Recipe for my 50 year “Love Cake”

• 4 lbs. of pure love

• 1 lb. butter of youth
• ½ lb. of good looks
• 1 lb. sweet temper
• 1 tsp of naughty smile
• 1 lb. of ‘blindness for faults’
• 2 ½ lbs. of self-forgetfulness
• 1 lb. pure listening (refined only!)
• ½ lb. pure sweetener
• 1 lb. of good humor
• 2 tsp of sweet argument
• 1 pint of rippling laughter
• 8 cups of common sense
• 1 oz. modesty


Put the love, good looks and sweet temper into a well furnished house or apartment. Beat the butter of youth to a cream, and mix well together with the ‘blindness of faults.’ Cream the butter and pure sweetener. Stir the listening and good humor into the sweet argument—then immediately add naughty smile. Add the rippling laughter and common sense then work the whole together until everything is well mixed, and bake gently forever.


Note: Do not over process mix.


I love you JoJo!

Happiness is. . .

What does it take to be happy? Is it your performance at work? Honestly, I don't think so. If work "defines" who and what you are, what happens if work isn't going so well?

I think that too many people go through life "thinking" they are happy, but don't really know the meaning. Let me give you an example. Yesterday, I saw a grown man (seemingly very irate) behind the wheel of an enormous diesel truck...no not the 53' semi-truck...one of those: "I want to be as big and noisy as an 18 wheeler...but can't afford it...trucks."

Why in hell would you need a very, very noisy "giant" pickup truck? I thought to myself, maybe he pulls horses or travel trailers....or small houses...but no hitch. Maybe he hauls bricks or wood....or sheep....but the bed of his truck (with no tailgate) showed no signs of wear...not a scratch. Ok, maybe he likes the size..."that's it!!" He likes to intimidate other drivers by screaming-up behind them....slamming on his brakes...."banging his hands onto the steering wheel"....and actually getting pissed off that someone stopped at a traffic signal.

I watched in amazement as he weaved from lane to lane....honked at a few drivers....only to end-up at the same location as the rest of the traffic. What a way to live your life. Unhappy at everything!

Maybe if he knew that happiness is not having to listen to your boss talk about how "bad things are" all the time....happiness is the ability to "earn" your pay (not be pigeoned into what the company 'thinks' you are worth)....happiness is spending time with your family.

Happiness is "what you make it." You wake up each day with an opportunity to be in a bad mood...or be happy (insert sh*t eating grin here).

So, are you afraid of the dark?

Are you afraid of the dark? What about concern over your company's stability?

Most of those who have been in the workforce during the last two decades have firsthand experience of the peaks and valleys of the business climate. There is no longer any guarantee that companies will remain consistently secure and that layoffs and pay cuts won't occur. The last two years have seen what seems like a deluge of small, medium, and large corporations downsizing or closing. Certainly, you need to pay attention to your employer's economic performance and future. If the outlook is bleak, you may want to move into a more-stable industry or company before you are involuntarily pushed into a job search.

How do you really know whether you are just going through a rough patch that will improve over time or whether it's time to let go and move on? Most people understand the mechanics of finding a job, from how to write a good resume to how to negotiate salary and compensation, but who has the skills to leave a job at the right time and for the right reasons?

Some people find it harder to deal with change than others. For the faint of heart, the prospect of switching jobs creates a sense of unease so overwhelming that they will remain in an unhappy work situation rather than face the unknown.

At some point in a career, people may realize that they are no longer happy or challenged or could be ‘constantly’ reminded by their boss of ‘bad times.’ They further realize that another job of the same kind isn't going to solve the problem. Shifting the focus of what we really want to be "when we grow up" is an exciting, yet sometimes scary proposition. Yet, this is a pivotal point in life when finding a job that draws upon your strengths and interests can bring a new sense of personal and professional fulfillment.

Go for it!

It's Spring..."a time for change"

This has been a very, very long winter for me! I was snowed-in for almost a week...and after that...it seems to rain almost every day.

As soon as the sun peeks-out, everyone seems to run to the window like they have never seen sunlight before...pathetic. And besides that....the idiots that drive with studs on all 4 tires...in the rain....don't get me started.

Thank God it is spring! It's time for a new beginning...and time for me to find a new job. My 8 years are up!

