If I Was Running A Company…Conferences

We are in the middle of conference season where people are booking trips to hot spots like Miami, Las Vegas, San Diego, and any other place that has beaches or lets you gamble.  One problem: the economy.  Since the recession, conference turnout is low, hotel prices have been reduced, and expectations have been lowered.  So, how would you improve conference turnout?

First, let me say if you’re holding a conference this year…you’re screwed.  There’s nothing you can do with low turnout and reduce prices. 

Luckily, Maren Hogan and the RecruitingBlogs.com Talent Talk Cafe gave great suggestions on what to do in conferences.  There’s one thing I want to talk about in this post that is underutilized for most conferences and should be thinking about:  “Sampling”.

For my viewpoint of “sampling”, I will point you to an area you don’t think of conferences: music sharing.  There was a study in Norway where it shows that people who downloaded music illegally do tend to buy more music from albums or online music stores than the average person.  The article does not tell us why P2P users are buying music after downloading.  Now, what’s this have to do with conferences?

There are a lot of people going to webinars to save money and learn a lot more at their own office or home.   It might be a great idea for the short-term, but what about the long run?  This leads to my point that “sampling” the conference could be a net positive for organizations. 

“Sampling” can be from live-streaming, tweets, blogs, slideshows and pictures.  These “samplings” give the person, who didn’t attend the conference, a feel of what they are missing.  However, “samplings” must have a positive vibe to most who attend the conference.  If not,  they lost a potential customer/attendee.  It is crucial for conference organizers to execute the conference as a great experience for people who want to go to the next conference.

What’s missing in the “sampling” is the face-to-face interaction with your fellow peers.  By “sampling”, people would be motivated to save money or be productive at work so they have an opportunity to not only enjoy the conference, but enjoy the scenery and the networking opportunities with their peers.  “Sampling” can also build relationships by mentioning that you’re going to the next conference and you want to meet up with others. 

What music sharing and “sampling” does is it brings an audience for curiosity and intrigue.  They read, watch, and listen to the materials from others, but if those materials connect, it will bring an interest that they might want to try it.  For music sharing, it’s to buy the album or the other songs from the artist they listen to.  For conference goers,  it’s the atmosphere created by not only by the conference organizers, but the people who attend the event, have great things to say about the conference and if it is convincing enough, they are willing to go to the next conference.  

Conferences are going to suck this year, but with an executed strategy and buzz, people will be attending conferences in no time.

If I Was Running A Company…The Perfect Interview

The perfect interview is very easy to answer: when the employer offers you the position.  However, what would lead to the perfect interview, or eventually, an offer?

I ponder this question because I was volunteering at the Goodwill of Greater Washington and volunteer to help out the job seekers to practice their interviewing skills.  After the session was over, David Amoroso, the Employment Skills Trainer at the Goodwill of Greater Washington, asks me what is the perfect interview.  I knew the answer, but the answer sounds condescending and needed deeper thought.   The first thing that popped in my mind is chemistry between  the interviewer and interviewee.  While thinking about it more, I was right.

You can do all the preparation, scripts, practicing, handling the nuiances and the other stuff to prepare for the interview.  However, it’s genuine chemistry, especially during these times, makes a difference of getting a job.

To create chemistry, you have to do some research.  The first thing you research is which companies and industries you want to work for, then look up who is doing the hiring for the position you applied to, then the fun begins.

It used to be find a job, interview, and get lucky if the company made an offer.  Now these days, it is who you know in the company that your applying for.  Although you might not know anyone in the company, technology and social media have made it easier for the hiring manager and applicant to relate.  Linkedin is perfect to know the background of the hiring manager, but what job seekers should look into is if the hiring manage has a blog and/or Twitter.  Some hiring managers use their account to talk about their industry views or personal life.  Use that information and carry it to the interview since you know the conversational flow of the hiring manager.  For example, if someone looks into my blog and/or Twitter, they would know I talk about the Caps, nonprofits, HR, and Tony Kornheiser.  The applicant should use the information and carry it to the interview so you don’t feel out of place.  If you don’t have a Linkedin or Twitter account, I would start one now not because it’s popular, but free information is given to you.

In an interview, do not come thinking they care about your skills and abilities;  go there thinking this is a two-way conversation.  The chemistry will decide if you get an offer.

