Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Humor

Do You Have a Funny View On-Purpose?

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Classic OP Minute from Nov. 17, 2009

Purpose statements are challenging to write.

Most who write them are confused about the basic concept and structure so the end product is flawed, often with humorous benefit. Some are just poking fun or trying to be funny.

In today’s On-Purpose® Minute I’ve culled from Twitter some “enlightening” points of view about the purpose of life. I hope you’ll find the wit and wisdom refreshingly entertaining.Two women laughing. Text states "Your purpose is what?"

To follow me on Twitter, I’m @kevinwmccarthy. For Twitter users, if you want to reference some on-purpose work, then please use #onpurpose.

Have you seen some funny thoughts about the purpose of life?

Please share them below.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

On-Purpose Profile: Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid.com

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permissions granted for use of the above cartoon by Hugh MacLeod

In spite of my classic business education and conservative ways, I have a deep appreciation for artists who tear into the essence of the human condition to challenge the traditionally held views of society.  All is not right since that one bite in the Garden of Eden.

A recent post I saw in Copyblogger.com by Hugh MacLeod inspired me to dig into his story.  His artwork brought a smile of irreverent recognition for the prevalent challenges with so many in the workforce.  Hugh's website, GapingVoid.com, includes a number of edgy "Cube Grenades" that he fiendishly lobs into the lives of his corporate captive audiences.  Take a scroll around his cartoon log. Be sure to subscribe to his daily cartoons for an emotionally explosive reminder of how your work can be a noble expression of your purpose… or not! 

If you're a fan of the hit TV show The Office, then for sure, Hugh's artwork will curl your lips upward.  A bit of parody mixed with a dose of purpose may be just the recipe for prodding you to be on-purpose.

Hugh provides us with a great example of a person with a love and talent for something that doesn't fit the mold of what's expected.  Instead of compromising who he is to become someone he isn't, he's growing who he is in order to be more of whom he can become.  Sure, he's working hard at it!  Sure, you're working hard too.  Hugh provides yet another profile of a person building a life where the inner work and outer work are aligned and integrated in a productive and profitable manner.

Thanks Hugh for your Cube Grenades that blow holes in the facade of living with contented, unexamined mediocrity.  You're encouraging us all to step into the boldness of being on-purpose:  Be Yourself> Prosper> Make A Difference.

On-Purpose Minutes


When Chemists Laugh

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Cartoon by Nick D. Kim, used with permission: Check out his talent at: http://www.lab-initio.com

Everyone's sense of humor is quirky and unique.  I have to say, however, that Nick D. Kim's cartoons makes me think Gary Larson's of The Far Side fame is compounded with a brainiac chemist to produce offbeat cartoons that bring science alive with humor.

Candidly, I had never heard of Nick D. Kim, but now I think he is maybe one of the most famous chemists of all because he's bringing chemistry to cartoons and that's cheap medicine for the soul.

Be sure to visit his web site.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

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Sarah Palin Network – Really Funny

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I make no bones about my politically conservative point of view, but funny is funny.  Tina Fey's Saturday Night Live Skit about the Sarah Palin Network is smart, clever, and extraordinarily well done.  Ms. Fey and SNL – kudos for your satire.

This clips starts with an ad, but it is worth the wait.

Kevin O. McCarthy Meets Kevin W. McCarthy

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Lunch today was fun!  DSC00245Thanks to a mutual friend, Kevin McCarthy met Kevin McCarthy.  For the first time in my life, I signed a book to another Kevin McCarthy.

Kevin O. McCarthy (on the left) gets my vote for being one smart, straight talking, principled, entrepreneurial, and strategic thinker.  Wow! 

Kevin is a second term US Congressman from Bakersfield, CA, an agricultural and oil area.  His roots run deep in terms of integrity and leadership. I was profoundly encouraged to see a man of high character and practical business experience serving our nation. 

