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Always Christmas in My Heart

I sent an e-card this year from bluemountain.com that pretty much sums up the way I feel about Christmas. I really dislike the commercialization of the Holy Christmas season, though I am a capitalist, social entrepreneur and small business evangelist.

One thing I love about this season is the opportunity to say hello and send love and blessings to people I love, miss, appreciate and/or care about. Usually that is just a phone call, email, e-card or visit, but it gives me the perfect reason to say hello, thank you or I love you.

The free card was sponsored by Wal-Mart and it says: "If there were more days like Christmas, our world would be filled with the joy of song... ...the spirit of goodness, the colors of happiness, and the hope of believers everywhere. May it always be Christmas in your heart." Then I found a wonderful heart ornament on designerornaments.com and put the image together using the wording & ornament. I won't be surprised if I send this same card and ornaments next year.

Is Hip Hop Dead?

Amore' Rayne Is hip hop dead? Is R&B taking over?... I feel there is a shortage on quality music with lyrical substance! I just had a conversation about this exact subject a couple of days ago. My fear is who do we have to carry on the torch for the next generation as far as R&B goes? Hopefully my music will be among those who keep the torch lit. But we don't have many Whitney Houstons, Aretha ... See more Franklin's or Chaka Khan's in this industry anymore. Who ... See More will this generation have to look back on when they get older? There are far more studio generated singers than they are actual real gifted singers. What happened to the time where it really didn't matter what you looked like, what mattered was the quality of your vocals. And don't get me started on the lyrical content.. This is a subject that I am so very passionate about. Because you see the decline of the expectation of good music from the consumers. It's almost to the point where they are so use to listening to nonsense that they just listen to a beat and they lyrics just don't matter at this point. Me personally I'm tired of hearing about getting wasted, rims, kicks, clothes and droppin it like it's hot. I'm tired of seeing artist feel like they have to get half naked or straight up naked to sell records. I'm tired of seeing rappers talk about a life style that they actually never had. I understand the game. I know that at the end of the day it's about an image and a product but can we just get back to "Quality" regardless of the genre of music? It turns my stomach to see that being pretty trumps being talented. And if your willing to show as much as possible your definitely star bound. When will consumers demand more? If you can't find quality on a major scale, there are a lot of independent artist such as myself that does get it. I can't give anything less than quality. Music is who I am. It's the transcript of my life.

Who is Amore' Rayne? ...a multi-award winning independent singer/songwriter. Her recently released sophomore album titled "Girl Like Me'' is taking the R&B/Pop industry by storm.

Lorrinda Hip Hop and R&B is evolving as people and music always have and always will. GM filing bankruptcy felt like a horse & buggy company going under in our time... it is just not what is in demand. And truly that is economics in its most simple form... supply and demand. Evolve or die.

My ears tune in for powerful lyrics, clever melodies and passionate vocals no matter what the genre. Listeners decide what they want to hear. I think artists should create and perform what moves them personally... if it's only the money without regard to talent, then garbage-in-garbage-out. Perhaps we don't call it "soul" music so much anymore for a reason. Like Thelonious Monk was accredited at developing the bebop style of jazz, Amore may need a whole new genre to describe her talent... or be credited with keeping a genre alive in our current times. In short, do what moves you and it will move others in groups large or small.

Photo Credit

NC State Surplus Offers Online Bidding

Any bidder who registered with the system could submit an offer on the likes of a car, a laboratory pump, a sink, a lathe, or on any of 150,000 other items that passed through the online marketplace. Right now you can't see the dollar amounts of competing bids.

www.ncstatesurplus.com Big-ticket or high-end items such as an airplane, for instance, might be auctioned on eBay. Low price items, those worth less than $150 such as school desks, refrigerators and the like are sold in outlets located on the campuses of a half-dozen state university campuses. It's the items between that range - 65 percent of them being cars, vans and the like - that are now sold online in two weekly auctions.

You must register, but the biddding is open to the public. (Lee Weisbecker, TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/04/09).

Self-Managing Outside My Door

While attending the Living Arts College at the School of Communication Arts I developed a habit of carrying a unruled, pocket reporter moleskine for ideas, sketches, notes and receipts. Mostly I work remotely, but I have an office about a half hour away where I meet new clients and hold small meetings. Mom visits every couple of weeks or so to give us both a break from our normal routines. We have so much fun together!

Today, she saw the pile of receipts I’d collected and she instinctively started going through them. Mom blurts, “Girl! You go all these places when I’m not here!” I shot back, “I go all those places when I’m not HERE!” If I am at home working (or playing) I can’t go “all those places” and spend money, so I try to go out only when it is absolutely necessary. When I do go out, the moleskine or my blackberry holds my plan of attack for making the most of the time by getting errands and on-site customer deliverables done. I have been known to stay home 7-10 days and hardly even go out to the mailbox.

