinesses established in Urban Centers (downtown areas the C.U.D. screams about protecting.)
Detallistas Squat: "...study the issue to extend the subsidy to new businesses not located in Urban Centers."
REAL Detallistas Position: GIVE ME FREE MONEY! GIVE ME FREE MONEY! Rather than improve to compete, I will beg/plead/grovel/suck up/kiss ass, but GIVE ME FREE MONEY!
Senate Bill # 245: To allow private businesses to set up workshops and production centers, as well as hire convicts to do the work. [NOTE: The bill description implies that the hiring is to be done at very low or even "deferred" wages.]
Detallistas Squat: "The Centro Unido de Detallistas extended its congratulations to the legislators and approves of this bill, subject to our recommendations."
REAL Detallistas Position: GIVE ME SLAVES! GIVE ME SLAVES! Murderers and crack whores? Who cares! GIVE ME SLAVES!
Senate Bill 139: Extend the rest period granted to pregnant women.
Detallistas Squat: "The bill pretends to extend the rest period benefit based on theoretical expressions rather than evidence. It errs in equating the public and private sectors without considering economic factors, fund sources, business/industrial sector factors and, more so, the current fiscal reality of the Government and, by extension, our Country. The Centro Unido de Detallistas does not approve of this bill."
REAL Detallistas Squat: Free money? Let me at it! Prisoners as captive workers? Yeah, ba-bee! But extra rest for pregnant women? Uh, no, sorry, no can do. See, it's the government's fault. They screwed things up so, well, it's obvious we can't give our employees an extra 20 minutes, right? I mean, maybe pregnant women don't NEED extra rest. Where's the evidence? I mean, pregnant cows don't go around asking for extra rest, right? You gotta understand, these are workers and pregnant or not, they have to work. Family values? Hey, this is business! We're the heart and soul of the economy! If we don't produce, the country goes to pot! But while we're on the subject, the economy sucks, it might rain next week and I could use some free money and maybe a couple of them extra bodies to help me out at the store.
The Detallistas are a disgrace that gags the fullest expression of Our entrepreneurial power. They are Feebleminded Freeloaders. They are Fools. The sooner We are rid of them, the better.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
15 November 2005
Sobering Territorial Statistics
The following are the Median Family Income statistics of the following U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Marianas Islands. See if you can match the number with the territory:
Median Family Income: $41,229; $28,553; $25,853; $18,357; $16,543
Now here are more statistics, in this case, the average dollar figure received per person in Federal Direct Payments:
FDP per person: $4,021; $3,287; $2,667; $1,445; $643
One more thing. These statistics are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract of the United States 2004-2005. You can download the proper section here.
Okay, let’s end the mystery. If you selected Puerto Rico as the highest Median Family Income territory, you were wrong. The highest Median Family Income belongs to Guam. The lowest MFI is Puerto Rico’s.
If, on the other hand, you chose Puerto Rico as the highest per person Federal Direct Payment recipient, you’d be right on target. Now it might be true that the scale of reliability goes “lies, damn lies and statistics,” but here We have a sobering comparison. Median Family Income is NOT an average: it is the point at which half the data points are higher and half are lower, in essence, the midpoint. That means that in each case, the MFI indicates the exact “center” of the populace in terms of family income: half the families make more money than the median, half make less.
So Puerto Rico pulls up the rear with $16,543, a paltry 40% of what the MFI is in Guam. Hell, it’s 10% lower than American Samoa’s, which most of Us can’t find on the world map in under a minute, but also 42% lower than the Virgin Islands which We have probably visited several times.
Now maybe—just maybe—there’s no direct correlation between the amount received in FDPs and the MFI. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that Puerto Rico receives 625% more FDP dollars per person than a resident of the Marianas. But think about what it means that the Median Family Income of Puerto Rico, the point that can be considered to define the level of economic success, is so much lower here than in the comparing territories.
What are We doing to keep more than half of Our families at a lower standard of living than could be expected in American Samoa or Guam? And considering the high cost of living here, We could be looking at maybe 70-75% of Our families living below “Third World” standards. Is this the Puerto Rico We want?
The Jenius Has Spoken.
Median Family Income: $41,229; $28,553; $25,853; $18,357; $16,543
Now here are more statistics, in this case, the average dollar figure received per person in Federal Direct Payments:
FDP per person: $4,021; $3,287; $2,667; $1,445; $643
One more thing. These statistics are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract of the United States 2004-2005. You can download the proper section here.
Okay, let’s end the mystery. If you selected Puerto Rico as the highest Median Family Income territory, you were wrong. The highest Median Family Income belongs to Guam. The lowest MFI is Puerto Rico’s.
If, on the other hand, you chose Puerto Rico as the highest per person Federal Direct Payment recipient, you’d be right on target. Now it might be true that the scale of reliability goes “lies, damn lies and statistics,” but here We have a sobering comparison. Median Family Income is NOT an average: it is the point at which half the data points are higher and half are lower, in essence, the midpoint. That means that in each case, the MFI indicates the exact “center” of the populace in terms of family income: half the families make more money than the median, half make less.
So Puerto Rico pulls up the rear with $16,543, a paltry 40% of what the MFI is in Guam. Hell, it’s 10% lower than American Samoa’s, which most of Us can’t find on the world map in under a minute, but also 42% lower than the Virgin Islands which We have probably visited several times.
Now maybe—just maybe—there’s no direct correlation between the amount received in FDPs and the MFI. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that Puerto Rico receives 625% more FDP dollars per person than a resident of the Marianas. But think about what it means that the Median Family Income of Puerto Rico, the point that can be considered to define the level of economic success, is so much lower here than in the comparing territories.
What are We doing to keep more than half of Our families at a lower standard of living than could be expected in American Samoa or Guam? And considering the high cost of living here, We could be looking at maybe 70-75% of Our families living below “Third World” standards. Is this the Puerto Rico We want?
The Jenius Has Spoken.
14 November 2005
Independence Illusion
movement: noun
4: a group of people with a common ideology who try together to
achieve certain general goals; [syn: social movement, front]
7: an optical illusion of motion; ] [syn: apparent
motion, apparent movement]
Back in a post about Singapore leaving Puerto Rico behind, there was this quiet aside: "The Jenius will argue that there really isn’t and never has been a true independence movement in Puerto Rico."
Here's why: Despite the definition given above that uses the weasel-like try, the fact is a movement has to make progress for it to be a real movement. The so-called independence movement in Puerto Rico makes progress like cement migrates south for the winter. In other words, it doesn't.
The sheer whimsy (The Jenius is being polite here) of the independence movement is based entirely on one day's activity, El Grito de Lares -- The Yell (Scream) in Lares. If you wish, here's a brief description of a brief event.
Now Puerto Rico has been "around" since 1493, or 1508 if you choose a political starting date. Since then, almost (or more than) 500 years have passed and the ONLY freaking thing the so-called in-de-pen-dence "movement" of Puerto Rico chooses to rally around is the pathetic attempt by a group of two-bit blowhards to take over a third-rate defenseless rural town, a "takeover" that folded like a wet Kleenex when an even smaller group of soldiers came marching in.
One day. One day in about 182,000. One day a so-called political party and "movement" tries to make out to be some sort of glorious act of sociopolitical will, but is a whole hell of a lot closer to being a fart in the wind than a revolution.
Imagine the American Revolution being "glorified" for a one-day takeover of Weathersfield, Vermont. Or that the French revolutionaries had limited themselves to storming a patisserie and released the beignets to a hungry crowd. One day does not a movement make...a simple Truth the independentistas struggle mightily to delude themselves about.
In the last elections, the Puerto Rico Independence Party barely polled 2.5% of the total vote. In Hawaii, the independence movement regularly reaches double digits and they are a lot less jingoistic and loutish about their movement than the local crowd.
The fact is, there is no independence movement in Puerto Rico. There is an independence feeling, a yearning maybe, to be "free." But it is at best a childish whim(sy), an inchoate desire that neither citizen nor recent independence leader has ever crystallized into a true movement.
Recent. Because if you look back at the 30 years after the Lares fart, progress was made, if not towards independence, then at least its realistic cousin, autonomy. Leaders of a steel no longer forged here--Eugenio María de Hostos, Ramón Emeterio Betances, José de Diego, Luis Muñoz Rivera--men of international fame whose political opinions differed greatly, joined hands and achieved for Puerto Rico the autonomy she deserved then...and has never received since. That some of these men have had their images and opinions stolen by statehood and commonwealth parties is a travesty. That the independence "movement" ignores them because of that, ignores their concerted effort to seek a solution rather than bandy words like parrots with verbal diarrhea, is simply another example of stupidity from The Fools.
Independence is an illusion. No one, no state or country, is truly independent. Pushing for independence in a vacuum, an independence that has no rhyme, reason, rationale or roadmap, is tantamount to selling snake oil. The local independentistas are a tiny market of snake oil salespeople and gullible buyers, getting together to lie to each other about how important their "work," their "struggle", their "movement" is. They drool for their September moment, their smelly mirage of history, and let the other 364 days of the year pass by in more flatulence.
What a waste. What a shameful waste.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
4: a group of people with a common ideology who try together to
achieve certain general goals; [syn: social movement, front]
7: an optical illusion of motion; ] [syn: apparent
motion, apparent movement]
Back in a post about Singapore leaving Puerto Rico behind, there was this quiet aside: "The Jenius will argue that there really isn’t and never has been a true independence movement in Puerto Rico."
Here's why: Despite the definition given above that uses the weasel-like try, the fact is a movement has to make progress for it to be a real movement. The so-called independence movement in Puerto Rico makes progress like cement migrates south for the winter. In other words, it doesn't.
