THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Category Archives: Business


by Leave a comment

Which to swim in

Which pond do you swim in. One might be safer, but the other may present more opportunities. We make these decisions about jobs throughout our lives. I might not have made the right ones from time to time, but I guess it’s okay in the end.

Pick a pool. Photo by Mike Hartley

In some ways I thought I was through with those choices when I retired. But when I think about how to use time, it’s the same way. Do I choose a comfortable path or maybe challenge myself more. The calm or choppy waters.

I find it harder to leave my comfort zone the older I get. I have to fight that and challenge myself more.


by 1 Comment

Crazy business

Come up with a crazy business idea. The daily prompt asks.

Why don’t we start a TV network that can take actual things you see like January 6th, 2021, and make you believe it was something other than it was. Ops, we already have that.

How about a security firm that protects every school in the country. I mean what parents wouldn’t want that now with all the school shootings.

How about starting a TV network that would tell the truth about things. Ops, we would never get a license now.

How about a company that could take all the gambling away from sports and return it to the people who play and love to watch it for the love of the game itself.

Maybe start a firm that takes up the tremendous amount of food waste in this country and feed the poor and homeless and sheltered animals.

On a large-scale water management for the country. We either have way too much water or not enough just about everywhere, every year. Oh, throw water safety in that loop also.

I hear this country is in need of a new electrical grid. Got to think big at times.

Now here is one I’d like to pull off again. Start a local community newspaper. I know, they all died off. But look at what you’re left with.

Create a device that captures all the ideas we lose before we get to the computer or to a piece of paper.

Maybe a company that helps people wake up and respect the earth we live in. Photo by Mike Hartley


by Leave a comment

Admiration

Since I answered the question of – What profession do you admire most and why? With this post “Professional Admiration” last year, I’ll go into another slant on it.

What earned my admiration over my work experience. A few off the top of my head.

  • I admired those who shared their knowledge and expertise.
  • I admired those who pulled more than their own weight when needed.
  • I admired honesty.
  • I admired those who could communicate well with those above, beside and below them.
  • I admired truth to power. Those who could step up and point out painful realities.
  • I admired those who showed up every day.
  • I admired good leadership and if it made mistakes to correct course.
  • I admired those who could laugh at funny things or times.
  • I admired those who gave honest and insightful reviews.
  • I admired meetings where people came prepared and were inclusive of everyone.
  • I admired those who were also interested in my goals.
  • I admired leadership that could put teams of people together and help make them successful.
Escorting one of our Veterans down the stairs. Photo by Mike Hartley

View other replies to the question today


by 2 Comments

Keeping busy

The daily prompt asks – If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

Hold on now, I’m what some might still call recently retired and now you’re asking about opening my own business, working and selling something! No rest for this guy.

Well, that is pretty easy. The first thing that popped to mind would be opening an ice cream and or snowball stand. Something I can dig my teeth into.

Attached to the shop would be a gallery of my work and other artists in the area where most if not all the profits go to charities in the community.

Great ice cream. Photo by Mike Hartley

View others dream business here


by 2 Comments

Company Man

I’ve been a big supporter of the companies I’ve worked for throughout my career. I worked my ass off for these companies. I’ve sacrificed for these companies. I believed in these companies. I believed in the people working their asses off side by side with me. I’ve defended and sometimes even been a public face for them.

I believed in the mission these companies stood for and provided to the communities I lived in. I was proud and honored to work at each of them. I gave it my all, well most days, nobody’s perfect. I worked with the most inspiring people. I worked with the most talented people. I worked with the most respected people. I worked for some great leaders, publishers, editors, writers, photographers, technicians, and every other person who supports and makes a news organization run.

I have great respect for those behind the scenes and in the production and support areas that keep those news machines moving 24/7/365. Without fail, without pause, regardless of conditions, with ingenuity, with guile, with dedication.

Select your companies carefully. Photo by Mike Hartley

I never believed when I started in the mid-70s that the profession of local and national journalism would be mistrusted, despised, and hated. But coming out of that 2000-2008 timeframe and depression the dynamic changed. And continued to this day. 

I feel like I was kind of blessed to work in the era I did, with the people I did, with the companies I did. Today is my last day with The Washington Post. And formerly of Zip Publishing, Patuxent Publishing, and Stromberg Publishing. Almost 5 decades flew by in the blink of an eye. And yes I did enjoy the journey. And a special thanks to all those I encountered along the way for all the laughs and successes at the same time.

