Archive for December, 2011

San Quentin: Guiding Rage Into Power

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Visiting San Quentin State Prison, and What I Didn’t See Coming

A few weeks ago I got the chance to visit San Quentin and speak with a community of prisoners who are working on personal transformation.  What a surprise.

Unexpected thing #1:  At San Quentin state prison, men with life eligible sentences play doubles tennis on the yard.  Unexpected thing #2: These men (who have at some point killed another person) and I?  We are more alike than I previously ever imagined.  Unexpected thing #3: They are engaged in a year long program to become non-violent persons and peacemakers, and have taken a student peacekeeper pledge that many people ‘on the outside’ can partake in.    (more…)


Why Noone Wants to Hire You

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

I don’t “not hire people” because they lack the right pedigree.  I don’t hire them because I almost always give a few test assignments, paid, to see how they will do.   I give a lot of people the chance at work, especially people who seem to have a spark, but who don’t have the officially correct background (eg, the screening mechanisms and signifiers such as degrees and credentials and experience) and I, or someone on the team, will explain and teach as needed.  It’s a chance to be a self starter and make something happen…if you’re a fast learner and you show up, we have a beautiful thing.  If not, no big risk either way.

What I am finding is that there are some basic work skills that people just don’t have, and they aren’t related to education.  They are however, related to teachability, and to accountability. These skills speak volumes to how easy it might be to work with you over the long haul.

Does this seem like tough love? (more…)


Why Noone Wants to Work for You

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Are people giving you only a fraction of what they are capable of?  Do they go home early?  Yawn in meetings?  Seem disheartened?

Here are the top 5 reasons people don’t want to work for you:

1) You are unclear on what you want, so it’s impossible for anyone to be successful. You subconsciously believe that people should be mind readers. The corollary to this is you keep changing your mind or changing direction, or find it difficult to progress projects forward.  This is exhausting for a team, as there is no real progress or accomplishment to point to. (more…)