jdean3 - Tales of Transformation

It has been a few weeks since I first started to fill this blog with various “pre-posts” to learn WordPress and various features as well as test my ability and desire to publish these tidbits on a regular basis.  During that time, my wife and kids (and a few friends) have asked repeatedly, “Why are you doing this?”   It seems I have surprised those who know me most with a sudden change of direction.

It’s a fair question. After all, I’ve made a fairly strong argument over the years that my privacy is paramount and my ability to keep my personal life separate from my professional life has been a huge part of my defined personality. Now I am posting some of my most personal (and professional) experiences on a public forum for anyone to read. And it deserves explanation.

This is a “foreign” activity for me.  In the past couple of months I’ve joined myspace, facebook, linkedin, visualcv, twitter and created this blog.  I’ve quickly jumped head first into a new world of social media that I’ve simply avoided for years.  While I knew all of these technologies existed, it wasn’t until I witnessed the explosive growth of the Fiesta Movement that I decided to join the “conversation” in a more direct way. I am learning a great deal, and I am energized by the revelation that I can match whatever quality of communication I desire.  It has been interesting to be so involved.

My own Transformation

The fact of the matter is, however, this act is simply the first of several steps I will argue are part of any real rebound.  If you have read any of the earlier postings you know one of the prevalent themes on this blog is about “transitions”.  Regardless of whether we are talking about personal, professional or company transformations, the process is the same.  After a vision is established (or change requirement identified) action must occur.

The FIRST step of any transformation requires initiative  — ie taking matters into your own hands. Pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps is an old metaphor that I don’t entirely understand but use to describe having the courage to take the initiative to fix your own problem.

If something needs to change…change it.  If your not happy with your life…fix it.  Don’t wait for someone else to show you the way.  Letting things unfold around you lends itself to being a victim of circumstances, and that is rarely pleasant unless you live a lucky life.

While I’m not quite good enough to clearly envision what I want–

I most definitely know that the status-quo is unacceptable.

The fact that I was injured in an accident in 2005 that forced me sidelined from my career track for 4 years in an industry that simultaneously experienced a historic worldwide restructuring, has left me to ponder my options. I feel a bit like the storybook Rip Van Winkle who awakens to find the world has passed him by.  Professionally, my support network is gone and the prospects for returning to a commensurate level (pre-accident) position within U.S. operations seems bleak.  There doesn’t seem to be anything I can aspire to in our present structure.  My loyalty to Ford Motor Company for standing by me during my accident is strong, but the majority of my school buddies and recent departures from the Company advocate a different career. I’ve learned I can’t assume everything will turn out alright.

It seems I need to broaden my skill set and find alternative ways to contribute to this Company or another, regardless of what I do.  While it wouldn’t take much to be paralyzed by the complexity of the situation, I began to look for something to sink my teeth in.  Clearly, I have much to learn.

My physical injuries taught me a great deal about taking control of my own health care (ie let me out of this hospital…no more meds…get rid of this crutch…I need physical therapy every day…I’ve got to get back to work).  My propensity for spreading the virtues of demonstrating “initiative” (one of the defining characteristics of anyone successful) force me to practice what I preach by taking matters into my own hands.

So now I am taking the first step in taking control of my own destiny.  I am learning something new along the way (social media) and it feels a bit awkward (narcissistic) and vulnerable…but in some ways it is exhilarating to be stepping “up to the plate”.  The act of demonstrating the initiative to take the first step is the start of every turnaround.  Sure, a vision of where you are going is required….but due diligence requires action!

I will likely follow up with a separate posting on the art of “futuring” (envisioning future scenarios and actions to achieve a desirable outcome) as it applies to this transition story.  However, there are no guarantees as this process has risks and the potential for failure and setbacks.  I’ll likely document those too.

This is the start of a simple story about a transformation and survival.  Am I making a mistake?

I’ve just completed one of the most necessary features of this blog — the ability to leave anonymous comments. At the risk of spam or garbage making it through the filter (or first posting which must be approved) I have attempted to organize this site for maximum participation over time.

Having been a participant in a culture that is highly trained to carefully guard against controversial views or misaligned opinions, I feel it is vital to facilitate an online dialogue without the risk of embarrassment or self incrimination.   (Except for myself)

This “conversation” is totally anonymous if you wish.  Feel free to use an alias when making comments.

My only requirement is that you refrain from extreme profanity and/or hateful or personal attacks of any kind.  Other than that, you are free to express yourself and your opinions without fear of retribution or disclosure.

I would prefer you not use the name of your employer, boss, friends or family…but you may do so if you wish.  This is about having an honest and uninhibited discussion on a wide range of topics.  Feel free to jump in.  You may leave suggestions (critical or supportive), you may ask questions or you can give a different point of view.  No worries.

http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/technology/#headline
Remember that Ford commercial in which the narrator (a notably blunt TV star and stand-up comedian) recalls seeing someone in a car next to him on the highway driving with his knees while talking on the phone and eating a cheeseburger? He concludes that it isn’t just crazy out there on roads today, it’s “certifiably insane.” It turns out that most people agree with him.

According to a new national survey released last week, the vast majority of U.S. drivers believes handheld texting while driving is very dangerous and should be banned nationwide. While texting is just one form of distraction, it has become the tipping point in a national debate over what constitutes a dangerous level of distraction behind the wheel.

