Bearing Fruit Consulting

Jessica Lee On How Lame Careerbuilder Is...errr...Has Always Been

I have become quite the fan of Jessica Lee.  She is a cohort on my other gig over at Fistful of Talent who is smart, brash and has just enough of that "take on the world" mentality to make her just my type.  In short, I dig her approach and the way she thinks. 

Today she unleashed on Careerbuilder and their lame marketing ploys.  Careerbuilder has really sunk to new lows since the funny, witty and engaging monkey bits during the Super Bowl.  Her post is strong and got me so fired up I let loose a tirade in the comments section of her post.

I recommend you check it out! 

If, for some odd reason, you want to just read my comments you can do so after the jump.

Memorial Day – What Does It Mean?

Sometimes this day gets clouded and mistakenly mashed into just another excuse to enjoy a three day weekend. I know I am guilty of that at times and I feel awful about it. In many respects Memorial Day lost focus as a result of Congress standardizing the day every year to make for a three day weekend. Leave it to politicians to strip away the true meaning of an event.

Seldom do we stop on this day and reflect on what Memorial Day really means. I am not going to go into some long diatribe on the history of this day or talk about its significance. My poor words cannot add or detract to the importance of this day. The men and women who have shed blood and sacrificed lives have written its significance with what Abraham Lincoln declared "the last full measure of devotion".

I do think it important to try to understand that sacrifice, to understand how a soldier thinks about his service and what it could all mean to his or her family if they were called to die for freedom. I can think of no better way to do that this Memorial Day then to share the story of Sullivan Ballou and the letter he wrote to his wife during the American Civil War. This letter, in some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read, clearly relays to us the significance of what a man (or woman) must face when serving our country and the terrible effect that has on their families. The letter came to more national prominence as it was featured, albeit in shortened form, in the Ken Burns documentary The Civil War (which I highly recommend by the way) and was hauntingly read against the backdrop of the song Ashokan Farewell. There is YouTube audio/video of the clip from Burns' film if you want to hunt it down but I really believe it best to read Ballou's letter as he wrote it to his wife.

Sullivan Ballou was a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. A week before the first Battle of Bull Run, he wrote home to his wife Sarah in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

July the 14th, 1861

Washington D.C.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure—and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows—when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children—is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death—and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run.  He was 32 years old.

When he died, his wife was 24. She later moved to New Jersey to live out her life with her son, William, and never re-married. She died at age 80 in 1917.  Sullivan and Sarah Ballou are buried next to each other at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI. There are no known living descendants.

Ironically, Sullivan Ballou's letter was never mailed. Although Sarah would receive other, decidedly more upbeat letters, dated after the now-famous letter from the battlefield, the letter in question would be found among Sullivan Ballou's effects when Gov. William Sprague of Rhode Island traveled to Virginia to retrieve the remains of his state's sons who had fallen in battle.

Annual Memorial Day Luminaria At Fredricksburg

If you happen to live in or near Fredricksburg, Virginia, and you haven't yet experienced this, you need to make your way to Fredricksburg National Battlefield for Luminaria this evening from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.   

Each Memorial Day weekend, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America light a candle for each of the 15,300 soldiers buried in Fredricksburg National Cemetery on Marye's Heights where some of the most ferocious fighting of the American Civil War took place. 

I haven't been to this event in years but, for some reason and completely out of the blue, I was reminded of it when I woke up this morning.  I wanted to share it with you.  It is a moving experience and one that I have never forgotten.  The cost of freedom is vividly displayed in a solemn and awe inspiring setting. 

Walking tours of the cemetery are punctuated every 30 minutes with the playing of Taps.    This is a unique and special way to honor those who have given their lives for our freedom and I encourage you to make this a part of your Memorial Day if you can. 

Charlie Weiss Visits Troops In Middle East - Go Irish!

I am a HUGE Notre Dame fan. 

Of course I am a die hard follower of Fighting Irish Football but I am really a huge fan of the school, what it stands for and all things Notre Dame.  I love all Notre Dame sports from Baseball, Hockey, Soccer - I even watch live streaming of Lacrosse and Women's Softball on und.com. 

My wife Jodie never quite understood my passion nor could she fully grasp just how different Notre Dame is from other schools on Saturday afternoon in the fall.  That is until I took her to her first game in South Bend last year.  She gets it now.  Her words "There is just something special about this place - it's awesome and unlike any other college football experience!". 

As it is Memorial Day weekend I thought I would mention that Irish Head Football Coach Charlie Weiss is in Iraq visiting US service men and women.  He is keeping a diary of sorts and I thought I would share it with our readers here at BFC.

