Steve Ressler

Originally found on GovLoop

Trust Your Gut

Sometimes I waffle between the adolescent teenager who thinks he knows everything to the awkward freshman who thinks he knows nothing.

But I’m coming to a middle ground and what I’ve found along the way is my gut is usually right. Not always but usually.

The only times I’ve been wrong is when I was slightly worried about taking a risk and my gut told me to do it but was worried. It always turned out good.

So dear “gut”…as you grow in size, I hope you grow in wisdom. I’ll trust ya.

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 cash.

But I wish I didn’t.  Life is too short and I’d like to take time-off to enjoy it.

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 at my occasionally when needed – “Get me the Librarian”…I was not down with that.

My best cubicle was my second to last. It was brand new. It was luxirous. It was in the middle of the row in the middle of columns. So no one snuck up on me but I was in the middle of the action. No one could see my screen so I had privacy. Plus it had a sweet chair.

What’s been your favorite cubicle?

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 the spirit.

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 fun, happy people.

We don’t always admit it but it’s key to what we do.  Who we promote at work.  Who we recommend.  Who we buy from.

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

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 and you have less time to waste.

Do you think that’s true?

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 trusted.

I think we need to change that.

People can decorate their cubicles.  And I think for new knowledge workers their cubicle is basically their laptop and cell-phone.

If people have to use their work laptop and cell-phone for 80% of their day for years…let them customize it.  Put their favorite app, their daughter as screen saver, a sticker on the phone.

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 loose.

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 much everything goes including jeans.

Then I moved onto an environment of khakis and long-sleeve button-ups. Then onto suits.

And now I’m back to working from home in jeans and t-shirts.

I do notice that the clothes do affect your feeling and thinking. Honestly, in a creative space like GovLoop, I feel like my outfits helps me think and interact well.

But I also remember that I disliked my government job where people dressed to sloppy.

Maybe there needs to be a ratio of dress-up to creativity?