The Happy Burro

(originally published July 6, 2008)

How significant are you at work?

In his monthly Fortune magazine column titled, While You Were Out, the ubiquitous Stanley Bing writes about his addiction to the digital world while on a vacation. It all started with a phantom buzz of the BlackBerry in his coat pocket. He wasn’t wearing a coat. Why the urge to check in?

Stay Connected

The place cannot run without me. I have such an important job/project/title/image that when I’m out, nothing moves forward. Is that your job? What about the ‘hit by a bus’ theory, where if you were hit by a bus, what would actually happen at work? With few exceptions, most businesses would survive the loss of the newest employee, the CFO or CEO, even the entrepreneurial founder. So why do you have to keep thumbs to the BlackBerry or a Bluetooth glued to your ear while your family hits the beach without you?

Let It All Go

What if I took off a week, or two, and no one really noticed? Meetings are held, decisions made and key projects moved forward. Uh oh. Is my work that insignificant to the organization’s goals? Am I that insignificant at work?

Balance the Flow

Certain positions require you to provide input, even when you’re supposed to be away. Find the top three issues/challenges/project decisions that could arise while you’re planning to be away, figure out reasonable scenarios with your minion to determine a course of action, assign responsibility and vacate. Then, should these plagues rear their ugly heads, your organization/team/support staff have a pre-determined course of action from which to work on a solution.

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In the end, if you’re able to stabilize your work, delegate the decision-making process and disappear for a few days, you’ve succeeded where many have failed. Being able to disconnect isn’t easy. You are the first one that has to let go.

Find some time to spend away from work, completely away, and reconnect with family, friends, your dog. Then bring back your renewed self to your organization.  That is significant.

Joe Raasch :: Mar.06.2010 :: Employee Engagement, Innovation, Personal :: No Comments »

May you find peace and joy in 2010!

Joe Raasch :: Jan.01.2010 :: Life, Personal :: No Comments »

It is with profound sadness that I am writing today about the recent death of Kathleen Macy.  I was first introduced to Kathleen through my mother-in-law, Marcia Hyatt.  I was looking at moving into the K-12 sector, specifically with Saint Paul Public Schools, and was networking to learn as much as I could about the district, and the sector.  Kathleen and I met at a coffee shop.  We were scheduled for 30 minutes and ended up talking for almost two hours!  Here is what she taught me at that meeting:  don’t just ‘think’ about k-12.  You need to want it.  It is about the students.  If you don’t have a passion for student achievement and learning, go work someplace else.  Her passion, drive and commitment to education was evident, and contagious.  Her second point: listen.  To the community, to students, to staff, to senior leaders, to the board.  Truly listen.

I heard you Kathleen.  Your guidance then, and your guidance this past year and a half, have made all the difference in my life.  Thank you.

Thank you as well to her husband Thomas and children Patrick, Katherine and Michelle.  Thank you for sharing Kathleen with the world!

There is more in an article in the Saint Paul paper here.  In that article, her son summed up what anyone experiences when you get to know Kathleen:

“She had high expectations for people. And she’d help you meet them, whether it was to be the best student you could be, the best husband you could be, the best son or daughter you could be.” – Patrick Macy

A memorial service is set for 5 p.m. this Friday, May 22nd, followed by a celebration of her life from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd. in Stillwater, MN.

Joe Raasch :: May.19.2009 :: Leadership, Life, Personal :: No Comments »