There was interesting story I will share here because it involved a young service man from Cleveland, Ohio which is where I am from originally.  This excerpt courtesy of und.com courtesy of the South Bend Tribune.

I signed so much today. There were kids from South Bend. There were kids from Mishawaka, kids from Fort Wayne. There was one kid from Cleveland, Ohio. He came in fully garbed in all his Notre Dame deal. He was just going bananas and he was literally shaking. This was my highlight of the day. He said, "I'm the biggest Notre Dame fan. The only bigger Notre Dame fan than me is my father."

So I have this international cell phone. I made the kid call his dad up. It's 4 o'clock in the morning in Cleveland. His brother answers the phone. Now I'm a little concerned because of the hour we're calling that they're going to think something's wrong. He said, "Go get Dad. Tell him I need to talk to him." So I go on the phone and talk to the dad and I give the kid my international phone and said, "Hey, go talk to your dad for a while." Who knows whether these people can call or not?

This kid came back to me and said, "This is the best day of my life." A kid that's over here in this country from Cleveland, Ohio says this is the best day of his life. It's 115 degrees. The wind's blowing 50 miles an hour. It's oppressive. It feels like your whole body is getting blow-dried by a giant hair dryer. And this kid is telling me it's the greatest day of his life? Just imagine that. It was easily the best thing that happened today. Easily.

They're just so happy to see you that it makes you happy. They're trying to thank us, and we're the ones who should be saying, "Thank you." If you saw the enthusiasm of these people, you'd be shocked. It's infectious. You definitely feel something special here.

Go Irish!

   

Taleo / Vurv Commentary From Martin Snyder

Recruiting technology leader Martin Snyder had some of the most intelligent observations I have read related to the Taleo acquisition of Vurv.  I am way late to post this as he wrote it back on May 8th (crazy that a post only a couple of weeks old seems dated to me) but it is incredibly insightful and well written. 

A couple of notes before you head over to read it. 

1)  Martin is a competitor to both Taleo and Vurv and;

2) I have deliberately stayed out of any conversation related to this acquisition as I have clients that are all twisted up in this thing. 

That said, my sentiments related to the acquisition are pretty much in alignment with Martin's. 

Wine Making Legend Robert Mondavi Dies at 94

As most of you know by now one of my passions in this life is wine.  The fruit of the vine inspires me, hearkens me back to certain periods of time in life and takes me on an adventure every time I pull the cork on a bottle.   

I was 24 when I first started trying out wine and it wasn't long before my passion for wine began to bloom.  One of the first really good wines I tasted was a Robert Mondavi wine and in large part this led me on the journey to discover all that is wonderful about the world of wine.  I dare say that most people, from casual wine drinker to the most passionate of oenophiles, know who Robert Mondavi is and likely has enjoyed one of is wines at some point in time.

Sadly, Robert Mondavi died this morning at the age of 94 at his home in Yountville, California.  He was a brilliant businessman, visionary marketer and an extremely outspoken and dynamic wine leader who pretty much single handedly put the wines of California on the map. 

My love of wine was first inspired by Mondavi and his wines and I am truly saddened at his passing.  I didn't know him, never met him and have no idea what kind of man he was personally.  The closest I have come to knowing him is the fact that we share the same birthday, June 18th.  However, I feel inextricably linked to him through his wine and the wines I eventually discovered as a result.  I also linked to him because it was his wine that first sparked my interest.  I think that is part of the wonder and magic of this elixir.  It connects people, places and events in such a unique and intriguing way as to be almost unexplainable.  It may seem strange that a perishable item can have that sort of effect but for those of you who love wine or have enjoyed a good wine with friends on a special occasion you will know exactly what I mean. 

Somehow wine made me feel as though I knew Robert Mondavi. 

Strange, I know.  But so true. 

Farewell Mr. Mondavi. 

Thank you for opening the door that led me to many vineyards and so many wines!

The World's Most Influential Recruiters

Business Week has released its list of the world's most influential recruiters.  The real interesting part of this release is that you can read survey responses from these "most influential" headhunters. 

I am wondering aloud how many of you know who any of these recruiters are?  Have you ever heard of them? 

I doubt many of you have heard of most of these individuals.  Which begs the question, why?  I suspect it is because they are busy getting results and working their desk rather than engaging in talking about it. 

Ahem!  A lesson for all of us I suppose.

Letters From A Recruiting Leader Serving In Iraq

Today I wanted to introduce you to a very special and gifted talent acquisition leader who I am proud to know and now call friend.  His name is Fred Hockett and I wanted to share his story with readers of this blog as well as launch a new series of posts that are all about him.  Fred's story is, in my opinion, so important that I am creating his own category on this blog called Fred Hockett.  As I think you will agree after reading this, he deserves it. 

