Q&A with James Kunen discussion

The term "memoir" is a little misleading when applied to my books, because I'm writing about my life as I live it. In what ways does knowing your life is going into a book affect the life you choose to live?

Jim, there are people who now walk around with full body recorders - sight, sound, the whole megillah - maybe scent is next! I have to wonder how that works - do they perhaps unconsciously try to have a more interesting day because their entire day is being recorded?

Folks note that Facebook posts about "my fabulous life" leave them cold - then they go ahead and write 'em themselves. We tend - I think - to put on a company face for people, at least, people we don't know well. So you'd think one might enjoy a similar effect knowing they *would* be putting it all down on paper and sending it out into the wild.

Is it the Heisenberg Uncertainty Priniciple that says you can't observe something without changing it? Or does that only apply to subatomic particles? Then again, I suppose we are all subatomic particles, aren't we? In any case, I'm all for trying to have more interesting days, but, please, select and reflect before sharing them with the everybody else.

I feel myself being changed by your observation!

In your book, you note something like (my paraphrase) "how nice it would be to work closely with true-believing teammates" - I think you may have had a bit of a sardonic spin on that.

In the early Neolithic era, I worked at Microsoft on several technical teams. There was no doubt that work was important. Most people felt that they were a part of something large and cool that had the potential to materially affect the world. It was a nice feeling.

Today, it's said people "drink the Kool Aid" to indicate - using an oddly affable reference to Jonestown - that said person has entirely bought into some large, overarching corporate vision.

That never happened to me. I never did drink the Kool Aid. But I sure did like working with the folks I worked with. Some of them - to this day, a quarter century later! - are still among my closest friends.

Like I always say, when you can't think of anything to say, quote yourself--and I did that when I found myself sharing a meal with a corporate titan. I threw that quote at him about no one being a true believer at Time Warner corporate communications, and he said he thought I'd find enthusiastic, un-ironic believers-in-what-they're-doing people at dot.com enterprises. Based on your note, Jeff, I guess he was right.

Let me reverse directions. Instead of worrying about drinking the Kool Aid, how about avoiding the role of corporate cynic. For me, it is too easy to play the role of the negative corporate cynic who finds fault with everything. In my experience more people are cynics then Kool Aid drinkers. I believe we should celebrate the company we work for and strive to make it better. No one person is perfect and neither is any one organization.

Well, I earned my cynicism, Harley. Ironically, I was brought on board Time Warner corporate communications specifically to help craft and promulgate its Vision and Values -- you know, Integrity, Teamwork, Diversity, etc. Then I spent 8 years editing the employee magazine and writing attaboy notes from the CEO to outstanding employees, all to persuade the rank and file that they were valued members of the Time Warner team. When 500 (including me) were laid off one day, the CEO told analysts, "We've eliminated the bloat at corporate headquarters." In a heartbeat, I'd gone from valued colleague to gaseous digestive disturbance. Am I cynical? Or just realistic? It would take a whole book to fully explain. Fortunately, I've written it. Diary of a Company Man: Losing a Job, Finding a Life

To quote Ray Bradbury: "If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical."

We all have reasons to be cynical. I have been fired 5 times in my career, but in the end we must move beyond the cynicism. There are individuals who never live up to our expectations. All our heroes have clay feet. I was a cynic for the first 35 years of my life. It is easier to find fault than to find the good. There is still a lot wrong with society from racism to war. When I was young, we thought we could change the world. But the generation who fought to wear blue jeans in school and church, demanded when they became the leaders that kids wear uniforms in schools. Yes, all organizations struggle to live up to their vision and often make mistakes, but most have some success.

Your new book, James, is on my list to read. It's been more than 40 years since I read your first book, but I remember it as being optimistic. Remind me if I'm wrong.

I appreciate your interest and admire your memory, Harley. Yes, The Strawberry Statement was optimistic. Anyone who tries to protest, to struggle with society, is optimistic -- otherwise, why bother? And of course, I remain optimistic now. I teach immigrants English and I am certain that they are going to do wonderful things and found proud American families. If you do read it, I think you will be as inspired by these courageous people as I am.

I am very inspired by immigrants. My wife's parents were from Mexico. And in my work I encounter many people who leave everything behind to come to American. It takes a lot to leave everything you know and move to a place where you don't know the language. So you are doing honorable work teaching immigrants English.

Thank you. Yes, I feel like I am helping my own grandparents.