WHAT'S IN A JOB TITLE?

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- Evidently a lot.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I have discussed job titles in the past. Recently though, I happened to notice a listing of titles as included in the job section of LinkedIn. Frankly, I didn't recognize too many. We're well past simple titles like Butcher, Baker, Candle-stick Maker which were intended to describe your occupation. If you work in the corporate world though, you will also have to denote where you sit on the totem pole. Historically, we used such titles as President, VP, Director, Manager, Supervisor, etc. Then again, these are slowly disappearing from business cards as the people in Human Resources replace classic jobs with newer and more obscure titles.

To illustrate, the following is a series of titles I found on the LinkedIn site. I discovered what they truly meant only after reading their job descriptions. Let me translate for you:

Publications and Communications Specialist - I was expecting some sort or technician. Instead, is was nothing more than a "Journalist."

Sales Executive - Actually, it's simply a "Salesman" job, but I guess they want to be politically correct and not offend the ladies. The use of the term "Executive" would imply some prestigious high-paying job. It wasn't.

Customer Contact Sales Associate - this is quite a mouthful for what we used to call a "Customer Service Rep."

Brand, Marketing & Communications (BMC) Sr. Specialist - the expression "branding" has gathered considerable momentum in recent years, thanks to the Internet. In reality, the job description revealed its true nature, "Advertising." I also enjoyed the "Senior" distinction. I wondered if there was also a "Junior" job title.

Senior Compensation Consultant - what we used to call "Retirement Planning" in the "Personnel Department" (the precursor to "Human Resources").

Proposal Coordinator - I'm not sure what they plan on coordinating. The job description suggests a "Proposal Writer" instead.

Business Intelligence Solutions Developer - a mouthful for what we used to call a "Systems Analyst."

Incident Management Lead - also a "Systems Analyst."

Senior Systems Engineer - ditto.

Performance Management Lead - this was rather interesting. The job description suggests an "Efficiency Expert" which is title long retired.

Manager, Change Management and Informatics - this was what we used to call a "Systems Manager."

Manager of Decision Sciences - see the previous listing ("Systems Manager").

Quality Management Systems (QMS) Leader - see the previous, previous listing (also "Systems Manager").

Insurance Producer - I'm not sure what they intend to produce. The description represents an "Insurance Agent."

Validation Manager - I had to read the job description a couple of times to "validate" my conclusion: "Spanish Translator."

Regional Account Manager - what we used to call "Vendor Liaison" or "Contract Administrator."

Implementation Specialist - this too was a "Contract Administrator."

I found all of these titles on just one page of LinkedIn's job listings. There were many more pages and countless other titles.

Maybe the Human Resources people are trying to be more specific regarding the type of person they are looking for, but I think they are compounding their problems by changing job titles into a game of Scrabble. The old job titles are either considered too mundane, or perhaps the companies cannot afford to pay people a decent salary and offer a sophisticated job title instead. I suspect the latter. Somehow these new job titles remind me of the expression, "Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

I also noticed the job descriptions were loaded with prosaic gibberish. It would be nice if the Human Resources people would call a spade, a spade, and quit trying to kid the rest of us. We should write to communicate, not to confuse. This isn't an English Class, it's about finding the right people to fill the right job.

I am reminded of the old joke about a job applicant who submitted his resume to a manager. After reviewing it, the manager observed, "I really like your resume and want to meet the person who wrote it. Now tell me about you."

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2014 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  MY RECENT TRIP TO MARS - My preliminary notes on the red planet.

LAST TIME:  HI HO, HI HO, IT'S BACK TO WORK WE GO - Now is the time for management to stimulate the work force.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

HI HO, HI HO, IT'S BACK TO WORK WE GO

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- Now is the time for management to stimulate the work force.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Okay, the holidays are over, our friends and relatives should have returned home, the retailers had their way with us, we're back in debt, the holiday decorations should have been stored away for another year, and a sense of normalcy should be returning. It's a new year, and time to go back to work. January is when we reset the statistics, brace for a new year, and try to prove ourselves once again.

Some people have trouble getting back into the swing of work after the holidays; they've probably slept too much, partied too much, and ate way too much, which explains the five-to-eight pounds they've put on. This is why dieting and temperance are among the top New Year's resolutions. Regardless, they are having trouble focusing on their work.

