Dead Heat?

I was told I was "tied" with another candidate for a great job opportunity. They were going to invite us for a lunch interview with the organization's senior leadership group. Separate from each other to avoid the appearance of a game show I suppose. They each had a copy of my regular CV. My wife and I both agreed that I had to provide something more personal to them so they could learn a little bit about the "person" hiding in the resume.

I called it "If Resumes Had A Flip Side..." and they all got a copy today. It started the conversation. Don't know if I will be selected, but I felt I had to go beyond business as usual to get their attention and set me apart from the other idiot. (I'm sure they are a fine person.)

So here's what the Personal Resume contained, copied and pasted for your edification and deeper knowledge of this fella known as E.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Place of Birth: San Jose, California

Family of Origin: Fourth of eight children to Spencer (80) and Suzanne (died of cancer 2000)

Family: Married to Trish, a Registered Dietitian who works part-time with the WIC Program. Children: Burt (14), Brennan (11), Riley (9), assorted pets

Accomplishments of Youth: Salutatorian of high school graduation class, Awarded “most improved” on high school varsity football team, Elected student-body “Spirit Chairman” in high school, Began paid employment at age 13.

Places I’ve lived: San Jose, California, San Francisco, California, Newport, Rhode Island, San Diego, California, Brooklyn, New York, New Orleans, Louisiana, Augusta, Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina.

Interesting Places I’ve Traveled (Including a Navy Tour): Hawaii, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, London, Italy.

Civic / Church Activities: Sunday devotion leader at an assisted living community, Co-leader of “Joy Club,” a small group of mentally challenged adults, Baseball coach, and Member of core leadership team for church support ministries, Selected member of Leadership Augusta class of 2010.

Personal Time: Following my sons in their sports and academic pursuits, reading, photography, travel, endless home improvement projects at the request of my wife, a few “guilty pleasures” on TV, e.g. “24”, “Mad Men”, “C-Span Book TV”

ADDITIONAL WORK-RELATED INFORMATION

Other Jobs and Duties I’ve Had: Stock Boy and Retail Cashier, Hospital Orderly and Nursing Assistant, Dormitory Resident Advisor (“RA”), Shipboard Cruise Book Editor, “Tiger Cruise” Coordinator, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department Head at Naval Station New York (included retail liquor store operations, child care center, theater, and fitness centers), International Logistics Flight Scheduler, United Way Campaign Chairperson.

Formal Professional Training:

• LMET - Leadership and Management Education and Training (Navy)
• Louisiana Hospital Association - CQI for Hospitals
• Development Dimensions International (DDI) – Facilitator Training
• Workitect, Ft. Lauderdale, FL –Building Competency Models Workshop
• DecisionWise, Provo UT - Management Performance Coaching Workshop
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD – TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer Certification

Favorite Business and Leadership Authors: Peter Block, Tom Peters, Jim Collins, Marcus Buckingham, Peter Drucker, Margaret J. Wheatley, Nicholas Bate

Favorite Business and Leadership Books:

The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker

Stewardship – Peter Block

The Empowered Manager – Peter Block

Instant MBA – Nicholas Bate

Leadership Is An Art – Max Depree

The Fifth Discipline Field Book – Peter Senge

The Dance of Change – Peter Senge

Favorite Business and Leadership Blogs and Websites:

Execupundit, Michael Wade, www.execupunidit.com

Fortify Your Oasis, Rowan Manahan, http://fortifyservices.blogspot.com

Work Matters, Bob Sutton, http://bobsutton.typepad.com/

Managing Leadership, Jim Stroup, http://managingleadership.com/blog/

Great Leadership By Dan, Dan McCarthy, http://www.greatleadershipbydan.com/

Nicholas Bate, http://nicholasbate.typepad.com/

Favorite Quote:

"It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized."

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Sorely tempted to put favorite adult beverage, but resisted the impulse. My editor would never have let that slip through.

Now if these senior leaders had any sense about them, they would go immediately to the recommended blogs and be amazed at the talent and brilliance of these people as I am regularly.