Happy Phriday
I love the Indy 500. I have been going to this race since 1977. It is a spectacle in every way. It is full of drama and traditions. For me, the most impressive tradition is the presentation of colors and the playing of Taps before the start. When Taps is played this Sunday, nearly half a million people will stand shoulder to shoulder so quietly you can hear the birds tweet. If you were standing outside the track, you would think the place empty.
This moment never fails to choke me up. Tears in the eyes. I think of my father who was a Korean War veteran and all the other veterans who have left us. Dad and I attending many Indy 500s together. He loved it. I miss him standing next to me.
Now I stand next to my grandson before the race. I hope these days will mean the same for him.
The Words to “Taps”
Did you know that there are words to Taps? Did you know that it is and informal traditional for the playing of Taps to last 59 seconds?
(Note: there are no "official" words to Taps but the most popular Taps Lyrics are below) Day is done, gone the sun, From the hills, from the lake, from the skies. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, may the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep. Love, good night, must thou go, when the day, and the night need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest. Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, night is on. Thanks and praise, for our days, 'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky, As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
Decoration Day
Originally Memorial day was called Decoration Day. Here is the story.
Sammie’s Journal: Imposter’s Syndrome
I was in a client visit this week and the topic came up about Imposter’s Syndrome. I thought I would share with you this piece I wrote for LinkedIn back in 2015.
I have spent most of my career either as an HR manager or a factory manager. When I was promoted to VP of engineering, I had a problem with that. I'm not an engineer.
At the time, my boss did a 360 review on me and I completed a personality analysis. One thing that came out was my reluctance to assume the leadership role over the engineers. I sat down with the company psychologist to review the results. We talked it out like this.
The doc asked, “What’s your problem?”
“I'm not an engineer.”
He said, “This 360 tells me you obviously know how to lead people.”
“Yes, but this is different. Engineering is technical.”
He said, “Didn't you have the engineering department reporting to you when you were the plant manager?”
“Yes.”
Then he said, “You sir, have imposter syndrome.”
I said, “What?”
He said, “You are just waiting for one of those engineers to stand up in the middle of a meeting, point a finger at you and yell bullshit.”
I said, “You are right I am. It's gonna happen.”
He jumped out of his chair. He slammed his hands down and leaned over the desk. He had my attention.
He shouted, “BULLSHIT!” in my face.
It startled me. It shocked me. It scared me.
Then as softly as Father Murphy in the confessional booth he said, “Was that so bad? Now can we begin talking about your real job.”
Since those days, I have interviewed many high-level candidates. Many have imposter syndrome. They think they do not have the experience nor the aptitude to jump into the next big job.
They know they don't know everything they need to know to do the job.
Or the other version of the story I hear is this. The person suddenly finds themselves as the only one in the room (read organization, company, etc.) who knows the most about what the group is doing. They look around and don't see anyone else who can do the next job. So, they end up with the job by default. This default positioning leaves them in a state of constant anxiety. It has them looking over their shoulders for the first "qualified" professional to come along on a white horse. Someone who is more qualified allowing them to go back to their safe space. Others can smell your lack of confidence. Yet, they know they could not do the job as well as you.
Here are some things to remember.
1. Stop looking behind. Start looking ahead and see where the action is and the work gets done. Cause, I got news for you, there is no one coming along to save you. You are it. Get used to it. Pull up your big boy pants and get busy being it.
2. Imposter syndrome does not happen to the underachiever. If you find yourself with imposter syndrome feelings, you are most likely a top performer. So, start acting like it.
3. You don't have to be perfect. Nobody is perfect. Just do your best.
4. You know more than those around you, I guarantee it. We live in our own little working world for 50 to 60 hours a week. When we only know what we know, we assume the rest of the world knows it too. But you are the expert compared to everyone else. You have more arrows in your quiver than you realize. Unfortunately, it is not until when everyone else runs out of arrows to shoot that we realize how many more we have.
5. Yes, being the only one with arrows left gives us a funny, isolated, lonely feeling. But it is not terminal.
6. Maybe luck had something to do with it but the harder you work the luckier you get, as Samuel Goldwyn said.
7. A wise boss once told me, if you are completely ready for the next job, you have already outgrown the next job. So if you are feeling over your head, that's good.
So, Bullshit has been called, now get on with it.
Mike Friday’s Funnies: Allergies
So now I've developed an allergy to honey. It gives me hives. If you have a cat and it seems to be having allergy issues simply wash your cat three times a day. And it will leave. I have a friend who can’t seem to get her life together. I blame it on her citric acid allergy. Every time life hands her lemons, she goes into anaphylactic shock. I’m writing a screenplay about a group of criminals scheming to rob an allergy clinic. I’m thinking of calling it “The Gesundheist”. My friend Steve has a severe allergy to alcohol. Whenever he drinks it he breaks out in handcuffs. "Man, my sinuses are on fire!" "An allergy?" "No, it's a metaphor".
Speaking of allergies....click here.
GoodEnough:
Mark and I will return soon talking with another author about their book.
Friday Twain is Leaving the Station
In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot. Mark Twain
Moment of Zen
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