Leaving a job isn't a crime. But many workers feel incredibly guilty about it and will even put off telling their boss, which actually makes it worse if it means your boss has less notice than he or she would otherwise have. The big thing to know is that you don't owe anyone an excuse or an apology for leaving. People leave jobs all the time -- it's normal. Any boss who isn't crazy knows its part of doing business. Simply be straightforward and professional about it, and you'll likely be surprised at how smoothly it will go....more to come.

WITH TODAY'S sluggish economy, most people who are employed can't help but breathe a little sigh of relief that they have a job--even if they don't really like it. Human nature is to retreat to the trenches in times of uncertainty, and those who would like to make a job change are left wondering whether it is safe to poke their heads out and take a look around.

The good news is that, despite the economic slowdown, it's still an "employees' market" in much of the U.S., with a significant labor shortage in many parts of the country. For example, a survey by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and Andersen Consulting found that 75% of small and midsize businesses that responded are having trouble filling vacancies because of the shortage of qualified workers.

More to come....

Workplace Strategy Part 2

The trend in corporate offices today is to have fewer and smaller individual workspaces and a greater portion of the space dedicated to interactive uses in an array of functions and sizes.

The main function of the workplace is shifting toward intense interaction. Space is being optimized for all types of collaboration, ranging from large formal meetings to chance interactions as two people pass in the corridor. For quick transitions from one mode of working (collaborative) to another (heads-down), “thinking spaces” are needed for periods of concentration.

Some very large technology companies are targeting a metric of 50 gross square feet per employee in their Sales and Service offices, down from 150 today. They do not plan to accomplish this by drastically reducing the size of workspaces but by better supporting employees working remotely, recapturing underutilized workspaces, and providing more collaborative spaces. Achieving this metric is a gradual process. These companies recognize that a significant amount of remote work is already happening. The new design and management of the workplace gives these mobile employees “permission” to be away from their desk. As a result, individual work space is less in demand.

Part 2 of 2

Workplace Strategy Part 1

Despite the benefits of Workplace Strategy (WS), the introduction of change may initially be unsettling to both employees and managers. Even at companies where the value of WS is recognized, selling the concept and progressing to its implementation can pose challenges.

Managers who have driven WS initiatives involving open-plan work environments, telecommuting, flextime, and on-demand space options report that objections about distractions and loss of privacy are common. For example, some employees insist that privacy is critical to their operations. But after further exploration, it may become apparent that they are expressing a personal desire rather than a true business requirement. It may also mean that providing a more varied set of space options, including individual privacy rooms throughout the space, can fulfill employee needs. Other common objections are from business unit managers who raise concerns about the upfront technology and furniture costs of WS, fear of lost productivity, as well as a personal sense of lost control when employees work in remote locations.

Most obstacles can be overcome with thorough planning and expert execution. Methods for getting buy-in more easily include: Aligning the WS program with the business goals: For example, if a business unit leader’s goal is to reduce costs, WS can be structured to produce savings in the intermediate or even short term. If the mission is to foster greater collaboration among business lines, open-plan environments and team rooms should be emphasized.

(Part 1 of 2)

Face it! It’s not as fun to do it by yourself…..

What’s funny is the fact that some customers see no value in the expertise of quality space planning capabilities. If I had a nickel for every time I heard, “we won’t need that service….we will do it ourselves.” Well obviously some feel they can do their regular ‘day job’ and devote a token amount of time to planning the layout of an entire office.

Honestly, offices have changed so much in the last 20 years that these customers….the ones that see no value in professional help….will someday be left in the dust. Why? As I explain the process…perhaps the process itself will answer the question.

Develop an interior space “Masterplan”
Before space planning and design of an interior project, someone (or group) must decide the direction or vision of the final interior plan (even before site selection is made). This will aid in the effort of “what type of space are we looking for?” If you don’t know your interior needs…how do you know where to begin?

It is an essential preplanning tool on all projects that range from medium to large scales due to their complexity. The primary purpose of a “Masterplan” is to determine the space, type of furniture, equipment locations in proximity to workers, and special needs of a company for move-in.

This Masterplan acts as a guide during the study and the preparation of space layout and the “type” of commercial space you are looking for. It is also a communication tool between the commercial real estate broker, your senior staff or advisors, your designer, and equally important, your office furniture team.