In a Harvard Business Review article by Peter Drucker called “Managing Oneself.” It discusses the challenges and importance of self-management. Ultimately, it is my responsibility to know myself; my strengths, weaknesses and values so that I can “place myself” where I can be most efficient and effective.

Self-discovery is probably one of the toughest things I’ve had to do. It takes careful feedback and trial-and-error precision, but it is well worth it. When I make impulse buying decisions or forget to write down business or personal expenses, it is nobody’s fault but mine. Likewise, it is only “my doing” that affords me to live my whole life without finding my passions and my destined place of effectiveness in the world outside my door.

How A Stupid Facebook Game Makes Zynga Millions

"How is it possible that Facebook gamesmaker Zynga will turn in 2009 revenues approaching a reported $250 million -- making 90% of its money selling gamers nothing but virtual goods? The object of FishVille is to build a magnificent virtual aquarium, full of spectacular fish and designer decorations. The way you do it is spending fake money to buy small fish for one price, and then, after tending to them for a few hours or days, selling them for more fake money then you paid. Then you use that money to buy more fish. If you want to speed your progress, you buy fake money with real money. We'd explain more, but it's really just easier to show you how it works..." Read more...

US DOL $55 million in Green Jobs Training Grants

US Department of Labor Announces Nearly $55 million in Green Jobs Training Grants through Recovery Act. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced nearly $55 million in green jobs grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will support job training and labor market information programs to help workers, many in underserved communities, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. To view the press release, click here

LorrindaSM About Shoes & Actionable Intelligence

I've just returned from getting new shoes on my buggy. It wasn’t all a waste of time though. I met Liz; a big brown-eyed, Cajun (Louisiana born) white woman that is a 2nd degree black belt, an ex-cop and knows more about cars that I could ever hope to… plus she’s a Granny, web designer & PC mechanic. I told her if she’d change “her parts” I’d marry her. We both had a knee slappin’ laugh on that one. I saw this and thought of you… sounds like good grant lingo for some IT solution of other… “organizations must have dynamic, actionable intelligence based on one version of truth.” Don’t you just love that? I do. What good is data if an organization cannot mine it to help make good business decisions?

Ladies shouldn’t have to traipse about at night looking for buggy shoes… or pump gas… or wash cars, but that’s my Daddy’s fault for making me believe that, “real men drive trucks;” and various other tales. Thanks for offering your services for the future. I would totally give you props for being the hero in my distressed damsel scenario. It was very kind and very real-man'ish of you to offer.

I think I’m writing you right now because I’m thinking about you and all you mean and will mean to my world. Thank you for letting me play in yours. …getting back to work now since I just spent 3 non-productive hours (except for getting the needed tires and meeting Liz, of course) at the shoe store.

sign: Lorrinda (while having a LorrindaSM)

My Picture Costing Me Business Opportunities

I got an interesting email about whether my picture (a black woman) was costing me business opportunities.

**************MY REPLY TO ELAINE ********************

Hi Elaine!

My first rule of engagement in life and business is authenticity. If my picture causes someone angst or initiates their reluctance to do business with me, then that's their problem. I shy from types of "political correctness" that would cause me to skirt around the truth.

I usually only want to do business with friendly people, otherwise the relationship may be strained and stressful and I avoid stress whenever possible! Money can really be the root of many evils if it leads or is the only factor in the decision-making process.

My picture is posted because it speaks the truth about who I am; a friendly, sincere, woman of color... and it allows me to define myself vs someone that does not know how wonderful I am doing it for me. [smile] BUT -- my transparency may just be an innate, naturally occurring phenomenon... see lorrinda.com

I like being able to say that my customers and my friends are from many different races and socio-economic backgrounds. For example, I am in the member of Jr. League, BDPA & PMI, and volunteer at a mostly Hispanic Girls & Boys club. I learn so much from each of these groups... and I have so much fun! --if I'm not having fun, I don't want to play. Life is too short for that.

My advice to you is to post your logo or photo from a place of good intend... and all should be well (with your soul and as an added value, your business!). Wishing you every success... and that your valleys be lifted and your mountains moved. I hope this was helpful.

Lorrinda

**************EMAIL FROM ELAINE ********************
Lorinda I am reaching out for some assistance.

I am a woman of color and am seeing help on some issues related to African Americans posting their photo on the web and if this causes any reduction in the leads of contacts received that are actually willing to do business with us - to trust that we know what we are saying and doing.

I had no photo initially -- the discussion on project management certification (my field of knowledge) was rich and involved. I posted my photo and all comments were not responded to, no questions answered, no dialogue except from prior customers. I removed the photo and the dialogue is now back up and highly engaging.

