September 04, 2009
Riddle Me This
For some reason, our office administrator at my work takes attendance every day. They've done it for as long as I've been here, which is over three years. And no one has given me an explanation as to why this is being done.
When I prodded the office manager for an explanation, she told me that it was in case something bad happened to us they would be able to start looking into it right away.
I heard that one guy overslept and the office manager started calling his emergency contacts, which was his mother. Of course, his mother was terrified because her son was "missing." As it turned out, he just had his cell phone on silent and so didn't hear the calls.
The admin has missed my PDO announcements several times. And she has called me in the middle of client meetings before to see where I am -- even though I'd alerted my team and my manager that I would be on site with a customer. I've also gotten "Where are you" emails from the admin on several occasions while I was in a staff meeting with the rest of the managers in the office. It shouldn't be a mystery as to where I am if EVERY MANAGER IN THE OFFICE is in the same place.
My opinion on this is this: I am a manager myself. I have a small staff. I can keep track of them without any help. If someone unexpectedly does not turn up to work, I can alert the "authorities." But I am a grown man. (Yesterday was my 32nd birthday, even!) I do not need anyone keeping tabs on me for my own good. I find it very annoying.
What makes this even more ridiculous is that since we've moved to a new building, they don't even walk around to look to see where everyone is. They just send an email. And email that you can respond to from your BlackBerry or web mail or anything. It's a shoddy system ripe for fraud.
But my own boss insists that we do need someone to "take roll" every morning. She didn't have an explanation, either.
Does your work do this?
When I prodded the office manager for an explanation, she told me that it was in case something bad happened to us they would be able to start looking into it right away.
I heard that one guy overslept and the office manager started calling his emergency contacts, which was his mother. Of course, his mother was terrified because her son was "missing." As it turned out, he just had his cell phone on silent and so didn't hear the calls.
The admin has missed my PDO announcements several times. And she has called me in the middle of client meetings before to see where I am -- even though I'd alerted my team and my manager that I would be on site with a customer. I've also gotten "Where are you" emails from the admin on several occasions while I was in a staff meeting with the rest of the managers in the office. It shouldn't be a mystery as to where I am if EVERY MANAGER IN THE OFFICE is in the same place.
My opinion on this is this: I am a manager myself. I have a small staff. I can keep track of them without any help. If someone unexpectedly does not turn up to work, I can alert the "authorities." But I am a grown man. (Yesterday was my 32nd birthday, even!) I do not need anyone keeping tabs on me for my own good. I find it very annoying.
What makes this even more ridiculous is that since we've moved to a new building, they don't even walk around to look to see where everyone is. They just send an email. And email that you can respond to from your BlackBerry or web mail or anything. It's a shoddy system ripe for fraud.
But my own boss insists that we do need someone to "take roll" every morning. She didn't have an explanation, either.
Does your work do this?
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May 28, 2009
This Really Does Happen
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May 01, 2009
I'm Paraphrasing
As a person who sometimes has a rather loose hold on the idea of linear thinking, I can understand why some people sometimes do or say things that are just completely starkers, but it doesn't stop me from being a little amazed and, of course, laughing about it.
This morning I had an email conversation that went like this:
Still, the logic she was using here was quite a bit off. I mean, if my calendar is blocked, why'd she invite me for that time in the first place? She probably thought I just blocked it off to keep people from sending meetings, but that I wasn't really busy, which is pretty common for people to do. But it's blocked off with OUT OF OFFICE, but just "busy."
She ended up rescheduling the meeting for a time when I am available. I have a feeling she's probably a nice person, but perhaps sometimes not always thinking things through.
This morning I had an email conversation that went like this:
Lady Peopleguy: I invited you to this meeting, but I noticed that your calendar is blocked off. Will you be able to attend?I'm totally paraphrasing so I can exaggerate the situation, but it wasn't far off. Impressively, I actually came up with a really friendly and helpful way to respond to her last question.
Me: Unfortunately, I'm out of the office that day, so I won't be able to attend.
Lady Peopleguy: But I need you in this meeting. Should I reschedule?
Still, the logic she was using here was quite a bit off. I mean, if my calendar is blocked, why'd she invite me for that time in the first place? She probably thought I just blocked it off to keep people from sending meetings, but that I wasn't really busy, which is pretty common for people to do. But it's blocked off with OUT OF OFFICE, but just "busy."
She ended up rescheduling the meeting for a time when I am available. I have a feeling she's probably a nice person, but perhaps sometimes not always thinking things through.
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January 24, 2009
The Big Announcement
Oh! I forgot to tell you guys: my promotion was announced yesterday. I am officially and publicly an "account director" now.
Woooo!!
