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Getting Through Life and Work – 2's Company – MagnusInsights.com https://magnusinsights.com Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:13:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://magnusinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-2sCompanyLogov23-32x32.jpg Getting Through Life and Work – 2's Company – MagnusInsights.com https://magnusinsights.com 32 32 It’s Later Than You Think. Yes it Is! https://magnusinsights.com/its-later-than-you-think-yes-it-is/ Sat, 15 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3304 Some time ago, David and I wrote a post about something my mom used to say, “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.”(https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/2019/03/its-later-than-you-think/) This post is a follow up and serves as a reminder that it really IS later than you think. And, for that matter, it really is later than I think too! A recent personal tragedy has prompted me to write this post. My dear friend, Chris Cochran, received a terrible diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on February 24, 2022, which is a memorable date because it was his 64th birthday. I sent him a video of The Beatles song, “When I’m 64,” not realizing that his 64th birthday would be his last. When Chris called to tell me the dreadful news soon after he found out, I immediately told him that we needed to get together, soon, because our time together was running out. Chris and I knew each other since June, 1967, 55 years at the time of his passing, and prior to his death, I was determined to stay in closer contact with him than he probably wanted. He repeatedly said he hoped to be one of the lucky people who survive pancreatic cancer, to which I responded that I hoped so, but just in case, David and I would be visiting him as soon and as often as possible. We had 2 nice visits with Chris and his wife, Suzy, 1 in April and the other, in June. Things seemed to be progressing with Chris’ chemotherapy and other treatments, until they took a turn for the worst. Through everything that was happening, Chris maintained his sunny outlook and optimism. He called me a week before his passing to tell me not to worry about him because his fate was in God’s hands. I laughingly told him that he knew better than that! I am a constant worrier, about almost everything! The day after Chris’ final phone call, I contacted another dear friend, Roger, who introduced Chris and me in 1967. Roger and I have been friends even longer, since 1964. I asked Roger if he could visit Chris with David and me in a few days and I explained “time is running out.” Thank goodness Roger said he could go with us! Roger, David, and I had a nice visit with Chris, who by then was able to communicate only with his eyes and a partial smile, due to a series of strokes he had suffered. I reminisced about the “good old days” when we were kids, Chris and I held hands, and the end of a lifelong friendship came to an end. Chris passed away on August 23, 2022. My advice: Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, visit places you’ve always wanted to go, do whatever you’ve always wanted to do, now, because it really IS later than you think!

]]> Formality Never Hurts https://magnusinsights.com/formality-never-hurts/ Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:15:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3277 In thinking about the job candidates who failed to get out of the starting gate due to their wardrobe choices, I reflected on how formality provides a guide for “good” behavior. Being formal in addressing people with “Ms.,” “Mr.,” “Dr.,” etc. is a good starting place. It is likely you will soon be told to be less formal, but starting out informally might be like wearing shorts to a job interview, a non starter. Assessing the situation, listening to others, and being situationally aware allows one to determine what is appropriate, or not. Melissa can explain the psychological concepts related to internal/external focus further. There are many ways to evaluate a situation; checking websites and social media are good indicators. Turning on one’s listening and observational skills are a requirement. Showing respect by using formal titles, dressing formally (situationally) and being appropriately deferent are good ways to get off on the right foot in a new work situation or a situation involving a new client or customer.

]]> Know What You Don’t Know https://magnusinsights.com/know-what-you-dont-know/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3307 Many years ago, a college professor of mine told me that knowing what you don’t know (or that you don’t know something) is an important sign of intelligence. It was an enlightening discussion and I think I’ve mentioned this in another post. But, it bears further discussion because we seem to live in a world where not knowing what you don’t know is amplified by the media, including social media. Showing your ignorance is apparently not seen as undesirable to some people. I suppose many of the ignorant ones to whom I refer are too ignorant to know they are. But, stepping out on a limb and talking about things the person clearly has no knowledge of seems all too common. I’m venting a bit, but this phenomenon is apparent in many settings. It has been something I’ve seen repeatedly in both personal, and professional, encounters. In the latter, I’ve observed it when working with job applicants who do not realize they are dealing with people who know more about many subjects than they do. For me, quietly listening and learning, all the while assessing what someone is telling me what they know, is an important technique, not only for learning, but to working together. To combine a couple of sayings, going off half-cocked is a sure way to shoot oneself in the foot.

