Welcome to the blog of Jason Christensen - "Life as a Remote User."

This blog is intended as a guide to your business and professional development in the virtual workforce. My goal is to help you be the proprietor within your industry, a purveyor of new ways and a pioneer blazing the trail for growth. This blog will introduce you to fresh thought processes, help guide your vision as you forge forward in your career, allow you to streamline your professional life becoming a more valuable employee and assist you as develop into a mentor for forthcoming generations.

Are you thankful for your colleagues? Are they thankful for you?

(Photo: TheTruthAbout…)

It’s not difficult to allow the stress of your workday put you in a “fowl” mood. We often get wrapped up in the timelines, projects, heavy work load, snippy remarks and lack of appreciation presented during our day. More and more, it piles up like mashed potatoes on Uncle Ted’s Thanksgiving plate. According to a recent Gallup poll, 65% of people say they don’t feel appreciated at work. The lack of appreciation takes its toll and leads to:

• Low morale
• Pervasive negativity
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Lack of teamwork
• Decreased productivity
• Increased turnover

“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” – Author Unknown

It is time to scrape that plate clean and think of all the wonderful things you should be thankful for. Take a minute and clear your mind of all the minutia, take a deep breathe and focus in on the positives. Think of all the little things in the work place that make you happy. The blessings are right there in front of you, you just need to take the time to see them. Be thankful for the:

• Customer service person who helped you without question and thanked you for calling.
• Person who helped find information needed to complete a presentation you were working on.
• IT team who keep your computers and systems up and running 99.9% percent of the time.
• Finance person who provides your pricing, terms and agreements without complaint.
• Colleague who can make it happen time and again.
• Cheerful person you can count on for a positive comment or a good laugh.
• Bowl of candy on your assistant’s desk.
• Manager who believes in you enough to keep challenging you day after day.

Be thankful for all the wonderful things your workplace has to offer.

MKS&H informally polled a group of their professional colleagues on “Thanksgiving in the Workplace.” Below are some of the small blessings they shared: I’m thankful for the quick response and smile I get whenever I ask for help. I can always rely on my team for backup if they have experience with something I don’t. We rely on each other. They’re always there for me. My manager always has time for me when I have questions – even repeat questions! Our company trusts us to do the right thing – that means a lot to me. I’m thankful for the dedication of our employees – I see it over and over again. You can’t teach that. It’s part of who they are. I’m thankful that my work is treated as an important contribution. I can see that my work is important to others. I’m thankful our organization understands the importance of technology and is committed to providing employees with the right tools. I’m thankful for the supportive relationships of my coworkers. They believe in me and my capabilities. I appreciate the support and assistance I have received since joining our company. I feel welcome here. I’m very grateful for our professional administrative staff. They have a positive, can-do attitude and are creative problems solvers! I’m thankful for my coworkers who delight in spreading good news – rather than dwelling on the negative. I’m thankful for colleagues who return my calls promptly, as if I were their most important customer. I’m thankful for a group of coworkers who may choose to disagree strongly on certain issues, but have the ability to put differences aside and remain teammates at the end of the day. The people who share our workplace make up the corporate culture and work environment we all experience on a daily basis. Each one of them contributes to the whole. Some in public ways. Some in quiet ways. The small blessings they provide are all around us. We need only take the time to look – and listen. © 2005 Tandem Partners. Permission to use, copy and distribute this document and related graphics is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appears in all copies and both the copyright notice and permission notice appear. All other rights reserved.

What are you thankful for in your workplace?

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” – William Blake

Now ask yourself, “Are your colleagues thankful for you?” If so, what is it about you they are thankful for? If not, is it time to make some subtle changes in you character and turn this “turkey” around? Why not! You can start by appreciating people for the little things, or big things for that matter, they contribute to the workplace. As you begin to display appreciation toward others, you will find your gratitude is contagious. It is the little things you can do to make a difference like:

• Being respectful of others
• Using manners, as simple as saying “please” and “thank you”
• Taking the high road, avoiding conflict with colleagues
• Showing a genuine interest in people
• Keeping an open line of communication
• Helping people to realize what they do is important
• Recognizing someone for a job well done

You will soon see, by applying  a few simple constructive character traits you will get further with people, you will have more respect from others and you will be sought after for the burst of positive energy you infuse into an otherwise thankless world. Take the negatives you encounter each day, turn them into positives and apply them to your own character.

“Be thankful for hard times in your life. Try not to look at them as bad things, but as opportunities to grow and learn” – artsy_T

What are some adjustments you have made or seen other people make in their character?