Your comments on this as a person of color would be much appreciated.

My business is coaching individuals to pass the PMP Certification Exam. The need to connect with a face is desirable but I do not do this at all. I have posted this similar question to this group with my photo and no one answered. UM I may post it as a question that a marketing firm is asking to see if people don't mind helping a marketing group as a way of helping themselves.

Thanks for your help - I notice you have your photo posted. Do you have your own business? Do you market only to people of color? The situation / question I pose is most critical for black business owners I use my logo as a photo.

Elaine in Massachusetts

Useless Design

I collect pens like they were artifacts. There's just something about having such a useful tool handy that really peeks my "happy place." Today I picked up a pen to write and it wouldn't. After the usual shaking, starring at the barrel and knocking the point against the desk, it still would not write. Maybe the burning of the tip with some fire would have done the trick, but it was stored upright so it should have just worked... so I through it away.

All of that led me to think about myself and "my design" and I invite you to think about yours. If you were designed to be... let's say a fireman, but you're currently not a fireman, does that mean your "design" was useless? In one sense perhaps, but I like to think of it as "delayed implementation" of a design. We know what makes us happy. If we don't then that is a whole other set of issues, but generally we fully understand the things that bring us joy.

So if you get a moment today, think about what you must have been designed to do in this life. Are you doing it? Do you know what it is but don't know how to get it going? What's in the way? Is it you? ..or was there a "design flaw?" I have to believe that your design (and mine) is perfect in every way and it is our life's work to to fully implement and live our intended purpose.

Being in sync with your purpose is where you and I will be most happy and full of joy. Don't let anyone throw your design away (like I did the pen) just because it isn't perfectly in place. Keep working at it and keep believing in it... it will come. After all, that is what you're designed to do so it must be within the realm of possibility and reality.

I wish you peace and every good thing that is designed just for you! Lorrinda

What I like on TV

I like TV shows that give me "news I can use." Like Google's Marissa Mayer said at a commencement address, "Information used to be scarce and expensive." Now information is in overload (and I am an info junkie!). Having a better life means we have to make better decisions. In order to make better decisions, we need good information. Therefore, I like TV shows that have comprehensive, condensed, relevant, actionable information.

Some Shows I like are:

• Divorce Court (relationships/marriage)
• The Big Idea (entrepreneur/business)
• Suze Orman (financials)
• Clark Howard (consumer)
• Mad Money (markets)
• Numbers (practical application of math)
• What Not to Wear (fashion)
• Daytime in No Time (Daytime TV Recap)
• Infomania (current news, condensed/funny)
• John Stewart Daily Show
• The View
• History Channel
• HGTV
• Biography

I seem to be happiest when I am "in the know" and sharing that knowledge. There are several talk radio shows, online-only shows and podcasts that I really like.

Oprah's Flash Mob Trainers

This is the best example of "Train the Trainer" that I have seen in a long time!

Oprah's staff plotted a flash mob for her 24th Season Kickoff Party. Oprah had no idea and the results were fantastic. A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place and perform an unusual action to surprise onlookers.

On September 8, 2009, this flash mob took over Chicago's Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) to perform one of the biggest dances in the world. It was truly spectatular.

Masterminds award winning director Michael Gracey and top choreographer Ashley Wallin taught 20 professional dancers a routine to the smash hit "I Got a Feelin," which Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas customized just for Oprah. FaceBook and Twitter was used to find viewers that loved to dance. 800 people showed up and were taught by the 20 professionals. The day of the show, there was a rehearsal and those 800 helped 20,000 others learn. Even comedian "Ali" Wentworth, George Stephanopoulos' wife, who is a regular on Oprah's Friday's Live in Chicago, was grooving.

I really like the idea of learning from someone "like me," because if they can do it so can I. Therefore, the process that I recommend for teaching is large group of people something new is to train key people, and have those people train key people, etc. Making this work requires that a process be put in place that is simple, repeatable and measurable. For example, because the mob was standing so close to each other, it was easy to know when you were "out of step" and get back on track.

The "Train the Trainer" model was introduced as a way to teach an organizational committee made up of leadership and various groups to learn how to implement new document management procedures. The procedures were clear, written, peer reviewed steps for keeping the organizations documentation practices standardized and manageable. One person from each group (including leadership) will be taught the procedures by a Document Management Team Lead. The Group Lead becomes as much a subject matter expert (SME) as the Team Lead and will be responsible for teaching the members of their group. With a SME in each group, the person(s) being taught always have a point of contact that has a reasonable number of people to manage so that the SME does not become overwhelmed and ineffective. The SME is responsible for funneling information back to the Team Lead who can take action to do re-training as needed or even lead efforts to modify the written procedures if necessary.

