The Ironic Jogger

Posted on August 31st, 2010

While driving down the road today, I saw a jogger.  She stopped in mid-step, pulled out a cigarette, and started smoking.

I think she might be missing the point.

I also couldn’t help but think of the old quote from The Princess Bride.

Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Irony is fun, isn’t it?


New Leader of the Rochester Writing Group

Posted on August 12th, 2010

This month, I’ve taken over the Rochester Writing Group from Helen Chen.  Helen’s focused leadership has helped dozens (if not hundreds) of writers succeed in life and business, and I hope to continue in her tradition.

I’ve created a new area that discusses the Rochester Writing Group, and will be maintaining the area to ensure all information is current.  It’s exciting to have the opportunity to directly impact so many writers’ lives.

As a word of advice to all writers, there are two mistakes that you can make:

  • Change your work in response to every critical remark
  • Not change your work in response to any critical remark

Instead, writers should look at each critical remark, decide if the suggestion or criticism has merit, then decide whether the work should change.  It’s okay to recognize a remark as valid, but then not make a change.

This has come up at all of the meetings so far.  It’s one of my favorite tidbits of advice, so I thought I’d pass it out into the void.

Anyway, if you happen to be a writer and are in Rochester, feel free to join us at the library or at a coffee shop!  Dates and times


Promotion!

Posted on August 12th, 2010

My hard work has paid off — as of August 1st, I am now a Staff Software Engineer.  This is the second level recognized at IBM.

I’m grateful to be recognized in this fashion, especially during these tough economic times.  There are many people who are looking for jobs, and the opportunities that this next level will open up for me are certainly welcome and appreciated.

With any luck, continued focused effort will be recognized in a similar fashion.  Only time will tell.