I’m in the News

I was in the Washington Post last Saturday if you’re interested (courtesy of Dave Alison):

YNPN 2009 National Conference Day 1 Wrap-Up

I attended the YNPN National Leaders Conference in D.C. and if I was wearing a suit on Friday, it better be a damn good conference.  After today, it was a damn good conference.  I have to say, over 200 showed up for this conference and it was a very diverse crowd.  I do think the topics play a big role for the huge turnout since it is a unique time for nonprofits.  Here is the Day 1 summary:

Panel: State of the DC Nonprofit Sector

Panelists:  Chuck Bean, Executive Director, Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington; Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Grantmakers; Glen O’Glivie, CEO, Center for Nonprofit Advancement

 

·         The fate of nonprofits depends on what type of nonprofit you are in. If you’re in a foundation or a non-revenue diversified organization, the outlook looks bleak.  If you’re a nonprofit that has fee-based services, individual giving, and skills-based volunteering, then you’re stable, but with the economy, it could turn anytime.

·         While organizations are cost containing from cutting benefits, no reimbursement on professional development, layoffs, and others;  the big picture for nonprofits is to not eliminate their services.

·         Only 1/3 of the organizations have reserved funds this year.  Ouch.

·         Approximately 100,000 nonprofits will be closing down within a year.  Another could be that organizations don’t know if they’re a program or an actual nonprofit.  If they are a program, they should mitigate to a nonprofit to cover administrative costs.

·          Glen made a big point that you should work smarter, not harder and volunteer is a dress rehearsal to your next job.

·         The stimulus and the Serve America Act that was signed last Tuesday has helped nonprofits.

·         The ABCDs of Nonprofits:

o    Advocate

o    Be the conscience

o    Collaborate

o    Dare to innovate

 

Breakout Session – Supervisory Skills

Presenter:  Caroline Bolas, Senior Consultant, Organizational Management, LEVELHeaded

 

Since I was the only blogger/tweeter in this session (also my potential clients), I have to give a full summary. If you want to read about Managing Up or Fundraising, I will provide the links below.

 

Role of Supervisor:

·         A conduit between the organization and team

·         Must be a role model

·         Provide leadership

·         Develop talent and programs

 

Setting Goals (SMART):

·         Do not generalize or be very detailed on setting goals.  (i.e. “I hope to improve the team this year”; a list of things that YOU want to do within a year that is two pages long)

·         Be Specific

·         Measurable

·         Achievable

·         Realistic or Relevant

·         Time-Bound

 

Barriers of Delegating:

·         Letting go of the work

·         Communicating with other employees that you have a distrust

·         Feedback/Monitoring

·         Confidence in your employees

·         “Grunt” work – administrative and clerical work

·         Rules & Responsibilities

 

A Checklist of Effective Delegating:

·         Identify the delegate

·         Select a delegate

·         Brief the selected delegate

·         Both you and the delegate agree on the SMART objectives

·         Develop a plan

·         Provide coaching on what to do

·         Brief others about the project/work

·         Hold regular review meetings

·         Evaluate the project/work/process

 

Feedback:

·         To provide effective feedback, it will depend on the employee’s motive.  If the employee wants to change, give constructive criticism and provide details on what they need to improve.  If the employee wants to ignore you, that’s fine, but since you are the supervisor, the supervisor must be of service to the employee and tell what you’re doing well and what must improve.

·         Steps for effective feedback:

o    Behavior – Describe What Was Done or Not

o    Impact – Who was affected and how

o    Future – Describe the behavior you would like to see in the future

 

What Questioning Does:

·         Takes ownership

·         Deeper thinking

·         Get new ideas

·         Greater understanding of emotions and thoughts

·         Demonstrate values and respect

·         Break down resistance

·         Builds trust and relationships

 

Moral of the story is be transparent, be open, don’t be afraid to give it off to someone else.  Simply, detailed communication and trust are keys to supervisor-employee relations.

 

Panel: The Next Generation of Leadership

Panelists: Richard Moyers, Director of Programs, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation;  Alexis Terry, Client Manager, Business Development, BoardSource;  Yarrow Sandahi, YNPN National Board Member.

 

There was a bunch of statistics the panel gave out.  Here were some:

·         72% of the people surveyed want to stay in nonprofits

·         75% of people leave nonprofits within 5 years

·         Biggest cause for young nonprofit people leaving is burnout from their board

·         1/3 want to be Executive Directors

 

I think our generation has adapted the free agent (or sports) mentality, where they go to where there’s a job available.  Either they like their current job or job, the person will re-assess their life and career and decide if they want to stay or move on.  It’s not a 5 year or even a year-by-year case.  People will evaluate day-by-day.  It’s the nonprofits and boards to be responsible to handle top talent and collaborate with their directors.

 

Keynote Address: Diana Aviv, President and CEO, Independent Sector

 

Highlights:

·         Went from her home in South Africa to the United States

·         She was a Girl Scout.  She develops a sense of justice by joining the Girl Scouts.

