Years ago, Jovan Musk perfume used to run an ad asking "What is sexy?". They'd then show images of things considered to be "sexy".
Today, while watching tv, I happened upon someone and thought "Hmm...THAT'S sexy". And I thought...why not list what all I find sexy in my blog? Because, you know, I don't really have anything else to talk about tonight ;)
What Is Sexy?
~ Mike Rowe's bare hairy chest and arms
~ Confidence
~ Bruce Willis
~ Power
~ A well dressed man
~ FNC Meterologist Rick Reichmuth's hands and arms
~ Pierce Brosnan
~ The ability to make me laugh
~ Deep blue eyes
~ FNC's Rick Leventhal in a tshirt
(and what was it I saw on TV and thought was sexy? Rick Reichmuth's hands and forearms...luscious!)
Showing posts with label TV's Mike Rowe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV's Mike Rowe. Show all posts
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
TV's Mike Rowe Works...
And summer is over. Labor Day weekend, as is it's custom, escorts summer out as our children go back to school and we go back to work.
After a refreshing weekend at the shore where I took too much sun and bought too many new pairs of flip flops (oh come on...if you could get ElizaB's half price, you'd buy them too!) I returned home and to work and to the internet.
I was surprised to see what greeted me over on the dirty jobs board...it was a link...a link to a site Mike Rowe had set up...something called "mikeroweWORKS".
Of course I clicked on it.
Not quite sure what it is, though.
Oh, there was a 7 minute long video of Mike, standing in his dining room, beer on the table in the background, talking to the camera about the role of the modern day proletariat, vis a vis something or other, invoking images of Rosie the Riveter, talking about our crumbling infrastructure yadda yadda yadda....it's all stuff I've heard him say over and over again, from the Fast Company article to posts right there on the DJMB.
Now, I understand, in theory, what the man is attempting to do.
He wants to get the word out that there ARE indeed other opportunities out there besides college. There are careers that are good, albeit dirty. He wants to be, in effect, a public relations firm for the blue collar worker.
A noble cause, to be sure.
But...what, exactly IS mikeroweWORKS? HOW is he going to get opinions and ideals to change? What is his mission statement? What are the goals? What are the steps being taken to achieve these goals? Every successful campaign has a firm mission statement, with a clear and concise idea of the steps being taken to reach intermittent goals en route to the ultimate goal.
Now, everyone who knows me knows that I do, indeed, love Mike Rowe. He entertains me, and makes me smile. He's a thinking woman's sexy. So, with that said, I have a few things to say about Mike Rowe and his works:
Rosie the Riveter: UR DOIN' IT WRONG.
Mike chooses to use the image of Rosie as an icon of the working man, a champion calling men and women to careers in industry. Nice idea, but not exactly right. Rosie was WW2 propaganda designed to get women out of the home and into the factories during the war to keep the country going. They were there to replace the men who left the factories empty while they were off fighting in Europe and the Pacific theaters. Without the women taking up the gauntlet and keeping industry going so the country could survive and so supplies could continue to the military, our war effort could all have been for naught. THAT is who Rosie the Riveter is.
The Proletariat: Where are the Marx Brothers when you need them?
Mike chooses to use the term "modern day proletariat" to describe the blue collar worker. But...why? Why use such a negative word, Mike? A word that conjures up images of a dingy gray Cold War Soviet Union, where masses of people stand in line, hoping for a loaf of bread while Red Army guards stand watching? Why use a word so closely associated with Communism and the Iron Curtain? Is it because it's a big twenty-five cent word that makes you sound smart? Or do you not think that those you are speaking to and of will 'get' the negative connotation? I'll lend a hand. Here is the dictionary.com definition of proletariat: "The lower classes; beggars." Case, rested.
Our Crumbling Infrastructure: What Infrastructure?
