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Theecarey's Journal

theecarey
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09/26/2005 20:32 #35800

Move up or move on...
Category: systems thinking
My typical morning routine involves rolling out of bed and into my car. I give myself just 10-15 minutes to get out of bed and off to work. Today I set the alarm a full hour earlier so I could prep myself for an early morning interview, which involves a panel of people asking very specific, scrutinizing questions.

Partially on curiosity, partially by peer influence, and mostly out of a need for a new challenge, I applied for an internal position. I did not prepare or even think about the interview. I went in and answered questions, encouraged discussion and candidly explained my professional game plan.

Really, who was interviewing who?

When asked why I want this position, I recall using an analogy. I compared the organization to a bus; a bus that is need of the right people in the right seats. I claimed that I am on the right bus, but not the right seat. Not only does a bus need to fill itself with the right people in the right seats, but to have those people stay on the bus no matter what direction it takes. Sometimes you get onboard based only on the destination. However, most destinations take many turns. This is where people are separated by the right people. I have been through a few twists and turns with this organization, I have seen it head in a different direction than I originally anticipated, and I have persevered.

I am tenacious.
I am driven.

My code of conduct is simple. It revolves around the desire to work hard, learn beyond the obvious, take action, think big, make changes, and most importantly: serve the clients to the highest capacity; to prepare each and every child with a developmental disability to lead a full and productive life. My value is compassion and respect towards others; animals, family, friends, consumers. That’s also quite a turn on, too.

I am impressed with and gravitate towards positive, compassionate people that make me think, make me laugh and make me want to know more. Again, pretty simple stuff. In the employment arena, I find myself not recognizing relationship boundaries. I enjoy a good rapport with my fellow coworkers and supervisors. There is no line as far as I am concerned. I tend to befriend those that I respect as workers, those that fit into the aforementioned criteria. This also holds true to my interactions with people outside of the workplace, both in who I gravitate towards and perceived boundaries. I like who I like.. it is often no more than that.. and then, sometimes it is...

Anyhow, the interview lasted about an hour. I sat at a large conference table with a bunch of others from various positions, who each asked me numerous questions. I was totally calm cool and confident. Nothing tripped me up, and although I could have elaborated on any one topic (and said so), I kept it to a minimum. However, there were areas that I elaborated on and even pulled the interviewers into a discussion. They know me, they know what I have done and what I can do.. and they know what I want.

Quantitative skills and job specifics can be taught and learned; not so much with attitude and other qualitative abilities. Organizations would do well to hire and promote based more on attitude than on specific skills. I have said all along that there are qualities and attributes an individual has that can not be formally learned.

I was asked where I saw myself in five years. I asked, “Well, what’s Steve (CEO) going to be up to?”

Nice.

This further prompted an interesting discussion on my career path, being a leader, being impressed with my abilities both in skill and attitude.. etc. One individual kept piping up with impressive comments. Never one to consciously need a pat on the back, it sure felt good for everyone to verbalize their opinions of me… seeing as they were good ;)

Now I wait.



theecarey - 09/27/05 17:06
sure. I have a work meeting at the end of the day, and I do not forsee myself getting out before 4pm. I can make a good effort to get out of there at that time. Maybe you bring coffee and we go grab a bite to eat before my class?? I havent been to quizno's on Main...

also, hurray for UB. I am mad curious as to what you and the counselor talked about. Must be good if you are writing a personal ststement. Remember to just write..do not think. Spill it all out, then go back and edit.
later!
pyrcedgrrl - 09/27/05 10:06
  • submitted. lol.. sure you got that.
pyrcedgrrl - 09/27/05 10:05
Someone didn't call me! Oh no!! I get to read about your interview on here!! lol

Up for coffee before class Thursday? I could use some quality caffeine and conversation....and someone to look over my personal statement for UB.

I spoke to a counselor there and submitten my application! *squeee* :)

09/27/2005 00:36 #35799

Saturday night objectives completed
Category: adventure
Good food..good people..

Geographical points of interest: Kunis, Spot, Allen Hardware, Cathode Ray, The Pink (can't ever call it anything else!)

People of interest: (e:paul), (e:terry), (e:matthew), (e:mike), (e:jason), (e:joshua), (e:keith), and (e:ladycroft) (and moi!)



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I loOooOOoOooOOove this picture! Aweeee..makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

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(e:ladycroft) and (e:carey) having fun in Pinks bathroom. Here are a few more..



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ahh, like a cherry on top, a suprise visit by the super cute and delicious Larson brothers ;)


alison - 09/25/05 17:52
i always miss out on the fun! damn my sicky-ness!

09/24/2005 16:08 #35798

You come. Yes you. Dont be scared..
Category: potpourri
I love when I don't know what I am doing, where I am going or who I am doing it with; so my goals for this evening..

the tenative itinerary is as follows:

Shushied up- Kunis
Coffeeied up- SPOT
Liquered up- pearl street brewery or alternative brews on sheriden
and later..Liquered down ;)

(I insist on grammatical and spelling license-- see carey to english dictionary)
haha.



Any takers, give me a call 622-6639
the more the merrier.. always up for good oral intercourse

thats conversation, my dear pervs.



ladycroft - 09/24/05 16:13
Amen sista! You know I'm there.

09/22/2005 18:36 #35797

my needs
Category: dumb ass
I must have hit a hot spot, as I am in my car and have wireless connection on my lap top.
neat.

