August 10, 2023
August 2, 2023
In The Quiet Hours
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
In The Quiet Hours
August 5, 2022
Get The Pest(s) Out Of Life
Probably should say "pests" (plural)!
No wonder the people are happy to work there, they're pest free. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Get The Pest(s) Out Of Life
July 22, 2022
Leadership With Heart
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Leadership With Heart."
In terms of impact, I was pleasantly surprised recently when at least three different people came up to me after I did or said something, and they responded with something like, “Oh, I get it. That’s what ‘Leadership with Heart’ means in your tagline.” I can’t tell you how happy that made me to hear that. I wasn’t just saying it, but acting it, and others noticed it positively.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Leadership With Heart
October 13, 2020
Born or Trained In Crazy
You don't have to be crazy to work here, we'll train you.
Some places they hire the crazies and other they train them to be crazy.
Perhaps, it's a bad culture or some bad applies, but either way they can turn good, caring employees into some more crazies to add to the office's bunch of bananas.
Fortunate is s/he who works in a normal, good workplace and can do "a decent day's work for a decent day's pay." ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Born or Trained In Crazy
August 4, 2020
Lipstick On A Dog
Not sure what they mean by:
Not just a lipstick visit
I've heard of lipstick on a pig, but never on a dog!
Playing dress up with a dog?
As they say, only in America. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Lipstick On A Dog
December 15, 2019
The Best Jobs 2020 and Beyond
They are not the ones that just pay the most!
Here are the three criteria to look for in your next dream job (aside from the money):
1) Autonomy - Work that is self-directed provides satisfaction that jobs that are closely or micro-managed do not.
2) Mastery - Jobs that allow you get better at them over time (technical proficiency) provide a sense of mastery and self-respect.
3) Purpose - When you have a deep sense of purpose and meaning from your work there is simply no greater motivator and satisfier than this.
I'd also add that the best places to work are the ones with:
- The best bosses and the nicest people
- A solid balance for work and life
Overall, if we can reconnect the profit motive with the purpose motive then we have truly have the best jobs out there. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Best Jobs 2020 and Beyond
August 17, 2019
Copy Any Key
A automated key copy machine.
You insert your key.
And out pops a duplicate for you.
Home, car, business, whatever.
What is happening to that guy who used to work the key copy machine at the local locksmith?
Who says automation and robotics isn't taking and going to take away jobs.
I still remember that key machine--where the locksmith would put the key on one side and a blank on the other, and the machine would copy the surface grooves of one unto the other.
Now even that is gone.
I guess we're lucky still to have keys (for now). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
Copy Any Key
April 12, 2019
Gotta Love FANUC
I love FANUC industrial robots.
They are made by a secretive company in Japan and they are #1 in workplace automation worldwide!
They have over half a million installed industrial robots around the world.
Their robots are on assembly lines making everything from "cars and smartphones to beverages and drugs." They also are in Tesla and Amazon...so you know they are pretty much everywhere.
FANUC has customers in 108 countries supported by 263 service locations.
Their robots are made by...that's right other robots...80% is automated.
These robots are strong, fast, and precise, and they can do dangerous work.
This company is the future of jobs, productivity, efficiency.
But of course, people are still the brains behind the brawn. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Gotta Love FANUC
March 6, 2019
Trends In Homelessness
This photo is taken not far from the Capitol building in DC.
The homeless are not living in tents in the dead of Winter.
As the people pass by, under this particular overpass were no less than 4 tents.
While millionaires and billionaires splurge on themselves, so many people continue to go without adequate food, shelter, clothing, plumbing, healthcare, education, and jobs in America.
When G-d looks down and see the unsympathetic wealthy next to the downtrodden poor--and many of the wealthy act like insatiable pigs, while the poor go hungry and cold--shall the L-rd that judges all the earth not do justly?
Yes, there should be incentives for people to work hard and contribute, but when the wealth is skewed so that more than 50% of all the wealth is owned by just the top 1% of people and the top 1% own more than the bottom 90% of the population--we have a system that is not just broken, but grossly unjust and inhumane.
Corruption is alive and well, and who is there among our leaders to stand up and say and do what is right by G-d children?
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Trends In Homelessness
February 21, 2019
-25,000 Jobs NYC
...Others like NY Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are busy destroying jobs from her city.
