This was our first full week of work since the maestro left town. Two weeks ago tonight I wondered what we were going to do. Were we going to keep going? Were we going to survive? What was going to happen?
I still have a lot of questions and concerns about how we’re going to continue for the long-term, but… As for the short term… the group did 20% more in production this week than the last week that the maestro was here.
Wow! I don’t even know what to say to this feat!
People amaze me! Entry 48 titled “People… the worst, the best, the hopeful!” says it all.
Mary, Juan and the rest of the gang did an incredible job.
In the midst of our first endeavor into producing our own products, we begin construction next week of our second factory. We will begin to make the family’s famous Santa Rosa Candles at the company’s home office.
On Thursday of next week the State of Guanajato Mexico is coming to visit our grabado plant to see what we’re doing in terms of hiring disabled individuals and possibly helping us use our facility for vocational rehabilitation, long-term employment.
Tonight we meet with one of the local maestros of grabado and next week another. These are on-going meetings. We’re proceeding with caution. We don’t want to make the same mistake over with another maestro. We’re looking for the best fit for our people, goals and dreams.
For now the future looks promising.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
(50th Entry) A milestone…
Wow! My 50th entry… For someone who has had so many in-completed projects in life, this is indeed a milestone. I use the word in-completed because in school when you didn’t quite finish the curriculum you were given an incomplete. So… in-completed seems to me to be a good word to use.
So… in case you didn’t notice… this was going to be entry #49 except when I was going back through my earlier entries I found that I had two entries labeled… 38th Entry… so! Now this becomes number 50….
After all of the turmoil of the last couple of weeks I feel a little lost. We’re still trying to recover from not having a maestro on site, but we have found a couple of possibilities. Hopefully one will work out.
It seems as if I’ve taken a little vacation from the blog. Now it’s time to get back on track. There’s still so much to write about.
It’s easy to stay motivated when things are going good and even possible to stay motivated during times of crisis like the previous couple of weeks… however sometimes when the crisis is over there seems to be a lull for me. This past weekend I took the time to examine all of my projects and try to get organized… again. It was a time for me to re-examine my priorities which seem to change as life changes.
Trying to create jobs for disabled individuals at the two factories still remains a priority at the top of the list. All of the items on the Mission Statement are priorities… some will just take a little longer to realize than others.
So…on Saturday I’ll post my next entry and I’ll make a concerted effort to write four new postings per week at a minimum. I hope to also add video clips within the next two weeks as well. This will definitely add another dimension to the blog…
So hopefully you’ll hang in there and keep reading. Also pass it along to others that you know as well.
As well as being the 50th Entry I also believe that the blog is celebrating the end of its fourth month… 1/3 of a year…
So… in case you didn’t notice… this was going to be entry #49 except when I was going back through my earlier entries I found that I had two entries labeled… 38th Entry… so! Now this becomes number 50….
After all of the turmoil of the last couple of weeks I feel a little lost. We’re still trying to recover from not having a maestro on site, but we have found a couple of possibilities. Hopefully one will work out.
It seems as if I’ve taken a little vacation from the blog. Now it’s time to get back on track. There’s still so much to write about.
It’s easy to stay motivated when things are going good and even possible to stay motivated during times of crisis like the previous couple of weeks… however sometimes when the crisis is over there seems to be a lull for me. This past weekend I took the time to examine all of my projects and try to get organized… again. It was a time for me to re-examine my priorities which seem to change as life changes.
Trying to create jobs for disabled individuals at the two factories still remains a priority at the top of the list. All of the items on the Mission Statement are priorities… some will just take a little longer to realize than others.
So…on Saturday I’ll post my next entry and I’ll make a concerted effort to write four new postings per week at a minimum. I hope to also add video clips within the next two weeks as well. This will definitely add another dimension to the blog…
So hopefully you’ll hang in there and keep reading. Also pass it along to others that you know as well.
As well as being the 50th Entry I also believe that the blog is celebrating the end of its fourth month… 1/3 of a year…
Monday, March 24, 2008
(49th Entry) Life, issues and going on…
I’ve taken a few days to recharge my batteries. Things have been hectic for the past several weeks with lots of issues, problems, ups and downs. The other night I went to bed at 5:30 in the evening and slept until 6:00 a.m. the next morning. Of course after that I was tired to two days but I’m now ready to begin another week. Last night I reviewed my calendar, computer and note cards to begin to get re-organized for the upcoming week.