Ok, this is where Mike really loses me. Is he saying that the infrastructure of our nation, which we all know IS crumbling, is crumbling because we lack the labor to maintain it? Because, if he is saying that, well, it's just not true. There is no shortage of manpower to restore and maintain things. What there IS a lack of are appropriations of funds by local, state and federal authorities in order TO maintain them. If a local government does not appropriate adequate funding for road maintenance, eventually those roads are going to fall apart. That bridge in Minnesota did not fall because there were no workers to repair and maintain it. The bridge in Minnesota fell because the authority charged with maintaining it did not appropriate adequate funding for it. This is the problem. Unemployment is high. People are out of work. People are skilled and willing to learn in order to earn a fair wage. Monies are not being earmarked to fix our roadways and bridges and our power grids. Monies are being funneled to special interests and pet projects instead. The only way Mike Rowe can change any of this is for him to change government by running for public office...in every town, county and state in this great nation of ours. Even TV's Mike Rowe can't do that.
I wish Mike and his works well. I hope he is able to reach whatever the goals of the endeavor are. Actually, I hope that eventually he is able to articulate clearly what those goals actually are. Only then will he be able to reach them!
After a refreshing weekend at the shore where I took too much sun and bought too many new pairs of flip flops (oh come on...if you could get ElizaB's half price, you'd buy them too!) I returned home and to work and to the internet.
I was surprised to see what greeted me over on the dirty jobs board...it was a link...a link to a site Mike Rowe had set up...something called "mikeroweWORKS".
Of course I clicked on it.
Not quite sure what it is, though.
Oh, there was a 7 minute long video of Mike, standing in his dining room, beer on the table in the background, talking to the camera about the role of the modern day proletariat, vis a vis something or other, invoking images of Rosie the Riveter, talking about our crumbling infrastructure yadda yadda yadda....it's all stuff I've heard him say over and over again, from the Fast Company article to posts right there on the DJMB.
Now, I understand, in theory, what the man is attempting to do.
He wants to get the word out that there ARE indeed other opportunities out there besides college. There are careers that are good, albeit dirty. He wants to be, in effect, a public relations firm for the blue collar worker.
A noble cause, to be sure.
But...what, exactly IS mikeroweWORKS? HOW is he going to get opinions and ideals to change? What is his mission statement? What are the goals? What are the steps being taken to achieve these goals? Every successful campaign has a firm mission statement, with a clear and concise idea of the steps being taken to reach intermittent goals en route to the ultimate goal.
Now, everyone who knows me knows that I do, indeed, love Mike Rowe. He entertains me, and makes me smile. He's a thinking woman's sexy. So, with that said, I have a few things to say about Mike Rowe and his works:
Rosie the Riveter: UR DOIN' IT WRONG.
Mike chooses to use the image of Rosie as an icon of the working man, a champion calling men and women to careers in industry. Nice idea, but not exactly right. Rosie was WW2 propaganda designed to get women out of the home and into the factories during the war to keep the country going. They were there to replace the men who left the factories empty while they were off fighting in Europe and the Pacific theaters. Without the women taking up the gauntlet and keeping industry going so the country could survive and so supplies could continue to the military, our war effort could all have been for naught. THAT is who Rosie the Riveter is.
The Proletariat: Where are the Marx Brothers when you need them?
Mike chooses to use the term "modern day proletariat" to describe the blue collar worker. But...why? Why use such a negative word, Mike? A word that conjures up images of a dingy gray Cold War Soviet Union, where masses of people stand in line, hoping for a loaf of bread while Red Army guards stand watching? Why use a word so closely associated with Communism and the Iron Curtain? Is it because it's a big twenty-five cent word that makes you sound smart? Or do you not think that those you are speaking to and of will 'get' the negative connotation? I'll lend a hand. Here is the dictionary.com definition of proletariat: "The lower classes; beggars." Case, rested.
Our Crumbling Infrastructure: What Infrastructure?
Ok, this is where Mike really loses me. Is he saying that the infrastructure of our nation, which we all know IS crumbling, is crumbling because we lack the labor to maintain it? Because, if he is saying that, well, it's just not true. There is no shortage of manpower to restore and maintain things. What there IS a lack of are appropriations of funds by local, state and federal authorities in order TO maintain them. If a local government does not appropriate adequate funding for road maintenance, eventually those roads are going to fall apart. That bridge in Minnesota did not fall because there were no workers to repair and maintain it. The bridge in Minnesota fell because the authority charged with maintaining it did not appropriate adequate funding for it. This is the problem. Unemployment is high. People are out of work. People are skilled and willing to learn in order to earn a fair wage. Monies are not being earmarked to fix our roadways and bridges and our power grids. Monies are being funneled to special interests and pet projects instead. The only way Mike Rowe can change any of this is for him to change government by running for public office...in every town, county and state in this great nation of ours. Even TV's Mike Rowe can't do that.