“Very dangerous”
The survey showed that 86 percent of U.S. drivers believe handheld texting while driving is “very dangerous” and 93 percent support a nationwide ban on texting. At the same time, only 42 percent of respondents believe drivers would stop texting behind the wheel if the practice was banned. However, more than 75 percent believe there would be more compliance if hands-free or voice-activated technologies were widely available.
The online survey was conducted September 18-21 by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates on behalf of the Ford Motor Company. Ford commissioned the survey as part of its efforts to understand driver perceptions related to distracted driving. Ford recently endorsed a proposed nationwide ban on handheld texting introduced by Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).

The survey shows that 67 percent of drivers said they believed voice-activated technology is a safe alternative to texting, and 76 percent said such a feature would be an appealing feature in a car.

The survey results come as the U.S. Department of Transportation is scheduled to host a summit on driver distraction in Washington, D.C., next week.

According to the survey, there is confusion among drivers over existing state laws prohibiting handheld cell phone use and/or texting while driving. Currently 18 states have enacted such bans but nearly 40 percent of drivers in these states indicated they were unaware of the ban in their own state.

Research on driving solutions
According to a NHTSA-sponsored 100-car study conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, driver inattention that may involve looking away from the road for more than a few seconds is a factor in nearly 80 percent of accidents.

Ford developed the Virtual Test Track Experiment (VIRTTEX), a state-of-the-art simulator that monitors and analyzes a variety of driving behaviors. Since VIRTTEX opened in 2001, Ford has completed a number of driver distraction studies that have contributed to the development of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life teen driving education program, the MyKeyTM programmable teen-safety feature and SYNC® hands-free communication technology.

Quotes

“Research shows that activity that draws drivers’ eyes away from the road for an extended period while driving, such as text messaging, substantially increases the risk of accidents. That is why we support a nationwide ban on handheld texting while driving and why Ford has developed hands-free and voice-activated technologies to allow drivers to remain connected, but to do so while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.”
– Jim Vondale, Director of Ford’s Automotive Safety Office

“A growing number of drivers are using handheld wireless communications and music-playing devices while driving. Research clearly shows that manual operation of those devices that takes the driver’s eyes from the road for an extended period of time creates the kind of distraction that causes accidents.”
– Dr. Louis Tijerina, Ford senior technical specialist

“Our studies show that teens are much more willing to take risks while driving, such as manually dialing on a mobile phone in situations that demand greater attention.”
– Jeff Greenberg, senior technical leader, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.

While I’m trying to remain totally transparent in this endeavor, sharing this string of “pre-postings” and revealing how vulnerable I’ve felt over the past couple of years recovering from an accident during a major industrial downsizing — I might add that I now find myself living through an unfamiliar experience trying to come off the “injured reserve” list!

After 4 years and 8 reconstructive surgeries, I remain indebted and thankful that the Company has allowed me to remain employed in a capacity that facilitated my recovery, but it is now a MAJOR challenge to re-engage my career and contribute at pre-accident levels.

At the time of the accident, I was fortunate to have held one of the most prestigious (and controversial) assignments in all of Marketing and Sales — the Regional Manager of the Detroit Region.  Of course, the day of the accident was also the start of a string of massive reorganizations for Ford-Lincoln/Mercury (3 in less than 18 months) and I was relegated to watch it all unfold while my injuries clearly kept me off the field.  The mishmash of new chains of command was incredible.  Politically, one camp after another had their turn running things and the worst of our culture prevailed while each camp destroyed more than the previous.  People were leaving the Company left and right.  It was truly surreal to watch.

The resulting remnant of our structure has finally settled and “jelled” and there doesn’t seem to be much to aspire to at this juncture in my old “territory”.  Not to mention, when you have been on the sidelines in an organization for as long as I have, you are officially an outsider.  It will take a “re-hiring” decision to find another role.

The options remain limited, and I find there are multiple hurdles in uncovering opportunities at my level.  To open doors, I have volunteered for nearly everything that presents itself.  I have specifically tried to broaden my personal knowledge of parts of the Company that I previously had no interest in pursuing.  It has been fun opening myself up to new technologies and initiatives (like social media).  I wish I had done so earlier.

The fact is, however, I will have to leave the only world I’ve known – North American Marketing, Sales & Service.  I’m prepared to do so, and I am hopeful I can find an area that allows me to repay the Company for standing by me through this recovery.  Coming off the injured reserve list is a lot more difficult than I ever expected.

If you’ve come to this site in 2009, you are early — but welcomed.

As I mentioned in the original post, I don’t plan to launch until 2010, and I am continuing to learn how WordPress works by documenting a number of personal notes-emails-conversations just to memorialize them and learn along the way.  Some of these topics alone are far too serious and/or depressing than most feel comfortable discussing.  Collectively, however, they are intended to provide a context for a transitional story of it’s own.

While my wife is mortified that I am sharing some of these personal vignettes, it is only an experiment I want to fully engage.  For a number of reasons, I am not overly concerned with the quality of the text in these pre-postings, although I hope they improve by the end of December.  The bottom line is, I am experimenting with personal topics that I believe will add value in the future.

Please don’t draw any conclusions from these early postings (all labeled “pre-post”) — or some of the personal revelations of trials and tribulations. Collectively, the group of pre-postings will build a base for readers to relate to and to have the confidence that this blog is at least authentic (even if embarrassing).