·         Must get a stronger social ecosystem

·         Must get stronger human and financial capital

·         There’s a difference between a leader and an Executive Director.  They’re mutually exclusive.

 

Panel: National Voice Forum

Panelists: Rick Cohen, Director of Membership and Technology, National Council of Nonprofits;  David Thompson, Independent Sector;  Frances Kunreuther, Director, Building Movement Project.

 

This was the most vocal of the panelists and the most tweets from this panel than any other.  Here are the highlights:

 

·         What sets apart from nonprofits: fundraisers.  If you have a good fundraising team, your nonprofit will stay afloat.  If not, your nonprofit is in big trouble

·         The board focuses on alliances and think of the corporate business model than matching missions with other nonprofit.  Boards think of the bottom line than the cause.

·         Collaboration with other nonprofits now crucial than ever.

·         David Thompson made some comments that might jump

o    He says a ban on lobbyists is a disservice for nonprofits

o    Social media will destroy the infrastructure groups

·         More emphasis on multi-generational leadership not only within nonprofits, but among boards as well.  The old leaders believe they are been pushed out of their leadership role.  Dialogue is important here.  Old and young leaders must understand and relate each other to get a better feel (young leaders teach old leaders about social media. Old leaders want new leaders to relate who they work for like if people feel comfortable seeing a hand-written note).

·         Reassess you organizational structure and see what is working and what is not.

·         Creativity and Innovation.

 

If this conference were a puzzle, it would be that nonprofits were hit hard by the recession. There are going to be cuts people won’t like, but with technology and networking, organizations can be more creative and innovative than ever.  What we’re in now is a bad cycle and probably will be there for the next few months to a year.  However, nonprofits are not a bad place to start, where you learn your craft and understand the meaning of work ethic through long hours and volunteerism.

 

For people reading this for the first time let me make a disclaimer that I’m an independent recruiter for my own recruiting firm that specializes in nonprofits and associations. I have been working for nonprofits for 5 years and found it rewarding.  Money (like almost the entire thing we do) play some role but I enjoy nonprofits because of its unique qualities, quirkiness, and personalities in that sector.  There are issues people care like healthcare, education and the environment.  What I also like is some people really love their issues like no other from facial hair, candy, frozen foods, and others.  That makes it fun for me because I really want to learn about other organizations missions and structures.  That is why I love nonprofits.

 

I like to thank Rosetta Thurman, Ian Storrar, Elizabeth Clawson, Susannah Lane, Heather Carpenter, the various YNPN networks around the country, the participants in this conference, and YNPN for setting up and making this a wonderful conference.

 

Here are the other links to learn more about the YNPN Conference:

• Rosetta Thurman
• #ynpn09
• Nonprofit Congress Blog
• ProInspire Blog
• Nonprofit Leadership 601
• EDA Consulting

To conclude, this is how a day should end:

 

 

 

Last Weekend of April 2009

I rarely type anything personal on my blog since I go to Twitter a lot, but for this post, it’s pretty big to fit in 140 characters.

I am going to be live tweeting today (midnight as I’m typing on the East Coast now) at the Young Non-Profit Network (YNPN)’s National Conference in DC, then going to happy hour following the conference, then stay to enjoy Game 5 (well, if the Caps win, then I’ll enjoy it) and live tweet there.

Saturday will be non-stop NFL Draft action and on Sunday, a little NFL Draft and if the Caps win Game 5, then possibly going to a DC NHL Tweetup in the afternoon. 

I’m also mentioning this because it has been a bizzaro week.  Monday, I was wearing my hockey jersey and jeans and won a signed Chris Clark hockey stick. On Wednesday, I carpooled on Earth Day and wore business casual.  Likely today, I will be wearing business formal…on a FRIDAY!!!  That’s is so messed up (but it will be all messed up if the Caps lose the series).

Alright, so I see you in DC on Friday for the YNPN conference, Rock the Red, and follow my insanity on the NFL Draft, where it’s likely the Skins will officially become DC’s 2nd team if they trade up for Mark Sanchez.

Bye for now.

If I Was Running A Company…Pop Culture HR Award

I remember an article that SHRM Magazine publish for their 50th Anniversary celebration of the 50 people who changed HR.  That was an impressive list of people from business, scientists, policymakers, newsmakers, and others.  This has me wondering…since I make a lot of pop culture references and write HR/recruiting posts weekly (or try to), why not a Pop Culture HR Award?