I wish Mike and his works well. I hope he is able to reach whatever the goals of the endeavor are. Actually, I hope that eventually he is able to articulate clearly what those goals actually are. Only then will he be able to reach them!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
Here it is. The end of the summer. I'll be making my annual Labor Day pilgrimage to the Shore for my traditional summer fare thee well to the beach. My pale legs will surely reflect the sun more spectacularly than the sand ever could. Once again, my summer goal of "a really good tan" went unfulfilled.
Summer has a way of getting away from us, doesn't it?
We have 3 scant months to have a summer in. Those of us who work conventional office jobs have weekends, plus a couple of weeks worth of vacation in which to get our fill. Life, however, often interferes with those perfect beach days. Groceries need to be bought, and houses need to be cleaned. Errands demand attention while laundry beckons. As much as we want to lounge on the beach, ice cold bottle of Corona beside us, sweating droplets of condensation down its side and into the sand while we absently read a book, we don't always get our way.
Such was my summer.
Not that I'm complaining. I did have a pretty good summer. I started if off on Memorial Day weekend with the most AMAZING concert ever~a private Eric Clapton concert in a 2500 seat venue. Awesome and awe inspiring. I doubled my pleasure by the end of that week with an Eagles concert in a private box at MSG. Both of these shows were gratis...although some bugger did scratch my car in the lot across from the Garden. No worries though...what's an SUV without a little battle scar from the big, bad city?
I had a couple of nice weekends at the Borgata in Atlantic City which, while not profitable, proved to be relaxing and refreshing.
I did some shopping, netting a hot pair of Michael Kors silver sandals for a song (have I mentioned my Michael Kors obsession?) I also got the most adorable Michael Kors top on sale...what can I say? Adore him! The Coach outlet was kind to me as well, and I actually put the Louis Vuitton away for a bit to use a new Coach...but you know I just can't live too long without Louis ;)
I saw a couple of movies, and went to dinners with friends. I watched too many hours of Olympic coverage and my friend accidentally squirt ketchup all over himself as we laughed until we cried.
Alaskan King Crab was the critter du jour as Deadliest Catch fascinated me, along with Captain Jonathan of the Time Bandit. TV's Mike Rowe, well, what can I say? He's TV's Mike Rowe and always will be. I watched less FNC and more Discovery Channel. I know How It's Made, how to be a Mythbuster, what goes into making The Deadliest Catch and who is responsible for all those Dirty Jobs.
I laughed and cried and fell in and out of love. I made life changing decisions and changed my mind, only to contemplate them once more.
All in all, a pretty good summer...even if I didn't get that really great tan.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go start planning the annual Christmas Display. You know how quickly the holidays creep up on us once Labor Day is over!
Summer has a way of getting away from us, doesn't it?
We have 3 scant months to have a summer in. Those of us who work conventional office jobs have weekends, plus a couple of weeks worth of vacation in which to get our fill. Life, however, often interferes with those perfect beach days. Groceries need to be bought, and houses need to be cleaned. Errands demand attention while laundry beckons. As much as we want to lounge on the beach, ice cold bottle of Corona beside us, sweating droplets of condensation down its side and into the sand while we absently read a book, we don't always get our way.
Such was my summer.
Not that I'm complaining. I did have a pretty good summer. I started if off on Memorial Day weekend with the most AMAZING concert ever~a private Eric Clapton concert in a 2500 seat venue. Awesome and awe inspiring. I doubled my pleasure by the end of that week with an Eagles concert in a private box at MSG. Both of these shows were gratis...although some bugger did scratch my car in the lot across from the Garden. No worries though...what's an SUV without a little battle scar from the big, bad city?
I had a couple of nice weekends at the Borgata in Atlantic City which, while not profitable, proved to be relaxing and refreshing.
