About Me
I’m an organizational consultant specializing in organizational design, project management, and workplace coaching. I have an MBA in Finance (minor in Economics) but, just as proudly, a B.A. in Theater (minor in Psychology).
Over the years, I’ve had a chance to work in all kinds of jobs in the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors. I’ve even worked as an extra on All My Children and, when I was young, waitressed, ran an elevator, laced skates, and handed out keys in a locker room - among many other jobs. In addition to my passion for the world of work and helping people, I am passionately in love with New York City, where I’ve lived most of my adult life.
About this Site
Mainly this site is about the world of work - something that’s driven me crazy more times than I care to admit and yet also never failed to fascinate. All too often the workplaces I saw reminded me of a bee hive that gets shaken on a whim. I found myself looking for chances to help people make sense of the madness. Eventually, I wound up turning this avocation into my work by piecing together coaching tips based on real world experiences. I don’t claim to be an expert on every aspect of work by any means…but I’ve come up with a lot of things that people - including me - have found helpful.
And I know many of you also have your own advice to offer - or maybe just some good stories. That’s what Work Coach Cafe is about. Sort of a central source for advice and stories for all of us who have to work for a living - at least until that lottery ticket comes through. And it’s also a place for you to be heard.
Oh…about the picture at the top of the blog: These are resistors - as in resistance to change. We all have it. We all can learn to get over it. Nuff said.
About Experts
Just a word about experts. I mention above that I don’t consider myself one. That’s because I don’t believe anyone knows everything - even about their chosen field of expertise. Although many will claim to have every answer…and if you meet someone like that, my suggestion is to avoid them like the plague.
On this topic, there is a wonderful zen koan (Buddhist teaching riddle) that asks: “What do you do if you meet the Buddha on the road?” The answer is: “Kill him.” Now please understand that’s not a literal suggestion by any means. OK? But the warning is well taken.
Here’s something I found at OrdinaryMind.com that speaks to the meaning of this much better than I could: Ordinary Mind Zendo.
Basically this wonderful teaching device reminds us that even if we’re offered advice, we still need to use our powers of reasoning to decide if the advice makes sense for us. We always have choice.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Eleanor // Jan 10, 2007 at 4:38 pm
When will you finish your book? I like what I see so far!
2 Ronnie Ann // Jan 10, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Thanks Eleanor! Expect to be working on it over the next few months. Hope to done by June. Appreciate your feedback.
Ronnie Ann
3 Alvin // Jan 19, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Nice blog, and it’s very helpful too. Will add it to my blogroll
4 mel // Feb 4, 2007 at 2:02 am
Take the irk out of work? I would TOTALLY read that.
5 Ronnie Ann // Feb 4, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Mel. Take the Irk Out of Work is partially written in rough draft form and still needs a lot of rework, but maybe one day you will get to read it. Of course first I need to figure out how to take the irk out of writing a book! (-;
6 SurfaceEarth // Feb 12, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Wow. I did not read your bio prior to blogging with you. Have you read “The Art of Happiness at Work”?
7 SurfaceEarth // Feb 12, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I also have a site that looks good for organizing books. I’ll get back to you with that.
8 Ronnie Ann // Feb 12, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Thanks SurfaceEarth. Please feel free to use my e-mail address in the sidebar. And, no I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading The Art of Happiness at Work. I imagine the Dalai Lama’s book has marvelous things to offer. Gee. Hate to think he’s my competition. But at least I can take SOME comfort in knowing we probably have very different life experiences to draw on - unless of course he was a fountain girl at Howard Johnson’s or a skate lacer at a Catskill Hotel - or worked on the Chrysler Loan Workout! (-; (And if he did ANY of that, please let me know.)
9 joynmsu // Apr 13, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Congrats on the new gig.
10 jimsmuse // Mar 23, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Nice to see someone else who is passionate about the world of work…I’m definitely going to put you on the “job resources” part of my blog. I hope you’ll come see me there and get involved!
11 Ronnie Ann // Mar 23, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Thanks jimsmuse! Nice to know I’m not alone.
Just checked out your blog and love that you’re going to be telling us about cool jobs. Great idea! Good luck with your new blog and, in reference to one of your posts, thanks much for the vote for the best. Ahem. 
12 liz // May 6, 2008 at 3:14 am
Congrats on the whole new look Ronnie.
And - regardless of the fab style - it’s always the substance of your writing that engages and supports people.
Well done.
Liz
13 Ronnie Ann // May 7, 2008 at 11:57 am
Thanks Liz! Your support and friendship mean a lot to me. One of the best things I ever got from Work Coach!
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Being caught between two worlds is a fascinating challenge - but I know you’re no stranger to that!
Cheers!
Ronnie Ann
14 Lindy // May 15, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hi Ronnie Ann, I just read about your new cafe on Liz’s blog so thought I’d drop in and take a look around. I really like the resistors as in “resistant to change”. I printed out the Buddha poem - need to save that one. Great blog -I’ll be back to look around some more.
Lindy
15 Ronnie Ann // May 15, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Oh Lindy! How nice to see you here. What a treat. My worlds colliding - but in the nicest of ways. Smiling that you grok the meaning behind the images I use. A lovely treat for me. And so nice to know you’ll be wandering around my new cafe. See you soon, Turtlewoman!
Oh…and I’m waiting to see what May has brought to replace those lovely April flowers where you are.
16 EC // May 30, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I come across your site looking for blog sites envolving Information Technology and breaking into IT. I have graduated with my IT degree about 2 years ago and have been trying to break in since I was in school. All I want to do is start from the bottom, yet the bottom won’t take me. I need help because I really want to get started and grow and just getting the Help Desk or Desktop support is hard and I’m getting to the point where my situation is calling me to make a choice to go back to retail. I’m working in a mailroom and I’m there as a vendor, outsourced, and the chances to get into the IT departments here are also not in reach. I need help. Ask me anything because I’m just giving you the bare basics at this time.
17 Ronnie Ann // May 30, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Hi EC!
I just responded in a post:
How Do I Get My First Information Technology Job?
Let’s see if we can help!
Ronnie Ann
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