With this promotion, I'm getting a little tiny bit more money, but more importantly than that, I'm getting another account. (Yes, more important than the money.) For the past year, I've been exclusively focused on a single account. Throughout my career, I've always had several (sometimes dozens) of accounts and customers to work with and I really like it that way. So, this whole "dedicated to one account" thing was a change for me and not always a very pleasant one. So, now I have two accounts and hopefully I'll be able to pick up at least one more later in the year.
So, YAY! Go me!
Woooo!!
With this promotion, I'm getting a little tiny bit more money, but more importantly than that, I'm getting another account. (Yes, more important than the money.) For the past year, I've been exclusively focused on a single account. Throughout my career, I've always had several (sometimes dozens) of accounts and customers to work with and I really like it that way. So, this whole "dedicated to one account" thing was a change for me and not always a very pleasant one. So, now I have two accounts and hopefully I'll be able to pick up at least one more later in the year.
So, YAY! Go me!
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January 05, 2009
"Prosperity" is Culturally Insensitive
I'm still sorting through all the emails I got while I was on vacation and I just came across this note from one of my clients:
It reminds me of a similar note that I helped compose for clients back at a job at University. The note we composed contained wishes for "prosperity" in the new year and was completely holiday agnostic. But the note lasted about five seconds before someone (probably a feminist studies major or something) objected to our note saying that not all cultures value prosperity and that our wishes for prosperity were culturally insensitive and possibly even... wait for it... wait for it... RACIST!
I had a good friend on the staff with me who is of Republican leanings and we both gave her the stink eye over this, demanding an explanation of how this could possibly be construed as "insensitive" -- let alone racist -- in any way.
The young woman who posed this objection could not defend her accusation at all and I can't remember if we changed it or not. Reflecting on this now, I imagine if she had thought about it more, she might have argued that "prosperity" implies material gain and not all philosophies, which may be dominant in some other non-Western or non-American cultures, do not value material wealth. They might also associate material wealth with "vices" such as greed or selfishness, and so a wish for prosperity could insult such people.
Such people -- and the people who argue for their moral equivalence to people who hold more rational ideas -- are complete idiots.
I hope all of you had happy, prosperous holidays!
Dear,Sweet note, right?
Thanks for your kindly support on [redacted] email campaigns in 2008. Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009!
Cheers,
[redacted]
It reminds me of a similar note that I helped compose for clients back at a job at University. The note we composed contained wishes for "prosperity" in the new year and was completely holiday agnostic. But the note lasted about five seconds before someone (probably a feminist studies major or something) objected to our note saying that not all cultures value prosperity and that our wishes for prosperity were culturally insensitive and possibly even... wait for it... wait for it... RACIST!
I had a good friend on the staff with me who is of Republican leanings and we both gave her the stink eye over this, demanding an explanation of how this could possibly be construed as "insensitive" -- let alone racist -- in any way.
The young woman who posed this objection could not defend her accusation at all and I can't remember if we changed it or not. Reflecting on this now, I imagine if she had thought about it more, she might have argued that "prosperity" implies material gain and not all philosophies, which may be dominant in some other non-Western or non-American cultures, do not value material wealth. They might also associate material wealth with "vices" such as greed or selfishness, and so a wish for prosperity could insult such people.
Such people -- and the people who argue for their moral equivalence to people who hold more rational ideas -- are complete idiots.
I hope all of you had happy, prosperous holidays!
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January 04, 2009
Uncertainty
I'm kind of dreading tomorrow.
I've been on vacation from work for three weeks now and I'm going back to a lot of issues both new and old. I've got that promotion looming, which means changes in accounts. We have new staff coming in in the next few weeks.
There are a lot of things that I don't like about my job. I don't really care to list them all, but I have no reason to think they've been resolved in my absence. So, I really don't want to go back into that.
At the same time, I've been on vacation for three weeks. I have some workaholic tendencies, so being without occupation for such a long period of time has been tough for me at points. I get a little stir-crazy. So, part of me is looking forward to going back and taking on some new challenges and really just getting back into the thick of it.
I definitely have mixed feelings about my work right now. In accepting the promotion, I gave up on any short-term plans for more dramatic changes and adventures. I've committed myself to at least another year here in NYC, which isn't the worst thing in the world by any stretch. This may actually open some doors to the next steps in my career plan. Time will tell.
So, when I go back to the office tomorrow, it won't be with a bang. I will be doing so cautiously to see how things play out.
I've been on vacation from work for three weeks now and I'm going back to a lot of issues both new and old. I've got that promotion looming, which means changes in accounts. We have new staff coming in in the next few weeks.
There are a lot of things that I don't like about my job. I don't really care to list them all, but I have no reason to think they've been resolved in my absence. So, I really don't want to go back into that.
At the same time, I've been on vacation for three weeks. I have some workaholic tendencies, so being without occupation for such a long period of time has been tough for me at points. I get a little stir-crazy. So, part of me is looking forward to going back and taking on some new challenges and really just getting back into the thick of it.
