After 11 straight days of rising at 5:00, and knowing that I had Friday off, I figured that I'd try to play with the 5:15 a.m. basketball crowd at Four Seasons and see if I was ready for it.
5:15 After some extremely light stretching enough people had showed up to play, so with some risk I jumped in. I quickly snatched a few rebounds, and missed a few shots, en route to making about 25% of my shots for the day (that's bad, folks).
5:30 We won our first game! Midway through the second, I start feeling what I expected - that burning sensation in the lungs to remind me how long it had been since I'd exerted myself for such an extended stretch. It's all part of the large "no pain, no gain" plan for April though... pushing myself to the limit and beyond in order to build leg strength and quickness that I haven't had in over a year.
5:45 I'm gassed! By now though enough players have showed up to have two games running simultaneously on shorter, cross-courts. I'm trying to determine myself not to let up.
6:00 My 4-man team has lost in an impressive number of ways, close ones and blowouts. We have one player who's our dominant scorer, and I have made a few baskets myself. Only a couple of times has someone I'm guarding completely burned me en route to the basket. It's those confrontations that I'm most interested in - one-on-one matchups that test my ability to pressure the ball handler and stay in front of him.
6:30 Hey, I'm starting to get a second wind! And we've won a few in a row as the team chemistry gels. And of course, it helps that I'm making shots. Other players are tiring, which allows me to make some scrappy, hustle plays.
7:00 Enough people have left that there's enough for a single, full court game, which we win. I'm thrilled... sustained myself to the end, got that unexpected second wind, and I have no discomfort at all in the back, legs or knees.
I actually played another two hours on Saturday, drank a ton of liquid, and bought a bunch of groceries loaded with protein to replenish those aching muscles. I expect my weight to climb in the short run, before the fat-burning muscle starts to kick in.
Of course the real test will be to try to sustain it after the honeymoon phase is over. For now, it's time to savor this accomplishment and pray that the body gets stronger and stays pain-free due to enough stretching.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Most Important Thing
"'What is the most important thing you and I should be talking about?' I will rely on you to tell me." - Susan Scott
Such is the key sentence suggested to drive a routine one-on-one meeting between a supervisor and employee. The optimum schedule for such a meeting is once a month for two hours. In other words, twelve times a year ask each key person to explore his or her most important issues with you.
The time schedule doesn't matter so much as the nature of the question. Is there a better, or simpler gesture of empowerment and inclusiveness than to put the team member completely in the driver's seat? It's something I'm not good at yet, but I think it would work well in all relationships.
Such is the key sentence suggested to drive a routine one-on-one meeting between a supervisor and employee. The optimum schedule for such a meeting is once a month for two hours. In other words, twelve times a year ask each key person to explore his or her most important issues with you.
The time schedule doesn't matter so much as the nature of the question. Is there a better, or simpler gesture of empowerment and inclusiveness than to put the team member completely in the driver's seat? It's something I'm not good at yet, but I think it would work well in all relationships.
Poll Shows Dena Ahead Of Random Gas Station Woman
A local poll showed Dena McDonald to have a decisive edge over a random woman seen in a gas station Saturday morning.
The poll, conducted by Joe McDonald on himself, posed the question "Who is more attractive?" after noticing that her license plate included the year 1970, Dena's birth year and last four digits of her own plate. Trends which emerged:
1. Long hair is preferred over the mousier, short-haired look of Gas Station Woman (GSW).
2. The public supports a sleeker look and a 1-chin limit. "While there may be understandable, and uncontrollable reasons why a person would have jowls, GSW has been disturbingly silent on this issue. It comes across as if she lacks discipline," said one respondent.
3. Glasses are out. "To me it doesn't say fashion, it says clutter. Or is her eyesight so incurably bad that she might smash into me?" said a wide-eyed insurance professional.
4. Frowners are downers. The general look of joylessness creased into GSW's face brings a worrisome future. McDonald's radiance and irrepressible smile suggest that when each turns 76, it's McDonald whose charm will triumph over wrinkles.
Although the two are tied in every other demographic, McDonald's commanding lead in the male 30-39 group (100% to 0%) ensures that her popularity remains at an all-time high versus the unwitting challenger.