So tomorrow I’ll be working for the company of my better half, my children and grandchildren, my friends, and of course here at TME. I might be retiring from Newspaper Publishing but I hope to be publishing for a long time to come both here and in other spots. Professionally who knows what’s ahead?


by 1 Comment

Dancing December

I didn’t anticipate ending one career in December and starting another but here we are. The last few months flew by and I’m on my last handful of days of work. I’d like to say I see the workplace better than I found it when I entered the workforce well over 5 decades ago, but I can’t.

Dance of the Dolphins Plaza in Ocean City Maryland. Photo by Mike Hartley

Two things that popped to mind are trust and respect. Both have eroded from both sides. And trust and respect are the foundation of any relationship. Without those being practiced, all you have is a tentative day-to-day partnership.

Companies like to say they are being transparent. I call BS on that one. But employees aren’t without fault, for not making their case stronger or taking action to change it.

Luckily I’ll be down to a company of one soon. We (me, myself, and I) communicate like a well-oiled machine. We share visions and goals. We work hard and reward such. We encourage, teach, and share expectations. We never think we know everything. We learn, adapt, and change because we trust and respect.

Remember, it’s not the company you work for, it’s the people and the decisions they make. Be it a manager, director, VP, or owner.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Almost time to savor a special time.
  • I’ve started a book of poems because I went with a feeling.
  • Long hugs give the right messages.
  • I just thought of a new goal for next year. To get up and dance to at least one song a day.


by Leave a comment

Navigating change

What a tricky business Publishing has become. Everyone is in search of their own sustaining strategy in a market that seems to be still contracting.

There aren’t what is called publications of record now. The trust is gone. You’re identified as one side or the other even if you tried to stay in the center lane. People don’t believe things from what was trusted medical journals to their community papers if they still have one.

It’s kind of funny that when the internet was first gaining popularity people warned about not trusting everything you might read on it. Somehow that has permeated every written word and publication on or off the internet.

Who will the new pillars of publishing be and what form will they be? Photo by Mike Hartley

And it seems to have turned off new readers because if you’re skeptical to start why would you spend time on a long story? A lot of people at one time would get multiple publications. Many times of varying opinions and positions. I think there is a saying that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The model for sustaining a publishing business has become a reach for everyone. Especially in print but even broadcast has been shaken to its core. The engine that drives it (advertising) has become an unpredictable beast. Classified and display advertising is what paid for those reporters covering your local courthouse or the fireman from the station down the street who rescued the family pets from a burning home.

It paid for the photographers who took the great shots at the local ballfields of your kids. It paid for the paper and ink that printed it, the postage, or the drivers who brought it to your homes. Well, that cash cow of advertising has left the barn.

And right now, only a few have found the cow and are having trouble getting it back to the barn.

In some ways, it’s been gut-wrenching to watch my newspaper industry once proud and providing an important mission along the way, become a shell of itself, with few left struggling to find their way. So many talented and dedicated people that covered their communities for decades and sometimes a century or more. So much history and knowledge.

A recent person with immense power called a majority of the world’s most respected publications “the enemy of the people” which further eroded any trust. It’s not publications that are the enemy of the people. It’s the people that are now the enemy of the people.

Everyone has their own beliefs and positions and that is a good thing. The trouble is now every other opinion or fact or view is WRONG if it doesn’t align with theirs. And that isn’t right.

Publications make mistakes because people make mistakes. Lots of respected publications go to great lengths to make sure mistakes don’t make it to print. Trying to ascertain the truth and facts with as much knowledge that can be brought to bear at that moment in time. Lawyers and editors fact-check and get verification from multiple sources.

And regardless if these publications printed that the Pope is Catholic you would have some that would say fake news.

After almost 50 years in the business here I am doing my own publishing thing with this blog. I don’t know what tangents I’m going to go off on yet. I hope most of it is focused on my photography and if I can get some good art or carvings together maybe that.

I love sharing my random thoughts and I’m going to try to stay as positive as I can. But life isn’t always that way so from time to time I’m sure I’ll stray.

I know I’m finding the more I do the more ideas I get and the more I have to keep me busy.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • My better half is a good interior decorator.
  • Monday is special for a few personal reasons. Both of them are brand new.
  • Ideas abound, but time does not.
  • Don’t let less-than-perfect tools stop you from getting perfect results.
  • Sometimes you just have to appreciate the small accomplishments of the day.


by Leave a comment

Small Business Saturday

I’m a big believer in small businesses. I can’t stand the Walmart’s of the world. So today, my better half and I are going to Ellicott City to celebrate the season and stores that have opened. Hope to snap some interesting shots around town.  Purchase some items and help the local economy.

Also hope to get some good hiking in. I need the exercise apparently. I tried to open the fridge this morning and a voice spoke from it saying I had exceeded the number of permitted openings in a 24 hour period and access is denied. I’m glad she at least left off the electric shock option.