The criteria are simple: anyone of pop culture significance (real or fictional) contributed to any part of HR either by entertain, inform, or revolutionize what others see in HR (directly or indirectly).  I will be doing this from time to time if I have nothing to write and really, I’m stealing the format from the Hardball Award Chris Matthews does.

There were so many choices and I assure they’ll get in somehow.  However, for the first winner of the Pop Culture HR Award, it’s fitting I chose this week to start because this is Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Super Bowl for this person.  This person had a similar upbringing to the history of human resources:  they were mocked by friends, both professions were ridicule by the public, and both were viewed as “filler.”  Today, their positions grew with power, fame, and notoriety over time as an important part of their respective industry.  This person made it the biggest non-event in the industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you the first winner of the Pop Culture HR Award…

MEL KIPER, JR.

If you do not know Mel’s story, think of it as Nate Silver stealing his career path.  Mel started his own company as a college student called Draft Publications (now Kiper Enterprises) in 1981.  He wrote scouting reports, grades the top 300 players in college football who are coming out, and was the first person to institute the mock draft.  Mel would send in his scouting reports to all of the NFL teams to give them detailed information of the players.  He got an offer as a scout for the Baltimore Colts, but Mel decline.  Ernie Arcosi, General Manager of the Baltimore Colts at the time, told Mel that he should become an NFL Draft Analyst.  In 1984, ESPN hired Mel as their NFL Draft guru.  People hated the move because 1) Mel was not a former football player or a scout and 2) Mel was a nerd when nerds were not cool at the time.  Twenty-five years later, not only Mel still has his job as the main NFL Draft Analyst for ESPN, but he has created a cottage industry for “draftniks” from shrubs like me.

Mel’s position was one of a kind in the 1980s and 1990s, but with the internet, fantasy football, and the NFL Network in the 2000s, most football fans believe they can be “draftniks” like Mel.  There are numerous blogs and articles about the NFL Draft because this is the only time fans can act like the General Manager and Mel has open the door since he was neither a player, coach, or scout.  Currently, there are 3 prominent draft analysts: Kiper, fellow ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay, and NFL Draft Analyst for the NFL Network, Mike Mayock.  It used to be Mel was the sole voice, now with competition, he can do this:

Mel’s track record is like your typical hiring manager in your business;  he has a lot of hits from John Elway (Mel’s only Hall of Fame rating he gave throughout his 30 years of covering the Draft), Trent Dilfer, and the blunders from the New York Jets of the 80s and 90s.

Then again, Mel has a lot of misses from his love for Andre Ware, who was a bust with the Detroit Lions and former USC wide receiver great Mike Williams, who Mel proclaim to ESPN NFL Analyst Merrill Hoge, “I’ll see you at his [Williams] Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!”  Although to be fair, the NFL Draft is a crapshoot since it depends on numerous factors from personality, development, and miscellaneous factors.

In an HR/Recruiting perspective, Mel would be considered the HR Consultant/Advisor, specializing in placement to find the team the right fit for the organization from the structure that he is given and compensation since he looks at the team for needs, when and where the player was drafted, and the overall value of the player means to the team.  Mel can also review the NFL teams’ draft picks, what they achieve, what they did not do, and how to improve the team before training camp opens.

As a pioneer of making the NFL Draft the second most publicized event in football, his Dick Clark genetics, his world famous hair, which should of been the new SHRM logo in 2007, and his eerie parallel path with HR is why Mel Kiper, Jr. is the first Pop Culture HR Award recipient.

Epilogue: the NFL Draft is this Saturday and Sunday on ESPN and NFL Network.  Also, I want to know who in pop culture should get an HR award? Discuss.

Tracy’s Random Thoughts: April 2009 Edition

Spring is here, and I know I’m going to get allergies sometime soon.  Let’s go:

1. The Tax Day Teabag party

In the big picture, this is a waste of time arguing for what?  No taxes?  Hating on Obama?  Want to start a revolution?  It’s also weird that Faux News is supporting the event that they say will rise like the Million Man March.  That’s all fine and good, but if they read Nate Silver’s column on “bipartisanship,” Obama is doing his best in theory to look at conservative issues and implement it in most of the bills.  Instead of collaboration with the Democrats, the GOP are creating propaganda that they have the answers, but don’t.  So, they tried to act like they’re opposing Obama’s views, but instead looking at the party and not the paper.  If there is one winner for this teabag party, it’s the tea companies like Nestea and Lipton.  Also, I better hope when they protest, it better smell fruity and nutty in DC when I come by today.  I would also like a counter-protest put up a sign like this:

2. Gun Control

I saw the 60 Minutes story on guns and frankly I am scared what’s this going to be in the near future: 

The feature mentions shootings in Binghamton, NY; Oakland, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA.  What’s also scary is the National Rifle Association (NRA) is a very powerful and brilliant lobby.  The NRA selected blue dog Democrats who support guns and promote them in the election since the GOP is tanking.  What the NRA has is created a mind-frame that if we’re in a recession or depression, people must own a gun to protect their future.  A gun as our LAST RESORT?!!!  Sadly, they created that mindset and it’s working.  Also, there are no background checks on gun shows and the NRA made the argument that if you take away their guns, you’re taking their rights.  That is a bunch of bullsh*t if I heard one, but the NRA  mostly brainwash most of these people and we’re stuck with lawless gun activity. 

