I have referred to grits so many times in my talks that people expect me to include it. They either remember me as the person who talks about grits or that "nerd communicator". 

Do you think that bothers me? 

Heck no. 

The key part of that sentence is "remember". They REMEMBER me. 

Sure, it might only be because of my association with a slimy white food item (even in South Africa) or because of my obsession with numbers or my poor social skills but they REMEMBER me.  The next time they see my name, they might be inclined to come to my talk.  The next time they need a nerd to translate some technical topic, they just might think of me.  That is my goal. 

What are you doing to make sure people remember you?

Do you think they really needed a sign? 

This was at an event in Murfreesboro, Tennessee ( a wonderful city that just happens to be the birthplace of my son) but if you are staying at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro and you spot some unrecognizable goo in a pot on the breakfast buffet, aren't you going to assume it is grits?  

Even if you have never seen them before, you gotta know they exist in the South and this sure doesn't look like oatmeal. 

We used to be drawn to jobs at big corporations. They seemed safer. Secure. They came with big pensions and health insurance.  Government work used to afford similar security.  

Times have changed. 

It seems to me that every day someone I know is let go, down-sized or moved to the basement (with or without their red stapler.)  People struggle with bosses who don't act, who prevent those below them from doing their best work, who hoard information, or don't define goals and objectives.  These bad bosses (they aren't leaders, they are bosses) are scared of good ideas that come from their employees and so they suppress them. 

We have to become entrepreneurs. 

Every job and every thing we do is really our own little start up. We need to treat it that way. What would you do if you owned your own business and did the job  you do at work? What ideas would you try? What training would you like to have? What images would you hang on your office wall? Who would you want to be around?  Get a clear picture and then make it happen.  

Make small changes to create the perfect environment in your workplace. Seek out people who inspire or motivate you and learn from them. Start acting like that cubicle is your own private enterprise. Find ways to bring more of yourself to your job. Share your big ideas. And when someone above you decides to cut costs or reorganize or downsize, you will have already figured out how to make the most of each day. 

And please don't start networking the day AFTER you lose that corporate job. Meet people, help them, go out to lunch, listen, learn, mentor. 

 Time's a-wastin'.