I definitely have mixed feelings about my work right now. In accepting the promotion, I gave up on any short-term plans for more dramatic changes and adventures. I've committed myself to at least another year here in NYC, which isn't the worst thing in the world by any stretch. This may actually open some doors to the next steps in my career plan. Time will tell.
So, when I go back to the office tomorrow, it won't be with a bang. I will be doing so cautiously to see how things play out.
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December 23, 2008
Promotions and Setbacks
Yesterday, while I was stuck in Chicago for a few hours, my boss called and offered me a promotion. This is both good news and bad news.
It's good news, obviously, because it's a promotion and it's a concrete step forward in my career.
It's bad news, because I've been hunting for a new job. I'm ready to move on from my current company. Of course, the economy is very slow and so my job hunt has been similarly slow. I have a few promising leads here and there, but in general things aren't changing much.
I was really hoping to make a change because I'd like to move away from New York for a while. With my chosen career and just the way things are, I know that New York will always be prominent in my life. But I'd still like to experience other parts of the world.
Well, it looks like I'm staying in New York for at least another year.
I could decline the promotion, but that would be something akin to insanity if for no other reason than it would burn a bridge with some of the upper management in my company and would at least make things very unpleasant for me until I do find a job somewhere else.
Right now, I'm pretty down about this because I was really looking forward to the adventure of moving away from New York to a new place to meet new people and do new things.
Over the next few days, I will be trying to sell myself on the brighter aspects of this promotion. It means more money, more responsibility, more clients, more experience. (Although, I've been told that I will be working with a certain recipient of recently stolen bailout money from the government, which kind of pisses me off.)
So, yay me. Promotion. Woo.
It's good news, obviously, because it's a promotion and it's a concrete step forward in my career.
It's bad news, because I've been hunting for a new job. I'm ready to move on from my current company. Of course, the economy is very slow and so my job hunt has been similarly slow. I have a few promising leads here and there, but in general things aren't changing much.
I was really hoping to make a change because I'd like to move away from New York for a while. With my chosen career and just the way things are, I know that New York will always be prominent in my life. But I'd still like to experience other parts of the world.
Well, it looks like I'm staying in New York for at least another year.
I could decline the promotion, but that would be something akin to insanity if for no other reason than it would burn a bridge with some of the upper management in my company and would at least make things very unpleasant for me until I do find a job somewhere else.
Right now, I'm pretty down about this because I was really looking forward to the adventure of moving away from New York to a new place to meet new people and do new things.
Over the next few days, I will be trying to sell myself on the brighter aspects of this promotion. It means more money, more responsibility, more clients, more experience. (Although, I've been told that I will be working with a certain recipient of recently stolen bailout money from the government, which kind of pisses me off.)
So, yay me. Promotion. Woo.
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December 01, 2008
Time Off
Ok, so my company steals from its employees at the end of every year. Most people get bonuses, but not us.
See, we don't do sick days or anything like that. We have Paid Days Off (PDO). PDO shows up as a liability on the corporate balance sheet and if you quit the company, you get a check for the amount of money that those days were worth.
But at the end of every year, the company simply erases any PDO above 40 hours that you haven't used.
At present, I have 131.37 hours of PDO, which means I need to take approximately 90 hours off or else it will get erased.
Usually managers will work with their employees to transmute the erased PDO into Comp days which are unofficial PDO hours. Comp days aren't worth money. They're only worth time off.
I see the business need to not allow PDO to accumulate indefinitely (although some states like California do not permit PDO to be erased like that), but I think it is just stealing and no state should allow it to happen.
So, I just put in a request to be off of work from December 15th until January 5th. Can you imagine?
I've never been away from work that long since I started work as an adult. It's THREE WEEKS! INSANE! I don't know what I'll do, but I am very excited about the prospect of finding out!
See, we don't do sick days or anything like that. We have Paid Days Off (PDO). PDO shows up as a liability on the corporate balance sheet and if you quit the company, you get a check for the amount of money that those days were worth.
But at the end of every year, the company simply erases any PDO above 40 hours that you haven't used.
At present, I have 131.37 hours of PDO, which means I need to take approximately 90 hours off or else it will get erased.
Usually managers will work with their employees to transmute the erased PDO into Comp days which are unofficial PDO hours. Comp days aren't worth money. They're only worth time off.
I see the business need to not allow PDO to accumulate indefinitely (although some states like California do not permit PDO to be erased like that), but I think it is just stealing and no state should allow it to happen.
So, I just put in a request to be off of work from December 15th until January 5th. Can you imagine?
I've never been away from work that long since I started work as an adult. It's THREE WEEKS! INSANE! I don't know what I'll do, but I am very excited about the prospect of finding out!
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November 21, 2008
What Day Does the Midnight Train to Georgia Leave On?
I've just had yet another conversation about midnight with a customer. It went something like this:
Them: Why did the promotion end a day early?
Me: Oh, it was just a misunderstanding. You requested that it end on the 14th, so the server took the pages down at midnight on the 14th.