I have many projects going on simultaneously. In fact some people that know might tell you I have way too many projects. The problem is… life is short and I have a lot I want to accomplish.
Today I have to focus on… to many things to mention! But I have my list and priorities.
A few days ago Mary, Juan and I took another maestro of grabado to the factory to visit. He seemed very interested and in fact talked of wanting a full time job. Mary and I left Juan and him out there “to play” on the equipment. I’m anxious to hear from Juan his impression. I expressed to Mary that I want Juan to have some time with his current employees to make sure that we’ve actually resolved some problems or are at least heading in the right direction before introducing any other individuals.
I wanted to at least get a short entry out this morning.
More to follow soon…
I have many projects going on simultaneously. In fact some people that know might tell you I have way too many projects. The problem is… life is short and I have a lot I want to accomplish.
Today I have to focus on… to many things to mention! But I have my list and priorities.
A few days ago Mary, Juan and I took another maestro of grabado to the factory to visit. He seemed very interested and in fact talked of wanting a full time job. Mary and I left Juan and him out there “to play” on the equipment. I’m anxious to hear from Juan his impression. I expressed to Mary that I want Juan to have some time with his current employees to make sure that we’ve actually resolved some problems or are at least heading in the right direction before introducing any other individuals.
I wanted to at least get a short entry out this morning.
More to follow soon…
Thursday, March 20, 2008
(48th Entry) People… the worst, the best, the hopeful!
It’s 5:00 am. I tossed and turned all night; finally deciding to get up. Yesterday, although only Wednesday, was the end of our work week. We’re taking four days off for Easter. It’s been a long stressful week with many ups and downs.
The title of this entry reveals it all. The incentive bonuses were announced on Monday. Tuesday morning as I road to work with Mary, we talked. We shared our frustration, ideas and concerns. We decided to meet with Juan, the grabado manager early that morning. When he walked in I said to him, “The girls haven’t listened at all.” He was surprised that I didn’t even have to ask. The three of us had a really good meeting. I think he realized that Mary and I were behind him no matter how difficult it might get or it had been.
By Tuesday morning I was ready to accept any outcome. I told Juan and Mary that we had several possibilities on how to proceed with the two girls. We could bring them in and confront them or simply do nothing until the end of the first bonus period at which time they find out that they received no bonus. The latter we get some production and possibly peer pressure… those that talked of getting their bonuses would possibly change the girls behavior from that point on. It also happened that one of the girls was out that morning so it gave us insight to their behavior. Without both girls being there the younger was listening and working together with the team.
When the second girl arrived mid-afternoon, both girls behavior went back to their normal routine. Mary just happened to be in the warehouse when some events were unfolding and confronted both girls in front of their peers. At closing time, in the middle of Mary trying to do a shipment, both girls came into the office. Again they had brought their production cards to her and not to their supervisor. To make a long story shorter, she just told them how disappointed she was in them and expressed many of the ideas and issues which we had discussed in the previous days. I watched this conversation from a distance, not saying anything, but being present in case I was needed.
I very seldom see Mary upset, but after this encounter it was obvious that she was. Again we had the opportunity to talk on our way back to town that evening. I expressed to her that I actually was optimistic. As I watched the conversation and was able to watch both sides and see the emotions of all, I had a good feeling. Both girls said that they would return to work the next day… and they did.
Yesterday… Mary, Juan and I met in the morning. Juan expressed what we had come to find out. When the one girl was alone, she listened, worked hard and once the other returned… old behaviors again took place. However… he said that this day, Wednesday, all had been listening… although at times reluctant… but were listening and working. The three of us decided that if nothing bad had taken place by 2:30, Mary and I would talk to both girls one at a time and begin to give them some positive feedback.
Around 3:00 we called the younger of the two girls into my office. We basically gave her the opportunity to speak first. She began by saying that she wanted to apologize to us, that she had been a bad employee and had done many things wrong. Along the way she expressed that the maestro had told the two of them that they ought to ask for more money and that once he left we wouldn’t be able to stay in business without the two of them or him. I’ll stop at that although much more was revealed… it just doesn’t matter.
