Your Stock Photo is Distracting

Posted on 2012/12/03 by Jason Hensel

I recently saw a story online that says “Broadway plays written by women earn on average 18% more than those written by men.” It was a nice, short informative piece, and it raised the question of why aren’t more women playwrights produced on Broadway.

However, right before the story starts, there’s a stock photo of a woman looking at money. A woman in a jacket. A women with no shirt underneath that jacket. Take a look:

Of all the stock images out there in the world, why choose the one that features a shirtless female? It’s distracting. And yes, maybe it’s distracting because I’m a male. Still, to write a story about gender inequality and then post a picture that plays right into that is thoughtless.

Then again, maybe it was done on purpose, because sex sells. Either way, I found the dichotomy between the story and the image amusing, and a great reminder that when choosing photos, make sure they fit the theme of the story.

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How I Feel Every Day

Posted on 2012/12/022012/12/03 by Jason Hensel

Humor Train.

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Micro-Management is My Kryptonite

Posted on 2012/11/202012/11/19 by Jason Hensel

Inc.com recently ran a story titled “10 Leadership Practices to Stop Today,” by Paul Spiegelman. It’s a great piece, and I agree with all 10 recommendations, especially No. 1: “Out: Micro-management, or the need to control every aspect of your company. In: Empowerment, the ability to give your people some rope–even rope to make mistakes without blame.”

Perhaps it’s because I’m a writer, someone who makes his scratch in the creative arts, but micro-management is the Kryptonite to my creativity and productivity. Whenever I’m being micro-managed, I feel less empowered, less trusted, and more like a slave.

In fact, researchers from Harvard Business School and Rice University did a study last year and found that “workers perform just fine when managers don’t keep close tabs on them, and that workers are more likely to be fearful of experimenting when their managers micromanage; as a result, the employees learn less and performance suffers,” as reported by Kimberly Weisul for CBS News.

The struggle for me is knowing how to handle micro-management. Sure, I play along and let managers know everything I’m doing down to the last detail. But I can only allow myself to do that for so long before I become either depressed or angry. Neither of those are good for my health or career.

What does one do? How have you handled micro-managing in your career? How can a lower-level employee convince leadership that a lack of autonomy is stifling creativity, productivity, and a healthy mental state?

(Image via Flickr: ZaCky / Creative Commons)

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My Book Habit

Posted on 2012/11/072012/11/11 by Jason Hensel

— The Undercover Shelf —.

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My Quarterly Rant About Lazy Readers

Posted on 2012/11/022012/11/05 by Jason Hensel

I don’t understand this new form of pride of not reading things because they’re “too long.” I’ll sometimes pass on great articles to friends or post the links on forums, and I’ll get a tl;dr (too long; didn’t read) response. I get the feeling that there is some chest puffing behind that tl;dr response.

I was reminded of this the other day when I saw this post on Tumblr from ShortFormBlog:

I agree, Ernie. It’s frustrating that people can’t even be bothered to read 300 words. At this rate, we’re going to devolve back to grunts and snorts for communication.

While I’m on the topic of grunts and snorts, I also don’t understand when people tell me that executives and leaders only want bullet points, that they don’t have time to read a full report or article. What kind of leader doesn’t want to know the whole story? If someone is too busy to read what’s put in front of her or him, then maybe that person has time management issues and shouldn’t be a leader.

I’d rather follow someone who has good critical reading and comprehension skills than someone who only wants the “highlights.” In fact, by asking someone to spoon feed you bullet points, you’re acknowledging that you’re not smart. That’s fine if you’re not smart. Just say, “I’m not smart, so please tell me the highlights of a story.”

But don’t say you don’t have time to read something. That proves you’re lazy, which is a far worse trait than ignorance.

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Cross Post: Just a Little Patience

Posted on 2012/10/302012/11/01 by Jason Hensel

If you didn’t know already, I also write for the Dallas Comedy House’s blog, The DCH Rimshot! Yesterday, I wrote something that, while it directed at improvisers, it can be applied to any one who feels like he or she has never been given a fair shot.

Here’s what I wrote:

The other day I was checking out the ol’ Tumblr and came across a post via Improv is Easy citing The Broken Record. The post was about famed improv instructor Mick Napier and a two-word phrase he uses to remind people that improv “is the least important thing we’ll ever do in our lives and that even the name ‘longform’ is imbued with undue importance that impedes our ability to be free and just play.”

