Back in 1978 my manager retired. While they searched for a replacement they appointed one of us unwashed as an interim manager. He made up a sign that he taped on the manager's office door with his name and "Acting Manager". A colleague, imbued with as much cynicism as I had, took to calling him "The Act". We both wished that his replacement would be found while he was on a trip so we could say "The Act closed out of town." Sadly it never happened. He did try to quell my disgust with having been offered a promotion that never came. Likening the corporation as a jungle, he said that when the elephant walks through the jungle he may inadvertently step on lots of small animals unintentionally. I shouldn't take it personally. I thanked him for his wisdom, and said that if that were the case I should get the hell out of the jungle. And shortly after that I did.
Those of us who lived in Vancouver during the height of Loverboy's fame have heard about all of their music that we can stand, thanks. 😉
I once lucked in to "managing" a small team of folks who had years of experience doing their jobs. I just let them do their thing, and did the same myself. The hardest part of every annual review was coming up with future goals, and explaining that they only got tiny raises because they were at the top of their pay range. That was the only day I dreaded going to work.
Worked the weekend for years (hospital engineer), then, suddenly, guy quit and I was able to move to a regular M-F shift. It was like getting a reprieve and seeing what life was like for the rest of the world.
I had a manager once who tried to get be to apply for promotion. She kept on, couldn't understand why I said no. "But you'd be so good at it!" She said. "Yeah," I replied, "I'm real good at scrubbing toilets, too; doesn't mean I'd enjoy it." She finally got the message.
The part about not wanting to become your manager is so real. I’m experiencing so much pressure to act like a different person so I can fit into the mold for the next level. But I don’t like how cutthroat and intense everyone gets the higher you move up the ladder at my current company. I just want to stay at my level and get a decent yearly raise lol
This one: “You want me to rephrase what everyone else rephrased so I look like I’m contributing?” My goodness, that was exactly what diaper Donny’s weekly meetings with his gang are like! Yes, he wants That! Everyone phrase how wonderful and brilliant he is. Gaaaah‼️
I tend to constantly work out of fear of stopping. Once stopped, it’s harder to start back up. Graphing output seems like a great hobby to irritate the least productive, though.
When you are retired every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
Back in 1978 my manager retired. While they searched for a replacement they appointed one of us unwashed as an interim manager. He made up a sign that he taped on the manager's office door with his name and "Acting Manager". A colleague, imbued with as much cynicism as I had, took to calling him "The Act". We both wished that his replacement would be found while he was on a trip so we could say "The Act closed out of town." Sadly it never happened. He did try to quell my disgust with having been offered a promotion that never came. Likening the corporation as a jungle, he said that when the elephant walks through the jungle he may inadvertently step on lots of small animals unintentionally. I shouldn't take it personally. I thanked him for his wisdom, and said that if that were the case I should get the hell out of the jungle. And shortly after that I did.
There are no elephants around here, just a bunch of overweight baboons who are pretending to be elephants.
I always think of these comebacks when it’s too late.
My valued butt appreciates the subtle insertions!
Those of us who lived in Vancouver during the height of Loverboy's fame have heard about all of their music that we can stand, thanks. 😉
I once lucked in to "managing" a small team of folks who had years of experience doing their jobs. I just let them do their thing, and did the same myself. The hardest part of every annual review was coming up with future goals, and explaining that they only got tiny raises because they were at the top of their pay range. That was the only day I dreaded going to work.
Worked the weekend for years (hospital engineer), then, suddenly, guy quit and I was able to move to a regular M-F shift. It was like getting a reprieve and seeing what life was like for the rest of the world.
I had a manager once who tried to get be to apply for promotion. She kept on, couldn't understand why I said no. "But you'd be so good at it!" She said. "Yeah," I replied, "I'm real good at scrubbing toilets, too; doesn't mean I'd enjoy it." She finally got the message.
That’s a good comparison.
The part about not wanting to become your manager is so real. I’m experiencing so much pressure to act like a different person so I can fit into the mold for the next level. But I don’t like how cutthroat and intense everyone gets the higher you move up the ladder at my current company. I just want to stay at my level and get a decent yearly raise lol
I’ve made honest attempts to fit into that mold, but the mold wouldn’t have me.
This one: “You want me to rephrase what everyone else rephrased so I look like I’m contributing?” My goodness, that was exactly what diaper Donny’s weekly meetings with his gang are like! Yes, he wants That! Everyone phrase how wonderful and brilliant he is. Gaaaah‼️
We need a way to professionally expose this. Honesty was ineffective.
Good point
I tend to constantly work out of fear of stopping. Once stopped, it’s harder to start back up. Graphing output seems like a great hobby to irritate the least productive, though.