Fulfilling a Commitment

Last month Jenn and Ryan spent the week at a nearby camping location along with other students from around the state who participate in FFA events throughout the year. They both had the chance to hang out with their friends for the week making new friends, playing volleyball, tug-o-war, water-ball, canoe racing, and time learning about commitment and teamwork. Ryan and his friend, Mike, enjoyed preforming on talent night by playing guitars. Ryan had even written a song dedicated to his girlfriend that he sang that night entitled "She Smiles". All in all it was a great week for everyone.

Jenn & her friend Trish watching a volley ball game.

Mike & Ryan at talent night playing "She Smiles"

Jenn the Putt-Putt Pro

Ryan at bat in a game of "water ball"

Then earlier this month Jenn attended a leadership camp for her FFA Chapter. It is an annual trip made each year by the incoming officers team for another week's stay at the same camping site. Previous year's officers may attend, but this year it was only the current officers who would embark on the final adventure for the summer. Jenn was really excited to get to go with all of her new team, and even though she ended up going to the urgent care for pink eye, she still had fun.

One of the things that made these trips possible were the tasks that both Jenn and Ryan took on to earn the money to attend both camps. Ryan had worked this spring as a lacrosse referee and saved his money to pay for his trip this year. Jenn ended up mowing two yards, and washing cars to earn her money for the trip. One of the yards Jenn had to mow was a future commitment. Since her camp was earlier than our next trip to southwestern NC, I agreed to fund her trip until she could fulfill her commitment to mow "Mr.D" yard. She will get to do that this weekend as we are headed for a visit for a couple of days.

Ryan will stay here with his uncle to finish sanding two chairs for an order that he has committed to complete over the weekend. It's so nice to see them both sticking to the things they commit to do for others and for themselves. Now if only Ryan can find the job he'll keep, to earn the money, to save for the car and insurance, to make his life more mobile. That is one goal I am looking forward to him reaching in the very near future. Glass half full, not half empty!

Ryan & Maria Retiring Officers 2008

Successful Performance Management

Having worked for both large corporations and smaller family owned businesses, I've noticed a difference in how they handle performance issues. What is it that makes some companies more successful than others in performance? Are large companies better equip to handle performance management than the smaller, more intimate companies?

In some larger companies settings it would appear that when the business conducts itself with less personal interaction, the performance of its employees seems more successful, thus creating more profit. However, there tends to be a greater loss of loyalty when such companies treat their employees as though they were simple machinery, thus resulting in a decrease in performance.

On the other side, in some smaller company settings where its employees are treated as though their opinion counts, that their efforts to enhance the companies profitability are recognized and rewarded, the level of performance seems to be far more effective in the long run.

What has your experience been when it come to working in either environment and which did you prefer?

Either it's feast of famine ...

When we began this tax season we started off a bit slower than usual, however there have been days when it seemed there was not end in sight! Today seemed especially long, coupled with a growing need for rest, yet here I am trying to catch up with things I have had to put aside some days in order to get some sleep before hitting the tax tables each morning. Thank goodness for software programs that do the math for you, otherwise after a day like today, I'd fail to get the easiest of problems answered correctly. Well, perhaps I'll have more time tomorrow to catch you all up on the happenings around the office and here at home. For now, sweet dreams!

How do you decide?

What factors come into play when you need to compare one job to another?

Location: Do you want to commute or work locally?

Salary: How do you determine what you need to make a job worth staying with long term?

Benefits: Do you want them included in the offer for employment or as an option for your to purchase?

Work Hours: Straight 40 hours per week, government holidays, accrued vacation, and sick time, or 28-32 hours per week for 46 weeks of the year boosted by a six week 67 hours per week stint?

What would you do if you took a job with no benefits, minimum hours in the off season, extensive hours for a six week stint, because you needed a job in order to make more than the allowed amount of unemployment and then you were offered a year round full-time job, full benefits and a higher salary? If you enjoy the job you are in and the people you are working with, how do you decide to give it all up and take the "logical" one? Will the logical one pay off in the long run? What if the offer depended upon 4 months training at which time you might not be accepted into the position for which you applied? Would you have given up a good deal in the move?

These are the questions I need to ask myself. I've grown accustomed to their faces, voices and life stories. It will be a sad thing to leave them ... but for now, until I have heard that the company wants me for the position I will remain dedicated to my current employer. More later ... sigh ... time for some sleep.

Just moments before our guests arrive ...

As Jenn prepares for her first half-time performance with the color guard in full dress, her sister and her husband are on their way to the game to watch the show. This will be a busy weekend and already I'm bushed. There is still a lot to do in order to volunteer at the school during the band classic tomorrow. Lisa has baked cookies and I'll be making chili for hamburgers, hot dogs and chili cheese fries (6 lbs of "Southern Style" chili). I'm glad that Lisa and Steve will get to see Jenn's performance as she is really excited. "Mr.D" and I can hardly wait to see her tomorrow, she's been practicing really hard and I have every confidence that she will be wonderful! Bias? No, not me, never! ;)

Nuestra prueba en español!

Hoy después de trabajo tomamos la parte que escuchaba de nuestra prueba en español.

There are four of us in an ongoing Spanish class at work and we have the best time learning; today after work we took the listening part of our test in Spanish.

If you had seen us earlier you would have rolled laughing as we scrambled to learn our directions by flash cards!

I am really excited about relearning the language since it's been a while for me. So as soon as I've refreshed enough I will attempt to write a complete post in "español" and the translate it for everyone. Deal?

Now, it's back to "el estudiar para mí!" :)


PS The words in italics above are the English words for the first sentence written in Spanish in this post.