Who Was George Washington?
Mark McNeilly is the author of George Washington and the Art of Business: Leadership Principles of America’s First Commander-in-Chief as well as Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers. On Monday he helped us celebrate President’s Day. Today he takes a closer look at George Washington on the anniversary of his birth. The views he expresses are his alone and are not meant to represent those of any company or institution with which he is affiliated.
We celebrated President’s Day on Monday but George Washington’s actual birthday is today, February 22nd. While many of us enjoyed the slew of Presidents’ Day Sales, what we may have lost is reflection on who this great man was and the impact he has had on our country. And for many who do think of him, he is not a man of history but a man of myth. For example, when talking with a friend of mine about Washington she said, “He’s sort of a fable, kind of like Paul Bunyan.” For some he is not even that. In one recent study of college students’ knowledge of American civics only 68% of freshman knew Washington’s proper role as general and statesman in the founding of our country. The rest (roughly one third of the students) thought he was a constitutional writer, a social compact theorist, advocate for states rights or the leader of the Massachusetts’ delegation to the Constitutional Convention. (more…)
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In honor of President’s Day we asked Mark McNeilly, author of George Washington and the Art of Business: Leadership Principles of America’s First Commander-in-Chief as well as Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers, to reflect on what our original President would think of the current elections. The views he expresses are his alone and are not meant to represent those of any company or institution with which he is affiliated. Who do you think Washington would have voted for?
“The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant…” So began George Washington in his Farewell Address to the nation in September of 1796 as he prepared to finish his second term as President. Knowing he did not want to have a third term in office, Washington used his Farewell Address to provide advice to the citizens of the fledgling nation by offering “…some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all-important to the permanency of your felicity as a people.” Looking back at this and other writings of Washington, as well as his actions in history, we might surmise what he may have thought of the upcoming election. (more…)
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Good Morning LJ'ers! And how is everyone on this -3 degree day?
*shiver*
Well, it's business back to normal in the Wight Household. Hubby and I spent yesterday discussing and setting our 2008 camping rates. He's in the process of updating the website and I'm getting letters written for our Think Spring mailing, trying to drum up business. Next project is to enter the 250 long term reservations people made during the 2007 summer for 2008. Luckily, A's looking for a little extra spending money, so I'm going to give her my camping hat for a few hours a day. And while she's doing that . . . . I'll be writing.
Of course.
First order of business, George's Story. I was about 1/3 of the way through the revisions when I walked away, leaving him standing at the lake facing a big project with his best friend. I've kind of missed my Georgey Pie (he'd hate to be called that!) It'll be good to get back to his story, and I hope to finish up the revisions early next week.
In other news, have you heard who our new Children's Lit Ambassador is? Jon Scieszka!
A wonderful choice!
I finished the first rough draft of George's Story last night! I'm so excited!
I have to tell you a cute little story about a bump in the road to finishing this manuscript.
I've always been interested in differences between plotting vs "going with the flow". And for the record, I have the utmost respect for "going with the flow". Just beginning your story and following it to the end, seeing where it leads.
BUT, I'm most definitely a plotter. I think this is because any project I've started without an outline has stalled. So now, before I begin, I need to know I have a viable idea. I need to know where all the pieces are going to fit, especially if there is a subplot. I want to weave themed elements throughout the story so I stick a piece of this into Chapter 2, 6 and 9. And a piece of that in 3, 5 and 7 and both into the final two chapters. Once I start a puzzle I can't stop. I love Scrabble, Tetris and Blokus.
I'm sure you get the idea. It's just how my mind works.
Here's a sample of how I plot by chapter (Because this post isn't locked, I've taken out some of the more detailed elements):
Chapter 1: Introduce George while he's doing a job/chore with his Dad. Show the pros and cons of his unusual lifestyle. Mr. Bakeman approaches with complaint about loons - use this to set up George's love of wildlife. End with George seeing local bully harassing new kid. New kid manages to pull one over on the bully with just words.
As you can see, it's really basic. Lots of room to play. But not so much room that I get stuck.
So anyway, here I was with my outline, sitting in the student lounge of A's college at 4:30pm the Monday before Thanksgiving break. I had my coffee and my laptop and the mindset to finish this manuscript once and for all. How could I not? Here I was in a "learning center"! College kids all around me, in and out. If I couldn't do it HERE of all places . . .
