To Purchase Deep Inside LiteBlue CLICK HERE

To Purchase Thinking Inside The Lite Blue Box CLICK HERE

Author: Ronald Williams Jr.

ISBN: Deep Inside Lite Blue: 1424128560

ISBN: Thinking Inside The LiteBlue Box: 142417189X

Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Ronald Williams Jr. author of Deep Inside LiteBlue and Thinking Inside The LiteBlue Box.

Ronald is an employee of the United States Postal Service and with his two books he has stuck out his neck to point out the many deficiencies and shortcomings that exist in the working environment of the postal service.

Good day Ronald and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

What motivated you to write Deep Inside LiteBlue and Thinking Inside The LiteBlue Box?

Ronald: 

Thank You for having me Norm! Based on my experience with the Postal Service if I had to create a theme it would be “extraordinary tasks, difficult people.” In order to efficiently deliver to every household and business we must empower the employee and challenge ourselves to continually find ways to improve our services. I was motivated to write my books because forums for employee discussion are nonexistent in my working environment. Whenever anyone has an opinion, idea or plain old feedback we are barked at with the comments “that’s your perception or I’m not here to argue” and the discussion ends there. I was motivated by wanting a people-oriented and productive working environment that breeds success with significance. Processing the mail is on my list as one of the most important jobs in America and I think our customers would agree.

Norm:

What do you hope to accomplish with these two books?

Ronald:

Norm, I know that the same issues exist in many different organizations. We can say “It is what it is” or we can do something about it. I am pointing out flaws and offering solutions so we can all get along. A workplace with 1700 employees has to deal with the same amount of personalities and that is what makes leadership a big challenge. I hope that the powers- to- be will consider my thoughts and positively act on them so that we can dislodge the clot between employees on all levels and concentrate on doing business to the best of our ability.  

Norm:

Have there been any repercussions from your employers once these books were published?

Ronald:

I would say yes! Being ignored is a stinging form of punishment from the people in authority. I am ignored by the people I directly report to in the form of no eye contact, not responding to my written complaint’s, and the biggest repercussion so far was disapproving my scheduled vacation time and instructing me to start days later.

I usually take vacation around the same time every year for the past four years and suddenly this year there is a big problem. I had to forfeit my family plans because I was told the week before my vacation that I needed to start at a later date. Needless to say my family wasn’t happy either. I identify many safety discrepancies in my working environment and recently when I submitted hazard reports on one occasion my form was thrown down on a table top with attitude and on another occasion my supervisor refused to look at me  and looked in the opposite direction with her hand stuck out when I handed her the report.  I guess the beatings for me will continue until my morale improves (laugh).

Norm:

What has been the reaction of your co-employees?

Ronald:

I’ve gotten mixed responses. Some say they love it and they thank me for describing their feelings. Some say the truth hurts. Others have said I went too easy on the situation and many can’t believe they work with an author. Then there are individuals who want free copies and refuse to support me at the bookstore, they say they will wait till I get on Oprah.

One manager actually shook my hand and congratulated me for achieving a significant accomplishment. Another manager heard rumors of my first book and asked if I had a website although she didn’t say a word to me. An example of a not so nice reaction was someone I believe at the secretary or higher level with access posted an anonymous comment on my publisher’s website with words to the effect “what makes you think you know so much about this place with a start date of…. Then posting my personal employment dates. I had my personal information removed. 

Norm:

Do you feel that the USPS doesn’t use its imagination and creativity when it comes to its operations?

Ronald:

I see creative commercials on television, but behind the scenes where I work, absolutely not! It appears the only concern is to “move the mail” with a crack the whip mentality. I believe that if we can find the time to involve employees then we will see some imagination and creativity and that’s when we will not even recognize the place.  Good ideas are not limited to management or senior employees.

Norm:

Since you wrote your books, has there been any attempt on the part of the postal services to implement some of your suggestions?

Ronald

My immediate answer is no! I haven’t received any feedback. I talked about being safe and secure in my first book and months after the release of the book I noticed we had a security shack at the front gate with an employee checking for ID.  I’m sure that was just a timely event.  I also talked about how one machine was rejecting a lot of mail and after a while a technician showed up to evaluate the machine and the rejects declined drastically. As I comment on this today the numbers are increasing all over again.     

Norm:

Why did you write two books rather than combine them into one?

Ronald:

I was hoping to get feedback or attention after the first book. But in usual local fashion we were back to that stinging form of punishment. I actually was done with a set of thoughts and was excited about having my first work published. The second book was in the making shortly afterwards to also prove that the first one wasn’t an accident. Manuscripts that are short and to the point make great case studies especially for people who don’t have a lot of time to read.  

Norm:

What has been your overall experience as a published author as well as with self-publishing?

Ronald:

So far my experience has been great. It’s exciting to see something I created published and in print. I think there is a lot of credibility in being an author.  Writing is fun and editing is a big challenge. It’s nice to have family and friends to hold the ladder while you are climbing. I believe that anything worth doing is not going to be easy. Getting published is like getting a drivers license, and learning how to market myself is how I will get the best experience.

Norm:

Why do you think these are important books at this time?
 
Ronald:

The work we do as postal employees is very important. Citizens are counting on us to receive, process, and deliver their checks, documents, and packages in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airman, and Coast guard heroes are on the front lines preserving freedom and democracy and the most important link to home for them is the mail. As long as there is a Postal Service U.S. mail will be important 24/7/365. 

Treating employees with dignity and respect ensures high morale and promotes teamwork and cooperation. A lack of respect results in low morale, slower service and information sabotage which will severely impede postal operations.  Newer advanced postal technology requires us to pay close attention to day-day operations through briefing, executing and debriefing all evolutions to keep this business alive. These books provide a reality check from the trenches.  

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your books? How did you overcome these challenges?

Ronald:

The biggest challenge has been how to say what I want to say in the most tactful way.  Since I am passionate about my feelings there have been no sand traps (obstacles) on the Green. 

Norm:

Will you be updating your endeavors on the Internet and if so, how can readers find out about them?

Ronald:

Absolutely!  You can follow me on my website deepinsideliteblue.com and while you are there please sign my petition for workplace dignity and respect.

Norm:

Has the media be in contact with you pertaining to your many gripes about the USPS?

Ronald:

No! It’s my understanding that the media wants to take a national story and make it local or visa versa.  I don’t think that my story is important to the media at this time. I remember the line of one journalist who said “If it bleeds, it leads.”

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to share with us and what is next for Ronald Williams Jr.?

Ronald:

Read my manuscripts! They are full of real workforce scenarios that make great topics as a springboard to bigger discussions. To find out what’s next you’ll have to stay tuned to deepinsideliteblue.com

Thanks Norm for your review and thought provoking interview questions. I really appreciate your time.

Thanks once again and good luck with Deep Inside LiteBlue and Thinking Inside The LiteBlue Box.

You can find out more about Ronald Williams Jr. by CLICKING HERE

To read Norm's Reviews of Both Books CLICK HERE AND HERE

 To Purchase Deep Inside LiteBlue CLICK HERE

To Purchase Thinking Inside The Lite Blue Box CLICK HERE