People tend to believe December is the worst month for productivity. Hardly. In addition to general retail, December is when companies try to finish spending the money in their corporate budgets thereby initiating a flurry of activity. Companies would much rather spend money on technology, office furniture, construction, or their employees as opposed to giving it to the government. Instead, January is more difficult as managers have to encourage lethargic employees back to work. The cold weather doesn't help either.

Now is the time for some imaginative management techniques to motivate the work force. Basically, I'm suggesting some changes to the corporate culture. Physically, you might want to consider a new coat of paint, changes in lighting, some aromatic plants or flowers, new uniforms, new screen savers, a cleanup of office files and furniture, some changes in music, or perhaps something different to eat in the corporate cafeteria. In other words, consider changes affecting the five senses of the workers. It doesn't have to be lavish either, just something subtle the employees will notice and appreciate.

You may also want to rethink meetings, including when they are conducted, location, and format. For example, instead of a boardroom setup, how about a u-shaped set of tables allowing the manager to easily move about? A change of dress code may also be wise; if you've been too lax and sloppy, perhaps it is time to become a little more formal. If you've been too formal, perhaps it is time to loosen things up. Believe me, employees notice and respond.

It shouldn't be the manager's objective to make radical changes in work habits. Such changes will be resisted regardless of the time of year. Instead, small changes will be noticed by employees who will see them in a positive light, that management appreciates them and is willing to invest in them. "Hmm..., a New Year, some new changes... I like it."

Your objective is to demonstrate you are investing in your people, and not taking them for granted. Whatever the twist may be, January is the time for management to try it. In all likelihood, it will capture the attention of the work force and help reinvigorate them for the new year.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2014 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHAT'S IN A JOB TITLE? - Evidently a lot.

LAST TIME:  2013 YEAR-END WRAP-UP - My most popular columns this year.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

2013 YEAR-END WRAP-UP

BRYCE ON 2013

- My most popular columns this year.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

As you know, I write on a variety of subjects, such as management, systems, technology, social issues, politics, and observations of our changing world. Sometimes my work is instructional and informative, other times it is controversial or humorous. I certainly hope it isn't boring. By the number of subscribers I have, their comments, and the hits I have on my web site, I do not believe this is the case.

For my year-end column, I decided to look at my statistics and see which were my most popular articles and speculate on their popularity. Herein, therefore, are my "greatest hits" for 2013.

THE REMINGTON RAND ADDING MACHINE, MODEL 41013-10

This was written in December 2012 as a fun piece describing our ancient adding machine, marveling at its simplicity, and questioning why people tend to discard office equipment as opposed to maintaining it (in our case, for 42 years and still chugging away). I was surprised by the thousands of people who read it. It caused several of my subscribers to reminisce about such equipment. Typical comments included, "Sure wish most items would last nearly as long," and "Yeah! They sure don’t build things to last any more."

TEN THINGS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES WELL

Written in June of last year, people from around the world read this article on a daily basis. Overseas, Europeans reference this piece regularly, particularly people in the United Kingdom. In an age where we tend to believe government is incompetent, my article piqued people's curiosity as to whether government can do anything right. I also received considerable reader feedback on this one, including a woman from West Virginia who wrote, "It has come to the point that I no longer believe a word the government says. I don’t trust the media either."

STAND UP FOR MORALITY (PART 1 OF 8)

Beginning last April, I published an eight part series encouraging people to think about and openly discuss morality in our society. This, of course, became my book, "Stand Up for MORALITY!" The comments from my readers were encouraging. The subject became a hot button topic on the Internet and caused me to produce a presentation on the subject.

WHAT IF THE SOUTH HAD WON THE WAR?

I originally wrote this column in December of 2011, but it is still actively read on a daily basis. The article considered what our world might look like today if General Lee had won at Gettysburg and captured Washington, DC. This stirred the imagination of a lot of readers who commented accordingly.

BRYCE'S LAWS - MINI POSTERS

Earlier this year I devised a series of mini-posters based on our popular "Bryce's Laws" which are axioms on life, both personal and professional. Four posters were made available, including: Life, Management, Information Systems, and Project Management. These small posters can now be found in offices and cubicles around the world.

TODAY’S SLAVE MENTALITY

This was another piece I wrote towards the end of last December. Like the others, it has been frequently read all year. Basically, it is a comparison of today's welfare state versus the the early American slaves. Although it was considered controversial, I received a lot of positive comments from my readers.