A said she'd be back from the photo shoot at 7:30pm, and we could head for home (4 hour trip) then.
I spent the first hour writing 25 words. 25 WORDS! Ack!
I spent another half hour backtracking: reading the chapter before. Then reading my plot for the chapter I was working on. Still nothing.
I WAS STUCK.
And I had only one and a half hours to go.
Suddenly, there's A before me with a sheepish look. "Moooooom? I just found out that I have to be here until 9:30 . . . " She ducks.
I groan. "Okay, okay," I mumble. After all, it will give me more time to plod through, right?
Or be bored to death. I had visions of myself falling asleep over my laptop and all the college kids pointing and laughing at the little old lady in the corner.
So I go to the coffee shop which is conveniently ten steps away. I grab my laptop and find a table in the corner. Just in case. I settle in, take a deep breath . . .
and the next thing I know my character is in mortal danger! Something NOT in my outline. I've thrown my main character in front of his enemy and he's losing the battle! I'm excited because it will make a great scene, not to mention propel the action forward . . . . we all know we're supposed to put our characters lives on the line, right? Make the reader wonder? That's what was missing. And now I've found it! There's a clear path to The End . . . I'm practically cackling with glee over my laptop.
I barely notice when the kid at the table next to me moves over a few seats. But I pay him no mind because my character is seeing stars . . . he's fading . . .
In the corner of my eye I see A. I look at my watch. It's only 7:30pm. I look back at A, she's in tears.
One hand still on the keyboard I ask, "Pumpkin? What's wrong?"
"My assistant director found out you were waiting down here so she told the director. He pulled my scenes and shot them first and told me I could go so you wouldn't have to sit down here bored and waiting for me for another two or three hours. Isn't that sweet of them!?"
Yea. Sweet.
Note to the director . . . next time, it's really, really, really okay if you keep her till 9. Honest it is!
Soooooo, there's not much news on the writing front at the moment. Except for the fact that today has opened up for me to write!! Which is wicked nice, because I don't think I'll find much writing time over the next few days. Girls weekend . . . . and A's play . . . . and all . . . .
Someone from the other side of the campfire circle made a comment about how good a s'more would taste right now. Someone else agreed. I only half paid attention because for one, I knew the other adults were trying to change the subject. No one wanted to hear Mr. Beakman go on and on about the loons and ruin another campfire. And two, when you went to as many campfires as I did, you kind of have your fill of toasted marshmallows by the middle of June.
Plop! I bent over to pick up the thing that dropped at my feet. It was a jumbo bag of marshmallows.
I looked over at Packrat. He was elbow deep in a pocket. Next to him was a package of graham crackers and four bars of chocolate.
“What are you looking for?” I asked. No one else was paying much attention, they were having their own conversations in groups of two's and three's.
“The sticks,” he said.
I smiled. Most kids would have ripped a branch off the nearest tree. But not Packrat. He understood what a bad thing that would be for the tree. How it would let in diseases and insects.
Waving two man-made wooden roasting sticks in the air, he called, “Who wants a s'more?”
Me, I liked cooking my marshmallows fast. Medium rare, my mother called them. I'd stick them right in the flame, letting them catch fire and then blowing it out. I'd let it cool just enough until I could pull upward on the blackened skin and pop it in my mouth. Sometimes, I'd put the inside back into the fire and do it all again.
Not Packrat though. He made roasting marshmallows an art. Putting his over the coals, he'd slowly turn it over and over and over again, until it became golden brown and got all droopy looking. I swear, he was just waiting for someone to say, “Oh! Oh! You're gonna lose it! Look out!” before he'd take it from the fire.
Then, he'd slide the marshmallow off the stick onto a graham cracker topped with a piece of chocolate bar. Putting another graham cracker on top, he'd squish them together until the marshmallow oozed out all four sides. He'd sigh, smile, and say, “Mm mmm mm,” before shoving half of it in his mouth. Every time, he'd do this.
Watching him enjoy those s'mores that way, well, it made me want one. Or two. Or six.
From here on out, I'm going to call my current MG story George.
Have I mentioned that George has loons in it? No, no, not looney stuff in it, but loons:
And it's strange, but before I started this manuscript, no one ever really talked about the loons. We have a nesting pair on our lake every year. Few people get excited over them as I do . . . although they love to hear the call of the loon at night.