During the development of the Masterplan program, the furniture “programmer” will solicit detail information from the client about the company’s history, organization, operations, policies, personnel, and group requirements that make-up the company. Much of the programming effort focuses on quantitative calculations using basic unit takeoff that derives from revision of existing space standards from the company or from industry standards. This is why you need a professional.

The final “program book” includes overall space summary for move- in, personnel, and space projections for future, building feasibility analysis, space distribution analysis and planning recommendations for the new space. Programmers can generate additional company space statistics by comparing the types and usage of spaces between the company’s organizational units that are meaningful to identify growth patterns and planning directions. The statistic aims to provide interior space planners with additional information that will influence space layout decisions.

The nature of work is changing rapidly, and the workplace must adapt to keep pace. Technology allows knowledge workers to work anywhere at any time, improving their productivity while enhancing mobility both within and outside the office. In the office, employees can be freed from a static, dedicated space, thanks to technologies such as Voice over IP, wireless phones, and wireless computer networks. This allows them to seamlessly move from workstations to team rooms to private offices to café settings — wherever their work takes them within the office. In addition, these technologies allow employees to be productive when outside of the office setting as well, including at locations such as client sites, home, the local coffee shop, while traveling, etc.

Changes in the nature of work allow office environments to be managed as “on-demand” resources, with rooms and workstations allocated by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis. The on-demand approach is often part of Workplace Strategy (WS) solutions.

If you are not concerned about the future of your knowledge workers, you soon will be. As baby boomers age out of the workplace there will be a shortage of high-end knowledge workers until the boomer’s echo generation develops the skills needed to replace them. If you are in a people-intensive business of innovating, building relationships or solving problems, the implications for your business are staggering.

What are you doing to improve employee retention?

Successful organizations realize employee retention and talent management are integral to sustaining their leadership and growth in the marketplace. Becoming an “Employer of Choice” by retaining high-caliber employees in today’s labor market should be the highest priority. An effective office environment can help.

…..next let’s discover the importance of Workplace Strategy and how that affects your Masterplan.

What's so weird about it?

The fact that we actually put-up with this crappy weather is beyond me. The majority of the nation is dry and sunny…and yet we have the same drip….and ‘what color gray is this?’

The exciting thing is Spring is on it’s way with all the bulbs blooming. This is what it is all about. The ‘new beginning’ each year.

I know that if the economy cooperates…wait!! Let’s mention this “bad economy” for a moment….it took me time to find a parking spot at Costco as I passed the huge line waiting to get gas….as I stood in line for 20 minutes…..as the 12 people in front of me purchased flat screen TV’s and y2k-type food in their carts. The couple in front of me bought $600 worth of goods.

The economy will rebound! Americans ‘have to spend’ and people like to buy. Look around! Resturants are busy…Best Buy sales are up over 10%….STOP watching the news. The first 7 stories on the news tonight were ‘how bad’ the economy is…..as I listened to 6 straight commercials from drug companies….(the side affects out-weigh the reason to try the product)…..who runs this country anyway?

Welcome Aboard!

OK..I started a blog. “What is wrong with me?”…I said I would never do this…but I guess it’s cheaper than a shrink.You either like me…or you don’t.

I never apologize for being me. I drive the 2007 Boss302 Saleen Mustang, so please….if you are in the left lane in a Toyota Prius…please stop looking in your rear view mirror and move over!

I am an office environment expert. What? I am the person that you come to when you need help with your office….the way it looks…the way it is planned…the way it feels (and especially if it’s green). I sell real furniture (not glued and stapled). I will be here to help you through the process of moving your company, planning an environment, and making the correct choices for quality furnishings….I will help ….but you must know up-front, my job does NOT define who I am.

My experience has taught me to consult with a client and gather design criteria, information, and ideas about their future. I can show them how to use this information to encourage collaboration and innovation, support team interaction, build pride of workplace, and generally make employees feel more connected to the company’s primary business.

My focus is on relationships and on service. It is my belief that anyone can sell furniture, but not all can service the customer. I thrive in an integrated team approach that assures the client that their project will be completed successfully and on time and within budget. Services are a critical part of the ‘complete’ workplace solution. I am known in the industry for putting customers first and using innovative technologies to take the pain out of furniture planning, ordering, delivery, and life-cycle management.

