I didn’t realize I’d been ignoring this blog. Sorry about that, guys. If you could see my calendar, you’d understand what’s happened. To catch you up quickly, both of my workplaces were bought this month, and so there’s a lot going on. In one case, it’s coming right as things are starting to get better. In the other…well…for the second time in twice as many months, I may not have a second job for long. My jewelry store is slowly filling with lovely pieces, and it looks like someone might be interested in bugging me to write out my patterns.

The universe also thinks i need several neon signs screaming at me to give writing a real try (as in something other than just narrowly missing freelance jobs). It doesn’t seem to care what I write professionally, just as long as I do. Thankfully, I’ve been working on Dead Bunny’s first book for the past three weeks or so, and the first draft is coming along quite nicely, even if it’s pointing out huge gaping holes in the blog! (Yikes!)

This update isn’t what actually what brings me by today, though. I thought I’d try out a new feature, and you guys can tell me what you think of it. I used to try to review every book I read in its appropriate Niche, but my time just isn’t conducive to that anymore, so I thought I’d share the list of what I’ve read in the past month.

• Seeing What’s Next- It impressed me so much that I put it down nearly halfway through. I read it because it was on the Personal MBA list, but I really felt it was one of the weaker books in its section.
• The Dip- Who doesn’t love a good Seth Godin book? Also a Personal MBA recommendation (that’s been recommended by everybody and their Uncle Phil)
• The Simplicity Survival Handbook-Another Personal MBA recommendation that I believe simply everybody must read! If you can’t find something in it that will make your life just a hair simpler, I’ll eat my Mariners cap!
• Ready for Anything- Personal MBA recommendation that probably would have done more for me if I’d read it several years ago. Still a good book, though.
• The Path of Least Resistance for Managers- I was supposed to read a different version of this book for the Personal MBA, but I found this one rather redundant for me so I didn’t feel compelled to track down the correct version. It’s another one that would have benefitted me if I’d read it much earlier.
• Competitive Strategy- Much like the first book in this list, it’s a Personal MBA book that I put down fairly quickly. I found it very dense and had a hard time getting into it.

Toward the end of each month, I’ll try to post what I read that month wit a brief bit on what I thought. I think a book or two might get skipped, but I’ll try my best to not let any fall through the cracks.

Posted by Rebecca as Uncategorized, Personal development at 7:32 AM EST

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“If they didn’t hire you, don’t solve their problem.”- Gerald Weinberg

I really need to take this one to heart. The problem is: I’m a natural problem solver. I see a problem. I try to solve it.

It’s a disease, I tell you!

And it really doesn’t matter where I am. A problem shows up in front of me, I try to handle it. One of these days it’s going to get me into serious trouble.

I’d settle for it just landing me a better job.

My current employer keeps me around because they call me “The Unkinker”. No, honestly, one of my directors has called me that. To my face, no less. A normal day at work for me involves being met at the door by a director saying, “So…we have a problem.” Great. They’re the director. I’m just the lead instructor.

And I’m the one who thinks of the solutions they either haven’t considered or have forgotten. Or I’m the one who has the technical ability to resolve the problem.

At work, my problem isn’t really that I’m solving problems for no pay. I’m solving a ton of problems for low pay. (And we wonder why the economy is so scary right now…)

Maybe I should consider being more restrictive about who I help? Sadly, I know I don’t have the will power to draw that line.

Anybody have a suggestion to solve my problem?

Posted by Rebecca as Personal development at 7:50 AM EST

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