Unity Through Laughter

For those of you who do not know stand up comedy is one of favorite things to attend.  Ok, I digress it is my most favorite thing.  I recently saw my favorite comedian LIVE!!!!

Fluffy the Comedian, whose real name is Gabriel Iglesias graced the stage at the Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan; on his newest tour Unity Through Laughter.

Thanks to my fabulous planning skills, and ability to find a deal anywhere; we were able to get two tickets 7 rows back from the stage for the price of one!

I could not have picked a better show for a Winter Event.  I got to see Marteen who open and hosted the show and G. Riley.  Fellow Fluffy fans you know have heard of these people and they made the show even more epic!  It was all new material, and so funny I cried laughing non stop.  Plus after my MAJOR let down from seeing Mike Epps (WORST STAND UP SHOW EVER) on New Years Eve I deserved to be wildly entertained.

The crowd was super diverse and our seat mates were almost as entertaining as the show itself.  So I highly recommend you go check him out, or if you have Netflix watch 'Fluffy the Movie'.  He does not disappoint!

Goal Achieved, On to the Next

I had to put my pen down for a few weeks, because I had a goal to obtain.  I am sure you can understand.  Writing is my passion and my leisure; however I knew that leisure time would return as soon as I reached my goal.   So with that being said I am picking up my pen again and retreating to my happy writing place because I have reached another milestone, another goal! #GoTeamBlair!

Professionally Inept -- But that's none of my business.

One of my greatest concerns as a professional is people who seek out jobs, or accept jobs just because they need a paycheck.  I am personally divided in these situations:

#1 – Provide for home by any means necessary.  I get it, you have a home, car, bills, like to live life comfortably – and you feel you should earn a salary commiserate with your lifestyle.

#2 — In a way, I lose a bit respect for these people because they are taking up valuable work-space from another person, who truly desires to perform that job; and may even excel within that position.

 

This reflection falls behind a few conversations that I have had this past week with various people, my theory that some people take jobs just to have jobs is correct.  Well, I say shame on them for proving me correct!  A good friend of mine is job searching, and when I asked, “What do you want to do?” the answer was so mundane and plain unimpressive that I was almost bored listening to these two sentences:

"For right now, I just want to do a bunch of different stuff.  I don’t really know what I want to do in the long run.”

What do you mean you don’t know what you want to do in the long run?  So are you telling me you are just dancing around in tippy toe shoes, hoping someone will gift you a job so you can afford to lolly gag and collect paycheck?  But that’s none of my business!

My advice is, find something you love and pursue it. 

I have two passions that flow symbiotically with my professional and personal life, Project Management and Human Resources Management.  I know that I have the KSAO’s to balance either and will not only succeed but land on top in either of these fields because of my motivation.  I know that I can perform accounting tasks but have no desire to work in accounting. I love animals but hate to see them suffer so pet care is out of the question too.  So even if the money was great I would not accept a job in either of these fields.

Bottom line, know what you love, your knowledge base is, align your skills with your abilities and figure out what other characteristics you have that will make you great.  Then chase those opportunities.  Don’t take a job just to get paid (although there is someone out there at work right now crossing off the days until payday) performing a job that they are just mediocre at; and there is someone out there who would be fantastic at the other person’s job.   But that’s none of my business!

About the Author: Blair Gaines is gifted Business Analyst working toward her HRM Degree, PMP certification and SCRUM Facilitator Certification.  She is a talented speaker and writer, who has a way with words, that paint a picture on a level that can be understood by all.  Follow me on Twitter @blairlikely or connect with me via email blairsinfo@gmail.com.

Dear Sister Mary Aquinas ...

Dear Sister Mary Aquinas,

I would like to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude for all of the life lessons you attempted to instill in me.   Your firm voice, and weathered ruler forever left an impression on me (literally my right hand still hurts).

You taught me a lot, like how to walk with my back perfectly straight, and how to balance three huge hardcover books, on one foot while reciting my beatitudes. These are skills that have made me unique! I mean how many people can do this?

Every quarter on my report card you noted things that would make me a better person. In the last 4 years that we were together I have found you to be wrong on more than one occasion:

1-      You said: “Do not share so much information with peers!”  –  Sister, I have learned that in Agile Project Management it is very important to share everything during Sprints.  Your rule here disappoints the Scrum Master.

2-      You said: “Memorize and repeat, do not add your opinion.”  - Sister, my so called opinion is totally ok and expected.  A great PM will exercise independent and fair consensus-building skills when conflict arises.

3-      You said: “Stop acting like you know everything!” – Sister, actually using my expertise is good.  A great PM will possess domain expertise in project management as applied to a particular field.

    4-      You said: “Write down everything on the board, no matter the subject.” – Sister, if I write down everything, I will ignore my quick sifting abilities, knowing what to note and what to ignore.

     5-      You said: “Work is not fun!” – Sister, I am engaged.  Engagement leads me to motivation and I look forward to going to work.

Oh Sister, mankind thanks you for your intentions but as you always said when quoting St. Teresa of Avila,  “To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.”

I have long astrayed from your simple teachings and am acquiring the experience.  For this Sister Mary Aquinas, I say Thank You!

About the Author: Blair Gaines is gifted Business Analyst working toward her HRM Degree, PMP certification and SCRUM Facilitator Certification.  She is a talented speaker and writer, who has a way with words, that paint a picture on a level that can be understood by all.  Follow me on Twitter @blairlikely or connect with me via email blairsinfo@gmail.com.

I am such a country girl ... and the Raaaadiooooo Up!

From Apache, OK, by way of so many places in between -- even here in Michigan I still am a country girl at heart!  Hats Off!  

Sing along you know you wanna (in my hidden country accent) ... 

It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most

Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes

There's no dollar sign on a peace of mind, this I've come to know

So if you agree, have a drink with me,

Raise you glasses for a toast

To a little bit of chicken fried

And cold beer on a Friday night

A pair of jeans that fit just right

And the radio on

I love to see the sun rise

- Zac Brown Band

Seeking Checkmate

I do not know yet what my next move will be, I am carefully examining the board.  

With few moves to choose from, I have aligned my goals (pawns), with my dreams (bishops), and hard work (queens) to pursue my future successes (kings).  So when I yell "CHECKMATE!" there will be no confusion that I am ready to move on to the next board. 

Why Try? Because the word No does not scare me!

The word 'No' to me means, hey Blair, you need to try this a different way.  

For me obstacles are opportunities, learning is growing, steep stairs deserve a climb, a shut door means knocking on the other door is a better shot and taking the road less traveled makes the greater difference. 

So if you hear the word 'No', give it another shot, try a different method, find a way to learn from it, capture the positive things from the situation -- and keep on keeping on.  

Be unstoppable like me, resilient, flexible, adaptable and motivated and that my advice for life itself!

Annnnndddd, although it is not yet Friday (which I just remembered) Happy Day all and take it all in stride.