I was visibly upset during this encounter and I believe Mary was too. I felt like I had been raped by the maestro, a man that I had invited into my house, a man that I thought was honorable. Hindsight as they say… Well in hindsight… here’s a man who is good at grabado, but had no work when found him. All of the other old men in Guadalajara at his age and level of expertise have 6, 8 or 10 individuals working for them. El maestro es el Diablo as far as I’m concerned and I’ll leave it at that.
Mary and I had good talks with both girls although the first (and the reason she was the first…) was I think what she said was much more heartfelt and authentic. The first girl left our meeting and without any guidance went immediately to Juan, her supervisor and apologized to him as well.
First, I am very proud of Mary… for how she walked her way through these events. We talked… we shared our experiences, frustrations and desires, but when the moment presented itself she seized the opportunity. I told her the Latin phrase carpe diem when she was apologizing to me Tuesday evening for not being able to keep me informed of what was going on.
Second, I’m sad! I always tell Mary that her job is to make employees better employees and thus better individuals. But I also tell her that her job is to keep our employees safe. While I think we’re succeeding at the former, we failed with the later. We put two young girls who had never worked before into an environment that was absolutely unacceptable, unhealthy and un-safe. I have not even begun to mention the Hell that we’ve put Juan through. Once we made Juan supervisor, Gabrielle not only ignored Juan, but ignored his wife as well. He refused to teach them both from that point on.
I’ve seen the best in people this week. I’ve seen hope that restores my faith in people. And… I’ve seen the worst… el diablo!
A short blog entry can not begin to express my feelings and emotions… As I told Mary and Juan yesterday… this isn’t over. We’re probably just beginning the uphill struggle with the two girls. You can’t take 5 months of negative, destructive programming and expect it to disappear overnight. BUT… We’ve taken steps to correct our mistakes and as we admitted to and apologized to the two girls… we told them that they two have to take responsibility for theirs. That’s all any of us can do…
The title of this entry reveals it all. The incentive bonuses were announced on Monday. Tuesday morning as I road to work with Mary, we talked. We shared our frustration, ideas and concerns. We decided to meet with Juan, the grabado manager early that morning. When he walked in I said to him, “The girls haven’t listened at all.” He was surprised that I didn’t even have to ask. The three of us had a really good meeting. I think he realized that Mary and I were behind him no matter how difficult it might get or it had been.
By Tuesday morning I was ready to accept any outcome. I told Juan and Mary that we had several possibilities on how to proceed with the two girls. We could bring them in and confront them or simply do nothing until the end of the first bonus period at which time they find out that they received no bonus. The latter we get some production and possibly peer pressure… those that talked of getting their bonuses would possibly change the girls behavior from that point on. It also happened that one of the girls was out that morning so it gave us insight to their behavior. Without both girls being there the younger was listening and working together with the team.
When the second girl arrived mid-afternoon, both girls behavior went back to their normal routine. Mary just happened to be in the warehouse when some events were unfolding and confronted both girls in front of their peers. At closing time, in the middle of Mary trying to do a shipment, both girls came into the office. Again they had brought their production cards to her and not to their supervisor. To make a long story shorter, she just told them how disappointed she was in them and expressed many of the ideas and issues which we had discussed in the previous days. I watched this conversation from a distance, not saying anything, but being present in case I was needed.
I very seldom see Mary upset, but after this encounter it was obvious that she was. Again we had the opportunity to talk on our way back to town that evening. I expressed to her that I actually was optimistic. As I watched the conversation and was able to watch both sides and see the emotions of all, I had a good feeling. Both girls said that they would return to work the next day… and they did.
Yesterday… Mary, Juan and I met in the morning. Juan expressed what we had come to find out. When the one girl was alone, she listened, worked hard and once the other returned… old behaviors again took place. However… he said that this day, Wednesday, all had been listening… although at times reluctant… but were listening and working. The three of us decided that if nothing bad had taken place by 2:30, Mary and I would talk to both girls one at a time and begin to give them some positive feedback.
