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Category Archives: Work

Wisdom Wednesday – Culture Eats Strategy For Lunch

I first heard this advice years ago when I was still in the role of Organization Development Specialist at Regina Public Library. In hindsight, I don’t think I appreciated what an amazing job that was to have right at the start of my library career. Our Director (still the same guy all these years later) […]

¶ Posted 08 November 2023 § Jobs § Library § MemoryLane § Sad § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: economics, education, orgdevl

Wisdom Wednesday – Hiring Is A Million Dollar Decision

A long time ago, a colleague gave me a way to think of hiring that totally changed how I view the process of selecting a candidate. Before, I was just thinking “Who can best do this job?” but he pointed out that you’re not just hiring the person for the immediate job but potentially for […]

¶ Posted 01 November 2023 § Jobs § Library § MemoryLane § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: economics, education

Wisdom Wednesday – Every Bad Manager Thinks They’re A Good Manager

We didn’t see eye to eye on everything but I was very fortunate to have the first manager in libraries that I did as he was very experienced and knowledgeable (obviously people have to start somewhere but it can be a lot tougher if your manager is someone who’s newly hired or has only been […]

¶ Posted 25 October 2023 § Jobs § Library § LibrarySchool § MemoryLane § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (0) °

Music Monday – “Problem, problem/Problem, the problem is you/What you gonna do with your problem?/I’ll leave it to you”

“Problems” – Sex Pistols

¶ Posted 16 October 2023 § MusicMonday § PopCulture § UK ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: language, music

Wisdom Wednesday – “Most People Want To Solve The Problem But Surprisingly Few Want To Understand The Problem”

This advice is based on something that was inspired by the nicest compliment I have probably ever received as a librarian, only six short months into my career. The context was that I was doing a probation review with my first boss in libraries and he asked he what my strengths were. “I’m a real […]

¶ Posted 11 October 2023 § MemoryLane § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: orgdevl

Wisdom Wednesday – The Difference Between Control and Support

They may be introverted or extroverted, new to the role or with years of experience, heavily trained in management theory or have developed their approach through real-life experience. But, at the end of the day, there are really only two kinds of managers – those who see their role to control others and those who […]

¶ Posted 20 September 2023 § Jobs § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: education, language, orgdevl

Throwback Thursday – Happy Work-iversary To Me! (September 2008)

Friday is my 15th work anniversary of starting at RPL which is hard to believe! (Uhm, time flies when you’re having fun?!?) I was trying to write a long post talking about the various roles I’ve held at RPL, some of the highs and lows, and more. But it was just getting longer and longer […]

¶ Posted 07 September 2023 § Humour § Library § LibrarySchool § MemoryLane § Photo § ThrowbackThursday ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: education

Wisdom Wednesday – “What Are You Doing To Solve The Problem of the Person Standing in Front of You”

I’ve been trying to write a post summarizing some of the various tips, pieces of advice, koans of wisdom that I’ve collected over the years – mostly from my time in libraries but from other workplaces, reading of books articles and just talking to knowledgeable people I respect. As that post grew and grew, I […]

¶ Posted 21 June 2023 § Library § MemoryLane § Wisdom § Wisdom Wednesday ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: orgdevl, philosophy

Friday Fun Link – Fuck Professionalism: Creating A Workplace That Works For All

So much of what we’re taught to believe from our earliest days, by our parents, by our schools, by popular culture, is outdated, incorrect and potentially even harmful such as the notion of “professionalism“.

¶ Posted 02 June 2023 § FridayFunLink § Jobs § Sad § Wisdom ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: economics, education, health, language, orgdevl

Track and Field Day

Managed to pop over to see a bit of Sasha’s year-end track and field meet during my lunch hour today. My folks were in so they were also able to swing by then even got to give Sasha a ride home after. Great day!