The sheer whimsy (The Jenius is being polite here) of the independence movement is based entirely on one day's activity, El Grito de Lares -- The Yell (Scream) in Lares. If you wish, here's a brief description of a brief event.
Now Puerto Rico has been "around" since 1493, or 1508 if you choose a political starting date. Since then, almost (or more than) 500 years have passed and the ONLY freaking thing the so-called in-de-pen-dence "movement" of Puerto Rico chooses to rally around is the pathetic attempt by a group of two-bit blowhards to take over a third-rate defenseless rural town, a "takeover" that folded like a wet Kleenex when an even smaller group of soldiers came marching in.
One day. One day in about 182,000. One day a so-called political party and "movement" tries to make out to be some sort of glorious act of sociopolitical will, but is a whole hell of a lot closer to being a fart in the wind than a revolution.
Imagine the American Revolution being "glorified" for a one-day takeover of Weathersfield, Vermont. Or that the French revolutionaries had limited themselves to storming a patisserie and released the beignets to a hungry crowd. One day does not a movement make...a simple Truth the independentistas struggle mightily to delude themselves about.
In the last elections, the Puerto Rico Independence Party barely polled 2.5% of the total vote. In Hawaii, the independence movement regularly reaches double digits and they are a lot less jingoistic and loutish about their movement than the local crowd.
The fact is, there is no independence movement in Puerto Rico. There is an independence feeling, a yearning maybe, to be "free." But it is at best a childish whim(sy), an inchoate desire that neither citizen nor recent independence leader has ever crystallized into a true movement.
Recent. Because if you look back at the 30 years after the Lares fart, progress was made, if not towards independence, then at least its realistic cousin, autonomy. Leaders of a steel no longer forged here--Eugenio María de Hostos, Ramón Emeterio Betances, José de Diego, Luis Muñoz Rivera--men of international fame whose political opinions differed greatly, joined hands and achieved for Puerto Rico the autonomy she deserved then...and has never received since. That some of these men have had their images and opinions stolen by statehood and commonwealth parties is a travesty. That the independence "movement" ignores them because of that, ignores their concerted effort to seek a solution rather than bandy words like parrots with verbal diarrhea, is simply another example of stupidity from The Fools.
Independence is an illusion. No one, no state or country, is truly independent. Pushing for independence in a vacuum, an independence that has no rhyme, reason, rationale or roadmap, is tantamount to selling snake oil. The local independentistas are a tiny market of snake oil salespeople and gullible buyers, getting together to lie to each other about how important their "work," their "struggle", their "movement" is. They drool for their September moment, their smelly mirage of history, and let the other 364 days of the year pass by in more flatulence.
What a waste. What a shameful waste.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
11 November 2005
Puerto Rico's Inferiority Complex
[Note: The Jenius ranks high on searches for a small handful of topics related to Puerto Rico, but He ranks #1 on Google searches for bat snot. There's a joke in there somewhere, but you're welcome to make it.]
Last Sunday, El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico's "largest" newspaper, ran an article titled "Ingobernables" (Ungovernable), ostensibly referring to Us. It extensively quoted a sociology professor and two economists--those purveyors of the dismal science--about a variety of problems Puerto Rico faces.
The basic thrust of the article may have been that We have a government that stinks because We have been shanghaied by Our own indifference and attitudes into allowing The Fools room for their monkeyshines. That We have a "zero sum mentality" (fuel for a future Jenius post) leading to attitudes of despair, violence, "short-cut" thinking (crass opportunism, in the case of The Fools) and an underground economy that mirrors or even exceeds the "legal" one.
In that sense, the article did strike a responsive chord. But in the middle of the article, an economist whose name The Jenius refuses to honor with any mention, stated in a comparison between Nordic countries and Puerto Rico that they (those countries) were "more highly evolved" than Us.
Poppy. Cock.
Idiot.
The economist's implication was that Nordic countries are "more highly evolved" because they showed a greater degree of organization. Oh Dismal Scientist of the Bat Snot Brain, bee hives and ant colonies are highly organized, but that doesn't make them "more evolved" than Us. Organization is not necessarily a function of intelligence, talent or evolutionary maturity: it is simply a function of rule-sets and conditions. To imply that a "more organized" society is somehow more "highly evolved" is to think the rotten fish in the moonlight is yummy because it's shiny.
Now before any of you go off on Me, The Jenius is NOT--repeat, not--criticizing Nordic countries, their societies or people. The point here is that a so-called "educated" person makes a sweeping generalization that is fundamentally flawed and is less conclusion than it is a revelation of the inferiority complex Puerto Ricans tend to express as "They and their things are better than Us and Our things."
Yes, some things suck in Puerto Rico. But rather than focus on the positive things We have, We choose to focus on the negative. And rather than focus on the negative in other folks/countries (just to be consistent...dismal, even...) We look at their positives or cast Our perceptions of them on the positive side. That is, if We even bother to look at other countries because thanks to Our inferior "educational system", We only have eyes for Puerto Rico and the U.S. (a marketing genius when it comes to whitewashing its many flaws.)
We are so ignorant of who We are (again, "educational system") that We seek Our self-image through comparison to others, an awful symptom in an individual's mental and emotional health and--by extension--an awful symptom in Our collective mental and emotional health. As in an individual, seeking Our self-image outside of Ourselves leaves Us vulnerable to emotiomal buffeting, leading to frustration, violence, dismay, despair... many of the same things the article mentions that make Us "ungovernable."
We are not "ungovernable." We are a loving, caring people who would rather have a better life, but We have been denied the tools to make it so. And the denial has come from The Fools, from Our predilection to elect those Fools, because they represent the favorite color We support come hell or high water, no matter how big a crook, whore, pederast, rapist, drug addict or thief the Fool is.
We are bright people who love to laugh. We are hard-working people who want a better future for Ourselves and Our children. We are empathetic and creative. We are so much more than We know that the gap is painful to live with...if you see it. Some of Us do. More of Us need to do so.
No, Dismal Scientist with the inferiority complex We need to get rid of: you are wrong. We are not "less evolved." You are, but the rest of Us aren't. But We do need to take a deep breath and cast off the mental and emotional shackles of years to understand that We are Our future. Not The Fools, not the idiots who cater to The Fools, but Us. And the sooner We push you Fools and idiots off the stage, the better.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
Last Sunday, El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico's "largest" newspaper, ran an article titled "Ingobernables" (Ungovernable), ostensibly referring to Us. It extensively quoted a sociology professor and two economists--those purveyors of the dismal science--about a variety of problems Puerto Rico faces.
The basic thrust of the article may have been that We have a government that stinks because We have been shanghaied by Our own indifference and attitudes into allowing The Fools room for their monkeyshines. That We have a "zero sum mentality" (fuel for a future Jenius post) leading to attitudes of despair, violence, "short-cut" thinking (crass opportunism, in the case of The Fools) and an underground economy that mirrors or even exceeds the "legal" one.
In that sense, the article did strike a responsive chord. But in the middle of the article, an economist whose name The Jenius refuses to honor with any mention, stated in a comparison between Nordic countries and Puerto Rico that they (those countries) were "more highly evolved" than Us.
Poppy. Cock.
Idiot.
The economist's implication was that Nordic countries are "more highly evolved" because they showed a greater degree of organization. Oh Dismal Scientist of the Bat Snot Brain, bee hives and ant colonies are highly organized, but that doesn't make them "more evolved" than Us. Organization is not necessarily a function of intelligence, talent or evolutionary maturity: it is simply a function of rule-sets and conditions. To imply that a "more organized" society is somehow more "highly evolved" is to think the rotten fish in the moonlight is yummy because it's shiny.
Now before any of you go off on Me, The Jenius is NOT--repeat, not--criticizing Nordic countries, their societies or people. The point here is that a so-called "educated" person makes a sweeping generalization that is fundamentally flawed and is less conclusion than it is a revelation of the inferiority complex Puerto Ricans tend to express as "They and their things are better than Us and Our things."
Yes, some things suck in Puerto Rico. But rather than focus on the positive things We have, We choose to focus on the negative. And rather than focus on the negative in other folks/countries (just to be consistent...dismal, even...) We look at their positives or cast Our perceptions of them on the positive side. That is, if We even bother to look at other countries because thanks to Our inferior "educational system", We only have eyes for Puerto Rico and the U.S. (a marketing genius when it comes to whitewashing its many flaws.)
We are so ignorant of who We are (again, "educational system") that We seek Our self-image through comparison to others, an awful symptom in an individual's mental and emotional health and--by extension--an awful symptom in Our collective mental and emotional health. As in an individual, seeking Our self-image outside of Ourselves leaves Us vulnerable to emotiomal buffeting, leading to frustration, violence, dismay, despair... many of the same things the article mentions that make Us "ungovernable."
We are not "ungovernable." We are a loving, caring people who would rather have a better life, but We have been denied the tools to make it so. And the denial has come from The Fools, from Our predilection to elect those Fools, because they represent the favorite color We support come hell or high water, no matter how big a crook, whore, pederast, rapist, drug addict or thief the Fool is.
We are bright people who love to laugh. We are hard-working people who want a better future for Ourselves and Our children. We are empathetic and creative. We are so much more than We know that the gap is painful to live with...if you see it. Some of Us do. More of Us need to do so.
No, Dismal Scientist with the inferiority complex We need to get rid of: you are wrong. We are not "less evolved." You are, but the rest of Us aren't. But We do need to take a deep breath and cast off the mental and emotional shackles of years to understand that We are Our future. Not The Fools, not the idiots who cater to The Fools, but Us. And the sooner We push you Fools and idiots off the stage, the better.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
10 November 2005
Creativity Central Plus
A previous post on idea generation methods called "Creativity Central" presented a few dozen techniques for being (more) creative.