PRINT ON-DEMAND (POD) – VERY COOL

This was a technology related piece I wrote describing an interesting means to publish a book. Although it requires an author to be savvy in desktop publishing, it is a great way to free yourself of the yolk of publishers. Someone at Amazon should be thanking me for writing this.

LIBERAL VS. CONSERVATIVE PERSONALITIES

This has been a favorite subject of mine for quite some time. It examines how people develop their political beliefs, e.g., Why does a person become a Democrat or a Republican? This generated considerable discussion from my readers. Bottom-line, I think I was on to something in terms of people's personalities ultimately dictating their political preferences.

WHO IS TEACHING MORALITY?

This article described the various factions who are truly teaching moral values in this country, regrettably it is not the parents.

THE DEATH OF PROFESSIONAL COURTESY

This column was touched off by an incident I experienced at a company whereby I observed how people treated others callously. This too resulted in considerable feedback from my readers who experienced similar situations. Regrettably, I am seeing more and more of this in the corporate world.

AMERICAN MORAL DILEMMAS

The article was a precursor to my series on morality. Basically, it contrasted the moral values of capitalism versus socialism.
 

In terms of my columns, 2013 will probably be best remembered as my "Morality Year," where I openly questioned the values of our culture, particularly how they are formed and taught. I consider the erosion of our morality in this country a serious problem, something that may very well lead to our demise. Maybe I'm an alarmist, or maybe I am seeing something people are glossing over. I have always believed in the Bryce's Law, "You cannot treat a patient if he doesn’t know he is sick." Since I started researching this subject, I found morality is something most people take for granted and never discuss. This is why I found it important to bring this to the attention of my readers. I just hope people were listening.

I want to thank all of my readers who commented on my columns this year, both in print and on the radio. Although I may not have time to respond to everyone, rest assured I read all of your comments, both good and bad. Thank you. It's nice to know people are listening.

Happy New Year.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  HI HO, HI HO, IT'S BACK TO WORK WE GO - Now is the time for management to stimulate the work force.

LAST TIME:  THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS - It is certainly not about the commercialization of the holiday, or Santa.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

BRYCE ON CHRISTMAS

- It is certainly not about the commercialization of the holiday, or Santa.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

He arose in the morning groggy and disoriented. He didn't know where he was or recognized the surroundings. It was a small room, very neat and clean, with a sofa, desk, and big bed. Anyone would recognize it as a hotel with all of the amenities. He had no memory of how he had gotten there. Sunlight peeked between the curtains. The television was playing a Christmas gala, complete with classic holiday music. The entertainment was broken up by the occasional commercial where announcers were promoting everything from toys to clothes, jewels, and automobiles. Each announcer admonished viewers to hurry as there was just one day until Christmas.

"Christmas? Where am I, where have I been?"

He slowly stood up and went over to the window and opened the curtains to look outside where the grass and roads were covered with a thin layer of snow. It was cold, but not frigid. People could be seen walking on the streets carrying packages, cars moved quickly along a boulevard, and pine trees were adorned with tinsel, bulbs and lights. He didn't recognize any of it which confused matters further.

He washed himself in the bathroom and then spotted some clothes neatly folded on the sofa, complete with shoes and socks. The clothes fit remarkably well. The shoes, which were actually a set of leather and rubber boots, also fit comfortably. He combed his hair before putting on the jacket and wool cap hanging on the chair at the desk. He unlocked the door and stepped outside into the cold air and surveyed the area around the hotel. Nothing looked familiar; did Europe look like this?

A woman dressed in a heavy black coat passed by him and greeted him good morning.

It was English, but the accent wasn't recognizable. He replied, "Good morning," to the woman who hurried away before any other questions could be asked.

He watched her hurry down the street heading towards a large building where several cars were already parked. A sign in front read, "Springdale Town Mall." He was curious and thought people at the building might hold some answers. So He followed the woman to the mall, crossing the street carefully as it was busy with vehicles. The traffic lights seemed strange to Him, as well as the lines on the street, along with the the commotion of the cars and their horns. As He approached the entrance to the mall, He could hear the sounds of Christmas music coming from the mall's PA system in the parking lot. In between songs, announcers touted their products and admonished shoppers there was just one more day until Christmas. He really didn't grasp what was going on.

