Sandman, Oui, Ouis, Values Alignment, A Man of Values

Sandman, Oui, Ouis, Values Alignment, A Man of Values 

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value."
— Albert Einstein

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, or whenever you find time to consume my word soup.  I appreciate you taking the time to read the words of a man of color identifying as sand and whose pronouns are oui and ouis.

Last week, I had a good interview with a young lady we had found; our interview process is 30 minutes with another teammate and me virtually.  If you make it through that round, you go through a second interview with our operations manager; if you pass that, you take two tests, and then we decide if we want to make an offer. So it’s a long process, but we have found some great talent using this process.

We were getting ready for stage two when the candidate sent an email and shared she had gone to my Twitter and disagreed with my values.  She did not want to continue with our process.  Thank you, you saved us from making a mistake.  If my words, ideas, or thoughts are too much for your winning a trophy every time mentality, so be it: good luck and God speed.

So what are my values? What things do I believe are so offensive?  Let me share something that aligns with what I wrote yesterday; a friend sent it before reading my daily soup and said, “this is eerily what you wrote?”  I don’t know the author; if you do, please share his, her, or they’s name so I can give credit.

“Some of the best conversations that you can have will come when you disagree with someone else. 

When we disagree and can have a conversation about it, it forces some potentially significant outcomes. 

It forces us to think through our positions. Every point you make and every counterpoint that I make should cause us to consider what’s been said and color what’s next. It may be that the topic is an opinion, and we have divergent views. On the other hand, it may be that the issue is a fact, and we must either dispute the truth or concede that it is a fact. 

Maybe you change my mind, and perhaps I change yours. 

It forces us to deepen our relationships. Every time we disagree is an opportunity to grow together or apart, to become friends or become enemies. As we discuss our disagreements, we can choose how we continue to relate to each other. 

Maybe we can build respect for each other. 

It forces us to learn about one another. Our disagreements and the passions they engender give insights into who we are, what makes us tick, and how specific topics can ignite the flames within. Here’s the opportunity to take the passion personally and build up anger and resentment toward each other or to understand that we’re just excited and tear down those walls that we build to defend ourselves with. 

Maybe we can learn something. 

Disagreements are a part of life. However, the mindset that we take into our disagreements will color the result. 

Will it help move the conversation forward, or will it just stall again? 

I suppose it’s up to me.”

We have different ideologies on our team; I think it best to have a divergent group of people with other ideas to help us achieve the best outcome.  Do I have a set of values?  Yes, I do, and I have written enough words the last fifteen years to show how my mind works and what I believe to be true.  If a person is not mentally strong enough to agree to disagree, you are not a candidate for my team.  Snowflake mentality is a disease of the mind.

Bay has decided to return to Indiana with two nephews arriving in the spring.  She will do as I did early in my CO journey and work one week a month out west.  She will stay with us, and we will contemplate what to do with the condo.  We have built up some equity since our purchase in 2016, but is it may be best to hold on to the asset?  

I needed to get my testosterone shot, so my wife, cousin, and I headed to the office, chatted with our team, and then went to get my injection.  For lunch, we chose Cheesecake Factory, and I took in some Vinyl Love; the waitress was giddy.  We left there; I picked up some product from Avada and then went to LuLu Lemon.  I picked up some shirts, not looking at the price, and let me tell you; LuLu is very proud of their wares.

We left there, headed to the pet store to pick up some cow weiner for our dog.  I had no idea the cost of cow weiner; like LuLu, they are proud of their weiners.  We met some friends at 1933 in Fishers; I shared more vinyl love, and the world smiled a little.  Bay stayed the night, cousin and I kicked her and my wife’s arse in euchre before heading to bed and getting a good night's sleep. 

I’m going to do some prospecting today; I enjoy the activity and am getting pretty creative in finding what I’m looking for.  I’m a procurement specialist, having the time to select and procure the best of the best.   My wife has an idea for a local art project; I’m going to make some calls and see if I can put that in motion, it would be a project, but I think I can make it happen.

So cheers to those who agree and those who disagree; we need all voices in the world to grow and explore new ideas and thoughts.  I’m not fearful of words or pictures, and I suggest you thicken your skin if you are triggered by a sandman who answers to oui.

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value."
— Albert Einstein