dispatches from the new world of work

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From an IT consultant --> management consultant, I trust you were patient with your IT support people. You might not think it but, they have feelings too!!!

Glad to see you are back up.

Posted by Patrick Bergen at June 10, 2009 7:35 AM

Patrick. As a manager in a support environment I totally agree.

Of course the boot is often on the other foot when the following happens (all personal experience):

1) A plain case of RTFM (as in page 1)
2) the power cable isn't quite in....
3) We receive a fax of a picture of a disk in response to "please copy the disk and send it to us"
4) "Have you closed the CD drawer" - "of COURSE I have!" followed by the very audible sound of the drawer closing heard over the phone......
5) "Can you send us a copy of MS SQL Server?" "I am afraid not - you need to talk to Microsoft for that" "well can't you just copy it and send it to me" "well no that would be illegal"
6) "well sir the reason your (mission critical)system has failed is that your IT people have removed some of the key disk drives that it uses....."

Of course if all else fails

Just reboot the ^$$%^% thing!

Posted by PaulH at June 10, 2009 8:12 AM

Clearly we MUST review the cyber-whereabouts of the one known as "Trevor" for the last 36 hours. Maybe have a "wise" Latina grill him under klieg lights. :>)

Posted by C Love at June 10, 2009 8:13 AM

Paul,
Funny...people rarely call to say things are going well. The best you can hope for is to be ignored.

Posted by Patrick Bergen at June 10, 2009 9:03 AM

Glad to see that you're up and running. No impatience here.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 10, 2009 9:59 AM

Hi C – I’m alive and well thanks – flourishing in fact. By the way I’m not guilty regarding any conspiracy suggestion that I might be anything to do with the collapse of Tom's Blog. Anyone who knows me well will know I have the IT competence to switch on the machine and type – after that I struggle to understand :- )

On a serious note its great to see TP Blog up and running again – well done to the techno folks who sorted it!

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 10, 2009 1:44 PM

Images still appear to be missing from all posts.

Posted by Ian at June 10, 2009 5:28 PM

Ian-
Could you please let us know if you're using a PC or a Mac as well as which browser you're using (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.)? We're not experiencing the same issue and want to figure out what's causing your image loss. Thanks.

Posted by Shelley Dolley at June 10, 2009 6:13 PM

Patrick - We have a wonderful group of people who help us. I'm not sure patient would be the exact word to describe us yesterday, but I think we may have managed polite and well-mannered. Thanks for the reminder!

Posted by Shelley Dolley at June 10, 2009 6:17 PM

Trevor is too modest - he had me review yesterday his new webpage draft "I am the real Tom Peters" similar to his "I am a Rolling Stone" and "I am an Eagle" pages from times past. :>)

http://www.wat.tv/video/the-rolling-stones-1967-ed-l798_l51g_.html

Posted by C Love at June 10, 2009 7:02 PM

CL: Interesting link to a French site. Will we be getting more on your conversion to socialism later this week?

Posted by David Porter at June 10, 2009 7:15 PM

DP - more like French-Swedish, Italian-Greek heritage here - hard to believe how youthful the RS boys look. :>)

Posted by C Love at June 10, 2009 7:32 PM

Great stuff C – That video brings back so many great memories of being a teenager in the 60’s. Always good to see The Stones even though I personally always preferred The Beatles. The Stones come in a good third place after The Eagles and The Fab Four in my top three. I’m going to see The Eagles again in Birmingham on 7th July on their ‘Long Road Out of Eden’ world tour – still magical!

Actually the truth is that video is a recently secretly recorded Stones TRIBUTE BAND performing in C Loveland with the following cast from the TP Blog:

Mick Jagger alias C Love – what a lovely graceful mover – so light on the feet
Brian Jones alias John O’Leary - love the white hat John
Bill Wyman alias Dan Gunter – women swooning over heart throb Dan
Keith Richards alias Dave Wheeler - keep taking the pills Dave
Charlie Watts alias Trevor Gay – wrecking hotel rooms as a hobby

Thank you my friend – have a great Thursday – I’m working in Manchester today – home of the worlds greatest soccer team :- )

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 11, 2009 1:07 AM

Apologies to regular commenters and friends on TP Blog who did not not make it into the final five of the C Love "Stones Tribute Band."

