The day I realized I missed my son...

May 27, 2011:

The thought penetrated my moment with an aggressive force.  It happened all of a sudden, I realized that my only son has not spoken to me since February 2011.   Darn, can a person be that angry, or just not able to say I miss you.  Can a child remove himself from your world just as quickly as he arrived?

We waist time being angry over things, events, situations and interpretations that are unchangeable.  We lose moments that could be cherished as reminiscent joy.  The remaining person who is apart of this situation will carry all the what ifs to their grave. What a painful thought!  Sorrow, pain, remorse, joy, laughter, are emotions that can stop or continue a life time of memories.  

Son, I'm not mad or annoyed that your decision not to speak to me is still fueled by your judgment of the way I want to live my life.  One day you will be judged and that day before your judgment I pray you will realize your not exempt from being judged yourself. The only difference from your judgment and God's judgment is eternal life with him.  My prayer to God is that you forgive all who you feel have wronged you and forgive yourself for all of those you have wronged; God have mercy.

I will say this to you, I still see the little boy in you still trying to hide your true identity. I will love you today just as I did when I anticipated your arrival into this world.

Violet

Do you have an Opportunist in your company or on your team?

Today 5/26/11:

 

My day began with an hour long prayer asking for mercies from GOD, while covering my new day’s events, travels, and interactions with friends, family and colleagues.

Arriving at work my normal arrival time, 8:00 am, I arrived anticipating a report that was suppose to be created by a Senior Leader of the organization.  Two times this week I visited him in his office; Monday and Wednesday.   In his response to my visits he promised he would have the report prepared and emailed to all the committee members by late Wednesday.  The project’s directive from the assistant director was to hold this project to the highest in priorities of the committee’s members responsibilities, so I thought.  So what the hell is going on when a damn Senior Leader of an organization sets the tone of the project’s continuation by not living up to the deadline he set for himself?  The team was ready to review the document! As I sat there these thoughts ran through my mind:

• Is this organization a JOKE when compared to the private industry?
• Are the values of the organization, set by Senior Leaders, only for the lay employees? 
• Who is held accountable in this situation?
• Who tells the leader he/she is not stepping up to the expectations of the team?
• Do we just whisper amongst ourselves about the inefficiencies within the hierarchy methodology?
• Why am I still here Lord?

  
Yes, in case you were wondering, I do believe that it is important for an individual to feel valued in their organization so they will engage in their work duties more efficiently and enthusiastically.  

Just as a footnote:

• When an individual is devalued by being left out of a team’s acknowledgment it is perceived that they are only valuable when extracting ideas for the betterment of the acknowledged individual or team goal.

Let me elaborate so you can understand what the hell I am talking about.  On this same project there was a report created two weeks ago that was prepared only to look at the demographics of the employee population of this organization.  I initiated the analysis, did all the work, charted the data and presented it to the team.  Again self initiated!  I thought about the internal population we were serving and how the projects overall goal should align.  The report included three types of target populations: 30-40, 40-50, and 50-60 employees.   After I presented the analysis to the group the "Opportunist" decided to ask for my help in stratifying the data of an SWOT analysis.  This darn woman combined my report and her report, which she supported the SWOT findings with my analysis then presented it in a report to the team.  Oh hell, I forgot to mention we both lead the SWOT.  At the very next meeting the team leader referenced to the report she presented with both our names on it as her report.  Wow!  The individual then openly on numerous occasions accepted the full credit for this work.  Now, hold the hell up!   I think I identified an opportunist?  I have never met one in my adult life to date.  For those who don’t know what one, opportunists, looks like just stand and look around.  They may be a director, manager, supervisor, or even a departmental colleague so you must watch out.  They will sting you hard if you’re not careful  and they will do it right in front of everyone.  Unfortunately, what the opportunist does not understand is that stealing ideas only work temporally.  When you’re placed in the position you jockeyed for opportunist, your left to produce immediately.

 

Remember opportunists, the individual(s) you stepped on climbing up is the one who will be needed to sustain your new position!  It all comes full circle, thank GOD. 

So wounded warrior, wait for the next opportunity to counter. 

 

Strategy: 

1. Stayed prayed up!
2. Stay away from the opportunist when team selection is needed. Hell, pick your own partner.  But be ready to pull you weight if your other team members are late majority. More than likely this will be the case. 
3. Stay 5 steps ahead of the opportunist.  Trust me it will save your life.
4. Try not to become emotional during meetings; if your a woman act like the men that are around the table.  Speak with confidence and look the opportunist dead in the eye but remember pursue the table don't make it personal even though it is! 
5. Read everything pertaining to the project and make sure you can articulate your thoughts effectively
6. Try to attend all of the meetings as it relates to the project.
7. Keep the opportunist close but never reveal your strategy to them.