After a grueling competition for the Amazon HQ2 with 200 cities offering incentives to land one of two 2nd Headquarters for Amazon, the winners were Arlington, VA and Long Island City, NY.
These lucky cities were to divide 50,000 new jobs and $5 billion in investment by technology and e-Commerce behemoth, Amazon.
Instead of thanking G-d for their good fortune and celebrating their win under the political savvy of New York's Governor, Andrew Cuomo and NYC's Mayor, Bill de Blasio, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez railed against the "corporate welfare" and basically killed the deal.
What should be critically noted is that incentives for Amazon were based on meeting their performance benchmarks for NYC and Arlington and were not corporate charity or handouts.
What Socialist, Ocasio-Cortez failed to understand is that Capitalism is successful precisely because of competition and incentives for performance, and that capital is ideally allocated to where it can get its highest return.
In short, New York and Virginia weren't giving away the farm, they were competing for great jobs and investment in their cities--and that's what 200 cities recognized from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.
Aside from AOC's blatant bigotry and Anti-Semitism so far, she has goofed with a Green Deal that promised income security (socialist handouts) to those "unwilling to work" and sought to get rid of everything from "farting cows" to Airplanes, and now she's lost 25,000 jobs in NY.
Voters in NY and Democrats in Congress should be paying attention to their new Socialist champion and one of its extremists in chief.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
-25,000 Jobs NYC
November 7, 2018
Bills, Health, and Purpose
He was telling me about some of life's stresses at work, home, etc., and he said even though every looks forward to retirement "one day," the problems don't go away.
He mentioned some examples of people he knows that retired relatively young and with a pension.
Nevertheless, he said:
They still worry about bills, about health, and mostly about purpose!
And even though they don't have the day-to-day grind in the office, he said:
Their own stress is as real to them as mine is to me.
I couldn't help reflecting on his words and thinking how smart this was.
No one has it all!
Everyone is this world has fears, worries, and problems.
And you know what? It's okay.
Life is about us confronting what seems unconfrontable and becoming better human beings because we did. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Bills, Health, and Purpose
August 14, 2018
Taking Pride In Your Work
The lady in the hair salon had a necklace in the shape of a scissors.
I asked her about it because it seemed sort of unusual and neat.
She said, "It's a scissors!"
And then she proceeded to squeeze the miniature two handles, and said, "You see, it actually opens and closes too!"
I could see and hear how proud she was of what she does for a living.
Yes, maybe it doesn't earn as much as some other professions, but it was her job and she loved it.
I think we should all try to take such pride in our work and in doing a great job!
Everyone has something important to contribute and every contribution truly counts. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Taking Pride In Your Work
August 1, 2018
Superhero Work Gloves
"Ironclad Industrial Impact--Rigger Cut"
These were just hanging around the local clothing store.
They not only look like superhero gloves covered in orange, yellow, and black duraclad padding ready to WHAM BAM!
But they also feel that way when you put them on with all the rubberized ruggedized protection.
Hmm, wonder whether these would be good in the gym for weightlifting...
Now who actually goes to work wearing these things? Its probably got to be a pretty "macho" man or women job. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Superhero Work Gloves
September 7, 2017
The CEO and The Janitor
The colleague's father was a industrial psychologist and he would go into some relatively big organizations to improve the functioning and culture.
One of the things that he would do is get the CEO and the janitor in the same room together.
And he would say:
"Both of you have vital jobs in the organization and you need to appreciate each other!"
At this point, the CEO and the janitor would be looking around the room super quizzically.
And the psychologist would to the janitor and say:
"The CEO's job is critical, because without the CEO, we wouldn't have the leadership and vision for the organization to be successful, and you wouldn't have a job and salary.
Then he'd turn to the CEO and explain:
The Janitor's job is critical, because without the janitor, we wouldn't have a clean and functioning building and facilities for everyone to do their jobs and be successful, and you wouldn't be able to come to work ever day."
It's really amazing that despite all the fancy titles, corners offices, and rich compensation packages for some, really everyone in the organization is vital in their own way!
The CEO and The Janitor
April 20, 2017
Nuttiest Duck In DC
I ran into this one in the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the Mall.
Check this out!
The duck is head first waddling away it's feet in the air like a lost puppy.
Reminds me of too many folks who don't want to deal with the many consequential problems that our nation faces (fortunately, there are also many good folks that do!).
