GoKEV ← This Space Reserved For An Awesome Slogan

Ducking The Dress Code or Die Nasty Trying

May

2013

When I worked as a Senior Support Engineer for a web hosting company, I had to wear a button up shirt and tie to work. Not only was I not in contact with any customers face-to-face, I was so far isolated from them (working adjacent to the data center) that the company rarely even allowed ...

Over-Performing, Over-Providing

May

2013

My wife and I took a weekend trip to Asheville, NC to see Bill Cosby perform live. She had been talking about wanting to see him live ever since we’ve been married. She would tell stories of how he’d perform a single 45 minute set, then leave the stage (while watching through a crack in ...

Walmart Service vs Chick Fil A

May

2013

I barely knew Rick. He was a genius, a positive thinker, and the type of guy you just wanted to be around. We spent about a solid week installing IBM Power servers to a new data center, but the time I enjoyed most was on our lunch breaks. Rick shared openly about his cancer; his ...

It Sounded Like A Compliment In My Head

May

2013

Nothing says I Love You like telling your wife: “You’re the second most beautiful woman in the world” Yep. It really did sound better in my head. What I Really Meant: Even when you don’t feel attractive, I think you’re beautiful. I see your beauty and consider you to be a perfect ten. And even ...

Making Everyone Happy Happy Happy

May

2013

As A Business In my late teens to early twenties, I ran a small sign and graphic shop in my home town. Even though business was strong enough to sustain me, I was always looking for “the angles” to blossom a side business in the same rented building. Perhaps I could serve espresso on one ...

Not Afraid To Jump

May

2013

My whole career has been a blur of fast changes. A lot of the justifying claims I’ve made to myself were truthful one day and then uncertain the next. Until I reach the end of the race, it’s hard to know if I’m living in a great success story or if I’m just some ...

Photographic Negative Memory

May

2013

I’m plagued with photographic memory. Anyone under the age of 20 probably doesn’t get the pun, but my photographic mind tends to focus on the negatives. As many a motivational speaker has told me over my life, one negative comment or experience overrides 100 positive ones. Jon Acuff refers to this as “Critics Math”. I ...

Successful in a Speeding Benz

Apr

2013

Today on my way into work, I saw a nice CLS Mercedes coupe pulling out onto the main road from a driveway in rural (ritzy) Brentwood — known as a relatively affluent suburb of Nashville. The car was immaculate. It was new and black and clean. The driver was wearing a collared shirt and he ...

Kevin and Kevin Matching Lamborghinis

Feb

2013

My days in elementary school were occupied with equal parts wandering around the neighborhood, watching 1980s TV / movies, and dreaming about the Lamborghini Countach I would buy when I had “made it” in this world. There was just something about this car that represented the pinnacle of achievement. And in pre-teen brain, an expensive ...

People Dumber Than You Are More Successful Than You.

Feb

2013

It’s easy to let doubt creep into your head: ”Is this the job where I’m meant to be? Is this the type of work where I’ll really excel?” As I mentioned in How Did I Get Here? (and where am I?), I often wonder if the things I’m good at really should define how ...