Tracy;

Such an important point! Have you ever used the “Franklin Planner”. It is similar to a “Day runner” and can be used to define your day/week etc. However the Franklin Planner also has a few books that are of interest.

Day Planners are “Task specific”. That is you define what task you must accomplish and what you did. The Franklin Planner makes you define Values/Goals/Tasks. I had a very hard time defining these items as required.

After having a very serious car accident (the doctor said I would die) while recovering I became interested in the Franklin Planner through my wife. The first thing you had to do was to define your value system. I placed Family, God, Career and Health at the top and in that order. I realized that without good health I could do nothing and felt it selfish to place that at the top, which I did. I discussed this with my family and it was difficult to rationalize.

I still place Health at the top of my list. When I have worked for companies that demand too much I find a new job. One place I worked before the accident had me working 20 hours a day 7 days a week.

Each day you should write down what you did (task) towards your goal or goals. Goals are based upon your value system. Review what you have done during the day and ask yourself, “Are the things I accomplished assisting me in completing my goals? Are my goals in line with reality? Am I supporting what I think to be my value system”? If the answer is yes then continue and if you find the answer to be no then reflect upon what you think and what you do. Both must be in agreement with each other.

Our careers tend to get in the way of family and it is difficult to find an employer that cares that you need to take off a day to take care of a sick child as an example. The real world is not very supportive of the family. Companies care about “the bottom line” and this is in direct conflict with the family. If a company can work you 24/7 they will – after all like the Irish song about “The Hiring Fair” if you die there are plenty more like you waiting to take your place!

I would love to write a book about perceptions of employees and the self induced importance of his/her job-position-career, etc. as well as the attitudes of companies large and small. One of the problems with Americans (United States) is we are our jobs! That is reality for too many of us (not all) and it is so wrong to think that way. If you loose your job you are lost! Many of my friends from the engineering world went through this during the 1990-95 period.

In Sociology there are two terms used to describe social position as well as thousands of others used for other reasons. Haves and have nots. I coined a term during 1992 for those of us who were a part of the 60,000 unemployed electronic engineers living in silicon valley – the “Use to haves”. That is a group of professionals that had careers in engineering and no hope for employment. You just simply acknowledged there was no work and attempted to survive in the area of the nation where it is most expensive to exist (live?). It has been an interesting ride (life) and hopefully will continue while I attempt to better understand it.

My mom is Irish and Polish. In Polish there is a word “Robotnik” which means working man. The English word Robot came from that word and amply describes a working man., an entity that does not think but reacts according to the needs of his/her masters.

To me it is important to understand your value system and keep a sense of humor. Life is what you make it but that 10 thousand ton press over my head sure has my attention! :)

Tom


>It's funny that you say that. It is so true of developers in particular (as well as many other professionals)! I remember a questionaire once at my work that asked you to prioritize your life (I think it was Zenger Miller, or some other team/wellness training). We took the questionaire because we were typically working 70 hour work weeks or more at the jobsite and more at home on our own systems. Most participants responded that the MOST important things in their life fell into the following prioritized order:
>
>1. GOD
>2. FAMILY
>3. HEALTH
>4. CAREER
>
>However, when questioned about their daily activities, weekly time with families, church activities, etc., IN PRACTICE, their priorities REALLY WERE:
>
>1. CAREER
>2. HEALTH
>3. FAMILY
>4. GOD
>
>Interesting, huh? I thought so. We all say that GOD or family is the most important to us, but do we practice it?
>
>Tracy
>
>SNIP
>>Some of our FoxPro developers don't understand that when you have a family, you have to also nurture them, leaving less time for fun things like User Groups. I do still go to OCFOX once in a while, but missed the last one.