rtamasy

I'm privileged to be a husband, father and grandfather. An of Ohio State University graduate, I'm a diehard Buckeyes fan. Author, editor and co-author of numerous books, including "Tufting Legacies." "The Heart of Mentoring" (with David Stoddard), and "Business At Its Best." I've been a journalist for more than 40 years, the first 10 as editor of community newspapers, and a magazine editor for 17 years. My job has been to be "never at a loss for words." I strive to integrate my faith into every area of my life - work, family, play - in meaningful, practical ways. I'm creative, whether with words or camera in hand, and enjoy music.

We Are All ‘Under The Influence’ – Choose Good Ones

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june 17 mm

One of the worst things that can happen while operating a motor vehicle is to be cited for driving “under the influence.” This usually refers to driving while intoxicated or controlled by some kind of drug. But we can also be influenced by smartphones, snacking without keeping our eyes on what’s ahead, or even engaging … Read more

Is It True We Can’t Take It With Us?

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February 29, 2016 – Robert J. Tamasy

Occasionally we hear the cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” The implication is that on the day we pass from this life, we will not be taking suitcases filled with our belongings. No moving van will be following the hearse. Following the death of a wealthy, internationally famous entrepreneur, when asked how much the businessman had left behind, a company spokesman accurately responded, “All of it!”

 

Strangely, however, often we do not act as if that is true. Many of us accrue as many material things as our incomes allow. For some people this means multiple homes, numerous cars, closets filled with attire that could clothe entire villages in Third World countries, expensive vacations, enough gizmos and gadgets to occupy several lifetimes. We fret over investment portfolios, agonizing when returns drop and rejoicing (temporarily) when they soar.

 

Yet, upon taking our final breath, everything we have amassed remains behind, left perhaps to family members and loved ones, or even to the government in the form of inheritance taxes. So if in reality we can’t take it with us, why does our behavior make it appear we think otherwise?

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When Corporate And Personal Values Clash

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January 18, 2016 – Robert J. Tamasy

When an international media corporation acquired the community newspaper where I worked as editor, I was given additional responsibilities as publisher, succeeding the former owner who had left the company. In this expanded role I not only had oversight for the editorial operations of the newspaper, but also was required to interface with advertisers and the staff that operated our printing press.

 

In the printing business, presses are costly capital investments, so to maintain profitability they must be kept in use as much as possible. For when our newspapers were not being printed, the company would seek printing contracts for other publications to ensure our press and the pressmen remained busy.

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Getting A Better Job – Or Doing A Better Job?

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Oct 26, 2015  – Robert J. Tamasy

When you have a job you enjoy, regardless of where you fit on the organizational chart or the rung you occupy on the corporate ladder, going to work is a pleasure. You arise in the morning eager to return to the workplace, enthused about opportunities and challenges you will be facing

But what if you have a job you do not like? What if your job is 1) boring, 2) not challenging, 3) too stressful, 4) not financially rewarding, or 5) not fulfilling? In that case, awakening and thinking about going to work is not welcomed – it is something you dread. You find yourself drawn to the “greener grass” on the other side of the fence, or staring out the office window imagining what it would be like working somewhere else with a better working environment, greater compensation and benefits, or more appreciation from your superiors.

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Fearing Not In The Face Of Fearful Factors

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Sep 28, 2015  –Robert J. Tamasy

One of the most common emotions is fear. Psychologists have a term for our reaction to circumstances we perceive as threatening. It is called the “fight or flight” response. We either confront the persons or situations that threaten us in some way, or we flee, seeking to avoid or even escape potential calamity.

There is, however, a third response, one we are not likely to hear recommended by supposed experts on the human psyche. This reaction is simply to “fear not.” Not long ago I heard a speaker from the west African nation of Sierra Leone who noted the words “fear not” appear in the Bible 365 times, seemingly one for every day in the calendar year.

Since people in Sierra Leone have experienced any number of adversities in recent years, ranging from economic struggles to outbreaks of the Ebola virus to civil discord, the speaker was well-schooled in the subject of fear. And yet he repeatedly declared his determination to follow the exhortation to “fear not” – “do not be afraid.”

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The Best Things Always Take Time

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Aug 31, 2015  – Robert J. Tamasy

It used to be said that “a watched pot never boils,” but with the advances in technology, a more current version of this saying might be, “a watched microwave never beeps.” It seems that whether in business, in family matters, cooking a meal, or simply going through the process of experiencing everyday life, we are in a hurry. We do not want to wait for anything. “I want it – and I want it NOW!”

