Logic + Truth = 2 signs you won't win this

Yesterday I got into a confrontation with a member of my company's management team (I'm an hourly peon and proud of it). He was very upset with me for getting on him and another management person about not complying with a rule that HE created (aka doing my JOB!).

He was very rude and said something that was both inaccurate and offensive. Now if you know me very well at all, you know that normally I'd shred him verbally on the spot. However, God was very gracious and helped me instead express logically and rationally my point of view. I was very angry, but not once did I get disrespectful or otherwise let my emotions run my mouth. Even through my anger, I could see how effective logic and truth are. It's tough to argue with those two when they are used in a calm manner.

By the end of the conversation, he had apologized for what he said. I was still pondering about filing a written complaint with my boss but decided to hold off. I did of course document the event in my own notes. I'm not an HR nerd for nothing you know.

This morning this person came up to my desk. I asked how I could help him. I was genuinely sincere; though I'm still displeased with his actions, God is great, and I'm not boiling over with anger. He asked if I had a minute to talk to him in a meeting room (I work in a open office, so no privacy otherwise). I said sure. He started off with "I'm sure you're probably mad at me" and went on to APOLOGIZE. He said what he said to me yesterday bothered him all last night. He admitted he was wrong, said he was sorry, he's been stressed, etc.  I think he was sincerely sorry. Of course, part of me wonders how much is "I'm sorry I did it" versus "This could have some serious reprecussions for me", but still, I know it took a lot for him to say it. At the end he said that he hoped I could forgive him after some time had passed. I just said nothing. With God's help, yes, I will. In fact, I feel like I'm already pretty close, just not quite there yet. But woe be it unto him if he thinks he's ever talking crazy to me again.

This whole process illustrated to me how what we say impacts situations. Had I let anger rule, I wouldn't have said anything offensive, but my sarcasm definitely wouldn't have helped the situation. Sticking to facts and being logical, though difficult, was the right thing to do.

 On a larger scale, it shows that God will indeed go before us and fight our battles for us. We just have to get out of the way.

The Digital Story of the Nativity

This video was shown at my church this week. My family LOVED it. I hope you do too.

Why today is one of my favorite days of the year

Do you know what today is? Well, for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it's the winter solstice and the official first day of winter. Now I am not a fan of cold, so the start of winter isn't what makes my heart happy. Since this is shortest day of the year, it's all downhill from here. Slowly but surely the days start growing longer tomorrow. That is something worth celebrating in my book.

What are you doing with your 2011 pay raise?

What pay raise? you might be asking. Well, unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard that the tax cut bill was signed into law today. Regardless of your feelings about it, it will impact you. Here's a great article with all the details, but I'll summarize why it's a pay raise for most folks for 2011. 

Let's assume you are single with no kids and make $50,000 a year, mostly because it results in nice round numbers. Your social security payroll withholding will be reduced by 2% for 2011 only, giving you an extra $1000 ($50,000*.02). The Making Work Pay tax credit expires at the end of this year, which in this scenario was $400. Thus, your net pay raise is $600 a year or $50 a month.

Big deal you might say. That's fine. If you don't want it, give it to me. Send me an e-mail, and I'll provide you an address so you can mail it to me.

If however you want to use it for something that benefits you personally, here are a few ideas:

* Need to beef up your retirement savings? Up your 401(k) contribution by 2%

* Emergency fund feeling a little anemic? Figure up how much additional money you are getting each check, and have that put directly into your savings account.

* Car going to need new tires by the end of 2011? Set the money aside for this purchase so you'll have all or most of it ready when the time comes.

* Want to blow it on something frivolous? If you don't have another pressing need, go for it!

The idea is that you need to PLAN where the money goes now. It's too easy to say "I'll think about it when I get the money", then find at the end of 2011 that you have no idea where it went. Granted, the government is pretty much hoping you'll do that, but as we all know, the government is not the best fiscal manager to emulate.

Favorite Work Phrase #6

"You get what you get" (short for "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit")

Expressed by my coworker's granddaughter Grace who was no more than kindergarten age, this phrase is great to use when people are complaining overly much (aka whining). Little kids have great wisdom.

Favorite Work Phrase #5

Purple Squirrel

Noun: the candidate with the perfect skill set, experience, personality, and salary requirements

Just as there are no purple squirrels in nature, there are none in the job world either. A list of job requirements for a position is really just a wish list. Companies (and hiring managers) often forget this. You have to prioritize and find the candidate who is the best fit, not the perfect fit.

Example: We have a position at work that has been open for 6 months. The hiring manager claims that no one from the hundreds of resumes is "the one". I think odds are there are several in the pool who would have done fine. He seems to be holding out for a candidate who doesn't exist.

Variant: "What did you think of that candidate" "(vague murmurs of discontent)" "Oh, not even a maroon squirrel huh?"

Another example: When my company hired me, they were looking for someone with several years of HR experience. I had none. I had been working in the department as a temp, mostly to answer phones, file, type, etc. The person who is now my coworker asked me if I was going to apply for the position. I said no as I had no experience. She told me to apply anyway. That was 10 years ago, and I believe I've been a very good employee for them. Was I a purple squirrel? Nope. Was I a maroon one? Maybe. Did it work out okay? I'd have to say yes.

Sounds Like An Episode of Jerry Springer

This article appeared in our local newspaper today. Where to begin? I started reading bits of it to my co-worker during lunch, and about every paragraph brought something else I had to tell him. Here are some of my favorite parts.

Carla Hartman called police to accompany her when she returned to the home Nov. 28, the reports said. While in the home, she became upset after discovering Douglas Hartman had taken her birth certificate, law degree and other documents, reports indicate. She then told officers her husband had been growing marijuana in the basement, the reports said.

Comment: She was following the axiom "don't get mad, get even". Of course, she probably should have thought it through a tad bit more. It's HER house too.

Douglas Hartman told officers he used the equipment to grow cactuses.

Comments: 1. Really? That's the best you've got? 2. I think the cops *probably* can tell the difference between pot and cacti (another plural of cactus). I seriously doubt that the suspected marijuana they found will turn out to be cacti.

He said he had not smoked marijuana since his wife purchased some for him two years ago, the reports said.

Carla Hartman told officers she gave her husband some marijuana two years ago as a birthday present, the reports said.

Comments: 1. You're a lawyer and you don't know when to stop talking? 2. You're a lawyer and you bought your husband pot for his birthday? Seriously?

Other thoughts:
1. This couple so deserves each other
2. I sent this article to some of my co-workers because I enjoyed it so much. I told them it read like an episode of Jerry Springer. When I went to Comments page of the paper that originally published the article, I saw that I wasn't the only person who held this opinion
3.  You're a lawyer and you only make $38,000? I think there's got to be some good background on why that's the case

Hope you enjoyed the article as much as I and my coworkers did.

Want Fries With That?

Click here for a free coupon for Wendy's new natural cut french fries with sea salt. I love Wendy's fries anyways, so I think these sound great.