I have the expertise and intellectual muscle to help a company create and maintain great, cost-efficient, talent-attracting, healthy, productive workplaces. I understand that attention to detail is what makes the difference in a successful project.

I love lookin' in the crystal ball...

'It's all about me!'

It's all about me….

I am a senior operating and management executive successful at building high-performance sales teams. My passion is to sell. I am a strategic visionary with a clear sense of purpose and urgency when faced with diverse situational challenges during periods of both declining sales and rapid growth.

I am skilled at establishing operational excellence, translating conceptual models into specific growth strategies, and planning/executing multi-faceted business campaigns designed to improve market share and gross revenue. With managers needing more from employees already working at full-tilt, achieving work-life balance is more important—and difficult—than ever. I recently made some work-life “balance” changes leaving senior sales management responsibilities to become a salesman. I work ‘my’ hours and ‘earn’ my commissions. Most people I talk to understand the change…and the others that don’t…well they are the ones that “live to work.”

(Things I love)…Vacationing on a hot sandy beach, Mexican beer, playing with my dog-Dillan, computer digitizing, dead-ball era baseball, new technology, gravy and biscuits, factory tours, mustangs (with over 400 horses), silver-age comics, 900 thread count, golf (only when I play well), cooking, old toys, traveling, old log cabins, old hand tools, digital photography, bird watching, mp3 music, old tube radios, science fiction, private jets, organized garages, baseball caps with worn brims, model railways, DVD movies, embroidery, swimming pools, rock music, maps.........

...iced tea, old box scores, ’sunny’ days, strategic planning, impact sprinklers, die cast cars (1/18), wall clocks, HDTV, ancient history, surf fishing, professional networking, model buildings, 3D drawing programs, digital renderings, gardening, afternoon naps, college football, xbox360, interior design, water features, teapots, people watching, pro football draft, hand-washing my Saleen, shade trees, charcoal drawings, having a full pantry, wool rugs, leather furniture, smell of wet concrete, 7 channel sound, newly-mowed lawns, believing in God, hardwood floors, bird feeders, wind chimes, smell of candles, afternoon sunlight, vine maples, rocking chairs, buying tires, bird baths, eggs Benedict, dogwood trees, Bluetooth, Broncos, Fringe, stepping on home plate, positive attitudes, patio furniture, hot fudge Sundays, yellow eyeglasses, Florida, all SEC football teams, Bose headphones, smell of a fireplace in Winter, sound of Dillan taking a drink...........

....fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies, payday!, falling back in the Fall, potato soup, going to breakfast early on Saturday mornings, smell of mock orange blooms, falling asleep in front of the TV, JoJo’s eyes, laughing so hard your face hurts, a hot shower, hot towels out of the dryer, bubble bath, running through sprinklers, laughing at an inside joke, going to a really good concert, watching the sunrise, road trips, surfing the Internet, my garage, having a brain that keeps memories, the hope for eternal life in heaven, the color ORANGE, pecan pie, sweet tea.......

..air conditioning, crickets, peanut butter, elephants, hot cinnamon buns, chilly mornings, slippers, vanilla scented candles, sipping hot chocolate, homemade soup simmering on the stove, BLU-RAY!!, extra blankets on the beds, morning coffee, I love my courage, recently rediscovering a passion for life, Detroit Lions.....

..watching JoJo get excited about planting a garden in the Spring, breaking-out the Christmas music for her to listen to each year, the cold side of the pillow, animals, stars on a clear night, bear hugs, action movies, cuddling on a snowy day, free stuff I might actually use someday, freshly washed blankets and sheets after a long, hard day, boxes that hold my secrets and past, inside jokes, soup on a snowy or cold day, a good back scratch, long, hot showers, a clean, immaculate car, paying off a credit card - and cutting it up, trivia, ocean breeze, buying a CD and loving every single track, roses, holding hands.....

....going through old pictures, road trips, loving someone so much that just hearing their voice makes me smile, watching TV, mouth-puckering sour lemonade, finding an ink pen that writes just perfectly, green lights all the way home from work after a horrible day, high-speed Internet , flip flops, traveling, getting perfect seats at the movie theater, going to the bookstore and spending hours there, flipping through magazines and catalogs, accents - British, Irish, and French, music, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, sleeping in, sitting on the couch all day in my pajamas watching movies, finishing a huge project, oatmeal, finishing my taxes in January…………

...visiting with my dad, helping a customer, keeping an open mind, staying positive, clean leather seats, no punch list, James Taylor, Elton John, taking pictures of old barns, wine-tasting tours, Sweetpeaz.....