In that coincidental fashion that happens when you're looking for things on the Web, The Jenius came across this post in Lifehack.org, an eclectic mix of tips and techniques for making your life easier and more productive. One of its posts brings together 163 techniques for boosting creativity, 30 tips and a few books. You can click on it here and wander to your imagination's content.
The 163 techniques are found at Mycoted.com, a veritable treasure trove of innovative methods and ideas with a decidedly scientific bent, which makes them more valuable.
The 30 Tips for Being Creative come from Hugh McLeod's Gaping Void blog, and though his post is long, it is very much worth the time it takes to read. (And the cartoons, drawn on the back of business cards, are often very funny.)
The list of recommended books is short, but if you can only read one book, read the first one listed: A Whack on the Side of the Head, by Roger von Oech. It is funny, insightful, memorable and useful. It's the kind of book that will stay with you for many years.
These blogs put tools in front of Techno Sapiens seeking to improve their skill sets and thus increase their value to the markets they play in. Take some time to read them and put some of their ideas into practice. Think of it as a game that could lead to a better life. Have fun!
The Jenius Has Spoken.
In that coincidental fashion that happens when you're looking for things on the Web, The Jenius came across this post in Lifehack.org, an eclectic mix of tips and techniques for making your life easier and more productive. One of its posts brings together 163 techniques for boosting creativity, 30 tips and a few books. You can click on it here and wander to your imagination's content.
The 163 techniques are found at Mycoted.com, a veritable treasure trove of innovative methods and ideas with a decidedly scientific bent, which makes them more valuable.
The 30 Tips for Being Creative come from Hugh McLeod's Gaping Void blog, and though his post is long, it is very much worth the time it takes to read. (And the cartoons, drawn on the back of business cards, are often very funny.)
The list of recommended books is short, but if you can only read one book, read the first one listed: A Whack on the Side of the Head, by Roger von Oech. It is funny, insightful, memorable and useful. It's the kind of book that will stay with you for many years.
These blogs put tools in front of Techno Sapiens seeking to improve their skill sets and thus increase their value to the markets they play in. Take some time to read them and put some of their ideas into practice. Think of it as a game that could lead to a better life. Have fun!
The Jenius Has Spoken.
09 November 2005
Tasks Over Time
One of the simplest and most powerful guidelines The Jenius ever received for personal productivity was "You don't manage time: you manage tasks."
The current guru of productivity is David Allen, whose "Getting Things Done" has spawned a veritable revolution in the art--yes, art--of personal management.
The book falls in that small category of "life changers," for what it preaches is simple, focused and very effective. As with all methods, patience and persistence do pay off, so expecting miracles in 24 hours is not the right attitude. But focusing well for 24 hours will inevitably lead to "miracles."
From a 1998 article in Fast Company, Allen gave basic ideas of what originated his GTD method:
We clutter our minds with vague promises about what we should do, what we could do. But there is always more to do than there is time to do it. Most of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do - it comes from not keeping agreements they’ve made with themselves. When you tell yourself you ought to do something and then don’t do it, you experience self-doubt and frustration. You can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool yourself for a second.
Think about it: what Allen is defining here is the "gnawing sense of anxiety" so many of Us live with every day. The feeling of "being pulled in different directions," overwhelmed by work, family, community and personal "commitments" We make with little restraint and fulfill with minimal success.
Allen sees the solution: "The degree to which things gnaw at our minds is usually the degree to which they are 'stuck' in some way," he says. "You get things off your mind by making progress on them."
Sounds simple, right? Obvious, even. So why aren't We doing it? Why do We continue to let Our lives spin out of control with anxiety eating away at Our creativity, productivity and quality of life? Allen indicates that "Productivity is about completion. (The) system is based on identifying all the 'incompletes' in your life - from mundane tasks to pressing responsibilities - and isolating the simplest next step to complete them."
In other words, focus on managing tasks in a methodical way.
Oooh. Sounds hard. Sounds like "discipline." Sounds confining. If you think that way, get over it. Confining is what you feel right now, trapped and overwhelmed, out of control. Here's the gist of Allen's method to give you back that control you deserve, need and must have to achieve your best:
1. Make (certain kinds of) lists.
I suggest making five lists, which together make up what I call a "Total Life To-Do List."
-- The "Projects" list tracks big-picture outcomes: Conduct performance reviews. Install new tires on the Volvo.
-- The "Next Actions" list itemizes next steps on all active projects: Read research report. Call Elizabeth about next week's meeting.
-- The "Waiting For" list records activities that depend on someone else.
-- The "Calendar" tracks time-specific appointments and day-specific actions.
-- The "Someday/Maybe" list records discretionary tasks: Go scuba diving in Fiji.
2. Don't let your inbox box you in.
An inbox is a place for capturing the chaos that comes across the transom. But that doesn't mean you should treat it as a black hole. Get to the bottom of your in-basket once a day. Take just one thing out of it at a time; don't look at the second item until you've determined an action for the first. And once you remove an item, never put it back in. [Jenius note: Your "inbox" doesn't have to be a physical object: it could be your own mind. Discipline yourself to go one item at a time and complete each item properly before moving on to the next.]
3. Remember the two-minute rule.
Any time you're confronted with an action item that will take less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately.
4. Always do a weekly review.
Take 30 minutes every Friday afternoon to review and update your lists, process loose papers and notes, and think about upcoming events.
"Getting Things Done" is the kind of investment in yourself that pays off with greater returns the more you use it. Take a look at it now. Your future will be glad you did.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
The current guru of productivity is David Allen, whose "Getting Things Done" has spawned a veritable revolution in the art--yes, art--of personal management.
The book falls in that small category of "life changers," for what it preaches is simple, focused and very effective. As with all methods, patience and persistence do pay off, so expecting miracles in 24 hours is not the right attitude. But focusing well for 24 hours will inevitably lead to "miracles."
From a 1998 article in Fast Company, Allen gave basic ideas of what originated his GTD method:
We clutter our minds with vague promises about what we should do, what we could do. But there is always more to do than there is time to do it. Most of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do - it comes from not keeping agreements they’ve made with themselves. When you tell yourself you ought to do something and then don’t do it, you experience self-doubt and frustration. You can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool yourself for a second.
Think about it: what Allen is defining here is the "gnawing sense of anxiety" so many of Us live with every day. The feeling of "being pulled in different directions," overwhelmed by work, family, community and personal "commitments" We make with little restraint and fulfill with minimal success.
Allen sees the solution: "The degree to which things gnaw at our minds is usually the degree to which they are 'stuck' in some way," he says. "You get things off your mind by making progress on them."
Sounds simple, right? Obvious, even. So why aren't We doing it? Why do We continue to let Our lives spin out of control with anxiety eating away at Our creativity, productivity and quality of life? Allen indicates that "Productivity is about completion. (The) system is based on identifying all the 'incompletes' in your life - from mundane tasks to pressing responsibilities - and isolating the simplest next step to complete them."
In other words, focus on managing tasks in a methodical way.
Oooh. Sounds hard. Sounds like "discipline." Sounds confining. If you think that way, get over it. Confining is what you feel right now, trapped and overwhelmed, out of control. Here's the gist of Allen's method to give you back that control you deserve, need and must have to achieve your best:
1. Make (certain kinds of) lists.
I suggest making five lists, which together make up what I call a "Total Life To-Do List."
-- The "Projects" list tracks big-picture outcomes: Conduct performance reviews. Install new tires on the Volvo.
-- The "Next Actions" list itemizes next steps on all active projects: Read research report. Call Elizabeth about next week's meeting.
-- The "Waiting For" list records activities that depend on someone else.
-- The "Calendar" tracks time-specific appointments and day-specific actions.
-- The "Someday/Maybe" list records discretionary tasks: Go scuba diving in Fiji.
2. Don't let your inbox box you in.
An inbox is a place for capturing the chaos that comes across the transom. But that doesn't mean you should treat it as a black hole. Get to the bottom of your in-basket once a day. Take just one thing out of it at a time; don't look at the second item until you've determined an action for the first. And once you remove an item, never put it back in. [Jenius note: Your "inbox" doesn't have to be a physical object: it could be your own mind. Discipline yourself to go one item at a time and complete each item properly before moving on to the next.]
3. Remember the two-minute rule.
Any time you're confronted with an action item that will take less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately.
4. Always do a weekly review.
Take 30 minutes every Friday afternoon to review and update your lists, process loose papers and notes, and think about upcoming events.
"Getting Things Done" is the kind of investment in yourself that pays off with greater returns the more you use it. Take a look at it now. Your future will be glad you did.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
08 November 2005
Commitment To Excellence
On the theme of professional (career) development, submitted for your approval. From the often-useful AchieveEzine, this article by Steve Brunkhorst is a top-notch guideline for the kind of Tecno Sapiens needed in the 21st century.
7 Stepping-stones to Career Growth and Excellence
Achieving excellence in our work is an integral part of feeling genuinely satisfied in life. We want our careers or businesses to blossom, making us financially secure and content with our achievements. Here are seven stepping-stones that lead to career growth and excellence. When used as part of a total action-plan, these stepping-stones can contribute tremendously to the fulfillment that you desire.
1. Make a Commitment to Excellence
A passionate commitment to excellence is a primary step to growth in any endeavor. It is not enough to say we want to be excellent; we must make a commitment.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, business owner, employer, or employee, commit yourself to becoming excellent in your chosen field. When you commit yourself to excellence, you will grow personally as well as professionally.