He entered the mall which was the largest structure He had ever seen. Inside was a cavernous multitude of lights, more music, and thousands of people circulating. There seemed to be hundreds of shops offering a variety of wares; toys, cutlery, sporting goods, jewelry, and many other goods. Virtually all had signs in their windows promoting sales and reminding shoppers there was now less than a day to Christmas. He paused by an electronic store where many television sets were displaying Christmas shows. The shows were mesmerizing and He became somewhat intoxicated by the sights and sounds emanating from the televisions.

He wandered the mall examining the various stores carefully. Each was decorated in red and green colors, with wreaths, and the smell of pine and sweet candy hung in the air. Electric lights, snowmen, and miniature railroads offered animation. Gifts were wrapped in a special type of green and red paper and ribbons. All in all, it was a feeding frenzy of shopping. He wondered what the purpose of all this activity. There were several signs mentioning "Christmas," but He didn't make the connection.

There was the smell of food in the air which caused His stomach to growl in hunger. He passed the mall's Food Court which featured several restaurants offering a variety of strange looking ethnic foods. He watched cooks prepare Japanese sushi and Chinese cuisine, none of which He recognized as something edible. The Mexican restaurant smelled of spicy hot peppers. The only restaurants which somehow resembled familiar food was the Italian restaurant, although He balked at pizza, and the Greek restaurant featuring gyros and souvlakis, both offered on pita bread.

He asked the clerk for a gyro as it appeared to be made of lamb. The young clerk prepared the meal accordingly, complete with French Fries and a cola drink.

"That will be $5 for the gyro special," she said.

He looked perplexed by her request but quickly figured she was asking for money of which He had none. He tapped his trousers with his hand and heard the distinct click of metal. He reached inside his pocket where He retrieved some coins valued at $2 each. "Will you take these?" He asked.

The clerk took three of them and presented him with a $1 bill saying, "Here is your change. Thank you. Next!..."

He walked away from the restaurant with his tray and found an empty table to sit and eat. He studied the $1 bill carefully. He had never seen paper money before and didn't recognize Washington's portrait. He ate the gyro hungrily. He enjoyed the taste of cooked lamb as well as the pita bread. The French Fries seemed peculiar to him though. He picked one up and inspected it carefully. Nearby at other tables, people were eating them. He then broke one in half and tasted it, and it was good, even though He didn't know what it was. "A French Fry? Hmm...," and He ate the rest. He examined the cola drink suspiciously. He took a sip and found the taste medicinal in nature, and the bubbles tickled His nose. Spotting a nearby water fountain, He emptied the cola down its drain and replaced it with water which tasted remarkably clean to Him.

He saw others dumping the trash from their trays into the garbage and followed suit. The meal had served its purpose and He felt refreshed. He then returned to wandering around the mall. The music and hubbub was beginning to give Him a small headache.

It was mid afternoon when He came to the center of the mall where He sat at a bench on the second floor. He marveled at the immensity of the mall and as He looked down to the bottom floor He discovered a long line of children waiting for someone named "Santa Claus." Dozens of children waited patiently to sit with a fat man dressed in a red and white costume. He assumed the man was elderly as he wore a white beard with matching color hair.

An elderly woman came and sat on the bench to rest her feet. She was loaded with several packages and looked tired from her trek around the mall.

"Excuse me, but who is that man down there?" He innocently asked the woman.

She looked down to see the object of His attention.

"Are you kidding me?" she said, "It's Santa Claus and his elves talking to the kids of course."

He said, "I'm sorry, I am not from around here. What is a Santa Claus?"

She looked at him inquisitively but gave him the benefit of doubt. "He is actually called by many names, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, and many others around the world. He is considered the patron saint of Christmas and is best known for delivering presents to children on Christmas."

"Christmas, there is that name again," He thought.

He watched the children one-by-one visit with the old gentleman. Some appeared timid and scared, others enjoyed a good conversation with the man, others were loud and animated, demanding certain presents on Christmas Day. It was all rather unclear as to the purpose of the meeting with Santa other than it was an outlet to promote the purchase of more gifts. He was amazed by the length of the never-ending line and requests for more gifts.

The greed and opulence of the season was too much for him to stomach any longer. He took his leave of the mall wanting to head back to the safety of the hotel room. Unfortunately, He became a bit disoriented and couldn't find the same door from which He entered, and exited on the opposite end of the mall where nothing looked familiar.

He had spent considerable time at the mall and it was now late afternoon with long shadows and the sun beginning to set. All He could see were rows of neat wooden homes adjacent to the mall. He was unfamiliar with the architecture and wanted to take a closer look. He entered a subdivision and was amazed how orderly the houses were aligned and well maintained.