Them: Yeah. Midnight on the 14th.
Me: Exactly.
Them: So, why did it come down a day early?
Me: Well, when everyone was saying "midnight on the 14th" that's what the programmers did to the literal meaning of those words, but what was really needed was "midnight on the 15th." So, it was just a misunderstanding. I've advised my team to clarify the date and time with you for all future projects to avoid this.
Them: NO. It was midnight of the 14th!
Me: Correct, but that's not what time the promotion needed to end.
Them: Yes, it was!
Me: Well, no, you needed the promotion to be available throughout the day on the 14th. So, the promotion really had to end on the 15th at midnight.
Them: I don't understand.
Me: Midnight is the very first moment of every day.
Them: No, it's in the middle of the night. mid-night
Me: Well, yes, colloquially, it's the middle of the night in terms of night and day, light and dark, but as a time, it refers to the first moment of the day.
Them: ...
Me: You know how on New Year's Eve, everyone starts counting down to the New Year at 11:59:50? Well, at 12:00 it's midnight and the new year.
Them: Ok, but I said I wanted it to end on the 14th.
Me: It did end on the 14th. As soon as it was the 14th, it ended.
Them: No, it ended too soon!
Me: Yes, I know what you mean, but we had to program the computers and so when we picked a time and date, we used the instructions we were given. "midnight on the 14th." But this was an honest mistake on everyone's part. We'll just clarify that for future projects.
Them: I'm still not satisfied with this explanation...
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The Boy who Cried
Last night on The Office, Michael Scott's boss called him on the phone in a bit of a panic because Michael had paged him "911 Call Me." It turned out that Michael just wanted to ask some small, stupid question and so his boss was upset that he used "911" like that.
Aside, Michael explained that he has learned that if he doesn't page people with 911, then they don't return his calls, so he always uses 911 and then people always return his calls.
In a related note, I HATE when people mark all of their emails as "urgent." I know they do it to get attention, but it actually teaches people to ignore those markings.
I, personally, use the urgent designation -- which is highlighted by red exclamation points in Outlook -- very sparingly. I also mark non-business or low-priority messages as "low priority," which shows up with a blue arrow in Outlook.
But people who use the red exclamation points all the time are just like Michael Scott and they know it. They know that most of the time their communications are not important and so they try to get responses through fear and intimidation.
CURSE THOSE RED EXCLAMATION MARKS!
Aside, Michael explained that he has learned that if he doesn't page people with 911, then they don't return his calls, so he always uses 911 and then people always return his calls.
In a related note, I HATE when people mark all of their emails as "urgent." I know they do it to get attention, but it actually teaches people to ignore those markings.
I, personally, use the urgent designation -- which is highlighted by red exclamation points in Outlook -- very sparingly. I also mark non-business or low-priority messages as "low priority," which shows up with a blue arrow in Outlook.
But people who use the red exclamation points all the time are just like Michael Scott and they know it. They know that most of the time their communications are not important and so they try to get responses through fear and intimidation.
CURSE THOSE RED EXCLAMATION MARKS!
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September 24, 2008
Overheard in the Office (Flibbert's in a really bad mood)
Coworker: Awww... be nice!
Flibbert: No.
Flibbert: No.
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It's a Whole New World
I don't have time to write all about it right now, but suffice it to say that Atlas is shrugging. Let the good times roll.
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September 15, 2008
High Praise
In a meeting today, the president of my company gave me high praise for the work I've been doing. I don't remember everything he said, but he told me I was going good work and that I have a good grasp of the situation with my client and that I've been doing everything right to make it work. He told me I have "a good head on my shoulders."
I was very happy to receive the recognition and I hope that I was gracious in my acceptance.
So, back to my resume. hmmm... I wonder if he'd write me a recommendation. I'd need him to come up with something better than my having a good head, of course.
I was very happy to receive the recognition and I hope that I was gracious in my acceptance.
So, back to my resume. hmmm... I wonder if he'd write me a recommendation. I'd need him to come up with something better than my having a good head, of course.
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September 14, 2008
Most Work Ever
Things have been very busy for me at work lately. It's a long story and one I can't really disclose here, obviously.
I took a couple of days off of work two weeks ago for my birthday and because my birthday almost always falls near a holiday, I had three days away from work. I didn't do anything special, but it was nice to have the time away. When I came back to work, the work was piling up. It wasn't too bad, but I could tell things were building up.
I thought about going into work last weekend to try to beat the monsters back. I opted against it, though.
Well, this past week was the worst ever. Well, worst in terms of hours. It wasn't the most stressful. I just had a lot of things that needed to get done. I've never worked so many hours in a week. 16 hours on Monday. 12 hours on Tuesday. 14 hours on Wednesday. 11 hours on Thursday. 16 hours on Friday. 11 hours on Saturday. And 9 hours today.
