FiscalShare

Spoetry

I receive many intriguing conceptual poems in my WordPress spam folder. Are we all being too dismissive of the spoem? Here’s one I like to call “Hidden Haiku”. I don’t like informational composed composed articles content articles or blog posts authored composed composed articles content composed articles content content articles usually, but your write-up will feasibly function

January 11, 2014 Short URLconceptual poetry, haiku, poem, poetry, spam, spam folder, spoem, spoetryUncategorized

Chocaholics, Beware of Vendors Bearing Gifts

Back when I started working for the Pretty Small School District, my boss would pass out tickets to professional hockey games. She would say something like “Look, I have these tickets and I’m not that interested in hockey.” So Spouse and I would go. I later found out that the tickets came from one of the district’s vendors. Back then

January 10, 2014 Short URLbest practice, California Fair Political Practices, career development, education, employment, gifts, gifts to public employees, government, Management, public employees, school district businessCareer Development, Government, Laws and Regulations, Public Schools, School District Jobs

Oh Crap!

Some time back I was a passenger in a car that my friend was driving. We were sideswiped by a 17-year-old driver in a massive truck. This smashed the passenger side. We were pushed into the central freeway barrier. This smashed the driver’s side. Then we spun around several times and ended up on the shoulder,

January 9, 2014 Short URLaccident, best practice, career development, disaster recovery, firefighters, Management, problem solvingCareer Development, Management, Productivity, Risk Management, School District Jobs, Working Together

Victimized by a Bag of Trash

A long time ago I moved into a modest apartment in a poorer part of town. I opened the back window and was at once assaulted by an unpleasant odor. I soon located the source of the stench: an oversized heavy-duty black trash bag on the back balcony filled with moldy garbage. I was incensed. My thinking

January 8, 2014 Short URLapartment, facing reality, garbage, garbage bins, responsibility, taking control, taking responsibility, trash, unpleasant odor, victim, victim mentalityCareer Development, Management, School District Jobs, Working Together

The Job Interview and The Unwelcome Question

First, I introduce everyone in the room. Then I quickly review the hiring process. Then I say “Unless you have anything you want or ask or say, we will begin.” Mostly the interview then gets underway. Occasionally, though, I will get this: Before we begin would you tell me what you are looking for in a candidate?

January 6, 2014 Short URLbest practice, budget analyst, career development, elevator pitch, employee engagement, fit, interview, interview questions, job candidate, job fit, job interview, jobs, school district business, school district jobs, workCareer Development, Management, School District Jobs

A Different Approach to Hiring?

Over the years I have hired a some stars and some near misses as well. Upon reflection my hires generally fall into four groups: Intelligent, motivated, with great interpersonal skills (IQ, MQ, EQ). These are our stars, who are promoted quickly. Intelligent, motivated, with poor interpersonal skills (IQ, MQ). Despite their talents and eagerness, they irritate their fellow workers.

January 5, 2014 Short URLbest practice, budget analyst, business, career development, employee engagement, employment, EQ, hiring, human resources, interpersonal skills, interview, job interview, jobs, motivated employees, motivation, MQ, myers-briggs, personality tests, problem solving, public education, public school finance, public schools, school district business, show me the money, unions, Vladimir PutinCareer Development, Management, School District Jobs, Working Together

Speed versus Quality

Bob came to see me. “When the examiners come just say Plan, Do, Check, Act.” “Um, What?” “Oh and Alignment and Implementation. That’s key.” I rolled my eyes only after he left my office. The Baldridge examiners were coming and I had a script to follow, apparently. Thanks Cavegirl for the book recommendation Why Business

January 2, 2014 Short URLAttwood, Boyd, business, Business books, coding, data, Deming, Edwards Deming, information technology, IT, jargon, Jeff Attwood, Obamacare, OODA, OODA loop, PDCA, strategyBook Reviews, Career Development, Daily Work, Management

The Turquoise Cat

I once worked with a woman who claimed that she owned a turquoise cat. She couldn’t understand the amazement and disbelief that she encountered whenever she said it. Eventually, one skeptical acquaintance visited her at home. “Um, isn’t your cat tortoiseshell?” “Yes, why?” “Well you’ve been telling everyone it is turquoise.” The moral of the story

January 1, 2014 Short URLcareer, career development, communication, learning styles, miscommuncation, missteps, results, teaching, trainingCareer Development

Bossypants

Who are you calling Bossypants? Well, think Sarah Palin. Two things are required: Speak with complete authority and conviction Maintain a constant metronomic pace Rhythm is important. There can be no pauses for reflection or feedback. It is hard to maintain a theatrical pace, especially when the speechifying is extemporaneous. So when content is lacking, Bossypants will

December 31, 2013 Short URLbad decisions, bossy people, Bossypants, decisions, dysfunction, form over content, manipulation, Sarah Palin, speaking without thinkingUncategorized

Excel Solver for Expense Transfers

Thank you Pronger for your post about the Excel solver function. Follow this link to view his explanation and instructions. The solver function is especially useful if you deal with a multitude of funding sources such as state and local grants, federal awards and bond funds. Each restricted funding source has very particular spending rules and most have

December 31, 2013 Short URLaccounting, Accounts Payable, analysis, best practice, data, Excel, Excel solver, Excel spreadsheet, Expense, funding sources, Funds, General Journal, government spending, governmental accounting, information technology, Invoice, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, nonprofit accounting, problem solving, public school finance, school district business, school districts, school finance, solver, solver function in Excel, spreadsheetsAccounting, Finance, Government, Public Schools, School Construction