You are so fortunate, you have much to be appreciative of, put your mind to it and BE THANKFUL!

For a little boost of gratitude check out what other people are thankful for at: Gratitude Stream

You won’t get help from me!

(Photo: Sarah’s Blog)

One of your employees comes to you with an urgent problem and you know exactly what to do. It would take you only moments to make everything right in his world again, but should you? By giving him the answer are you really helping him or are you inhibiting his learning process?

People tend to comprehend and understand resolutions to situations and problems when they are forced to work through the details and potential solutions, their learning capacity is greater when they use critical thinking skills to manage their way through a problem.

“Always make new mistakes.” – Esther Dyson

 

Let Them Make Mistakes

Let’s face it; no one likes to make mistakes. A mistake can be an embarrassing blow to an ego, but what would a person learn if they were always just handed the answer? Probably not a lot. Mistakes allow a person to grow and be enlightened to a situation. Mistakes help people to move forward in life by embracing the mistake and learning a valuable lesson. Think back to one of your mistakes in life. If someone had just handed you the answer would you have learned as much from the situation?

“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” –Socrates

 

What We Can Learn from Socrates?

Socrates gained fame for frequently engaging others in conversations attempting to define broad ideas. During his conversations, Socrates placed himself in the position of student, forcing his respondents to act in the role of teacher.  By taking the subordinate role you can guide others toward a better understanding of established topic. Let them teach you about the situation they are having difficulty with; by teaching you, they can in-turn increase their understanding and bring about a resolution.

 

Interrogation

No need for the handcuffs or interrogation room, but much can be learned through a line of pointed questions. Start from the beginning and walk them through the problem they are struggling with step-by-step. Only ask questions and don’t contribute to the resolution. As your employee answers each question they will revisit the steps which brought them to the situation they currently face. As you facilitate this process continue to ask questions which will lead them to that “ah-ha” moment. In the end they will have resolved the situation on their own by working through each step.

 

So What? And then what?

If you could only ask the employee these two seemingly confrontational questions; could you help them resolve their problem? The answer might surprise you. The point of this line of questioning is to get to the source by digging in deeper to the source of the problem thereby leading to the solution. In the end as you continue to ask, “So what?” or “And then what?” they will have determined the source of the problem they are facing and how they can benefit from it or make a change for the better.

Some of my career’s most valuable lessons have been learned by working through things on my own and being allowed to make mistakes. Inspire your team to work through situations permitting them to succeed on their own. Once they have worked through the situation, allow them help others get through similar situations, which in the end will also help them to understand the means to a positive learning process.

 

What other ways can you inspire your team to learn?

What do you want from me?

(Photo: Center for Nonverbal Studies)

Living up to other peoples expectations can be difficult, especially as a remote employee your expectations can be even more elusive. So how do you get through it? How do you determine if you are doing everything anticipated of you and delivering what is expected of you?

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Ask Questions

If you want to deliver on expectations, you need to know what those expectations are. Be up front and revisit expectations regularly to determine if you are on track. Discover not only what your manager expects of you, but what is expected from you by others.

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Set Milestones

Setting milestones will keep you on track to achieve your goals. As you progress through your scheduled milestones communicate them, it allows others to get the sense of what you are actually accomplishing even though they cannot see you working first hand.

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Clear Communications

No one can see and appreciate the massive effort you are putting in so it is urgent to produce results and share your output with the team. Remember when you work remotely, no one is there to see your accomplishments first hand; the only way they will ever find out, is if you are delivering on your expectations and sharing your progress. They only know what you tell them and show them so don’t be humble, it’s not boasting, it’s communicating your progress.

Demonstrate Commitment

As with any great team loyalty and commitment  are critical. Be sure to demonstrate the attributes of a good team member:

• On virtual team everyone works together and depends on one another so be sure to provide your team members what they need on time.
• If there is an announcement or break through everyone could benefit from be sure the group is notified.
• Share success stories with your team; if something worked well for you and improved a process it is likely something similar will work for others on your team and before you know it, your point of interest has become a best practice for the entire group.
• For the most part people enjoy helping others to succeed, it makes you feel good inside when you help others in need. If someone helped you accomplish a task you could have not otherwise done your self or was just assisting you in meeting a timeline; tell the group, people appreciate the recognition and are grateful you recognize their efforts.

Sure it takes a little extra effort to keep everyone in the loop and to ensure you are living up to expectations, but in the end you will have achieved greater success through clarity and communications.

What are some best practices you have in place on your virtual team?

