Is Mindfulness the
Answer to Digital Distraction? Stress Doc Team Podcast, catch live or
download any time after Thurs, Jun 16 at 11amET
In a world that's going
MA&DD with Media Addiction & Digital Distraction, it's not surpising
that people are starting to recognize, especially leaders of Silicon Valley,
that having your head in a cloud 24-7 can de destructive to mind-body...and
even corporate performance and profits.
Tune in and learn about
the difference between mindfulness and meditation. Is there scientific evidence
to back the anecdotal enthusiasm? And is mindfulness enough to help you
escape/survive the digital vortex?
Dustin Bray, Computer
Scientist/Game Strategist
Emily Livelsberger,
Communications Coach/Strategist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Preserving
Human Touch: The Reorg Rag
Inspired by an encouraging note from Anger
Management/Business Leader Guru, George Anderson, (see email below), as a way
of promoting my new e-book, Preserving
Human Touch in a High Tech World: Writings, Raps, & Rhymes on Stress
Resiliency, Burnout Recovery, and Digital Sanity, I am regularly releasing offerings
from my book. Today it’s “The Reorg
Rag”…A wicked, wild, and “on-point” depiction of what many experience when
down-sized.
Info about Preserving
Human Touch…follows the lyric.
Please check out the e-book, and the provocative cover, on Amazon.
A Mix of Meaning and Magic...and Burnout Battlefield
Experience!
Synopsis: An insightful and inspiring guide for self-discovery and
heart-to-heart connection, Preserving Human Touch... is the
painful, playful, and soulful outpouring of a one-of-a-kind – stage and
page – "word artist." Whether poetry or prose,
purposeful or poignant, the language is colorful yet clear – a tapestry
of meaningful substance and magical style.
This ingenious synthesis is best captured by the “Stress Doc’s” ™ quest to be
the Dr. Seuss of Stress for Adults (and kids of all ages).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
George's Recent Email
Today,
I discovered an absolute goldmine of excellent information on anger, stress,
and the uniqueness of the U.S. Postal Service.
I
urge you to begin placing every one of the documents on Pulse. I had no
idea of your greatness. This is what I am referring to: stressdoc.com/news19821.htm.
You
are totally awesome.
Director
I George Anderson I BCD, LCSW
executive coaching I anger management
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reorg Rag
“The Reorg Rag” was first penned in the
early ‘90s, as decentralization and downsizing was sweeping the federal
institutions in Washington. In 2010 and
now today, it’s “déjà vu” all over again.
Talk of budget cuts, furloughs, RIFs (Reduction in Force), and sequester
along with Congressional inertia (or is it small-minded yet “strategic
incompetence?”) never goes out of style.
The disorienting, existential tone of the “Rag” is especially heightened
by the insightfully edgy refrains.
The Reorg Rag (with
apologies to no one)
It
can’t happen here, I have too much to do…
Who
took my desk and chair, my computer, too?
They
can’t replace me; the Branch Techno-file
What
do you mean I’m still in denial?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Why does it feel I’ve been fragged?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Maybe I’m just on a jag.
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
I’m still on the Reorg Rag!
Rejoice,
you’re employed…so they’ve frozen your pay
And
put on your backs the recovery.
Two
free weeks furlough to re-“leave” your stress
What a
friend you have in the 112th Congress!
Work’s
now a casino, a high tech RIF** RAFFle
When
will we know? Why does management
waffle?
Buddha
Computah… who’s pink slipping away?
Here’s
your ticket to ride; shopping’s good in Bombay.
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag
Why do I just want to gag?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Whatever happened to my swag?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag
I’m still on the Reorg Rag!
You’ll
“Do more with less” when “There’s no ‘I’ in team”
So
“Dress for Success,” then become “lean-and-MEAN.”
Keep
reading those posters, your glass is half full
Though,
beware “going postal” in the face of this bull.
Ignore
the slacker; just take up his load
Put in
for a transfer; oops, no off ramp for this road.
The
boss is a bully; the “Old Boys” turn an eye
You’re
getting an ulcer – such a “nice gal or guy.”
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag
Why has life become a drag?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag
Should I raise that white flag?
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag
I’m still on the Reorg Rag!
Now
you’ve had enough, playing Raggedy Ann
Start
calling their bluff; draw a line in the sand.
You
are a survivor; just never forget
To
bring out your “Inner Rambo or Rambette!”
So “Do
know your limits; don’t limit your ‘No’s”
There’s
life beyond widgets; you’ve taken their blows.
Break
away from the mob; you’ve surpassed your quota
And
have won your job…but now in South Dakota!
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Once again in a trick bag.
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Back into the old gulag
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
I’m still on the Rreorg Rag.
Reorg Rag, Reorg Rag,
Forever on the Reorg Rag!
**RIF
= Reduction In Force
(c) Mark Gorkin 2011
Shrink Rap ™
Productions
-----------------
Purpose
of the Poem, Power to the Poet
Right off the bat, “The Rag” verbalizes
the sense of shock and loss of major reorganization. Even a solid, an “indispensable” employee is
suddenly on tremulous ground. The
disorientation not only anticipates position change or loss, but confounded
identity and diminished professional status.
Then there are those wildcard furloughs…Now everything’s up in
the air. By the time people hit the
ground, they are either “pink slipping” or are off and trying to take away each
other’s jobs. There is always a loser in
“musical desks and chairs”! Of course,
there are those desirable posts in the Dakotas.