I was thrilled watching the flash mob and give grand kudos to Oprah for beginning her 24th season, but the take-away for me was the fact that viral, train-the-trainer training really can work and pull off some pretty amazing feats!

Lorrinda S. Michieka, MBA Move My Mountain, LLC

Public Schools Need e-Learning Solutions

To prevent lost learning time from H1N1 flu school closings US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan said school systems may need to implement "temporary homeschooling plans" to allow students to complete schoolwork over the phone or the internet. This could be a huge opportunity for e-learning and/or LMS providers.

• News Story
• CDC's Guidance for Schools

Happiness is BALANCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2Pf_2qDk4&feature=PlayList&p=BCF58D137C5E6215&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

AND YOU? (a poem)

I will if you won’t.
I do if you don’t.
I can because you can’t.
I harvest because I plant.
I confirm & you might.
I see all in black & white.
I believe and you doubt.
I succeed and you pout.
I grant and you deny.
I promise and you lie.
I conquer and you fail.
I am free and you are jailed.
I am content & you are angst.
I’m the advocate you’re against.
I am calm while you’re livid.
I’m the giant you’re the midget.
I see opportunity & open doors.
You’re insatiable wanting more.
I celebrate and you begrudge.
I speak truth and you fudge.
I will if you won’t.
I do if you don’t.
I can because you can’t.
I harvest because I plant.

--Written by Lorrinda S.M.
“This is how I feel today after being stood up.”
Email lsm at lorrinda dot com © 2009

Family Coupon Festival

My family is one of the best there is at coming together to accomplish something. Today, our goal was to organize the 1,500+ coupons that my sister had into a system that could be used by everyone. Jamie and her twin sister are bargain/coupon queens of the family. Mommy and I are the organizers. My nephews, ages 15 & 12 were willing helpers only because Grandma said they couldn’t play video games or eat ice cream until we were done.

Mom started the clip-fest by grabbing the scissors and diving in. When things were full swing the 15 year old grabbed a pair of scissors and the 12 year old and I were sorting the coupons into these 10 major categories:

1. DRINK 2. REFRIG 3. MEAT 4. FROZEN 5. PANTRY 6. STATIONARY 7. UTILITY 8. PAPER 9. HBA 10. CLEANING

When the piles were getting high, I started creating sub-categories and labeling the clear photo pages and organizing a notebook. It took 4 people 5 hours to accomplish something that the twins could easily use to do their shopping with and I am proud to share our family teamwork story and our organizational system!

My sister, the coupon queen, regularly gets lots of free items when things we have coupons for go on sale and the grocery store doubles and sometimes triples the face-value of the coupon. Everybody does their part. Everybody benefits. The last time I shopped with the coupons I spent $24 for $80 worth of items! How cool is that?

This system is very user friendly for all ages. Our ages are: 58, 40, 12 & 15. Clearly, what a team can accomplish together can be far more than the sum of their parts.

My Lazy Jaguar Day

Today is one of those days that I don’t feel like working ‘til midnight and I just really want as little drama as possible since I am feeling lazy’ish. I do not feel up to visiting anyone and there are probably only three or four people on earth that I want to talk to right now. Something good to eat would be a treat if I could find the inspiration to go to the grocery store. I’ll have fish and chili beans; two of my favorites.

Even though I thoroughly enjoy my work, sometimes it’s it’s ‘just like that.’ Here’s the plan: (as a project manager, you know I ALWAYS have a plan! J) I will give in to the awesome desire that I have right now to take a nap. In the middle of the afternoon, when all I hear is the hum of the desk fan that works 24/7. Tomorrow is the 4th of July and things will be a good kind of C-R-Azy. This time is needed to juice my batteries and be ready for whatever.

Myself said that I should pluck my brows, do my nails or listen to music and perfect my ipod playlist(s), but none of that sparks a great interest. Oh, maybe I’ll go to the mailbox. It is only 40 feet from the front door and I haven’t done that in a few days; maybe there is some unexpected money in there or more likely unexpected requests to send money to some vendor or utility.

I am fighting sleep, so I am doing things (like writing you here) that do not require a lot of brain power and I can just muddle through. I've had vitamins, coffee and acai today so what't the problem? When I had days like these in corporate America, I would find myself cleaning my desk drawer or organizing files. There is something about putting things in order that is soothing, welcoming and friendly.

There are no five-alarm deliverables [until Monday J] – so now what? This is what I’m going to do. Turn on some music (because usually it is dead silent in here), mop the kitchen floor (because little energy and no brain cells are needed to accomplish this task), shut down my trusted computer by 7:00 PM and read in bed until I fall asleep.