We need more business persons being about the people's business.  Government is big business but it is overrun with lawyers.  No lawyer jokes here.  I have tremendous respect for their training, profession, and role; but legal minds are contentious minds.  Business minds are trained to manage and lead with an eye toward creating value.

One day I hope to have the opportunity to vote for Kevin McCarthy for President or Vice President of the United States.  Kevin McCarthy is a winner… and not just in name only! 

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What’s Your Valentines Day Advice?

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20680_1323712497320_1366104299_918444_5919804_nWhat's your greatest advice for keeping your marriage together?  Let me hear from you on this one!  With Valentines Day fast approaching, it would be great to gather some insights – serious and humorous alike.

The "best advice" I ever got was from a man married for 39 years.  I was in college at the time and his daughter was a dear friend of mine. As he drank his morning coffee, I asked, "Mr. Collier, to what do you attribute the longevity of your marriage to Mrs. Collier?"

Immediately he answered, "Early in our marriage we came to an agreement that I would make all the big decisions in our marriage and my bride would handle all the small decisions.  Amazingly, in 39 years of marriage there has been nothing but small decisions."

I can remember laughing as he shared that advice.  After over 25 years of marriage to my bride, I fully appreciate his humorous wisdom even more.  If only I had listened better…

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

PS: Photo is the McCarthy Family:  Charles, Judith, Anne, and Kevin

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And the Winner of the Contest Is… Me!

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Jeevan Sivasubramaniam of Berrett-Koehler Publishers produces the weekly BK Communique.  An occasional feature is a puzzler.  His final contest of 2009 caught my eye.  Here it is:

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Drum roll please, I won the contest.  Here is Jeevan's most recent posting:

"I issued this challenge. Some people came close, but no one answered correctly.  The answer? You should definitely not take my bet — here's why.

"Kevin McCarthy submitted a response that was just so, um, creative that I had to give him a free book. (And he kindly sent me a copy of his book.) You can read Kevin's response to the challenge here.

Dear Jeevan,

No, I will not accept your bet in A Game of Cards.   Here's why:

After reading the challenge, I easily recognized it as a probability and statistics question.   Upon the thought of engaging in the calculation of the odds of winning versus the payoff, I felt this knot in my stomach – the same one I used to feel in undergraduate and graduate school when I had to take probability and statistics classes.   My mind swirled with permutations, methods, and calculations as to how to attack and solve your challenge.  My competitive juices began to kick in because I had to be the first to solve it in order to win a book and have a shrine in the lobby.  Fortunately, I'm on the East Coast so I have an advantage over those later risers in the Central and Western time zones. 

Recognizing this strange mix of competitiveness and cards, I immediately converted from worshiping in an Episcopal church to an ultra conservative Baptist church with Pentecostal and Charismatic leanings.   This means I can neither play card games nor gamble.  Because I don't smoke, drink, or dance (lack of any sense of rhythm per my wife) anyway, my transition ten minutes ago to my new Thursday morning church is going along fundamentally well.   Never doubt the power and practicality of my conversion and the values of my new denomination.  The knot in my stomach is gone – healed in an instant!  Here is proof of the peace that passes all understanding as it washed through me.  PTL! 

Sure, you were likely expecting some brainiac to give an answer to the challenge using math.  I, however, have claimed the high moral ground in a triumph of faith over math to come to the answer.  Finally, should this be the winning and timely response, then I will accept a book but must decline the shrine in the lobby.  I can have no part in false idols.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Kevin W. McCarthy
CEO, On-Purpose Partners, LLC

Here was Jeevan's notice to me of being the book winner:

"Never has an answer been so blatantly wrong and yet seemed so right.  So, what the hell, for sheer audacity and creativity, you win a book."

Cover of "The New Organizational Wealth: ...Cover via Amazon

Jeevan was true to his word and sent me The New Organizational Wealth, the book of my choice.  He was a good sport so I sent him The On-Purpose Person.

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