2. Empower Yourself and Others by Continuing to Learn
A commitment to excellence requires continuous learning. Keep your skills sharpened by reading the latest books and attending seminars, classes, or workshops. Ask for feedback from clients, customers, supervisors, co-workers and employees. Frequently assess yourself and look for key skills that need improvement.
By empowering yourself with knowledge, you will reap the rewards of continued growth and excellent performance. You will also inspire others to seek empowerment, excellence, and growth.
3. Multiply Your Efforts through Networking
Tell many people about the specific ways that you can help to meet their needs. For example, instead of saying, "I sell real estate," you might say, "I help low income families find quality, affordable housing in areas where they've always wanted to live." Tell people what makes your service or product special. However, keep your interactions light-hearted and spontaneous. Ask questions that show your interest in the other individual. Make your personality as well as your service memorable.
Compile a list of people with whom you want to work or do business. Attend seminars or workshops and network at every opportunity. If someone does not need your service, he or she might know someone who does. Keep a supply of business cards with you at all times. When you have built a business relationship with someone or gained a satisfied client, ask for referrals. Personal references will bring a large percentage of your business.
4. Communicate Powerfully
When networking or interacting with co-workers, communicate powerfully by remembering three letters: ALC. These stand for Ask-Listen-Clarify. Ask questions to determine the needs and desires of others. Listen empathetically—not only to hear, but to understand. Then clarify by rephrasing and repeating back what the other individual said. If necessary, rephrase your question and ask additional questions.
Powerful listening is the key to powerful communication. Pay attention to body language. Listen to non-verbal cues that reveal feelings behind spoken messages, and then clarify. Powerful communication will lead to continued career growth, excellence, and satisfaction.
5. Lead with Empathy
No matter what position you hold currently, you are always leading others through your influence. You influence others with your thoughts and actions even if you are not aware of doing so.
Think of three leaders who you admire. What traits and leadership skills do you admire the most in these leaders? This question will reveal your deepest leadership values. Leading with empathy is leading from your deepest values. These values allow you to focus on the strengths of those you lead; they allow you to lead others in ways you would want them to lead you.
6. Maintain Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Fitness
A healthy body helps to maintain a healthy mind and vice versa. Spiritual strength nourishes both the body and mind. Cultivating our faith in God strengthens our resolve to overcome adversities and focus on outcomes rather than roadblocks.
Follow a sound wellness program, get regular physical checkups, and pray or meditate each day. Schedule a daily time for relaxation. Physical, mental, and spiritual fitness contribute to steady growth and maximum excellence in fulfilling our individual purposes.
7. Serve with Love, Faith, and Gratitude
We receive in this life only that which we first give. That includes our thoughts and attitudes. Fill your thoughts with the spirit of love for those you serve. Communicate your deepest gratitude to customers and clients for their trust in you. Show gratitude in special ways that provide more value than expected.
Trust clients and customers to make decisions that are right for them. If you have faith in those you serve, they will have faith in you.
Take this Challenge Now
Make a list of at least twelve different ways you could implement each of these stepping-stones during the next 12 months. Select seven items, one item from each list of twelve. Then put them into action over the next week.
Continue to implement more of your ideas throughout the coming months. Refer back to your list frequently, and write down the changes that you see taking place. You will see positive changes both personally and professionally.
In Summary
Career growth and excellence contribute significantly to life satisfaction. They require acting with commitment and integrity. We need to set our standards high and continually acquire new knowledge to grow and perform with excellence. People are essential to success, and we must listen deeply to communicate powerfully. Leading others from our deepest values allows us to lead with empathy.
Growth requires physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Love, faith, and gratitude will provide an integral framework for career growth and excellence. Taking deliberate action to excel and grow today will set the process in motion and bring rewarding results throughout the future.
The Jenius Has Quoted.
7 Stepping-stones to Career Growth and Excellence
Achieving excellence in our work is an integral part of feeling genuinely satisfied in life. We want our careers or businesses to blossom, making us financially secure and content with our achievements. Here are seven stepping-stones that lead to career growth and excellence. When used as part of a total action-plan, these stepping-stones can contribute tremendously to the fulfillment that you desire.
1. Make a Commitment to Excellence
A passionate commitment to excellence is a primary step to growth in any endeavor. It is not enough to say we want to be excellent; we must make a commitment.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, business owner, employer, or employee, commit yourself to becoming excellent in your chosen field. When you commit yourself to excellence, you will grow personally as well as professionally.
2. Empower Yourself and Others by Continuing to Learn
A commitment to excellence requires continuous learning. Keep your skills sharpened by reading the latest books and attending seminars, classes, or workshops. Ask for feedback from clients, customers, supervisors, co-workers and employees. Frequently assess yourself and look for key skills that need improvement.
By empowering yourself with knowledge, you will reap the rewards of continued growth and excellent performance. You will also inspire others to seek empowerment, excellence, and growth.
3. Multiply Your Efforts through Networking
Tell many people about the specific ways that you can help to meet their needs. For example, instead of saying, "I sell real estate," you might say, "I help low income families find quality, affordable housing in areas where they've always wanted to live." Tell people what makes your service or product special. However, keep your interactions light-hearted and spontaneous. Ask questions that show your interest in the other individual. Make your personality as well as your service memorable.
Compile a list of people with whom you want to work or do business. Attend seminars or workshops and network at every opportunity. If someone does not need your service, he or she might know someone who does. Keep a supply of business cards with you at all times. When you have built a business relationship with someone or gained a satisfied client, ask for referrals. Personal references will bring a large percentage of your business.
4. Communicate Powerfully
When networking or interacting with co-workers, communicate powerfully by remembering three letters: ALC. These stand for Ask-Listen-Clarify. Ask questions to determine the needs and desires of others. Listen empathetically—not only to hear, but to understand. Then clarify by rephrasing and repeating back what the other individual said. If necessary, rephrase your question and ask additional questions.
Powerful listening is the key to powerful communication. Pay attention to body language. Listen to non-verbal cues that reveal feelings behind spoken messages, and then clarify. Powerful communication will lead to continued career growth, excellence, and satisfaction.
5. Lead with Empathy
No matter what position you hold currently, you are always leading others through your influence. You influence others with your thoughts and actions even if you are not aware of doing so.
Think of three leaders who you admire. What traits and leadership skills do you admire the most in these leaders? This question will reveal your deepest leadership values. Leading with empathy is leading from your deepest values. These values allow you to focus on the strengths of those you lead; they allow you to lead others in ways you would want them to lead you.
6. Maintain Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Fitness
A healthy body helps to maintain a healthy mind and vice versa. Spiritual strength nourishes both the body and mind. Cultivating our faith in God strengthens our resolve to overcome adversities and focus on outcomes rather than roadblocks.
Follow a sound wellness program, get regular physical checkups, and pray or meditate each day. Schedule a daily time for relaxation. Physical, mental, and spiritual fitness contribute to steady growth and maximum excellence in fulfilling our individual purposes.
7. Serve with Love, Faith, and Gratitude
We receive in this life only that which we first give. That includes our thoughts and attitudes. Fill your thoughts with the spirit of love for those you serve. Communicate your deepest gratitude to customers and clients for their trust in you. Show gratitude in special ways that provide more value than expected.
Trust clients and customers to make decisions that are right for them. If you have faith in those you serve, they will have faith in you.
Take this Challenge Now
Make a list of at least twelve different ways you could implement each of these stepping-stones during the next 12 months. Select seven items, one item from each list of twelve. Then put them into action over the next week.
Continue to implement more of your ideas throughout the coming months. Refer back to your list frequently, and write down the changes that you see taking place. You will see positive changes both personally and professionally.
In Summary
Career growth and excellence contribute significantly to life satisfaction. They require acting with commitment and integrity. We need to set our standards high and continually acquire new knowledge to grow and perform with excellence. People are essential to success, and we must listen deeply to communicate powerfully. Leading others from our deepest values allows us to lead with empathy.
Growth requires physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Love, faith, and gratitude will provide an integral framework for career growth and excellence. Taking deliberate action to excel and grow today will set the process in motion and bring rewarding results throughout the future.
The Jenius Has Quoted.
07 November 2005
West (Indies) Wing(ing It)
Despite a love of well-written TV, The Jenius had never seen an episode of "West Wing"... until last night. The live episode portrayed a debate between the two presidential candidates of the show, Matt Santos and Arnold Vinick. Though leaning strongly to the younger, liberal Santos, the show did present a healthy give-and-take of ideas, albeit in soundbite form.
The true genius of the show was tossing out the staid, over-burdened, time-limited, idea-deadening, take-no-chances format of current debates in favor of a more free-wheeling exchange, complete with snide barbs, ad hominem attacks and glibness substituting for substance.
Makes for great TV. Makes for a better democratic process, as well.
Forget presidential debates; they mean diddly-squat here in Puerto Rico, except to political wanks who have nothing better to do. (The Bored Fools.) Let's talk about the monkeyshines that pass for debate here in gubernatorial campaigns.
First of all, in a case of "monkey see, monkey do," candidates here create a shopping list of stipulations just to even plan a freaking debate. What the hairy apes in the States want to do is their problem: We should hold Ourselves to a higher standard.
Here it is: If you want to run for governor, you have to agree to at least 5 debates, all of which are televised live. With a campaign season that lasts four years, it's child's play to fit in 5 debates in 47 months. Even Fools can manage that.
Second of all, the debate format cannot--will not--have ANY conditions imposed by any candidate. None. Every debate is free-format and open to any question or topic. The basic ground rules will only limit the total time of the debate and that the moderator can cut off a candidate if he or she does not follow basic rules of etiquette or keeps interrupting the opponent. (Sticking your tongue out would reclassify you as an idiot and get your microphone turned off for 3 minutes. Although a bat upside the head would have saved Us tons of grief.)
