Hold On

One Book I'll Never Write

But if I did, it would be about what I have learned about managing people. When I look back over my career, now in its 49th year, I realize that I have slowly crafted a style that might work for others.

Mostly, it is about bottoms-up. In most organizations, the people at the bottom of the org chart do most of the real work. It is the opposite from the military model that still, stupidly, dominates US corporate culture.

This is a working-class perspective, but my own history, culture, and personality grows out of my experience as my father's only son.

In fact, we no longer have any organized working class in America. We don't even have much left of what used to be called a "middle class."

Increasingly, all we have are the very rich and the very poor. We are indeed a Third World country. With  a few exceptions.

I am one of those exceptions, perhaps. I am a boss whose workers call the shots.

I'm proud of that.

-30-

The Keeper!

Before hand she was so nervous.

Never before had Julia even practiced as goalkeeper, but today that was her assignment, and she acquitted herself way better than she expected, blocking 80% of the shots on goal, just letting in two and helping her team to a 4-2 lead at halftime.

I knew Julia felt good about her performance when at halftime she looked up at me in the stands and held two thumbs up.

What a great moment in my daughter's development as an athlete.

-30-

Back to College Weekend

Well, I drove the boys to SFO yesterday afternoon and saw them off for their return to Missoula. Last night they texted me they had arrived safely and returned to their dorm rooms. Each boy now has a single room, a luxury neither of them ever had before, because they always shared a bedroom here and at their Mom's house.

This time at the airport I avoided crying -- you get used to new realities gradually. We're making plans to get together in about two months when they have a week off for spring break -- either out there or back here.

Things are quiet here. Late yesterday afternoon I drove my daughter home from her SPCA volunteering job, where she walks dogs awaiting adoption. This afternoon I plan on watching her play futsol on Potrero Hill east of here.

-30-

Saturday Brunch

The kids and I went to our favorite brunch place here in the Mission today. I've been hoping that my 20-year-old would get his appetite back, but he is nursing a broken heart, so eating and sleeping are difficult right now.

Such a sweet young man; it is so hard to see him suffering.

My youngest walked home from school yesterday, sauntering across this city almost four miles.

This afternoon we did something we have not done in years -- play Scrabble. Four-person Scrabble is a low-scoring affair -- just 408 points divided four ways. This time around, the old guy won.  :)

-30-

Project Week

julia and 8 other students worked on a project for the past week about women's equality issues and they presented tonight. I went by after work and saw their work. Her project coordinator, who is not on the faculty but an outside teacher, took me aside and said she was impressed by Julia.

"She is precocious and mature. She is a leader."

Julia was embarrassed a bit, I know, overhearing this, but I was proud.

And I agree with her assessment.

-30-

8 and 1

Our family gathering today in San Jose as my oldest grandchild (James) celebrated his 8th birthday, and my youngest (Daisy) celebrated her first. Biggest surprise? None of us thought Daisy knew what was going on but when I showed her the present I had brought for her, she smiled, reached for it, tore off the paper and started reading it (it is a book.)

-30-