My most recent article for my staff newsletter, Exit 30.
Work Hard & Be Kind
Whether or not you have followed it, I am sure you have heard the news surrounding Conan O’Brien’s sudden departure from the Tonight Show. Though most anyone who watches late night television has an opinion on the matter, I do not wish to discuss the inner-workings of network television. However, while watching Conan O’Brien’s last Tonight Show, I was moved by a particular sentiment he expressed: “If you work hard, and you’re kind, I’m telling you, amazing things will happen.”
If you watch the clip, you will see that Conan also states that “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.” This is a universal fact, but it is nonetheless a painful reality for all who experience it. If you ever fell in love in High School, applied for your dream job, or spent any amount of time in a casino, chances are you have felt the pain of disappointment. And it is easy to allow this type of let-down make us cynical.
Those of you who worked at camp last summer probably had those moments—when a camper you had connected with acted out and misbehaved, or when a counselor you were friends with talked about you behind your back. There are plenty of opportunities at camp to feel hurt or let down and become cynical. But for every reason to get frustrated, there are dozens more to be filled with hope and enthusiasm. When something at camp doesn’t go your way, remember the camper who sought you out for a hug during the finale, or the ones who lit up when they learned something new in your program area. Remember the looks on the campers’ faces as they looked up at the stars or down on the campfire, and remember the lasting friendships you formed with your fellow counselors.
It seems that all too often we focus on the negative. But we have the choice. Do we hold on to the frustrations or the celebrations? Do we choose cynicism or optimism? Do we give up, or do we work hard and work to be kind? We know that you know the right answers to those questions. When you are hired at cam,p you are hired to be a role model, and to make the right decisions. It is up to you to do what you know is right, whether you are at camp, in college, or at home. Choose optimism, choose to let the frustrations go and embrace the fun. We’re counting on you.
Admittedly, I believed in the power of Social Media before today; but today I was born-again – I experienced it.
For anyone who might not know me and might be reading this blog for this first time, I am the Program Director and Recruiter for the Chicago Youth Centers – Camp Rosenthal. Today, this position presented itself with a need for some graphic design beyond my experience-level. So I took it to the online world via Twitter and Facebook with the simple message: “Any designers out there who would like to donate ~1hr of time to design 2 banners for a summer camp for inner-city kids?”.
Within SECONDS I was ReTweeted by @TrekLightGear and within minutes I was sent all around the Twitterverse by a number of Tweeps who have no other connection to me than a shared online community. Shortly thereafter, I had 1 Twitter offer, 2 Facebook offers and 1 more Twitter inquiry.
I have now communicated with 2 people who made offers, supplied info to the inquiry, and let one off the hook who was willing to help but ready to submit to the stronger talents of her offering peers. I am looking forward to seeing the next steps progress and finding out how powerful the world of Social Media can be.
I realize this is no Mayor Shoveling my Grandfather’s Driveway kind of story, but nonetheless it shows the power inherent with people. As a nonprofit camp in 2010, budgets are tight and I was concerned that design fees would push us out of the running to design these banners we are using to help recruit campers and counselors (as well as spruce up the dining hall a bit). But people stepped forward to donate a hand and those without the ability lent a hand in finding one that could.
I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date with how this all pans out.
And let me know if there is anything I can do to help you!
With the help of a former Radio Production teacher of mine, I received a Google
Submit Yourself to the Google
Wave invite yesterday. Add this to the Google Voice invite I received organically from Google last week and this has been a heck of a November. I have definitely found that my immersion into the Google Cloud has been getting deeper with each passing day.
I use Google Docs more than MS Office due to the mobile nature of being me. I am using Google Voice for a variety of purposes beyond the phenomenal Voicemail options. I am using GMail not only for my gmail account, but also for a variety of other accounts including those at my personal domains. All of my email, contacts and calendars are synced using Google Syncs push services for my iPhone.
