As you’ve probably already guessed, Ryan is leaving Mapping Company Success.

His writing time was squeezed with his new job, but adding a new kid to the mix made its impossible.

I’m sorry to see Ryan go, I think he contributed a lot.

His take on culture has been interesting, since he is a leading edge Millennial, a former Marine and has six years of work experience under his belt.

But anytime something ends it opens opportunities for new things to start.

I’ve been talking to a pair of tail-end Millennials about becoming contributors and they’ve decided to do it. Yea!

I’ll be introducing them next week. I hope you’ll give them a warm welcome.

Image credit: Randstad Canada

I had a recruiter reach out to me today. It starts innocently enough. They connect on LinkedIn. 80% of the time after the connection it is complete silence from the recruiter. If I’m curious I will look at their site, but usually I don’t even do that.

I am in sales, so whenever I have these folks who connect and don’t speak, it confuses me. However, today I had a recruiter who connected then messaged.

I don’t mind these approaches, I get that they are trying to fill roles, but I am in a place now where I truly don’t care what role is out there. I’m happy where I am, I’m making a good living and the company is on a rocket ship of growth without VC money calling the shots.

This guy reached out and asked if I had time for a quick chat. I responded by asking what it would reference as I wanted some context. Instead he said a mutual connection suggested me and he had a need for my expertise. I’ll be honest, that sounds like BS to me.

My post here is to not bash recruiters, but to say you have to give context for a meeting. The old trick of creating curiosity in a prospect by dangling something in front of me doesn’t work. You know what does work?  An explanation of a career path or role that is too exciting not to consider. A company that has a culture that promotes success.

For this recruiter the answer will be a solid no for my time. I asked twice for context, didn’t get it and quite frankly don’t care to pursue it further.

Image credit: Bill Ohl

I have been trying to think of topics to write about this week and am struggling. As I laid down in bed only one thing came to mind, sleep.

I have a 5 week old now, along with three other beautiful children and sleep alludes me.

They all have different schedules and needs. They are all competing for my attention as well.

How can I fix this? Sleep.

It made me think of the competing interests we have at work. Different deadlines. Different priorities. Agendas to pursue. They can all add up.

I had a conflict at work recently.

The sum of it was not that great but in the moment it was contentious. Emails and gnashing of teeth on both sides.

I tend to not get too wrapped up in drama at work, but it will happen when two or more humans are gathered.

In that moment I was angry, but I chose to wait to respond.

My solution? Sleep.

I rested and rethought about a solution.

The next day the sun was shining and the birds sang. I was no longer angry and was able to resolve the issues.

Sleep. That is all you need.

I know this is not the only answer to life, but at this moment it’s a good answer.

Image credit: Ana Sofia Guerreirinho

Yea! Ryan’s back.

At my work we recently had an abrupt leave of absence for an employee that I have great respect for. Our CEO pushed out a statement asking that we respect that employee’s privacy during this time and that we look forward to the person coming back to work.

If I am judging the email correctly it seems our CEO was being genuine in his hope that the employee comes back soon and on better ground.

I do not know the details of the abrupt leave of absence, however, I know the employee well enough to suspect something went on personally that needed to be prioritized.

For some reason, that person’s story made me think of new beginnings.

Essentially, our company is hoping for a new beginning for that employee.

Of course we hope for new beginnings in our own lives as well. We set up goals for the new year, pin up vision boards or welcome new additions.

My wife and I did the latter. We welcomed a baby boy this past month with the hopes and dreams of a future generation.

I have four children now, he is our grand finale baby, and I never tire of my hope and love for them.

I struggled when I first had children on how I would divide my love with more than just my wife.

The good news is there does not seem to be any shortage, it just multiplies with each child.

The hope you feel with a new beginning multiplies as well.

Why do we look at newness with such hope? Is it because it is a fresh page to write a future on? Are we free of mistakes and faults when new? Does the potential of things to come inspire us?

For me. I love the choice that is laid out.

My children have a choice to shape their life as they see fit.

And they may be in a position to one day to grant an abrupt leave of absence to an employee in need.

They will hope for new beginnings as well and I cannot wait to see what happens.

Image credit: Pacific Southwest Region 5

Did you miss Ryan in December? Blame it on me; I made it sound as if we were taking off all of December (I wish).

OK. It’s no longer December, so where’s Ryan?

Trying to balance twin three year-olds, one 18-month-old, a new one due in three weeks, and a demanding day sales job.

He’ll be back as soon he gets things under control — or what passes for control in a situation like this.

PS My platform was upgraded when I wasn’t looking and I don’t know how to use it, so I’m skipping Friday (in preference to pulling out the rest of my hair) and (hopefully) everything will be back to normal by Monday.

Two news stories have been running through my mind this week.

A few weeks ago Amazon announced their two new locations for HQ2. Queens and Northern Virginia. Both are already heavily populated and expensive places to live.