As the sun set, decorative lights were switched on and lit up the houses and the adjacent trees and shrubbery. Various statues of snowmen, Santa Claus, and angels were also lit and music could be heard in the air. There also seemed to be reindeer everywhere; on top of houses, pulling sleighs, or metalic statues on front lawns, some were animated appearing to be grazing. In was very reminiscent of the storefronts in the mall.

He walked several blocks in amazement as the houses turned darkness into light. Other people also walked the neighborhood in order to see the decorations. Cars began to enter the streets where they moved slowly so parents and children could admire the decorations. As pleasant as this all ways, He was at a loss as to what it all meant.

As He exited the neighborhood, He was presented with two large structures, one with a crucifix atop it, and another with the Star of David. He was appalled by the crucifix and began to wonder if people still practiced the tortuous custom. The large cross stopped Him in his tracks and He began to tremble. He noticed the other structure bore the Shield of David, a symbol He was familiar with through Judaism.

It was nighttime now and both buildings were active with people, the Temple celebrating a Bar Mitzvah, and the Church preparing to celebrate Christmas mass. Being more familiar with the Shield of David, He approached the Temple, where people were exiting for the evening. Still inside was the rabbi who was bidding goodnight to the attendees. He worked his way to the rabbi, a middle aged man who appeared to be of good nature.

He said, "Rabbi, I am a stranger to this area. As I have walked around the village I notice there is a fascination with 'Christmas' here. I would like to know more."

The Rabbi smiled and said, "Well stranger, you are actually in a good place to learn. I would like to sit down and tell you more, but the hour is late and I have another appointment. However, I recommend you visit the church next door where they are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. I am confident they will tell you the full story tonight."

He took his leave of the rabbi, who locked the Temple after He exited. Many people were entering the house of the crucifix, men, women and children. As it appeared to be safe, He overcame his timidity and reluctantly approached the church. At the door, He was warmly welcomed by greeters. The inside appeared to be a place for religious retreats, with several rows of pews, and an altar at the front.

As the service began, the congregation rose to its feet and began to sing, accompanied by an organ. He was startled by this, but found the music strangely comforting. He looked about and saw everyone singing in unison, along with a choir which sang as one. The pomp and circumstance was impressive. He looked on in horror as a small boy walked slowly down the center aisle carrying another crucifix with an effigy of a person nailed to it. The boy proudly presented the cross at the front of the congregation before placing it in a stand. He was bewildered by the display and was prepared to turn and run, but something inside him told him to stand his ground. After the entrance of the clergy, the music stopped and everyone returned to their seats.

The minister welcomed everyone to the evening's Christmas celebration. This was followed by a sweet celebration enacted by the children of the church who were dressed in colorful costumes. The minister narrated the story of the birth of Christ and the children acted out the story. He listened intently. He heard the names of Joseph and Mary, which were well known to him, as well as a place called Galilee. He listened to their story of the birth of their savior. Aside from the shiny costumes and some obvious literary liberties, it was a story He knew well, and his spirits perked up noticeably. He was no longer afraid but felt quite at home.

After the play, the minister asked all first time visitors to rise and be recognized. One-by-one he welcomed each visitor, asking who they were and where they were from. The minister finally asked the stranger to introduce himself.

"I am known as Jesus of Nazareth," He said.

The minister thought He was mocking the congregation and quickly confronted the stranger. Anger was in the minister's eyes but before he could utter a harsh word, He said, "I am a stranger to this area," and raised his hand in peace to shake the minister's.

It was only then the minister saw the scars from the crucifixion. There was something in the stranger's demeanor and eyes that made him realize he was now in the presence of something special. The minister froze until He placed his hands on him in comfort. The minister smiled and knelt to his knees. The congregation didn't quite comprehend the situation, but followed the minister's lead and knelt.

He said, "Please rise, you are all my children. I'm not sure why I was sent here but I believe it has something to do with the meaning of Christmas, something I didn't quite understand until I witnessed your pageant."

"Yes, this is your birthday, your eminence," the minister replied.

"I have been among you this day and have witnessed many things, most of which I do not understand, particularly the greed of this day. I hope they are not using this day to celebrate such a weakness."

The minister was embarrassed, "I am afraid a lot of people have forgotten its purpose. It is not about shopping, it's about You."

