Joy On The Job!
As I look back over my career of over 32 years at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale I can say without reservation that I enjoyed almost every day of my time there.
When I began in October of 1978 I was hired under the job title of Building Service Worker I…which is a janitor. I immediately doubled my pay and for the first time in my working life I had benefits. It was difficult for me to get my mind around the newfound fact that if I became ill that I could take a paid sick day! Until I took one…I thought that the University might be pulling my leg.
I was so happy to discover that my supervisor and my foreman were both nice people and that if I did my work they were very pleased. In fact the leadership of Building Services were for the most part easy to work for and they reflected the calm and considerate demeanor of their superintendent, George O’Hara, who I never saw loose his temper or even display a hint of anger.
To Mr. O’Hara I was Jay Bradley and I thought that was just fine. Early in my service to SIUC I began to be encouraged by the night supervisor, Harold Young, and many of the foreman to take the Building Custodian exam to attempt to have my name on the test register for temporary upgrade purposes as well as to be in line for future promotions.
I recall never being nervous or apprehensive or in fear of being harassed by a overbearing supervisor. I accomplished my work and did not goof off and management praised my efforts and encouraged me to begin climbing the promotional ladder.
I experienced much of the same understanding leadership when I became a Building Custodian, which is a crew leader, in 1980. Although the supervisory work was demanding I understood that if I continued to work hard and treat my colleagues fairly and with genuine concern for them as human beings…I would have a satisfying experience as a member of the housekeeping team.
Later in the management portion of my career I found what it was like to be treated shabbily and to be made fun of and belittled for working hard…and I subsequently almost left the University. It was disheartening and disillusioning to be made the ‘goat’ or the butt of jokes or the victim of a hidden agenda that is not in the University’s handbook or a copy being made available for my education.
‘A sign you have a positive workplace culture is laughter. Just listen to how much laughter there is where you work. Laughter is a very good sign of positivity. You can work hard and still laugh and enjoy your workday more.’ Sam Glenn
An old saying that I heard a minister say 45 years ago is an excellent way to live your life in the workplace; ‘Be friendly but not familiar and be good but not gullible.’
The more honest and open and accessible that leadership and management are the more content and peaceful and joyful the staff will be that works with them.
I learned early in my management career that micromanaging is not my style. We all respond in a positive manner when we are allowed discretional flexibility in our operational procedures to accomplish the end goal that our supervisor has laid out for us.
Simply put…if you want your colleagues to conduct themselves as professionals…you must treat them as professionals! For instance; you may be a manager with many people that you are responsible for and you enter a building to find your Building Service Worker sitting in the hall and it is not break. Now the paramount question should be how many times have you observed this member of your staff working hard and often through their prescribed break periods? The question is do you want an automaton or do you want a skilled technician?
A manager or leader that is confident in their abilities and their vision for success subsequently treats all whom they encounter with a graciousness and civility that is contagious to the entire department!
Peace In A Storm
We live in an anxious world. It seems that the loudest voices or the most theatrical performance by our politicians or religious leaders are the ones that we gravitate towards. All to often when we listen closely to what the person is saying there is no substance to their verbal salad!
Politicians, of both political parties, are adept at fiery rhetoric and sparking strong emotional responses from their listeners. But, when you look back on their speeches and attempt to find the ‘concrete’ proposals within them…you are left empty handed.
I grew up in the 1960’s. I watched Walter Cronkite on CBS Nightly News each evening, yes I enjoyed the news even as a youngster, and the program lasted fifteen minutes. The news was not flashy. The news was not a panel discussions of what the meaning of it was. The news was straightforward and succinct and the purpose of it was to not achieve high ratings on the Neilson Scale. The purpose of it was to inform the viewer.
I watched Robert Muller III testify before the House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee. Director Muller was not flashy nor given to histrionics but rather presented a taciturn and sober presence and testimony before the two august bodies. Criticism ensued that he seemed to be ineffective or not dynamic or that he did not present the bombshell or revelation that would cause the citizenry of our country to rise up and demand that the House of Representative begin impeachment proceedings of the president.
It has been my experience of almost 62 years that life is not successfully lived by awaiting the next thrill or tickle down your spine. I watched a Netflix documentary entitled the Charisma of Adolf Hitler. Although I have read extensively regarding Hitler and watched numerous movies and documentaries concerning his life and the devastating destruction that he wrought on the world…I have never seen quite so interesting a piece on the charisma dynamic that existed between him and the people of Germany. The insightful study illustrated that charisma is a two party connection in that Hitler said the right things to touch the emotions and minds and hearts of the German populous!
