Comments on: How to decide what to do next http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:37:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: My Friends Rock! | TonyMorganLive.com http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-184237 My Friends Rock! | TonyMorganLive.com Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:12:31 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-184237 [...] Penelope Trunk [...] [...] Penelope Trunk [...]

]]> By: Joel Gross http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-183475 Joel Gross Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:33:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-183475 Penelope, this is one of your better posts. I usually wouldn't think of a pastor as being a career minded person, but this post showed me otherwise. Nice job! Penelope, this is one of your better posts. I usually wouldn't think of a pastor as being a career minded person, but this post showed me otherwise. Nice job!

]]> By: I Need Money http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-183425 I Need Money Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:08:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-183425 Why bother with all that when simple roach bait can end the infestation problem? It's working smart, not hard. Why bother with all that when simple roach bait can end the infestation problem? It's working smart, not hard.

]]> By: Ekaterina http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-183031 Ekaterina Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:39:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-183031 I am currently juggling a full time job, some contract work and my last semester of a Bachelor’s degree. In other words I didn’t see an end to my “to do” list in the past couple of months. Once I realize that the papers are due in a couple of week, “killing cockroaches” seems the only escape possible, without feeling guilt and remorse a week before those said papers have to be handed in. However I have to say that sometimes “killing cockroaches” can also be a booster. As soon as I notice that I have made it through a large amount of smaller tasks, I get a certain feeling that I can do it all! And eventually “all” gets done. I am currently juggling a full time job, some contract work and my last semester of a Bachelor’s degree. In other words I didn’t see an end to my “to do” list in the past couple of months. Once I realize that the papers are due in a couple of week, “killing cockroaches” seems the only escape possible, without feeling guilt and remorse a week before those said papers have to be handed in.
However I have to say that sometimes “killing cockroaches” can also be a booster. As soon as I notice that I have made it through a large amount of smaller tasks, I get a certain feeling that I can do it all! And eventually “all” gets done.

]]> By: principalspage http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-183020 principalspage Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:14:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-183020 This may be my favorite post of all time. The message was great. The fact that you referenced the "C" word and a Pastor in the same paragraph... disturbing. Please tell me you do these things on purpose. This may be my favorite post of all time.

The message was great.

The fact that you referenced the "C" word and a Pastor in the same paragraph… disturbing.

Please tell me you do these things on purpose.

]]> By: Claire http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-183009 Claire Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:26:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-183009 What a great post this was... but did the cockroach have to die? LOL, luckily my son loves bugs and captures them and relocates them for me. I've been <i>"silently screaming"</i> since my layoff in November. I've used the time to take a hard look at figuring out what to do with my life and how to find work that will <i>make life matter</i>. I too need to be around others who ask these questions every day... and my last job wasn't a place where this kind of thinking was encouraged, in fact, asking fundamental questions about what should matter was discouraged! As a result I wasn't all that disappointed with the layoff... just the timing, since I was in process of taking leave to have surgery and with the loss of my medical insurance have been dealing with a prolonged illness that now prevents me from working a <i>normal</i> schedule. It's during these times that the rational mind pushes us forward, but the spiritual element, the connection to something bigger in each of us is the part that poses the questions in our mind and keeps us moving forward... and holds off the despair that can come when the answers to the questions don't come fast enough. There are times (for me it was last week when I received the eviction notice) when even killing cockroaches can seem like an overwhelming task. That's when we need to remember to forgive -- ourselves and others -- and focus on finding what matters most. This is where faith intersects life and it's here where the answers will come through a reliance on something beyond ourselves which guides us to our next destination. Still... Silently screaming along the way! :-) What a great post this was… but did the cockroach have to die? LOL, luckily my son loves bugs and captures them and relocates them for me.

I've been "silently screaming" since my layoff in November. I've used the time to take a hard look at figuring out what to do with my life and how to find work that will make life matter.

I too need to be around others who ask these questions every day… and my last job wasn't a place where this kind of thinking was encouraged, in fact, asking fundamental questions about what should matter was discouraged! As a result I wasn't all that disappointed with the layoff… just the timing, since I was in process of taking leave to have surgery and with the loss of my medical insurance have been dealing with a prolonged illness that now prevents me from working a normal schedule.

It's during these times that the rational mind pushes us forward, but the spiritual element, the connection to something bigger in each of us is the part that poses the questions in our mind and keeps us moving forward… and holds off the despair that can come when the answers to the questions don't come fast enough.

There are times (for me it was last week when I received the eviction notice) when even killing cockroaches can seem like an overwhelming task. That's when we need to remember to forgive — ourselves and others — and focus on finding what matters most. This is where faith intersects life and it's here where the answers will come through a reliance on something beyond ourselves which guides us to our next destination.

