Sep. 06 2010

In a world where labor does exactly what it’s told to do, it will be devalued. Obedience is easily replaced, and thus one worker is as good as another. And devalued labor will be replaced by machines or cheaper alternatives. We say we want insightful and brilliant teachers, but then we insist they do their labor precisely according to a manual invented by a committee… Companies that race to the bottom in terms of the skill or cost of their labor end up with nothing but low margins. The few companies that are able to race to the top, that can challenge workers to bring their whole selves—their human selves—to work, on the other hand, can earn stability and growth and margins. Improvisation still matters if you set out to solve interesting problems. The future of labor isn’t in less education, less OSHA and more power to the boss. The future of labor belongs to enlightened, passionate people on both sides of the plant, people who want to do work that matters.
Seth Godin (via azspot)

Aug. 10 2009

zachklein:

When you live in NYC for too long, it’s common to forget what you originally came to do.

I just got back from a weekend up in the Adirondacks — shingling the roof of this new shed, chopping wood to heat a sauna, playing soccer with a big group friends — and it snuck up on me this morning upon waking up in Brooklyn, “Oh yeah, I came here to make $$$ so I could afford to live a peaceful life someplace naturally beautiful, where I can build sheds and play soccer all of the time.”

Folks, this internet shit is really addicting. Let’s spend some more time thinking about why we do it.

this is a powerful lesson my dad taught me a while ago. lots of times in life, you have to endure what you have capacity for in order to create opportunity for the rest of your life.

May. 24 2009

The Case for Working With Your Hands

When we praise people who do work that is straightforwardly useful, the praise often betrays an assumption that they had no other options. We idealize them as the salt of the earth and emphasize the sacrifice for others their work may entail. Such sacrifice does indeed occur — the hazards faced by a lineman restoring power during a storm come to mind. But what if such work answers as well to a basic human need of the one who does it? I take this to be the suggestion of Marge Piercy’s poem “To Be of Use,” which concludes with the lines “the pitcher longs for water to carry/and a person for work that is real.” Beneath our gratitude for the lineman may rest envy.

Nov. 20 2008

pile:

(via pmcarthur)

So meta!!!

this is right by my office. happens a lot apparently.

Oct. 28 2008

tlc:

You know you are work early when you are watching the sun rise from your office window.

this is the best part of the day.  i relish these moments.

Oct. 14 2008

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

peterbaker:

I’m going to be in NYC for a week starting next Wednesday (the 22nd) for PhotoPlus Expo. Anyone else going?

(Notorious B.I.G. + Frank Sinatra, from the Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy album)

i’ll be there on the 24th, recording a podcast for work.  pete - would love to meet you.  big fan of your photos.

Oct. 07 2008

maryrambin:

The Q&A regarding personal branding.

this was a surprisingly good event.  i was on-time and everything until i hopped out of the cab i took down there and promptly realized that it sped away with my phone.  called 311 right away and filed a report.  with things looking grim, i actually was in-line at the 92Y to check-in when kate told me to do the obvious (call my phone - i had my company Blackberry w/ me as well).

with that simple solution, i probably used up all my karma points for the month.  the cabbie answered and told me to meet him a few blocks away.

about 15 minutes late, i slid-in during julia’s talk.  straight-forward tactical branding advice.  while mary watched julia’s dog next to me, loren then made some great points about a brand vs. one’s reputation and persona.  he differentiated himself and his brand.  one is scalable, the other is not.  gary continued a similar trend.  emphatic and expounding some points loren made as well as including some of his own.  very similar to his popular Web2.0 keynote.

afterwards, did an interview for mediabistro on-demand then introduced myself to loren & michelle.  would’ve loved to speak with the ladies but they bolted while julia was doing her on-demand stuff.  also asked gary about a good wine for the woman who doesn’t like wine.

an evening well spent.

Jul. 13 2008

DialogueMedia, MWW Group, 2008.

Jun. 19 2008

tlc:

My first time at Texas Stadium…was for a PRSA luncheon. Lame.

tracy is probably right on the money w/ this one but i’m still jealous she got to go.  i’m a huge cowboys fan (and atlanta braves - go figure, i live in metro nyc and the only teams i like are the devils & nets).

if PRSA had a luncheon in Giants Stadium (literally right across the street from my office), i’d be underwhelmed.  but back to america’s team.  i was a HUGE Deion “Neon” Sanders fan as a kid and even though i got lots of “front runner” flack for it, i settled with the cowboys & ATL’s finest.