"Play Your Position" by Harb P. Johnson

Hello fellow philosophers and welcome back. I want to thank everyone for their positive comments and productive feedback. I know the first article was particularly long so I applaud all of you who made it to the end.

In keeping with the mission of this blog, this next article is consistent with my goal of providing information through entertainment. However, I did not document a single interaction with a single society member. This article is based on interactions with several individuals over the course of recent times and reads more like a commentary than a story.

“Play your position,” pretty straightforward huh? We have all heard it before and most of us think we know what it means. Do we really? I think there is some human emotional element, (sorry to reference “The Republic” again), that obscures our ability to play our position. In this edition of Sigma VP Speaks, I want to talk about playing your position. This is an issue I feel that growing young adults, some older ones too, need to be aware of.

For this article, I have decided to go nameless for fear of souring any relationships. I have a friend that I met a few years ago and from day one we made a connection and over the years we hung out more and more. In addition to our friendship, we also share some common involvement in more structured forums, i.e., work, school, church, groups, teams, etc., (Not going to get to specific; don’t want to shout anyone out). The problem is when were together we can talk about anything and joke with and on one another. But my friend doesn’t know how to turn that side of our relationship off when we’re in more structured environments with other people. This is a difficult line to walk, knowing when to act in a certain manner consistent with proper decorum. Everything has its time and place, when were alone or in a social setting cool, but when were in a more reserved setting then we need to act accordingly. As young adults, and older ones too, we must learn when and how to be mature when it is expected.

Another reason why people lose track of playing their position is ego.

Thinking you are the best and that everyone else is inadequate. Wanting to outshine everyone else so bad that you lose faith and/or ignore others abilities and strengths. Ever been on a team and one person seems to want to do everything? Of course you have, we all have and that my dear friend is a person not playing their position. In the first place everyone is on the team for a reason, they have some unique contribution to offer. Secondly, if we are to take on all the responsibility that doesn’t show greatness, it shows weakness. It shows a weakness to identify resources, and a weakness as an ineffective team player. See Kobe Bryant. So the next time you have that group project, that event your planning, or any other team based task please let everyone due their part. Just be ready to help when your help is asked for.

As fellow philosophers, I do not need to spell out the connections between the human emotional element and my above references. Our emotions sometimes control us, although it can be very subtle. In fact I too may be guilty of not playing my position. For me, it’s a work in progress a task that I urge you all to be aware of and seek to improve.

Well fellow philosophers this article has come to an end. I hope that you have heard the messages and lessons that I have intended to include. As philosophers like me and explorers seeking knowledge I am sure that there is something for everyone. And if not, maybe net time. Until then………………………..Carpe Diem

The Russian discovers Sushi by Harb P. Johnson

What makes human beings so unique is our ability to learn and constantly grow. I think humans are the only animals capable of continuously learning throughout their entire life, the eternal mortal philosopher. Now one might think the word philosopher is reserved from some intellectual being, but according to Plato and Socrates, in “The Republic,” a philosopher is a lover of learning. For some of us, there is no greater love than the love of learning, the persistent quest for knowledge.

Knowledge is a life long process and comes in all shapes and forms. There is knowledge we learn at home, school, church, and anywhere else that our elders perform one essential human function of transferring knowledge from one generation to the next. Then there is that knowledge that we gain through experience. Sometimes these experiences are a result of the individual’s thirst to explore the unknown. Other times these experiences are encouraged by interaction with fellow philosophers who like us crave new information. Often times these interactions cause us to charter unfamiliar territory and sometimes we discover a hidden source of mind, body, and soul nourishment.

For this, the first edition of Sigma VP Speaks I am going to talk about one such interaction. In this case I was the navigator of one such journey. It’s funny how much we all have in common. Recently, I met with a fellow member of the society who like me, had a limited diet due to a strict and disciplined upbringing (food wise that is). He never ate certain foods. After having a formal meeting to discuss important society business, I expressed my hunger and need for food. As is protocol in such circumstances, I invited Alex to have dinner with me. When I expressed the idea of Sushi, he immediately had that inquisitive look; the kind of look we philosophers know comes from deep within our genetic make-up that yearns for new journeys. He told me had never eaten Sushi. A light bulb went off. Like a boomerang, his interest hit me. Being the lover of learning that I am, I was just as interested in exploring the lesson of introducing a Sushi virgin to the table of raw fish as he was interested in shedding those diet restrictions and escaping those parent set limitations. So off we went.

During our trek to the nearest Japanese Sushi bar we got an added bonus, human exploration. I learned some interesting things about my new Russian friend. A new comer to the states (one and a half years), there were a few experiences he shared that were very interesting. One of which was his first interaction in a new country with a new language. Sure he learned English in school, as many foreigners do. But book English and social English are not the same thing. He was excited to finally put that book stuff to work and admittedly he showed his universal intellect as he took that Russian English education and effectively communicated the task at hand; getting proper credentials to live in the U.S. He then went on to talk about his fear of communicating in a foreign language. Getting into the country is one thing but talking to a bunch of teens, young adults that are competitive, image conscious with raging hormones is another. This was not new to me. I have met many people in school who like Alex have limited English skills. A lot of times this fear takes control and serves as a deterrent to self-expression. There are a tons of foreign students afraid to speak in class or in front of large groups of people. I can recall many of these students feeling that they wouldn’t do as well as natural English speaking people. Not true. In this day and age, the world is flat. The classroom is a mirror of the society we live in. Just as your accent is evident in school, there will be endless encounters outside of school with an endless variety of accented dialects. I applaud those who do not let this fear hinder them. For they not only serve themselves better, they do a service to those of us who are natural born English speakers. While these people grow and become more acclimated to succeed in a foreign land, they also give to us the experience of learning new accented dialects. How many times do we hear people with accents speak for the first time and struggle to understand them? Only to enhance our experiences after time to a level where that struggle becomes an easy comfort. So the next time that accent comes up, let’s say maybe in a multi-million dollar deal with a Russian businessman, we can skip all the puzzling looks and can you repeat that please. It’s sure to happen in this flat world of ours.

