Category Archives: Work

Apparently, some folks at my company like to reduce all messages to a mathematical equation. Recently, our I.T. department announced its latest reorganization, and included a slide in the announcement that looked something like this: Alignment x Energy x Focus … Continue reading →

Today is the 25th anniversary of the start of my working career. Actually, I was supposed to start on a Monday, the 18th, but, at the time, that was a paid holiday (Presidents’ Day). So, I started on a Tuesday. … Continue reading →

I had to fill out an expense report today — for a trip that was cancelled! Apparently, it’s not good enough that my credit card balance is zero, with a charge and then a credit for a cancelled airline ticket. … Continue reading →

At a group lunch, one of my work colleagues explained a far-fetched approach to a particular business problem. Another colleague critiqued the approach with a rather sharp insult: “I’m going to get you a 1-page dictionary with the word ‘practical’ … Continue reading →

A colleague uttered the following two statements during a meeting. I can’t recall what the subject was, but I think they could apply in many life situations: “I can’t imagine anyone saying ‘Bad dog, no biscuit’ to me.” And then, … Continue reading →

I witnessed the following exchange between two semi-executives in a meeting today. They were discussing a communications program at my company, and the exchange began with claims that rumors were flying about the program: Person 1: “I’m in charge of … Continue reading →

While discussing the status of our various projects this week, our manager actually uttered these words while telling a colleague to delay effort on a particular project: “Go ahead and hold off on that.”

I was once elbowed in the face during a basketball game. Stunned for a moment, I turned to run down court when a sheet of blood shot down my face. I had to get 13 stitches and had a big … Continue reading →

Yesterday, a colleague prefaced a question to me by telling me I had my “ear on the pulse” of the organization. Of course, my favorite mixed metaphor comes from a colleague, long ago, who introduced a new topic at a … Continue reading →