After my latest streams of word logic, I knew that I needed to return to my happy creative place. I just received them from Circus Posterus, and am traipsing through my field of word flowers. Now, I can return to my creative writing. Thought I’d share my first Chris Ryniak figures:
Well, I did warn you that my mind travels in many directions. Oooh, really want to poke Bubblegut’s belly…
What do you like to collect?
I’ve always championed communications, as it is a valuable tool with which to teach and to learn. I believe that the people who “operate” the company understand the immense value of having open dialogues that expand our boundaries and lead to creativity. These people are the employees who know the details with which any company actually completes its processes to reach a tangible result. In this portion of the company, I believe that there is great potential that is waiting to be tapped.
The problem seems to stem from the wall that has been erected between the people who “run” the company, the executives, and the employees. Because they are so focused on the overall picture and their company’s position within the business community, they are not tuning into the messages that are desperately being sent by their employees. And many of these messages contain answers to the dilemmas that they are trying to overcome. Continue reading
We live in a world where we’re constantly inundated with talk…news talk, political talk, family talk, educational talk, online chats, and the list goes on. But somewhere along the way, we just stopped communicating. Instead, the talks have turned into a one-way lecture with no interest in understanding that talking is a two-way interactive affair. And for a communicator, that is really hard to swallow.
I am beginning to see the popularity of social networking in a new light. A prime example is to listen to the chatter going on about corporate morale. Or should I say the lack of it. The media covers it, people talk about it, but it’s not addressed where it really counts…in Corporate America. So people have had to take the conversation out into the internet where communication happens every day. While the continued global economic crisis is ravaging the business of capitalism, it’s really the employees that are bearing the brunt of the punishment. I don’t understand how companies can turn a blind eye to the suffering of broken families while counting their enormous profit margins. We’ve reached this fork in the road because Corporate America missed so many crucial turnouts. Continue reading
I’ve spent much of my career working in the manufacturing arena that gave me the opportunity to learn operations from the ground up. My titles have been varied, and have helped build my knowledgebase: estimator, expeditor, planner, buyer, and technical writer. The one thing that these jobs had in common was the ability to work with and learn from all organizations within the company. It has given me a well-rounded view of the manufacturing world that I continue to use in our technical consultancy business. I have taken the lessons learned, from the production floor up to management, in order to provide consulting services that help to focus manufacturing methodologies. I don’t pretend to know everything about current industry strategies and philosophies. There are just too many of them to cover adequately. What I do use is a common sense approach that refocuses the resources available to an organization in order to reach some of their overall production goals. My primary interest is to impart my experiences to those managers who may not have the time or the ability to monitor actual floor processes, thereby allowing them to refocus their own production strategies. Continue reading
I am a member of that quiet group known as Generation X. We’re that unsung demographic that couldn’t compete with the noise being generated by the generations before and after us. Every other generation has had a firm foundation to build on, except us. My generation walked on a shifting bridge that wasn’t yet fully built. I’m not whining, just stating the facts.
While working at my first “real” job in my youth, I remembered listening to my older counterparts talking about the good ol’ days and wondered why I’d been left out. They spoke of security, well-being, longevity, and wealth. They had their compensation packages, their benefits packages, their retirement packages, and their networks. All I had were bills. And when the layoffs started coming, I learned that my world would never be as stable as the world of other generations. Continue reading
As I’ve mentioned, I am not a social butterfly. I leave that task to my husband, who is really good at it. Of course, I can hold a conversation once I’m engaged. It’s getting me to engage in a room where I don’t know anyone that’s my problem.
I’ve taken my first tentative steps online by joining groups, starting profiles, and generally just promoting me. Wow, I never knew just how much work it is?! My career has been temperamental, but I’ve been lucky because the large projects have typically found me. But trying to build a network is harder than any writing project that I’ve tackled. As a matter of fact, I have new respect for all of you who have taken the social network bull by the horn. Bravo! Teach me, O wise ones…
Another plus in this new venture is that I am finding that my writing voice has returned after an extended hiatus. It is so good to be able to type out my prose, and actually see something creative forming. I’ve missed my muse! Now, I just need to hog tie her to me so that she never leaves again!!!
What are your networking secrets?
I never really thought that it was necessary to think creatively when developing a technical service proposal. With my expertise as a buyer and estimator, as well as being a business owner, I’m lucky that I’m able to write my own contracts and proposals. Even my past bosses admitted that my contracts are pretty intense. But one of our clients seems to be suffering from a Napoleon complex, and it is not pleasant. Hence, the need for creativity (if only to prove my point).
Needless to say, I do not operate as some of the buyers that I work with. I’ve always believed that I am establishing a relationship with each and every vendor, and should treat them as I’d like to be treated. This philosophy has served me well for years, although it doesn’t seem to be very prevalent in many of today’s corporations. After having been told repeatedly that I am not in a position to negotiate, and that I just need to take what they offer, I am now seeing red.
I try not to feel challenged in such circumstances, but I guess that I’m only human. These comments only make me want to prove that any situation is open to negotiations. If you watch the news, you hear that even terrorists want to be invited to the table to negotiate. Huh? Am I missing something here? Why are they allowed to negotiate, but I have to take a contract that my client deems appropriate without negotiations? Continue reading
Just wanted to send out a congrats to the team at Circus Posterus for opening their storefront in New Mexico! I hope that your sales go sky high, and that Bubbleguts, Hazels, Skelves, and more will soon find homes across the world! Everything looks amazing, and I wanted to pass on the amazing news to everyone.
More info:
Since I’m starting on a new path of creativity with my writing, I wanted to submit it to you, the readers, for input. This is a short story that I wrote for the 2010 Writer’s Digest contest, although I didn’t make a splash as I’d hoped. I massaged it until I was finally happy with it. Now, I’d like to hear from you. I’d welcome feedback just to hear if I am on the right path with my writing. Obviously, I have quirky ideas in my own dream world. Images flash by, and I can occasionally grasp the scene and place it into words.
So, without further ado… Continue reading
I never intended to get into things that negatively impact creativity, but I will because it darkens all of my inspirations. I just read an article by Brett Arends indicating that the Age of America is at an end. At first my reaction was strongly negative as I’m an American by birth, until I put my own genetics into perspective. I’m a multi-cultural individual (British, French, Irish, Japanese…that I know of) as are most of the population of this planet. I’ve traveled to places outside of the United States, and seen unique beauties all around the world. And looking at the current geo-political instability that is quaking all over the world, I have to say that I am enjoying my multi-nationality immensely. I’ve never felt a part of a particular society because of who and what I am. Placing one country’s status over another is frankly immature and ludicrous given our diversity and everyone’s ingenuity.
This world is changing, and the internet is helping to breach the fences of each and every country. We’re on a single planet, and can’t afford to be so tunnel-visioned. Economics is supposed to be a segment of our life that helps us to live the lives that we want. Most of us don’t have this option because of the lack of financial stability in our own lives. This is a direct result of perpetuating a belief that we are all controlled by forces behind the fabric of society. And politics is just something forced onto us, and inherently destructive. Something needs to change. Continue reading