]]> The M’s https://magnusinsights.com/the-ms/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3272 I have a friend named Marilyn Einbinder. We met several years ago at a Passover Seder hosted by her son, Marc, and daughter-in-law, Susan. Marc and Susan are our wonderful Megan’s parents and it was Megan who invited me to attend her family’s Seder. Immediately upon being introduced to Marilyn, I knew we were going to be friends. We just “clicked”! Plus, she exclaimed to everyone in attendance that I look just like Meryl Streep! (This is something I hear often. Strangers approach me and ask, “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Meryl Streep?” to which I reply, “Many times and I sure wish I had her money in addition to her looks!”.) Since our first meeting, Marilyn and I have become good friends. Although we don’t get to see each other as often as I would like, due to living relatively far from one another, we go to lunch as often as possible. We call ourselves “The M’s” for Marilyn and Melissa. We have a lovely appetizer in Marilyn’s gorgeous high rise in Aventura, then we go to whatever restaurant Marilyn has selected for a delightful lunch. Our time together is filled with girl talk; serious discussions about politics, religion, and world affairs; and lots of laughter. I have more fun with Marilyn than almost anyone I know. Recently, I delayed visiting a dying friend for a few hours in order to have the opportunity to have lunch with Marilyn. When I told her about my friend’s expected passing, Marilyn said she would have understood if I needed to postpone our lunch date. I explained that I didn’t want to postpone it because I knew having lunch together, and enjoying the pleasure of her company, would be the only fun thing I would be doing for a long time. I treasure my friend, Marilyn, and our friendship! Here’s to The M’s!

]]> You can go to Wal-Mart, Kmart… https://magnusinsights.com/you-can-go-to-wal-mart-kmart/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3269 David and I have different ways of accomplishing the same task. We are frequently engaged in debates about how to perform seemingly simple tasks. When we catch ourselves in the midst of another debate about some mind numbing chore, one of us usually says, “You can go to Walmart, Kmart (sadly, that’s no longer an option for us), Target, or wherever you want.” This statement stops the debate because it reminds us of the same type of debates David’s dad, Herman, would get into over the smallest of details. For example, when we drove from Pompano Beach to Jacksonville, Herman used to ask which way we were coming. Were we driving all the way north on I-95? Were we coming up the Turnpike, then crossing over to I-95 on State Road 70 in Fort Pierce? Were we coming up the Turnpike, then crossing over to I-95 at the Jupiter exit? Had we checked to see how traffic was moving on both the Turnpike and I-95? Had we considered taking a more scenic route, for example, driving part of the way on U.S. 1? Did we think we might want to drive up U. S. 301 through Lawtey, Waldo, and Starke? Had we considered all the options, including where we would be stopping for lunch? This type of exchange was common with Herman, regardless of the subject, sometimes to the point of hilarity! We got into the circular discussion about the virtues of Kmart and Walmart at a time when Kmart was still a worthy competitor of Walmart. Given that both of these stores sold the same type of merchandise, I usually went to the one closest to my location. Not Herman! He weighed the options, such as which one had the desired item on sale, how close each store was to the gas station currently selling gas for the lowest price, and a host of other variables, all of which were exhausting to me. Yes, there are many ways to chop a bell pepper, depending on how it will be used, but I’d prefer not to discuss it for too long!