“That’s Impossible!”

(Photo: Richard.Asia)

You can’t get what you want and still make everyone happy. . . can you? Yes, it is possible! I have always been a person to find a way to get things done, a method of accomplishing the goals I wish to achieve. Maybe it started in childhood when my mother said, “no,” so I went to my father asking the same question. I can’t tell you how many times I heard the line, “What did your mother say?” Lesson learned; if it doesn’t work the first time–take a different approach. Preparation

“Start out with an ideal and end up with a deal.” – Karl Albrecht

• First you have to know exactly what you want, define it and determine acceptable variations–this will keep you focused and on track.
• Prepare carefully and research all aspects of the deal. This will ensure you are fully prepared for any counters you may incur.
• Negotiation is nothing personal so don’t make it a personal attack on the other party. And don’t take the other party’s actions as a personal attack upon yourself.
• Look at the situation from the perspective of the other party and show compassion toward their situation.

Discussions

“If you can’t go around it, over it, or through it, you had better negotiate with it.” – Ashleigh Brilliant

• Listen to the needs of the other party.
• Be persistent.
• Don’t expect to “win” the first time. Your first job is just to start the other person thinking.
• Work through the terms, discussing multiple resolutions.

Can you accomplish your objectives without compromising your values? Yes! Give a little to allow the other party to feel as if they gained some ground. Admit, when appropriate, the validity of the other party’s arguments. Avoid ultimatums and other forms of non-negotiable demands. You must be fully prepared to lose a great deal in order to make a great deal.

Resolution

“The first principle of contract negotiation is don’t remind them of what you did in the past; tell them what you’re going to do in the future.” – Stan Musial

• Work together with the other party for a common resolution.
• Don’t be selfish; try to base a solution incorporating the needs of the other party.
• Negotiation is always best if both parties are happy and you can develop a win-win outcome.
• Put your bargain in terms of his or her needs, advantages, and benefits.
• Define and set a timeline for the transaction to take place.

Negotiation can bear a negative association so be sure to take the time to fully understand the situation, be a good listener, work to develop win-win resolution and never compromise your values. So dream the impossible dream, achieve your goals and gain a new confidence in life to go out and take the world by storm!

I’m gonna count to NOW!

(Photo: jbelluch)

Has there ever been a time where you should count to 10 and relax for a bit? Well, I’m gonna count to NOW!

Are there ever times in your life when you should take a moment, count to ten and relax? Instead, you find yourself so infuriated you can only count to NOW! Let’s face it sometimes all we need is a little lesson in patience. Perhaps we should take a couple minutes right now to explore patience, before you blow your top.

“Serenity now!” -Frank Costanza (Seinfeld)

What is Patience?
Patience is the act of remaining calm and collected during times of stress, challenges or difficult circumstances.

Determining the Cause
What caused this turmoil, why are you so upset? Take some time to reflect and become conscious of the reasons you are so irritated.

• Generate an awareness of what brought you to this level of impatience.
• Are there any triggers prompting your irritation?
• Be conscious of reoccurring patterns causing your patience to be tested.

Counteracting Your Impatience
When you feel the tension of intolerance building here are some things you can do:

• Determine what got you to this point.
• Visualize what the appropriate action should be instead of loosing your patience.
• Exercise or perform a physical activity to exert energy and release the tension.
• Take slow deep breaths.
• Listen to some relaxing music to calm yourself.
• View calming photos which bring you fortitude (i.e. sunset, water, landscapes, etc.)
• Do nothing; take a moment clear your mind, relax and meditate.
• Remove yourself from the emotion of the moment; if possible take an hour and come back calm and relaxed.
• Enjoy the moment and smile clandestinely knowing you will get through this.

Stop Your Frustration BEFORE it Happens
What preemptive measures can you take to dissipate the emotion and ensure they don’t reoccur moving forward?

“Good things come to those who wait.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Slow down there is no need for immediate gratification, in fact most successes are achieved over time.
• If the situation is beyond your control; then why worry about it? There is no sense getting worked up about conditions you cannot influence, just take proper steps to prepare for the results.
• Expect the unexpected; quite frequently events will not go as anticipated the first time around.
• It is appropriate to have high ambitions, but stop holding yourself and the world around you to unreachable standards.
• Get organized everything runs smoother when you are prepared.

What to do in the Future
Take it each day as it comes with a vision for the future. To succeed you need to prepare a well thought out plan with a clear vision.

