Researcher. Builder. Hacker. Traveler.
Today I had a “Classic Jerry” moment and had a pen explode as I was spinning it around in a meeting.
This was the aftermath: 
Afterwards I post the exact same same stats to my FaceBook and Twitter account:
“My pen broke while I spinning it around in a meeting it ruined my shirt and got ink all over my face.”
The reactions couldn’t have been more different.
On twitter I get made fun of:
and on Facebook I get tips on how to remove the stain:
I had a chance last night to speak to the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association about social media and social media security.
My opening question was simple:
What does social media and hammers have in common?
The two main points of my talk were the following:
My first point was:
You wouldn’t give your 13 year old a box of nails and hammer and tell them to go build something without first showing them how to properly use a hammer. This means as parents you are going to need to know the difference between a snapchat and an instagram. The days of being able to say “I dont do that internet thing” are over.
My second point was:
According to the FBI 2011 496 people were killed by hammers. It was terrible and tragic misuse of the tool. The way to fix that isn’t to ban hammers. This applies to social media also. There are tons of tragic cases about when people misuse social media but that shouldn’t stop you from letting your child use this very important communication tool.
This was one of the favorite groups I have talked to all year. These people all have amazingly loving hearts for kids and want to do what is best for them. It was great to talk to a group of such involved parents.
Can you name 5 people who are better at your job than you are?
I was asked this question earlier today and after trying to convince myself that “no one is better than I am” I took 5 minutes and wrote out a list of people who are better at my job than I am.
If you could ask them 5 questions what would they be?
This wasn’t as hard and I came up with these 5 pretty quick:
What drives you?
What is the first thing you do when you get to the office?
How do you manage work and life balance?
What books have influenced your career that most?
What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?
Now it is your turn: Can you name 5 people who are better at your job than you are? If you could ask them 5 questions what would they be?
The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.
Would you believe someone if they told you that they had four simple words that if asked honestly can make you successful?
I have those four words.
My grandpa gave them to me when I started my first job at 13 and came home complaining of being bored. He asked me if I had asked my boss “What can I do?”. I hadn’t… why would I… who asks for more work? Not me… I just wanted to work long enough to make enough money to buy a Super Nintendo.
He told me something I won’t forget. He told me that asking “What can I do?” and then doing it had made him successful in anything he had ever tried.
Why am I telling you my secret of success? Mostly because I didn’t know it was a secret and because there was this question on twitter last night:
If you had 15 minutes with your company’s Chief Executive, what would you say… RIGHT NOW. Curious on answers…
— Rafał Łoś (@Wh1t3Rabbit)
My answer was:
@Wh1t3Rabbit "What can I do to help you do your job better?”
— Jerry Gamblin (@JGamblin)
His respone was telling:
@JGamblin Interesting. Love the idea but how do you say that without the hint of “you don’t do your job well enough” creeping in?
— Rafał Łoś (@Wh1t3Rabbit)
I see where he is coming from. I will admit sometimes I ask my wife “What can I do?” while I am sitting on the couch watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle reruns and surfing the web while she cooks dinner. Hoping she says “Nothing… I am just doing the dishes, negotiating world peace and cooking dinner…just finish watching TV” when I know in honesty I am not doing all I can.
Asking “What Can I Do?” is a dangerous question it can lead to all kinds of unattended consequences like having to take out the trash or having your boss give you more responsibilities.
So please be careful with those four words and dont tell anyone I told you.
The Missouri Capitol.
Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.