Thursday, February 23, 2012

Busy, Busy, Busy!

First off, here are links to follow conference meets this weekend:

Big XII Real Time Results

Big XII Conference Home


Sun Belt Real Time Results

Sun Belt Conference Home

WAC Real Time Results

WAC Conference Home

Online entries are now being accepted for short course masters nationals. 2012 USMS Spring Nationals page is here.

An online petition drive to save men's running sports at Millersville is here. Not up to speed on that one? Catch up here.

Story on Longhorns Karlee Bispo and Laura Sogar in Daily Texan here.

Find open water swims at NTX Open H2O here.

Going to Omaha? Find Trials info here.

Park South YMCA in Dallas needs a swim coach. Info is here.

Permian HS is looking for a swim coach. Info is here.

SPC Conference Champs

South Texas "A" Champs

A head swim instructor is needed at the Brushy Creek MUD pool in Round Rock. Info is here.

First, a funny:


Now, a not so funny:

Warning! Here comes the "downer" of the day. A couple of years ago, I posted a link to a blogger's work on a "sick system". It was a bit depressing for many, but I think it's helpful to revisit. Heavy stuff, so don't say you weren't warned.

Sick Systems: How to keep someone with you forever

Rule 1: Keep them too busy to think.
Rule 2: Keep them tired.
Rule 3: Keep them emotionally involved.
Rule 4: Reward intermittently.

Qualities That Keep You in a Sick System

You don't need to lose these qualities to get out. But if you're stuck and trying to figure out what's keeping you in, remember that people rarely get stuck because of their vices. They're usually caught by their virtues.

Thoughts on the tenacity of sick systems

Sick systems are solid. It's amazing. They act like they're on the verge of perpetual collapse, but they go on and on--two-thirds of the employees leave, the abuser's wife divorces him and two of the three kids go no-contact, and the system rolls on unaffected. As long as there's a single other person to support the founding member of the sick system, nothing ends and nothing changes.

How to Be a Perfect Manager

That last one is a kind of humorous "how to" for those wishing to better manage their "sick system". Closes with:

If you follow these simple tips, you'll—but of course, you're already following the tips. In fact, you've been following them all for years, even the ones you just read about. That's what it's like, being perfect. So have a wonderful holiday season, and may all your employees learn to be as perfect as you!

3 comments:

  1. Lion King7:50 AM

    Sick system and Big12 comments.

    Big12: Could you try using your (or ER's) considerable influence and get the Big12 mooks t o put SPLITS on those live results. No way I would have known about Jr's 20.17 otherwise.

    Sick system: Read all the link materials three times and STILL can't figure out if that applies to you or me more! I'm guessing both of us, lol!

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  2. his wasn't the quickest split, but it was a good one for a middle-d man!

    splits are on results listed on big xii main conference page.

    we had a little delay this a.m. as they had to adjust length of pool before meet could start. also had a pad switch-out that took a little while to perform.

    sick system stuff is pretty depressing if you're in one, isn't it?

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  3. Der Slayer9:20 AM

    Great swims for Jr. Awesome to see how he has transformed into such a great swimmer.

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