I did some shopping, netting a hot pair of Michael Kors silver sandals for a song (have I mentioned my Michael Kors obsession?) I also got the most adorable Michael Kors top on sale...what can I say? Adore him! The Coach outlet was kind to me as well, and I actually put the Louis Vuitton away for a bit to use a new Coach...but you know I just can't live too long without Louis ;)
I saw a couple of movies, and went to dinners with friends. I watched too many hours of Olympic coverage and my friend accidentally squirt ketchup all over himself as we laughed until we cried.
Alaskan King Crab was the critter du jour as Deadliest Catch fascinated me, along with Captain Jonathan of the Time Bandit. TV's Mike Rowe, well, what can I say? He's TV's Mike Rowe and always will be. I watched less FNC and more Discovery Channel. I know How It's Made, how to be a Mythbuster, what goes into making The Deadliest Catch and who is responsible for all those Dirty Jobs.
I laughed and cried and fell in and out of love. I made life changing decisions and changed my mind, only to contemplate them once more.
All in all, a pretty good summer...even if I didn't get that really great tan.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go start planning the annual Christmas Display. You know how quickly the holidays creep up on us once Labor Day is over!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
More Mike Rowe...
...from the Planet Green launch.
This one tickles my funny bone...and you may realize why...
This one tickles my funny bone...and you may realize why...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Ever Feel Like Mike Rowe is Stalking You?
So, it seems that these days, Mike Rowe is everywhere.
First, it was the Ford F150 commercials, which have me pointing out the attributes of the vehicle every time I encounter one (which suddenly, is quite often. Honestly, who would think that there would be so many pick up trucks in NY?) Because of Mike, I now know that the Ford F150, which has the largest towing capacity in it's class, also has closed tow hooks, as opposed to the open ones it's competition employs. What does this mean? Beats me, but I'm guessing that if I were indeed in the market for a pick up truck, I'd know.
Soon, there was more Mike Rowe on my tv box than there had been before. Besides his weekly appearance on Discovery Channel, Mike Rowe now seemed to be telling me I needed a Ford Focus. Mike...why? Why would I even want a Ford Focus when you know I am clearly in love with my little turd? No, I will not be having any of this Ford Focus nonsense. Just take your little Ford Focus and your sexy smooth as honey voice and go stand over there in the corner, thank you.
Now, my new addiction happens to be Deadliest Catch. After getting sucked in during a Marathon over the Christmas holidays, I have been looking forward to the new season of Deadliest. Deadliest is on on Tuesday nights, in the typical Dirty Jobs time slot. Why is Discovery Channel doing this? Once again, it beats me, but one thing I do know is that Mike Rowe has, thru a series of promo's~including one where he sits inside a crab pot~gone out of his way, nay, above and beyond his call of duty, to ensure that I know that he, TV's Mike Rowe, will be moving, along with his show Dirty Jobs, to Monday nights while Deadliest is on. That's right. There was Mike, on my tv box once again, trudging thru snow in Dutch Harbor, Alaska while wearing a big and apparently furry hat, using that term...yes...he called himself "TV's Mike Rowe". Some things, you just can't make them up ;)
But now Mike is also doing a promotion with HP, the computer people. On HPs website are a series of little videos starring...who else? Mike Rowe! Well...Mike Rowe and his cameraman Doug Glover and of course Dave Barsky, who apparently smells like a Barsky. In these videos, the trio travel around and stay connected to the rest of the world via a kicky new HP laptop that has a nifty swivel screen and a cool touch screen thingybob that Mike can write on with a little stylus....kind of like he's answering Final Jeopardy. What is technology beyond my comprehension, Alex? You can access these cute little videos on HPs website (just search for Mike Rowe and you'll find them) I think you'll all like the one with Nicole the best, won't they, Mary?
Anyway, I continue to encounter banner ads on websites starring...who else? MIKE ROWE! Yes! Those HP banner ads are everywhere! Besides seeing them on Discovery's website, I have also encountered them on Photobucket AND on my site meter! I am actually shocked that Mike isn't staring at me from the top of the blogger page right now, smirking at this as I type it!
