“He isn’t a pleasant person but he inspires people to do their best work.”
Political journalist, John Heilemann, was referring to Steve Jobs, the man who changed the meaning of the word “Apple” and has announced his departure from the most highly valued company in the world.
I like John’s description of Jobs. It affirms to me that many really smart, creative and passionate people aren’t winning popularity contests, but if they inspire others to do great things, what does it matter?
A demanding and inspiring boss usually makes as many demands on himself as he does on others. Contrast this with a nasty boss who also is lazy and not especially talented. When a man like this became president of the company where I worked, I wondered how I’d survive. He was drunk when he returned from lunch, he arbitrarily and publicly shouted at employees and he had a ridiculously inflated view of his editorial abilities, which were, at best, mediocre.
He wasn’t wild about me but wouldn’t fire me because he knew I was good at my job and he needed me. I humored him until I could humor him no more. Then I left his employ, 13 years ago, to start my own business.
I wish I had had the opportunity to work for a man like Jobs. I have driven myself incessantly throughout my career but would have liked a brilliant boss who could have taken over some of the driving. How exciting it must be to work with such a powerhouse.
It stinks that Jobs is sick. He is only 56. He deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labors.
I paused to think about the statement, above, when I noticed it today at the end of an email from a beauty company. Considering the source, I assume it’s meant to imply that we’ll still want to be attractive, beautiful, gorgeous, appealing or striking –in the physical sense—when we’re 81. I’d prefer it to mean that we’ll want to feel needed—in the emotional and intellectual—sense.
Ingenue Katherine Hepburn
Clinically speaking, I’m not as physically desirable at 64 as I was at 44, when I was a svelte size 8; had a head of thick, curly hair; toned arms and a glowing complexion, sans wrinkles, lines and crow’s feet. No matter how hard we try, we’re just not going to look 40 when we’re 60. And it’s a pretty safe bet that we won’t look 60 when we’re 80.I do think, though, that I’m more desirable, in other ways, than I was two decades ago. I’m less angry, annoyed and agitated, critical and anxious. (Note to my friends and family: I said “less.”)
When the people I love look at me in twenty years (If I’m here to be looked at), I hope they’ll see passion, humor, caring, generosity, creativity, style, and energy. At the end of the day, those things are far more attractive than a full head of hair and a hot body.
FOF Katherine
I am watching an infomercial about Sensa, a product that you sprinkle on your food–any food–to lose weight. In typical infomercial style, men and women parade across the screen raving about how much weight they’ve lost. 10, 20, 90 pounds! A doctor explains that Sensa is a “revolutionary” weight-loss substance that heightens your sense of smell and taste so you eat less. And Dayna Devon, billed as “an award-winning journalist,” tells us Sensa was her savior.
Sure!
I have bought a number of products from infomercials (a step ladder and mineral makeup when it was first introduced), which I’ve loved. But this infomercial distresses me because it misleads obese people into believing that Sensa will help them lose weight without dieting. It shows people sprinkling Sensa on their chocolate cake and pizza, and then gobbling them up. Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about eating and weight loss knows that the only thing that you can sprinkle on your food to make you loss weight would be poison (since it would prevent you from eating it.)
If you’re wise to weight-loss claims and you read the fine print on the bottom of the screen, you’ll learn that Sensa must be used in conjunction with reduced calorie intake, a sensible diet and exercise. But obese people, who struggle with their weight and are desperately searching for help, don’t see the fine print. They hear the promise.
My doctor told me that half of all Americans will be obese within the next decade, thanks in large part to crappy food, including Coke and sugar-coated cereals. We must figure out how to completely impact the way our country eats. Let’s start with message on soda cans that say: “Guzzling coke can be hazardous to your health.” Or maybe, we can sprinkle Sensa in the can.
Funny how people get cozy before impending danger, like a hurricane. They seem almost joyous. Excitedly chatting while they’re lined up in supermarkets to buy bottled water, canned goods and plenty of snacks to get them through the ordeal. Scurrying around to grab the last batteries and candles on the shelves. Even the management of our apartment building distributed a memo filled with advice how to stay safe, which is especially amusing (ironic/disingenuous) since the new owners are converting the building into multiple-million dollar condos and throwing us all out when our leases are up. I guess they want us to stay safe so we can pack up in time.
New York officials are acting like the end of the world is near.
There's mighty mini Mike (the one with the suit and red tie), watching workmen prepare for the hurricane.