What's in a picture? Well for one... it seems a black suit should be!

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

I found this email in my inbox from a good friend a couple of days ago,

"Meant to share this earlier, and apologies in advance if I already have. For those relying on online profile photos for job hunt, client hunt, etc hunt - the website www.photofeeler.com provides a free tool for the evaluation of your mug. Just submit your profile photo, evaluate a handful of other submissions, and receive your unbiased feedback. Don't like the feedback - change the photo. Give it a try."

So I did.

As I got into PhotoFeeler I found that a "quick evaluation" was available for free, but like so many things of this ilk, you can use cold hard cash to upgrade and get more feedback. The categories for photo evaluation are Business, Social and Dating and each category has three characteristics that people rate you on; for example, with the Business category people rate your picture on "Competency", Likability, and "Influence".

I have a standard business photograph that I use on my website and various social media sites including beBee. It made sense to start with this, and this was the feedback:

Not bad... really high in the areas of "Competence" and "Influence" and just the right level of "Likability"; what I mean by this is if you are too likable people will think you can't make the tough decisions. That's true isn't it?

Since I'm a curious fellow and do like my data, I couldn't help but try out the other two categories. I started with the Social category; with that I determined I needed a new photograph because Social is different than Business - Isn't it?

Well this isn't exactly what I expected. I'm good with the confidence, but what's with "Authentic" and "Fun" being less than 60%?

I think I'm pretty true to myself, and after a martini or two I'm a bunch of fun... this is disappointing!

As the saying goes, "In for a penny, in for a pound", so it's a new photograph and onto the "Dating" category; after setting some parameters regarding age and orientation, I submit and waited patiently.

"WTF!"

So it seems a shiny penny is brighter than I am, that you probably can't trust me as far as you can throw me, and as looks go, it has been suggested that I've been beaten quite liberally with an ugly stick.

There had to be something wrong!

Something just had to be done. This had to be fixed!

I knew what I would do! The black suit to the rescue.

Now, that response is much better!

I can live with 86 % attractive... after all, I am no Brad Pitt.

But now what?

Well, after burning up twenty minutes of my life that I will never get back, I suppose it may be worth looking at what I've learned from my efforts... 

1. This was fun. Yes, I have added more pictures onto the web that people with "facial recognition software" can exploit but hey, that's the way of the world and we have to learn to live with it.
2. 10 votes is probably not statistically relevant so all of this data is suspect. PhotoFeeler offers the ability to gather more data, so depending on your goals and how you want to use your image, it may be very helpful.
3. With consideration to point number two, there is some indication that having a black suit may offer some advantages for presenting a positive image. With this said, it may also suggest that wearing sunglasses offers up a negative one ... my guess is people want to see your eyes.
4. Data is just data... you can't say it's good when you like it and bad when you don't. The question to ask is, "What are you going to do with the data to help meet your goals?"
5. Like it or not, people will judge you.
6. People will make interpretations based on your photograph, so choose wisely regarding the image you want to portrait.

In all of these photographs I am the same person (with all the same strengths and weaknesses of the human condition), and because of this twenty minute exercise I ultimately asked myself the simple question, "Am I pleased with who I am?" And although I am still a work in progress, the answer was "Yes".

In the end, using the appropriate photograph is just an exercise in good "Marketing". 

iamgpe

PS: I have no association with PhotoFeeler whatsoever. 

Five good friends and Mary Margaret Edwards.

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

Behind the curtain and under the harsh fluorescent lighting I heard my mother had had a heart attack; a clot had also formed in her heart, went to her brain, and caused a stroke, and for good measure fluid was building up in her lungs and she had slight pneumonia. We all agreed Mary Margaret Edwards was having a very bad day. 

We held whispered conversations in dull tones as medicine was translated into layman terms, the situation clarified for understanding, and philosophies bigger than ourselves discussed; all the while hoping (and praying) Mary Margaret Edwards could not hear the conspiracy that was unfolding. 

The late summer night air was unusually hot and heavy, and as we quietly walked to the car, we were left with our thoughts and the culpability of the decision to offer no further intervention, and let nature take its course.

Mary Margaret Edwards
(March 2, 1933 - September 13, 2016)

Mary Margaret Edwards passed peacefully September 13, 2016. 

Stoically, Mary took life on the chin, and true to her character, has asked not to be a bother or inconvenience anyone. Her only request was the reading of the 23rd Psalm. 

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 
He leadeth me beside the still waters. 
He restoreth my soul: 
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; 
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; 
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, 
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. 

Mary will be cremated and there will be a private family ceremony. 

Mary Margaret Edwards now dwells in the house of the Lord forever, along with her daughter: Angels both. 

