I was sitting on the front lawn of our home at the age of 10 when inspiration rained down in the form of my first song. Likely born out of what we were doing it was aptly entitled `The Rubber Ball is Bouncing`. Not yet completed, it then turned into a truly unforgettable medley when I added `Dolly, Dolly Crying` and `The Grass is Green`` to the song.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If I could choose one activity to fill my time it would be writing鈥�.and well, playing the piano, and reading, and watching news networks, and being with my family, and talking politics, and well, okay there`s a lot of things I like to do each day but one of my favourites鈥攂y far鈥攊s to write. I love writing stories, songs, articles and most assuredly鈥his weekly column.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When a teacher would give options to either do a project or write an essay I chose the essay every time. When my class studied Farley Mowat鈥檚 鈥淟ost in the Barrens鈥� we were given three assignments to choose from: 1) Build an igloo out of materials we could find representing snow and ice, 2) Draw pictures to represent three characters and three themes in the book, or 3) Complete a series of short and long answer questions for each chapter of the book. I chose option 3. There are 27 chapters in 鈥淟ost in the Barrens鈥�. I still chose option 3.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Yet whatever I am writing I am faced with the same dilemma鈥擨 constantly have trouble trying to come up with a title. Whenever asked how my column is coming along that week I respond with the same comment, 鈥淚 need a title.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Titles are often invitations into books, articles, stores or offices for many of us. Those few short words can cause us to want to delve further or decide to move on to see what else is offered. A name on an office door may tell me what the person does, but gives little insight into the person they are--or how they might treat those who enter. Titles provide a glimpse through the window into something but they by no means tell the whole story. One needs to look more deeply for that. That鈥檚 why we might be missing something rather special if we look only at the title.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Business Insider magazine talked to recruiting firms about the most unusual job titles they had encountered on resumes. While it鈥檚 true everyone wants to present themselves in the best way possible, these job titles had potential employers scratching their heads figuring out what the person had been doing for a living: Actions and Repercussions Adviser, Second Tier Totalist, Communications Ambassador, Dream Alchemist, Problem Wrangler, and Animal Colourist. Although some executives feel they can use job titles effectively as promotional tools, others say they tire of the title warfare going on as employees fail to grasp the goals of the organization and are more interested in self-promotion. One CEO cleared the decks of an organization and said, 鈥淭here were so many Senior VP鈥檚鈥� no one knew who was responsible for what anymore.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A friend of mine a few years ago was unhappy in his work. He was unsatisfied and felt unappreciated. His boss tried to invent an impressive new job title thinking that would make him feel better about his job. But the title meant little to him. Expression of thanks and appreciation would have gone a lot further than an exaggerated title designed to retain an employee.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If we鈥檙e looking for the impressiveness of the title to define us, the resulting definition will be rather shallow. It may make for a great headline but is no guarantee of satisfaction. Consider the brevity of the titles that should matter most: son, daughter, father, mother, husband, wife, grandparent, friend. Promotions and pay raises may not be part of the package but these are the titles that make a difference.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Imagine the strength of our families, communities and country if we put aside the pursuit of the jobs with the longest titles in favour of the ones with the lasting touch. That鈥檚 my outlook.
