In a conversation with a colleague recently, we discussed the difference between needing and wanting. Needs are those things that are essential and important and, in truth, our needs are quite simple—food, shelter, water. With those basics met, we have everything we “need” to survive. Wants, on the other hand, are desires or wishes forRead… Read more »
My son announced last week that he was moving out on his own. This wasn’t a huge surprise to me; he’s 21 years old, he just finished up his Culinary certificate program and has a job and he’s itching to be on his own and “all grown-up” (weren’t we all at 21?). He’s moving intoRead… Read more »
It is the start of a new year and time for another tall tale. As I’ve said just a few times, I am a retired Senior Executive (GSA) and the author of a recently published book, Confessions of a Government Man: How to Succeed in Any Bureaucracy. This blog can truly be called a “confession”Read… Read more »
That may be our good friend George W. in the picture, but according to Emily Long of Government Executive, there might still be a raise in it! The pay freeze won’t halt all raises! This is good news for military, U.S. Postal Service workers, and Postal Regulatory Commission employees. Long also states that the fridgedRead… Read more »
Technical project management is a topic I am asked about often. People ask if they need technical skills to be an IT project manager, etc. My response is to say you need a basis of technical knowledge, a foundation, in whatever technology or industry you are trying to manage projects in. I saw an interestingRead… Read more »
USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Most of us on GovLoop are a) employed and b) educated, but we all have children or know children who can benefit from the USAID’s Intern Program. Applications for “paid” programs preclude a security clearance – check with the USAID to determine if the window of opportunity isRead… Read more »
OK fellow Feds, our pay is frozen for two years. I can live with it, but I’m not happy about it. The trend in the news seems to be attacks on state workers. I say “Welcome to the club!!” Us Feds were getting kind of lonely being picked on exclusively. Now state employee’s can joinRead… Read more »
Several weeks ago I mentioned I was going into CON 090: Federal Acquisition Regulation Fundamentals at DAU. I just completed my first day. Here are my first impressions: It will be a long, arduous course. (One person with 20+ years experience barely passed it last year). The instructors take the mission of the course veryRead… Read more »
By Leonard Sipes We are witnessing a fundamental shift in how people communicate. There are few times in world history where that happens and we are witnessing major change right now. For centuries, we traded information about concepts, products and beliefs face-to-face. All that changed with social media and the internet (see “When Did WeRead… Read more »
Cory Booker (@corybooker), the mayor of Newark, NJ made headlines recently with his heroic efforts to rescue residents from Snowpocalypse one tweet at a time. Whether its delivery diapers, shoveling entryways, or sending snowplows, he stepped out of bureaucracy to come across as a real, caring human being anxious to aid during a time ofRead… Read more »