What’s sad is Congress and the White House can’t do anything because of the voters and people can own a gun at anytime, which includes immigrants since there is no checkpoint.  I know the economy and foreign policy is important, but when that is settled, this better be in the front burner because not only we have people killing each other, but we have people killing endangered animals.  For the people who read this: we are not trying to take away your guns or throw away the second amendment.  All we ask for is restrictions so there is a background check to prevent it from the wrong hands.  Guns will still exist, but do it in the right way to protect you.

3. Obama

The economy is steadily growing;  he made the call on the snipers shooting the pirates;  picked a national champion in college basketball;  has very good popularity;  and now has a dog name Bo.  I think we’re going to be fine with him as President.

4. Earth Day

To be frank, I have not celebrated Earth Day enthusiastically as I want to except turning off the lights and plant a peach tree each year.  Now with the economy, I have been thinking about it more and try my best to be more environmental-friendly (I hate using the term “green”).  I’m not going to get a solar panel or create a solar oven, but I’ll try to cut down the lights, use water less, plant another peach tree, recycle materials, try to buy a filter for the faucet in the kitchen, or something out of the box. 

By the way, there’s a movie called Tapped, which discusses the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry.  I tried to not buy these products (been unsuccessful a few times because I got it on sale), but I’ve been saying this for eight years since my freshmen year at George Mason that the bottled water industry is a hoax and gladly I was right and this movie proves it:

4. Your 2009 Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Preview

The Capitals are the two seed against the New York Rangers.  This series became a little more dangerous with Sean Avery on board and the potential that Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Markus Naslund breakout.  The Caps do not have a strong defence and Jose Theodore can be shaky at times, but this is clearly the best Capitals team since the 1998 Stanley Cup Runner-Up team and I expect the Caps to take it seriously after last year’s miracle and win in 6 games.  My prediction is they’re going to the Eastern Conference Finals and lose, but Barry Melrose has them in the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit.  Melrose (and his mullet) must be more optimistic than me.

5. Your 2009 Washington Nationals Season Preview

They’re Going To Suck. 

The only decent day in the Nats schedule is June 9.  That is where the Nationals have the first pick in the MLB Amateur Draft and are likely to select the consensus number one prospect, Stephen Strasburg.  However, it’s very likely the Nationals will screw this up by not picking or signing him before the deadline and he goes back to the pool next year.  Either way, the Nationals are a mess and this will not end well…trust me.

6. Facial Hair

I want to conclude on a matter that might be funny to some.  If you notice my profile picture, I was trying to grow a beard for Lent since I swore off shaving.  I read the books and articles on how to grow a beard and follow directions.  However, after 7 weeks, the profile picture you saw was the final result.  I did not a grow a beard or goatee (I’m not a fan of the goatee, but I could of accept it).  What I grew was a Pornpatch (Pornstache + Soulpatch).  I had keep the Pornpatch for a few weeks in public (actually I got a date with that look) and I was embarrass of what it grew to be.  I had to tape my testimonial in shame and that my genetics have failed me.

Well, today is a brand new day.  I am asking everyone with facial hair to join this (currently) clean shave sap, to merge and start a brand new association:  THE AMERICAN FACIAL HAIR ASSOCIATION (or THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FACIAL HAIR, board members have to agree with a title).  I know there is the American Mustache Institute, Beards.org, and the Whisker Club;  but with a unified association on facial hair, plus in conjunction with the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, and the American Hair Loss Association, this new facial hair association will be a hit.  Since women have breast implants and botox to make themselves beautiful, why not promote men growing beards to promote solidarity and manliness?  I wish I had funding by myself, but with such luminaries from Paul Krugman, Chuck Norris, Rick Rosner, Dan Levy, and many others, funding should not be a problem.  When this becomes an association, men can now say 1) they’re truly men, 2) act as a second pillow for your partner, and 3) a human [blank].  If today starts the teabag revolution, we need to start a FACIAL HAIR REVOLUTION NOW!!!

For that…Good Day!