And tomorrow, I get up and start again.
But I can't stop thinking about it. As I sit here, my mind is still racing over things I need to do. Picking what I will do first tomorrow.
I can't remember what day it is or what time it is. My sleep schedule is completely shot. I've been eating terrible food, trading healthy sustenance for expediency and quick shots of energy. I have consumed more caffeine over the last week than I think I've ever consumed in three times as long.
Obviously, I can't keep this up forever. I could keep it up for a long time, sure. Years, maybe. But it's best not to foster bad habits.
There are things I really dislike about my job. There are things that are so frustrating that I usually have one or two moments in a day when I want to scream.
But it's not that bad. I like the business. I was put on one of my accounts because as my boss puts it, I "bring order to chaos," and I do consider it a bit of a personal challenge to turn this thing around. I hope I can do it within the next three months.
Three months because that's how long is left in the new year. And I want to find a new job by then. The average job hunt for someone in my position takes 4 to 6 months, so I'm already behind schedule on that. On the other hand, I am going to be pressuring my boss for a raise for the end of the year, also.
Now, some might wonder if it's unethical or at least unpolitic in business to ask for a raise and turn around and quit. I don't think it's at all unethical. If it were some sort of bonus for work to come (not work completed) then I think it might be argued. But giving a raise is 1) not an investment until it's paid and 2) is negotiated based upon work provided. My quality of work and commitment to my work is obviously not in question. Might a certain overly emotional person in management call me a traitor and generally freak out? It's a possibility. I'm willing to risk it.
I want a job at another agency. A big agency. A big agency that wins awards and runs national campaigns. I want to work at a big agency that wins awards and runs national campaigns and will give me multi-channel exposure and experience. Ideally, I'll be at my next company for 5 to 7 years.
Ok. It's late. I need to try to sleep because I need to try to get back on my schedule this week.
I just wanted to jot down my thoughts and exorcise the demon, so to speak. I wish I had something more interesting to talk to you guys about, but all I think about these days is work. Sometimes I have an outburst about politics, but mostly it's work.
I took a couple of days off of work two weeks ago for my birthday and because my birthday almost always falls near a holiday, I had three days away from work. I didn't do anything special, but it was nice to have the time away. When I came back to work, the work was piling up. It wasn't too bad, but I could tell things were building up.
I thought about going into work last weekend to try to beat the monsters back. I opted against it, though.
Well, this past week was the worst ever. Well, worst in terms of hours. It wasn't the most stressful. I just had a lot of things that needed to get done. I've never worked so many hours in a week. 16 hours on Monday. 12 hours on Tuesday. 14 hours on Wednesday. 11 hours on Thursday. 16 hours on Friday. 11 hours on Saturday. And 9 hours today.
And tomorrow, I get up and start again.
But I can't stop thinking about it. As I sit here, my mind is still racing over things I need to do. Picking what I will do first tomorrow.
I can't remember what day it is or what time it is. My sleep schedule is completely shot. I've been eating terrible food, trading healthy sustenance for expediency and quick shots of energy. I have consumed more caffeine over the last week than I think I've ever consumed in three times as long.
Obviously, I can't keep this up forever. I could keep it up for a long time, sure. Years, maybe. But it's best not to foster bad habits.
There are things I really dislike about my job. There are things that are so frustrating that I usually have one or two moments in a day when I want to scream.
But it's not that bad. I like the business. I was put on one of my accounts because as my boss puts it, I "bring order to chaos," and I do consider it a bit of a personal challenge to turn this thing around. I hope I can do it within the next three months.
Three months because that's how long is left in the new year. And I want to find a new job by then. The average job hunt for someone in my position takes 4 to 6 months, so I'm already behind schedule on that. On the other hand, I am going to be pressuring my boss for a raise for the end of the year, also.
Now, some might wonder if it's unethical or at least unpolitic in business to ask for a raise and turn around and quit. I don't think it's at all unethical. If it were some sort of bonus for work to come (not work completed) then I think it might be argued. But giving a raise is 1) not an investment until it's paid and 2) is negotiated based upon work provided. My quality of work and commitment to my work is obviously not in question. Might a certain overly emotional person in management call me a traitor and generally freak out? It's a possibility. I'm willing to risk it.
I want a job at another agency. A big agency. A big agency that wins awards and runs national campaigns. I want to work at a big agency that wins awards and runs national campaigns and will give me multi-channel exposure and experience. Ideally, I'll be at my next company for 5 to 7 years.
Ok. It's late. I need to try to sleep because I need to try to get back on my schedule this week.
I just wanted to jot down my thoughts and exorcise the demon, so to speak. I wish I had something more interesting to talk to you guys about, but all I think about these days is work. Sometimes I have an outburst about politics, but mostly it's work.
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hehe... but seriously, it does happen.
