Think Tank Quote


"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
-Thomas Edison

Mind Over Matter


9:50 a.m. 
I'm sitting in a team meeting at work.  
Our agenda is to discuss our agency’s presence at an upcoming city career fair-held on a Friday I might add. I work for an agency that brings community-wide programming such as workforce development initiatives, adult education, and youth services.

Have you ever been in a meeting and you feel like the street view you see out the window with the passing cars is more interesting then the meeting you’re in? This morning, I sit in a meeting I'll describe as “nails on a chalkboard.” I’m daydreaming. Looking out the window wondering where the people in the passing cars are going. Are they going to their jobs? If so, are they happy there? Do they feel fulfilled?

I’m jealous. It’s not fair. The passing drivers have the freedom of the road right now while I’m being tortured in this meeting. Wait a minute…what just happened? At this very moment, I’m asked to come up with suggestions to an event I was just forced to attend. Hold on. Can I think about Your decision for a moment? Where is the justice? Personally, I was looking forward to having a Friday of peace and quiet in the office.

For the most part, our whole staff was R.S.V.P’d to attend except a new employee, another staffer, and myself. Now, because my colleague just announced she’ll be heading out of town the morning of the career fair- I have to take her place.

Our meeting’s facilitator talks to us as though we’re all children but looking around the table, there’s no one younger than 39 years old. I think the oldest is 72 years old. Yes, I said 72 years old. Every other question she asks our blank faced group is, “Are you all following me?” Then, a few thoughts more, she asks, “Do you understand?”

Well yes, “Big Wig” (literally:), we understand totally. We understand that you don’t have a clue about what you’re talking about. We understand that the other topics we’re discussing- we’ve discussed them before. We understand you’re not going to let us execute- nada zilch! We understand that you have no faith in our abilities although 90% of us carry a college degree. Even clearer to us is the fact that you don’t even like us!

I want to tell her badly: “Your faith in us missy…this group of capable women sitting here before you watching your lips moving with no words coming out is about at liquid as the cold coffee in these coffee mugs sitting on these dull-gray conference-room tables.” Here’s why. See, similar to the outcome of knocking over a cup of coffee and leaving it unattended, her lack of concern for our needs are like untreated coffee stains. The surface devalued- its functionality, design, and purpose distorted.

As I sit in this meeting I know the things we discuss will eventually emulate the cars I see driving by through the picturesque conference room window. I have no clue about the expected direction- unaware how long it will take to get to the destination. Even more oblivious is whether the destination will be met @ all.

My meeting is about to adjourn. Wait, just a few more pointless items to cover. I won’t bore you with the details. Trust me on this. You’re not missing a thing. Besides, I think my stress regimen has been exposed. I’m getting looks from the others. They're speaking non-verbally asking me what in the hell I've been writing all this time…pretending as though I’m engaged in the babble.

Well, 1Truthis. They should be happy because without the therapy of this pen, I might throw myself in front of one of these passing cars. 

11:20 a.m...Meeting adjourned…Pray for me.