Reading my Diary again!

This morning, I caught up on Guy Kawasaki whose writing I've always enjoyed.  His recent post about the Bozo Explosion mirrored my own thoughts on the demise I've experienced as an ex-Microsoft employee.

In his post he lists many of the signs that a company is going through a Bozo Explosion (defined: the downward slide that seems inevitable after a company achieves rapid success--often during the years immediately following an IPO).  The first two points in his list are: managers hiring people less talented/smart/capable then themselves and arrogance.  These are the same two things I always end up explaining whenever I have to discuss my various reasons for leaving the Remond Giant.

His point about the "biorhythms" made me laugh so hard I about fell out of my chair.  Totally right on!

Altered Perceptions

Sometimes it is what people aren't saying that is more interesting than what they are saying. It's not uncommon for people to want things from me, but feel like they have to tip-toe around to get it.

The funny ones are the ones who think they can hide their disdain for my personality well enough to manipulate me into serving their ends.  How ignorant must you be to not realize I serve of my own freewill, not out of compulsion.  Certainly not because of their feeble attempts to handle or cajole me.  For whom are their petty machinations not transparent?

"When I use a word", Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
- Lewis Carroll - Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 6

Minimum Wage == Cost of Living?

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) ran a competition recently to collect ideas for improving our economy and our day-to-day lives.  It was called Since Sliced Bread and they got some really interesting ones.

My personal favorite was the number three finalist.  Submitted by Filippo Menczer of Bloomington, Indiana, his idea was to tie the Minimum Wage to the Cost of Living Index. In this way it becomes a minimum purchasing power, not minimum inflation-bound dollars.  Read more about it here.

I really like this idea and I expect you all to write a letter to your Governor and Congressmen so they can get right on this one.

Have a better idea?  I'm all ears.