And let’s not forget all those exhortations and incentives to “Do more
with less” or “Ignore the slacker.” (“He kept his job???”) And those motivational posters, e.g.,
“There’s no ‘I’ in team!” We’re forging
a common goal: more and more are
becoming lean-and-MEAN! Finally, just as you’ve had enough, start
drawing a line in the sand…You’ve kept your job; alas, based in the American
version of a Siberian gulag!
-----------------
Discussion
Questions
1.
Have you ever been involved in a reorganization or downsizing? If so, what was the most difficult part of
the experience?
2. How did the shake-up
impact the morale and productivity of the team or department, organization or
company?
3. Which slogan do you
resonate with more: “There’s no ‘I’ in
team” or “There are two ‘I’s in winning”?
Why?
4.
What are the dangers for the team, for individuals, and for the formal
leader when you “ignore the slacker”?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
or
Preserving Human Touch
in a High Tech World
Writings,
Raps, & Rhymes on Stress Resiliency,
Burnout Recovery, and Digital Sanity
A Mix of Meaning and Magic...and Battlefield Experience!
Synopsis: An insightful and inspiring guide for self-discovery and
heart-to-heart connection, Preserving Human Touch... is the
painful, playful, and soulful outpouring of a one-of-a-kind – stage and
page – "word artist." Whether poetry or prose,
purposeful or poignant, the language is colorful yet clear – a tapestry
of meaningful substance and magical style.
This ingenious synthesis is best captured by the “Stress Doc’s” ™ quest to be
the Dr. Seuss of Stress for Adults (and kids of all ages).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everyday our world
becomes more TNT – Time-Numbers-Technology – driven and
distracted. And if human traits were species, two of the most endangered
would be Integrity and Intimacy. Preserving Human
Touch in a High Tech World is your skills and strategies, light and
enlightening road map of “writings, raps and rhymes” for:
Ø dancing the “Burnout
Boogie” and exploring the “Six ‘R’s Road of Burnout Recovery”: Running-Reading-Retreating-Writing-Relating-Risk-taking
Ø becoming more stress
resilient and burnout resistant with the Stress Doc’s ™ classic “Four Stages of
Burnout” and brain agility “Formula for Natural SPEED”: Sleep-Priorities/Passion-Empathy-Exercise-Diet
Ø breaking down “The
Silent Wall of Shame” as well as laughing at your own flaws and foibles while
using healing humor to deflate and detoxify noxious stress carriers
Ø preventing yourself,
friends, and family or your team, department, and organization from “Going
MA&DD” (through Media Addiction & Digital Distraction;
(it’s obvious that the Doc is the founding member of a new 12-Step AA
Group: Acronyms Anonymous).
Ø encouraging each reader
to embark on his or her own inner journey of self-discovery and
self-resiliency. Surely, this is the foundation and pathway for vital
(not just virtual) “f-2-f” (face-to-face) connection
Ø helping organizations
develop interactive learning-sharing groups that evolve from "There's no
'I' in team" to "There are two 'I's in winning!"
And these "I"s can "C"/see: Winning teams
blend Individual Creativity & Interactive Community!
Stress Doc Hats, Content
Variety, and Discussion Questions
Mark’s hats also include
therapist and “Psychohumorist” ™, motivational speaker, “Reality Radio”
Podcaster, and “Shrink Rapper” ™. And he’s a former Stress and
Violence Prevention Consultant for the US Postal Service. (The Doc is
battle-tested!) In addition to raps and rhymes, there are popular
essays and Q & As – over forty selections of varying size, substance, and
style. Next each Shrink Rap ™ or Resiliency Poetry sample is illuminated
by a brief intro and outro that: a) sheds light on the context of the
work or b) explains how the piece came into being, as well as c) some thoughts
on poetic purpose and power. Finally, the “R & R” selections – Raps
& Rhymes – close with Discussion Questions to enrich engagement
and expand awareness. These head-heart provocateurs also will facilitate
meaningful group discussion, whether at the family table or hanging with
friends, at book clubs, or in a classroom or workshop setting.
So seek the higher power
of Stress Doc humor: May the Farce Be with You!
Don’t miss your
appointment with the Stress Doc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some recent
preview comments about the book and the substance and style of
my writings:
Preserving Human Touch…Recent Testimonials
I especially like Mark Gorkin's Q & A
sections. They often give scenarios which explain his ideas in real-world
situations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loved the 10 commandments. [A satirical essay on
"Downsizing Strategies" in PHT...] Can't wait to get to the
rest of the book.
T Milano, Org. Consultant
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lovin' it - Keep it flowin'
BUSY transitioning from daughter's "princess" room to
her "grown-up apartment" and reading your writings is, well, you have
a terrific way of saying things.
Loved your Humpty Dumpty - I substitute my bro for the egg &
my dad for the king.
"couldn't put him together again"
I find your raps fun-filled - yet darkly close to the heart -
Gorkin Fan, Donna Shriver
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW,
"The Stress Doc" ™, a nationally acclaimed speaker, writer,
and "Psychohumorist" ™, is a founding partner and Stress Resilience
and Trauma Debriefing Consultant for the Nepali Diaspora Behavioral Health
& Wellness Initiative. A former Stress and Violence Prevention
Consultant for the US Postal Service, he has led numerous Pre-Deployment Stress
Resilience-Humor-Team Building Retreats for the US Army. The Doc is the author of Practice Safe Stress, The Four Faces of Anger, and Preserving Human Touch in a High Tech World. Mark’s award-winning, USA Today Online
"HotSite" – www.stressdoc.com – was called a
"workplace resource" by National Public Radio (NPR). For more info, email: stressdoc@aol.com.
