Tag: work (page 2 of 2)

February 6, 2015 / 0 Comments

That Evening with Norman Lear

“Took a whole lot of tryin’ just to get up that hill.” – Janet Du’Bois, Movin’ On Up

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Kenya Barris, creator of Black-ish, and Baratunde Thurston, author of How to Be Black and probably the internet’s favorite negro, were on stage with Touré and the incomparable Norman Lear when Kenya asked a question. “How do you do this?” The this being putting out a comedic show that’s about something while Lear, during the height of his run, had six top shows on the air, all doing exactly that. It takes a while to get there but Touré eventually gets back to this question. Norman, with the cheer, clarity, humanity, and thoughtfulness he had shown all night, immediately responded (and I’m paraphrasing), “Oh, there was stress but I think there’s a kind of joyful stress…You work incredibly hard but at the end there’s great joy. You’ve made something that you can be proud of. You’ve made something that matters.”

It’s been a little over a week since I had the pleasure of being in the audience for the Television Academy’s An Evening with Norman Lear (thanks, Catherine!) and that’s the part that’s stuck with me. Well, that and Marla Gibbs still being the best thing in the room whenever and wherever she appears.

My mantra for 2015 is to make good shit. Every day. And this, while I doubt I will ever make work as compelling as Lear’s incredible run of TV series and movies that matter, is what has been motivating me this year. What am I doing on a daily basis that helps me tell the kinds of stories I want to tell? Can I highlight people and ideas and issues that matter? Can I entertain you while I do it? This is the work I like. This is my desired contribution to the people’s history of this planet.

The GRAMMYs are this weekend. I’m grateful that much of my 2015 so far has been spent in trying to tell interesting and entertaining stories about what it takes to put on the series of events that make up GRAMMY week and why they matter. The stories are for a small audience, at least for now, but I got to interview amazing people that are leading teams doing the hard behind-the-scenes work of putting on these epic concerts and ceremonies. I got to talk to the president of the Academy about Bob Dylan and Jimmy Carter and how MusiCares helps musicians. I got to talk to the people who do the surprisingly hard work of setting up the red carpet for this kind of event. I got to talk to the executive chef behind the food that people will eat in the suites and parties happening at STAPLES Center. I even got to interview my mom about GRAMMY fashion and LA style.

We turned these conversations into stories. Entertaining ones, I hope. And there was hard work and stress but also, joy. Joy in the making. Joy in the delivering. Joy in the complications and negotiations and consternation. It might not have looked like it at the time. At the time, there was sweat and furrowed brows and even cross words on occasion but at the end of those hard days, I was smiling.

More days like this. More days like Norman’s.

And more evening conversations that remind you what life and your role in it can be.

Those are the good times.

December 25, 2014 / 0 Comments

2014 Annual Report

“You know you’re better than that.” – Little Dragon, Mirror

I didn’t make goals for 2014. I had professional ones, sure, but no overarching personal plan like I had in 2013. This year rapidly got away from me and I never caught up.

2014 was hard. Is hard. A review of my activity on Thinkup would lead you to believe that this year started in August with the murder of Michael Brown and the rising tide of emotion and action that has come since. This is what I leave this year with: that racism continues to dominate the institutions that make up our society and it is quite literally killing and terrorizing black people and this must change. Black lives matter. I want to scream it.

sometimes i do.

Also, men are terrible. And the evidence suggests want to be and want to continue to be. This too must change. I apologize for any and all actions during my life where I wasn’t the man, the human, I like to think I am.

See? 2014 got me fucked up.

I’ve thought about this a lot since I tumblr’ed it in September. I’ve failed at this professionally since about August. I haven’t “made fun” but I’ve definitely leaned towards complaint over action. I hope to shake that off over the next 2 weeks and begin 2015 in Just Do It mode. No excuses. Make cool shit. Every day.

This is not to give short shrift to the accomplishments of the year at work. We started publishing live entertainment stories on AXS.com in April, right before Jazz Fest. Speaking of, I got to attend my first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this year! I wrote a few things I liked. We took what we learned from our first six months in responsive design on Examiner.com (I may not be proud of a good chunk of what gets published there but I’m proud of our UX work) and kicked it up several notches. I got to be creative in ways I haven’t been since I left The Mouse.

But I end the year feeling like we worry about the wrong things and not chasing greatness with what we publish.

Make cool shit. Every day.

At home and with friends, I’ve felt, I don’t know, distracted or distant, maybe? I’ve been so consumed with navigating work, I haven’t had mental space for much else including those I love. I don’t mean the grand gestures or the emergencies and the like. It’s easy for me to come through in those situations. It’s easy for me to give. But in the every day? In the small moments? I don’t think I really had it for y’all this year like I would want and I’m sorry. Brotha’s gonna work it out.

