"The Lexicon Kerfuffle"

One very important step in any planning activity is communicating your plan to others, sometimes a superior.  Yes, we should be communicating with our superiors [any type of authority] and word/phrase choice is very important in this communication event.  

As many of you already know, my home is a petri dish of “wisdom”, especially concerning word/phrase use.  It struck me the other day that many of the phrases heard around my house would be completely inappropriate in a professional setting, especially in a dialogue with your boss.  

Imagine this...Your boss asks you to bring the current status report to her office and give her a quick update.  Your response should not be “If it’s that important to you, you’ll get up and get it.”

or

“Some of the things you are doing just don’t make sense.” [Before you ask, the answer is yes.  These are direct quotes from conversations with my “wisdom” guardians.]

Here are a few more; all are equally impressive and completely inappropriate in the office.  [or at home with parents]

“Speak freak.”

“Sit boy sit.”

“Please leave a message after the tone. BEEP.”

“I am hi-larious.”

“Blah, Blah, Blah.”

“REALLY???”

“You have been my father (supervisor) long enough.  You should know what I mean.”

and a classic...

“Yes, your majesty”

So let me unpack the title for you.  Lexicon - a person’s vocabulary.  Kerfuffle - a disorderly outburst, disturbance, or commotion.  My “wisdom” guardians literally have “a disturbing vocabulary.”  I am not sure where they get it from.  Maybe the nuts don’t fall far from the trees.

Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

- What is Your Plan? -

Service: A One Way Street?

We all enjoy those occasions when someone does a little extra for us.  I appreciate it when my wife brings me a glass of water from the kitchen just because she was getting one for herself and she knew I would like one too.

Most of us even look for opportunities to bless others with random acts of kindness.  If I am making popcorn for movie night, I will make enough for the rest of family without any of them having to ask.

We also know a few “characters” in our lives who don’t fit either of these models.  They don’t look for opportunities to serve others, and they try to manipulate the situation to compel others to serve them.  Service to a “character” is a One Way Street.  “Characters” often employ an indirect approach to get what they want.

“What are you making for breakfast? … Ok, I guess that will work for me too.”

“What are you making yourself for lunch?... That sounds good.  I will have some of that too.”

“Would you like some yogurt? … Bring me one too since you’re getting yourself one.”

“No I don’t want that but, you can bring me some water since you are already by the fridge.”

These sound a lot like the Jeff Foxworthy line “Sensuous was up, get me a….”

We are slowly working on a cure for our “character”.  Consider this antidote.

“What are you making yourself for lunch?”

“I am making soup.  What are you making for yourself?”

“Oh, that’s not the answer I was looking for.”

“I guess you should have asked a better question.”

Do you recognize a “character” in your life?  I don’t believe these “characters” are intentionally rude or inconsiderate.  They may simply lack the proper planning tools to consider service to others as part of their walk through life.

Mark 10:45:  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• What is Your Plan? -

Post Script: Experienced another behavior modification following my "characters'" review of this blog prior to posting. Service is turning into a two way street.

The Alarm Clock Paradox

I will start with an apology to my three readers… I am sorry for the absence.  I had shoulder surgery in October and lost my writing rhythm.  Rest assured, I am back and I plan to continue the blog as long as you three remain entertained.  Onto the Alarm Clock Paradox.

I would like to back a bold statement… The worst time of the day for decision making is during the moments immediately following the rude blast of the alarm clock.  Sure, you are the one who has to go to work or school and you were the one that selected the wake up time, but that doesn’t mean you are going to make a good decision the second you hear the sleep shattering BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

A typical morning in our house:

The alarm is set for 5:30 am.  [This is totally reasonable since the family member has to leave the house at 11:30 am for an appointment. What??? Might be a different kind of planning problem, but I digress]

The alarm starts its progressive crescendo for BEEPS at 5:30.  The first moment of bad decision making is to do nothing and let the BEEPS continue their upward spiral.  After what seems like 35 minutes, those BEEPS stop with the tap of the snooze button.

But wait, there is a second alarm horn wailing in the same room.  If one poorly set alarm is good, then two is better and doubles the opportunity to make bad decisions.  This second alarm is somehow silenced.  Apparently, this second alarm is a complete surprise to this family member.  

After 9 minutes, as you would guess, the cycle repeats prompting another round of bad decisions.  This time, the magnitude of the bad decision increases.  The alarms are turned off completely, and the comfort of the warm bed beckons.  The warm bed seeker is completely unaware that the entire household is awake and is looking to seek revenge for their interrupted slumber.

With no alarms to interrupt the peaceful rest, our slumberjack doesn’t wake up until 11:05 am with a loud “Oh, crap!”  He’s not sure if he is going to make it out the door on time and there are no sympathetic family members who are willing to assist.  Oh, and did I mention it is a Saturday!

At some time or another, I think we’ve all made bad decisions immediately following the alarm's first clang.  My strong recommendation is never ever put yourself in a position to negotiate with your alarm clock.  It will almost always deceive you, over and over again.

Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”

-- What is Your Plan?--