The post’s author goes on to write that Napier’s two-word motto will be her two-word motto going forward. After reading it, I believe I’ll make it my motto as well. And you may want to consider it, also.

The part of her post that really hit home was this declaration: “I won’t compare myself to my peers and feel jealous or envious when good things happen to other talented people. I will be patient in my own progress.”

I’ve been involved with DCH for almost three years, and being patient with my progress is something I’ve struggled with. I’m sure many of you have, too. You may see your friends being asked to be part of troupes. You may see others creating cool videos. And you may be wondering why it isn’t “happening” for you.

But you see, everyone’s educational path is different. Some improvisers get it right from the start, while some need more time to grow. The one deciding factor for success, I promise you, is consistent commitment. If you’re serious about the art form and you want to succeed (your definition of success is your own), then don’t worry so much about how well others are doing. Yes, please support them and sincerely congratulate them–we’re all a family here–but stop comparing yourself so much to others. Work on yourself at the pace that is natural for you and your strengths will be noticed.

It’s not a competition at DCH. It’s a group effort toward success. And I know it may sound backwards to say this, but sometimes the best thing you can do for a group is to work on yourself first. You have to be good to help the group be good, and the group can only be as good as the individual members.

I think we can all use a motto that reminds us to just let it go, that some things in life aren’t worth worrying over. That’s something that has taken me many years to understand, and I’m finally getting it.

What’s your life’s motto?

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Confucius on Reading

Posted on 2012/10/212012/10/23 by Jason Hensel

Whenever people tell me they don’t have time to read, I think of this quote.

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Makes You Think

Posted on 2012/10/202012/10/22 by Jason Hensel

I’m going to have to put this up in my cubicle at work and in my study at home.

this isn’t happiness™ (The Economist), Peteski.

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Let the Buffalo Calm You

Posted on 2012/10/192012/10/22 by Jason Hensel

There’s something very calming about this image. I’ll let it lead me into the weekend.

HOBART.

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Foreign Lands

Posted on 2012/10/162012/10/19 by Jason Hensel

I saw this poster online the other day, and it grabbed my interest. I love the design. More so, I love the message.

this isn’t happiness™ (Foreign lands), Peteski.

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Being in Service to Others

Posted on 2012/10/092012/10/12 by Jason Hensel

Why? by Bart Everson

There’s been a lot of talk at this conference I’m attending about being in service to others. That helping others is the path to happiness and contentment.

I agree with that, and I do try to be of service as much as possible. Lately, though, I feel like I’m being in service just to make others look good. I have a problem with that, because it’s selfish.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and gaining experience, but I’ve been noticing this selfish behavior a lot more. It’s especially prevalent in the workplace. I know a lot of folks are trying to get ahead, get that big promotion, cash that big paycheck. I don’t care about any of that, so when I’m asked to do things for someone so he or she can get all those things, I feel disgusted. At the person and with myself for helping.

In the future, I’m going to start asking why a lot more. That way, I can figure out the real reason something is asked of me. Will that be annoying? Yes, but maybe in the end, the person doing the asking may realize how selfish some requests are and stop the behavior.

(Image via Flickr: Bart Everson / Creative Commons)

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E.L. James Predicted to Win Nobel Prize in Literature

Posted on 2012/10/082012/10/09 by Jason Hensel

I don’t know why, but I always get excited during Nobel Prize in Literature season. Awards really shouldn’t mean anything in the long run, and many great writers have never been awarded a Nobel Prize. Still, I can’t help it. I like guessing who’s going to win, and once a winner is selected, finding all the author’s works and reading as much as I can by him or her.

Every year I hope that W.S. Merwin wins the award. His poetry is excellent, but it’s his translation work that should guarantee him the prize. He and Robert Bly have introduced me to so many writers through their translations that I would have never known. In fact, let’s give the prize to both Bly and Merwin.

As usual, the U.K. odds maker Ladbrokes has been regularly releasing the latest odds on who will win. As of this blog entry, it’s Haruki Murakami at 2/1 odds. Another favorite of mine, Cormac McCarthy, is at 16/1 odds. The writer who is last on its list, though, is the most perplexing. At 500/1 odds, E.L. James of Fifty Shades of Gray fame is predicted to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

I took a screenshot of that listing just to remind myself of how silly awards can be. But still, Merwin should totally win.

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