Third, the debate topics and questions would not be prepared by journalists. Our journalists are like the Jamaican bobsled team: energetic, but in over their heads before the clock starts ticking. Instead, a website will list topics, to be ranked in order of importance prior to each debate. Journalism students then prepare the basic questions for each topic, which are then voted on by the public. Top-ranked topics and questions are revealed and printed out 15 minutes before the debate begins. Questions are asked as quickly as possible until the debate or (very unlikely) the questions end.
Fourth: the moderator. One per debate, changed for every debate. One from journalism (because otherwise they'll whine in snotty fashion), one from academia, one from business, one from education and one at large. Chosen at random from a list of volunteers, limited only to people who don't have a criminal record. That eliminates a ton of Fools, though with a little judicious luck, We can eliminate quite a few more.
Odds of this happening: Same as that of Puerto Rico becoming a State: Zero. Zero point zero, to coin a number. But We can strive, or demand, better debates. Our political process needs to grow up, to leave the thumb-sucking (tongue wagging?) stage and try to enter the world of mature discourse.
And for My next trick, The Jenius will solve the budget deficit by firing The Fools.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
The true genius of the show was tossing out the staid, over-burdened, time-limited, idea-deadening, take-no-chances format of current debates in favor of a more free-wheeling exchange, complete with snide barbs, ad hominem attacks and glibness substituting for substance.
Makes for great TV. Makes for a better democratic process, as well.
Forget presidential debates; they mean diddly-squat here in Puerto Rico, except to political wanks who have nothing better to do. (The Bored Fools.) Let's talk about the monkeyshines that pass for debate here in gubernatorial campaigns.
First of all, in a case of "monkey see, monkey do," candidates here create a shopping list of stipulations just to even plan a freaking debate. What the hairy apes in the States want to do is their problem: We should hold Ourselves to a higher standard.
Here it is: If you want to run for governor, you have to agree to at least 5 debates, all of which are televised live. With a campaign season that lasts four years, it's child's play to fit in 5 debates in 47 months. Even Fools can manage that.
Second of all, the debate format cannot--will not--have ANY conditions imposed by any candidate. None. Every debate is free-format and open to any question or topic. The basic ground rules will only limit the total time of the debate and that the moderator can cut off a candidate if he or she does not follow basic rules of etiquette or keeps interrupting the opponent. (Sticking your tongue out would reclassify you as an idiot and get your microphone turned off for 3 minutes. Although a bat upside the head would have saved Us tons of grief.)
Third, the debate topics and questions would not be prepared by journalists. Our journalists are like the Jamaican bobsled team: energetic, but in over their heads before the clock starts ticking. Instead, a website will list topics, to be ranked in order of importance prior to each debate. Journalism students then prepare the basic questions for each topic, which are then voted on by the public. Top-ranked topics and questions are revealed and printed out 15 minutes before the debate begins. Questions are asked as quickly as possible until the debate or (very unlikely) the questions end.
Fourth: the moderator. One per debate, changed for every debate. One from journalism (because otherwise they'll whine in snotty fashion), one from academia, one from business, one from education and one at large. Chosen at random from a list of volunteers, limited only to people who don't have a criminal record. That eliminates a ton of Fools, though with a little judicious luck, We can eliminate quite a few more.
Odds of this happening: Same as that of Puerto Rico becoming a State: Zero. Zero point zero, to coin a number. But We can strive, or demand, better debates. Our political process needs to grow up, to leave the thumb-sucking (tongue wagging?) stage and try to enter the world of mature discourse.
And for My next trick, The Jenius will solve the budget deficit by firing The Fools.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
04 November 2005
7 Steps To Power
"The Bottleneck is at the Top of the Bottle: Where are you likely to find people with the least diversity of experience, the largest investment in the past, and the greatest reverence for industry dogma? At the top!" -- Gary Hamel, "Strategy or Revolution", Harvard Business Review
"Nobody gives you power. You just take it." -- Roseanne Barr
We frequently complain that the "powers that be" are not doing the right job or are not doing their job right. The first quote above indicates why, for We are the rising generation with the new vision that needs to be expressed and implemented fighting the old fogeydom of The Fools. The second quote is downright Truth.
So what are We waiting for? We are only seven steps away from making the difference We want to make.
The first step is recognition of the fact that We have power. Power that is available but isn't used is indistinguishable from powerlessness.
The second step is acknowledgement that power is necessary. Whether We like it or not, power is real and the world responds to it and its uses. Avoid or ignore power and you reduce your chances of achieving change to almost zero.
The third step is understanding that power is a mutable resource. It varies, waxing and waning according to how much attention you and others pay to it. There is no such thing as permanent power: use it, talk about it, make it known, or lose it.
The fourth step is acceptance that power will change you before you change anything. Unless you prepare for the reality and substance of power, you will have a difficult time using it.
The fifth step is learning that having power and using power are two very separate things. Having power is neither positive nor negative: it simply is. But using power is a polarizing effort: you can do great good or great harm, and the less aware you are of using power, the more the odds you will do harm.
The sixth step is concentrating on seeking power at all times. Similar to the way people seek money, fame, security or love, the search for power is most successful when fully integrated into a person's life...and based solidly on the highest possible values.
The seventh step is embracing the fact that the power you seek is finite, but the power you create can be infinite. Going after another's power may lead to a short-term gain, but power developed from within you will always lead to greater gains.
Time to seek--and flex--Our Power.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
"Nobody gives you power. You just take it." -- Roseanne Barr
We frequently complain that the "powers that be" are not doing the right job or are not doing their job right. The first quote above indicates why, for We are the rising generation with the new vision that needs to be expressed and implemented fighting the old fogeydom of The Fools. The second quote is downright Truth.
So what are We waiting for? We are only seven steps away from making the difference We want to make.
The first step is recognition of the fact that We have power. Power that is available but isn't used is indistinguishable from powerlessness.
The second step is acknowledgement that power is necessary. Whether We like it or not, power is real and the world responds to it and its uses. Avoid or ignore power and you reduce your chances of achieving change to almost zero.
The third step is understanding that power is a mutable resource. It varies, waxing and waning according to how much attention you and others pay to it. There is no such thing as permanent power: use it, talk about it, make it known, or lose it.
The fourth step is acceptance that power will change you before you change anything. Unless you prepare for the reality and substance of power, you will have a difficult time using it.
The fifth step is learning that having power and using power are two very separate things. Having power is neither positive nor negative: it simply is. But using power is a polarizing effort: you can do great good or great harm, and the less aware you are of using power, the more the odds you will do harm.
The sixth step is concentrating on seeking power at all times. Similar to the way people seek money, fame, security or love, the search for power is most successful when fully integrated into a person's life...and based solidly on the highest possible values.
The seventh step is embracing the fact that the power you seek is finite, but the power you create can be infinite. Going after another's power may lead to a short-term gain, but power developed from within you will always lead to greater gains.
Time to seek--and flex--Our Power.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
03 November 2005
CNE = Brain Dump
Dump: noun
--A place where refuse is dumped.
--An unordered accumulation; a pile.
--Slang. A poorly maintained or disreputable place.
--Vulgar Slang. An act of defecating.
In the excellent Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan pinpoint the exact reason why so many think tanks are actually brain dumps: They aren’t interested in the “how” of getting things done; that’s for somebody else to think about. (Page 35)
The quintessential example The Jenius has of a brain dump is that of the misnamed Center for the New Economy, a group created in 1999 purportedly to advance Puerto Rico’s economic progress. A previous Jenius post covered their misaligned structure and one mentioned them as a collection of obstacles, but this time The Jenius takes aim at their very existence.
The Center for the New Economy is a failure destined to never get any better. Aside from its highly-cynical mission/team construct, the very philosophy of the CNE is a tribute to vapidity. At most, the CNE intends to help create policy that will influence the possible development of Puerto Rico. That’s like thinking about buying a Band-Aid while the patient bleeds from a severed leg.
Not that Our economy is that bad. What is bad—farcical, in fact—is that the CNE believes it can think its way into a leadership role, keeping its already-compromised hands “clean” from the “dirty work” of actually getting the job done. To go back to My analogy, they want to do a study justifying a loan for Band-Aids, but won’t even consider applying a tourniquet.
Though the CNE is an egregious example of non-execution (synonym: uselessness), it is by no means the only one in Puerto Rico. There seems to be a widespread notion that pure thought is the key to making things happen. What utter nonsense. It’s as if Napoleon drew up elaborate battle plans and expected to win only with the paper the plan was on.
First of all, most of those seeking “brainiac” status have the brainpower of spastic field mice, more intent on fleeing from threats (such as that of actually doing something effective) than seeking new horizons. Second, only a handful of people anywhere can use pure thought to make things happen, but even those know that their effectiveness is based entirely on getting into the trenches and making things happen.
But returning to the analogy (the one that mentions Napoleon), these would-be braniacs want to be Napoleon, the über-general, barking out orders so that minions jump in fear to do their bidding. The CNE seeks Napoleonic status, creating widespread changes from “on high,” reaping the rewards without making much of an effort. (Their output of almost 6 years can be easily exceeded in quantity and quality in two semesters by any average high school civics class.) They cling to image and are empty of substance.
Napoleon ended up exiled and his many wannabes are mythically tossed in asylums. Would that We could do something similar to the wannabe CNE.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
--A place where refuse is dumped.
--An unordered accumulation; a pile.
--Slang. A poorly maintained or disreputable place.
--Vulgar Slang. An act of defecating.