And now, Wave. Though still in infancy, the hype is dying down a bit though is still very much earned. I have very few contacts on Wave, so it is still a glorified chat or IM client for me, but the potential is more than apparent. I look forward to adding contacts in the future as the expansion continues and using it for a variety of collaborative efforts. I can’t wait to see what developments come are due out in the future from this development team.
Seeing as research indicates that 18-24 year olds are using Facebook less and less for friendships and more for event planning and other coordination (here), I think Wave really does hold the potential to be a Facebook killer. Also, its live nature could poise it to be a Twitter killer with the right developments; especially since Google can pretty well monetize anything, an area where Twitter has failed thus far.
At times, it can be scary to know that most everything that comprises me is in a Google data center somewhere, just a crash away from devastation. But I’m pretty sure it will work out… Nonetheless, I continue to be impressed by Google and am actually considering ditching the iPhone for an android-based phone when upgrade time rolls around in late summer 2010. And thanks to Google Voice, I don’t even need to worry about losing my number if I switch carriers.
So far, it’s great! Here is the first of what I’m sure will be many voluntary Feedback forms I have filled out to send to Google:
What do you like about Google Voice?
I received my invite less that 24 hours ago, so I have not had much time to really dig into Google Voice, but what I have used so far has been great! Setting up everything is so easy! Within, literally, seconds of signing up I had my cellphone synced with Google Voice. Since I already use Google Contacts, all of my people were immediately available to set custom voicemail for which is both amazing and remarkably simple! So far my Mom, Dad, Wife and even a Client or two have custom greetings – phenomenal! SMS is great, Voicemail transcription is not quite perfect, but has already allowed me to forget that I ever thought Visual Voicemail on my iPhone was cool. So far, this is just another amazing Google App – Thank You!
What do you NOT like about Google Voice?
Honestly, I have not yet found much that I do not like. The one thing I have noticed that is rather frustrating is that all of my voicemail messages are immediately clangy beep and a couple of clicks. Though it is less noticeable when you call, it is still there. I am fairly certain this is not my phone, as I do not have the problem with messages I recorded while using AT&T voicemail.
I know this is out of Google hands, but AT&T and/or Apple need to wise-up and approve the Google Voice App. Without it, I am seriously considering ditching the iPhone for a Droid; and that is coming from a pretty devout iPhone/Apple fanboy. Another feature I would really enjoy would be the ability to see incoming Caller ID while I am logged onto the Google Voice website. Also, live updating would be great rather than having to refresh to check for a new text or voicemail; the listen-into voicemail feature is great – would it be feasible to allow this via the web portal?
I couldn’t agree more. This song has always struck home with me; why bother looking forward to tomorrow if we’re so stuck on yesterday? Why bother trying to be better today when yesterday was so great? There were never any good old days.
If we are here not to do
What you and I wanna do
And go forever crazy with it
Why the hell are we even here?
There was never any good old days
They are today, they are tomorrow
It’s a stupid thing we say
Cursing tomorrow with sorrow
When we stand here in a row
Looking like a bunch of heroes
I know that deep inside
Nothing more but bunch of zeroes
Skolko utetchki tepla
Vot takaja vot sudba
Nam segodnja suzdena
A bit mezget chto kogda da-j povezet!
Steppin’ on the trail of Ultimate
I would never choose to die
so give me rest of all the secrets
give me new culture of life
Week 3 was an exciting week for Exit 30, because it marked the first time I “borrowed” from my dad who sent a slightly similar email to his staff a few years ago and then forwarded it along to me. I also used a slight variation of this in my past life with the Boy Scouts for both my Camp Director team at Owasippie Scout Reservation and my Arrowhead District Management Team last year.
Who have you recognized with a thank-you or appreciation this week? Do you think you can muster up one sincere thank-you/recognition a day over the next week, May 5 to 11?
In order to begin to draw the hidden potential from ourselves, our peers and coworkers, and our campers, we must catch people doing the right things. When given time it’s a much more effective behavior modification practice than punishing for things done wrong. Like moths to the flame they will be drawn to your influence and seek ways to exceed your performance expectations.