September 10, 2008
Updating My Resume
I am in a foul mood this morning with regard to my job. Our normal office hours are from 9am until 6pm, but I was here from 8am until midnight last night. The day before, I was in at 8 and left at 10.
I work hard and I like working hard. I actually don't mind the long hours.
What bothers me are the other people on whom I have to rely to get things done who routinely show up late (10am) and leave early (5pm) without being held accountable for this thievery in the least.
I do not WANT to come in late and leave early. I want to work hard and make lots and lots of money for me and my company.
And... wait... I need to interrupt this rant to ask what the hell is going on here:
Craigslist: WTB: Anatomically Correct Baby Dolls - $1 (KCK)
I work hard and I like working hard. I actually don't mind the long hours.
What bothers me are the other people on whom I have to rely to get things done who routinely show up late (10am) and leave early (5pm) without being held accountable for this thievery in the least.
I do not WANT to come in late and leave early. I want to work hard and make lots and lots of money for me and my company.
And... wait... I need to interrupt this rant to ask what the hell is going on here:
Craigslist: WTB: Anatomically Correct Baby Dolls - $1 (KCK)
I'm looking for some anatomically correct baby boy and baby girl dolls.This is so confusing.
Awake.
Preferably with painted eyes. (dolls that blink scare the bejeezus outta me)
Vinyl (but hard plastic would suffice)
NOT smaller than 10 inches.
Any race.
Please send pictures and prices.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
08:25 AM
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Category: At My Work
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July 30, 2008
I'm Not Naming Names
One of my client contacts just sent an email on which my team was copied asking one of her coworkers to encrypt the file attached to her email so that she could securely transmit the file to us by FTP.
...
Yeeeeeaaahhhh...
...
Yeeeeeaaahhhh...
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
01:37 PM
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July 29, 2008
Slave Driver
I don't think I'm a difficult person to work for, but I do have very little patience for certain kinds of lapses.
I can excuse "simple mistakes" and things that are plausibly errors of knowledge -- up to a point. But I have next to no patience at all for a failure to meet commitments.
I realize that my work hours have exploded up to nearly 16 hours a day of late and that probably intimidates some people. They probably think that I have some expectation that they will work until midnight and still show up for work at least an hour early the next day. I don't. I don't even really expect that of myself. I just kind of do it.
How hard is it to look at what you have to get done, establish priorities, and project reasonable completion times? And if you see yourself missing a deadline, how hard is it to raise your hand and let people know?
It seems very easy to some to simply fail because they don't have to explain it to a customer. The problem is that I am their customer, but I'm a customer without the power to fire them.
Alas, there is little I can do about this. I'm just as frustrated as I am perplexed by this behavior in certain people.
I can excuse "simple mistakes" and things that are plausibly errors of knowledge -- up to a point. But I have next to no patience at all for a failure to meet commitments.
I realize that my work hours have exploded up to nearly 16 hours a day of late and that probably intimidates some people. They probably think that I have some expectation that they will work until midnight and still show up for work at least an hour early the next day. I don't. I don't even really expect that of myself. I just kind of do it.
How hard is it to look at what you have to get done, establish priorities, and project reasonable completion times? And if you see yourself missing a deadline, how hard is it to raise your hand and let people know?
It seems very easy to some to simply fail because they don't have to explain it to a customer. The problem is that I am their customer, but I'm a customer without the power to fire them.
Alas, there is little I can do about this. I'm just as frustrated as I am perplexed by this behavior in certain people.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
07:48 AM
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June 26, 2008
Oh Dear
I made a HUGE oversight at work today. We fixed it, of course, but still. I am presently mortified.
Lessons learned.
Lessons learned.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
10:29 AM
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June 18, 2008
Care-o-Meter
more cat pictures
more cat pictures
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
10:32 AM
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May 23, 2008
I'm the Bad Guy
As you all probably know, I am a terribly greedy person. I'm also pig-headed, insensitive, and prone to fits of anger. This makes me perfect for management.
I'm pig-headed because when someone tells me, "Flibbert, I will have this done by X day" and then they don't get it done by X day, I tend to refer back to that a lot when they wonder why I am telling them they have to work late to meet the final deadline.
I'm insensitive because I work many hours in a week. I average around 50 hours a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, but rarely if ever just 40 hours. And I don't care if other people work more than 40 hours a week either. I don't care if they have to work late. I don't care if they have to work on Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Christmas, or the day that those crazy people all go into the desert to throw stones at the devil and stampede over one another. If you say it'll be done by X day, I expect it to be done by X day and I don't care what you have to do to make sure that's the case. (See above about being pig-headed.)
And if someone dares suggest that in my pig-headed insensitivity that my insistence on people doing their jobs, doing them correctly, and fulfilling their commitments particularly when a customer is directly affected, then I summon up one of those fits of anger. Righteous anger. And I grow more insensitive in my anger because I don't care if you think I'm being mean.