In the excellent Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan pinpoint the exact reason why so many think tanks are actually brain dumps: They aren’t interested in the “how” of getting things done; that’s for somebody else to think about. (Page 35)
The quintessential example The Jenius has of a brain dump is that of the misnamed Center for the New Economy, a group created in 1999 purportedly to advance Puerto Rico’s economic progress. A previous Jenius post covered their misaligned structure and one mentioned them as a collection of obstacles, but this time The Jenius takes aim at their very existence.
The Center for the New Economy is a failure destined to never get any better. Aside from its highly-cynical mission/team construct, the very philosophy of the CNE is a tribute to vapidity. At most, the CNE intends to help create policy that will influence the possible development of Puerto Rico. That’s like thinking about buying a Band-Aid while the patient bleeds from a severed leg.
Not that Our economy is that bad. What is bad—farcical, in fact—is that the CNE believes it can think its way into a leadership role, keeping its already-compromised hands “clean” from the “dirty work” of actually getting the job done. To go back to My analogy, they want to do a study justifying a loan for Band-Aids, but won’t even consider applying a tourniquet.
Though the CNE is an egregious example of non-execution (synonym: uselessness), it is by no means the only one in Puerto Rico. There seems to be a widespread notion that pure thought is the key to making things happen. What utter nonsense. It’s as if Napoleon drew up elaborate battle plans and expected to win only with the paper the plan was on.
First of all, most of those seeking “brainiac” status have the brainpower of spastic field mice, more intent on fleeing from threats (such as that of actually doing something effective) than seeking new horizons. Second, only a handful of people anywhere can use pure thought to make things happen, but even those know that their effectiveness is based entirely on getting into the trenches and making things happen.
But returning to the analogy (the one that mentions Napoleon), these would-be braniacs want to be Napoleon, the über-general, barking out orders so that minions jump in fear to do their bidding. The CNE seeks Napoleonic status, creating widespread changes from “on high,” reaping the rewards without making much of an effort. (Their output of almost 6 years can be easily exceeded in quantity and quality in two semesters by any average high school civics class.) They cling to image and are empty of substance.
Napoleon ended up exiled and his many wannabes are mythically tossed in asylums. Would that We could do something similar to the wannabe CNE.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
02 November 2005
Outside Person/Inside Person
The Jenius has long subscribed to the entrepreneurial theory that successful companies have an "Outside Person" and an "Inside Person."
For fans of the original Star Trek TV series, just think of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. The reason Kirk could gallivant across the Universe and still be the captain of a gazillion dollar starship was that he always knew Mr. Spock was on the bridge, holding down the fort (so to speak.) Even when they were both away from the Enterprise, Kirk looked at the big picture and Spock kept a keen eye on the details.
In essence, the Outside Person is the social/horizon type, dealing largely with matters outside the business' function and the Inside Person is the operations/hands-on type who guides the day-to-day production. These are general descriptions and there is some overlap, but one thing is certain: both are needed to develop a successful company.
Outside Persons often lack the patience and discipline to tend to details and processes. Inside Persons tend to prefer step-by-step progress and thus often move too slowly to make best use of opportunities. That is why both types are needed in a business: one seeks to fly, the other makes sure the engine and landing gear are in working order.
Neither type is better than the other. Too many Outside types ignore the need for an Inside Person and they end up crashing. Many Inside types ignore the need for networking and sales (Outside strengths) and doom their businesses to a lingering death.
And no, one person can't do both jobs and still expect the business to grow. These "One Man/Woman Shows" are hyperkinetic, frenzied disasters. It takes two persons, or more, to balance the Outside and Inside matters for proper growth. The rare person who can do both (and these are very rare) must decide which role s/he will perform within the business, and stick to it at all times.
Think of Outside/Inside as Yin/Yang, or Extrovert/Introvert, Sales/Accounting or On-stage/Backstage. No matter how you describe it, one person--the Outside type--is the public face and the other is the "internal power." Success on a grand scale is only possible when both are present.
If you find a strong complement to your type, make the most of it. You will be in a position to discover that 1 + 1 can really be much much more than just 2...
The Jenius Has Spoken.
For fans of the original Star Trek TV series, just think of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. The reason Kirk could gallivant across the Universe and still be the captain of a gazillion dollar starship was that he always knew Mr. Spock was on the bridge, holding down the fort (so to speak.) Even when they were both away from the Enterprise, Kirk looked at the big picture and Spock kept a keen eye on the details.
In essence, the Outside Person is the social/horizon type, dealing largely with matters outside the business' function and the Inside Person is the operations/hands-on type who guides the day-to-day production. These are general descriptions and there is some overlap, but one thing is certain: both are needed to develop a successful company.
Outside Persons often lack the patience and discipline to tend to details and processes. Inside Persons tend to prefer step-by-step progress and thus often move too slowly to make best use of opportunities. That is why both types are needed in a business: one seeks to fly, the other makes sure the engine and landing gear are in working order.
Neither type is better than the other. Too many Outside types ignore the need for an Inside Person and they end up crashing. Many Inside types ignore the need for networking and sales (Outside strengths) and doom their businesses to a lingering death.
And no, one person can't do both jobs and still expect the business to grow. These "One Man/Woman Shows" are hyperkinetic, frenzied disasters. It takes two persons, or more, to balance the Outside and Inside matters for proper growth. The rare person who can do both (and these are very rare) must decide which role s/he will perform within the business, and stick to it at all times.
Think of Outside/Inside as Yin/Yang, or Extrovert/Introvert, Sales/Accounting or On-stage/Backstage. No matter how you describe it, one person--the Outside type--is the public face and the other is the "internal power." Success on a grand scale is only possible when both are present.
If you find a strong complement to your type, make the most of it. You will be in a position to discover that 1 + 1 can really be much much more than just 2...
The Jenius Has Spoken.
01 November 2005
Sell Your Ideas Better
Here's some practical advice for entrepreneurs, knowledge workers, managers and anyone interested in making a positive difference.
In "Ten Ways to Sell Your Ideas to Anyone," Adrian Savage provides simple and clear guidelines to help your presentation hit its target. Here We go:
These are the ten most common mistakes presenters make and how to correct them.
1. You didn't take time to define your audience clearly and address them personally.
Don't look at your idea and think: "Everyone's going to be interested in this!" You can't speak to everyone, only someone. And that someone is expecting personal attention.
Your audience has one question in their minds all the time: "What's in this for me?" If you don't answer it obviously, they tune out.
Broadcasting ideas widely wastes time and effort. Since you can't address anyone specifically, your arguments have to be general. This makes your proposition sound weak and unfocused.
Be clear about your audience and aim your pitch solely at them. Anyone else is a bonus.
2. You opened your presentation with the idea itself.
Sure you did. It's brilliant! You just knew everyone would be as excited by it as you are.
Wrong!
Always lead with the clearest, most powerful benefit to that specific group.
Which would you listen to first?
"I'm going to talk to you about some new ideas in presentation technique."
"Here's a simple way to make your audience eager to buy into your ideas."
You must get people to pay attention. Just because they're present doesn't mean they're listening. What grabs them? A sure-fire solution to a problem they know they have. Not an idea they can't see how to use yet.
3. You took too long to get to the point and gave too much detailed explanation.
People's attention span is short, especially if they aren't sure it's even worth paying attention. You either catch them fast or you don't catch them at all.
Don't work up to the key issues. Get to the point. Forget explanations until you have their interest. Once hooked, they'll listen. Until then, they won't.
4. You didn't get all your key points in quickly and people lost interest.
If you wait for the right opportunity to make an important point, your audience will assume you've said all you want and decide on your idea without waiting for more.
List your key points at the start, right after you've caught their attention with big, specific benefits. That way, they know what's coming. Keep referring to the list as you go along, to keep them on track until all the information is in.
Present your points starting with the most important. Begin with the essentials and progress to any which aren't so vital. If people get bored, they'll still have heard the most important points.
5. You were wordy, you didn't sound confident and you went off at tangents.
Brevity indicates authority. Don't waste your audience's attention on anything that isn't essential. If you ramble, how do you think they'll feel about you?
When you read through your draft, keep asking yourself: "Does this absolutely have to be included?" Less is nearly always more. Cut it to the minimum. If people have unanswered questions, give time for them at the end. Lots of questions make a presentation sound important and you can end on a high note, not the typical embarrassed wait for someone--anyone--to ask something.
[The Jenius suggests you create a 10-minute presentation as your "core" pitch. This will help you deal effectively with points 3, 4 and 5, as well as being easier to practice and adapt to shorter or longer requirements.]
6. You didn't stick to a single message.
You'll confuse people if you start adding extra messages to your presentation. You know the outcome, they don't.
Every additional message causes an earlier one to be forgotten.
What do you want the audience to hear? Say it clearly and with confidence...then shut up.
7. You didn't work on building a fan base first.
It's easier to present with fans in the audience to support you. Who wants you to succeed? Brief them in advance and encourage them to come along as supporters. Nothing convinces people as much as seeing others already convinced.
8. You didn't practice enough.
If you're not presentation perfect in practice conditions, performance stress will make you into an idiot.
If you're using technology, assume it's going to break down or mess up. Check it, then check it again. Fumbling with the presentation equipment distracts the audience and destroys credibility.
People who aren't properly prepared easily get anxious and nervous people aren't convincing.
9. You got the timing wrong.
When is your audience ready to listen? Never present until they are.
Don't schedule your presentation when they're bound to have something else on their minds. Don't hold it on Monday morning (they're dreading what they'll find on their desks) or Friday afternoon (what are you planning for the weekend?).