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” – Marcus Aurelius

• Research and exude positive convictions sharing your optimism with others. Doing so will generate confidence among the group.
• Remember what is important to you by having clearly defined objectives.
• Convey gratitude for the gifts you have in your life and career; be it your family, friends, employment, customers, etc.
• Act in a mature manner. Outrage is not the way to impress others.
• Understand and accept; what is the worst thing that could happen? Most times if you center in on the worst case scenario, it is not as bad as you first made it out to be.

Patience is an important factor to a well-balanced and harmonious life. As you progress through your life and excel in your career there will be times of great stress. Take the time to be patient and make calm rational decisions rather than quick disorganized reactions.

What are some tips you have for patience?

Facebook as a Workplace Tool?

(Photo: Robert S. Donovan)

Can Facebook really be used as a serious workplace tool? The answer may surprise you…
With so many virtual teams scattered and far flung around the globe we need to find a way to cultivate the team bonding experience achieved in an office. In today’s mobile workforce the sense of presence is limited which in turn decreases the opportunity for team bonding, communication and trust. Sure we all have email, phones and other means of communication; but what opportunity do we have to really get to know each other? What can be done to stifle the disconnect and bring people closer together? The answer is…Facebook.

Why Facebook?
What’s lacking in the virtual workforce is the personal bonding which typically occurs when colleagues work side-by-side day after day. Relationships develop; people learn about one another, hear about family life and gain perspective of each others personal interests. A bond is a close personal relationship that forms between people working toward shared goals using collaborative efforts. So how do you duplicate this in a virtual team environment?

How Do I Get Started?
Start by creating a Facebook group for your team. If you company is large make sure you pare it down to only include the members of your team directly. Be sure to incorporate your team identity and include basic information to the group such as:

• Links to company site and other team sites.
• Newsletter.
• Upcoming events including: Webinars, conferences and other programs where someone from your team will be present.
• Update your group or fan page on a regular basis with helpful information.
• Answer FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions).

What Should Each Team Member Post?
Now you have your group set up and you are ready for your team to join the group and start posting. If any of your team members are new to Facebook here are some guidelines to assist them in determining the content they should share:

Individual bio’s

Background

Education

Work history

Areas of expertise

Certifications

Training

Work Goals

Family happenings

Personal Interests

Pictures

Personal Goals

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At first they may be apprehensive about contributing personal information to the group, let’s face it many people are a little uneasy about tipping their cards. Make clear to them you would not expect them to share any information they would not otherwise discuss if they were in an office setting. Explain to them you are working to create a more personal, humanizing dimension to people who are otherwise perceived as distant and unconnected. It is also significant to note to your virtual team there are many security settings on Facebook allowing them to pare down the information they choose to share with the group.

What Should Each Team Member Avoid?
How do you know what is appropriate? Of course it is imperative for people to know the boundaries of acceptable material. Set specific guidelines and add to them as needed, to start…

• All information should be non-proprietary.
• Be respectful of the company, brand, and reputation.
• Avoid rumors and gossip.
• Steer clear of stories or photos which may seem provocative or make others in the group uncomfortable.
• Set guidelines for the amount of time spent online.

Why Incorporate Facebook at All?

“We think it could be valuable when used in an appropriate way.” – Haydn Long, spokesperson for Flight Centre

Employers are embracing Facebook and believe it can help build a sense of community amongst employees and help foster bonds with clients. A spokesperson for Facebook stated, “Facebook is an incredibly efficient way for people with real-world connections to share information and communicate, including among people who work together.” Among other things Facebook is a good way to…

• Increase trust: Colleagues get to know one another, then like each other and when they like each other they trust each other.
• Immerse a new employee into the group by getting to know the interests of their counterparts.
• Have long term employees gain further insight to their colleagues.
• Allow for a connection and create a sense of presence you would otherwise find in an office environment.
• Stay up-to-date as people’s interests change.

Let’s face it remote employees are spread far and wide across the globe today and if you are looking to bolster loyalty to the company and generate a team atmosphere it is crucial you embrace the technologies available to your workforce. Rather than forbidding these tools as many employers do find ways to utilize them as functional workplace mechanisms.

Can Facebook really be used as a serious workplace tool; what are your thoughts?

BusinessWeek’s Featured User: February 24th, 2010

Jason was BusinessWeek’s Featured User on February 24th, 2010. There was a mention in the upper right corner on the site and it was also tweeted on their Twitter profile.

Evolution of the Banana: How to simplify your life.