Death is a surprisingly administrative enterprise as you work through a person's last will and testament, consolidate things, distribute memories, remove a person's name from the ledgers of everyday life, and leave a marker behind to battle with the passage of time.

Shortly after Mary Margaret's death an invitation came my way to join friends at a cottage and take advantage of the last breath of summer; at this time of year, the air is cool, the sunshine is warm, and surprisingly, the water is warm enough for a mid day swim. I immediately said yes.

Five good friends were able to make it; two of them I have known since grade school. As we greeted each other with hands extended, one of my oldest friends hugged us all instead. It was a recognition and reminder that our friendships deserved more than just a simple handshake... at least this was how I interpreted this simple act as I hugged him back with the greatest of appreciation.

There was some talk of Mary Margaret Edwards but much of the weekend consisted of sharing the current events in our lives, laughter, the odd swim, prideful stories of our children, and the memories that come with a lifetime of friendship. It was a very good weekend by all measures and ended with hugs all around as we went our separate ways.

Mary Margaret Edwards will rest in peace and our friendships will continue.

Life goes on, as it should.

iamgpe

Mergers, acquisitions, and the inevitable "integration".

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

If you are in the private sector, particularly in a public company, I can say with great certainty you will go through a merger or acquisition sometime in your professional career... and probably more than once. I've gone through no less than seven, and that is not including the various acquisitions "just for the technology".

I will defer to the Directors, Investment Bankers and Lawyers to offer up the subtle differences between "a Merger" and "an Acquisition" as it seems there is always someone in the equation who was doing the "acquiring". Semantics aside, there is always an integration of one organization into another... what used to be two, is now one.  

Unless you are part of the aforementioned group, more often than not you will find out about the "merger and/or acquisition" through a press release, a company wide email or if you are really lucky, get called into someone's office and given a heads up 30 minutes before "something is about to go down". No one integration is ever the same in my experience; all having different rules of engagement and scenarios with no standardized check list to help get you through it. 

At the very most, I was able to come up with three guiding principles over the years that have served me well.

There will be CHANGE, and there will be OPPORTUNITY.

This is a truism (and quite possibly a universal law) that may or may not be to your benefit, advantage or convenience when it comes your way; you may be able to influence it or even champion it, but in the end, you will have to manage it no matter where it takes you. I was introduced to the book "Who moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson" many years ago during my first integration; I encourage everyone to read it at least once. It is an excellent book on managing change.

You will hear the phrase, "Business as usual" to be sure and this is a very true statement; it does carry the presumption that everyone internally understands that there is an accelerated need to manage through transition and that any subsequent changes don't negatively impact the customer experience. From an external perspective it needs to be business as usual, but do not assume that applies internally.

It's wasted energy trying to rationalize that change will not touch you, and more important to focus your energy on how to effectively manage through any change and opportunity that will present itself. If you are thinking, "My function is too important to be impacted", or "We bought them so they will have to do what we do", or "We are doing really well so there this no way they will change how we do things", or the countless other ways we rationalize that things will not change... you need to stop and refocus your thinking.

CHANGE and OPPORTUNITY are coming.

Synergy, restructuring and unfortunately good people will leave.

A Merger and/or Acquisition poses the question, "How can the new organization be run more efficiently to reduce costs and increase revenue?".*

• Revenue synergy (more revenue as a result of the merger and/or acquisition)
• Cost synergy (cost savings as a result of the merger and/or acquisition)

This is the reality of business... reduce duplication and inefficiency to increase profits. This is the birthplace of all that change, the resulting restructuring, rationalization of two departments into one, and the reduction in duplication of resources.

More often than not, restructuring and the search for synergies is not an overnight event. You will be part of the process as you manage "business as usual" and directly or indirectly restructure for the future. Like it or not, inevitably good people will leave... either out of the organization or to a new opportunity within the new organization.

No matter how much change there is, an organization doesn't want to lose good people because there is just so much work to do... be open to where restructuring and opportunity may ask you to go.

In the end, all you have is your Leadership and your Character.

The question you have to ask yourself is what does "Leadership and Character" mean to you and what will it look like as you work through the dynamic and difficult times that are often part of any Merger and/or Acquisition. You represent yourself during these times... no one else.

And remember people are watching, that they are also managing through the same change, and they have most likely been asked to make difficult decisions.   

My recent merger and/or acquisition experience ended up having me saying goodbye to a company after twenty-two years... on good terms, with a smile, a tear, and a handshake. What an amazing ride to be sure. I made a point of passing on these guiding principles before I left to anyone who would listen. Alas, that wasn't as many as I had hoped.

iamgpe

* I would suggest a business interested in staying modern and viable always needs to be asking "How can the new organization be run more efficiently to reduce costs and increase revenue?"