A toast to my health. Despite carrying 10 pounds more this year than last, I’ve been consistent with a personal trainer for the last six months. I’ve taken much greater advantage of my insurance and I’m getting every closer to buying a ticket on the eat right train. My doctor says I’m strong like bull so we’ll stick with that. I just want to be a more fit bull who is slimmer around the middle.

I also have to be more honest about my needs emotionally.

https://twitter.com/misterjt/status/545357397296807936

I tend to keep it pretty level but, this year, I think I’ve needed more…something. I don’t know what it is so I haven’t been able to say out loud to anyone, give me this, but there’s a hole. I’m feeling some kind of way about the world, about what I’m doing or not doing to make it a better place, and about the life I’m leading and I need…something. The early part of 2015 has got to be about figuring that out and saying out loud the answer to the equation.

But, tonight, let’s get to the accounting of things. I traveled to San Francisco, Denver (twice), New Orleans (twice), Palm Springs, Phoenix, and DC this year (I think that’s it). My office moved to Downtown LA at the beginning of the year and I really like working in that part of the city. I’ve never driven to the office.

I really need to do a better accounting of the shows I go to each year. Ray, once again, puts me to shame. But there were a few pretty exceptional shows. My sister, Dominique Toney, essentially closing the 4th of July show at Exposition Park (sorry Troop); Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the Wiltern with Sharon’s amazing post-cancer energy and short hair. Big Freedia on the Congo Stage at Jazz Fest just a few weeks after her mom passed. Laura Mvula on the Jazz Fest main stage. DJ Spinna’s Wonder-ful set at the Echoplex with Stevie Wonder showing up to surprise him and perform a bit. Har Mar Superstar in New Orleans on my birthday by myself. Also, Rhye. Jessie Ware. And a grip more at the echo/echoplex I’m forgetting.

The best thing I experienced this year, though, hands down was the WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. It was the most entertaining women’s basketball game I’ve ever seen live. It was amazing how much of a women’s basketball town Phoenix is (and lovely to see considering Los Angeles…isn’t.) I was high off that experience for weeks.

That game and everything around it reminded me that for all the shit of 2014, we live in a world where a rookie from a reservation can be the best baller on the floor. We live in a world where an out lesbian black woman dunks with regularity and is cheered for it. This world exists.

The world changes. The world is changing. It starts small. It gets big. You put in the work. You make cool shit. Every day.

And some days, like on July 19th 2014, your shit is the coolest shit.

Thanks 2014. I won’t miss you but I hope to think back on you fondly as the spark.

September 10, 2013 / 0 Comments

A Couple Updates

“They call us dirty cause we break all your rules down.” – Janelle Monáe, Q.U.E.E.N.

One Year After “The Red Wedding”

My friend and colleague Kim also wrote about last week’s odd anniversary. Also, it was nice to hear from some folks I hadn’t talked to in awhile and reminisce. There was something comforting in all the calm, and peace, and uncertainty in many of our hearts and minds. Nothing wrong with change if you know when to roll and when to push.

Turn Your Rdio Up

After a little over a week with rdio, I have thoughts:

Community features are awesome. There’s something elegant about how it tracks and showcases user/friend behavior. Informative without feeling voyeuristic.
Rdio’s apps are way strong. And being able to pick up right where I left off listening from my laptop to my iPad to my phone is a spectacular feature that I didn’t know I was missing.
Getting used to the radio features of rdio. I think I like them but am having to train my personal station a little more than I expected.
I wish you could start radio based on a playlist. I used this all the time on Spotify because sometimes even my regularly updated workout playlist feels stale.
I miss the last.fm app inside of spotify as a way to easily capture recommended albums.
I’m listening to Electric Lady on it right now.

September 5, 2013 / 1 Comment

One Year After “The Red Wedding”

“Tell me lies and lullabies but don’t tell me to change.” – Rhye, Last Dance

A year ago today, me and 100-150 of my friends and colleagues were laid off. Months later, a friend would call it The Red Wedding in conversation. I laughed a hearty gallows laugh at that idea. The Rains of Castamere didn’t play and, all things considered, it could’ve been worse: it was over quickly; most, if not all, of us got soft landings from the Company; the vast majority of my colleagues that I keep in touch with are working again and began work pretty close to their own needs & timetables. It was still traumatic, though.

But, you know me, I’m not one to dwell.