Oh and being its Small Business Saturday, it reminds me to post something about a former teacher at Waverly Woods Elementary who is now a small business owner in Sykesville at a shop called Revive and Company. My wife and I we’re visiting that town a few weeks ago and went in this store and the owner Mary Ann Vaccarino and my wife recognized each other.

Mary Ann Vaccarino at Revive and Company. Photo by Mike Hartley

Mary Ann Vaccarino at Revive and Company.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Anyway that is a wonderful store and she seemed very happy in her work. It’s right next to E.W. Becks Pub. And it’s well worth the stop if you want to make your better half happy and even maybe find a few things yourself that are cool if you have daughters to shop for. And it did have a few pieces of furniture that caught my eyes. So to help this small business along I thought today was a good day to finally post about it with a shot I took of a proud small business owner in her shop.

Mary Ann Vaccarino at Revive and Company. Photo by Mike Hartley

Mary Ann Vaccarino at Revive and Company.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Much luck and success to all small business owners in this coming holiday season and into 2017. It’s a monumental struggle and effort that is put in by these people. It is part of the backbone of our society. It is freedom of expression, design, invention and innovation.

I was never happier professionally than when I was my own boss. Of course I was never poorer either during that time. But not every business is successful on its first try or even right away. So hats off to those that keep plugging away at it every day.

Also remember that success isn’t always measured in dollars.


by Leave a comment

Mentors

I have an old friend whom was once a co-worker and mentor to me as I switched work groups. You don’t find or are lucky enough to run into to many like him. For if you meet someone who freely shares valuable knowledge and insights and doesn’t use that as power but as shared growth, then you have found a special person. I know this because long after we worked together we are still together in sharing lessons of life.

So I took this trip to Easton to see my old friend. A wonderful use of time because its like going to see Obe Wan Kenobi. A man of infinite wisdom and common sense. And of course with any of my friends a few laughs were shared.

I’ve always tried to do this (mentoring) myself. I’ve enjoyed the last several years sharing my knowledge and watching co-workers grow quickly. But what worries me is that most work cultures don’t seem to support, reward or hold out as examples, people who are mentors. Things are so competitive now. you might have small teams that collaborate. But they even hold their cards close to their chest.

It also takes a person who is confident in their own abilities and not scared of giving away tips, tricks, insights, shortcuts and all the way to high level knowledge. Because the confidence is they are always growing themselves and staying ahead of others. In other words leading by example. Being able to hold those gazillions of solutions in your head. Being able to have an intuition that is ahead of others. Being organized and meticulous in your work habits. Recognizing who to watch, learn and emulate the habits of or seeking knowledge of those ahead of you.

But confidence is only half the battle. It takes a ton of time and effort and patience. You don’t get to choose who you’re working with in most cases. And in some cases its hard to continue to do it with people who don’t seem to appreciate it. But there are those who always hold what you have shared as special and a gift. And therefore a gratitude is shared. No I’m not talking monetary things. A simple thank you or smile or handshake. The acknowledgement that time and effort was taken to share. I don’t look for it or expect it but its nice when it’s received and I let them know that. I know that I’ve been doing this to some degree of success over time because I have relationships with people I have worked and shared with over many decades. I think it’s always because I’ve looked at situations like it was a team first. Its better if were all successful.

And it’s usually the ones that themselves have a drive, confidence and will end up sharing with others. But along the way they remember their mentors. But again, there are more that won’t share than will. And that is kind of sad that we foster such a competitive situation internally where people use knowledge as power against co-workers. But I guess that has always been the case to some degree.

All I know is that I’ve been in a role most of my life where I’ve trained and shared with many people. It is both very rewarding and very stressful or disappointing at times. But if I had it to do all over again. I wouldn’t change a thing in how I’ve worked with others.

Also please don’t get me wrong here. I don’t do this because I’m told to. I don’t do it because I think it will earn me points in managements eyes. (I have a severe history of being very outspoken against management). I do it because it feels natural and the right thing to do and I’ve been around some people all my career that always shared that same work philosophy.

I think this is something my closest group of friends also have in their hearts and execute in their jobs. And another reason we can share and talk about work and give each other tips and things to think about in difficult times. And while most of them have gone the management route (all still fine technicians none the less) I’ve stayed on the more technical track after a decade or two of managing.

Today I have no management responsibilities. But if you’re a mentor, your always RESPONSIBLE. For not only yourself but your team.

Sorry if this rambling mess of words doesn’t make sense. I’m kind of tired today.