Time management is essential to having a successful career and life. Prioritizing tasks is one of the essential ingredients to good time management. Yesterday at 3:45 PM when I got an incredible urge to mop the floor was not a good time to do it; especially since I had a 5:00 PM deadline. Now, however is a perfect time. I used a concept called Backward Goal Setting. My goal was to have my weekly deliverables and the kitchen floor cleaned by Saturday when the “Happy Birthday America” July 4th celebrations began. However, the order that things happened was important. Therefore, take the time to ask yourself if whatever you are spending your time on is the best time to be spending your time on that thing. Read more about backward goal setting: http://tr.im/qOsa

I am reminded of a story about life choices and how we choose to fill our days. Remembering this helps me do things in the proper order and as a result maintain my efficient, happy self!

On the first day of class, a university professor stood in front of his philosophy class with an empty jar.

Without saying a word to his students, he removed the lid of the jar and filled it with golf balls. When no more golf bars fit he closed the jar with its lid. He then asked his class, “Would you say that the jar is now full?” His students observed the jar and concluded that the jar was indeed full.

The professor then proceeded to open the jar up and started inserting marbles into the jar. The marbles started to fill the gaps between the golf balls. After sealing the jar, he asked his class once again if they thought the jar was now full. The class concluded that the jar was indeed now full.

The professor opened the jar a third time and started pouring in sand. Obviously, the sand started filling the gaps between the golf balls and the marbles. He then sealed the jar and asked his class a third time if the jar was full. His class chuckled and replied in unison, “Yes, it is now full!”

The professor opened the jar and emptied two small cups of coffee in the jar. The liquid had completely filled the gap between the golf balls, the marbles, and the grains of sand. He then began his lecture.

“I hope you realize that life is very much like this jar. The golf balls represent the important things in life, like God, family, loved ones, health, things that you care intimately about. If we lost everything else in life, our lives would still be ‘full’. The marbles are the other things in our lives that are important, but our happiness shouldn’t depend on them. Things like our work, our house, our car, etc. Finally, the sand represents everything else; the small stuff.

“If we were to have filled our jar up with sand first, there we wouldn’t have had enough room for the marbles or the golf balls. If we use all our life and energy on the small stuff, we won’t have any room for the important things.”

After a brief moment of silence one of the students asked, “Professor, what does the coffee represent?”

“Ah, I’m glad you asked,” replied the professor. “It means that no matter how full your life is, there is always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.” (Author unknown by me)

There you have it… even time for relaxation should be an essential part of your planning and goal setting. Since I have herein given myself permission to relax this evening, I will sign off and wish you well.

Here’s to balance, simple genius and getting it all DONE. Lorrinda

Purge Marketing Database: Pointy-Haired Boss Made Me Do It

Instructions for reading this blog:

1. Put your index finger on the lower left portion of jaw and rest your head
2. look towards the ceiling after you're done reading
3. think

My Reply to VMware

From: lorrinda [mailto:lsm@lorrinda.com] Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 1:45 PM To: 'The VMware Team' - vmwareteam@connect.vmware.com Cc: 'mmarks@vmware.com'; 'rjackson@vmware.com'; 'pmaritz@vmware.com' Subject: RE: Last Chance – Removal from VMware Marketing Database Dear VMware:

---

This is silly. Why would you purge an opted-in potential customer from your marketing database. What was the cost to get me as a subscriber? That money wasn’t well spent? Clearly you know I have not updated my profile and/or subscription preferences in the past 6 months. Why not continue to market to me with ‘baby-come-back’ campaigns or something. Maybe you just want me to think you will purge my name, but you really are not planning to do it… thereby creating a [false] sense of urgency so I will go ahead and do the update.

What would of worked for me here is something like this… We miss you… please visit _______ and update your profile so we can keep in touch. The presentation (colors, design, etc) of this message was excellent. The message was foo foo.Glad your first quarter profits are up! Sincerely, Lorrinda S. Michieka, MBA Move My Mountain, LLC http://www.movemymountain.com lsm@lorrinda.com

Original Message

<------- original message ---------> From: The VMware Team [mailto:vmwareteam@connect.vmware.com]

Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 10:03 AM To: lsm@lorrinda.com Subject: Last Chance – Removal from VMware Marketing Database General Service Announcement:

Thank you for your past interest in VMware. As part of our routine scheduled maintenance, we will be removing email addresses and associated subscription information from our marketing database for contacts who have not updated their profile and/or subscription preferences within the last 6 months. If you would like to remain on our mailing list and wish to receive updates on news, specific solutions, offers and much more, then please update your current profile. If you do not take any action by June 30th, we will permanently archive your record. We encourage you to visit the profile center and update your profile today. Best regards, The VMware Team PS – Visit the "Profile Center" today to avoid being removed from the VMware database!

