When you have a public blog, it’s hard to decide what’s okay to talk about and what’s not. Sometimes I feel trapped … but other times I think it’s a good exercise. My dear pal Miss Laurs, with whom I am in daily, ongoing, delightfully hilarious contact, noted that the tone here on col’s blog has changed recently. Indeed, I am under a couple of different microscopes lately so I’ve tended not to divulge much of anything. After working in corporate America for over 8 years I live by the mantra — when in doubt, leave it out. She suggested I take a page out of John in IL’s playbook and tell a tale through music.
I’ve got a lot going on right now …
Trying to keep perspective …
Feels like I’m always taking care of everyone else, and I’m tired of it.
Ugh. The term itself makes me wanna blow chunks. There’s little value-added to the term value-added.
Question: if everyone is dealing with the same problem, wouldn’t it be advantageous to mix up the approaches you’re taking? (Hence the appeal of Obama).
I’m so tired of hearing honchos brag about the Harvard MBA’s they’ve got on the payroll. Does a Harvard MBA REALLY add that much value? You like the thought of it … the idea that you can go to the store and buy yourself the exact thing you need. You want to think that Harvard has done some good weeding out for you, more than you could do on your own. And surely they’ve done something valuable … But there are hundreds of other Harvard MBAs where yours came from. And your competitors are hiring them too. They’ve learned similar things at the same time. I’m not saying your guy is bad, I’m just saying you may need to be more creative than that. In addition to him, you might consider, gasp, finding some talented women and minorities. People from different industries, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures. Certainly it’s hard to merge disparate cultures and sensibilities, but that’s what it takes to get the advantage. To compete in today’s crazy mashup world, you actually NEED diversity (as opposed to doing it because you were shamed into it). Different kinds of people, different kinds of thinkers, different kinds of ways of viewing the world. The usual suspects can only take you so far …
P-Diddy and I saw Chris Rock at Madison Square Garden last night. It was very, very fun. He’s such a truth talker, and so real and funny. He’s noticeably more mellow these days, and I don’t mean that in the incredibly lame way Eddie Murphy mellowed out later on in his career. Chris is still edgy as hell, he hasn’t lost any of the fire and brilliance that brought him on the scene. He just seems more at ease with himself. Perhaps that’s the confidence that comes with experience and crazy, mad cheddar.
He mostly talked about politics, race, about men and women. He said white women have the best deal in the world. White men are working for them − the women get half their shit. I don’t think Chris has met a lot of chicks like me and my pals − nobody’s doing a damn thing for us, thankyouverymuch. But we’ll set that aside for now. He also said black men want white women too. And they prefer white women who are heavier − they’ll kick over bag ‘o bones Jessica Simpson to get to Rosie O’Donnell. “When black guys start hitting on them a lot, white chicks get worried, ‘Damn I better get to the gym!’” Had to laugh at that one because it’s totally true. My weight fluctuates a little bit every few years, and when I am in a more voluptuous state the brothas are all about me … when I am in marathon shape, not as much.
Before the show P-Diddy and I got some bites and caught up. She’s recently started online dating again. We discussed the fact that a lot of white guys online are after her mainly because she’s Asian. Now you should know, P-Diddy is about as all American as they come. So the thought of some dude rollin’ up on her and trying to appeal to her ethnicity is hysterical to me. She’s had guys brag about their travels in Asia, and awkwardly speak Chinese to her. She’s even had guys say her English is really good. WTF?!!! It’s silly when these lame guys try to package her up into their Asian chick fantasy! Bottom line she is an extraordinary gal and being Asian is only part of who she is. At the end of the day my feeling is to each her own. I’ve dated men of all races, nationalities and ages. Think it just boils down to the chemistry between two people, and that is impossible to predict.
In person, people tend to adapt their behavior to the situation — talking to a co-worker requires different language and attitude than what’s comfortable with a college friend. On social networks, everyone’s in on the same conversation.
Not only that, an indiscreet comment in a face-to-face exchange can be regretted and forgotten. Online, it can live for years, providing personal details to potential bosses and marketers.
“For the first time in history, we can’t tailor our image for our specific goals,” said Mark R. Leary, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University. “When we have to create an all-purpose social history, how do people juggle competing audiences?”
Ugh. The term itself makes me wanna blow chunks. There’s little value-added to the term value-added.