Further opportunities are available for your Warhol 15 minutes of fame - please submit email complete with Photo and full CV/Biography to:

C Love - c/o Simon Cowell, Britain's Got Talent :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 11, 2009 1:23 AM

Thanks TG for the tribute. Once Sir Mick got with Tina Turner then he really learned how to dance. The 1st time I was in that Ed Sullivan Theatre - for the David Letterman show - pure adrenaline. Too bad the young lads didn't make much of themselves. :>)

Posted by C Love at June 11, 2009 6:06 AM

Trevor - Knowing what a fan you are I know you will enjoy the 7th.

I was at a conference a few weeks back in Orlando that had Don Henley in concert as the main entertainment. Struck lucky with the seats. (5 rows from the stage) - a great night!

Posted by PaulH at June 11, 2009 7:51 AM

Hi Paul - We will enjoy the 7th I've no doubt - this will be the 3rd time in 4 years I've seen The Eagles live after waiting 30 years to see them for the first time! - Well worth the wait!

Congrats for seeing the great Don – he is simply magnificent vocally. Is there a more versatile yet distinctive voice in the history of rock? My favourite Henley solo track is The Last Resort - the great man at his most politically irreverent.

When we talk about excellence it just doesn’t get any more excellent than this Henley virtuoso performance of The Last Resort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7JNbd6XU14

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 11, 2009 3:25 PM

I'm still working to pay the bills? I should have asked for a better cut of the royalties from all hits songs, huh Trevor?

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 11, 2009 3:57 PM

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"hits songs"...? Guess this stuff takes longer to clear out of your system than I thought. LOL. "Sniff... sniff... snort..."

What is it they say? "If you can remember the '60's, you weren't there?" Coooooool, man!

where to buy viagra in canada Posted by Dan Gunter at June 11, 2009 3:59 PM

Dan - We need John O'Leary's expertise on such matters :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 11, 2009 4:23 PM

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Yep. And with a mind like that, you need a BIG hat ;-)

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 11, 2009 4:45 PM

You rang? I kinda like being represented by Brian Jones, the departed soul of the band. BTW, if you watch the clip of the Stones on the Ed Sullivan Show you'll note they did not sing "let's spend the night together" as the song usually goes, but instead sang, "let's spend some time together" as dictated by Ed Sullivan (or the CBS censors). Total cop-out. The Doors refused to toe the line when Sullivan made a similar request of them (to omit the word "higher" from "Light My Fire") and were subsequently banned from the show. And Dylan, when he was told by Sulllivan to not to sing the "Talkin John Birch Society Blues," simply walked off the show. Interesting contrasts.

Posted by John O'Leary at June 11, 2009 8:05 PM

Rebels and renegades. Elvis being shown from the waste up only on television because of swinging his hips... Johnny Cash singing "Sunday Morning Comin' Down" the way it was supposed to be on live television... what would the world be like without 'em, huh?

One of my favorites was Tom T. Hall and his band on the "Grand Ol' Opry," when his drummer continued to drum with one hand and grabbed a trumpet with the other one and played the brass notes in "The Day Clayton Delaney Died." Little Jimmy Dickens caught hell for that, so the story goes, because brass instruments weren't considered appropriate for the show. But he didn't know the guy was gonna do it. When Tom T. Hall was asked later why the guy did it, he simply said something to the effect of "It's on the record. They were just playing the song like it's played."

TRUE "live" television will always be by far the best!

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 10:33 AM

Laughing at myself. I get so deep into the thoughts about this stuff at times that my brain goes on autopilot in typing words. Specifically, I am referring to my use of the word "waste" instead of the correct word "waist" above. Maybe Tom and company will one day invest in a grammar-checker for the blogs? Eye weal bee the farce to add mitt eye knead won fur reel sum times.