 


by Leave a comment

Quote of the Day – teamwork

“Teamwork is success, it implies good communication, working towards known and common goals, willingness to sacrifice individual goals for the greater success. You will know if for sure when you see it. There are lots of imitations, but when the real thing comes around its magic.”

Mike Hartley

Pit crew - surgery in progress. Photo by Mike Hartley

Pit crew – surgery in progress.
Photo by Mike Hartley

 


by 2 Comments

1st Anniversary of TME

This blog was started a year ago today. As you can see it was launched and didn’t get much effort till August. From then on I’ve steadily increased my post to daily, and now multiple times a day. I’ve marveled at the wonders of others blogs. I could get lost in the images/art and writings of others. It’s like a new window to the world. And to my surprise people have discovered mine and started liking/following it.

I didn’t get nearly the content or volume published, I had intended but now its rolling along each day. Yes, I’ve used a lot of previous shooting trying to build a visually pleasing blog. My hope is to really get shooting some quality images that are current. I’m working back through some of my early years shooting and some of my parents shots which are some real treasures that I hope to have up in the spring. So while I may increase the copy written it will always contain many images and videos.

When I look back at my limited writing, it’s a bit embarrassing and I see I have a long way to go but I’m still encouraged enough to continue. Once I tell a few of my professional writing friends I’ve started this, they will probably cringe and grab for their hearts. For they know that the English language and me are sometimes not in sync Or is that English and I? I’ll admit it. I even failed 9th grade English and had to take it over in summer school that year to keep on pace. But hell, even if my talent is writing a witty caption on some of my photographs and that is popular or helps drive exposure of my work, then I’m happy. Hell, I’m happy if a few family and friends like it. I just have to stop writing when I’ve been up for more than 20 hours straight.

I’ve learned, I’m always not going to please all the people. Then again I think I have a good sense of humor that can be entertaining at times. I’m not always politically correct, but who is? And if you show me that person, thanks, that’s one I can avoid. My wife, friends and especially my job will tell you I can be outspoken. My intention is hopefully always though to make things better. And that is part of why I started Threw Mikes Eyez. I’m trying to improve my life and those around me. I’m trying to share what my limited experiences may have taught me and some of the beauty I see in life, and maybe sometimes its ugly side.

You know one of the things I worried a lot about was that my writing was pretty simple. I know the basic thoughts or quotes I might express have probably been said much better in some way a thousand times before. Well you don’t have to worry about any intentional plagiarism because about the most I’ve read in the last 4 decades have been Printing or IT manuals. When you look up “Not well read” in the dictionary my mug shot is there.

I’m just starting to discover there are wonderful tools and designs available and I find my site to be very elementary so far, so I have a world to improve on that front also. Again I’m going to seek opinions and help from some of my more artistically inclined friends. And then there are some Developer types at the job that I’ve been working more with so maybe I can pick up a few tips with them.

I’ve gotten back to work on my first book. For some reason I’m much more hesitant to share my words than my images. While both can have great impact, its written words that are subject to greater varieties of interpretation. I’m trying to use the quotes I write to be more positive in my life. To try to not be a selfish person and have more appreciation for what I do have. To maybe invoke a laugh or thought. But as I start to invest more time I’m going to expand the writing also, opinion, experiences maybe even a poem here and there. Which means taking more risk with the written word and lack of understanding of it. Who knows, you could be quiet unintentionally entertained.

I’ve got to admit I’ve become addicted to this blogging world. I’m starting to just learn what might be possible and that is spurring so many other ideas. And ideas keep me fresh. They keep me focused on creating. They keep me happy, they keep me young.

So I feel blessed to have health and time and energy to do this and hopefully allot more this coming year. It’s tough with a full-time job also, but everyone likes to eat and a roof over ones head and I aim to please.

Major purchases this year include a new lens and some lighting hardware. Oh yeah, a new computer also. Don’t think I’m getting all radical with the expenses. Those 3 items might hit a grand. I haven’t made a cent yet, which doesn’t matter  because hopefully I’m building the experience and portfolio of work that will turn into something that can be built on for profit in the future when either I retire or put out to pasture from my life in Newspapers.

Yeah I bleed INK and always will, no matter how many electronic post I’ll make. I’m what they call a Lifer. But while the bumper sticker below hits me right in the heart, its my writing, photographing, designing and trying to remove that “amateur” word in front of all of those that gets my juices flowing these days.

A bumper sticker I can Support. Photo by Mike Hartley

A bumper sticker I can Support.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Hope this rambling mess wasn’t too confusing. I’ve been up for 22 hours and when I have to write more than the Quote of the Day, it can get messy.

Thank you,

Mike Hartley