10. You didn't give them time to grasp your idea.
How fast can they take it in? Who else will they want to consult? Catch their attention, explain only what you have to explain, remind them of the big benefits, then sit down and let them think about it.
Never push for a decision unless you're sure it's the one you want. As long as the decision is open, you can make another attempt. Once they've decided, you have to overturn that decision. Most people who have made a decision aren't eager to revisit it.
Follow this advice and next time you'll have an audience that will be right behind you.
Ideas are a dime a thousand. Execution is the real deal, but between idea and execution you need others to buy into the idea. Separate yourself from the wanna-bes and bridge the gap between idea and execution by following these valuable tips.
The Jenius Has Quoted.
In "Ten Ways to Sell Your Ideas to Anyone," Adrian Savage provides simple and clear guidelines to help your presentation hit its target. Here We go:
These are the ten most common mistakes presenters make and how to correct them.
1. You didn't take time to define your audience clearly and address them personally.
Don't look at your idea and think: "Everyone's going to be interested in this!" You can't speak to everyone, only someone. And that someone is expecting personal attention.
Your audience has one question in their minds all the time: "What's in this for me?" If you don't answer it obviously, they tune out.
Broadcasting ideas widely wastes time and effort. Since you can't address anyone specifically, your arguments have to be general. This makes your proposition sound weak and unfocused.
Be clear about your audience and aim your pitch solely at them. Anyone else is a bonus.
2. You opened your presentation with the idea itself.
Sure you did. It's brilliant! You just knew everyone would be as excited by it as you are.
Wrong!
Always lead with the clearest, most powerful benefit to that specific group.
Which would you listen to first?
"I'm going to talk to you about some new ideas in presentation technique."
"Here's a simple way to make your audience eager to buy into your ideas."
You must get people to pay attention. Just because they're present doesn't mean they're listening. What grabs them? A sure-fire solution to a problem they know they have. Not an idea they can't see how to use yet.
3. You took too long to get to the point and gave too much detailed explanation.
People's attention span is short, especially if they aren't sure it's even worth paying attention. You either catch them fast or you don't catch them at all.
Don't work up to the key issues. Get to the point. Forget explanations until you have their interest. Once hooked, they'll listen. Until then, they won't.
4. You didn't get all your key points in quickly and people lost interest.
If you wait for the right opportunity to make an important point, your audience will assume you've said all you want and decide on your idea without waiting for more.
List your key points at the start, right after you've caught their attention with big, specific benefits. That way, they know what's coming. Keep referring to the list as you go along, to keep them on track until all the information is in.
Present your points starting with the most important. Begin with the essentials and progress to any which aren't so vital. If people get bored, they'll still have heard the most important points.
5. You were wordy, you didn't sound confident and you went off at tangents.
Brevity indicates authority. Don't waste your audience's attention on anything that isn't essential. If you ramble, how do you think they'll feel about you?
When you read through your draft, keep asking yourself: "Does this absolutely have to be included?" Less is nearly always more. Cut it to the minimum. If people have unanswered questions, give time for them at the end. Lots of questions make a presentation sound important and you can end on a high note, not the typical embarrassed wait for someone--anyone--to ask something.
[The Jenius suggests you create a 10-minute presentation as your "core" pitch. This will help you deal effectively with points 3, 4 and 5, as well as being easier to practice and adapt to shorter or longer requirements.]
6. You didn't stick to a single message.
You'll confuse people if you start adding extra messages to your presentation. You know the outcome, they don't.
Every additional message causes an earlier one to be forgotten.
What do you want the audience to hear? Say it clearly and with confidence...then shut up.
7. You didn't work on building a fan base first.
It's easier to present with fans in the audience to support you. Who wants you to succeed? Brief them in advance and encourage them to come along as supporters. Nothing convinces people as much as seeing others already convinced.
8. You didn't practice enough.
If you're not presentation perfect in practice conditions, performance stress will make you into an idiot.
If you're using technology, assume it's going to break down or mess up. Check it, then check it again. Fumbling with the presentation equipment distracts the audience and destroys credibility.
People who aren't properly prepared easily get anxious and nervous people aren't convincing.
9. You got the timing wrong.
When is your audience ready to listen? Never present until they are.
Don't schedule your presentation when they're bound to have something else on their minds. Don't hold it on Monday morning (they're dreading what they'll find on their desks) or Friday afternoon (what are you planning for the weekend?).
10. You didn't give them time to grasp your idea.
How fast can they take it in? Who else will they want to consult? Catch their attention, explain only what you have to explain, remind them of the big benefits, then sit down and let them think about it.
Never push for a decision unless you're sure it's the one you want. As long as the decision is open, you can make another attempt. Once they've decided, you have to overturn that decision. Most people who have made a decision aren't eager to revisit it.
Follow this advice and next time you'll have an audience that will be right behind you.
Ideas are a dime a thousand. Execution is the real deal, but between idea and execution you need others to buy into the idea. Separate yourself from the wanna-bes and bridge the gap between idea and execution by following these valuable tips.
The Jenius Has Quoted.
31 October 2005
Two Groups In Puerto Rico
There are two groups of Puerto Ricans:
--Those that think We are screwed and it’s Our fault.
--Those that think We are screwed and it’s somebody else’s fault.
There are two groups of politicians in Puerto Rico:
--Those that grub like slimy insatiable parasites pursuing their baser instincts.
--Those that are dead.
There are two groups of organizations in Puerto Rico:
--Those that talk loud and do nothing.
--The one that decided that talking hasn’t solved a thing and got to work.
There are two groups of students in Puerto Rico:
--Those that are socially-indoctrinated to follow a path set by others.
--Dropouts who think there are easy paths to success.
There are two groups of teachers in Puerto Rico:
--Those that have given up.
--Those that never tried.
There are two groups of journalists in Puerto Rico:
--Sheep.
--Stupid sheep.
There are two groups voting in Puerto Rico:
--The confused who lack a shred of dignity, a.k.a. statehooders.
--The confused who lack a shred of common sense, a.k.a., commonwealth supporters.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico that deserve Our help:
--Our children.
--Ourselves.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico that will actually try to help:
--The noble.
--The stubborn.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico’s future:
--Those that forge ahead.
--Those that stay behind.
These are the only two groups in Puerto Rico.
Choose.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
--Those that think We are screwed and it’s Our fault.
--Those that think We are screwed and it’s somebody else’s fault.
There are two groups of politicians in Puerto Rico:
--Those that grub like slimy insatiable parasites pursuing their baser instincts.
--Those that are dead.
There are two groups of organizations in Puerto Rico:
--Those that talk loud and do nothing.
--The one that decided that talking hasn’t solved a thing and got to work.
There are two groups of students in Puerto Rico:
--Those that are socially-indoctrinated to follow a path set by others.
--Dropouts who think there are easy paths to success.
There are two groups of teachers in Puerto Rico:
--Those that have given up.
--Those that never tried.
There are two groups of journalists in Puerto Rico:
--Sheep.
--Stupid sheep.
There are two groups voting in Puerto Rico:
--The confused who lack a shred of dignity, a.k.a. statehooders.
--The confused who lack a shred of common sense, a.k.a., commonwealth supporters.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico that deserve Our help:
--Our children.
--Ourselves.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico that will actually try to help:
--The noble.
--The stubborn.
There are two groups in Puerto Rico’s future:
--Those that forge ahead.
--Those that stay behind.
These are the only two groups in Puerto Rico.
Choose.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
29 October 2005
Productivity = Value/Time
A Tale of Two Workers: Smith saves your company $1 million over a 100-hour effort. Rivera saves your company $1 million in 15 minutes. Who is more valuable?
Obviously, Rivera. And yet, in Puerto Rico, Smith will most likely get paid more.
Why?
First of all, because his surname is “Smith.” You think The Jenius is joking? You locals know He’s right.
Second of all, because in Puerto Rico, We believe working hard is more valuable than working smart. So Smith will submit a bill for US$5,000, the local executive will see “$50 an hour” and sign it (albeit with gritted teeth.) Rivera submits a bill for US$5,000 and the local executive will (a) yell, (b) laugh harshly, (c) react in utter and complete disbelief or (d) all of the above. (Note: $5,000 is still dirt cheap compared to the benefit...)
And yet, We understand and acknowledge that Rivera’s contribution is more valuable than Smith’s, because the ultimate value (savings) was delivered in less time. So why don’t We seek more Riveras by paying them what they deserve instead of pursuing Smiths and overpaying their sorry…butts?
And lest you think this is an “Us versus Them” thing, here’s the same argument in direct terms: Why don’t We seek more productivity by paying what it deserves instead of blindly pursuing time-based mediocrity?
The formula for Productivity is Value divided by Time: P = V/T. In Puerto Rico, we make a fetish of Time, equating it with Value. We think that someone putting in 40 hours is somehow more valuable than someone who puts in 20. (Let’s call this The Fools’ Formula, for they have perfected the damn thing into an art form.) Back when factory workers dominated the economic scene, more hours often meant more value. If your job was to produce X number of pieces per hour, then 20X is obviously less than 40X.
But We are no longer factory workers, or piecemeal producers. We are knowledge workers, information processors, individual economic units each capable of near-infinite Value in near-instantaneous Time. In simpler terms, Our Productivity is virtually infinite.
How do We get closer to that ideal? By improving Our Value and reducing the Time We achieve it in. And no, this doesn’t mean “work harder.” It means:
--Find where you can add the most Value.
--Learn ways to make better use of your Time.
--Make sure you get paid based on your Productivity, not on some other useless standard.
And if you think about these simple steps, you will eventually notice that they require constant learning and an objective assessment of your skills and talents. Constant learning is a given: if you’re not doing it now, you’ll be doing it in the future. Or you’ll be asking if someone wants an apple pie or sundae with their combo.