Secrets to Getting Your E-commerce Customers to Come Back

My mom was helping me file stuff found in a stack of stuff at my home office. I ran across a coupon from Springfield Wire that came in my box of Danny DuzIt stainless steel sponges. This coupon continually made the cut when I was 'cleaning' my desk on previous occasions because I knew that Danny was the only pot scrubber that I ever wanted to use and I regularly give them as gifts. These things are amazing. I was first introduced to them in 1996 when somebody was selling them as a fundraiser. I've been hooked every since. They do not rust or tear like the store brands and can last up to a year it seems. No, I don't cook a lot, but when I do, there is sure to be a mess that Danny can fix. I have learned not to leave the kitchen the entire time something (anything) is cooking so I could stop burning stuff to the point that I could not eat it. That little coupon (and re-order slip) inside the box told me that Springfield valued me as a customer and my repeat business would be appreciated. There was a handy re-order form included too. Therefore, I am still giving 'their' product as gifts and blogging about it! Be sure to include a little something extra when you ship to your customers. When you ship an order to a customer, what do you include in the box? If your answer is: “The product and a packing slip,” you’re missing out on a big opportunity to keep customers coming back, says consultant John Park on … Secrets to Getting Your E-commerce Customers to Come Back

HBCUs should PLAN --> DO --> CHECK --> ACT

When it suits me, I consider myself a HBCU insider since I worked at one for several years and I took some classes while there. Shaw University in Raleigh, NC is in financial trouble. Many other schools are in trouble too, not just HBCUs, but this hits close to home for me.

From where I sat the amount of planning that was allowed to happen could have increased dramatically. I worked in the Business and Finance office for a while before ultimately becoming the Director of Administrative Computing and it seemed we stayed in emergency mode more than anything else. Stephen Covey’s “First Things First” analogy with the jar, the marbles and the golf balls was hauntingly true for us it seemed. Since administering a college is as cyclical as the college academic year itself, when things did show down we ‘shut down’ from sheer exhaustion. It is humanly impossible to be effective AND work at that pace long-term.

We are all familiar with the Academic Calendar. My unique contribution was the Administrative Calendar. I knew (and published) what had to be done in January to have the student information & financials system (Datatel) ready for incoming freshman. My sole daily work was that preparation. If I hit a showstopper in that prep, it was easy to shift gears and help others with their goals since I knew that system inside out and by default was cross-trained on every position in order to successfully migrate the system to a new major release. Cross-training employees is critical.

This morning, the Interim President of Shaw University, Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy said that she has an Abraham Lincoln-like management style; managing by moving about (MBMA). I really hope her enthusiasm is contagious, but more than that, I hope that her MBMA turns up documented cases and scenarios that bring about real change instead of an elaborate silent alarm system when she’s on the prowl. Dr. Yancy is making a great personal sacrifice to delay her retirement to fill this role for Shaw U so I believe her when she says, “Shaw has been around too long to fail. I believe in higher education, but I am totally committed to black higher education. I believe in HBCUs. I believe they should exist. And I believe that if they were not here, they would have to create us this morning.”

Raising $145 million during two capital campaigns while president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC is truly admirable, but did she teach them to fish? I hope so. Is the $39 million increase in their endowment still growing?... or have they ‘shut down’ from sheer exhaustion ? How did she do it? I, like a lot of other people, am hoping she does it again at Shaw. This is what I recommend happens at Shaw:

1. Take a hard look at every department, process and practice and decide how it feeds into the bottom line.
1. The ‘look’ should be extremely detailed and written.
2. Decide ‘What we do and why.’
3. Put everything in one of two buckets; (1) must-have and, (2) Nice-to-have.
4. Immediately halt spending for each “nice-to-have”
5. Analyze each must have and document processes and prioritize them.
1. Re-write and/or create job descriptions based on must haves.
2. Match employee skills to must-have positions.
3. Empower employees to own and do their jobs with built-in accountability.
2. Create measurable, repeatable processes and workflows that directly relate to university goals.
1. Each department/office should have weekly, monthly and annual goals that are transparent, monitored and measured.
3. Improve internal communications and reporting using technology & standards.
1. Leaders should be able to monitor, communicate and tweak departmental goals and progress.
2. Tweaking should be managed, documented and justified.
3. There should be a systematic way for customers (students) and employees to complain and/or give praise.
4. Faculty & Staff should know exactly how their role(s) contribute to revenue streams. They should absolutely be able to see and focus on the big picture through the daily grind.
1. Tie bonuses to performance.
2. Create incentives to motivate employees.
5. Take inventory of supplies, procurement practices and equipment.
1. Cut waste… who is using all the paper, ink, toner, pencils?
2. Are we paying too much for goods and services?
6. Account for and justify each incoming/outgoing dollar.