To be a Christian is a daily walk attempting to follow Christ’s teachings. It is not about snappy music or becoming wealthy if you follow Jesus’ teachings. Christianity, certainly is not an elitist doctrine of faith! I have witnessed ministers manipulate their congregations to enrich themselves and their families. I have seen ministers who are control freaks! These wolves in sheep clothing will tell their congregations that God is speaking to them directly and that in turn the parishioners must listen to them since they are ‘God’s Man!’
The reality of a a life following Jesus is much more sedate and simple and satisfying. It is a life where the poor and the needy and the immigrant and the stranger is of paramount importance. It is a life of being a servant to all. It can be, dare I say it, a life of suffering and danger and deprivation in the pursuit of helping the poor among us.
Life brings us sunshine and storms. The quiet peace of faith and a reliance on the principles of truth… that can easily be determined if we will research the lies that we are being told and discover that the best arbiter of what is wrong and what is right is not someone in politics or religion or popular culture telling us what to think…but our own eyes and ears and brains and a secure belief that God will talk to all members of his creation…if we will simply listen.
A Love Of Books!
‘So many books, so little time.’ Frank Zappa
‘A room without books is like a body without a soul.’ Marcus Tulles Cicero
‘Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this it the ideal life.’ Mark Twain
‘Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.’ Neil Gaiman, Coraline
‘I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.’ Jorge Luis Borges
‘Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.’ Lemony Snicket, Horseradish
‘There is no friend as loyal as a book.’ Ernest Hemingway
‘What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn’t happen much, though.’ J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye.
Jonathan and I were shopping at Honest Abe’s book shelves this morning at Morris Library. We found, to our great delight, two Phillip K. Dick novels and subsequently purchased them for fifty cents each. I have not done a hard count of the books that we own but I am certain that it runs in the hundreds!
I have loved books…all of my life! Through the vehicle of books you can travel to anywhere that the authors imagination will take you. This includes any country on the face to the earth and any planet in the cosmos! Books have introduced me to people and cultures and times and places that I had never dreamed of.
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I read Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt when I was in the sixth grade and I was transported to the time of the civil war. I read Sherlock Holmes and wanted to be the brilliant detective. Of course there was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson or The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and the Call of the Wild by Jack London. Dracula by Bram Stoker and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly captivated my young mind!
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Recently I have read; Siege: Trump Under Fire by Michael Wolff and the Muller Report as well as The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth and Leadership by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Books have always caused me to feel secure and safe and surrounded by wisdom! I like the feel of books and the look of books and collecting books!
As a young man I began reading the Bible. I was mesmerized by both the Old and New Testaments! I so enjoy the Bible that I began collecting Bibles and have several today.
Life is insecure and iffy and a freight train…or a rainbow may be awaiting you around the next bend in the road! Books are solid and there for you in the both the good times and the bad! They do not vacillate or pander to popular interests or religious and political whims of the moment!
Books provide solace and a balm in a, sometimes, frightening world. The more that we read history and literature and philosophy and government and poetry and physics and the Bible…the more we understand God’s creation and our part in it!
Roots
Soon will be the beginning of another school year at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale. All that I hear sounds promising with our recruiters working overtime and our campus community placing the last minute touches on our preparations for our wonderful students!
Civil Service staff such as the Grounds workers have been lovingly caring for the resplendent outdoors of SIUC.
As I walk the Campus on a daily basis I see Plant and Service Operations workers busily at their tasks of maintaining and enriching and beautifying the place that they are so dedicated to!
Accountants and clerks and Building Service Workers and Plumbers and Electricians and Carpenters and Locksmiths and Customer Service Representatives and Food Service staff are anxiously awaiting the return of our students and the coming of our new class!
Many civil service staff are working two and three and more jobs created by vacancies that have occurred do to budget constraints. They not only deserve their colleagues respect, they merit recognition by university administration and acknowledgment that without their efforts…there would not be a Campus for our students to come back to!
There are many well thought out theorys regarding how a university looses students and how they retain and gain them. Modalities have changed and the young people of today are not looking for the same college experience that their parents were. It has been postulated that our students are looking for a ‘turn key’ university experience and the bells and whistles of modern life are a requirement and a must have for the recruitment and retention of them.
All of these components have value and have their place…but they are not the answer at the soul of the question. At the heart of the matter students are looking for two primary needs in a comprehensive university experience. One would be excellent disciplines and professors to teach those courses in a caring and cutting edge manner. Second would be a university community and a regional community that cares about them and that welcomes them and that makes them feel at home!
We humans are social animals…we crave love and family and acceptance! Many of our students have left homes that provided them with less than what they needed of all of the above elements!