...hitting a sales quota, smiling, voting for the correct candidate, getting the mail with Dillan, 1080p, Florida vs. Alabama, painting the garage, giant stones, pulling against the Ducks, rumble of a V8, a sense of humor, knowing I make a difference in someone’s life, laughing so hard you snort, crossing the finish line, cooking with JoJo, Haggard songs, falling asleep on the couch...

...BBQ on the deck when it's chilly outside, money with holes in the center, tractors, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Black Keys, being witty, getting positive feedback, expressing myself, building a reputation, being successful, doing good quality work, being in the zone, being inspired, waking people up, being free, hearing people’s stories, turning my life into a lesson, being responsible, doing what’s right, feeling fulfilled, connecting with people I’ve never met...

...making a positive difference, changing people for the better, changing myself for the better, feeling connected, turning off my ego, turning my back on fear, expressing courage, enjoying the flow of fingers on the keyboard, hearing the clanking of the keys, typing fast with two fingers, brainstorming, finding the third alternative, doing something unique, writing something new, creating information out of thought, manifesting pure thought in physical form, putting nonlinear concepts into a linear structure, storytelling, coming up with good analogies, simplifying complicated ideas, being understood, being loved, being loving, allowing people to know me...

...sharing energy, being wrong (sometimes), accepting all outcomes, being detached from outcomes, letting people know I care about them, giving hope to people who’ve lost hope, encouraging people who are discouraged, learning from mistakes, being human, teaching people it’s OK to make mistakes, teaching people not to be so afraid, releasing my own fears, bringing light to darkness, seeing someone smile, deepening my connection, growing, changing, changing my mind, knowing I’m on the right path...

...sharing discoveries, making people laugh, making people cry, being discouraged and still being able to encourage someone else, listening to music while writing, smelling vanilla, losing track of time, being in a state of joy, being relaxed, writing on paper, the natural friendship that lies within a marriage, the unconditional love of a grandmother, the pure innocent and never wavering love of a pet, the solid trust that comes with true friendship, a warm bed on a cool day, especially when you know you don't have to leave it!, the heat of a summer sun on bare skin, an ice cold swimming pool on a hot day, a super hot bath, as hot as I can stand it.....

...walking into an air-conditioned building on a scorching hot day and feeling the cold air rushing into your face, crawling into a freshly made bed, feeling my wife snuggled up on one side and my dog snuggled up on the other when I wake up in the middle of the night, setting a goal and reaching it-no matter how unimportant it may be to the rest of the world, I love researching a great variety of topics-the rewards are those moments in which I find that bit of information I was seeking, one of my greatest joys is when I know I have helped someone else find a small amount of peace in their life, finally pulling the car into your driveway after a long road trip, coming home to a dog that has missed you, The companionship of friends and family, knowing you are exactly where you are supposed to be, discovering that peace comes from INSIDE, becoming part of the solution, an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work, hard earned paradigm shift finally sinking in, embracing the difference between "want" and "need." ...the ability to dream. …

…discussing things with JoJo, soft chocolate chip cookies, library books, art supply stores, lightning bugs, lemons, mashed potatoes, crayons, glass jars, yard sales, plane tickets, farm stands, dictionaries, bubble gum, old gymnasiums, elevator buttons, photograph, old suitcases, chocolate cake, black pens, art museums, road trips, crazy quilts, sunlight, clawfoot tubs, swimming pools, college-ruled notebook paper, crushed ice, old school adidas, attic bedrooms, flashlights, paint chips, clover honey, bare feet, ocean waves, cornbread, moonlight, super heroes, aluminum foil, fortune cookies…

…doodling with black ink pens, shopping for a new magazines, stone and wood in a home, large fire places, vaulted ceilings, JoJo’s smile, researching travel, first bite of an apple, perfect jeans and flip flops, finding a real bargain, a new haircut, Hawaii, staying up late playing xbox, the length of my marriage, grocery store exploring, a good buzz and stopping there, shotguns, gladiator sandals, a great laugh, carpeted floors, softened water, warm weather, a “why not” lifestyle, sleeping in, people who state their mind, without being aggressive…