So who is Fred and why is he so special that he warrants his own series of posts, you ask?  Well, Fred is a recruiting leader who learned late in January that he was being called back to active duty and would be deploying to Iraq to serve his country.  Now if I know anything about Fred and the kind of citizen, soldier and leader he is then he will likely take issue with my comments about how special he is for serving us and his country.  You see, as a West Point graduate his sense of duty is inextricably linked to who he is.  General Douglas MacArthur, in address to the Corps of Cadets at West Point on May 12, 1962, stated this more poignantly then I ever could:

Duty-Honor-Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, and what you will be. They are your rallying points: to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.

Fred and I became acquainted as I was working on a search for a client to identify a director of talent acquisition.  It turns out we shared some common interests, ideas and thoughts as it relates to talent acquisition, coaching and leadership.  It wasn't long until we figured out that our shared experience at West Point might have been a reason for how quickly our relationship developed and how well we identified with one another.  Fred was an excellent match for our client and the opportunity but in the midst of helping him with this career move he was called back to active duty.

Fred headed off to Fort Benning in late January to await orders and prepare for a possible deployment in Iraq and we continued to stay in touch.  I wanted to keep in touch with Fred for many reasons but most importantly to support him with friendship and communication as he likely faced deployment to a war zone.  He was sacrificing for me, for all of us, and the least I could do is offer to be a friend and another connection to "home".  It then dawned on me, what if I could somehow serve Fred by sharing his story?  Better yet, what if I could help him to communicate his experiences in the Army and in Iraq with the talent acquisition community at large?  I spoke with Fred about this, he cleared it with his superiors and here we are - sharing Fred Hockett's story with the talent acquisition community.

Going forward Fred will write to me about what he is experiencing, what he is seeing and what work he is doing (within reason and without jeopardizing his role and security of course) and I will pass that along to you right here.  I will try to do very little editing of his material so everyone can get a real sense of what he is experiencing.  If you have any specific questions for Fred just email them to me (link over there on the right) and I will attempt to get them answered for you. 

Thanks for your service Fred.  Thanks for answering the call to duty and for defending the freedom and liberty we all hold so dear.  Thanks for helping to make the world safer for our children and grandchildren.  Thanks, most importantly, for your personal sacrifice; for putting yourself in harms way so we do not have to.

That said, here is Fred's first email to me dated back on March 7, 2008.   

Homula To Present Free Webcast at Human Capital Institute

Next Wednesday March 26th I will be presenting a free webcast for the Human Capital Institute's Strategic Sourcing and Recruitment learning tract entitled You Have The Names Now What? Moving Beyond Name Generation and Sourcing to Active Recruiting.  Essentially I am going to share some insight and techniques around executing the recruiting call and converting names and sourcing intelligence into talent acquisition results. 

To learn a bit more about the session you can click on the link above.  If you trust me when I say that the session will be worth surrendering one hour of your time then click here to sign up directly. 

Actually, if you plan to spend that one hour actually making recruiting calls and generating real recruiting results then go ahead and miss this; though you are likely to pick up some techniques that will make you better.  But, if you are going to be engaging in some form of administrivia, job board searching, resume piling or attending yet another HR meeting rather than getting recruiting results then you need to attend this session.

Hope to see you, or should I say hear you, on the 26th!   

The Week In Review - I am Sorry Edition

Just a quick post to say I am sorry for going a whole week without posting.  I actually received email from some readers asking where I was and when I was posting again.  That is an awesome feeling as a blogger.  If you have ever written a blog you know the time commitment and energy that is involved and sometimes you are left asking the question that Pink Floyd asks in that amazing song from everyone's college days - Comfortably Numb.

Hello?  Is there anybody out there?  Just nod if you can hear me.  Is there anyone home?

Funny how, no matter when you went to college, that song and just about anything from Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin seems to creep its way into your musical memory bank of college. 

But thanks to those of you who emailed me, you know who you are, and here is why I didn't get any posts out last week.  We have been working with several clients on some really cool projects that involve implementing a new ATS, behavioral interview design, recruiter training and complete re-engineering of recruiting process.  It is exciting, fun, important and time consuming work.  That said, I shouldn't slow down on my posting here.  Please accept my apology. 

One quick final thought.  I am about to embark upon a very fun blog collaboration with Kris Dunn over at HR Capitalist.  You will be learning more about this in the very near future but I thought I would make you aware of it now.  This blog will not change and will be my highest priority but Kris has dreamed up a cool new blog concept and I will be writing there once a week or so.