Besides the language thing, we also talked about family, school and of course girls. Poor Alex, so determined to succeed, doesn’t have anytime to be distracted by those evil creatures called women. Now that’s focus. I applaud you Mr. Demchuk. It took me numerous chases to figure out that chasing is easier when it comes to you. There is a certain attraction that success brings. So chase all you want, but you things straight, and you become the chased. Good thing Alex goes to the gym.

For my part, I ran down my quick list of some of my life events. From my days in the hood to the path that has led me to philosopher among philosophers. I told of my family and school. Being the youngest of eight and the first college graduate (more about that in later blogs). I shared with Alex some of the wisdom I gained working and struggling and then channeling my efforts towards enhancing my GOD given gift of learning. I will only briefly mention two of the things I shared. One was the useful anecdote that can be used in any situation, formal or otherwise, where two people interact and one of the communicators asks, “Do you have any questions?” Funny huh. We’ve all been, done our homework prepared in the mirror, but now we’ve exhausted all the questions we came up with the night before yet that darn interviewer keeps asking, “Do you have any questions?” So here goes. Personal experience. Who doesn’t like to talk about themselves? So give them the opportunity. Can you tell what you like best about your job? What is it in your current position you find most rewarding? Or my favorite, why did you choose your firm? Believe me they all work and sometimes, you might find yourself drifting and asking yourself “when are they going to shut up?” Ok, so now you’ve exhausted all the personal questions. Yet here it comes again, “Do you have any questions?” Now who wants to look dumb or be in that awkward position of trying to think of something without asking a stupid question or asking something that has already been answered? In this situation, employ that honor society status education: “I just want to know that should I have any more questions, can I contact you?” It’s a question, it’s appropriate and it’s a segway to get the heck out of there before the next “Do you have any questions?”

I also shared something of interest to any college student; free money. For the accomplished philosopher such as my brothers and sisters of the society this is unbelievable easy. Well at least for those of us smart enough to realize Baruch is most known for it’s accounting program. So for you accounting students like me, news flash the BCF a.k.a. the Baruch College Fund. Before we arrived at Baruch there were high achievers for years and years. I can put it best by summing up the plaque on the wall just inside the 25th street entrance attributed to William and Anita Newman. “Free college, great career, tons of money, time to finally pay tuition.” Do some research; Baruch has received enormous donations from successful alumni who feel an obligation to give back resulting in a seemingly endless amount of ready cash for deserving students. Only one catch, majority is set aside for those darn accounting majors who aspire to achieve their C.P.A. status at the place designed and known for producing those accountable for society’s money. So if your major is accounting, and you life free money, homework is not just given in the classroom. Do your homework and get that dough.

Now let’s get back to the Sushi introduction. We arrive at the sushi bar, just in time to be on the 30-minute wait list. Any longer, this writing might have ended up talking about a conversation over pizza or burgers (speaking of which, does every club meeting have to have pizza). While we waited we talked some more about girls, school, and careers, in no particular order. Then we were finally seated. First lesson for my Russian Sushi newborn, chopsticks. Isn’t it awkward trying to imitate that Asian custom of eating with wooden sticks? But we philosophers we adapt quickly, so my dear friend Alex, while a little uncomfortable yet yearning for that new experience, picked it up fast. And when that didn’t work, GOD did give us ten fingers. So one way or the other, there will be no growling. There he was searching the menu and surveying the already prepared sushi rolls with a mixed look of eager excitement and hesitant gestures. You can blame the hesitation on them darn people we call parents; who instill in us their likes and dislikes and their beliefs about what we should and should not eat. But despite having never been at this place before, Alex got busy. And busy. And more busy. Let’s just say, he got his cherry popped and the boy done fell in love. Yup, to my surprise Alex truly enjoyed himself. He ate double what I ate. He even ventured where I still have yet to venture. Darn parents. I never did develop that taste of straight up rawness. I still need some rice, cucumber, and lots of wassabe, ginger and soy sauce to mask that salmon and tuna. I was truly gratified to have introduced Alex to Sushi and thrilled that he actually liked it. Funny thing is, being the philosopher that I am; this is the exact same way I lost myself to the pleasures of Sushi. Thanks Aggie (of all things, my Russian guide to Sushi). Isn’t it ironic, me passing on an adventure to my new Russian comrade that I got from another Russian comrade. The world is flat yet we cannot forget that it’s really round and sometimes things come full circle.

Well fellow philosophers this first cummunicado has come to an end. I know it’s a bit long, and I promise you, this is not the norm. But occasionally I may feel a need to ramble. I hope that you have heard the messages and lessons that I have intended to include in this first writing. As philosophers like me and explorers seeking knowledge I am sure that there is something for everyone. And if not, maybe net time. Until then………………………..Carpe Diem