Rudy Ray Moore has been called “the Godfather of Rap,” and is best known as Dolemite, the lead character of the 1975 film Dolemite, and its sequels, The Human Tornado and The Return of Dolemite. He was one of the greatest blaxploitation stars, highly influencing comedians such as Red Foxx and Richard Pryor and rappers like Snoop Dogg.
In the 1979 action film Disco Godfather (also known as Avenging Disco Godfather and Avenging Godfather), Moore plays a retired cop who owns a disco and tries to stop a local PCP dealer after his nephew gets involved with the drug. The movie can best be described as a cross between Soul Train and a hallucinatory anti-drug public service announcement.
The Disco Godfather’s trademark phrase to the club patrons is to “Put your weight on it!” He screams the phrase 24 times throughout the film, apropos to nothing. Moore is even credited with the phrase in the end credits.
I am not entirely sure what he means, but the phrase resonates with me. The Urban Dictionary defines it thusly:
verb phrase: to dominate; to take control of the situation; to make yours.
It’s a call to action: be present and be happy.
Disco Godfather is most content at work—DJing for an audience—but it doesn’t seem like work to him. Sure, he’s a bad dancer and his jumpsuit may be too snug, but he’s thrilled to jump into the DJ booth and recite rhyming couplets to the audience. You could watch this film with a jaundiced eye, noting the flubbed lines and the bad edits but what value would you get out of it?
Let’s apply this to our careers. Sometimes the work that we’re involved in, for whatever reason, isn’t that great, but we still have to show up and do it. Sometimes we love what we’re doing, but no one else values it. Sometimes the work is something that just needs to get done.
I’ve noticed that the people most likely to be cynical at work are those who are not creating anything of value themselves and often aren’t doing much at all. Work would get in the way of finding things to criticize!
The rest of us, though, are building something better. It may not be perfect, but it’s something.
Let them lean back and disparage. We’re putting our weight on it.
During your job search, a well-crafted resume is vital. As a representation of yourself, it is the first impression you make on potential employers. Like any piece of writing that has been reviewed multiple times, you tend not to read it after awhile. If you’ve been job seeking without success, looking at your resume with new eyes many land you an interview—and your next library job.
I want to raise the profile of archivists and ensure that they are supported by their organizations and by an informed public that appreciates the value of their service. The vitality and growth of the field depends upon positioning professionals to be confident voices in a dynamic information environment.
Feedback provides information and advice. It’s offered in a variety of settings, such as part of your supervision, during presentations at conferences, while teaching, or when working as part of a team. Whatever the environment, feedback is a highly productive way of developing yourself and your skills.
If you’re looking for a new job or happily employed, there are moments in your professional life when you feel immobile, despite your best efforts. Here are a few pointers for getting unstuck.
Rudy Ray Moore has been called “the Godfather of Rap,” and is best known as Dolemite, the lead character of the 1975 film Dolemite, and its sequels, The Human Tornado and The Return of Dolemite. He was one of the greatest blaxploitation stars, highly influencing comedians such as Red Foxx and Richard Pryor and rappers like Snoop Dogg.
The best career guidance I’ve encountered derives from an unlikely source, a record I purchased at Extreme Noise in Minneapolis when I was 16:
You must learn to live with your own conscience, your own morality, your own decision, your own self. You alone can do it. There is no authority but yourself.
The conclusion to the fifth studio album by seminal British anarchist punk band Crass urges listeners to take up the challenge of personal responsibility. The exhaustion of vocalist Eve Libertine’s delivery emphasizes the message’s sincerity. I’ve often thought about this mantra as it pertains to the LIS field.
Sheryl Sandberg’s advice that we should “lean in” is garbage. All leaning in does is make you perform more work which most likely will not be recognized.
My favorite movie is Goodfellas. It’s brilliant, and I feel compelled to watch it anytime it's on TV, even though I've watched it many times. The film is filled with great scenes, but one has been surprisingly the most helpful in my personal and professional life.
To feel prepared and vibrant for work, for school, and for life, we need to take time for ourselves before we start taking care of others. Caring for ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally can help anchor us in the present moment. This means we bring our best self to work each day.
Archival power couple Geof Huth and Karen Trivette interviewed me on the podcast An Archivist's Tale.
In the interview, we discussed how my life changed dramatically and how I became empowered by learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. "Bravery is Impossible Without Terror" is the title. It's apt!
The best thing you can do for your career is to write. Whatever your profession, there are opportunities to share your experiences, offer tips and tricks, and promote yourself through words. Writing is also an excellent way to brand yourself online, especially if you are looking for a new job or changing careers.
I received such wonderful messages from my original post on self-employment that I wanted to follow up with more tips.
Working for yourself is an exciting, fulfilling, and (at times) terrifying experience.
Most of us have spent careers working for someone else, which makes the transition to solo work difficult. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far to help me survive and thrive with self-employment.
It's been about a year since I was laid off. When I think back over the past 12 months, I've realized that the event was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Let me share with you what I learned.
Throughout my career, I’ve gone on plenty of interviews, especially for organizations looking to hire an archivist. I’ve noticed a trend that needs to stop for the benefit of potential employees, as well as companies.
I became an archives and records management consultant, because I have a fire in my belly to have a positive impact on as many organizations and people as possible.
Earlier this week, my friend Tom Nielsen and I presented a session, You and Your Career, at the Special Libraries Association annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. In the workshop, we discussed the myriad of ways in which LIS students and early career professionals can take their careers to the next level. The goal of the class is to prepare current and future information professionals by: