Working On Solutions

"I never saw Mr. O'Malley really discouraged. Instead I could see his mind working all the time, working on the solutions to the problems." - Vin Scully

I like the companion phrase that "problems are solutions in work clothes." When work was overwhelming and management was joking that being overwhelmed was good... there were possible solutions:

1. Explore other jobs.
2. Reduce work.
3. Objectively outline the case for more workers.
4. Trust that everything's gonna be all right.

It brought peace to dabble in all of those. And now our staff matches the work, and a couple of alternative careers are developing just in case. Thank God, everything's gonna be all right!

Down The Middle

The renowned broadcaster Vin Scully got his start with the Los Angeles Dodgers and remains with them nearly 60 years later. At one point in the 1950s the team's owner discussed the tone of the broadcasts with him and wondered, "Don't you think you ought to root for the team?"

"I was trained to go down the middle," answered Scully.

"I appreciate that," answered the owner. "That's what the people like here, so you stick with it."

What a tribute to respecting the individualism of others! When the ball hits the ground three inches in fair territory and the umpire calls it foul, there's no need to berate in order to appease the ire of the home crowd. No need to waste breath and emotional reserves condemning the man's basic goodness by spinning conspiracy theories. Explain reality to the uninformed and let them draw their own conclusions.