]]> Employees Should Cover Each Other https://magnusinsights.com/employees-should-cover-each-other/ Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3244 This is the 3rd in a series about “covering” or looking out for each other in a work environment. The need to do this is on a top down, down to top, and peer to peer basis. In the immediately prior post, I mentioned an employee who was hostile to another employee. The fact that this was happening was unknown to Melissa or me. To some degree it was known to other employees, but the full extent of it was known only to the junior most employee who was being verbally abused by a more senior employee. “Covering” for each other would have required any employee who was aware of the situation to report it. Another time we had an employee who was drinking on the job. When the intoxicated employee was eventually terminated, one employee reported to us that she was aware of the situation but thought we were trying to help the impaired person. Both situations are examples of NOT covering for each other. Being a “tattle tail” certainly has a negative connotation. Allowing bad things to happen in a workplace should outweigh that connotation. Looking out for each other is critical to “mission success.” The lesson we learned from these experiences is that it is important to discuss various scenarios with employees and explain how they should handle observations about problems among and between other employees. Ensuring that staff know what is expected of them in this regard is crucial to doing the right thing, and doing things the right way.

]]> Ziggy’s Birthday Is Still an Event https://magnusinsights.com/ziggys-birthday-is-still-an-event/ Tue, 13 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3237 I will always and forever miss Ziggy. For those of you who never met Ziggy, he was my cat and my friend for 19 years. I loved Ziggy so much that, after his passing, I wrote a book about him. I fell in love with Ziggy on October 31, 1977. It is the only time I have ever experienced love at first sight! We went through many life changing events together, including numerous moves as I attended college, then graduate school, and embarked on my career. We grew up together, in many ways. Ziggy was big (20 pounds in his prime), fluffy, and most important, mean. He was really, really mean! One of his favorite pastimes was tricking unsuspecting people into thinking he was harmless, then biting them as soon as they tried to pet him. I warned these people to never trust him, but it was usually to no avail. Ziggy was also profoundly entertaining. We had lots of fun experiences together! And, luckily for David, he received Ziggy’s seal of approval when we began dating! When David and I moved to our home in Lighthouse Point in 1992, I knew it would be Ziggy’s final home. By then, he and I had lived in many places, including several that were not too nice, and we were ready to settle down. I informed the real estate agent who helped us find a house that the #1 requirement was a screened porch where Ziggy could enjoy himself. (Luckily, the real estate agent was a cat lover, who understood my #1 desire was to make Ziggy happy!) Ziggy lived a spectacular life, passing away on September 14, 1996. My mom repeatedly said. “There will never be another Ziggy” and she was right. (As a side note, Ziggy never bit Mom!) . Many cats have come and gone in my life since Ziggy, but none will ever have the profound impact he had on my life. Ziggy was born on August 15, 1977 and every year, his birthday is written on my calendar and his life is commemorated. Ziggy lives on in my heart and memories!

]]> Cover the Employee’s Back https://magnusinsights.com/cover-the-employees-back/ Thu, 08 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3242 As I wrote the prior post about the need for employees to cover the boss’ back, I had this post, and the next one, in mind, because covering for each other is critical. It is important for a boss to keep the health and well being of the employees in mind. In our 30+ years of being employers, Melissa and I have had examples of issues where this came into play. One employee had an issue with the hostility of another employee. In that instance, we were kept in the dark about the extent of the behavior by other employees (see next post). For other reasons, the “bad” employee was terminated and the truth of the hostility came out. Another example was on a research day, when a mock juror was verbally abusive and made racially derogatory comments to one of our employees. Melissa overhead these comments and immediately jumped in to help our employee by dismissing the abusive mock juror. I was quickly enlisted to escort the abuser out of the room and facility. We have always known we did the right thing by ending the abuse as quickly as possible and ensuring there was no residual impact on our team member. Another memorable occasion was when one of our employees, a black, Haitian, male, was followed by our local police department and stopped for questioning on multiple occasions while in our neighborhood. I decided the only way to “cover the employee’s back” was to approach a supervisor in our small police department about the issue. Ironically, the supervisor was a minority as well, an Asian man, who at first didn’t know how to react to the situation. But, after a bit of discussion, he helped me come up with a solution that eliminated the “harassment” of our minority employees. These are things you never learn about in business school. Things you may not consider otherwise. But, they are things that demonstrate the need to look out for employees in ways that go beyond the norms of a job.