Not a single red underline in the foregoing sentence. LOL. Oops. "LOL" gets one. Dangit. So did that. Ugggg. I sir render. Their. That's bettor. ;-)

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 1:20 PM

P.S. This day, I feel confident I AM definitely on-topic: "technical difficulties."

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 1:22 PM

LOL Dan - you might like this :-)

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Thsi is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

amzanig huh?

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 2:04 PM

I just read that entire paragraph without skipping a beat. But I still hate it when I call myself proofreading the preview only to go back later and discover what seems like a very obvious typo.

I know you can't tell it from some of my comments, but I am a perfectionist. Actually, I'm a passionate, fast-paced, perfectionist. Three ingredients that often result in some bizarre outcomes (which I'm sure you CAN tell at times, huh?)

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 2:11 PM

Dan - I well remember a colleague sent out a long draft report to various people in the healthcare organisations I was working for at least 10 years ago. She asked for comments on its content. One particular ‘perfectionist doctor’ replied to her with words to this effect:

discount real viagra “The brackets are not aligned on Page 59”

She replied - “Not exactly what we were looking for but thanks”

I suggested she wrote back to him: "You really need to get out more"

Perfectionists are great for people like me to work with. I like to think of myself as a perfectionist but I know that I am not one really. I make lots of mistakes in text but my pragmatic view is usually that if the message gets over then that’s ok. It’s rather like cars as far as I’m concerned. It’s not tremendously important to me that my car is spotless inside and outside as long as it gets me to where I need to go. That’s not to say I never clean my car …. But maybe not every Sunday morning …. Now I’m waffling Dan … forgive me …. A nice glass of Red beckons :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 2:32 PM

overnight viagra delivery without prescription Trevor, the only time you annoy me is when you rub it in that happy hour at your place is only lunch hour at mine. Wait a minute... I'm self-employed. I don't GET a lunch hour. Grab another glass, buddy.

viagra and women Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 2:40 PM

Dan - Just to show I'm not really a perfectionist - we only have White in the house! And I really fancied Red this evening. Maybe a trip to the local shop is called for. No slacking please - standards cannot slip - even on a Friday! - you must keep working!!!! If morale doesn't improve the sackings will continue :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 2:47 PM

One of my favorite little stories (I forget who told it -- Covey perhaps) is about the boss who pulled this number (paraphrasing a bit):

Employee submits a report for his boss to critique. The boss calls him and asks "Is the the BEST you can do?" The employee says "Well, no I suppose I could..." So the boss sends him back to work on it more.

Later, he sends it to the boss again. The boss calls him in and says "Is this your absolute best?" The employee again says "Well, I guess I could..." and he is sent back to work on it further.

After several rounds of this, the employee once more submits it to the boss to review. The boss calls him in and asks "Are you SURE this is the best you can do on this report?" The employee says "Sir, I've edited, proofed, reviewed, and done every possible thing I can think of to make it perfect."

The boss replies "Wonderful. Then I guess I'll actually read it now."

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 2:50 PM

Trevor, just toss in a little red food coloring. Once you're working on the third bottle, it doesn't really matter anyway. Oh, almost forgot. Have some extra sharp cheddar waiting, too. Cheers!

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 2:55 PM

Come to think of it, spelling and grammar won't matter much by then, either. We're likely to be blogging on customer service on a porn site. Oh, my, THAT'S a scary scenario. But who knows, we might find Tom trying to tear the pictures out of the screen (remember: "you don't cut porn" per T.P.) LOL. I might be in hot water for bringing that statement up -- especially without referring to the context from whence it cometh! LOL.)

Oh... Hi, Tom... sorry... didn't hear the doorbell...

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 3:03 PM

Love the Dr Covey story ... Back from shop, Red bottle in hand - Mature Cheddar is a great idea ... See you later - I guess my typiong miy be efen lesss puurfecksion laiter :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 3:04 PM

That's okay Trevor. I'm still hi and dry over hear on G.M.T. minus five or six hours. I'm totally behaving. "Beertender... get me another bar!" Okay, life is TOO short to consist of only dull, boring, serious blogs. Hope nobody minds a little fun.

