This blog is what I decided not to blog about.
I considered writing about holiday bonuses. I have struggled with giving bonus checks for as long as I have made business decisions.
Every year is baffling. What is the right amount? Is it even a good idea to give them at all? Do I sow discontent because employees find out what other employees make and they resent that I did not feel they deserved as much?
I have considered giving no bonuses at all and instead raising salaries, but that seemed dangerous because it locked me into wages which may seem inappropriate the next year.
I have no brilliant answers to write about, so scratch that topic.
***
I thought about Hanukkah, a relatively minor Jewish holiday that has risen to great significance because Jews want something to celebrate when everybody else is focused on Christmas and gift giving.
Unfortunately, I am no student of holidays and have always downplayed gift giving in my family, so I am passing on that idea.
***
I have thought many times about discussing my ambivalence about selling machines to make products I feel emotionally pained about, like components for AR-15 rifles, especially bump stocks.
I have stayed away from the topic because I thought discussing making parts for guns would be a no-win subject for me and only get me in trouble with clients. So Lloyd, forget about tackling guns.
***
I was 78 years old a couple of days ago. I received birthday wishes from all over. The fact is, I am grateful for reaching the birthday I doubted I would ever reach–14 years after the heart attack that should have killed me. I chose not to write about it.
The truth is, I feel enormously fortunate to reach the date and scared about it because it seems so old. My dad died at 78. Therefore, I refuse to write about this big birthday.
***
Finally, I wanted to write about one of my favorite topics, the Chicago Cubs. They have signed several highly sought after free agents, including shortstop Dansby Swanson, who has been a star for the Atlanta Braves for the last two years. Unfortunately, hardly anybody follows baseball with the same fascination and passion I do, much less for the Cubs. I know I would be foolhardy to waste a blog on baseball in the dead of winter.
So I sit here at 10PM, completely stumped about what to write about in my last blog of the year.
Any suggestions?
Happy New Year and good health to you all.
Question: What should I blog about next year?
9 Comments
I have some old machine tools that nobody wants and what is the best way to scrap them? —
A rotary swager too heavy to move with my equally old forklift —- 2,000 lb maybe more –
I see it as an interesting piece of art ? but need floor space – Brooks Miami
(in the sailboat rigging business – not a dealer )
jack it up a bit, get some pipes or round bars under it, and you should easily roll and move it by had with a few guys.
You can push it with the old forklift if it is stubborn or you are lazy 🙂
Stay Safe
Apples??
I love this non-writing writing !! It is succint and entertaining. Make this a regular post and see what it provokes!
I agree Russ! Genius.
Best thing he has non-written in a while!😂
The calendar? The idea that January 1 is a clean slate vs. just the day after December 31? How that change to a new year, or even a new month drives behavior (rationally, or irrationally). How and/or why it is a milestone relative to business planning, tax reporting, budgeting. Being driven by the end-of-the month, or end-of-year’s sales dollars. The idea that you need a “resolution”, because you got a new calendar. It’s just another day, yet it’s not. My guess is that you could elicit some pretty prophetic wisdom from your experiences to share with us.
Or take the extra time to enjoy your family. You deserve it!
True.
Every day is a new day.
Date is totally arbitrary!
You are forgetting something though.
People are stupid.😂😃
Russ, I ended liking this blog, too. There are so many topics I find worthy of writing about. The idea of chunking up the ones I reject because I am too dumb or too scared keeps accumulating. The unconscious mind is smarter than the conscious, I will tty it again.
Go Cubbies!