"In my time, we celebrated birthdays by the breaking of the bread. We didn't have opulent presents. Instead, we offered our love, fellowship, and trust to others. If this is truly my Birthday, let us celebrate likewise," and loafs of bread appeared in His hands.

Jesus moved to the altar and broke the bread into small pieces for everyone to consume. The minister assisted by pouring wine.

"Here, eat and drink. Do this for the remembrance of Me. My message is simple: I love you unconditionally. You may not believe in me, but have confidence that I love you. Do not dwell in hate. Practice love and do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It's really not that difficult, is it?"

As the last morsel of bread was consumed and wine drunk, He turned and disappeared into the ether with the exclamation, "Remember!"

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  2013 YEAR-END WRAP-UP - My most popular columns this year.

LAST TIME:  ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...AND POLITICS - How the office of the president has been reshaped.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

WHAT? ME RETIRE?

BRYCE ON RETIREMENT

- Not any time soon for me, if ever.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

When you listen to the commercials by financial planners on television, you get the impression life begins only after you retire. They claim, "It's now your time to enjoy life." From this perspective, one would assume everyone hates their job, and to continue working is madness. As I approach 60 people ask me when I'm going to retire. I am bewildered by such questions. What am I supposed to do, sit around and play golf 24/7? Not bloody likely.

When people proudly proclaim to me they have retired early, I send them my condolences. I guess I am one of those rare birds who happen to like what they do and cannot imagine doing anything else. I have an illustrator friend in Cincinnati that I've known since high school. We've discussed this issue many times. He cannot image not being able to perform his craft, and I cannot imagine not being able to write or offer advice in a consulting capacity. Retirement would be like chopping off both our hands. Both my friend and I would rather blow our brains out than surrender to retirement.

I can see slowing down a bit as the 5:00am wake up is getting a bit old, but I enjoy my work and cannot imagine life without it. I should mention that Bryces tend to work until we drop. I have never known a Bryce to willfully retire. It's not in our DNA I guess.

As I do some of my work at home early in the morning, people wonder why I shower and get dressed for business. It's called discipline. I may be a bit groggy early in the morning, but as I shower my mind is thinking about the coming day and what I have to accomplish. I know it might be a foreign concept to some, but my work stimulates me.

Many people do not feel this way though. I believe those people anxious for retirement generally do not like their job. Either that or they have squirreled away so much money, they are bound and determined to spend it all. Even if I had more money than I require, I would still need to feel productive. I've heard stories about people who hit the lottery, only to burn through the money and be destitute again. Even if I hit the lotto, you wouldn't find me on the golf links. Instead, I would probably breath a sign of relief, pop open a bottle of champagne, and go back to work.

I believe it is important we should all lead a worthy and meaningful life. We have to have purpose. As such, I firmly believe our professional life is an extension of our personal life. To my point of view, severing one from the other is very much a true amputation. This is why I say, "What? Me Retire?" No, don't look for me to play Mahjong until the Grim Reaper comes along. I've got things to do.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS - It is certainly not about the commercialization of the holiday, or Santa.

LAST TIME:  ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...AND POLITICS - How the office of the president has been reshaped.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...AND POLITICS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- How the office of the president has been reshaped.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Washington politics wasn't always as visceral as it is today. True, there have been several knockdown, drag-out fights over the years, but nothing like the "take no prisoners" approach of today.

President Obama's legacy will likely be how he changed the rules of the presidency. It is no longer about governing, but constant campaigning instead, be it for himself, his programs, or members of the party. The fact that a community organizer with no demonstrable management skills is indicative of this.

Instead of "give and take" a la President Reagan and Speaker Tip O'Neal, it is now common to smear the character of your opponents and claim ignorance of any wrongdoing. It is attack politics at its worst.

The president keeps the media on a short leash and uses them to do his bidding for him. Case in point, the media has been successful in manipulating the psyche of the country into believing anyone but a Democrat is a racist. I have been active in Republican politics for a number of years. I have also met and spoken with a lot of members of the Tea Party. Not once have I heard a disparaging comment against President Obama regarding the color of his skin. I've heard a lot about his ideology, his programs, and questions about his religion and birthplace, but virtually nothing about his race. Not once.

However, I have heard several comments from the left claiming conservatives are racist by definition. This is particularly true for the talking heads on NBC related networks. If you say something enough times, people will believe it. This racist claim has been said so many times, they have brainwashed the American people. I have friends who now claim Republicans are racists. When I challenge them to name a specific person or incident to verify their claim, they come up blank but contend, "Isn't it obvious?" Not to me. Then again, I haven't drunk the Kool-Aid yet.