And, if we are being fair, those cities may not truly benefit from Amazon arriving. Time will tell of course, but a greater impact might have occurred had Amazon chosen a medium sized city.

I recall the madness/hope by city leaders all around the nation. They lobbied, made promises and petitioned for Amazon to arrive and help their city thrive.

I live in St Petersburg, FL and we have a growing tech scene. We also have an MLB baseball stadium with low attendance and in a prime part of the city. Our proposal to Amazon included tearing that park down and leasing the 80 acres at a reduced cost to Amazon. I’m sure other cities made comparable offers.

All in an effort for salvation from one company.

You hear the other side of it too. GM is closing five plants. Tens of thousands of skilled employees are now laid off. Those were good jobs, too, for the area.

They are the anchor companies that allow the baker, the book store and the banks to survive. When those plants came to those cities it was salvation. People had a job, benefits and could raise a family.

I understand that companies come and go. I firmly believe in the free market and realize that companies are not charities. They are profit driven and make decisions based on the bottom line.

My point to all of this is that cities cannot rely on one industry alone. They need diversity. Salvation is not found in any one company.

What do you put your faith in?

Image credit: Joe Wolf

As I was going through my plans for a post this week, I realized a great one had already been written. My company promotes our employees both internally and externally. They shine a positive spotlight on my team mates and I wanted to highlight someone I work with everyday.

Below is a link to her story.

Endless Opportunities

Image credit: Gayle Nicholson

Yesterday was election day of course and it was a doozie. I live in Florida and have found that it can be a bizarre state to reside in when it comes to election time.

Like most states there is a rural and urban voting divide. However, this state seems to be fairly even on that split and that results in extremely close elections.

I looked at past data for the state and it looks like 75% of eligible voters vote in the general election and around 50% vote in midterms. I am not sure what drives those numbers, but the election always comes down to less than 100,000 vote difference.

In Florida we are inundated with ads, money and agendas. I am registered independent (thinking it would spare me from phone calls, which it didn’t) and I received calls from campaigns, dozens of text messages and countless mailers.

I tend to tune it all out. I go search the info on the candidates and make a rational decision well before the election. However, I have found that Florida is anything but rational.

Depending on your leanings you believe your  guns will be taken, socialist are getting elected, migrants are being rounded up and so on. It seems that only the extreme version of both parties is presented to the public. What is funny though is when you actually listen to the candidates themselves they all seem fairly rational.

What drives us to our political camps? I know for me it was family initially; they all voted a certain way and so did I.

As I have come into my own I have learned to evaluate a candidate on their merits. Not by party or ads. Work and friends are another way. I am in tech and in an urban center. Most of my population is more left. As a result I tend to think most feel the same way. I could not be more wrong. Even in my county when you go to different areas you see a change in mentality.

Where else do you find the influence comes from? Religion and faith can drive it. Education of course. Income. I don’t have one answer but it’s obvious that it’s a cultural driver.

Now that the election is over maybe we can reach across the fence and begin mending it.

We are all in this together and have different ideas on how to get things done, but we gave value as humans.

Kindness goes a long way.

Image credit: Hiking Artist

I have found Halloween to be a bellwether of how a company culture truly is.

Is the company relaxed and open to folks coming into work in wacky costumes? Are there team themes that compete for top prize? Or perhaps the company asks that no one dress up at all.

I have found myself in all three and currently find myself in the last group.

At first I was a bit surprised, but now I realize not dressing up might be the best thing ever.

I am a bit reserved and I always found dressing up to be a major chore and distraction.

There is always the task of finding an outfit that is both unique and also work appropriate. Inevitably someone shows up wearing a costume that is deemed inappropriate.

This, of course, is followed by a mandatory HR meeting describing what is and is not appropriate attire in the office.

The big day arrives. Some participate while others sit it out.

You have a party that truly feels like mandatory fun time and then you go home.

Instead, my work day today was sans drama and hijinks.

We came to work and did what needed to be done. Then we left early because our company realizes we have a life outside the office.

I have to say this is probably the best culture fit I have had in quite some time.

Image credit: DaPuglet

My life has been very busy as of late. I recently switched jobs and I also have a new arrival on the way.

My wife will be having what we are calling the grand finale baby. I currently have three girls and am being blessed with a little boy this time around. It’s an exciting and busy time but also hectic.

One item to tend to during this planning period is a name for our son. There are so many choices and feelings associated with names. Should we go traditional? Family oriented? Something unique but not too unique?

It’s been tough. With our girls it seemed to make sense when we came up with their names, with the little man not so much.

I have also begun observing my own actions as a father. With girls I have learned how to act. I feel comfortable and confident. I think that they will be such great companions for their little brother. He will be surrounded by dolls, pink and lots of love.

I think we have figured out a name that carries a legacy, but is also strong. Unique but not too much so.

It carries a family line and honors the past while looking to the future.

What’s in a name?

Image credit: chuttersnap on Unsplash