(Photo: Jason Gulledge)

Did you ever notice how great the banana is? How it fits so nicely into your hand; how just by looking at it you can tell if it is ready to eat? Did you ever realize it has a built in pull tab for easy opening, the peel separates and falls back so gracefully and it’s even curved toward your face for easy consumption? Yes, it doesn’t get much better than the simple yellow banana.

For all the effectiveness the banana has to offer in its tight yellow package there is not much about it you can offer as a complaint; in fact the packaging is even biodegradable. So my question to you is how can you make your life simpler? What can you do to make everything you in your life as effective as the banana has? The answer is easy; it is execution that’s the hard part.

Going on an Information Diet:

“You don’t need to know everything; you just need to know where to go to get it.”

• Watch a little less television.
• Skip the morning paper occasionally.
• Cut down on some of your internet time.

Think about it; do you really remember everything you read, watched or listened to at the end of the day? And of the things you do remember how important are they to your life? Does it really affect your life when a celebrity cheats on his wife? Unless you are his agent or he is endorsing your product, I’m guessing not. So why spend time cluttering your mind with information that is going to be yesterday’s news – tomorrow?

Instead spend some time with your family and friends or take some time for yourself to relax.

Apply the 80/20 rule:
Pareto’s Law says 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. This or similar ratios apply to most things in life.

• 80% of your life’s complication is caused by 20% of….
• 70% of your stress is created by 30% of….
• 90% of your happiness comes from 10% of….

Think about what you can eliminate to remove the complicated stressful parts of your life and apply the extra time toward those things which make you happy and add simplicity to your existence.

Be in Control:

“You can’t control everything that happens in the world but you can control your response to it.”

Be in control of yourself. If someone is trying to argue with you; the only person who can allow you to get upset about what they are saying, is you! If you are feeling stress about an upcoming event, this may happen or that might go wrong; guess what? Those things are out of your control! What are you accomplishing by worrying about them? Have a contingency plan and move on.

All too often we get worked-up about things in life we have no control over, take time to assess the situation, determine if there is anything you can do to affect the outcome and if the answer is no, then let it go. Take control of your life and put your efforts toward the things you can contribute to and make your life simpler.

Once you start to let it all go, you will feel the stress dissipating and your mind focusing on what is truly important Let your own built-in effectiveness take over; the banana did it, why can’t you?

What are you going to do right now, to make your life simpler?

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Secret Agent Tools for Escaping the Office.

(Photo: alienx)

Hello Reader. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to escape the 9 – 5 and join forces with the new secret society — the Virtual Workforce. You will infiltrate their clan and pose as an everyday office employee, be it from a remote location. This band of remote employees may not be what you expect so beware of their astounding productivity, their resounding flexibility and their cost effective strategies. If you plan to carry on with this elite crowd you are going to need some special gear for your secret venue. Below we have listed virtually every tool you need to work from your new remote position.

Spy Kit:

1. Secure Location (aka Dedicated Office Space)
To secure your location take up position in a discreet location of your dwelling. In order to succeed at this mission you will need a private site to be clear from the interruption and distraction.

2. Land Based Communication Device (aka Telephone)
Even with modern technology being what it is, we prefer you still use the land line. It allows for distortion free conversation and if this underground agency is like ours the conference calls can sometimes be endless. Just be sure to scan it for wire taps before use.

3. Mobile Communications Device (aka Blackberry, iPhone or Smartphone)
Leave your Swiss Army Knife behind, you won’t need it. This device will allow you to go mobile when you are on the run and you will never miss a directive with all this data at your finger tips:

• Email
• Calendar
• Task List
• Notes
• Mobile Documents
• Voice Notes
• Text Messages
• Instant Message
• Internet
• Bluetooth
• File Transfer
• Package Tracking
• Clock

• Calculator
• Call Forwarding
• Online Voicemail
• Maps with GPS
• Camera
• Pictures
• Videos
• Music
• News / Sports / Weather
• Flights & Travel
• Social Networking
• Audio Books
• Games

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4. Centralized Message Routing System (aka Online Voicemail)
All unanswered calls to your mobile communication device will be routed through your centralized message routing system, which you can customize for your needs.

The capabilities include:

• Having the call sent right into your electronic messaging for you to review on your portable data exchange unit.
• Decoding the message and having it sent to you via text on your mobile communication device.
• Redirecting the call to a secure location.

5. Global Information Network (aka Internet)
Although you may be able to hack into rouge systems from nearby dwellings, we recommend you secure a high-speed connection in your own residence. It will allow you reliable communications through secure channels.