THEN… check all you’ve done, tweak, repeat.

Welcome Madame President. Good luck Shaw! I believe in you too.

Sincerely,

LORRINDA STEWART MICHIEKA, MBA Business Analyst Process Rengineerist (made that one up… [smile]) Total Quality Manager Lifelong Student Creative Effectiveness Guru http://www.movemymountain.com/ http://www.lorrinda.com/

Links: http://www.shawuniversity.edu/press_releases/Dr_Yancyl.htm http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5260644/ http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1552170.html

Deserving Ring Patent

This is the most innovative, beautiful and clever ring that I have ever seen in my life. Ya’ll know “I love me to clever” and as a creative, I revel in practical, simplistic and genius design. With all that said, I’m not big on jewelry… PROOF = I’ve worn the same diamond hoop earrings every day for the last 7 years… (Nuff said?? – told ya J) …BUT THIS I had to share.

No! I wasn’t ring shopping. I stumbled upon their elegant logo and went on a tiny research expedition to uncover the product and company behind the seemingly distinguished brand. I was right! World class. This page is in Dutch, but I finally saw the English version… duh!

The logo unicorn absolutely says “fantasy” and “extraordinary,” while the colors say, “modest but swanky; reserved yet regal.” Agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts…

A company brand-- (how you feel about the company), should do just what this one did for me... The brand should create an emotional connection to your company, product or service. Everything your company does and everything that has your company name on it: (logo, brochures, business cards, website, etc) builds your brand. I get really excited when companies get it right and I am in the business of helping companies do just that. (Visit the mountain.) http://www.gebrueder-schaffrath.de/kollektion/liberte/ Light & Motion Diamond Ring - Arcana - Liberte Collection - Gebruder Schaffrath -- "Gracefully, the diamond glides freely in its setting, held by an arch of polished platinum. The light hits it from every angle and ignites its brilliant fire. With every movement, the stone and its wearer unveil a new, shimmering side of her personality." I hope your Memorial Day Holiday is grand! Warmest Regards, Lorrinda

Dear John Scrum:

J and I got went on a two hour brainGasm yesterday. Some real earth friendly stuff came out of it, but I must admit brainGasming with someone else was a unique experience. I ended up writing things down, following up with emails, getting all warm and fuzzy and having a blast. Actually I felt like taking a nap afterwards because the experience was terribly draining.

I dug out another poem... apparently this one was written while I was still working at NCFB because it is on one of their inter-office routing slips. I would love to tell you that I did not waste a company memo on a stinky poem and that the memo was used and I was writing on the back, but that would be an untruth. Since untruths usually come back to haunt me in a very rude way, I will simply say that the memo was not used for its intended purpose. Nuff said.

That idea of 'intended purpose' flows nicely into the subject matter of the poem. It is about understanding. Though I really cannot remember what the exact situation was that prompted this writing, I do know that it must of been a pretty heavy situation in order for me to gasm in the middle of a work day. I wonder if I wrote a "Dear John" letter after writing on the memo? The letter may have looked something like this...

...if the break-up letter was as cryptic as this poem is. I created this art as a student at the School of Communication Arts in Raleigh. It didn't make it on the hallowed walls at the school, but I proudly display it on lorrinda.com.

IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTOOD, you would know that there is no need to repeat the fact that you've already said, "I'm sorry." IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTOOD, you would know that I wasn't making accusations or innuendos, but simply reaching out to be UNDERSTOOD. I'm sorry you don't UNDERSTAND. I do.

Understanding is a funny thing. Just when you think you've got it, clarity show up and blow your theories out of the water. I read an interesting quote today that said, "Inspect what you expect -- If you've got some expectations, give clear instructions and get involved to make sure your expectations are met." I took that as very good advice since 20/20 hindsite vision says usually reveals that a misunderstanding could have been avoided if the proper information was shared with the proper people.

You know how there's always at least one person at the office who everybody things is a slacker. We talk about them at lunch and peep in their cubicles when their on vacation to try to figure out, "what the heck does he do all day?" Well, maybe all offices should do a daily scrum meeting for about a week and see where the chips really fall. Scrum is an iterative, incremental process for developing a product or managing any work. One of it's hallmarks is the daily scrum meeting (we called it a 'stand up' meeting back in the day). At the daily scrum there are no chairs and the meeting lasts about 15 minutes. Three questions are asked...

1. What did you do yesterday?
2. What are you going to do today?
3. What obstacles are in your way?

If 'slacker' even participated in the daily scrum, that would mean that he wasn't slacking outside on his cell phone or perched in the entryway of some hard working person's cubical with a full cup of fresh brewed coffee. Several things could be reveald in this little scrum venture... Perhaps it would be clear to the chiefs and the indians that slacker is really a slacker. Now what? Perhaps it will come out that slacker is an undercover top management agent sent to report who the slackers really are... perhaps we will finally know that slacker is just MISUNDERSTOOD.