In the past week though, three people have mentioned them to me! One couple discussed the fact that the loons have not successfully had a nesting season since the eagles made our lake their home. Another very nice couple from a neighboring, busy lake timidly expressed their dislike for the loons. It seems their kids are afraid of the loon dance, and because the loons nest so closely to their property, the loons dance a lot while the kids are swimming.
"But a loon would never hurt them," I said.
The very nice Mom smiled ruefully. "I know that, but try telling your seven year old who's treading water after having fallen off her water skis and has just seen the loon dive. Talk about panic! And don't even get me started on how they pop up out of nowhere between the boat and the skier . . ."
She had a point. And this was a different perspective for me, coming from a quiet-no-motors-allowed lake. Which is fabulous for my book . . . I can use it! This element came at the perfect moment in time.
Yesterday, Cookie and I discovered a sad, sad sight on my little beach. One that will be with me for a long time. A dead loon.
We aren't sure how it died. There seemed no sign of man made trouble . . . no six pack ring around its neck or feet . . . no shots I could see (it's duck season). It's possible the eagles got him, but their taking a full grown loon is rare I think. And to leave it on the beach pretty much intact doesn't make sense either.
I do have to say, I've never been so close to one before. It was interesting to see their thin webbed feet. And their beak. And the sheer size of one.
It made me very sad . . . and is perhaps another element I can use in the book somehow.
By Kirsty OUP-UK
Saturday 16 June 2007 saw the Oxford offices of OUP transformed for one night only: the Oxford University Press Ball. These momentous nights only take place every few years, so it really is a special occasion. Below, for your viewing pleasure, are some photographs from the night in question. (more…)
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Joan Frye Williams and I did 2-1/2 hours on the changes in the library world this morning at the Buena Vista Branch of the Burbank Public Library. We had some terrific discussion, especially when a trustee from one of the area public libraries challenged us about dumbing down libraries.
After Joan and I wrapped up, six local librarians talked about some initiatives their institutions were taking.
Erin Pawlus of the Burbank Public Library talked about the very entertaining blog she and some of her colleagues have done. She also included some principles her team put together for what and why they would blog.
Terri Maguire from the County of Los Angeles Public Library discussed a consultancy Paco Underhill (author of Why We Buy and The Call of the Mall) is doing for the library. Watch for the results of this work to be published: it could be incendiary. One key finding: only 9% of library users ever use the OPAC there.
David Campbell from Palos Verde Library District talked about a staff training opportunity the library had launched. Everyone who completes the training gets an MP3 player and is entered into a drawing for a digital camera, an iPod or a Wii. The training consists of 10 exercises, including starting a blog, posting a photo album to Flickr, and create an RSS feed.
Nanette Schneir of the Santa Monica Public Library demonstrated the Vocera communication system her library uses. It is extremely cool---it allows staff to range throughout the building while still being able to handle reference calls or back up the desk.
Karen Schatz described the new Help Desk that replaced the old reference desk at the Oxnard Public Library. It's staffed by trained (but not-MLS) employees, it's placed in a very visible, highly strategic location, and it allows the reference librarians to provide more quality and quantity time with customers who really need help.
Finally, Danis Kreimeier and John Legree (whom Danis referred to as her library's "IT Bad Boy") talked about some of the outstanding innovations they have added to the Yorba Linda Public Library web site. The "Book Feed" is includes a constantly updated list of the books that have been returned to the library, the list of the Top 10 requested items in the collection, and a real time list of materials on order, for example. They also have a section where teens can review books, and a dynamic reader's advisory system.
So I learned a heck of a lot more than I taught today. A fine finish to my too brief visit to Southern California. (Photos of San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point coming as soon as I can dump my photos to the album.)
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Regarding the consultancy for County of Los Angeles Public Library:
I'm kind of surprised that as many as 9% use the OPAC in the library. The vast majority of all our systems use by patrons comes from outside the library. They go to our web servers to get event calendars, reserve their books, etc. Then when they arrive at the library, they pick up the books they already reserved online from home.
It seems from my experience that most of the people who physically come into the library to start their search for a book either (a) browse a known section such as their favorite author in Fiction or (b) ask library staff to point them to a Dewey range to browse.
My theory is that there is very, very little overlap between the in-library book-browsing population and the online-at-home population. Trying to develop a single web or OPAC system to serve the needs of these divergent audiences (not to mention the needs of the staff) may be a completely futile undertaking.