I do, however, want to take stock of what I learned and am still processing in the aftermath.

1. Letting your personal identity be dominated by where you work is a trap. Jobs come and go. You, what you do, how you do it, and how you treat people while you do it remains. And, more than that, I’m continuing to realize how important it is for me to lead a big life outside of the office rather than being overly focused on being big within it.

2. Beloved brands and great content do matter. Outside of the people, the thing I most miss about that gig is the constant delight around the types of stories we were trying to tell and showcase. That, and the dogged obsession with creating and presenting great, uplifting content, isn’t everywhere. It’s hard to do and sustain.

3. I’m still figuring out what I want work to mean for me. I know I like doing work that I’m proud of that people I respect will respect. I know I like solving strategic problems. I know I like helping to tell stories. I know what that looks like for me today. What I don’t know is what I want that to look like three or five or ten years down the line.

4. Life goes on. I’ve been laid off twice in my career. Outside of a few moments to mourn and acknowledge the change, the rest of my life quickly filled in where work had been. Real stuff that matters keeps happening: Illness and death; little victories and moments of joy. The people and issues that I care about got the attention they deserve. I am learning to keep that in balance with the needs of work.

A year ago today, I attended The Red Wedding and survived. A year later, I feel more balanced and more thoughtful about my days and actions. A year later, I’m just as optimistic about the future and more aware of the realities of work.

Twelve months does wonders for perspective.

August 22, 2013 / 2 Comments

A Trio of Thoughts

“The name of the game is you.” – Raymond Scott, Lightworks

It’s been two weeks since we launched the re-design of Examiner.com. It’s product design and strategy I’m proud of and I might find some time to talk about it but, at the moment, I’m in the dumps.

Summer is ending. The exciting big bulls-eye of that project is gone. And, now, I’m in the slog of things. Thinking a lot about the meaning of work both personally and professionally.

This trio of thoughts I came across yesterday are helping me come to some resolution.

All good ideas are terrible until people realize they are obvious. If you’re not willing to live through the terrible stage, you’ll never get to the obvious part.

– Seth Godin

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.

– Junot Díaz

I trust, at some point, it’ll make sense but, for now, let’s get to work.

November 8, 2012 / 0 Comments

Mr. No Days Off

“Call the crib. Same number. Same hood. It’s all good.” – The Notorious B.I.G., Juicy

Monday was my last day as part of The Walt Disney Company. This coming Monday I start my next gig. I’m excited about it and it’s a big challenge that I’m ready to take on but I’ll reveal more about that after I’ve got a few weeks under my belt.

As I’ve gone through the process of finding this next move, I’ve learned a few things about myself and about the current work landscape.

1. Digital has matured. The last time I was in the job market, 7 or so years ago, the web (I think we still called it that then) was still the wild west. You were more likely to meet an self-trained-hobbyist-turned-internet-guru running something impressive as you were to see a comp sci person or properly trained online expert. Today, in Los Angeles where traditional media is fighting extinction and startups and serious digital first companies have opened up shops by the hundreds at the beach, this is no longer the case. People know what the hell they are doing and digital initiatives aren’t relegated to the back room. You better be on your game.

2. Relationships and conversations, real face-to-face, voice-to-voice communication still rule. I used linkedin and RiseSmart in some key ways—resume re-writing, lead generation, and first contact—and they were great for that (glassdoor and indeed are cool, too. Monster was not useful at all) but actual movement came from talking to people. Old bosses, mentors, acquaintances, loose connections—from these individuals came possibilities. And support and comfort. And they happened on the phone, over coffee, at a pub, via video chat. A text message or an email just ain’t gonna do it.

3. Your resume is about what you did not your titles. Sure, your portfolio is great but what shows that you can think, problem solve, and adapt? A good shop and hiring manager isn’t just looking at where you’ve worked in the past. They know when you say you’ve worked on social media or strategy or something nebulous like that that they can’t see what you did by you showing them a link. If you can’t answer the question, “but what specific things were you responsible for” in a real way or talk through how you solve problems on the spot, you’re in trouble.

4. Work is work. Always be honing your skills and using them in meaningful ways. Pro Bono consulting is a real thing. You know people. Get them around a table and work on that great idea and see if its something. Say yes when someone else needs help with their thing. And give it your all. Good work doesn’t always require a paycheck in the layoff happy reality of our current job culture. Sharing your expertise now pays off later.

Of course, none of these are absolutes and everyone’s job hunting experience will be different but I thought about these things every day of my search and, every day, I felt like I was on the right path even if I didn’t know where the journey would end.

That certainty saved my sanity. And, here I am, with no days off.