Discuss: Alec Baldwin, his character, and Linked-in

Short and simple: Who doesn’t want to be “boss“?  And yes, I mean boss as defined by urban dictionary as “incredibly awesome; miraculous; great,” as well as (sometimes, context-dependantly) “a person who is a leader, someone who runs sh*t in his/her hood, city, or business.”  I am trying to write this blog and utilize it as an educational resource for myself, as I adjust to my new job, climb the metaphorical ladder of goals I have for myself, and my climb up a corporate ladder (TBD).  Anyway, I have been reflecting on Alec Baldwin‘s character on 30 Rock, Jack Donaghy, as a boss; although a satirical exaggeration, he seems to exemplify commendable characteristics.  At least it works in the show.  I know it is fictional, but as a portrayal of a successful “older” professional (as opposed to a “young” professional), he highlights stereotypical aspects of upper management.  I’m just wondering, which of these is good and which are less desirable?

Also, I am on Linked-in.  Should I not be?

According to my mom’s suggestions (sent unrequested, btw), if I’m going to have a blog, I should try to be funny; why didn’t I think of that?  Entertainment might be nice, huh? How about some of that, Dan? …”the funnier the better.”  Well, where’s the funny? It’s easier said than done. If nothing else, at least these videos were funny… Right?

Cleanliness is a virtue best practiced before one’s mom visits… and other times too, I guess. Also, how do you ask her to call when she wants to tell you she’s proud, instead of posting it on Facebook?

As planned, this past weekend, my mom came up to visit me.  She brought her twin sister and their lifelong friend.  In the days before they got here, I talked a lot about the cleaning that needed to be done and a plan where the work could be divided evenly easily over a few days.  Ever conscious of the date and the coming visit, I knew I had to clean, but I always decided I could do it tomorrow… until the day before obviously.  It reminded me of college, when my parents would come to visit, the hasty and hopefully thorough cleanup which usually took five minutes more than it did for them to get there.  Although there were no roommates’ clutter to be dealt with and fewer items to worry about hiding. But, have I really come that far when I procrastinate and neglect some mundane, albeit important aspect, because it’s not exciting or immediately beneficial to myself… Selfish much?  At least you cleaned, I guess.  Whatever your mom is like, there are many things you owe her out of duty and respect—one is cleaning before she gets there.

What did we do? Drove around for hours visiting small towns and Amish country, a good one-hundred-and-twenty miles of it, past fifty windmills, a hundred red barns, other tourists, and many people at work in fields and in yards, while three women around me slurped Diet Coke and me, a Mountain Dew slushie.  It was an exhaustive exploration of the area, which was relaxing, thought provoking, and seemed to tire out some of the ladies.

Yes, mom, I had a good time, but I’m signing off from going on about the weekend.  I’m already exhausted from the week.

Also, I’m not “embarrassed” when you post on my Facebook wall, but you’re like the only one.  You know what I mean?  Its all ‘Dan wrote another lame editorial about his weekend’… with his mom.  And then you post too?  I love you, but just call me until this Facebook thing catches on…

Note to self: Study and practice time management always.  (Something like this is a quote from the Godfather:) You can’t be a good man if you don’t spend time with your family and clean up… cuz that’s what grown-ups do.

How do adults say things like ‘I just bought a bunch of cool sh*t’ or ‘I just found a bunch of nudie mags in the basement’?

I know what you are thinking: 1) Tablet, ties, office supplies, some marketing materials and 2) yes, at work.

I have a slight cold and I’m already sick of being stuffy and stuck in a dizzying congestion/haze, so I’m hopped up on Sudafed as I get to work at nine, which I’m slightly less excited about than the day before, because of said cold.  First up, start coffee, on computer, find files, pull out and push papers, wait for ten so as not to wake a customer with my call, waiting, drinking coffee, waking up, playing secretary, copy, fax, and shred paper, thinking how to manage my time, thinking about my speech; saying things like “iron out the logistics,” but is that too much?  I’m not trying to be something I’m not, but I like working in a respectable field and when you do, you should present yourself a certain way, Right? Like, you probably would come across better being articulate as um… a professional would.  Don’t you want to work with someone who sounds like they know what they are doing, can talk nice, works hard, seems to care, and also happens to make great conversation about weather.  You can still be genuine while trying to speak well.