Around 3:00 we called the younger of the two girls into my office. We basically gave her the opportunity to speak first. She began by saying that she wanted to apologize to us, that she had been a bad employee and had done many things wrong. Along the way she expressed that the maestro had told the two of them that they ought to ask for more money and that once he left we wouldn’t be able to stay in business without the two of them or him. I’ll stop at that although much more was revealed… it just doesn’t matter.
I was visibly upset during this encounter and I believe Mary was too. I felt like I had been raped by the maestro, a man that I had invited into my house, a man that I thought was honorable. Hindsight as they say… Well in hindsight… here’s a man who is good at grabado, but had no work when found him. All of the other old men in Guadalajara at his age and level of expertise have 6, 8 or 10 individuals working for them. El maestro es el Diablo as far as I’m concerned and I’ll leave it at that.
Mary and I had good talks with both girls although the first (and the reason she was the first…) was I think what she said was much more heartfelt and authentic. The first girl left our meeting and without any guidance went immediately to Juan, her supervisor and apologized to him as well.
First, I am very proud of Mary… for how she walked her way through these events. We talked… we shared our experiences, frustrations and desires, but when the moment presented itself she seized the opportunity. I told her the Latin phrase carpe diem when she was apologizing to me Tuesday evening for not being able to keep me informed of what was going on.
Second, I’m sad! I always tell Mary that her job is to make employees better employees and thus better individuals. But I also tell her that her job is to keep our employees safe. While I think we’re succeeding at the former, we failed with the later. We put two young girls who had never worked before into an environment that was absolutely unacceptable, unhealthy and un-safe. I have not even begun to mention the Hell that we’ve put Juan through. Once we made Juan supervisor, Gabrielle not only ignored Juan, but ignored his wife as well. He refused to teach them both from that point on.
I’ve seen the best in people this week. I’ve seen hope that restores my faith in people. And… I’ve seen the worst… el diablo!
A short blog entry can not begin to express my feelings and emotions… As I told Mary and Juan yesterday… this isn’t over. We’re probably just beginning the uphill struggle with the two girls. You can’t take 5 months of negative, destructive programming and expect it to disappear overnight. BUT… We’ve taken steps to correct our mistakes and as we admitted to and apologized to the two girls… we told them that they two have to take responsibility for theirs. That’s all any of us can do…
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
(47th Entry) the beginning of a new week…
Where to start… Actually we worked Saturday so that our employees could have Maundy Thursday as well as Good Friday off… or a four day weekend which ever you prefer to call it. Mary, my office manager, and I have had a difficult couple of weeks with a few of our employees and our grabado (glass carving) consultant, so we were hoping that this week might get better…
The problem and then the solution… one can only hope!
The two girls that know how to do the grabado the best and have been doing it for several months now continue to be a problem for Mary and their supervisor Juan (last paragraph of entry #43). They’re 16 and 18 and were heavily influenced by Gabrielle, the maestro of grabado, who just left. They’re from the campo, country-side, outside of San Miguel. They feel that anyone who is not better than them at grabado can not be their supervisor. Is this something that they actual feel or something that Gabrielle told them. This is one question. Or is it something else? It’s so difficult to know.
The easy way out might be to just fire them for insubordination. Of course then we lose what little production capacity we have until we find another maestro. One option is to outsource to Gabrielle now that he’s back in his home for a short time. Mary hates this idea because it rewards someone who didn’t fulfill there promise to us and showed us no respect.
My concern is… keeping the business going!
Today we announced that we were implementing a performance/incentive bonus. The main focus of the bonus, and the one item that could determine whether someone gets their bonus or not was respect… respecting their supervisor and respecting their fellow employees. As we told the employees about this new bonus we could see the expression on both of the girls faces. It was obvious to us that they knew why we were doing this. We were hoping this would make the difference and change the behavior, but…
At the end of the day they brought their production cards to Mary which should have gone to Juan. This gives me the impression that they didn’t “get it”! Or simply refuse!
I’ve been extremely frustrated since leaving work. I’m disappointed. As I’ve told Mary, part of the problem was our fault. We didn’t put the girls in an environment to be successful and to be taught good behaviors since this is their first job. I feel we need to do our part to rectify the situation, but at the same time it was apparent in the meeting yesterday that they know right from wrong. Ultimately they must decide what they are going to do.
