Well, just an update of sorts, because it has been so long.

First and foremost, my yearly review at work didn’t go as well as I planned. Although my boss agreed that I dedicated a lot of time and effort to accomplishing objectives which no one ever documented but just verbally stated. I didn’t meet the verbally stated objectives based on how he feels where my projects should have been versus where they are now. So he decided to lower my rating from last year.

However, my manager in the US doesn’t fully agree with that assessment that my Swedish manager made. And I fully disagree for two reasons. First, if it isn’t written down, then how do I know what measurements to meet. Verbal objectives can’t be measured and tracked for progress. And it’s a subjective measurement based on unobjective criteria. Second, it’s about span of control. Everyone should always execute the tasks that they are given, and while it is disappointing if you don’t, the next question is understanding if that person can prove that they did everything in their power to accomplish their task. It’s about span of control.

So I think I have support to escalate this up to worldwide executive review, but we’ll see.

In other work news, my projects are going along very well, and I think that I will actually be able to accomplish both projects this year, but I have to raise a few issues and get the deadlines changed because they seem unrealistic. But I plan to work on those issues next week.

In personal news, I’ve decided to continue Swedish studies in April 2004. I need to be traveling between February and March, so it makes sense to take them once I know that my travel is down back to the 15-20% level. And then I have to decide whether I want to join my family on a cruise to St. Thomas this summer. I have to think about it some.

Anyway, that’s all I will write for now. Take care everyone and talk soon.

Love, Rodney

Hello everyone.

Been awhile since I posted anything meaningful publically, so I figured that I would put in an update now — in between me just cleaning the kitchen and getting it dirty again when I make dinner.

The past week has been very very busy, but I feel that I have been on top of my element in being able to be the project manager 2 major projects (task managing 15 people and about US$250k / SEK1.8 milion), along with high participation in 2 smaller projects. I think I used my time effectively this week, and I am have been happy with the results. It has also meant that I have been very tired.

Personally, I decided that I needed some new years resolutions, and I am not sure how I am going to put those together and come up with a system to manage those resolutions. But I will do it. I decided that most people make resolutions in january and then brake them by June. So I am going to begin my resolutions for the year in February, limit them to 6 items, and then come up with a way to introduce each new resolution gradually, For example, I’ll work on my first resolution in February and get a steady pace going. Then in March, I will introduce the second important resolution, on the assumption that I had a month to get used to incorporating the first resolution into my life. And that probably tells you something about my resolutions. They aren’t things like “lose 10 pounds or go down a few waist sizes”. They are resolutions to change my foundation, such as “set up and execute a regular exercise schedule” and “save an additional X% of my income this year”. The challenge is then to come up with easy steps to implement in my life and lifestyle to make those resolutions happen. Last year is met 3 of 15 resolutions. That was a shitty rate of success. I can do better with less resolutions that are more meaningful. And unless this year, I put it in my calendar to review my resolutions every quarter to understand where I have succeeded, where I can do better, and adjust my plans as needed.

I am not so sure why I am more serious about my resolutions this year than last year. I don’t know why I am putting more effort into my resolutions this year than last year. I think it’s because this year, I view my resolutions not as goals to be obtained, but as promises to myself — and I like to keep my promises.

So cheers and good luck to everyone with resolutions! I hope you are able to keep them and find success! Wish me luck and show me some love as well!

Duty and Loyalty: You serve your purpose and do
what you must do. People would consider you
someone to rely on, and one who keeps his/her
word when he/she gives it.

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I’ve just had to sticka toothpick in the hole in my tongue to keep the tongue ring opening from closing.

I’ve had better days people…I have had better days….

Well, I can’t say that it is my first day back from vacation, since I have been working pretty much the entire time. I even deferred 5 vacation days from last year into this year, so I get 5 weeks off and 5 personal holidays for a total of 30 days.

Anyway, it was my first day back into the IBM Headquarters in Kista. The first time that I have been back here in over a month (I am usually downtown at the customer or at another office). I was glad to see that not much had changed, but then disappointed that not much had changed as well.

Tomorrow I am supposed to be at the customer office, but I think that I will spend the morning down at the customer office in order to have lunch with Robin, and then go to the headquarters in the afternoon since the customer is getting the majority of my day on Friday. It seems like the two projects that matter the most to me are finally making some progress, so I am excited to be so busy.

I also need to schedule some time in with my manager, since it is time to evaluate how I performed last year, as well as take the opportunity to address some complaints from my peers regarding my performance (for which I already have had others send out letters of positive support to refute the employee’s contentions, so the case is effectively closed).

And I just got my “Benefits Mastercard”, which is what I need to use to pay for perscriptions. However, what they never told me in the fine print was that since I am an international assignee, I can’t use it to buy perscriptions outside of the US. So it is basically wasted money.

Well, at least I don’t have to worry about tax time for a while. That’s a bonus.

Anyway, I’ve now have effectively wasted the free minutes that I gained by ending a conference call early. Time for lunch! 🙂