Steve Ressler

Originally found on GovLoop
At my first government job, the manager offered two opportunities for bonuses – either time off or cash.
I always chose time off.  But there was a clear line where the older people were the more likely they would take the cash.
I can see their point now and I would probably take the [...]

[Read more →]

Originally found on GovLoop

What’s Your Favorite Cubicle?
No one talks about it but there is a huge difference between a good and bad cubicle.
My worst cubicle was my first cubicle. Right in the middle of a room where my boss could see directly to my screen from his office. And he would yell out [...]

[Read more →]

Originally found on GovLoop
Do You Dance Any More?
You may be surprised but I love to dance. I was that crazy guy in high school dancing by myself and the fun guy doing the Hammer dance at weddings.
But you know what…I don’t dance much anymore.
And I wish I did. I think it is good for [...]

[Read more →]

I try to smile a lot.
I didn’t used to.  In college, I was that philosophy guy who was really serious and deep and looked depressed.  I thought it was cool and mysterious and everyone would be attracted to the cool, mysterious guy (especially women).
It wasn’t that successful.
I think that’s because people want to be around [...]

[Read more →]

Sometimes I Hate the Word Blog
Sometimes I hate the word blog.  It just doesn’t have a great ring to it.
It doesn’t feel classy.  It feels demeaning.  It feels little.  It doesn’t feel awesome.
We need a cooler name for it – that’s more awesome.  Ideations.  Summations.  Fibstations.  Gibraity

[Read more →]

Does Having a Kid Make You More Efficient?
I firmly believe that constraints are good.  I hate having a million choices.
If you give me unlimited freedome, I get baffled.  Unlimited time – I’ll procrastinate.
A number of people have told me that having a child has made them a much better, efficient employee.
Children put constraints on life [...]

[Read more →]

Putting Stickers on Your Computers
So I just created GovLoop stickers for your laptop.  I’ve noticed it’s really common elsewhere but I haven’t seen it in government.
And honestly it’s probably not allowed.
Most government-issued or corporate-issued is treated like their property and you have no control.  Everything is locked down and no personalization is allowed.
Basically you aren’t [...]

[Read more →]

Originally found on GovLoop

Remember That Feeling
Remember that feeling in school when you were done with the semester. Or done with a big paper.
You know…just relieved. Relaxed. Lots of calm. And huge celebration of it.
I think we should reinact that feeling at work. We need to celebrate our successes even more.
And cut [...]

[Read more →]

Do Clothes Affect Work?

I’ve had a few different work outfits. As a caddie at a golf club, I had to wear a specific white polo every Saturday and Sunday.
When I started in government, I worked for three different agencies with varying dress codes. One was khakis and polos and the other was pretty [...]

[Read more →]

Welcome to the 5th Annual Steve Ressler Update.  For those new to this experience, this is where I ramble on for long length about my year in the vein of the letters I always loved from my parent’s family friends.
It’s your decision right now to decide if you care enough to read on or turn [...]

[Read more →]