I feel for Juan. After being made supervisor Gabrielle ignored him. He didn’t continue teaching him and even worse he took it out on Juan’s wife as well. He ignored her and didn’t work with her after that point.
We have a new employee who started last week named Juan Miguel… many, many people with the name Juan in Mexico. On his first day, Gabrielle said that it was as if he had been here three weeks. He has lots of potential. He came to us through a government organization that helps disabled individuals. He lost his last job because his manager didn’t like the fact that he was disabled… yes this can and does happen. He’s personable, educated and has great insight into people and problems. I’m excited about having him as an employee. His goal is to be able to do a whole glass by next Monday.
The bonus was to be the solution, but… if this doesn’t work then I’ll try another solution today. One interesting aspect of motivation… you can’t force people to do things against their will. We’ll either find something that works or… they’ll be gone!
Mary has wanted to let the two girls go for quite some time. Between Gabrielle and the two girls she has had an extremely difficult couple of months. She understands my concern for the business and supports me, but… At the same time she realizes the damage that these individuals have had on our existing employees. I thought I learned a long time ago in business… you can’t let anyone keep you hostage, but… It’s difficult and different when others are relying on you.
On Saturday we asked Juan Miguel if he thought any of the disrespect to Juan was due to Juan’s disability… He doesn’t know. None of us know. We do know that Gabrielle made the statement before leaving that “they”, disabled individuals, couldn’t produce as fast… this comment was made when I was talking about hiring more people. The interesting fact is that the maestro that we met in town, another person named Juan, sits down all day as he does his grabado work. Gabrielle made all of the machines and taught all of the people standing up. He said sitting down is not as efficient which would indicate that someone in a wheelchair, etc wouldn’t be as well.
In the last couple of weeks as Mary and I have been going through these growing pains we’ve found new resources and new hope. I’m just hoping whatever happens next; something good comes along to keep this dream going.
The problem and then the solution… one can only hope!
The two girls that know how to do the grabado the best and have been doing it for several months now continue to be a problem for Mary and their supervisor Juan (last paragraph of entry #43). They’re 16 and 18 and were heavily influenced by Gabrielle, the maestro of grabado, who just left. They’re from the campo, country-side, outside of San Miguel. They feel that anyone who is not better than them at grabado can not be their supervisor. Is this something that they actual feel or something that Gabrielle told them. This is one question. Or is it something else? It’s so difficult to know.
The easy way out might be to just fire them for insubordination. Of course then we lose what little production capacity we have until we find another maestro. One option is to outsource to Gabrielle now that he’s back in his home for a short time. Mary hates this idea because it rewards someone who didn’t fulfill there promise to us and showed us no respect.
My concern is… keeping the business going!
Today we announced that we were implementing a performance/incentive bonus. The main focus of the bonus, and the one item that could determine whether someone gets their bonus or not was respect… respecting their supervisor and respecting their fellow employees. As we told the employees about this new bonus we could see the expression on both of the girls faces. It was obvious to us that they knew why we were doing this. We were hoping this would make the difference and change the behavior, but…
At the end of the day they brought their production cards to Mary which should have gone to Juan. This gives me the impression that they didn’t “get it”! Or simply refuse!
I’ve been extremely frustrated since leaving work. I’m disappointed. As I’ve told Mary, part of the problem was our fault. We didn’t put the girls in an environment to be successful and to be taught good behaviors since this is their first job. I feel we need to do our part to rectify the situation, but at the same time it was apparent in the meeting yesterday that they know right from wrong. Ultimately they must decide what they are going to do.
I feel for Juan. After being made supervisor Gabrielle ignored him. He didn’t continue teaching him and even worse he took it out on Juan’s wife as well. He ignored her and didn’t work with her after that point.
We have a new employee who started last week named Juan Miguel… many, many people with the name Juan in Mexico. On his first day, Gabrielle said that it was as if he had been here three weeks. He has lots of potential. He came to us through a government organization that helps disabled individuals. He lost his last job because his manager didn’t like the fact that he was disabled… yes this can and does happen. He’s personable, educated and has great insight into people and problems. I’m excited about having him as an employee. His goal is to be able to do a whole glass by next Monday.
The bonus was to be the solution, but… if this doesn’t work then I’ll try another solution today. One interesting aspect of motivation… you can’t force people to do things against their will. We’ll either find something that works or… they’ll be gone!