6. Portable Data Unit (aka Laptop)
This apparatus will likely be your primary communication device. Dependant on your role and responsibility in this subversive operation you will likely need a portable unit. Should you get involved in higher level plot design or similar specialty you may require a more serious set up. Many of the other tools we provide you will depend upon and be channeled through this unit. Treat this device well and protect it with your life.

7. Secure Connection (aka VPN – Virtual Private Network)
Essentially this is a secure link allowing authorized users to connect with our remote server inside the agency.

8. Computer Hacking Gadget (aka Remote Access)
If at anytime you should need to access your data based within our agency we have created a method for you to connect directly to your computer here at the agency from any browser globally. This will gain you entry to use the software licensed on your computer and any other files, programs or networks stored internally.

9. Multipurpose Document Scanning, Duplication & Creation (aka All-in-one Printer/Scanner/Copier)
With this device you will have no trouble replicating enemy maps, grids and target objectives. There is no longer a need to use your back-alley forging contact; you will be able to develop your own false identity and plenty of counterfeit currency to get you by with this unit.

10. Back-up Utility (aka External Hard Drive)
To completely secure the intelligence being collected, you will need back it up at regular intervals ensuring its protection.

11. Electronic Messaging (aka Email)
In order to avoid a paper trail you will need to dialog with the agency through electronic text sent using your portable data unit.

12. Document Transfer Mechanism (aka Electronic Fax Services)
Periodically we will need to forward you discreet documents; again we prefer to avoid a paper trail so we will be distributing them electronically. Check you electronic messaging periodically for these documents. Should you have an important piece of intelligence to convey to us; you can scan the document using your multipurpose equipment and send it via electronic messaging. The message will print out directly on our end.

13. Real-time Text Transfer (aka Instant Messaging)
In order to maintain the utmost discretion we will sometimes need to communicate via real-time text through your portable data unit.

14. Spy Cam (aka Webcam)
Although you are undercover, there will still be need for face-to-face communication. Rather than risking exposure to your identity we would prefer to keep you on assignment communicating through a spy cam device. This piece of equipment will project your image onto our screens as well as your being able to view our images on your portable data unit.

15. Remote Case Briefing Program (aka Online Meeting Tool & Web Conferencing)
Occasionally we will need to review our mission strategies, this program will allow you to run and receive video communications using the global information network via your portable data unit. Using this program we will easily be able to share particular documents, video and training procedures with you allowing you to maintain your location.

16. Inter-connected Environment (aka Shared Workspace of File Management)
This environment is a key instrument providing means for team of agents to have a single source from which to pull data to pull. All confidential documents and initiatives will be located here for your use anytime day or night.

17. Mission Critical Mechanism (aka Project Collaboration Tool)
With multiple agents spread across various geographies this will be our base camp where all field agents can gather to provide briefings on the status of their mission objectives. This centralized location will allow each agent to share files, assign tasks, set objectives, provide feedback and manage assignments.

18. Target Distribution System (aka File Sharing Program)
As an element of you cover you will need to distribute files outside of our agency. This program permits you to send large files via the global information network to your counterparts on the other side.

19. Secure Courier Service (aka FedEx & UPS)
As you come across items needing analysis or distribution which cannot be transmitted electronically, utilize a secure courier service to transport the goods to our location. These services will pick up from and deliver to your secure locale.

20. Office Supplies (aka well, Office Supplies)
To maintain your cover as an office employee you will still need some basic office tools. These will primarily be used for their original purposes, but you will also see they come in useful for alternate purposes.

For example:

• Paperclips can be used to as general lock picking devices.
• Packing tape can be use to secure the enemy marks once they have been captured.
• Rulers can be utilized in certain interrogation techniques.

Feel free to find other mechanisms in your office and put them to use and be sure to share them through the mission critical mechanism outlined above.

We have full faith you will be able to complete this mission successfully. Good Luck Reader!

This message will self destruct in five seconds.

Other Images:
http://www.mozami.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/iphone.jpg
http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/logitech-webcam-hd-mac.jpg
http://office.microsoft.com/EN-US/CLIPART/DEFAULT.ASPX
http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20090625/google_voice_inbox.png

What I’ve learned from playing with LEGO®

(Photo: Legospective, originally uploaded by Guillermо.)

There I was, a young child, sitting in the middle of the floor in my parent’s living room with my box of LEGO® bricks, each in their own compartment sorted by color. My options were endless; with LEGO® I could be anyone, go anywhere and do anything. Now thirty odd years later in my own living room I relive those memories, sitting on the floor with my sons, toiling with them as they build their own LEGO® dreams.