The objective assessment will come from who hires you, for how much and how much in demand you are. The path here is to work for good clients, at fair market value (for the productivity you bring to the table) and how you present your value-adding skillset to the market.
Imagine what you could achieve if you focused on Productivity. Imagine what Puerto Rico could achieve if We focused on Productivity.
Let’s make it happen.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
Obviously, Rivera. And yet, in Puerto Rico, Smith will most likely get paid more.
Why?
First of all, because his surname is “Smith.” You think The Jenius is joking? You locals know He’s right.
Second of all, because in Puerto Rico, We believe working hard is more valuable than working smart. So Smith will submit a bill for US$5,000, the local executive will see “$50 an hour” and sign it (albeit with gritted teeth.) Rivera submits a bill for US$5,000 and the local executive will (a) yell, (b) laugh harshly, (c) react in utter and complete disbelief or (d) all of the above. (Note: $5,000 is still dirt cheap compared to the benefit...)
And yet, We understand and acknowledge that Rivera’s contribution is more valuable than Smith’s, because the ultimate value (savings) was delivered in less time. So why don’t We seek more Riveras by paying them what they deserve instead of pursuing Smiths and overpaying their sorry…butts?
And lest you think this is an “Us versus Them” thing, here’s the same argument in direct terms: Why don’t We seek more productivity by paying what it deserves instead of blindly pursuing time-based mediocrity?
The formula for Productivity is Value divided by Time: P = V/T. In Puerto Rico, we make a fetish of Time, equating it with Value. We think that someone putting in 40 hours is somehow more valuable than someone who puts in 20. (Let’s call this The Fools’ Formula, for they have perfected the damn thing into an art form.) Back when factory workers dominated the economic scene, more hours often meant more value. If your job was to produce X number of pieces per hour, then 20X is obviously less than 40X.
But We are no longer factory workers, or piecemeal producers. We are knowledge workers, information processors, individual economic units each capable of near-infinite Value in near-instantaneous Time. In simpler terms, Our Productivity is virtually infinite.
How do We get closer to that ideal? By improving Our Value and reducing the Time We achieve it in. And no, this doesn’t mean “work harder.” It means:
--Find where you can add the most Value.
--Learn ways to make better use of your Time.
--Make sure you get paid based on your Productivity, not on some other useless standard.
And if you think about these simple steps, you will eventually notice that they require constant learning and an objective assessment of your skills and talents. Constant learning is a given: if you’re not doing it now, you’ll be doing it in the future. Or you’ll be asking if someone wants an apple pie or sundae with their combo.
The objective assessment will come from who hires you, for how much and how much in demand you are. The path here is to work for good clients, at fair market value (for the productivity you bring to the table) and how you present your value-adding skillset to the market.
Imagine what you could achieve if you focused on Productivity. Imagine what Puerto Rico could achieve if We focused on Productivity.
Let’s make it happen.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
28 October 2005
Unwelcome Déjà Vu
I think that a lot of people are carrying around in their heads, unarticulated and even in some cases unnoticed, a sense that the wheels are coming off the trolley and the trolley off the tracks. That in some deep and fundamental way things have broken down and can't be fixed, or won't be fixed any time soon. That our pollsters are preoccupied with "right track" and "wrong track" but missing the number of people who think the answer to "How are things going...?" is "Off the tracks and hurtling forward, toward an unknown destination."
The Jenius ventures far and wide in His readings. In this case, uncomfortably encountering Peggy Noonan's column titled "A Separate Peace" in The Wall Street Journal, posted online.
The words had the awkward feeling of Truth laid bare, as if an autopsy were being performed at a kitchen table. (No less so for referring to her country as "America," the quaint arrogance of the U.S.-born to refer to themselves as if they were the only inhabitants of two continents.) With no effort at all, Noonan's thoughts reflect the angst many of Us feel in Puerto Rico about Our island.
She goes on to state another--oft-repeated here--Truth:
Our elites, our educated and successful professionals, are the ones who are supposed to dig us out and lead us.
Unlike Noonan, The Jenius doesn't believe the label of "elite" extends to politicians and journalists. Politicians are The Fools; a successful maggot is merely a maggot with its belly full. And as for journalists, yapping dogs also make noise and produce about the same societal impact as Our Fourth Estate does.
But the true elite, of which We have many, must act. Sadly, many of the best of Us choose to leave Puerto Rico--and no, not all or even most of those who leave are elite. But by definition, the elite are a minority, and a loss of even one, through absence or indifference, is a loss measured far beyond mere percentages.
Once again, Noonan places her keen eye on the salient point that threatens Our future:
I suspect that history, including great historical novelists of the future, will look back and see that many of our elites simply decided to enjoy their lives while they waited for the next chapter of trouble. And that they consciously, or unconsciously, took grim comfort in this thought: I got mine. Which is what the separate peace comes down to, "I got mine, you get yours."
You know people like that; We all do. People whose depth and breadth of talent is turned inward, not outward, towards personal benefit and not societal growth, towards getting, not towards leading. Lest you misunderstand My position, no true leader can achieve societal growth without personal satisfaction. But to eliminate one's greatest potential contribution because of a lack of integrity, vision, discipline or perception is a tragedy.
Noonan continues:
Not all of course. There are a lot of people--I know them and so do you--trying to do work that helps, that will turn it around, that can make it better, that can save lives. They're trying to keep the boat afloat. Or, I should say, get the trolley back on the tracks.
They often toil unrecognized and unnoticed. Some of them are openly mocked, derided or scorned. None are Fools: the Fools can only jeer, like hyenas cringing from lions. Our elite often have the desire, yet still need Our protection to continue the effort. But then again, there are the elite...and there are the others:
That's what I think is going on with our elites. There are two groups. One has made a separate peace, and one is trying to keep the boat afloat. I suspect those in the latter group privately, in a place so private they don't even express it to themselves, wonder if they'll go down with the ship. Or into bad territory with the trolley.
Those that have made their separate peace, that "have theirs," can keep it. If earned with integrity, no one can begrudge it. All We ask is that they step aside and let the truest of the elite make their effort.
The rest of Us, who wonder if We will go down with the ship or into a fatidic tunnel, soldier on. It is not My intention to go down with any ship; there is absolutely nothing romantic or heroic about defeat. My intention is--pardon the transition--to get the trolley back onto its tracks. Or better yet, to trade the trolley for an electric supertrain. Or a jet.
The choice needs to be made. Now and every day until We achieve Our best.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
The Jenius ventures far and wide in His readings. In this case, uncomfortably encountering Peggy Noonan's column titled "A Separate Peace" in The Wall Street Journal, posted online.
The words had the awkward feeling of Truth laid bare, as if an autopsy were being performed at a kitchen table. (No less so for referring to her country as "America," the quaint arrogance of the U.S.-born to refer to themselves as if they were the only inhabitants of two continents.) With no effort at all, Noonan's thoughts reflect the angst many of Us feel in Puerto Rico about Our island.
She goes on to state another--oft-repeated here--Truth:
Our elites, our educated and successful professionals, are the ones who are supposed to dig us out and lead us.
Unlike Noonan, The Jenius doesn't believe the label of "elite" extends to politicians and journalists. Politicians are The Fools; a successful maggot is merely a maggot with its belly full. And as for journalists, yapping dogs also make noise and produce about the same societal impact as Our Fourth Estate does.
But the true elite, of which We have many, must act. Sadly, many of the best of Us choose to leave Puerto Rico--and no, not all or even most of those who leave are elite. But by definition, the elite are a minority, and a loss of even one, through absence or indifference, is a loss measured far beyond mere percentages.
Once again, Noonan places her keen eye on the salient point that threatens Our future:
I suspect that history, including great historical novelists of the future, will look back and see that many of our elites simply decided to enjoy their lives while they waited for the next chapter of trouble. And that they consciously, or unconsciously, took grim comfort in this thought: I got mine. Which is what the separate peace comes down to, "I got mine, you get yours."
You know people like that; We all do. People whose depth and breadth of talent is turned inward, not outward, towards personal benefit and not societal growth, towards getting, not towards leading. Lest you misunderstand My position, no true leader can achieve societal growth without personal satisfaction. But to eliminate one's greatest potential contribution because of a lack of integrity, vision, discipline or perception is a tragedy.
Noonan continues:
Not all of course. There are a lot of people--I know them and so do you--trying to do work that helps, that will turn it around, that can make it better, that can save lives. They're trying to keep the boat afloat. Or, I should say, get the trolley back on the tracks.
They often toil unrecognized and unnoticed. Some of them are openly mocked, derided or scorned. None are Fools: the Fools can only jeer, like hyenas cringing from lions. Our elite often have the desire, yet still need Our protection to continue the effort. But then again, there are the elite...and there are the others:
That's what I think is going on with our elites. There are two groups. One has made a separate peace, and one is trying to keep the boat afloat. I suspect those in the latter group privately, in a place so private they don't even express it to themselves, wonder if they'll go down with the ship. Or into bad territory with the trolley.
Those that have made their separate peace, that "have theirs," can keep it. If earned with integrity, no one can begrudge it. All We ask is that they step aside and let the truest of the elite make their effort.
The rest of Us, who wonder if We will go down with the ship or into a fatidic tunnel, soldier on. It is not My intention to go down with any ship; there is absolutely nothing romantic or heroic about defeat. My intention is--pardon the transition--to get the trolley back onto its tracks. Or better yet, to trade the trolley for an electric supertrain. Or a jet.
The choice needs to be made. Now and every day until We achieve Our best.
The Jenius Has Spoken.
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