If I Was Running A Company…Advice

I rarely give advice to the general public, but there is one advice I want to share with everyone:  Information is everywhere.

You can get information from organizations and workers about the company culture and the people from talking face to face, research at the library, and/or go on the internet and utilize those resources on job searches and organizations you want to work with.  Read numerous sources and try to find your bullseye.  That’s it, you all have a great day, send me an email if you want to talk further about my advice.

It’s that easy for my advice, but…

There are bloggers and micro-bloggers that are using advice to bring in readers, especially this time where advice is crucial for job seekers and employers.  Paul DeBettignies and Lance Haun discuss about bad advice and how it can be prevented and what should we do as an audience.  The problem is since there are a boatload of advice on the internet, it’s hard to police which is good or bad because each has a different point of view on that advice.  There is bad advice out there, but some take it as gospel and they subscribe to their RSS feed, Google Reader, and comments to prove it. 

The best solution to maximize advice you were given is get numerous information from an assortment of people/blogs that you trust, believe it, and use that in their job search or research for your organization.  Also remember, there is no such thing as best advice.  If there’s such a thing, everyone would battle for the same crap.  The only advice you should listen is if the advice makes you comfortable and you react to it.  It does not matter if I agree with their advice even if it’s outlandish;  all it matters is how you feel about it.  The reason why there are wonderful HR and recruiting bloggers is not because they want an audience or did a terrfic marketing job branding themselves, although that play some role.  It’s their personality, their background, and their passion for the job/industry attracts not only readers, but trusted sources for our category. 

Finally, let me make a few points about my advice for your reference:

1. My HR/Recruiting advice comes from my 5 years in HR and recruiting.
2. I love using case studies from my unique experiences, popular culture, and intriguing stories people should look into as a HR/recruiting perspective (i.e. the Joseph Molloy story).
3. If you truly want my advice, please contact me and let’s chat since there are “different strokes for different folks.”  My expertise is in nonprofits and associations but I can forward people to HR and/or recruiters to certain industries you want to contact with and can help out.  Advice should be personal, not general.

With that, I hope I was a trusted source in your job search or helping your organization out at some capacity.  Now really, have a great day!

Will Henry

This is a story for Easter.

Will Henry had everything going his way.  He survived the first set of layoffs in the last quarter of 2008, has a girlfriend, and a nice bachelor pad.  Will was a bit cocky, flirt, but realistic guy.  Will was a well-dressed man, wearing suits and ties, sweaters, and the occasional sweater vest when he went out.  He worked in sales for an insurance company and was good at it.  He was not the best, but meets expectations.  Will also thought he was immune to trouble, no matter the situation.  However, on February 14, 2009, Will was a victim of his own Valentine’s Day Massacre.

On that Valentine’s Day at work, he was summoned into the office by his supervisor.  The supervisor was a straight shooter and mention that sales were way down because of the recession in the economy.  Then, he went on to say,

“Will, thank you for being part of our team and helping us get some loyal customers.  However, we have to cut costs and by your performance, it was not bad, but you were among one of the worst performers in our organization and you have been laid off.  You will get severance for 3 months and your last day of the job is effective immediately.  I’m sorry”

Will just stood there in stunned silence like he was getting hit by a train.  He did not show any outside emotion about the layoff.  He didn’t say much and only two words came out of his mouth, “Thank You!” He left to his office and pack things up and said goodbye to his co-workers.  When he went to his car, he sat there for 5 minutes and finally broke down.  It continued on for 15 minutes and then he drove out.

When Will finally got home, he swallowed up his pride and quickly dresses to take his girlfriend for a Valentine’s Day dinner.  Will double check on his email and saw that her girlfriend had an emergency and cancelled the dinner that night.  One week later, at a chain restaurant, Will saw her girlfriend talking to another guy and feeling intimate.  Will saw and stood there for a minute and his heart just dropped.  Will head back home in distraught and had nowhere to go.  Will heads home, undressed and put away his clothes in his closet.  He saw a picture of him as a kid in church.  He looked at it and after he went through, he knew he had to change someone: himself.  The following was the beginning of Lent and decided for the next several weeks, he’s sacrificing his good life.

Before Lent Season began, Will canceled his plans going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and focus on his grueling destination.  Will setup the rules for his Lent mission:

·         Will will only have $100 cash for the next 7 weeks.  Cannot ask for more money.

·         He can only carry clothes

·         He can’t go to a homeless shelter since he already has a home or go to a kitchen that serves homeless people

·         No electronic devices or ask people for electronic devices (cell phones, iPhones, iPods, MP3s, cameras, and others)

·         Catholic Lent rules apply (no meat on Fridays during Lent Season)

·         Fasting means no food for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, not the 2 small meals, 1 large meal deal.