Four years ago, I met my girlfriend’s parents, wearing a shirt adorned with living skeletons and a grateful dead bandana, which I took off, to show off the Mohawk.  Despite this, they seemed to like me. Now… I can’t believe it still.  I must have looked like some hippie pirate wannabe clown. I’m not that kid in a tie-dye shirt walking around barefoot anymore. Now I get excited about office supplies and am the kind of person that has goals written down.

The riots going on currently are disgusting.  Ours is a capitalistic society.  I think it’s great. I love free speech and the freedom to pursue opportunities.  If you make a lot of money, you earned it.  If you work in an office, you’re probably happy you didn’t go and get tattoos on your face.  I am.

These days, it’s as easy as ehow-ing whatever it is you want to do, and then you know what you have to do, then you do it.  You make it happen.  There is no unified message among these people, only the theme of being mad at the “rich” and the hint of a socialist movement.  You can’t blame rich people.  When there were no jobs, they made their own.  When they thought, “I want a lot of money,” they did the work and got it.

The proverbial five o’clock (six o’clock on real clocks) draws near.  The office slows to a crawl as the clock inches ever nearer my “five o’clock” freedom.  I glance out the window and get stuck glancing a little long, reflecting on the exhausting amount of business-type things I accomplished today and on “how far” I feel I “have come.”  But, I’m here today because of the choices I’ve made and I feel I’m doing… well.

(I hope you will know that I mean these to be things I think I should remember and hope some others might consider it too.)

Five: Be genuine, but speak well. The freedom to change is good.

The battle of getting there: through mud, textbook, and high piles of paper

Two weekends ago, I ran the Warrior Dash, a three-mile race featuring surprisingly hilarious and challenging obstacles throughout.  After leaping over several fire pits, I came to the last of the challenges–a stretch of mud pitted in the ground.  Jump in and get through it, I thought.  Immersed, floating in a pool of muddy dirt, the consistency of diarrhea infused with different sized clumps of play-doh, through which  I tried swimming, grabbing clumps and pulling backwards.  I kicked at the ground, pushing forward.  Trying to climb through the muck and underneath the barbed wire, towards the finish.  My feet slipped backwards; I could move, just not forward.  Eventually, I got out… obviously. By shear effort and time.

This past Thursday, as I left my P&C (Property and Casualty) class, my mind abandoned in a vast and murky sea, scrambling but held hostage by the arms of so many terms, facts, and variations of policies, batting my head around like giant fists and leaving it spinning, hoping desperately to stop and be able to grasp it.  I had jumped in and was nervous about getting through it.  Just like the mud pit, I thought. I wanted to write about it; I had to study. There is so much to know and I had forty hours over five days, the state licensing exam the day after, and a daily total of three hours travel time.  Monday through Saturday, insurance boot camp.  I told myself I wouldn’t fail and I put more into making sure I passed that test than I have any other.  And I did!

On the day I was to start my new job, I was able to march in, with shirt and tie, head held high.  I wanted that so bad.  It’s shocking how much there is to know about insurance and I can’t wait to help others understand how it works and what it does for you.  Failing that test would have been a speed bump in my plan and that was one challenge I wanted to avoid.

Being clean never feels better than after you have been as dirty as you can be.   Easy sounds nice, but success always feels better when you feel like you had to work for it–when it pays off.  Jump in the mud pit.  Don’t be afraid of getting dirty.  Jump in, climb as hard as you can towards that finish, and you will make it. Never think you won’t.  Know what it is you want, fight for it, and find it.  It’s not always easy but it pays off.  So far this has been a dream job and I know it will only get better.  I haven’t been issued my license just yet, but I am sure it’s on its way.

Have goals and don’t give up until your through the proverbial mud pit, where you can enjoy success, having put in the time and effort necessary, and know you earned it.  Then, keep striving.

Insurance Student

Currently, I am taking my P&C (Property and Casualty) pre-licensing class.  Five days, eight hours a day, and an exquisitely specific and grossly detailed manual/textbook explaining the nuances of policies and the inner workings of the world of insurance; then, I’ll take (and hopefully pass) the licensing exam. For the mere fact that there is so much to know, it is “somewhat” challenging.  The first two days have left my head throbbing, spinning into a whirlwind of endless directions, defeated, just swatted around by two giant fists, but, I love it.  First of all, insurance is fascinating.  It is such an intricate process—an art, really, and it lets you protect what you value most by transferring your families personal risk of loss among a larger group.

The first communication occurred when ancient tribes discovered they had a need of other tribes (i.e. hunters would trade with farmers/gatherers).  It’s funny to think about cavemen working together, sharing the work of feeding their own families by engaging in trade.  Insurance was developed from the same concept—by sharing the work, everyone can protect his or her families.

