Whether he's trying out a new recipe or changing careers, Ricardo Freeman is not afraid to take risks.
His sense of adventure has led him to Paris twice in the past few years and to reinvent his career three times, most recently in the Facilities Services Department after 13 years in the Human Resources and Risk Management Division.
As the new human resources manager for facilities, he applies his openness to the possibilities in life to his job where he helps employees search for options and alternatives when they are faced with difficult problems.
Those who know him appreciate Freeman's dynamic approach and his ability to find solutions where none exist. People see his workshops on management skills and approaches as one of his greatest accomplishments.
A gifted speaker with a great sense of humor, Freeman has the power to motivate others, his colleagues say. Known as an adventurous cook, he often brings his favorite foods to work for sampling. He is described as a sensitive and caring individual who wears skeleton T-shirts and is fascinated by Darth Maul from Star Wars. "I do not like Darth Maul, but I am fascinated by the character because he embodies unrepentant evil," he says.
What's your idea of perfect happiness?
Plenty of time, money and love in my life. Time is such a commodity and how we use it and what we dedicate it to is very crucial. I think so much of our lives is just frittered away on nothing. I know very successful people who have no time to enjoy their success. The journey is very quick and it ends when it ends.
And your idea of utter misery?
Being stuck going around the world on an airplane that doesn't stop. On a more serious note, utter misery is boredom. There's no excuse to be bored in this world. To be bored, I think, is very painful. The world's too fascinating. If you're bored, it's your fault and due to your lack of imagination.
What's your greatest extravagance?
Paris. I gave myself Paris two years ago and so far I've gone twice. This came to me as a possibility -- the "Why not?" question. Why not Paris? It's important to put yourself in worlds that are bigger than you, in which people don't care about you and in which you must reconstruct your life on a daily basis. I'm planning to go somewhere every year. The world's a big place.
Your most inspirational experience?
When my mother was dying, my sister dedicated her life to caring for her the last two or three years of her life. She showed such grace and strength in that difficult situation. It was inspirational because it showed what we can do if we have to and the strength we can find that we didn't know we had.
What's something you would never do?
Lie to someone I love.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to know?
I've had to reinvent my entire career three times from scratch -- had to move from one place where I was established and go back to ground zero. I have my UC career that I'm doing now. Prior to that I was a consultant, and before that I was in public relations for a large, unpopular government agency. People think careers have paths and the reality is that our lives change. I like the idea of being able to re-create oneself and to take risks.
What's your most embarrassing moment?
I don't have a specific one, but I will say I've embarrassed myself many times in my life. I have no shame and a high threshold for embarrassment. I have barged into situations and opened my mouth in places I shouldn't have. Oh, I've been embarrassed on many continents and in many strands of society. I just think, oh well I made a fool of myself -- so what, let's go on. I don't linger in the past and I'm very good at forgiving myself.
What's always on your desk?
Sharp pencils and art. In every office I've ever worked, I have a sign that I got in college. It's a picture of Laurel and Hardy that says, "Talk happiness. The world is sad enough."
Your greatest regrets?
No regrets. I don't see a point in having regrets. There are things maybe if I was wiser way back when I would have done differently, but I think I made the best choices I could with what I knew at the time. I don't beat myself up with what I should have done, could have done, would have done.
If you could pass one universal law for the campus, what would it be?
I would abolish cynicism. There's no payoff to it; there's no reason for it. Being cynical is confused with being intelligent and sophisticated, and I think it just saps energy. It goes hand- in-hand with negativism. There's no payoff to it except to hear your own words. To criticize and create -- to make change -- is wonderful, but to criticize to criticize is a waste of energy.
Any pet peeves?
Cheapness in people and especially cheapness in spirit. People are so stingy with love, gestures of appreciation and gratitude. They choose not to share kindness. People hoard love like they're going to run out of it. I used to think this, too. A friend gave a cat to me and I thought, I don't have any more love in my life -- I cannot love a pet. I fell in love with the cat and it taught me that love is unlimited. People act like love's a small commodity and they can't give it away. There's plenty of love.
What are you most proud of in your life?
That I'm still here and that I still have a curiosity about life.