Now, don't get me wrong. I adore Mike Rowe...as some of you already know. It's just that he continues to pop up in the most unexpected places, startling and distracting me. If I didn't know any better, I'd get the feeling he's following me. Not that I'd mind, of course. Mike Rowe can come on over anytime, as long as he brings a bottle of wine and a nice fresh cheesecake :D
First, it was the Ford F150 commercials, which have me pointing out the attributes of the vehicle every time I encounter one (which suddenly, is quite often. Honestly, who would think that there would be so many pick up trucks in NY?) Because of Mike, I now know that the Ford F150, which has the largest towing capacity in it's class, also has closed tow hooks, as opposed to the open ones it's competition employs. What does this mean? Beats me, but I'm guessing that if I were indeed in the market for a pick up truck, I'd know.
Soon, there was more Mike Rowe on my tv box than there had been before. Besides his weekly appearance on Discovery Channel, Mike Rowe now seemed to be telling me I needed a Ford Focus. Mike...why? Why would I even want a Ford Focus when you know I am clearly in love with my little turd? No, I will not be having any of this Ford Focus nonsense. Just take your little Ford Focus and your sexy smooth as honey voice and go stand over there in the corner, thank you.
Now, my new addiction happens to be Deadliest Catch. After getting sucked in during a Marathon over the Christmas holidays, I have been looking forward to the new season of Deadliest. Deadliest is on on Tuesday nights, in the typical Dirty Jobs time slot. Why is Discovery Channel doing this? Once again, it beats me, but one thing I do know is that Mike Rowe has, thru a series of promo's~including one where he sits inside a crab pot~gone out of his way, nay, above and beyond his call of duty, to ensure that I know that he, TV's Mike Rowe, will be moving, along with his show Dirty Jobs, to Monday nights while Deadliest is on. That's right. There was Mike, on my tv box once again, trudging thru snow in Dutch Harbor, Alaska while wearing a big and apparently furry hat, using that term...yes...he called himself "TV's Mike Rowe". Some things, you just can't make them up ;)
But now Mike is also doing a promotion with HP, the computer people. On HPs website are a series of little videos starring...who else? Mike Rowe! Well...Mike Rowe and his cameraman Doug Glover and of course Dave Barsky, who apparently smells like a Barsky. In these videos, the trio travel around and stay connected to the rest of the world via a kicky new HP laptop that has a nifty swivel screen and a cool touch screen thingybob that Mike can write on with a little stylus....kind of like he's answering Final Jeopardy. What is technology beyond my comprehension, Alex? You can access these cute little videos on HPs website (just search for Mike Rowe and you'll find them) I think you'll all like the one with Nicole the best, won't they, Mary?
Anyway, I continue to encounter banner ads on websites starring...who else? MIKE ROWE! Yes! Those HP banner ads are everywhere! Besides seeing them on Discovery's website, I have also encountered them on Photobucket AND on my site meter! I am actually shocked that Mike isn't staring at me from the top of the blogger page right now, smirking at this as I type it!
Now, don't get me wrong. I adore Mike Rowe...as some of you already know. It's just that he continues to pop up in the most unexpected places, startling and distracting me. If I didn't know any better, I'd get the feeling he's following me. Not that I'd mind, of course. Mike Rowe can come on over anytime, as long as he brings a bottle of wine and a nice fresh cheesecake :D
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Vast Berring Sea...
Ok, I'll admit it. I only started to watch the marathon of Deadliest Catch that was on over the Christmas holidays because TV's Mike Rowe, who I love and adore, was the narrator and sometimes popped up on screen.
However, over the course of that marathon, I came to find that, even with out the narration of Mike Rowe, I liked Captain Sig and his brother Edgar. Captain Phil made me laugh and Captain Jonathan was a skilled skipper. I came to like these men and found the work that they did fascinating.
In preparation for the upcoming season 4, beginning on Tuesday night, Discovery has once again graced us with a Deadliest Catch~athon this weekend. My television only switched channels when I woke up in the middle of the night and Discovery Channel was off the air.
The men who brave "the vast Berring sea" to fish for King and Opilio crab earn every penny they make. And I think I am now hearing Mike Rowe whispering "the vast Berring Sea" and "Opilio crab" in my dreams because I've watched so many episodes in such a short period of time.
