It’s been too long, I have much to write, and much to comment on.  But that will wait until tomorrow.

I got something in the mail yesterday to get me out of my birthday doldrums.

attract motivate retain

Music to my eyes.

In small letters on a postcard no-less.

Those three words are an integral part of the title of my first book: Workforce Engagement; Strategies to attract, motivate and retain talent.  Even more exciting, especially to the scores of people who read the first one, the second edition of this book just came out.

Yea, I said Scores

But to be honest, those three words aren’t mine, they are the property of my publisher, World at Work.   My company’s words, although similar (and “mine” from a legal standpoint) go like this: Recruit, Retrain, Reward, Retain.

I came up with that little ditty while waiting for a Po’ Boy  at Mother’s Restaurant in New Orleans with my friend Keith a number of years ago.  There was a conference we were both at, and the allure of Mother’s is like nothing I have ever felt.  Keith and I were waiting outside to get into the building, talking about my potential new business, and trying to come up with a witty slogan.

I’m all about witty slogans and feckless banter.

Anyways…

We were talking about the work I wanted to do on behalf of my (imaginary) clients, and after a while of waiting in line and talking, The Four R’s of Workforce Engagement came into being, with an assist from a billboard located across the street that used similar alliteration for gambling addiction.

Go figure.

Lots of time with lawyers, lots of money with lawyers, and there you go.  From Mother’s to Marc’s in just a few easy, terribly expensive steps.

So I look again at the postcard.

What is it?

attract motivate retain

What is it?

small letters, just like the first book.

What is it?

I turn it over, excited about the possibilities.

What is it?

2009 law department benchmarking survey

Ugh.

I wonder if those fine folks know what that little copyright character means.

Now that idea is something to get me out of my doldrums.  I’m feelin’ a little snarky.  The snarkiness is warm, I can feel it coarsing through my veins.  It feels good.  Almost too good.  Nearly addictive.

Like the Po’ Boys at Mothers in New Orleans.

Some things make you want to stay.

• Leave a comment...