As indirect as it may seem, I learned much from playing with my LEGO® building bricks. Many of those same lessons my sons will learn too.

1. Organization

“Organize your life around your dreams – and watch them come true.”

To this day, I am particularly organized; including lists, calendars, general tidiness and yes – color coding! Did it all start there so many years ago placing each color LEGO® into it’s own pile making sure none of the blue were mixed in with the red? Who knows, but I do know every day when it was time to clean up, each piece went back into its own color coded compartment ensuring the next time I brought them out, no sorting would be needed.

2. Following Instructions

I don’t remember them when I was a kid, but in today’s LEGO® sets there are step-by-step instructions of how to put together each item in the set. The coolest creations are made easy following along with page after page of pictures stepping you through the construction. Maybe it stifles the creativity a bit, but what it does is teach you how you can accomplish your tasks by following along with the directions. Not bad lessons to learn as you are starting out in life.

“Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, by going off the main road, by trying the untried.” – Frank Tyger

3. Creativity

“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” – William Plomer

Once you get past the instructions and let your creativity flow, the options are infinite. With the LEGO® bricks in hand you can build whatever you want; there are no limits. When you build a straight up tower of bricks, it can be a rocket ship or a tall building or a sword, your imagination is your own limitation. Let your mind be your guide as you steer toward your life’s destiny.

4. Patience

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Saint Augustine

Building with LEGO® bricks is a slow progression. It can be a grueling process, but it is a lesson in the value of patience. And patience is a virtue teaching you self control and restraint.

5. Attention to Detail

“In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention.” – Lou Holtz

Piece by piece you labor to advance your work of genius; each part needing to be in the right spot in order to achieve your desired outcome. I watch as my son studies in detail the pictures on the box, carefully calculating the placement and adjacencies needed in order to build his next LEGO® project. I recall similar analysis myself at a young age and to this day you can find me sitting down with a pad of paper and pencil to layout the design of my next project.

6. Adapt to the Situation

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. – George Bernard Shaw

One day you can build an airplane and the next day, with those same LEGO® bricks, you can build a skyscraper. If you find yourself a few LEGO® pieces short for your intended project you can modify your results by using another color, a different piece or scaling down your design. The possibilities are never ending. In life everything will not happen as we intended, we need to be able to revise our plans when necessary and go with the flow.

7. Any Mistake Can Be Fixed

“Ok, I can fix this” – My son upon breaking one of his LEGO® creations.

My son enters my office to showcase his latest LEGO® construction. As he extends his arms to present me with his creation as it breaks into two. There were no tears, no grumblings of anger, none of the negativity you might expect when something you worked so hard to build falls apart. On the contrary the first words out of his mouth were, “Ok, I can fix this.” We can all learn a lesson from this type of can do attitude, knowing no matter how awful circumstances may seem our problems can be repaired with a little ingenuity.

8. Problem Solving

“Any problem can be solved with a little ingenuity.” – MacGyver

One of the greatest characteristics I developed playing with LEGO® is the ability to know I could use my mind to remedy any situation. No challenge was too great; I would always be able to determine a method for success. It may not have been my original intended approach, but I knew there was always a path to my final destination.

9. You Can Build the Impossible Dream

“Without dreams, there is no reality!” – Luis B. Couto

Dreams are the means to a desired end. With LEGO® bricks you can capture those ideas, you can construct your vision no matter how large an obstacle it may seem. The same applies to your life; never accept that something cannot be accomplished – despite the barriers to can realize your dreams.

10. Never Give Up

“Never, never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill

Sure there are times when you want to throw your hands up in defeat, I did it myself and I see it from my sons as they construct a LEGO® projects, but the answer is to never give up. Determination is a key factor in life; if you endure the journey keeping the vision alive you will see some of the greatest accomplishments achieved you never thought would happen.

11. Teamwork

“The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side” – Margaret Carty

We can all use a little help now and again, my sons will periodically come up to us for assistance with their LEGO® creations needing my wife or me to snap a piece or two together. Sometimes we can all use a little guidance to get us through a tough spot and it is good to know you have others to rely on. There is no need to go through a difficult situation alone; the insights from others can often be inspiring as they allow us to see circumstances from perspectives outside of our own architecture.

12. Celebrate your Achievements

“The virtue of achievement is victory over oneself. Those who know this can never know defeat.” - A.J. Cronin

Finally, you have worked so hard to carry out your objective don’t let your labors go unnoticed. Boast your accomplishments with humility and place your LEGO® creation up on the shelf for all to see. The same policy is relevant in later life; use tact, but be proud of your accomplishments.