President Obama is more in tune with the media culture than any of his predecessors. The media understands if they get out of line, they will be taken to the woodshed, something they greatly fear. If a reporter questions anything the president does or says, the White House contacts the person and threatens their livelihood. To illustrate, CNN anchor Carol Costello is quoted as saying, “President Obama’s people can be quite nasty. They don’t like you to say anything bad about their boss, and they’re not afraid to use whatever means they have at hand to stop you from doing that, including threatening your job.”

Such intimidation is common today which explains why the president is given a pass by the media. He owns them. The message is clear: Get out of line and we'll turn the attack dogs loose.

The president also claims ignorance of anything wrong during his administration, be it the Affordable Care Act, Benghazi, the IRS scandal, Fast and Furious, etc. This either makes him the least informed president or he is covering up. He simply will not tell the truth as it may have an adverse affect on his supporters.

Even his alleged apology regarding Obamacare was shallow at best; “I am sorry that they, you know, are finding themselves in this situation, based on assurances they got from me.” He didn't apologize to the American people for misleading them, only how sorry he is that people acted on his advice.

The administration even went so far as to get Senate Democrats to change the filibuster rules, the alleged "Nuclear Option," thereby paving the way to expedite the president's judicial appointees, as well as others. This is tantamount to a declaration of war.

The point is, politics today is no longer about discussion, compromise, and building consensus; instead it is about intimidation, character assassination, and brainwashing the public. We should have known this after the Affordable Care Act was shoved down our throats. There was certainly nothing "transparent" about how it was produced or passed.

Now the question becomes, is this the state of American politics from now on? Hard to say. In the pending field of presidential candidates from the Democratic party, I see many who understand Capitol politics, but none with any governing experience. This tells me they are likely to take a page from the Obama play book.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHAT? ME RETIRE? - WHAT? ME RETIRE? - Not any time soon for me, if ever.

LAST TIME:  RECOGNITION - Are we giving awards to the wrong people?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

RECOGNITION

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Are we giving awards to the wrong people?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Each year, Hollywood holds its annual love-fest; you know, the Academy Awards which recognizes the entertainers and technicians in the motion picture industry. As a kid, I used to watch the Oscars and pulled for my favorite stars to win, but as I've gotten older I have become more jaded about it and pay less attention to the show. One reason for this is because I believe we have too many awards dedicated to entertainers. In addition to the Oscars, we have the People's Choice Awards, the Emmy Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Tony Awards, the SAG Awards, and I'm sure I'm overlooking at least a dozen more. There are so many entertainment awards now that I believe they have lost their luster. I now see them more as an integral part of the Hollywood publicity machine than anything else. So many people win these prizes now that you would be hard pressed to find anyone working in Hollywood who hasn't won or been nominated for one thing or another.

There are also awards for athletic competition, such as in baseball, football, soccer, basketball, hockey and the Olympics, but a lot of these could be construed as entertainment related as well.

There are of course some other noteworthy awards, such as the Nobel Prizes, the Pulitzer Prizes for journalism, and others for courage or some other significant contribution, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, etc. Back in 1989, the Disney people started to recognize teachers for their vital contribution. This was greatly appreciated by teachers who often feel overlooked and neglected, but interestingly, it seems the public puts more weight in the entertainment awards than these other more important prizes.

People like recognition, some actually crave it as it strokes their ego, but most just like to know their efforts are appreciated by others, be it in their companies or in their industry. I can't say I'm a big fan of "Employee of the Month" type of awards as I have seen this lead to petty jealousies and affect teamwork in companies. I'm more inclined to favor industry specific awards, of which we have far too few. For example, I think there ought to be a series of awards for outstanding craftsmanship. Such industry recognition might encourage others to emulate the recipients, which could lead to better workmanship.

Instead of the millionaire entertainers and athletes, to me the real heroes are the people who pay their bills, obey the law, successfully raise their kids, volunteer their time to help others, and do a good job at work. In other words, how about honoring the poor slob who bears the burden, tries to lead an honorable life, and performs a good job at work? As far as I'm concerned, the Oscar is far too small an award for such a person.

(First published: March 11, 2008)

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...AND POLITICS - How the office of the president has been reshaped.

LAST TIME:  FRIDAY THE 13TH

- Why some people are afraid of it, while others love it.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington

"The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.