·         No loophole Sunday stuff

·         Must go to a different Catholic Church each Sunday and for Holy Thursday and Good Friday

·         Cannot ask for directions, going to someone’s house to sleep or shower or stay in any car.

·         Cannot take taxi, hitchhike, subway or bus.  Must do this on foot.

·         The mission begins in Fairfax and ends in Washington, DC

·         Finally, the only goal on this mission is if Will achieve what he wanted to do.

Before leaving, Will told his parents that he is going on a Lent mission and will come back on Easter, he then locked all of his belongings on a safe and gave it to his best friend, Shawn, whom he had known since high school and told him to keep out of harm.  Will paid his rent and bills early so he wouldn’t be penalized.  Then, Will strategize where to go in the next 7 weeks to prevent duplication. Finally on Fat Tuesday, Will had a big meal to prepare for Lent.  On midnight, the mission began.

Week 1

It was uneventful since Will had to stay around the Fairfax area since he had to go to two masses in the same week.  He went first to St. Leo for Ash Wednesday to take his ashes and began his mission.  After mass ended, Will took all of his belongings (shirts, shoes, underwear, socks) and hit the sidewalks.  He walked down a busy intersection in Fairfax and saw people were mad that traffic hadn’t move and from a pedestrian perspective, Will saw no reason for this anger since he saw there was a huge accident upfront, but people were more worried about their own interests.  Will laughed it off and moved on.  Since he was around in Fairfax for the next few days, Will remembered there was a Popeye’s around the corner and wanted to go there for their Louisiana Shrimp Basket, which was $4.99.  He got 3 orders since he’ll be traveling and will take nibbles since he has only $100.  On Sunday, he went to Mission of Our Lady for the First Sunday of Lent and then the real adventure begins.

Week 2

Since Will cannot stay at a motel or at a house, he had to rely on shear will. In the beginning of March, it began to snow heavily in the D.C. area and Will uses his camping skills as an Eagle Scout to survive this treacherous weather.  He had no food and must spread out his money for 6 weeks, so he had to find it in this awful weather.  In the area, there were no stores in sight, and all Will had left was a biscuit.  Will’s next big project on this mission is to have a food supply that will last him a long time.  Sadly, there was no Wal-Mart in sight since everything was discounted, but Will thought of another place where he can get the essential foods…H Mart.  Since fruits and vegetables were very cheap at H Mart, Will took advantage and took as many as he can.  He bought nearly $30 of fruits, vegetables, and water.  Will put it in his bag and knew that he had to take it easy on the eating.  Week 2 ended at the Church of Dunn Loring.

Week 3

It was cold still, but it was sunny and it rejuvenated Will for a bit.  For this week travel, he went to Tyson’s Corner and saw a bunch of business people driving and they feel very ordinary like it was another typical work day.  Of course, the only personality they showed was anger from more traffic.  Tyson’s Corner was also the first big hurdle for Will as Tyson’s Corner has tons of restaurants, stores, and temptation.  Will knows he cannot spend a lot of money, but he use Tyson’s Corner as an opportunity.  Since he couldn’t shower at anyone’s house, Will use the mall bathrooms as his shower.  He takes water from the sink and goes to a bathroom stall and washes himself with the water he took, changes clothes and heads out.  Will still had to fight the urge of what he has, but cannot use it for this mission.  Will was still comfortable since he had plenty of food under his circumstances and $60 left.  The week ended at the Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, where the kids are very joyful, plenty of double parking, and a language Will never understood.

Week 4

After leaving Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, Will headed to Arlington, but met a bunch of Asians in Ballston.  The Asians were mocking Will of his homeless and heavy beard look.  The Asians were part of a gang at the Eden Center and now try to establish their territory in Ballston.  The gang walked away until someone saw that Will had some money in the pocket.  The gang pulled out their knives and surrounded Will.  Will wanted to fight it, but he was outnumbered by members and weapons.  Will gave up and gave the money to the gang.  After that, one of them took his clothing and gave a sucker punch to Will’s face, knocking him unconscious.  The gang left with the clothes and the money and adding insult to injury, the gang threw the vegetables at his face, which gave many cuts and bruises on Will’s face.  The following day, Will got up wounded and wobbly after that attack.  There were no police or anyone else helping him and had a hard time walking straight.  Will had no money, no additional clothes, and starving.  The fruits and vegetables were spoiled after it rolled into a puddle and they were inedible.  Will was struggling to go somewhere, but founded someone who looked desperate.