Mary has wanted to let the two girls go for quite some time. Between Gabrielle and the two girls she has had an extremely difficult couple of months. She understands my concern for the business and supports me, but… At the same time she realizes the damage that these individuals have had on our existing employees. I thought I learned a long time ago in business… you can’t let anyone keep you hostage, but… It’s difficult and different when others are relying on you.
On Saturday we asked Juan Miguel if he thought any of the disrespect to Juan was due to Juan’s disability… He doesn’t know. None of us know. We do know that Gabrielle made the statement before leaving that “they”, disabled individuals, couldn’t produce as fast… this comment was made when I was talking about hiring more people. The interesting fact is that the maestro that we met in town, another person named Juan, sits down all day as he does his grabado work. Gabrielle made all of the machines and taught all of the people standing up. He said sitting down is not as efficient which would indicate that someone in a wheelchair, etc wouldn’t be as well.
In the last couple of weeks as Mary and I have been going through these growing pains we’ve found new resources and new hope. I’m just hoping whatever happens next; something good comes along to keep this dream going.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Comment on Entry 45
It was written last night after an intense week. It states fairly honestly my feelings and concerns. I talk about wanting to do motivational speeches, etc. in my Mission Statement and have broached the subject on occasion in blog entries.
This time in my life is going to give me the opportunity to share:
What keeps me going!
What gives me hope!
What motivates me!
Side Note:
After talking with Mary and Juan this morning the maestros disrespect was not caused by the issue of disability, but by... I can talk about this at some later date. The two girls on the other hand...
Also, Mary... my office manager said that it was OK to use her name! you'll be hearing a lot more about her in the future...
This time in my life is going to give me the opportunity to share:
What keeps me going!
What gives me hope!
What motivates me!
Side Note:
After talking with Mary and Juan this morning the maestros disrespect was not caused by the issue of disability, but by... I can talk about this at some later date. The two girls on the other hand...
Also, Mary... my office manager said that it was OK to use her name! you'll be hearing a lot more about her in the future...
(46th Entry) The end to a tough week!
It’s difficult trying to run a business in Mexico when you don’t speak the language, but it was difficult working in Corporate America as well. Anytime you have to deal with other people it’s difficult especially when the communication isn’t based on honesty and trust. Who’s really honest and open and truthful at work? Most of us want to keep our job or keep our employees so we don’t say what’s really on our minds. God forbid we’re honest… there’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Law suits are less prevalent in Mexico except for employees who leave or are fired. Laws in Mexico heavily favor the laborer.
The maestro is leaving tonight. I have mixed emotions. I’m fearful about the business and surviving in what’s already a precarious economic environment. I’m wondering if my two best people at producing grabado (carving on glass) will come to work tomorrow. They were very attached to the maestro. They’re young girls ages… 16 and 18. He encouraged, played along with their bad, immature behavior. Yet without the two of them it’ll be difficult to produce tomorrow. On the other hand… they have no respect for me, my office manager, and their supervisor.
Business is difficult for most of us! I’m not talking about sales and profits. I’m talking about really doing right by your employees. It’s a balancing act of wanting to survive, do well and do the right thing. It’s a constant lesson of learning from your mistakes and your successes, but most of all learning to read between the lines. I said in a previously entry, “I might be a little cynical and a bit jaded, but I expect that Corporate America utilizes only a fraction of their employee’s abilities, energy and assets.”
Reading between the lines… I have two disabled individuals working for us in our new factory. Have I done “right” by them? Have I done the right thing for myself or for my office manager? I want to have a company and I want to be able to pay my employees, but have I sacrificed my integrity or degraded my employees in pursuit of a dream. Or does the end justify the means as Nietzsche put it?
Business is difficult for most of us… If you have a conscious! If you care about people! If you care about yourself!
Read entry 43… The maestro said he was leaving because we put an employee in as a supervisor and he didn’t like being watched. As Juan, our grabado supervisor, got out of the car tonight I don’t think he even said goodbye to Gabrielle, the maestro. Gabrielle has shown him no respect. Question: Is it because Juan was the newest of the people learning grabado and Gabrielle felt that someone who didn’t know this process inside out couldn’t be a supervisor? We explained to him the difference between a teacher, a maestro and a supervisor, but that didn’t seem to sink in or convince him. Or was the lack of respect due to the fact that Juan is disabled?
