heartbreakingly beautiful

So, I’m beginning my first attempt to get certified.

There are a billion and one kinds of certifications in the information techonology field.

I’m going for Project Management Professional- PMP

I have resisted certifications.  I resist them, because the ones that apply to me seem to be just a piece of paper to say that I can do what I already could do before I got the piece of paper.

But this one looks appealing. Honestly, I handle projects all the time. But I see that this is the sort of paper that lets you get a raise. So..I would do a little work to make more money.

I got the exam prep book today. Just finished reading the first chapter.

I am so excited and already sad. They are talking about how things SHOULD be. They even admit…all over the place…that projects don’t happen like this. They say things that are true and yet are not practiced.

The book admits this. It recommends that you pretend as if you do things the right way (like keeping records and documentation on projects) even if you have never even thought of doing that before.

It’s heartbreaking. I so often ask myself why I create forms and file them as records of work done. Why am I doing this? No one asked me to do it. No one is checking to see if I did it.

BUT HERE! Here in this book they confirm that keeping records is the right thing to do, while admitting that tons of people don’t.

It takes faith, I think. It takes faith to do the right thing when everyone around you is indifferent, or even mildly critical.

To me…this sort of thing is a bit like Scripture. Perhaps it is my German blood that thrills to the idea of work done elegantly and efficiently.

I”m gonna go read chapter 2.

My favorite writer is Voracious

That’s what Chris says anyway.

So…I have been messing with Shelfari. Posted about that already. I have a link on this site to my currently reading list: writtenbymurphy.com/wonderblog/book-page.html

But i’ve been messing with Shelfari…and they don’t have all the books I want to post that I’ve read.

Here is another site, though…where they invite people to share their bookshelves. A PHOTO of your bookshelf

Omnivaracious is associated with Amazon, as is Shelfari. But..well..I don’t know about the photo part. To be honest, I think the photos look posed. no WAY are the books that neat.

But besides, I have a thing about owning books. I own some, yes. But the  majority of books I read I do not keep. Lord, I can’t buy all those books! I would be in the poor house. I get them from the library, and I return them when I’m done.

What I have on my shelves are usually books I intend to read but haven’t. Or maybe not. Some of them are books that meant so much to me that for some reason or another I cannot part with them. Gifts, or ones that pierced my heart with truth or  beauty.

I don’t know. Maybe I should take a photo and see what it reveals.

satisfaction

Friend of mine told me a story of temping.

One of his duties was to make the coffee. He had the instructions–the recipe–for how to make the coffee.

He made the coffee in the morning and went about his business.

“Are you the one who made the coffee?” the man wanted to know.

“Yes.”

“This is wretchedly strong. You really have to use less grounds. This is undrinkable!”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

Next day, he makes the coffee and goes about his business.

“You made the coffee again this morning?” Same man talking.

“Yes.”

“This stuff is dishwater. You have to use some grounds.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

Next day, he makes the coffee and goes about his business.

Same man stops him.  “The coffee is good today. Just right.”

“Thanks for letting me know. Glad to hear it.”

Simple story right?

But wait for it…O. Henry lives on.

My friend hadn’t changed how he made the coffee.

I took away from this story that people require something to complain about. Employees require it…like pencils or air conditioning. It’s best to give it to them.

I like the idea of having wretched coffee. Just to provide the needed sense of being put upon that workers cherish so.