In reality, however, the best, highly cherished things in life almost always require time – and lots of it. Prospective physicians attend college, then spend more years going to medical school and receiving training in their chosen specialties. To earn a prized MBA, business and professional must invest much more time and expense beyond college as well.

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Work, Where Rewards Are Not Enough

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Aug 17, 2015  – Robert Tamasy

A wise observer of the workplace and the life of business and professional people is Max DePree, a highly successful corporate executive who has written numerous books, including The Art of Leadership and Leadership Jazz. One quotation from Mr. DePree that I recently saw particularly impressed me.

He stated, “Goals and rewards are only parts, different parts, of human activity. When rewards become our goals, we are only pursuing part of our work.” Read that aloud and chew on it for a few moments. What do you think Mr. DePree is saying – and do you agree?

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The Importance Of Knowing Who Your Friends Are

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Jul 20, 2015 – Robert J. Tamasy

Quick – name your five best friends. If you cannot name five, name three. Or two. How about one very good friend you have had for a long time?

We all have friends – or at least think we do. Some of our colleagues at work we regard as friends – they can be people in our department or those we collaborate with on various projects. In some instances we also see them socially outside of work, but often our friendship stays within the confines of the workplace.

Typically we also have friends that fill various roles in our lives. They can be our golf or tennis partners, traveling companions, financial advisors, someone we meet occasionally for coffee, or people that live in our neighborhood. The definition of “friend” may differ from one individual to the next, but most of the time, friends are people with whom we share smiles; those whose company we enjoy; individuals we look forward to interacting with, whether by phone, text, email or the old-fashioned way, face to face. For the most part, friends expand horizons of our lives and make each day more enjoyable.

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Finding Your Best Job

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Jun 29, 2015 – Robert J. Tamasy

Evaluating almost any situation, things could be even worse – including the work we do. But that does not mean we should settle for less than what we believe is best for us, if we have a choice. Recently I came across a chart that illustrated characteristics of the ideal job for anyone, regardless of their profession. It showed four criteria that, if met, could make any kind of work perfect for someone.

These criteria include: 1) you love the work; 2) you excel at doing the work; 3) the world needs the work; and 4) you get compensated for doing the work. If you can find a position that meets all four of these, you will have a job that not only gives you a profession, but also a mission, a sense of calling, and something you can pursue with great passion.

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Be Assured, Things Could Be Worse

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Jun 15, 2015 – Robert J. Tamasy

No job is perfect, and probably all of us have had times when we felt, “I hate my job.” But maybe the following will provide a new perspective on your present situation:

A name-brand pharmaceutical company manufactures a rectal thermometer. Inside the box are included directions for use, and small print on the instructions sheet states, “Every rectal thermometer is personally tested and then sanitized.” How would you like to have the job of thermometer quality control inspector at that company? How does your job seem now, in comparison?

You might be thinking, “Well, I’m not a thermometer tester, but sometimes it seems as if what I have to do is nearly as bad.” How should we handle hard times at work, those vexing moments when, as a friend of mine liked to say, “I would rather eat a bug”?

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Quality Requires Attention To Detail

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Mar 23, 2015 – by Robert J. Tamasy:

Over the years, among my most enjoyable experiences have been visits to the famed Walt Disney World entertainment complex in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. I have gone there on several occasions and each time has been a treat for all of my senses. During my most recent trip I was impressed by one particular trait the legendary founder, Walt Disney, always emphasized – attention to detail.

Mr. Disney was meticulous, painstakingly working to ensure the quality of each of his productions, whether an animated film, a movie with real actors, or later – his Disneyland and Disney World theme parks. A friend of mine, Bob Foster, owned a guest ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A. that once had Walt Disney as a guest. Admiring the natural beauty of God’s creation at Lost Valley Ranch, Mr. Disney told my friend Bob, “I am engaged in the work of re-creation.”

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Be Careful How You Lead — Or How You Follow

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Mar 9, 2015 – by Robert J. Tamasy:

Recently I read a brief account about a sheep in Istanbul, Turkey that jumped off a cliff. What made the story especially tragic was nearly 1,500 other sheep followed, about one-third of those dying as a result. Most of the others suffered injuries, and all must have sheepishly wondered, “What was I thinking?”

In case you think this must have been an aberration, a rarity in the world of sheep, be assured it was not. My friend, Ken Johnson, wrote a book called Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, and recounted many examples of how foolish sheep are. One experience relates directly to the sheep-over-the-cliff incident.

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