You know that one. Hes the one in the office who puts out all the great ideas then steps out of the way while you do the work, but comes back just in time to tell you how you did it all wrong. His interest gravitates only to Power and Recognition. He isnt interested in doing the work, actually participating in the project, or actively becoming involved in the accomplishment. He only wants the glory of suggestion and the recognition of completion.

Over the past several years one particular person has instigated several projects in a group I actively participate in. This person shows up suggests a project and disappears for the next several meetings, appearing often enough to rip apart most anything thats been accomplished toward the completion of any article, find fault with any work done on the project, and disappear again until the next round of complaints and judgmental condemnations are ready.

Unfortunately, there are those members of the group who desire accomplishment enough to go the extra mile and attempt to complete the projects in the face of this sorry individual who desires only the glory. Those members willingly commit their time and effort to the project and work hard to gain acceptable results, while inadvertently complying with the demanding coworker with the bad attitude.

There is a solution.

When the power hungry recognition monster rears its head on that occasional appearance, if the rest of the members suggest that person get started on the project and agree to jump in and do their part after the original project is well started, the power disappears. That person looses the control factor and becomes just another peon in the group. The project in question is either activated by the instigator, or dies on the table. The power monger must either get into the project or let it die the unnatural death of neglect.

So, the next time someone in your office or group comes up with an incredible opportunity to accomplish something and you know for a fact they arent going to actively participate in the completion of the project, bow out gracefully by suggesting they get it started and offer to jump in with your part when the project is actively ongoing. Otherwise let their own neglect of their project kill it.

Jan Verhoeff

Somewhere between college and life, Jan began to focus on other people. Her intense need to feel accomplishment in her life drove her to finding a deeper contentment than just existing in the hoot 'n holler of southeastern Colorado. While the beauty of the prairie never escaped her eye for color and beauty, the intensity of her desire kept her moving ever onward.

Summers in Michigan and Tennessee brought her closer to something, but it wasn't until much later, as an adult, mother of four that she began to understand that her need for accomplishment included sharing what she had learned along the way. It also meant that her talent for painting the dream and writing her thoughts had a lot to do with her accomplishments.

She began to focus on actually writing down her thoughts and ideas in journals, revealing her prayer thoughts and life events. Bits of paper became treasures of memory, and a notebook became an outlet of hope and a step of faith. Jan put her thoughts on paper, and began to publish them, where she found opportunity, including various magazines, trade journals, and local publications. Her interests in business and new enterprise became a resounding outlet for her talent, and wisdom for those who sought it. Jan's interest in business development became her trademark, resulting in her first book publication in !992, "Building a Business: From Scratch". This 22 page booklet was published by a local printer in a vertical brochure format, selling more than a thousand copies nation wide. It has resurfaced in college classes as the basis for college term papers, graduate thesis, and research documents for small business courses over the past 13 years.

Seeking more diverse outlets for her talents, Jan most recently has written several short stories published in various books, including: "Stories for the Trail" with the Lamar Writer's Group, "Prickly Points of Life" a combination poetry/short story collection of Jan's work, and "Coffee Clatter" a bound collection of written works originally published in a newsletter published by her daughter, Brenna, as a Sophomore Year Project when she was homeschooling at Buchanan Academy.

More recently her work is available in a newsletter she publishes weekly via email, and various blogs listed on the right side of this page.

You may contact Jan at: janverhoeff@yahoo.com