Which brings me to another point: TV's Mike Rowe (seriously, don't you know me by now? It ALWAYS comes back to either TV's Mike Rowe or Shepard Smith, doesn't it?) Discovery Channel has seen fit to move Dirty Jobs (coincidently, with Mike Rowe) to Monday nights in order to show Deadliest Catch on Tuesday nights, in the slot formerly occupied by Dirty Jobs. In a series of promos filmed in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the home port of the crab fleet, Mike Rowe tells us all about this. In fact, in one spot, he actually refers to himself as "TV's Mike Rowe". Hmm. In yet another, he's locked in a crab pot, the wire basket that is used to catch the crab. I have to say, he looked quite at home in there.
Dutch Harbor seems to suit you, TV's Mike Rowe...by the way...I loved the hat ;)
However, over the course of that marathon, I came to find that, even with out the narration of Mike Rowe, I liked Captain Sig and his brother Edgar. Captain Phil made me laugh and Captain Jonathan was a skilled skipper. I came to like these men and found the work that they did fascinating.
In preparation for the upcoming season 4, beginning on Tuesday night, Discovery has once again graced us with a Deadliest Catch~athon this weekend. My television only switched channels when I woke up in the middle of the night and Discovery Channel was off the air.
The men who brave "the vast Berring sea" to fish for King and Opilio crab earn every penny they make. And I think I am now hearing Mike Rowe whispering "the vast Berring Sea" and "Opilio crab" in my dreams because I've watched so many episodes in such a short period of time.
Which brings me to another point: TV's Mike Rowe (seriously, don't you know me by now? It ALWAYS comes back to either TV's Mike Rowe or Shepard Smith, doesn't it?) Discovery Channel has seen fit to move Dirty Jobs (coincidently, with Mike Rowe) to Monday nights in order to show Deadliest Catch on Tuesday nights, in the slot formerly occupied by Dirty Jobs. In a series of promos filmed in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the home port of the crab fleet, Mike Rowe tells us all about this. In fact, in one spot, he actually refers to himself as "TV's Mike Rowe". Hmm. In yet another, he's locked in a crab pot, the wire basket that is used to catch the crab. I have to say, he looked quite at home in there.
Dutch Harbor seems to suit you, TV's Mike Rowe...by the way...I loved the hat ;)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Business is Business, Part Two...
So, I am here again tonight to expand upon last nights post...so, let's do this Survivor style with a recap and I'll channel some Jeff Probst...
Last time in MY WCKD WCKD WAYS, a post was made about TV's Mike Rowe, the host of Discovery Channels Dirty Jobs. The post chronicled Mike's day of promotional television spots in New York City. As usual Mike Rowe looked HOTT. First up, Good Morning America where the geniuses who host tried to frighten Mike with a fake snake and where Mike shoved half a chicken breast in his mouth in a desperate bid to stave off hunger. Next, Mike Rowe taped an interview with Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel. The contents of that interview will not be revealed until the interview airs at a later date. Finally, Mike appeared on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC. It was there that Mike Rowe discussed his 7 Habits of effluent people, a list he said he compiled from his experiences. Mike and Donny concluded that people who did manual labor were much happier than those who spend their days in cubicle farms, pushing paper around. I took exception to this statement and explained why. Tonight, I take it a step further...
It occurred to me, after re~reading my post from last night, that maybe I didn't explain my position clearly, that perhaps I left out some thoughts. So, let's get to it like we are playing for reward.
I brushed on the fact that TV's Mike Rowe generally works with the owners or the crew chiefs at his jobs, not always the simple bottom rung worker. It's easy for someone who owns a company or who's high up on the food chain to be happy in his position. Part of why people are dissatisfied with their jobs, however, has little to do with the actual work, and everything to do with the environment they are working in. How they are treated in relation to how others are treated, how the general morale around them is, and how well they are being compensated for their troubles. Satisfaction doesn't always revolve around being happy with the task you are performing.
It is possible to like the work you do, but dislike the way your boss treats you. Not everyone is the boss's favorite, regardless of what kind of work you do, and watching coworkers being treated in a better way than you are treated doesn't make for a happy or satisfied worker. Likewise, if everyone around you is miserable, odds are you will be too. There are some places that just are NOT happy work environments. You could hate where you work stapling papers together, but take the same job of stapling papers together and move it to a happier place, and you are suddenly the happiest worker on the planet. It has nothing to do with the work and everything to do with the work place.
