Archive for April, 2009
Inner Critic on Steroids
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, maybe criticism is in the ear of the audience, even when we’re only talking to ourselves. Many of us pump our inner critic full of steroids until it morphs into a scary monster.
Lately, I’ve been drawn to children’s films as a lighthearted way to beat the blues. I’ve rented Kung-Fu Panda, Wally-E, Prince Caspian, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. Many moons ago, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and I’m well aware that the classics in children’s literature often contain great teachings. Still, I’ll bet that the author of The Spiderwick Chronicles did not envision that I would translate the film into a coachable moment.
In January, I was in the audience when Dr. Bruce Schneider, MCC delivered an inspiring presentation about unlimited potential. Schneider shared his secrets to achieving success. Those secrets included the ability to clear our internal and external clutter. As part of this process, Schneider spoke of the need to clear out the "gremlins" in our lives, including our noisy inner critic.
The presentation was educational and serious. Still, I had to stifle a laugh. All I could picture was a scene in The Spiderwick Chronicles where the children pelt the menacing goblins with tomato sauce to keep them at bay. I’m a firm believer that lessons show up in the strangest places and in that spirit, I offer the following insights.
What I Learned from The Spiderwick Chronicles:
- Secure the perimeter with salt. Life Lesson: Set clear boundaries and create a safe circle that the bad guys cannot cross.
- Sweeten the brownie with honey. Life Lesson: Remember your mom’s advice that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
- Throw tomato sauce at the goblins to neutralize the scary monsters. Okay, don’t try this at home. Just visualize this last one.
Now when my inner critic starts to raise a ruckus, I mentally picture myself pelting her with tomato sauce. Sure it’s silly, but it works for me. What works for you?
Parting Gifts
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
I admit it. I cry during Hallmark commercials. I also cry every year when the CBS Sunday Morning show airs its heartfelt Hail and Farewell segment. The artfully crafted memorial should receive its own award for painting such a soulful portrait of the luminaries who have left us during the previous year. Three of my heroes, Studs Terkel, George Carlin, and Tim Russert, were among last year’s dearly departed. So was Dr. Randy Pausch, Professor, Carnegie Mellon.
When Hail and Farewell ran at year-end, I had just finished reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. When I read the book, I went into denial. I did the math and figured that Randy’s number had probably been called, but I wasn’t sure until I saw his face on the screen. Begun as an academic tradition, Pausch capitalized on the opportunity to turn a pedagogic moment into a personal one as he offered priceless life lessons to his three young children before he left them in his mother’s care.
In The Last Lecture, Pausch shares lessons he learned from his coach about the importance of fundamentals over fancy stuff. From organized sports, he learned teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, the value of hard work and the ability to deal with adversity. In his words, "Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted."
Pausch’s last lecture was about really achieving your childhood dreams. By his example, he invites you to find your own path to fulfillment and to travel with enthusiasm and passion. What do you alone truly have to offer? How do you spend your very limited time? Pausch lived out his dream because of what he learned from extraordinary people along the way. Who were your mentors and what lessons did they share? How did they help shape your life?
I recommend that you spend some of your very limited time reading The Last Lecture. Then watch the video with someone you love. Be sure to bring along some tissue.
Watch the video at http://www.thelastlecture.com.
March Newsletter
Friday, April 10th, 2009If you missed our March newsletter, you can read the archived version by clicking here.
How Far Would You Go?
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
When I graduated from college, I had to lose the love beads, the bell-bottoms and tie-dye T-shirts in order to suit up for a job interview. I’m glad I’m not young anymore. On March 30, the Los Angeles Times business section reported on young Chinese job seekers who are resorting to plastic surgery to enhance their image in a hyper-competitive labor market.
American baby boomers have been lining up for face-lifts and eye jobs to help them appear younger and fresher for their close-up. It’s bad enough that many of us in the 50-plus crowd feel that we must go under the knife to compete with all the young pups. In China, being young is not enough. Apparently, you also have to pretty and tall. According to the article, Chinese college graduates are forking over cold hard cash in exchange for double eyelids, rounder cheek bones and longer legs to help them get a foot in the door.
In addition to the moral and legal issues related to diversity, disability and discrimination, favoring the fair of face is just plain bad business. What if Albert Einstein or Marie Curie had been rejected for an interview based upon facial features or a bad hair day?
Funny Girl Fanny Brice quipped, "Do you think beautiful girls are going to be in style forever?"
It seems that they are for the foreseeable future. Years ago, I read an article in Psychology Today magazine that documented what we all suspected. Pretty people do better in life. But who decides what constitutes acceptable appearance? I remember an old episode of The Twilight Zone. The doctor peeled away the bandage from the makeover candidate, and the bystanders recoiled in horror as the camera revealed the face of a lovely young woman. Then the television viewers got a good look at the ghouls on the medical team.
Does your job search strategy include a little nip or tuck? What is the most extreme step you have taken in pursuit of a job?