Jorg's Brain Log

Somehow I was always attracted to classical music. I even inspired my parents to listen more carefully to it when I was a kid and in the end made them love the music as much as I did. I guess the haunted house in attraction park ‘De Efteling‘ has made such an impact, that the music they played during the show has sparked my interests in it, when I was a little boy. Dance Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns is a composition with a lot of emotion that’s even easy for the beginner to follow. Full with energy, tension, some dark moments. Listen below to understand why this is such a great composition.

One other composition I just love is the Bolero by Ravel. Around the age of 10 I saw an orchestra playing this version on TV and the conductor made such an impact with me, I could never forget his face and body language. And now thanks to the Internet I found the exact same version as I saw 23 years ago. It appeared it was the version played by the national Danish Symphony Orchestra and orchestrated by the famous Sergiu Celibidache. During the almost 20 minute video you only see Sergiu doing his thing, but you won’t get bored at all! What an expression! Amazing. This composition is probably the most erotic and energized classical piece I’ve ever heard.

So why this post today about classical music? Well, thanks to my sister who gave us the entry cards, we got to visit the Brabants Orchestra in the Frits Philips music hall, which is a piece of art by itself. The orchestra had organized a family concert where they would play the percussion concerto Veni Veni Emmanuel from the Scottish composer James MacMillan, which made a big impact on my son Rody. The second piece was the day and nightingale by Theo Loevendie where a story teller was telling the whole story to the children while being accompanied by the orchestra with the sounds. Amazing and very good musical translation of the fairy tale. Below a Dutch video about how Theo Loevendie created the music that goes with the story.

Doing fun things with the family is a top priority! Sometimes it’s just a walk in the forest or visiting some family. Today was once again time for a big family visit to the tropic swimming pool ‘De Tongelreep’. Indy and Rody both brought their masks, fins and snorkels and while it was the first time for Indy to try it on in the water, it seems that she liked it a lot, because she didn’t want to put the snorkeling equipment away anymore. One day she also will become a fine freediver…

Anyway, I can’t say that I really got rested from this little afternoon out; While we had a table and some chairs reserved for our stuff and to sit and rest, I got a total of 3 minutes in the chair (in 3 series that is…). When you’re a dad, you have to play! Kids are a good excuse to behave like a child yourself. If I would be alone in the swimming pool enjoying all the slides, swimming underwater and enjoying the streaming river, I would for sure get some strange faces. But now… nobody cares when you’re with kids! So it was playtime for Jorg as well… Whoo hoo! Can’t wait until we visit the beach again, so that I can start digging some sand castles again.

In the last month I was asked to be a reference for some people applying for a new job. And one time I apparently wasn’t asked and put on the list. As an (interim) manager who has worked for quite a lot of companies in the last 6 years, I get asked to be a reference on a regular basis. And still to this day it is always a weird experience. Not for the people asking it, but more with the HR people I get on the phone from the company that is interested in someone.

Yesterday I got a call from an IT company that was interested in hiring Mr X. First of they introduced themselves to me and if I was aware that I was written down as a reference for Mr X. Of course! If someone doesn’t ask me to be their reference beforehand and just writes my name down, I refuse to cooperate with the company calling. Around two years back this happened to me for the first time and I was caught off guard. Somehow the person who had written me down didn’t speak the human language, because during my time as his manager I had demoted him and given him several official warnings. And now he expected me to be his reference? At that point of time I told the HR lady that it wouldn’t probably be a good idea to ask me to be a reference for him. Which was of course the end for his job application at that company.

From now on, and I had one 4 weeks ago, if someone calls to ask questions about a person, for which I didn’t agree upfront to be a reference, I just say that I didn’t agree to be a reference for the person and I don’t have time at the moment. Three months ago I got a call from someone who was fired 6 months after I left that company as his manager. He asked me to be a reference and I had to decline. At least he had the courage to ask, but not the intelligence to know that my own name is also on the line if I give a reference and it turns out he sucks at what he’s going to do. So, no I could not give him a reference.

Back to Mr X from yesterday. So after the mandatory introduction they started asking questions. It went something like this

HR – I see he’s a hard worker who can get things done by himself?

Me – Yes, definitely a very hard worker indeed.

HR – So, he’s not a team player?

Me – No, I didn’t say that. He can work alone very well, but at the same time if you put him in a project group he will perform equally as well

HR – Okay, but what will be a better place for him? Individual work or team work?

… sigh …

HR – What points are improvement points for Mr X?

Me – Well, I think that Mr X is not yet senior enough to be talking directly with higher management, but what I’ve seen he’s one of those people who could become one of those guys that can.

HR – So, he has communication issues? Is he a tech person without communication skills?

… sigh …

HR – So, dear sir, would you give a positive reference about Mr X in the end to us?

Me – Yes, that’s why I’m talking to you know…

HR – So, when we hire him and it turns out to be a mistake…

Me – Then what?

HR – Well, let’s just say that it’s a small world…

Me – Is that a threat? Why are you stupid to think that I would put my name on the line for this guy if it was an asshole? Don’t you think my reputation would hurt enough if he didn’t deliver? He was one of the top people in my previous team and that’s the only reason why I’m giving this reference. Don’t think I do this for everybody! And instead of asking all these negative questions, it would be much better if you focused on the stuff that he did well and how you can get him even better in that department instead of only trying to fix his shortcomings and making a generalist out of him, which would be damn shame. Oh, I why is the future manager of him not calling? Is he not interested himself in what kind of meat he gets?

HR – Thank you sir, I think that’s all we need.

… sigh …

Once again, I was pretty pissed afterwards and asked myself why I would agree to these phone calls. To be honest, I get these kind of calls most of the time while giving a reference. The times that I remember I got the actual new manager on the line and asking about how to build on the guy from the positive side of things can be counted on just two fingers. Amazing!

Oh, and I just received a phone call from Mr X that he got the job! So, congrats to him. I guess I’m over my anger now… let the next phone call ring…