My friends can tell me anything…my enemies can keep their opinions to theirselves!
‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’ Proverbs 27:6 KJV
Television On Three Channels!
A Jazzman blog for your enjoyment!
Billy Bump enjoyed TV! He began most of his mornings in the Chicago Heights watching Bozo the Clown which was a live production from Chicago. Billy considered Bozo the funniest clown that he had ever seen! Bozo had giant feet and a red nose and his face was white with clown makeup. Bozo was such a regular in Billy’s suburban home that he thought that all kids must be enjoying Bozo at the same time that he was.
Billy sat upon a sectional couch that had four separate sections. It was black and white and was the epitome of early 1960’s sheik! He enjoyed his oatmeal while wearing his pajamas with feet in them. Billy assumed that all PJ’s had feet in them and he enjoyed the warmth of them…especially in the winter. In fact Jane, Billy’s mom, required that he wear his socks to bed, if he did not…
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My Buddy And Brother…Ron!
It is my buddy’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Ron!
Ron has been much more than my brother-in-law for the past over 41 years…he has been my brother!
From the evening of March 24, 1978 when I met Ron…I liked him and felt an affinity for him! If you would like to meet a good hearted and kind person…you should meet Ron!
I have spoken with my buddy for countless hours about the vagaries of life and the mystery of our existence. We have commiserated over politics and religion and family and the roller coaster ride of life.
We have traveled together and have been privileged to stay with him and his lovely wife Ira…on several occasions. These are always pleasant and memorable experiences with both of our hosts going extremely out of their way to make Mary Jane and I and Aaron and Jonathon welcome and comfortable and maximizing our vacation pleasure!
This fine man loves his family and it is a bedrock of his existence! He knows how to have fun better than I did when I was in my twenty’s!
Ron has made my retirement extremely enjoyable and complete! We have set plans to travel with he and Ira Kaye for the next two years and I could not be happier!
Ron is a man that even when we disagree he respects my opinion! I would call him a blue collar scholar only because he is adept in all of the manual arts and yet is extremely well read and educated and can talk on any subject that he is presented with!
We visited Jamaica just after I retired and he suggested our traversing a waterfall called Dunn’ s River Falls. I struggled for every step and foot hold and relied constantly on the kind Jamaican people to help me up the dangerously moss covered and, ice, slick falls! While fearing for Mary Jane and my life…I watched Ron run up the falls and prance about like an antelope!
Ron joined Mary Jane and I on a Caribbean Cruise in January, 2012. He was so enthusiastic and in to the gifts of a cruise that he renewed my love for cruising! His comment for most of the meals was, ‘this is to die for!’
Ron is fun! He is in the moment and he is interested in enjoying every minute of life that God has bestowed upon him! He is an inspiration to me and I wish him Happy Birthday and another 50 more!
Billy & Steve…’Down By The School Yard’
Billy and Steve Down By The Schoo Yard!
Billy and Steve were in the Christmas spirit! Billy had graduated high school and had not a real plan as to what to do with his life going forward. He actually was so involved with church work and his regular 8am – noon job at the furniture store…that there was little time for thought and planning. Billy had struck out on his own without a job and with little visible means of financial support. In fact for the ‘Board’ portion of ‘Room and Board’ he was sleeping in the church.
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Steve had left home and hearth as well and seeking gainful employment. He was a good natured person with a constant mischievous smile on his face! Billy had hailed from El Dorado, Illinois and had invited his buddy to spend the Christmas holiday with him at his mom and step-dad’s home. They were both…
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Happiness And Hate @ The Apple Store
We set out on a journey yesterday to visit the Apple Store at the Plaza Galleria in St. Louis, Missouri. I needed a new iPhone and we decided that the best place to procure one was from the company that makes it. After a two hour plus car ride, we arrived. The first thing that we noticed was the long line of customers to check in with the friendly sales associates who were dutifully carrying iPads and logging in the customers in as to their place in the Que.
The store was packed! After a few minutes of browsing we found two vacant seats at a table that was surrounded by people doing Apple business. We had been told that our wait would be fifteen or twenty minutes and that is about how long that we waited.
Soon a young woman began searching through the crowd with a quizzical look on her face. I had speculated how the initial person that logged us in specified on his iPad what to look for when searching for Jay? Could it be that he noted a grey beard and a pot belly? Or would he note: a Tilley Hat and two gaudy rings? Or perhaps he would just place in the comments: OLD!
In any case finally our Apple expert made eye contact with me and I pointed to her and smiled and she responded, ‘Jay?’
