Boomer Ronin

“The personal, as everyone’s so fucking fond of saying, is political. So if some idiot politician, some power player, tries to execute policies that harm you or those you care about, TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Get angry. The Machinery of Justice will not serve you here – it is slow and cold, and it is theirs, hardware and soft-. Only the little people suffer at the hands of Justice; the creatures of power slide from under it with a wink and a grin. If you want justice, you will have to claw it from them. Make it PERSONAL. Do as much damage as you can. GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS. That way, you stand a better chance of being taken seriously next time. Of being considered dangerous. And make no mistake about this: being taken seriously, being considered dangerous makes the difference, the ONLY difference in their eyes, between players and little people. Players they will make deals with. Little people they liquidate. And time and again they cream your liquidation, your displacement, your torture and brutal execution with the ultimate insult that it’s just business, it’s politics, it’s the way of the world, it’s a tough life and that IT’S NOTHING PERSONAL. Well, fuck them. Make it personal.”
Things I Should Have Learnt by Now, Volume II

Are You a Heart Worker? The Value of Being a Quitter.

Yes, I quit. I didn’t resign, and I wasn’t moving on to a better position. Well, in retrospect, that last part did turn out to be true.

At the end of 2010, I felt tired, not because I was working 60 hours a week or because the work was challenging. I was engaged in a battle of someone else’s making – a 70-year battle for the minds and hearts of the children of Harlem. Like many other good ideas gone wrong, this one is masked under a mission statement of “helping children achieve their full potential”. I was doomed, as I was there to do my usual heart work – and not to be a hero or a savior.

Looking back, this being the end of the year and all, some lessons have become self-evident. For example, there is the issue of values and value alignment.

If you are a heart worker and your values don’t match the values of the organization then it is inevitable that a break up will ensue. Sound familiar? Like it kind of sounds like a bad romance (thanks, Lady Gaga!).

Yup. Your 9-to-5 is like a lover. Do you follow? Most importantly, are you still in love or are you there because of routine, have to pay the bills, don’t believe you deserve better, feel guilty about initiating the break up, afraid you are making the wrong call if you leave? What will they do without you? The reasons to stay are endless but there’s only one way out…out!

I admit, before leaving I felt a twilight zone-type fear of unproductivity. After quitting, I soon realized the reason I did not want to go into my office was not because I was “burned out” as some folks in the nonprofit world call it. It was the feeling of energy being sucked out of my body by complacent, bitter and miserable colleagues, discouraging board members and an organizational culture so resistant to change that it’s leadership wouldn’t even change the conference room wallpaper without going into 10 executive sessions.

The break-up was inevitable. It/us just couldn’t work.

But yet there we were, Hans Hageman, Executive Director at the time, and myself trying to rationalize staying because of the kids.

Then came the final realization – yes, worse than facing the twilight zone or energy suckers. The right choice is incredibly hard to make.

If you quit you are a quitter. But if you stay you are useless. You compromise your values, risk depression; creativity dies a slow, painful death.

So, I ask YOU: what’s it going to be?

Before answering, think about this:

“We have to be able to walk forward with faith into a world that is chaotic and abstract and allow the opportunities to present themselves. And we need to be so aligned, so true to what we believe, that we are in a position to seize these opportunities when they occur. Our example is our reputation.
– Sue Knight, NLP at Work

I am proud to be a quitter. I recognize and accept my own value/values and better yet, I know my heart work is priceless. Do you? Allow yourself to answer honestly, and in 2011 proceed accordingly.

6 Reasons to Wear YOUR Tutu to Work (and anywhere else that matters):

Recently I saw an adorable little girl wearing her tutu during what was obviously her commute home from school. This post is an ode to that young girl for reminding me of the boldness required to wear a tutu to school. It is also an open call to always wear YOUR tutu when it matters. These are some reasons why:

Creativity
Creativity is more difficult to define than it is to identify. When you see something that exhibits originality you know it; it’s visceral. It takes years and even lifetimes to feel creative and to allow your creativity to flow freely. That is because creativity requires risk and courage. It requires being comfortable with failure and rejection. The dark side of being creative is painful. But more powerful is the reward of simply creating something originating from your heart and soul. When you give the world a piece of yourself, the vulnerability of this process replenishes you in return. Creativity is therefore always wearable and, like a tutu, there’s great benefit in never leaving home without it.

Freedom
To be open to creativity and innovation you must possess the freedom to accept the sparks that come to you and only you. Ideas may sound similar to something you saw on television or be a modern variation of a story you heard as a child. Ideas choose you and freedom allows you to welcome them regardless of how ridiculous, bizarre or silly they may seem. If you don’t believe me, I strongly recommend looking up Fatheadz. Fatheadz is a line of glasses designed specifically for people with bigger than average heads.

Attention-Grabbing
It’s okay to seek and receive attention. It’s why advertising exists and why celebrity spokespersons earn millions of dollars in exchange for product endorsements. Most people are uncomfortable with attention not because they don’t crave it, but rather because they feel unworthy of it. It’s time for you to get comfortable in your spotlight. Think of it this way: once you receive those great ideas you need an audience to share them with. An idea is not fully alive until you release it into the world. Your tutu helps you grab the audience but you still have to make the sale and complete the deal.

Fun
Ever walked into a party and noticed someone simply because she seem to be having the time of her life? That’s what the fun of a tutu does for your life. When you are having fun others automatically gravitate towards you. They want to know what you are doing and they genuinely want to join the fun.

Style
Don’t underestimate the power of choosing your tutu with intention. Your style is what most people in the world interact with when they interact with you. Your style tells your story without words. Think of it as a silent film about your life; then answer honestly, is it a blockbuster or is it going straight to collecting dust as a DVD?

Personality
Wearing your tutu gives others a glimpse of your personality. You are bold, a risk-taker, fun, you have a personal sense of style and you are creative and free. Perhaps none of these apply to you or maybe only a few. That’s fine as long as the tutu you are wearing reflects who you are and whom you want the world to see. Maybe it’s not a tutu, but a pair of high-water trousers or purple suspenders. Whatever your tutu is, make sure it’s yours and you are wearing it like you mean it…because when you step into the world, it does matter.

For more information about Fatheadz, visit www.fatheadz.com.

P.s. if you are still not sure on the power of a tutu, watch this fun video.

6 Reasons to Wear Your Tutu to Work from Yaromil Olivares on Vimeo.