Author Archives: Ben

7 more reasons to hire zombies

feed the zombiesIf you didn’t catch the original post on hiring zombies, then you might want to check it out. It will help this post to make more sense! Several of the comments on that post had some great responses, and I’ve incorporated them into this sequel. Okay, less talk, more fun. Here we go!

  1. Zombies simplify the succession planning process. When an executive dies, just bring them back to life.
  2. Zombies don’t need lunch or smoke breaks. 
  3. If performance is an issue, just shoot the offender and bring in a new one.
  4. They are very inexpensive labor and not covered by the FLSA.
  5. You’ll never have to have the “your thong is showing” conversation. 
  6. While body odor would be a problem, the other zombies wouldn’t really care to complain.
  7. If you have to fire a zombie, you can be sure it won’t cry.

Do you have a reason to hire a zombie? I’d love to hear it! Leave a comment below and maybe we can carry this into a trilogy.

Photo by u2canreed.

What I Believe About HR

what I believe

I have a lot of solid opinions about HR (don’t we all?). However, I know that as my experience changes through the years, my opinions may take a turn as well. I want to share this fantastic post that helped me to shape my early beliefs. Frank Roche of KnowHR is one of the most amazing writers I know, and his post 65 Things I Believe about HR is one you should not miss. A few of my favorite parts: Continue reading →

Guest Post Blitz #4

HR social networkWell, it’s been a little while since I dumped off a load of guest posts on you in an attempt to look too busy to post here. I know you’ve been dying to see what else I’ve been up to, so I’ll share them today. I love doing guest posts for my friends. It gives them a day off, and it gives me a chance to connect with a new audience. I try to do them in batches, because it makes things easier for me. It also gives me the opportunity to do a guest post blitz! Okay, maybe it’s not really as super cool as it sounds. I just link to ’em. But hey, you get to visit a friend or two of mine in the process, so it could be worse, right? Let’s get the guest posts rolling! Continue reading →

Introducing the 168 Hours Series

28 Hour DayToday we\’re kicking off the 168 Hours Series (cleverly named because there are 168 total hours in a week). After seeing others struggle with their own time and focus, I thought it would be helpful to put a few posts together with some tips and strategies for managing time. And if the term “managing time” bothers you, then replace it with something more palatable. It\’s a misnomer, really, because unless you\’re Hiro Nakamura, you are most certainly not the master of time and space. But you can still do some pretty amazing things with some focused effort.

Everyone has 168 hours in a week. Make yours count.

168 hours per weekThat\’s not to say that you have to be doing something every one of those 168 hours. It just means that you should be purposeful with your time. You have a finite amount and an infinite number of activities to choose from. Be purposeful with how you spend your time, and I guarantee you\’ll have more satisfaction than if you wander aimlessly, hoping you\’ll be able to accomplish your goals in some general time frame.

Of all of your resources, time is the one that you just can\’t get more of.

What will be covered?

  • Golden Hours, Batching Tasks, and Cutting Distractions
  • The (dreaded but effective) Time Log
  • Goals, Time, Focus, and Snowballs
  • And more…

More topics may be added as time goes on, but those are a few that I definitely want to include. Interested? Make sure you subscribe for free updates. And if you know someone who could use a little bit of help on the time management side of things, please pass them the link to this post. You just might not want to tell them why you’re letting them know. :-)

Simply Amazing

Human resources professionals have the opportunity to do some wonderful things. And in the past few weeks, I was able to be a part of something that is simply amazing. What is it, you ask?

Do Amazing Things

This was a group eBook project organized by Chris Ferdinandi of Renegade HR. To learn more about this project, click here for his post. If you want to skip everything else and leap directly to the free eBook, it can be found at this link. The cool thing about the free guide is that it’s licensed via Creative Commons, so you can share it with anyone you wish. And with the all-star cast that Chris put together, I’m willing to bet that you’ll want to!

The Cast

  • China Miner Gorman from SHRM
  • Michael VanDervort from Human Race Horses
  • Lance Haun from Rehaul
  • Karla Porter from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber in PA
  • Paul Hebert from I2I
  • Jim D\’Amico, recruiter extraordinaire
  • Victorio Milian of Creative Chaos Consultant
  • (Me!)
  • Steve Boese from Knowledge Infusion
  • Nathaniel Rottenberg from Rypple
  • Trish McFarlane from HR Ringleader
  • Jessica Lee from APCO Worldwide

If you like it, please let Chris know. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Something Else Pretty Cool

It’s tough to digest all of the great ideas that are found in an eBook like this one. Pretty soon, I’m going to develop a free training course based on the guide and open it up to the public. Make sure you’re subscribed here so that you don’t miss the announcement!

Download the free “Do Amazing Things” eBook

A Place at the Table

Way back in the day when I was an Assistant Personnel Manager (yeah, that far back) we in Human Resources didn\’t wring our hands about Being Invited to The Table.  It wasn\’t called that yet.  But the concept had (and still has) validity. Influential HR bloggers Mark Stelzner and Sharlyn Lauby have weighed in on HR\’s role in an organization.

Here\’s the thing about getting that elusive invitation to The Table: you can do everything right and you still may not get The Invite. Why? Because getting a seat at the table requires lots of things to happen within the company\’s walls….many of which the individual HR person has absolutely no control over. Factors like company culture, lack of executive support and market conditions all conspire to make it difficult for you to get your Seat.

So, what\’s a talented HR person to do? Focus Continue reading →

SHRM 2010 in San Diego, California

SHRM 2010… It’s coming up in just a few short months in San Diego, California. Are you going? Back when SHRM 2009 was going on, I was salivating to attend, and I was really looking forward to SHRM 2010. When I found out it was going to be across the US, my excitement waned. I can’t make that trip.

People often ask if I will be attending this event or that function. Remember, people, I’m an entry level HR pro (in terms of years worked, anyway). I do not have the means to support multiple conferences each year. And my employer being a nonprofit doesn’t really help, either. I’d love to be able to meet some friends (like my pals at HRCP), be a social media evangelist, and generally raise some havoc. But as of this moment, it’s not going to happen.

What I will be doing Continue reading →