The nature of discrimination is one of covertness (Wow! This might actually be a real word!) Covertness… Is it real? Isn’t that the question that we’re so often asked in these cases? How do you know? Invalidos!
This afternoon I went out with my office manager right before closing and in front of all of the employees thanked Gabrielle for all that he had done for us. As I was speaking one of these young girls evidently was laughing. I didn’t realize it at the time, but asked Mary, my office manager, what she said to this girl before translating. Mary just asked her why she was laughing. My comment to Mary was, “They always laugh when I talk.” Mary responded, “I hate it!”
What does this say about me? What does it say about how I feel about the two other disabled individuals? What does it say to the non-disabled individuals about how I feel about myself and others who are disabled? On the other hand… Is it real? Maybe we can’t quantify attitudes about disabilities, but general disrespect shouldn’t be a problem.
Now the maestro is gone and the girls might show up for work tomorrow. We’ve found another person who has been doing grabado for 20 something years and might have an interest in helping us out. My dream was to have 20 individuals doing this by the end of the year with 14 to 16 disabled. Now? I’m just hoping to survive…
More, much more to come!
The maestro is leaving tonight. I have mixed emotions. I’m fearful about the business and surviving in what’s already a precarious economic environment. I’m wondering if my two best people at producing grabado (carving on glass) will come to work tomorrow. They were very attached to the maestro. They’re young girls ages… 16 and 18. He encouraged, played along with their bad, immature behavior. Yet without the two of them it’ll be difficult to produce tomorrow. On the other hand… they have no respect for me, my office manager, and their supervisor.
Business is difficult for most of us! I’m not talking about sales and profits. I’m talking about really doing right by your employees. It’s a balancing act of wanting to survive, do well and do the right thing. It’s a constant lesson of learning from your mistakes and your successes, but most of all learning to read between the lines. I said in a previously entry, “I might be a little cynical and a bit jaded, but I expect that Corporate America utilizes only a fraction of their employee’s abilities, energy and assets.”
Reading between the lines… I have two disabled individuals working for us in our new factory. Have I done “right” by them? Have I done the right thing for myself or for my office manager? I want to have a company and I want to be able to pay my employees, but have I sacrificed my integrity or degraded my employees in pursuit of a dream. Or does the end justify the means as Nietzsche put it?
Business is difficult for most of us… If you have a conscious! If you care about people! If you care about yourself!
Read entry 43… The maestro said he was leaving because we put an employee in as a supervisor and he didn’t like being watched. As Juan, our grabado supervisor, got out of the car tonight I don’t think he even said goodbye to Gabrielle, the maestro. Gabrielle has shown him no respect. Question: Is it because Juan was the newest of the people learning grabado and Gabrielle felt that someone who didn’t know this process inside out couldn’t be a supervisor? We explained to him the difference between a teacher, a maestro and a supervisor, but that didn’t seem to sink in or convince him. Or was the lack of respect due to the fact that Juan is disabled?
The nature of discrimination is one of covertness (Wow! This might actually be a real word!) Covertness… Is it real? Isn’t that the question that we’re so often asked in these cases? How do you know? Invalidos!
This afternoon I went out with my office manager right before closing and in front of all of the employees thanked Gabrielle for all that he had done for us. As I was speaking one of these young girls evidently was laughing. I didn’t realize it at the time, but asked Mary, my office manager, what she said to this girl before translating. Mary just asked her why she was laughing. My comment to Mary was, “They always laugh when I talk.” Mary responded, “I hate it!”
What does this say about me? What does it say about how I feel about the two other disabled individuals? What does it say to the non-disabled individuals about how I feel about myself and others who are disabled? On the other hand… Is it real? Maybe we can’t quantify attitudes about disabilities, but general disrespect shouldn’t be a problem.
Now the maestro is gone and the girls might show up for work tomorrow. We’ve found another person who has been doing grabado for 20 something years and might have an interest in helping us out. My dream was to have 20 individuals doing this by the end of the year with 14 to 16 disabled. Now? I’m just hoping to survive…
More, much more to come!
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