]]> Probing Questions and Difficult Answers https://magnusinsights.com/probing-questions-and-difficult-answers/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3226 I went to my primary care physician recently for my annual check up. (As an aside, my physician is smart: He has a Ph. D. in addition to an M. D.) My physician is committed to helping medical students with their education. He has mentored medical students from The University of Miami for decades and often involves them in my appointments. On this day, there was a particularly eager and earnest medical student who was helping my physician by asking some of the questions that are routinely part of medical examinations. The medical student asked me whether anything was bothering me, to which I replied that there are many things bothering me, none of which are medical in nature. (Word to the wise: Be careful what questions you ask a psychologist!) The medical student asked me if I take any drugs, prescription or non prescription, to which I replied, in a voice that sounded just like my mother, “No. I don’t even take an aspirin. I never have a headache or anything drugs would help.” He droned on and on with similar routine questions until he finally lost interest due to the fact that there was, apparently, nothing wrong with me. When he closed his notepad, signaling the end of his questioning, I informed him that, of all the questions he asked me, he forgot to ask a couple of important ones. He was quite taken aback, but he quickly recovered and asked, “What did I forget to ask you?” I told him that he should include in his pre-exam interview a few questions to determine whether the patient (female or male) is being victimized by physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, sex trafficking, or anything similar that they might be reluctant to volunteer on their own. I told him it is his duty, in the interest of “doing no harm,” to ascertain things that are difficult to answer by asking probing questions, then paying attention to both verbal an nonverbal cues in an attempt to help his patients. Many times, a primary care physician is the first person to realize something is wrong with a patient that is an underlying cause of a medical problem. This young future physician thanked me profusely for contributing to his medical education. Lesson learned: Ask probing questions even when anticipating an answer that is difficult to provide. You might save someone’s life!

]]> Alaskan Cruises https://magnusinsights.com/alaskan-cruises/ Thu, 18 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3219 Having just returned from Alaska, I am more aware than ever that going to Alaska means, for many people, taking a cruise. But, Melissa and I aren’t cruisers, so we did a land tour. Nonetheless, it is now impossible to be in Alaska without encountering cruisers. From the gift (junk) shops in Anchorage to Denali, cruise passengers are everywhere. The Denali National Park area, that is, outside the national park, even has hotels dedicated to cruisers who are taking side trips there. For better or worse, Alaska has been impacted by cruise ship based tourism. One of our land cruising stops was Seward, and there was a ship docked there for our entire visit. I hear good things about Alaskan cruises and the sights which can be seen, leading to this story. Many years ago, my Dad, Herman, decided to take my Mom, Carole, on an Alaskan cruise. He was excited that this was an auction item at one of the trucking conventions he attended and he aggressively bid on the “Alaskan cruise” and won the prize. However, this was not what one thinks of when cruising to Alaska. It was, instead of a scenic, inside passage tour, a cargo ship taking the most direct route from Seattle to Anchorage, fully loaded. The accommodations were in the guest cabin on a container ship. Dad was excited that he would get to dine with the Captain. Turns out, Mom and Dad were the only passengers on the ship and they had the only, non crew, cabin! There were no buffets, entertainment, or sightseeing opportunities. Just full steam ahead on a working ship. As it turned out, Dad enjoyed it; he was thrilled to see how everything worked. And, the Captain had a model train layout in his cabin, an interest of Dad’s, so he was in “hog heaven.” As for Mom, she brought along several books. There were no nice ship corridors, elevators, balconies, etc.; it was decks, stairs, and portholes. There are Alaskan cruises, and there are Alaskan cruises. Alaskans depend on the cargo transported by sea, and, thankfully, these ships ply the seas daily. But, we’ve often laughed at this situation and how different people’s perspectives can be! Bon voyage.

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