Will saw a homeless man going through a dumpster and founded a half pizza uneaten and saw the guy took a bite.  Will was disgusted at first.  However, he read a story about a homeless guy going through trash and found is treasure since the young adults live in the city throw away the good stuff.  Will tried to find an area where a lot of young adults live.  Luckily, the Ballston to Court House section is full of young adults and hence the “treasure” is big.  Since Will did not move around after being injured, so he loads up on stock from pizza, steak, salmon for Fridays and others.  It was not pretty, but this was the only thing Will can eat now with no money.  After being stagnant for a few days, Will heads off to find another Catholic Church, St. Ann.

Week 5

Will was still hurt from the attack last week, but relief came when the D.C. area was pouring in rain since it was the start of spring.  It gave Will second wind and the rain acted as a cure for his injuries.  Slowly every day, Will was gaining power from the rain and by the end of the week, although not 100%, Will can finally think straight and his mission to D.C. is back on track.  The week ended at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish.

Week 6

A lot of cars were coming northbound to Arlington and it was bigger than usual.  Will never had a slightest clue why there is a lot of traffic.  He looked around Arlington and then went to Rosslyn.  There, he saw the big screen from WJLA7 that the cherry blossoms were coming out and visitors are coming to enjoy the festivities.  Will had this adrenaline rush and never thought about food or any previous troubles he had, Will knew he was close.  At the end of the week, Will had made it not only to D.C., but he was in the middle of cherry blossom festival.  Will absorb the nature and beauty of the cherry blossoms and took it in stride.  Although Will arrived to D.C. one week early, the mission was not done since there is one week to go in Lent.  Will knows he had one week to survive, but the nature of D.C. made it easier for Will to relax the next week.  The week ended on Palm Sunday at Saint Stephen Martyr.  The palms were eco-friendly from Guatemala, which Will kept and cherish.

Holy Week

Will knew that D.C. is a great walking city and had plenty of time to enjoy the museums and monuments of D.C. like he never did.  Will still had no money and had little food available.  For the next 4 days, Will walked around the city and went to local colleges to see if naïve students throw away good food.  On Holy Thursday, he went to St. Peter’s Catholic Church and then took a nap outside the church.  On Good Friday, Will took a walk to D.C. one last time to relive what he achieved the past 7 weeks.  Of course there were obstacles and Will made it too rough of a standard that he set, but after being punished by losing his job and losing his girlfriend, those events were nothing that he endured those 7 weeks.

It was Friday evening, and Will needed to go to a different church.  He found it in Cathedral of St. Matthew in downtown D.C.  Will arrived there at 6PM, stayed through mass, and stayed through prayer until 11:45 PM on a Friday evening.  Fifteen minutes later, the clock struck midnight and Lent season was over and Will’s mission finally completed…unless he can find someone to take him home in Fairfax without money.  Will realizes he has no money and does not feel like any assistance right now.  Then, Will felt something strange on his right foot.  He sat down, took off his right shoe and rubs it since it was aching.  He looked at his shoe and saw three $1 bills.  Since it was midnight in D.C., the maximum cost is $2.35.  Will had no idea he had $3 on his shoe and thought what he deserved to get that $3?  Will thought about it, but he could not come with an explanation.  So, with his heavily beard, aching body, and soul refresh, Will took the Metro to Vienna/Fairfax and headed home.

Easter Weekend

When Will got home at 1 AM, he immediately slept for 10 hours.  When he woke up, he took his shower, shaved his beard, and ate a hearty breakfast for the first time in 7 weeks.  Will then had to pick up his belongings from Shawn and gave him a huge tip for keeping everything.  Will then reflected again on what he did, then he packed up and headed to Arlington (by car) to meet up with his family for Easter.  During the weekend, the Henry family enjoyed a nice buffet brunch and their own Easter Egg Hunt.  Will was enjoying not only real food finally, but enjoyed being with the kids.  After Easter ended, Will headed back home in Fairfax and saw he forgot to put away the eco-friendly palm into a vase and then he hatch an idea…

Afterwords

Will moved out of his apartment and bought an abandoned house in Fairfax City.  Although the house was torn up, it had plenty of grass in Fairfax City land to start his one of two new ventures…gardening.  Will started growing fruits and vegetables in his backyard to sell at the Farmers Market, which was a couple of blocks from his house.  Will’s other venture: teaching.  Will has a paid job as a school teacher at Providence Elementary School and a volunteer as a CCD teacher at St. Leo.  I guess walking for 7 weeks clears up the mind quite a bit.

THE BIG REVEAL!!!

Lent Season is over. Time to reveal myself to 40 people…and others.