Appreciate the Mail Clerk: Project Rework

I have a drawer full of poems that are gathering dust so I thought I would make blog posts of them. This poem was to the ladies in mail-out, who kept the data entry clerks in line back in 1992 when I worked in the Automobile Data Entry Department at the North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Company. Around the time this poem was written, the air was buzzing with talk of the 'new system' that would automate things. I had the pleasure of writing some workflows and helping some field offices get organized for the BIG SWITCH. Those trips were exciting and relaxing since there was one guy who insisted on doing all the driving. I landed the NCFB job after being a temporary worker for about 6 months. A job opened on the board and I applied, was hired and stayed there 8 years. I worked as a grocery clerk before that and came home one day and told my husband that I hated my job and wanted to quit, buy a typewriter, be a housewife, learn to type and get a job that I didn't have to stand all day. The typewriter was pink and white and I bought it from the girl who relieved me for my two 10 minute breaks and 30 minute lunches on 9 hour shifts. My man sure ate good those days and the house was spotless as I tried to 'earn' my keep. His job every night when he came home at 6:30 PM from dump truck driving was to time me and see if I had reached the 45-50 accurate, wpm's that the temp agency required to give you an assignment. In about a month, I was fast enough to get a temporary data entry job sitting pretty. I am so grateful to him for allowing me to do that. Perhaps that is why we're still friends after being high school sweethearts and being divorced for 15 years. I talked to him yesterday and he still calls me 'sugar babe.'After passing the INS-21, INS-22 and INS-23 exams to earn my General Certificate in Insurance, I realized that money was not a good enough motivation for me and I needed to move on to a line of work that I felt passionate about. I landed at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina as the Administrative Assistant to the VP of Finance after being rejected by the President of the College to be his housekeeper. That's a long story... :-) I'll be sure to put it in my autobiography! [SMILE] Being one to easily feel the pain of others, I must have really needed to say I'm sorry for being extremely fat-fingered that week or something. In our bins each day would be new work and work that was returned for corrections. Maybe that is one reason that when I have a project to manage, rework is one of my biggest irritants. I am a firm believer of planning the plan, working the plan, measuring against the plan and revising the plan as needed throughout the project's life cycle(s). How can you possibly start work until we define what DONE is? It's like planning a trip with no destination.

Even though rework can be a sore subject for me, all good project plans include rework contingencies. Sometimes, rework happens not because you did the original work wrong, but when the client gets what they asked for, they realized what they should have asked for.

In those cases, the thought of doing work again does not bother me so much because I know in the end, the client will be satisfied and that's the whole point anyway right?

Well, here's the poem... Thank you ladies for being "A" team players by helping make sure that the green and white, NCFB auto policy declarations were as accurate as humanly possible!

In the process of keeping us in line,
You look at change 'one' and what did you find...
An L/P spelled F-R-D and a bill that should be PPP3.
Looked a little further just to see,
A car classed as 1A and not 1B.
With a pop of the lip and a whip of the pen,
You returned the file to correct the VIN.
When all is come back, assuming correct...
Nobody deleted the 84 Chevette!
And lo and behold at no big surprise,
Somebody spelled Hyundai without the "I"
Oh well, you say, here we go again,
The work of a mail-out clerk never ends!

--LSM
9/29/92

Alan's Words

WORDS... Flowing like great rivers of water; expressive; vivid; revealing the inevitable hiddenness of human nature. WORDS... Ones not spoken by all, but understood by those who care to open theirminds; A precious gift. WORDS... Announcing truths with uninhibited force and the gentle voice of reason; relating; Bridging the gaps. YOUR WORDS... Move me, just as they will many more like me; Making paths for fresh viewings of the phenomenon of this world and allowing brilliant insight to become not so unusual; poetically whispering while chipping away the rock of ignorance. YOU... a breed deemed rare and almost sacred; Judged vital to society by prudent minds; assuredly marked for success; predestined to clarity the profound; to change the world. WE... as a people cannot afford your genius silenced. Speak it; write it; merge your potential with a sacrificial longing for compassion to abound. "How?" you say... by the GRACE OF GOD, of course. NEED... to be heard and people will listen; never lacking an audience. I, for one, believe in you and grant you my promise of heart felt honesty and encouragement: UNCONDITIONALLY. FIND YOURSELF... within yourself; knowing who you are by knowing who you are not. Who you are when you're not alone is your personality. Who you are when you are alone is your character. Know that your direction is guided and that the way is already made. To my true friend Alan Johnson ~1993 May you continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord. -LSM

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