The poll, conducted by Joe McDonald on himself, posed the question "Who is more attractive?" after noticing that her license plate included the year 1970, Dena's birth year and last four digits of her own plate. Trends which emerged:
1. Long hair is preferred over the mousier, short-haired look of Gas Station Woman (GSW).
2. The public supports a sleeker look and a 1-chin limit. "While there may be understandable, and uncontrollable reasons why a person would have jowls, GSW has been disturbingly silent on this issue. It comes across as if she lacks discipline," said one respondent.
3. Glasses are out. "To me it doesn't say fashion, it says clutter. Or is her eyesight so incurably bad that she might smash into me?" said a wide-eyed insurance professional.
4. Frowners are downers. The general look of joylessness creased into GSW's face brings a worrisome future. McDonald's radiance and irrepressible smile suggest that when each turns 76, it's McDonald whose charm will triumph over wrinkles.
Although the two are tied in every other demographic, McDonald's commanding lead in the male 30-39 group (100% to 0%) ensures that her popularity remains at an all-time high versus the unwitting challenger.
McDonald's Three Meaningless Touchdowns Inspire Self
Great teams are composed of players who measure success not in terms of individual accomplishments, but whether the team won or lost.
Joe McDonald was ecstatic about his three touchdowns in a 27-25 loss in State Farm flag football action Thursday.
Although the team never led, beginning with a safety on the first drive of the game, each of McDonald's scores brought his team within a few points of victory.
As the first half ended, from the five yard line, his sprint from center to the right corner of the end zone allowed the quarterback to thread a pass just beyond the defender's arms.
Midway through the second half, he caught a short pass from midfield and, with two players reaching for his flag, pulled a leaping spin move that stranded both defenders in his wake. From there he streaked down the right sideline, stretching the ball across the goal line miniseconds before being tackled.
With under two minutes to go, a desperation heave from the quarterback found McDonald a step ahead of his man. With the ball slightly underthrown, he came back toward the ball and by the time he caught it at the 25 yard line, the defender was two yards away, the last stand between him and the goal line. McDonald dashed toward the right side of the end zone, and with the defender closing in, planted his foot and reversed directions with a cut that left the opponent chasing him from behind. As the gap closed, McDonald arced his hips away from the outstretched hand and in a sort of pirouette-dance run that enabled him to score an instant before his flag was stripped.
The amateur author who reads and writes about leadership principles had a cliche for the press.
"It's not whether you win or lose, but how I play the game," he beamed.
Joe McDonald was ecstatic about his three touchdowns in a 27-25 loss in State Farm flag football action Thursday.
Although the team never led, beginning with a safety on the first drive of the game, each of McDonald's scores brought his team within a few points of victory.
As the first half ended, from the five yard line, his sprint from center to the right corner of the end zone allowed the quarterback to thread a pass just beyond the defender's arms.
Midway through the second half, he caught a short pass from midfield and, with two players reaching for his flag, pulled a leaping spin move that stranded both defenders in his wake. From there he streaked down the right sideline, stretching the ball across the goal line miniseconds before being tackled.
With under two minutes to go, a desperation heave from the quarterback found McDonald a step ahead of his man. With the ball slightly underthrown, he came back toward the ball and by the time he caught it at the 25 yard line, the defender was two yards away, the last stand between him and the goal line. McDonald dashed toward the right side of the end zone, and with the defender closing in, planted his foot and reversed directions with a cut that left the opponent chasing him from behind. As the gap closed, McDonald arced his hips away from the outstretched hand and in a sort of pirouette-dance run that enabled him to score an instant before his flag was stripped.
The amateur author who reads and writes about leadership principles had a cliche for the press.
"It's not whether you win or lose, but how I play the game," he beamed.
Death Became Him
This week a co-worker of mine passed away at his home. He was perhaps in his mid-forties, with a school-aged son. Divorced as he was, and since his supervisors were out of the office during the week he died, he wasn't missed and discovered for several days.
I wish that before he'd died, I'd had the chance to tell him how he had inspired me, the same way I've told other people:
One morning I was wrapped in a sullen fog, as the cobwebs usually take a while to clear. As can happen when tired, the thoughts loitering in my head were mostly negative.
Suddenly a quietly upbeat "Hi, Joe!" came over the cube wall, and I turned to see Mark's smiling face there. I was surprised a bit, since Mark kept mostly to himself to the point of seeming introverted. He'd happened over to my wall because the fax machine was there and he needed to use it. He didn't need to wish me a good morning, but he did. And it completely overhauled my mood, as if a light switch had been thrown. It was a powerful lesson in the impact that a random act of kindness can have on a life.