Still… Silently screaming along the way! :-)

]]> By: berry connell http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-182987 berry connell Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:43:22 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-182987 OK, wait a minute...the "C" word? you mean cockroaches? Careers? Clumsy search methods? Cowabunga! Oh, dang! I can't believe it....on second thought, If you had asked me a year and a half ago if i would be bothered by a 'stalker' I would have laughed. If you had said it was a woman, I would have rolled on the floor! Ask me for the last six months, I'll tell you, yes. It happens. This is probably a good idea for a future post, but, what you have to do is convince folks to #1 Be up front with your dis-interest #2 Demand a lavel of politeness #3 DO NOT be afraid to use the 'spam' button. If you're on MSN or like servers, I garantee a success rate that will cinch all incoming smut or relationship problems that come in. She did not want to believe it. I listened to her (on-line) crying and would allow her access to the blog, my e-mails, BUT, after a short period, her suggestiond would tuirn to demands, and then whining if things didn't go her way. It took SO MUCH TIME and mental energy dealing with her that my real work, painting pictures, was being shuttled to the side. A couple of occasions I fiund myself cussing (never the "C" word, though, because, a gal on Vagina Monologues said that sometimes gals <i>want</i> that response. But, whenever i would cuss? Dang! I don't cuss at all even to people who badmouth me, whether on-line or in person. OK, well, one fellow I did, but, he was supposedly buying child prostitutes for burger money, and I lost it! None the less, in an atmosphere where one is trying to get a business going, one bad apple can tint the entire situation, and not in a good way. OK, well, dang! You post it, folks aren't going to listen to me. I stupidly just opened up a new section on my blog (again) and am hoping she doesn't ruin this one like she had the last five. OK, wait a minute…the "C" word?
you mean cockroaches?
Careers?
Clumsy search methods?
Cowabunga!
Oh, dang! I can't believe it….on second thought, If you had asked me a year and a half ago if i would be bothered by a 'stalker' I would have laughed.
If you had said it was a woman, I would have rolled on the floor!
Ask me for the last six months, I'll tell you, yes. It happens.
This is probably a good idea for a future post, but, what you have to do is convince folks to
#1 Be up front with your dis-interest
#2 Demand a lavel of politeness
#3 DO NOT be afraid to use the 'spam' button. If you're on MSN or like servers, I garantee a success rate that will cinch all incoming smut or relationship problems that come in.
She did not want to believe it. I listened to her (on-line) crying and would allow her access to the blog, my e-mails, BUT, after a short period, her suggestiond would tuirn to demands, and then whining if things didn't go her way.
It took SO MUCH TIME and mental energy dealing with her that my real work, painting pictures, was being shuttled to the side.
A couple of occasions I fiund myself cussing (never the "C" word, though, because, a gal on Vagina Monologues said that sometimes gals want that response.
But, whenever i would cuss?
Dang!
I don't cuss at all even to people who badmouth me, whether on-line or in person.

OK, well, one fellow I did, but, he was supposedly buying child prostitutes for burger money, and I lost it!

None the less, in an atmosphere where one is trying to get a business going, one bad apple can tint the entire situation, and not in a good way.
OK, well, dang!
You post it, folks aren't going to listen to me.
I stupidly just opened up a new section on my blog (again) and am hoping she doesn't ruin this one like she had the last five.

]]> By: Irina I http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-182986 Irina I Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:25:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-182986 "We can inspire each other with an honest struggle to have meaningful days. But only if we surround ourselves with people who are engaged in asking good questions." I know EXACTLY what you mean. One of the things I'm figuring out about myself on this first job is that I can be very lazy if I am given the freedom to be lazy. But I also can do very high-quality work if I am pushed by external forces. Therefore, I need to surround myself with high achieving external forces in order to perform well and be content with my work product. And I am very excited that there are a lot of experienced analysts at my work (who are 2-3 years older) from whom I can learn sooo much. "We can inspire each other with an honest struggle to have meaningful days. But only if we surround ourselves with people who are engaged in asking good questions."

I know EXACTLY what you mean. One of the things I'm figuring out about myself on this first job is that I can be very lazy if I am given the freedom to be lazy. But I also can do very high-quality work if I am pushed by external forces.

Therefore, I need to surround myself with high achieving external forces in order to perform well and be content with my work product. And I am very excited that there are a lot of experienced analysts at my work (who are 2-3 years older) from whom I can learn sooo much.

]]> By: Heather http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-182967 Heather Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:50:10 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-182967 Great post! I love the metaphor of "killing cockroaches" to do with focusing too much on the little things. I struggle sometimes too with getting the little things done because it's so much easier than focusing on the big projects that I know will take some time. Definitely motivated me today to work on the bigger picture things that I know need to get done. Thanks! Great post! I love the metaphor of "killing cockroaches" to do with focusing too much on the little things. I struggle sometimes too with getting the little things done because it's so much easier than focusing on the big projects that I know will take some time. Definitely motivated me today to work on the bigger picture things that I know need to get done. Thanks!

]]> By: John Kador http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/24/how-to-decide-what-to-do-next/comment-page-1/#comment-182966 John Kador Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:21:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2324#comment-182966 Okay, I get that "killing cockroaches" is an extended metaphor for taking on the low-hanging fruit (another metaphor) instead of doing the hard work of institutional and personal transformation. The metaphor betrays itself. Killing anything is never the optimum solution, especially in a house celebrating the God that also created cockroaches. The presence of cockroaches where humans are offended by them is a symptom of a deeper set of problems. All this goes back to your main point: let's attend to the deeper issues, which is creating the conditions where all creatures can flourish. Okay, I get that "killing cockroaches" is an extended metaphor for taking on the low-hanging fruit (another metaphor) instead of doing the hard work of institutional and personal transformation.

The metaphor betrays itself. Killing anything is never the optimum solution, especially in a house celebrating the God that also created cockroaches. The presence of cockroaches where humans are offended by them is a symptom of a deeper set of problems. All this goes back to your main point: let's attend to the deeper issues, which is creating the conditions where all creatures can flourish.

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