Year: 2005

Got this via email today:

Despite all the whizzing lightsabers, dazzling space battles and political drama, it was clear what “Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” really is. It’s case study of bad management.

Why does Anakin Skywalker turn bad? It sure seems like it’s because he didn’t get a promotion. He really wanted that title, Jedi Master (and the company car would have been nice).

But, you say, maybe Anakin wasn’t ready for that promotion. Maybe he was still too immature, too easily angered, too likely to furrow his brow at the slightest provocation.

So why didn’t his managers give him a clearly defined path to promotion? Not a bunch of Jedi mumbo-jumbo about using the Force and examining his feelings, but a concrete list of job skills he needed to improve (Using time more wisely? Prioritizing better? Keeping the Jedi break room cleaner? Thinking up better dialogue?)

The worst Jedi manager had to be Mace Windu, who, when things got hairy essentially told Anakin to just stay put, don’t worry, and by the way we don’t need your help right now.

That’s not the way help an employee feel empowered and invested in the task at hand.

And it was disastrous for Yoda to tell a troubled Anakin to give up that which was most important to him. That sounded suspiciously like “Don’t expect a raise any time soon.”

Obi Wan Kenobi wasn’t much better. A boss should know enough about an employee’s life to know what they’re worried about. Obi Wan didn’t realize his apprentice was having a child (well, twins, actually) with Padme until it was too late. Those sorts of personal issues worried Anakin to the point of obsession, yet Obi Wan was mostly oblivious.

And sure, Palpatine appealed to Anakin’s ego. But what smart boss doesn’t, from time to time? It’s not enough to tell an employee that he’s the chosen one, yada yada. Obi Wan should have realized that the constant “you’ve got more to learn, young apprentice” stuff gets old after a while.

If Obi Wan and the council had chosen Anakin for a few crucial solo missions, maybe he would have been too focused on Jedi business to be tempted by Palpatine’s Sith pitch.

Still, Anakin must bear the responsibility for his eventual decision to join the staff of Dark Side, Inc. He was seduced by a boss who promised much, but actually withheld vital information that would have affected Anakin’s most important decisions.

Those kinds of bosses — the ones to hold on to information and use it like a weapon, all in an effort to manipulate employees into doing their bidding — are usually very articulate and seem like your buddy at first. They seem like they’re looking out for you. Then, one day, you’re cut off at the knees. Dependent on them for everything. And have nowhere to turn, especially if your old bosses kind of want you dead.

So the lessons for bosses and employees everywhere? Give your employees a stake in the enterprise, and if they want to move up, use constructive feedback to tell them how they can do so. Motivate their best qualities by giving incentives for good behavior, but be willing to accept criticism when it’s warranted.

And don’t become the kind of boss who rules through FEAR, INTIMIDATION, SECRECY and appeals to GREED and ARROGANCE.

Unless you’re really good with a lightsaber.

I killed the the three old blogs, The Miata Diaries, Brian’s Daily Rant and PLOG. I had left the archives hanging out there in case anyone had them linked, but decided to just go ahead and delete them. The internet is full of broken links, what is a couple thousand more among friends. If any one had the blog’s home page linked they will get redirected to here.

Went on another bicycle ride this morning, a whopping 8-1/2 miles. This ride was just an easy jaunt which included a stop at the New Moon Cafe for some of their fantastic muffins. We brought them home and ate in front of the tube while watching cyclists only slightly more in shape than us ride the Tour de France.

In downtown Aiken we have an ice cream parlor called the Sweet Cow Creamery. They have something called The Holy Cow, eight scoops of ice cream in a waffle bowl, if you eat the whole thing by yourself you get a free T-shirt. Every time we have company in town we invariably end up there for ice cream and Donna tries to get someone to try and eat one. Her bigger brothers, her younger brother, my brother-in-law, my sister, her sister, me, but no one wants to do it, whether for fear of failure or tossing their cookies or maybe permanent brain freeze, but no one has volunteered to take the challenge. Yesterday she finally got a taker, a friend from the old Navy days was in town and her 15-year old son said he’d do it if she would too. The contest was on.

As a warm-up, Donna and Mike walked the 3 miles into town together while his mom Chris and I chatted on the screened porch for about 30 minutes to give them a head start. Nervous energy must have caused them to walk a little fast because they actually beat us to the The Sweet Cow. Chris And I had to make a run to the ATM while the Holy Cows were being prepared, as they cost $11 each. Somehow we forgot the think that they might actually charge for the thing.

Donna actually finished a few minutes ahead of Mike, but he too managed to devour heaps of ice cream and waffle bowl. They each are now the proud owners of T-shirts that say Holy Cow on the front with a cute little cow cartoon and on the back in big letters it says, “I Can’t Believe I Ate The Whole Thing!”

I forgot the digital camera, but Chris had her SLR and promises to send us some copies. If it won’t cause irreparable harm to my marriage I’ll post a picture or two. While there is possible embarrassment in the photos, I think Donna is more worried about when they post her name on the big list that is in their front window…

Update: The Sweet Cow Creamery printed up the new window banners – photos here.

As if living through the eighties once wasn’t bad enough. I found a channel on the digital cable channel line up that I swear wasn’t there before, VH1 Classics. And like our natural reaction to a car wreck on the highway, I slowed my channel surfing to watch. What was with the little aerobic instructor headbands on guys. Rod Stewart was very feminine back then. Yikes, who dresses Stevie Wonder, a pink v-necked cashmere sweater!?! The last video I watched on the channel before I sped away was by a group called Scandal with Patty Smyth singing, appropriately entitled “Goodbye To You.”