In general, I try to say hi to people that I pass in the hall... if they're not looking at me, I look at them hoping for eye contact so that I can give them that contagious gift of sunshine. For the most part I've refrained from doing the same to people at work in their cubes, not wanting to disturb them. But as I reflect on this story, maybe the best way that I can pay tribute to Mark is to think of it as a gift, one that needs no return, one that might rescue them from whatever burden they might be bearing by proving that they are cared for.
I wish that before he'd died, I'd had the chance to tell him how he had inspired me, the same way I've told other people:
One morning I was wrapped in a sullen fog, as the cobwebs usually take a while to clear. As can happen when tired, the thoughts loitering in my head were mostly negative.
Suddenly a quietly upbeat "Hi, Joe!" came over the cube wall, and I turned to see Mark's smiling face there. I was surprised a bit, since Mark kept mostly to himself to the point of seeming introverted. He'd happened over to my wall because the fax machine was there and he needed to use it. He didn't need to wish me a good morning, but he did. And it completely overhauled my mood, as if a light switch had been thrown. It was a powerful lesson in the impact that a random act of kindness can have on a life.
In general, I try to say hi to people that I pass in the hall... if they're not looking at me, I look at them hoping for eye contact so that I can give them that contagious gift of sunshine. For the most part I've refrained from doing the same to people at work in their cubes, not wanting to disturb them. But as I reflect on this story, maybe the best way that I can pay tribute to Mark is to think of it as a gift, one that needs no return, one that might rescue them from whatever burden they might be bearing by proving that they are cared for.
Kansas City There I Went
Hidden Blog stayed silent while I was out in Kansas City, Missouri on Tuesday through Thursday visiting with a group of agents, my first opportunity to do so in fourteen years with the company. Remember my entry from last week about the humiliating meeting? That was a prep for this one, a mock trial so to speak in anticipation of the wide variety of pointed questions that might be asked. Like employee opinion surveys, the crowd can be notoriously grumpy about any number of matters. The prep meeting proved what I already knew - that I had imperfect knowledge based on only three months of recent experience in the department.
Like most things in life, the meeting worked out for the best.
First, our presentation was shortened to 1/2 hour. Second, my co-worker (who admitted that she'd said a lot of prayers the night before) did the entire presentation while I sat in the audience as supporting cast. Third, the leader of the meeting invited us to sit among the agents so there was plenty of time to enjoy the worthwhile experience of mingling. Fourth, the group was nothing like the dour image I'd been warned about - these agents had just completed a wildly successful month of selling life insurance and were on fire with enthusiasm! Finally, lunch was great and the agents made super companions.
Oh, and I got to drive a company car which was a hybrid. It fills up with 12 gallons of gas, and needed only 8 gallons to cover 360 miles!
Like most things in life, the meeting worked out for the best.
First, our presentation was shortened to 1/2 hour. Second, my co-worker (who admitted that she'd said a lot of prayers the night before) did the entire presentation while I sat in the audience as supporting cast. Third, the leader of the meeting invited us to sit among the agents so there was plenty of time to enjoy the worthwhile experience of mingling. Fourth, the group was nothing like the dour image I'd been warned about - these agents had just completed a wildly successful month of selling life insurance and were on fire with enthusiasm! Finally, lunch was great and the agents made super companions.
Oh, and I got to drive a company car which was a hybrid. It fills up with 12 gallons of gas, and needed only 8 gallons to cover 360 miles!
Jack Lands California Job
After years of trying, Jack convinced State Farm to offer him a job on the West coast. The job is with their Special Investigative Unit, which sounds like a Law & Order spinoff and in reality isn't far off. SIU focuses on two flavors of suspicious cases - the so-called "Mom & Pop" variety, and larger conspiracies. An example of the former would be someone who reports a 42-inch plasma T.V. missing, but whose story has a number of red flags - they bought it a week ago, with cash, from a store they can't remember the name of. No doubt Jack's years of experience in Claims adds to his value.
The job starts in about eight weeks, which would be near Thanksgiving. The hours? The pay? Doesn't much matter, as long as it's a Sunday drive from the beach and Hollywood, where the dreams of movie-writing stardom can flower more easily for him and his wife Becky.
The job starts in about eight weeks, which would be near Thanksgiving. The hours? The pay? Doesn't much matter, as long as it's a Sunday drive from the beach and Hollywood, where the dreams of movie-writing stardom can flower more easily for him and his wife Becky.
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