Those are just a few of the lessons I learned from play with LEGO®; I’m sure there are many more. Who knew back in 1934, when a carpenter turned, wooden toy maker, Ole Kirk Christiansen, took the first two letters of the Danish words LEG GODT, meaning “play well,” and put them together; the concept later developed by LEGO® would expand into a global staple of childhood toys shaping the minds, visions and futures of children into adulthood.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” W. Clement Stone

What other life lessons have you carried into adulthood based on your childhood experiences?

What’s so honest about Abe?

(Image: Michael J Deas)

Abraham Lincoln had many nicknames during his lifetime—the Rail Splitter, The Great Emancipator, The Liberator, Father Abraham, Uncle Abe—but perhaps none of these is as widely recognized and referenced today as the nickname, “Honest Abe.” But do you know why people called Lincoln “Honest Abe?”

Stories of Abe’s Honesty:

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln worked as a general store clerk. One evening he was counting the money in the drawers after closing and found that he was a few cents over what should have been in the drawer. When he realized that he had accidentally short-changed a customer earlier that day, Lincoln walked a long distance to return the money to the customer.

On another occasion Lincoln discovered that he had given a woman too little tea for her money. He put what he owed her in a package and personally delivered it to the woman–who never realized that she was not given the proper amount of tea until Lincoln showed up at her doorstep!

Lincoln’s integrity and insistence on honesty became even more apparent in his law practice. In his book, An Honest Calling: The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln, Mark Steiner notes that: A relative by marriage, Augustus H. Chapman, recalled: “In his law practice on the Wabash Circuit he was noted for unswerving honesty. People learned to love him ardently, devotedly, and juries listened intently, earnestly, receptively to the sad-faced, earnest man…I remember one case of his decided honest trait of character. It was a case in which he was for the defendant. Satisfied of his client’s innocence, it depended mainly on one witness. That witness told on the stand under oath what Abe knew to be a lie, and no one else knew. When he arose to plead the case, he said: “Gentlemen, I depended on this witness to clear my client. He has lied. I ask that no attention be paid to his testimony. Let his words be stricken out, if my case fails. I do not wish to win in this way.”

Lincoln didn’t like to charge people much who were as poor as he was. Once a man sent him twenty-five dollars, but Lincoln sent him back ten of it, saying he was being too generous.

He was known at times to convince his clients to settle their issue out of court, saving them a lot of money, and earning himself nothing.

An old woman in dire poverty, the widow of a Revolutionary soldier, was charged $200 for getting her $400 pension. Lincoln sued the pension agent and won the case for the old woman. He didn’t charge her for his services and, in fact, paid her hotel bill and gave her money to buy a ticket home!

He and his associate once prevented a con man from gaining possession of a tract of land owned by a mentally ill girl. The case took fifteen minutes. Lincoln’s associate came to divide up their fee, but Lincoln reprimanded him. His associate argued that the girl’s brother had agreed on the fee ahead of time, and he was completely satisfied. “That may be,” said Lincoln, “but I am not satisfied. That money comes out of the pocket of a poor, demented girl; and I would rather starve than swindle her in this manner. You return half the money at least, or I’ll not take a cent of it as my share.”

“When I do good, I feel good, and when I do bad, I feel bad, and that’s my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln

(Image: The Warren Report)

Lincoln carried his regard for the truth through his years at the White House. He, himself, was forthright and deeply sincere. It seems as if some of his colleagues wondered if he could ever tell a lie. During the Civil War, President Lincoln stated, “I hain’t been caught Lying yet, and I don’t mean to be.” [Rufus Rockwell Wilson, Lincoln Among His Friends: A Sheaf of Intimate Memories (Philip Clark, "A Friend of Lincoln's New Salem Days"), p. 65.] For Lincoln, the truth was not worth sacrificing for any gain, no matter how large that gain may have been.

Lincoln didn’t need to lie to save the Union, to unite the people, and free slaves, and lead a nation. Perhaps that is why he remains a hero to so many around the world, and an inspiration to leaders well into the future. From his work as a clerk to his duties as a president, Lincoln’s honesty was unwavering, showing that telling the truth is an essential lesson for all, no matter who you are or what you do.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABE!
Thank you for the influence you still provide us 201 years after your birth.
Abraham Lincoln: February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865

What can you do to be more honest in your life?

Story Adapted from:
Why Honest Abe?. By Kathy Crockett, The MY HERO Project
Honest Abe. By Adam Khan, Stuff That Works