Long time coming...

Much to the chagrin of my many fans (totaling in the single digits). I have not written much lately. So, no emotional writing, therefore not many posts.

I added a twitter app to the right, so you could have mini updates (it might easier to get updates using Twitter or Facebook).

I went to India in May and you can see some of the pics on the flickr roll on the right as well.

Flag Folding at Newberg VFW on Veterans Day 2008

My wife's Grandpa is the one speaking at the podium...

Politics Definitely Became Fun This Year...

Here's Stu's campaign website

CNN.com - Centenarian from Obama's victory speech proud of his win

From CNN.com...
Centenarian from Obama's victory speech proud of his win
"A day after being cited in Barak Obama's victory speech as a witness to vast change in the country, Ann Nixon Cooper said Wednesday that the election of the country's first African-American president has made her proud."

Can you imagine seeing this much history in your life time? It makes me so excited for my children to grow up in the USA now versus 50 or 100 years ago.

GFU MBA Symposium Speech - Race and Leadership

Even with civil rights and years of work by many in our nation racism still exists, even in business. I’m going to describe a real-world example that happened at a company I worked at, as I do this please begin thinking about the ramifications of decisions based on race.

I worked for a company that decided to hire a junior engineer, the candidate they selected was straight out of college. The engineer they choose was considered a diverse candidate. I personally was not involved in the hiring but the end result was that this diverse candidate received a salary that was much higher than the average junior engineer. So much higher that many experienced engineers within the company did not make the same salary.

The rational management used for the higher pay is…
#1: it encouraged the candidate to accept the offer.
#2. it aligned the salary closer to national averages.
#3: it helped the greater community.
The candidate’s increased pay will give him a better opportunity to buy a house in a nice neighborhood or pay for more education or donate money to cancer research. To me, these are all excellent reason to give someone higher pay!

Unfortunately, this situation also brings a perception that this diverse candidate got more pay because of their race rather than the rational management used. The ramifications, if people were to find out, will likely be that valuable people will leave the company. There is even a potential for a reverse-discrimination lawsuit which would obviously be very costly for the company and potentially devastating for this college graduate who did nothing wrong but accept a job offer.

As leaders you must be aware of how your decisions will be perceived! You are responsible for your decisions. Even if you are racially color-blind the people watching you may not be and they may perceive your decisions as racially motivated. It is your responsibility to think about how the decision will be interpreted and mitigate the impact whenever possible.

I promise, we had this topic identified before the recent events on this campus, but I can’t ignore it’s relevance to our topic. Most of you know about the cut-out of Obama found hanging in a tree just outside this building with the words “Act 6 Reject” on the front. Act 6 is a George Fox scholarship program given to poor and minority students.

I personally have no idea why these people did this, but it’s highly possible this ugly situation could have been avoided with increased communication about the Act 6 program. After this incident a diversity advisory group was created and a number of informal discussions have been held. It’s too bad that all this open communication about diversity and the Act 6 program will happen under a dark shroud of racism.

Like Demarcus, I too am raising two children, a boy and a girl, who are both black. I long for them to grow up in a supporting and open community and for them to become a strong black man and woman that contribute to our society. I think we can start helping them by creating healthy forums for people to talk about their fears, feelings of hurt and their personal racial stereotypes.

We give you permission to start having that dialog today, during lunch, after you go home, or Monday at the coffee pot… But, before you go, I want to leave you with two thoughts.

#1. As leaders, recognize racism exists within your organization. It exists and people will interrupt decisions you make based on their own racial positions. It happens every day, it happens within your organization.

#2. Not all decisions based on race and diversity are bad, many of them are awesome and celebrates diversity. But, just like the Act 6 program, it is your responsibility to think about how your decision will be interpreted and mitigate that impact whenever possible.

Be aware, be intentional, communicate, communicate, communicate!

Order and Chaos

It's like the world gets in order for just a moment.

And, then we go "AHHHH" and screw it all up.

A Thought About My Funeral

I've been thinking about my funeral lately...

That is the last event of my meager life. The reason I have been thinking is: If heaven is all I look forward to, then why be a Christian. You can have it. Being a Christian is more about my time on earth, and less about the afterlife. If my life was a virus, and I'm the only one who catches the sickness, and I have affected no one here on earth then WHAT IS THE POINT?

At my funeral I hope people will be sick...