All of this because I'm greedy. I like making money. I like making honest money. I like having clients who are so happy with the service they receive from me that they gladly throw money and their panties at me to do more work for them. This means that I meet my commitments. I am open and honest with customers about their projects. I am not afraid to say no, but I enjoy saying yes when the price is right.
Recently, I told some people they had to work over the weekend. They didn't listen to me and the client began screaming at my vice president. I had to give the client money. The project was very nearly a complete failure and there was a lot of angry moments. I get even more angry every time someone -- such as the manager of those people -- attempts to justify the utter failure to even attempt to fulfill the responsibilities of their job or even communicate their lack of intent to fulfill those responsibilities.
But I don't like making people work on the weekend. That brings me no joy. Working on the weekend means that we're working hard for our money and I like to work as little as possible for the most money. (See greedy.)
But once again, I find myself in a situation where people are failing to meet their commitments and they're getting very upset with me because I am starting to suggest to them that they might have to work over this holiday weekend.
Alas, their sobs fall on deaf ears. I will be at the beach.
I'm pig-headed because when someone tells me, "Flibbert, I will have this done by X day" and then they don't get it done by X day, I tend to refer back to that a lot when they wonder why I am telling them they have to work late to meet the final deadline.
I'm insensitive because I work many hours in a week. I average around 50 hours a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, but rarely if ever just 40 hours. And I don't care if other people work more than 40 hours a week either. I don't care if they have to work late. I don't care if they have to work on Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Christmas, or the day that those crazy people all go into the desert to throw stones at the devil and stampede over one another. If you say it'll be done by X day, I expect it to be done by X day and I don't care what you have to do to make sure that's the case. (See above about being pig-headed.)
And if someone dares suggest that in my pig-headed insensitivity that my insistence on people doing their jobs, doing them correctly, and fulfilling their commitments particularly when a customer is directly affected, then I summon up one of those fits of anger. Righteous anger. And I grow more insensitive in my anger because I don't care if you think I'm being mean.
All of this because I'm greedy. I like making money. I like making honest money. I like having clients who are so happy with the service they receive from me that they gladly throw money and their panties at me to do more work for them. This means that I meet my commitments. I am open and honest with customers about their projects. I am not afraid to say no, but I enjoy saying yes when the price is right.
Recently, I told some people they had to work over the weekend. They didn't listen to me and the client began screaming at my vice president. I had to give the client money. The project was very nearly a complete failure and there was a lot of angry moments. I get even more angry every time someone -- such as the manager of those people -- attempts to justify the utter failure to even attempt to fulfill the responsibilities of their job or even communicate their lack of intent to fulfill those responsibilities.
But I don't like making people work on the weekend. That brings me no joy. Working on the weekend means that we're working hard for our money and I like to work as little as possible for the most money. (See greedy.)
But once again, I find myself in a situation where people are failing to meet their commitments and they're getting very upset with me because I am starting to suggest to them that they might have to work over this holiday weekend.
Alas, their sobs fall on deaf ears. I will be at the beach.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
12:26 PM
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May 21, 2008
Responsibility: Where Do it Be?
At my job, I have the word "senior" at the front of my job title. This means very little except that I am the place where people go to yell, whine, and complain when something doesn't go to their liking.
In the past, I have been able to deal with these situations with ease because I know that although people make mistakes, I could count on the people on my team to properly assess the importance of a particular issue and address it appropriately. All I had to do is tell them what's going on and what needed to get done and they would go get it done.
These days, I cannot count on my team.
I cut people a lot of slack. I can excuse ignorance. I can even gloss over acts of profound stupidity. I know people get stressed, so I don't fret over outbursts and I tend to ward off attitude problems with the proper amounts of support and setting of expectations. What I cannot excuse is a failure to try at all and I run into that a lot.
My boss came around to me this morning to reiterate a directive she gives me all the time: go over and talk to people.
I do talk to people. I talk to them in meetings. I stop by their desks. But I do primarily rely on email to document and clearly communicate needs and expectations.
But my boss does not think that email is enough. For some reason, not reading an email or not understanding it is acceptable. It does not matter how explicit an email is, either.
In a recent situation, I sent an email that said, "This has to be done today." That email was followed by an email from our boss's boss saying, "Flibbert is absolutely right. This has to be done today." But the people on my team left without getting it done and, of course, the client was very, very angry. But when I bring up this blatant insubordination and failure which cost our company thousands of dollars, I get hemming and hawing about it. People are actually making excuses!
My boss even suggested that perhaps the failing was partially my fault since I sent and email instead of telling them in person. But! AHA! I did tell them in person. I even made them read one of the emails that communicated the importance of the project out loud to the group.
Email is essential to our business and having something in writing leaves no doubt about what was communicated -- although people may misunderstand or something may not be clear. I don't understand the mentality that pushes the responsibility for someone else's failure to do something back to the person who requested it of them all because the person requesting it didn't get up and punch them in the face with it.
