parents should encourage children to be plumbers

parents should encourage children to be plumbers

When Scott and I were in high school, college was the next step to get ahead in life. Why? Because college graduates have typically had access to a wider range of job opportunities and were better equipped to adapt to changing market demands.

When my son, Ben, was at that particular crossroad, nothing much had changed. College was still the direction one should be encouraged to go to be successful.

Back then, we didn’t see AI coming.

looking for AI but don't see it coming

You may or may not believe as I do… that AI will create earth-shattering changes. I believe it’s already started. Now, everyone has access to insights and productivity like never before. That means humans must be more competent as to not be replaceable — and for some, competency won’t be enough.

My child rearing days are behind me and I’m great with that. At my stage in life, I’m happy I don’t have to make the decisions young parents do today. But if I did…

I’d encourage my kids to become plumbers, electricians, contractors or mechanics.

AI can’t fix your toilet, repair an electrical short, shingle a roof, or find out why your car’s A/C quit working. People still need those professions with or without the benefit of AI.

It’s scary when you analyze recent data — especially when what businesses see as their primary challenge is not congruent with what prospective employees are looking for…

  1. Recent research shows keeping pace with technology is the #1 challenge for businesses today.
  2. Recent research shows work-life balance is the #1 challenge for individual professionals today.

Now you know: When baseball player Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash, his teammate Manny Sanguillen was the only one of his teammates who did not attend the memorial service. He instead chose to dive into the shark-infested crash site to try and help to retrieve the body.


sometimes it’s hard to reply nicely to email messages

sometimes it’s hard to reply nicely to email messages

I received a business email yesterday that is still setting in my inbox. I haven’t replied to it yet because doing so wouldn’t have been a great idea. Unless you have better self control than I do, never reply to an email when you’re frustrated.

I typed 3 sentences in reply, then I deleted the email and took a break allowing my mind to wander someplace other than work for just a few moments.

lit candle resting on books

I know I have a sharp tongue.

I know I have a sharp tongue — sometimes on purpose and other times not so much. It’s hard to determine the tone of a sender’s email, and it’s easy to misunderstand the intent. I always try to be careful and consider my words before I hit send. You do the same?

It’s true that less is more.

I could pepper off a scathing email proving the sender wrong (and dumb), but I won’t. I’ll just say “thanks but no thanks” and “much success blah blah blah…

Now you know: After 10 years together and multiple gold records, when the Beatles broke up in 1970, both Paul & George were only 27 years old.


i have $10 to spend on a physical, please let me know if you want to be considered

i have $10 to spend on a physical, please let me know if you want to be considered

When I woke this morning, I had 3 full-fee speaker date checks and calendar hold requests for my favorite speaker/brother that I represent. I also had another inquiry that… in my opinion… is disreputable. Coming from a representative of 22-years that is now CEO of her own speaker bureau, I’ll admit I was disappointed.

The email basically says she has a client in need of a speaker and provides their budget. It’s less than half our current fee and we were blind copied along with a whole bunch of other speakers, I’m sure. The email closed with, “Please let me know ASAP if you would like to be considered.

What did you say?

tufted titmouse can't believe the request either

Fee integrity and working with bureaus.

The way the industry works is if you want bureaus to recommend your speaking services, you can’t be cheaper for one than you are for another. If you’re a bureau and your client has $20K, you recommend speakers who command a fee of $20K. You don’t send out an email to speakers who command $30K, $40K, $50K and ask them to cut their fee just to be considered. That’s rude, y’all — and disreputable in my book.

So about my $10 bucks…

The action of this bureau is no different than me sending out an email to a bunch of licensed physicians telling them I have $10 to spend on a full physical with blood work, and ask them to let me know if they would like for me to consider their service for $10. 🙄

Now you know: An Indian farmer and activist was wrongfully declared dead. He attended his own funeral, tried to get arrested, tried to get elected and more. It took 19 years for him to be declared alive. (more on wikipedia)


if you don’t want to get fired for attendance, pick a biz that’s short-handed

if you don’t want to get fired for attendance, pick a biz that’s short-handed

Poor Perry is pulling a double today. He runs a store that’s about to be torn down to build back bigger. One employee was terminated recently and one quit to take care of child care needs. Their work week starts on Friday and at the end of today — Saturday — he’ll already have worked 32 hours.

He’s burning his candle at both ends…

Excuses.

Just in the past 2 days, one employee couldn’t do a shift because of a family emergency — the husband was struggling with their child. The double today is because the employee scheduled had to pick up their daughter in Fort Wayne. Wouldn’t you think you’d pick a different day/time or arrange for someone else to do that if scheduled to work? Nope.

Thing is… some help is better than none, so the risk of repercussion is zero.

And then businesses wonder why they can’t keep the good people?

No help from corporate for reliable ole’ Perry. They’re even dragging their feet on getting back with a background check for a new hire because of the holiday season (that translates to others are actually taking time off to spend with families). So he’s scanning other job opportunities in his limited time not at work. Do you blame him? Sure, he’s compensated well, but that’s far from everything.

Now you know: The hacker group anonymous tried to hack a Mexican cartel and had to back down after the cartel hired counter hackers to hunt them down.


every child should be required to work in a store

every child should be required to work in a store

I’m grateful for the time I spent as a kid working in the parent’s grocery store. I learned about the public, customer service and how to make change. I understand that not everyone has family who owns and operates a business. In light of that, wouldn’t it be a good idea for all schools to offer a semester class based upon retail? Make it required!

In the time Katie and I spent shopping, we encountered two challenges pertaining to money.

  1. Making a purchase with cash, my total was something that ended in .61 cents. Chick had no pennies. Katie handed over a penny and we had to tell the cashier that all she had to do was give me .40 cents. She gave me 4 dimes because she didn’t know she could give me a quarter, a dime and a nickel.
  2. At another store, my change from the cash purchase was 1 penny. The cashier took out a dollar instead of a penny by mistake. (Der.) I didn’t care about the penny but she said it would make her short by .99 cents. Her drawer was closed so she couldn’t trade the $1 for a penny! Oh my! She called the young, stoner manager up who started talking about entering her numbers to void the transaction. I said, “Why don’t you just ring her (meaning Katie) up and when the drawer is open, switch the $1 for a penny?The manager thought I was a genius! 🙄

Cashiers can’t make change & aren’t trained to treat customers like they matter.

Perry mentioned that at his store, his cashiers can’t make change either. If the amount is not on the register, they can’t figure it out.

It wasn’t my fault the cashier in example #1 didn’t have pennies, but you’d have thought it was. The 2 goofy girls in example #2 talked between themselves on how to remedy their challenge and not once said they were sorry we had to stand there 10 minutes.

Again, wouldn’t it be a good idea for all schools to offer a semester class that teaches how to make change, how to treat customers, and how to deal with the public in a positive manner?

It’s a good thing I’m about finished shopping — not sure I could take another shopping spree.

Now you know: Monkeys in Ethiopia have managed to “domesticate” wild wolves by helping them hunt small rodents. The wolves now coexist with (even baby!) monkeys without ever attacking them, instead going for smaller, harder-to-catch prey!