Michael Jordan's Weblog

The pressure has gotten to me. I can't sleep at night knowing that the next day could be when I get caught and exposed. So I want to get ahead of this story, starting with an apology to all the children who I'm certain (although I have no direct knowledge of this) look up to me. I'm also sorry for the pain this causes to my parents, my team mates, to the industry, and to the fans. But it's best that you hear it directly from me.

I know that my colleagues have often whispered at me behind my back, "How does he do it?" "Look how fast he types." "Look how he sends us emails late at night." "Look at the way his overdeveloped speaking muscles barge in on all the conversations." Yes, I'm a user. I can't go a single morning without my coffee.

I'm no Barry Bonds or Jason Giambi but I'm here to tell you that if I could spread my coffee on as a cream I would.

I'm no Tyler Hamilton but if I could get blood transfusions from Juan Valdez I would be unstoppable.

So don't try to get between me and my barrista; she's got exactly what I'm looking for. And I'm loving everything she deals me (well, except for the hairy back).

A colleague recently requested some input on this topic. I'd be interested in the thoughts of others...

Things Bad Managers Do:

• Micromanage
• Give conflicting (or no) direction
• Surprises at review time [More specifically about performance reviews]
• Never give performance feedback
• Give work to closest person instead of to the person whose job it is
• Yell or other things that bring you down
• Gossip
• Over-emphasize what "the company" is doing wrong as if they/we weren't part of it
• Never available
• Poke holes in ideas instead of building up ideas

(See also [Cyndi Maxey])

One interesting sidenote is that everyone says "Don't micromanage" but what are actual guidelines for avoiding this? How does a manager know if they have crossed the line from guidance/monitoring to micromanaging. One thing a manager should question is their assignment/review cycle. This is why I'm a proponent of 30-60-90 day plans with monthly progress reviews (for senior staff).

I consider this a serious topic in general (what bad managers do). That said, I was seriously bothered by something done by one of my first managers that, in retrospect, is a bit amusing. I shared an office with this guy (let's call him "Arby" instead of by his name). He used to fart all the time in the office. I was a punk kid fresh out of college and this guy was pretty senior but it finally got on my nerves I had to tell him to stop. I told him it was "like working in the restroom" and he replied "yeah, like you can CONTROL it!" He implied that it was unreasonable to expect him to hold it in, or whatever other people do...

Why?: See [this article for thoughts on why good people do bad things at work]. But I think there's probably a simple explanation that has to do with lack of skills or prepration or passion to be good at managing.

Can't avoid working for a bad boss? Here are some ideas for how to cope with one.

According to a recent article in the UK's "Daily Record the #1 most memorable movie scene according to men is: Alien (1979) The creature bursts from Kane's stomach.

Say what? #1?

I guess that's pretty memorable. But, looking at some of the other top 10 scenes in this list (e.g., something about some guy singing in the rain) makes me wonder about who these people were talking to....Men Over 60 Who Watch Dr. Phil?... Men Who Happen to Be Home When They Called? ...

Some of the other scenes they got right (is this the "even a blind squirrel finds a nut"-thing?). For example, Horsehead in Bed (Godfather), The truth about the Keyser Soze (The Usual Suspects).

It was like some kind of object from outer space. Sitting there on the floor was a loofah...in the men's locker room in the gym this afternoon! At first I couldn't even figure out what it was. It looked strangely familiar but...how could something like this find its way into a mens locker room?

I'm walking from my car to the office this morning and suddenly I'm aware that I might look a little rediculous with my brief case (for work), my backpack (for my homework), and my gym bag (for working out). I'm thinking "Sheesh!" I have a lot of baggage!

There's no doubt that doing an MBA program while working full time is a challenge. Last term, it was tons of homework for "Financial Accounting," not to mention reading and paper-writing for "Leading and Managing." It was tough getting back in the study-groove. At least this term the subjects are a bit more fun/interesting (Microeconomics and Statistics). But the workload is still there and the deadlines are pre-set and study group-enforced.

My "real" workload is not too light either, especially since I'm still relatively new in this job. My boss has needs, my team has needs, and so on. I wonder if they care that I am out of the office every other Friday for school?

I suppose all this could come at the expense of my workout regime. I'd like to say I've been working out regularly for years. But I actually started working out regularly at the same time I started my new job and this MBA program. It helps with the energy level and the stress level. So I'm not willing to sacrifice time here, either. They say it's important; and so do they and them.

Busy busy busy. And, oh yeah, there's my wife and 2-year-old at home!