I really enjoy being back in a classroom setting.  The other day, I spoke with a friend about missing the educational setting, because it is an opportunity to be fully immersed in dialogue about new ideas and concepts, constantly.  Now, we agreed, we pick friends who are intellectual, as well as traveling, reading, and attending cultural events, to try to fill the void.  I am excited to master this new concept and the opportunity to share what I learn with others.

We should always be diligent students, pursuing and continuing education, opportunities to challenge yourself, think in new ways, analyze material, and grow as a person.  Ask questions until you die.  Never stop exploring and looking for something new to discover.  This class is letting me do that and I know my job will, as well.  I am not trying to preach, but I feel so moved at this point in my life, to push myself.  Join me.  Learn 100 things and share them.  I believe the process of learning allows us to feel more fulfilled.  This lesson goes along with the values of this mission and therefore, should be included.

Lesson 4: Always be a Diligent Student.

Clause 1: Respect your peers, their education, as well as those who would be teachers.

Clause 2:  Diligent Students should ALWAYS be on time.  Being late looks bad, like being dressed differently than others, except more disrespectful.

Going out

In the same day, I joined a local, young professionals group and signed up for my first event—the first of a speaker series and this particular one pertained to Networking and about doing it “without the smarmy aftertaste.”  The speaker was Mr. Mike Testa, Director of Leadership at Diebold, Incorporated.  The event was great and if anyone reading this lives near the Stark County area, I would definitely suggest getting involved in this great group (yStark) and don’t miss any more events.

Upon arriving at the 12^th floor, I stepped out of the elevator, greeted by a beautiful reception area and a woman checking in those registered for the event.  She gave me a name tag, which I did not look at.  First lesson: always proofread anything anyone hands you.  The name tag had my name all wrong, which made for a somewhat awkward situation later when people thought my last name was actually my first and that my last name was Jonathon.  I also happen to go by my middle name: Dan.

I had seen people sitting around tables eating lunch in the room beside me, but only in my peripheral vision.  This lavishly elegant antique of a room was a beautiful affair, the kind Jay Gatsby would have admired, and the people here were dressed accordingly.  Now, earlier in the day, I had made a mistake in judging the kind of lecture this would be.  This was not the lunch I thought would be included.  Being still somewhat fresh out of college, where I typically groomed and maintained myself in some style as to only be barely socially acceptable in appearance, especially in regards to going class, while “running late” that morning, I thought ‘hey, it’s just a lecture.  I’ll take the casual road, slip in the back, and maybe I won’t stay for lunch.’  So, here I am in jeans and a comfortable purple polo; I must have stuck out like a big purple blob on a black and white photo.

There was one chair still open, just for me. Just like that, there I was, sitting next to the speaker, who has been “working with the top leaders at Diebold for many years” and is a “super-networker and knower of all things leadership” (according to the group’s event description), as well as his co-worker who would be introducing him, the woman responsible for putting on the event, as well as a local acquaintance who just happens to work at my girlfriend’s mom’s law firm.  All dressed professionally.  Oops.  I’m still not used to social events being classy, but that’s an easy fix.

Now, I had a great time and I learned a lot.   I was not treated any differently; in fact, I feel like my presence was well received, memorable, maybe even remarkable.  But I definitely learned a lesson.  I would say never be late, because it worked out great for me in this particular circumstance.  I might not have sat at that head table, unless I had to, but next time I will head there first and pull up a chair if I need to.  I would recommend it, as well.  Why not head straight towards the President, if you see him?  How great would it be to shake his hand? Or ask him a question?  Lesson Two:  be fearless.

I had a great time and I met some people who definitely seem “good to know.” But I will never be caught at such a great opportunity to network without “blue shirt, tan pants,” as Mr. Testa put it during his speech.  You can get by without it, I’m sure.  But I am trying to do more than “get by.”  To feel like a young professional and to be seen as one, you have to dress the part.  Others might not treat you differently, but for me, it was holding me back.  The blue shirt and handshake is to the young professional as armor and a shield are to a knight.  Always be prepared, it will benefit your social interactions and your ability to build relationships. The opportunity to be better is always there.  Lesson Three.

This entry is mostly about my personal journey and not the contents of the speech.  Mr. Testa made some great points, but that is what he knows and this is what I know.  If you would like to hear more about some of the points he made, I’d love to sit down and talk with you about it sometime.