I just wrapped up my mid term-paper-project

Wish me luck and fore sight to not procrastinate to this severity ever again.
but then, I love the intensity that pulling it all together brings; even if it is at the last second.


Now that i am at school, I just noticed the guy that holds my future of sushi in his arrogant hands. *death rays*-- but cut the check first. I need my $$$$$$$$

This girl needs sushi.. its been too long
sushi
sushi
sushi

hmm.. kunis
leetee - 09/27/05 23:34
I reckon it can't hurt to try! Got nothing to loose, now do i? Other than the repect of all you sushi loving people if i hate it? lol
theecarey - 09/27/05 17:21
cool, so next time we do sushi, you are in, right ?! :)
leetee - 09/27/05 10:11
i guess we just haven't been eating at places that have sushi... either that, or i see sushi on a menu and just don't pay any attention. My bets are on the latter. lol
theecarey - 09/26/05 20:36
everywhere I have been around here has had non fish options. You might like an asparagus or avacado maki roll. Yum..
leetee - 09/25/05 22:56
i haven't had any i've liked, and my options are limited since i don't eat any kind of fish (i know sushi is not raw fish, for the record). (e:uncutsaniflush) used to get it at a Korean place (that had a lot of Japanese clienelle) we used to go to in Knoxvville, but they didn't have anything vegetarian for me.
theecarey - 09/25/05 16:47
have you had it, and not liked it? I will bring you some. You will like. :)
leetee - 09/24/05 14:42
I just don't understand the appeal of sushi. I wonder what i am not "getting"?
pyrcedgrrl - 09/24/05 01:07
you guys suck. *sulks back into her unemployment cave*
theecarey - 09/23/05 01:04
Paul, Matthew, Timika.. lets go saturday?!
paul - 09/22/05 19:47
I'm in when?
ladycroft - 09/22/05 18:53
Sushi! I want sushi too. Kunis, let's do it. Who's in????

09/21/2005 19:10 #35796

what do you think of this?
Category: systems thinking
in general or specific, what do you think of this.. a few brain cells please..


consider these quotes by Russell Ackoff:

"... improving the performance of the parts of a system taken separately will not necessarily improve the performance of the whole. "

"Systems thinking is holistic, it attempts to derive an understanding of the parts from the behavior and properties of wholes rather than derive the behavior and properties of wholes from those of their part."



I think so intensely about something, then I cannot get my thoughts into writing.

a quick primer: Systems thinking, focuses on how the thing being studied interacts with the other constituents of the system—a set of elements that interact to produce behavior—of which it is a part. This means that instead of isolating smaller and smaller parts of the system being studied, systems thinking works by expanding its view to take into account larger and larger numbers of interactions as an issue is being studied. It wounds wacked to write it like that, as it seems to go in a circle, but I love this stuff.

For example, when there is an issue, people tend to look at the immediate cause and effect relationship, where the reality is that it had a much longer time frame of reference that which was more likely the cause.

When you toss a frog into a boiling pot of water (I am NOT advocating this act, i am using a parable that demonstrates the idea), it will jump to get out. However, if you put a frog into a warm pot of water and gradually turn up the heat, the frog is not uncomfortable at all, and otherwise seems to enjoy it. It is not aware that it is in danger, until is is really too late. (gross, i know)
If you plug this into the foibles of many an organization-business-political-relationships, then it would show that we react to immediate and obvious needs and threats opposed to more subtle issues that are really part of the larger picture.

This is where a lot of blame comes in.. no one owns up to their ignorance and mistakes. People are corncerned with maintaining the status quo, being defensive and image conscious.


Make mistakes and learn from them. make some more.
Speak your mind, have a voice, but don't make it personal.
Challenge me. Challenge yourself.
Learn.
Unlearn.
Dont just do things right, doooo the right thing.
If it feels good, do it; but don't screw anyone over.


Then again, this might be just the hedonist talking in me.

thank you, I needed to mentally spew.

any thoughts?
leetee - 09/21/05 23:27
in answer to the question "who really puts out the fire?", i would think the answer would be the firefighters. if there is an active fire, it needs to be put out, and the firefighter puts it out. after the fact, the fire inspectorn figures out why there was a fire so it (hopefully) will not happen again. that is, of course, if the fire cannot be prevented. prevention isn't really putting out a fire, if one didn't happen in the first place.

of course, sometimes fire is pretty and it is tempting... sometimes having the fuel hanging about can make life more exciting. sometimes, we light a fire, not thinking it is going to run out of control.
dcoffee - 09/21/05 22:47
thank you for the post carey!!
theecarey - 09/21/05 21:46
Nice! You have me thinking. The immediate need to put out the fire is reative. It is necessary for survival and damage control. After, someone comes in to try to figure out how it got started (the cause). Rhetorical..So in regards to systems thinking, who really puts out the fire.. the firemen (reactive) or the fire/building inspectors (proactive)?
leetee - 09/21/05 21:28
the immediate is the fire that needs to be extinguished before taking the time to figure out how the damn thing started in the first place. underlying causes take time and examination. thoughtful consideration. often, there really is no one thing to blame. it can be an accumulation of things that might not have happened had it not been for one part of the fire equation. we all need oxygen, but so does the fire.

then again, if i struck the match, i don't have too much pride to say that i screwed up.