I Demand It! Part 2

Recap from I Demand It! (Part 1) ..."Looking back, way back to January 2005, I recall imprinting in my mind the projection of how great it would be to work at a company like that."

I Demand It! Part 2
"that" company offers four essentials. One, it has a constructive and supportive environment (talented people, positive attitude, voted by Fortune the "Best Place To Work 2007" etc.). Two, it handles rich and interesting content (biotechnology). Three, it offers an excellent benefits package. Lastly, there is the opportunity to contribute towards the battle over cancer even if it is indirect (This is ideal of which I suspect I will reflect upon daily considering my wife's past condition.)

...as I jump start the next level of my career with a position at Genentech later this month.

There will be much to grow into and I am expecting a long-term process of learning and building the key relationships through which I will enable high quality training and leaning initiatives along with a like-minded team of professionals.

Until then, a little vacation is in order.
Actually, I demand it.

A Glass Half Full - Chapter 1: From James and the Giant Sprinkler

It all started one sunny Spring Day in 2005 when my two year old son (lil "jimmy-d") was plodding along the Presidio greens with his "adventure buddy" (a family friend who has been sitting him since birth) when he stumbled upon a fire hydrant with a black garden hose attached directly to one of its powerful limbs. At the end of the black hose was a "sculpture" -- as he sometimes calls it now (it was a free-standing, large headed, cast iron impact sprinkler made by the Rain Bird sprinkler company apparently). That was day one. On day ten or so, his Daddy (that would be me), after hearing much about it, finally accompanied him for a tour to this special spot.

Upon closer inspection of the hydrant-to-hose connection, I found a way to turn on the fire hydrant to demonstrate the yet untapped power of water when directed into an impact sprinkler some fifty yards away. Well, to make a long story short, considering how sponge-like young minds can be, one look at that set up and Jimmy was hooked. Now four years old, he has exceeded I think even his own expectations of what one can do with a little water pressure and some hardware. Thank goodness Santa Claus knows where to get pipes, rotary sprayers, and impact Rain Bird's. James's latest sculpture (pictured at top) is his latest creation.

Stay tuned for more updates from James and the Giant Sprinkler (as I find time to post).

I Demand It! Part 1

Growing up I was taught to use the power of 'visualization' and that superior concentration was one of the keys to getting what I needed or what I wanted in life.

Over the last three or four weeks, in pursuit of a new job, I have become filled with a unique mental energy as many pieces of my job hunt began to fall into place (I began connecting with all the right people and getting interviews lined up etc). I am seriously considering this "soon to be completed puzzle" to be my best job prospect yet. Anyhow, that unique energy was followed by what I now describe as "pay back" to me for me making the right connections -- unknowingly though. Looking back, way back to January 2005, I recall imprinting in my mind the projection of how great it would be to work at a company like that. This imprinting, what I also considered to be some from of visualization, is something that in my 38 years of life have I have seen enough success from it to convince me that is not a coincidence and that visualization (or imprinting as I have called it) is actually a tool -- perhaps like a tuning fork when used to tune a piano string or the like.

It must have been a strong desire because now I am facing an incredible opportunity...a new role, a stable company, a very nice compensation plan etc. My actions within the last four weeks have been to the likeness of a steamroller on auto-pilot plowing down a nice flat path on which to walk into this opportunity -- all based on this 'imprinting' exercise. When once jobless a couple years back, I visualized what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. And soon I hope to validate my will in my new role.

Oh, and why the title?
"I demand it!" Well this is a new phrase my wife and I have begun to use when there is something new in the future that we are looking to create (like a job, an opportunity, an introduction, or the energy to get something really important done). And this new thing is also something that I would normally visualize or concentrate on...finally seeing it come to fruition. Lately, instead of visualizing, we get together and in unison think of "it" and say (of the universe...) "I demand it!" It has been working very well thus far.

(More next week, as I reveal what my new job will be.)