We have shopped at Apple stores before and it has always been a pleasure! The staff is highly trained and energetic and customer friendly! Our helper not only helped me determine what iPhone that I wanted but also assisted me in transferring all of my applications and photos that were on my current iPhone to my new iPhone. Why, they even have a machine that expertly places a screen protector on your phone without error!
And so we sat down at the table that our personal shopper asked us to sit at. Among the people that were sitting there, before us, was an older man who asked if he could listen in to the instructions that we were being given as he had the same questions? We assured him that would be fine.
He remarked regarding our similarity in age and that we were just purchasing iPhones to stay in touch with our kids. He identified with and treated us in a friendly and familiar manner.
There was also an Asian man sitting next to me and speaking on his phone regarding the difficulty that he had encountered with an Apple product.
As we were being assisted I was interrupted by loud talking between the man that was listening to the explanation that we were receiving and the Asian man next to me.
The old caucasian man told the Asian man, ‘Could you be quite or go to another table to make your call…you are interrupting my hearing the comments of the Apple employee?’
The Asian man responded, ‘I do not care if you can not hear…I have as much right to be here as you do!’
After each party telling the other, on numerous occasions, that the other was, ‘very rude,’ the Asian gentleman moved to another table and the Caucasian man called out to him, ‘Go eat some fish heads!’
We were shocked as the racist comment that came from the Caucasian man and it was vitriolic! First, the young woman that was waiting on us was not waiting on the Caucasian man. Secondly the Asian man had as much right to be doing his Apple business in the Apple store as the Caucasian man did!
I have reflected much on what I witnessed. Bias and prejudice and racist comments are becoming more and more a part of the open and accepted conversation in the United States and it is a dark road that will lead to destruction and death!
The confusion and pain and hurt that was on the Asian man’s face was real and illustrative of the cruelty of bullying and racism!
Encourage!
I was reflecting on a comment that my friend, Anna, wrote regarding a Facebook post yesterday. I was honored and humbled that she spoke so kindly regarding my meager efforts to encourage my many friends through my postings as well as my blog entries. Her saying that I was, ‘inspirational,’ to others…inspired me!
My friend, Winton, also had gracious comments for me yesterday. Again, I was taken aback…and know that they must be talking about another Jay Brooks!
During my career at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale I was inspired by so many of my colleagues as well as many members of the University Community! I was befriended and mentored and complimented, at times, and I became part of a loving and caring family.
I began my service as a young man of 20 years and had little more than a willingness to work hard and be a professional housekeeper. Through the years so many wonderful people took an interest in me and cared about my welfare that I counted members of SIUC from all parts of the Campus as my friends.
Nothing thrilled me more than to offer the opportunity of employment in Building Services to people that would have not easily accessed the position. When I could help someone who had no political voice or ‘pull’ from within the institution…it was the highpoint of my career!
I remember how it felt not to be the popular kid. I recall what it was like to be lonely. I know the confusion of a leader underselling my abilities and making fun of my efforts.
I so enjoyed being an advocate for my colleagues that I thought seriously about not retiring. There are so many of us that have no voice and desperately need someone to speak for us and take our part and explain what it is like to be us.
I often said, regarding our wonderful staff at Building Services, that we have no idea what burdens they are bearing. We have not a clue the challenges that they are working through on a daily and even an hourly basis. We, as managers and supervisors must be about uplifting our colleagues and not putting our foot on their neck and making their life more difficult!
I watched for years before I became a manager…how devastating and life changing a hurtful word or attitude from the boss could be! With position and with title and with authority comes responsibility! When I had a private constructive criticism meeting with a member of our staff I would begin the meeting with a well deserved compliment regarding their work performance and then the constructive criticism, only about job performance, and conclude the meeting with an additional encouragement and praise for the person’s demonstrated strengths and value to our department.
Irregardless of what people say about a leader…they are watching and listening and deciding if you are fair and if you care about them! Hurtful words hurt employees!
Friends
Billy Bump talks about his friends!
Billy Bump was looking for friends. He had watched the dynamic of friendship throughout his life and he understood that to have a friend a person must be a friend! Although the statement seems profound in it’s simplicity…it carries a lot of weight.
Billy, as a youngster became friends with Jeff. Jeff is Jewish and taught Billy many Jewish traditions and introduced him to Kosher foods and was an all around mensch! Billy was honored to speak at one of Jeff’s business meetings a few years ago in the United Kingdom. He enjoyed reminiscing about he and Jeff’s over 40 years friendship and his admiration for all that Jeff has accomplished!
Billy, through his analysis, had found that the best friends are those who like you for yourself and not what you can do for them. Friendship was not conditional nor subject to financial or political or religious affiliations. Friends…
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The Happy Traveler 