From the imminent dangers of North Korea, Iran, and ISIS to our staggering national debt (all of which I wrote about yesterday) along with other critical issues such as healthcare, immigration, and jobs, jobs, jobs.
Then there are the all too frequent projects that are out of control and funding that is flushed down the proverbial $4,000 toilet.
A history of dysfunction, fraud, waste, abuse (along with an assortment of personality disorders) have ripened for the picking in the election famous "Swamp"--that we've been promised will be drained!
Maybe that's what this duck is wading into...and what do you think he will find?
This nation can no longer afford to go head in the sand unless we are looking to be a good-for-nothing dead duck rather than a thriving democracy and beacon of freedom to the world. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal
Nuttiest Duck In DC
January 26, 2017
Camera Of Life
Camera Of Life
November 30, 2016
An Ironic Cabinet Lineup {humorous}
Here are some funny ideas for domestic and foreign picks for a fantasy Cabinet team:
Department of Defense - (Oh no) Russian President Vladimir Putin because he knows how to fight and win wherever he wants.
Department of State - (Oh no) Julian Assange because he has so may of the cables anyway.
Department of Treasury - (Oh no) President Barack Obama because he doubled the national debt to $20 trillion and it's no problem.
Department of Commerce - Chinese President Xi Jinping because he has most of the world's manufacturing and the biggest trade surplus.
Department of Justice - (Oh no) James Comey (with all due respect) because he could investigate Hillary Clinton and deem her "extremely careless" with national security and yet also do the job of the prosecutors and recommend that "no reasonable" one would bring such a case.
Department of Education - (What if) Sergey Brin and Larry Page because they made Google the most valuable company in the world by organizing all the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful.
Department of Labor - (What if) Ken Jennings who was beaten in Jeopardy by IBM's Watson, and understands that artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics will soon be eating people's lunch.
Department of Homeland Security - (Oh no) Edward Snowden because he already knows all about surveillance--how we conduct it, how to evade it, as well as the vulnerabilities in our security.
Department of Transportation - (What if) Elon Musk because of his leadership in electronic vehicles here on earth as well as rockets to even get us to Mars.
Department of Energy - (Oh no) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani because he knows how to get his nukes while ridding his country of sanctions and getting $150 billion to continue global terror
Department of Agriculture - (Oh no) Any of the notorious drug kingpins because they know how to grow it, distribute it, and make lots of money doing it.
Department of Interior - (Oh no) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un because he manages one of the most remote (Isolationist) nations on Earth and does it with virtually complete self-sufficiency.
Department of Veterans Affairs - (Oh no) Bowe Bergdahl because he was charged with desertion and still managed to get honored in a White House ceremony.
Environmental Protection Agency - (Oh no) Former CEO of BP John Browne because he knows the ramifications of being responsible for one of the worst polluting industrial accidents in history in the Gulf of Mexico.
Housing and Urban Development - (What if) Ivanka Trump because she is an absolute class act and helps run one of the greatest brands in building and managing real estate worldwide.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal via National Geographic)
An Ironic Cabinet Lineup {humorous}
November 8, 2016
Hold On To Your Jobs
Today, public sector (government) employment is 22.2 million vs. just 12.2 million manufacturing jobs.
In other words, there are 10 million or 80% more people employed by the government than making things in this country.
This is the complete opposite from 1979 when government employed 16 million people and manufacturing had 19.6 million workers.
So just 37 years ago, manufacturing employment was 22% more than our public sector employment.
Manufacturing lost 37% of it jobs, while government grew 39%.
It hasn't been since 1989 that there was parity at 18 million between the two sectors.
Lest you think that the loss in manufacturing jobs is due to automation and technology, the Economic Policy Institute states unequivocally:
"Trade, not productivity, is the culprit."
In the U.S. the annual trade deficit is over half a trillion dollars--we are hemorrhaging and no one has been even trying to stop the bleeding.
If we send all our manufacturing prowess and capacity abroad eventually we are not only going to lose our capability to make things, our ingenuity to invent things, but our finances to pay for anything.
Trade is a great thing when it is mutual and equal, not when it is one-sided and damaging to our economy and jobs.
Bad political decisions mean a poorer future for our economy and our nation. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Hold On To Your Jobs
September 15, 2016
Enslavement USA
Enslavement USA