Consider the alternative, do you think a person that’s only given attention for failure will ever know the path to success?
Try it. I challenge you. Seek out one person every day next week. Thank them for something and be specific. Then just go on your way. It might take 2 minutes out of your day.
Be intentional about change in our world and our camps. Lead it.
1 year ago today, I married the most awesome woman I know.
I have heard before that the first year is one of, if not the, hardest. If that is true, we have a lot of great years to look foward to. I am constantly shocked at how lucky I am to have her in my life.
I love you, Katie.
Wish enough, wise man’ll tell you a lie
Window broke, torn up screens
Who’d have thought that you’d dream
Of a single tragic scene
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just want to take it off of you
Cause Blue Eyes
You are all that I need
Cause Blue Eyes
You’re the sweet to my mean
Fess it up, dot on the palm of your hand
I can help you to stand
Saved it up for this dance
Tell me all the things you can
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna be the one that’s true
Cause Blue Eyes
You’re the secret I keep
Cause Blue Eyes
All the lights on and you are alive
But you can’t point the way to your heart
So sublime, when the stars are aligned
But you don’t know
You don’t know the greatness you are
Cause Blue Eyes
You are destiny’s scene
Cause Blue Eyes
I just wanna be the one
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna get it on with you
Cause Blue Eyes
You’re the secret I keep
Cause Blue Eyes
I just wanna sing a song with you…
In honor of Katie and my one-year anniversary this weekend, the weird video for the awesome song we entered our reception to:
Last night I had a dream about you
In this dream I’m dancing right beside you
And it looked like everyone was having fun
the kind of feeling I’ve waited so long
Don’t stop come a little closer
As we jam the rythm gets stronger
There’s nothing wrong with just a little little fun
We were dancing all night long
The time is right to put my arms around you
You’re feeling right
You wrap your arms around too
But suddenly I feel the shining sun
Before I knew it this dream was all gone
Ooh I don’t know what to do
About this dream and you
I wish this dream comes true
Ooh I don’t know what to do
About this dream and you
We’ll make this dream come true
Why don’t you play the game ?
Why don’t you play the game ?
Continuing the series of my articles for Exit 30: The Camp Rosenthal Staff Chronicle
How would you describe yourself to someone who does not know you? What are the things you say in job or college interviews? I’d imagine you say a lot of the same things I do when asked to describe myself; I say that I am an energetic, hardworking, fun, friendly, and accepting person. I’m sure you have used some of those, and most certainly many other positive qualities to describe yourself. In fact, it is because of your description of yourself that we decided to hire you to work at Camp Rosenthal. As I mentioned last week, we did not take that decision lightly.
As we near camp, I think it is important to reflect on what we say we are and what we actually are. Please take a moment to think back on all of those positive qualities that you use to describe yourself and try and recall a situation where you lived up to that quality and a time that you did not. Most people will describe themselves as “hardworking,” though we all have moments of laziness. Most of us describe ourselves as “friendly,” though there are times when we are tired and stressed out and are less than friendly to even our closest friends. Those things happen to even the best among us, and it is important to recognize those situations as learning opportunities.
I like to live by the idea that there are no mistakes, only learning opportunities; there is no failure, only feedback. I recently read a book that talked in great length about this idea, and used a great story to illustrate the concept. The story goes something like this:
Two men are walking down an old dirt road shortly after a rainstorm. The two men are deeply engaged in conversation and don’t notice the large rut running through the road in front of them, and both men trip and fall on their faces onto the muddy old road. Man one lies on the ground cursing the rain and the road for developing a rut while hitting himself repeatedly in the head for being so stupid as to fall. Man two on the other hand, stands up, dusts himself off, and continues his walk while keeping his eyes on the road ahead in order to avoid the next rut.
Between now and the time you arrive at camp, keep an eye out for ruts in the road ahead of you. And if you happen to trip, pick yourself off, dust yourself off, and get back on your journey. Just be sure you learned from your fall.