But just in case, I might need to ducking out before T.P. drops in. There's no "edit" or "delete" function on here. Smiles!

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 3:09 PM

Trevor, I gotta ask: you renting a loft apartment on top of a liquor store or something? That was TOO doggone FAST. No wonder you're up to running marathons. Wine run: 1 minute 28 seconds. That has to qualify for the Guinness book or something. Hmmm... Guinness... Ale. That's it. I'm declaring it "Happy hour and the grill both start at 3 p.m." day here in the sunny South. Posting a disclaimer for anything I might say or do for the remainder of the day.

"The opinions expressed in any further comments this date bearing this identification do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host, host company, this interested blog commenter, or any of the non-intoxicated brain cells thereof -- only their subconscious, fiendish desires."

I trust nobody is taking me seriously at this point. This is one of those Fridays that wraps up a week when I certainly don't. I rarely get intoxicated. Trust me, friends, that's as good as "quality control" gets. ;-)

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 3:25 PM

All good fun Dan. Just finished reading Alan Webber’s “Rules of Thumb.” Alan says don’t take life too seriously in business - make time to laugh. I agree with him – far too much stiffness, and seriousness in business! It really not compulsory to be miserable at work.

PS The shop is 100 yards down the road :-)

cheapest canadian viagra Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 4:13 PM

Fun and business are not mutually exclusive. I have found that people who tend to laugh a lot and poke fun at themselves first tend to have the easiest time developing great leadership skills and inspiring loyalty among team members. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions to that, but I'll take some sunshine over drab and dull any day. At least it's fun to experience things, learn, experiment, and even fall flat on your face sometimes with cheerful people, as opposed to achieving success with someone who leaves you still feeling miserable when it's all over.

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 4:33 PM

Now I get it. You've got one of those pneumatic tubes like they use at the bank drive-through rigged between your house and the wine shop, ey? Whoosh... "Look, Honey, Chardonnay! And a lollipop."

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 4:41 PM

Now you are declaring all my secrets to the world and his friend. Actually Dan it’s a series of underground tunnels with constant running Chilean Red Wine … Hic! .... Far too little humour in business :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 4:46 PM

Trevor, I suppose I should clarify something here to avoid anyone get the wrong impression:

To Whom It May Concern;

Having engaged in semi-regular, direct conversation with my friend Trevor, I must say that I have found him to be a very upright and intelligent fellow. Our combined experiences (in the field of health care especially) have sparked some very exhilarating dialog, which always ends with both of us being further inspired and enlightened... provided he's sober long enough to actually finish the conversation.

JUST KIDDING -- for real, Trevor is a great guy to know, and I'm proud to call him "my friend."

And we both agree that work and business do NOT come first in life. We're both fortunate to be sharing life with someone special who does. And before anyone gets the wrong idea, it's NOT the same woman.

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 4:55 PM

LOL... or the same man just to ensure equality Dan :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 12, 2009 5:06 PM

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Now you're scaring me, Trevor. Is the ETOH content of the red higher there than in the U.S.? LOL. If it is, I'll be declaring a few items on my way back if I end up traveling over there. Only to use for cooking purposes, though, I assure you ;-) Well, something to do with getting toasted, anyway.

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 12, 2009 5:45 PM

viagra over counter Hellooooo????? Dan?????? Trevor??????? Is this thing on???????? Anybody out there???????

Posted by dave wheeler at June 12, 2009 10:02 PM

There is nothing to be concerned. You are operating fine! Thank you for the comment.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at June 13, 2009 1:03 AM

Thanks Andy...great to see you back on these pages!

Posted by dave wheeler at June 13, 2009 9:44 AM

Hello Dave? Oh, Dave? What are you doing Dave? LOL. Sorry for the delay, there, buddy. Must have been the analog to digital conversion thing interfering with your signal. LOL. That, or I'm just suffering from a case of "blog lag."

Posted by Dan Gunter at June 13, 2009 11:21 AM

Thank you, Dave. I do like to be connected via these pages. Good postings overall and I shall be returning.

PS: WHAT IS THE FUN FUTURE?
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