And compensation. We all want to be paid well and earn a fair wage for the work we do. Sadly, most employers want to minimize their costs in order to maximize profit, and wages are indeed a cost of doing business. Sure, some people make good money. But some people, doing the same job, don't. It's never fun to know that the person sitting next to you, stapling the same papers together that you're stapling, is making more money than you. It makes you angry and dissatisfied. You know you are worth just as much, and vow to find an employer who will show how valued you are. Once again, nothing to do with the job itself, and everything to o with where you work.
I think that TV's Mike Rowe has missed a very important part of the big picture. It's just as easy or that ditch digger to not like how he's treated by his boss and not like what he's being paid for digging that ditch as it is for an accountant.
I'd like to suggest to Mike Rowe that he add a caveat to his 7 habits: "The variable of work environment mixed in with any of these 7 habits can change everything."
Will Lisa continue to expound upon her thoughts and insights culled from over 20 years in accounting? Will TV's Mike Rowe continue to make generalized statements on national TV based on the fact that he's crawled thru mounds of both animal and human excrement? Or will Mike Rowe read Lisa's comments and learn from her experience and insight?
Find out on the next installment of MY WCKD WCKD WAYS!
Last time in MY WCKD WCKD WAYS, a post was made about TV's Mike Rowe, the host of Discovery Channels Dirty Jobs. The post chronicled Mike's day of promotional television spots in New York City. As usual Mike Rowe looked HOTT. First up, Good Morning America where the geniuses who host tried to frighten Mike with a fake snake and where Mike shoved half a chicken breast in his mouth in a desperate bid to stave off hunger. Next, Mike Rowe taped an interview with Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel. The contents of that interview will not be revealed until the interview airs at a later date. Finally, Mike appeared on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC. It was there that Mike Rowe discussed his 7 Habits of effluent people, a list he said he compiled from his experiences. Mike and Donny concluded that people who did manual labor were much happier than those who spend their days in cubicle farms, pushing paper around. I took exception to this statement and explained why. Tonight, I take it a step further...
It occurred to me, after re~reading my post from last night, that maybe I didn't explain my position clearly, that perhaps I left out some thoughts. So, let's get to it like we are playing for reward.
I brushed on the fact that TV's Mike Rowe generally works with the owners or the crew chiefs at his jobs, not always the simple bottom rung worker. It's easy for someone who owns a company or who's high up on the food chain to be happy in his position. Part of why people are dissatisfied with their jobs, however, has little to do with the actual work, and everything to do with the environment they are working in. How they are treated in relation to how others are treated, how the general morale around them is, and how well they are being compensated for their troubles. Satisfaction doesn't always revolve around being happy with the task you are performing.
It is possible to like the work you do, but dislike the way your boss treats you. Not everyone is the boss's favorite, regardless of what kind of work you do, and watching coworkers being treated in a better way than you are treated doesn't make for a happy or satisfied worker. Likewise, if everyone around you is miserable, odds are you will be too. There are some places that just are NOT happy work environments. You could hate where you work stapling papers together, but take the same job of stapling papers together and move it to a happier place, and you are suddenly the happiest worker on the planet. It has nothing to do with the work and everything to do with the work place.
And compensation. We all want to be paid well and earn a fair wage for the work we do. Sadly, most employers want to minimize their costs in order to maximize profit, and wages are indeed a cost of doing business. Sure, some people make good money. But some people, doing the same job, don't. It's never fun to know that the person sitting next to you, stapling the same papers together that you're stapling, is making more money than you. It makes you angry and dissatisfied. You know you are worth just as much, and vow to find an employer who will show how valued you are. Once again, nothing to do with the job itself, and everything to o with where you work.
I think that TV's Mike Rowe has missed a very important part of the big picture. It's just as easy or that ditch digger to not like how he's treated by his boss and not like what he's being paid for digging that ditch as it is for an accountant.
I'd like to suggest to Mike Rowe that he add a caveat to his 7 habits: "The variable of work environment mixed in with any of these 7 habits can change everything."
Will Lisa continue to expound upon her thoughts and insights culled from over 20 years in accounting? Will TV's Mike Rowe continue to make generalized statements on national TV based on the fact that he's crawled thru mounds of both animal and human excrement? Or will Mike Rowe read Lisa's comments and learn from her experience and insight?
Find out on the next installment of MY WCKD WCKD WAYS!
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