I am not a parent and in my office, I have a very low tolerance for any expectation that I will be anyone's parent. I expect people to behave like professionals. I expect people to be rational, thinking individuals who seek to earn their pay.
But I find myself again in a situation where I am expected to make an additional effort to make up for other people's failure to put forth even minimal effort. And my failure to meet that ridiculous expectation is translated into a failure to do my job.
*sigh*
And they wonder why I get so cross.
In the past, I have been able to deal with these situations with ease because I know that although people make mistakes, I could count on the people on my team to properly assess the importance of a particular issue and address it appropriately. All I had to do is tell them what's going on and what needed to get done and they would go get it done.
These days, I cannot count on my team.
I cut people a lot of slack. I can excuse ignorance. I can even gloss over acts of profound stupidity. I know people get stressed, so I don't fret over outbursts and I tend to ward off attitude problems with the proper amounts of support and setting of expectations. What I cannot excuse is a failure to try at all and I run into that a lot.
My boss came around to me this morning to reiterate a directive she gives me all the time: go over and talk to people.
I do talk to people. I talk to them in meetings. I stop by their desks. But I do primarily rely on email to document and clearly communicate needs and expectations.
But my boss does not think that email is enough. For some reason, not reading an email or not understanding it is acceptable. It does not matter how explicit an email is, either.
In a recent situation, I sent an email that said, "This has to be done today." That email was followed by an email from our boss's boss saying, "Flibbert is absolutely right. This has to be done today." But the people on my team left without getting it done and, of course, the client was very, very angry. But when I bring up this blatant insubordination and failure which cost our company thousands of dollars, I get hemming and hawing about it. People are actually making excuses!
My boss even suggested that perhaps the failing was partially my fault since I sent and email instead of telling them in person. But! AHA! I did tell them in person. I even made them read one of the emails that communicated the importance of the project out loud to the group.
Email is essential to our business and having something in writing leaves no doubt about what was communicated -- although people may misunderstand or something may not be clear. I don't understand the mentality that pushes the responsibility for someone else's failure to do something back to the person who requested it of them all because the person requesting it didn't get up and punch them in the face with it.
I am not a parent and in my office, I have a very low tolerance for any expectation that I will be anyone's parent. I expect people to behave like professionals. I expect people to be rational, thinking individuals who seek to earn their pay.
But I find myself again in a situation where I am expected to make an additional effort to make up for other people's failure to put forth even minimal effort. And my failure to meet that ridiculous expectation is translated into a failure to do my job.
*sigh*
And they wonder why I get so cross.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
08:40 AM
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March 24, 2008
Email Arrogance
You know how you can mark emails urgent in Outlook and a little red exclamation point will show up next to your message? (see image on the left.)
Ok. Well, word of advice to folks who actually want people to share their sense of urgency when it's really important: use that sparingly. If you put it on all of your emails, then people will not know when you really have an urgent message.
Have you heard that story about the boy who cried wolf?
It's like that. If you look in my screenshot to the left, you'll notice that only one email from the person whose name starts with Sh does not have that red exclamation point. And none of those emails are actually urgent. Most of them are just passing questions that occurred to them while looking at something else. NOT. URGENT.
When I see someone abusing the red exclamation point, I get peevish and I become resistant to responding with any urgency at all. It makes me think that this person is just trying to force themselves into my attention like a little kid who refuses to wait until his mom is off the phone to ask a question and just stands there tugging on her skirt saying endlessly, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
It's rude and more than a little arrogant to presume that your non-essential questions should be the top priority for whoever is receiving them. Now, this is someone that I treat as a customer and they know it, so their questions are very important to me. They're not necessarily the MOST important thing, but I do try to respond pretty quickly. Putting the red exclamation point is only necessary when just getting a response before the close of business won't do. Otherwise, they can just trust me and my understanding of our relationship to compel a timely response.
But noooooo... They mark it urgent. I guess they don't trust me or our relationship or good sense.
That's unfortunate because it will only make it more difficult for me to know when something really is urgent.
So, let this be a lesson to you all. Use the red exclamation point sparingly.
Fun fact: There is also a low priority setting that puts a little blue down arrow next to the message. This is very nice when people use it to denote a communication of low importance. Using the red exclamation point and the blue down arrow appropriately will endear you to those who receive your communications and allow them to share your priorities and provide you with the service you desire.
You know how you can mark emails urgent in Outlook and a little red exclamation point will show up next to your message? (see image on the left.)Ok. Well, word of advice to folks who actually want people to share their sense of urgency when it's really important: use that sparingly. If you put it on all of your emails, then people will not know when you really have an urgent message.
Have you heard that story about the boy who cried wolf?
It's like that. If you look in my screenshot to the left, you'll notice that only one email from the person whose name starts with Sh does not have that red exclamation point. And none of those emails are actually urgent. Most of them are just passing questions that occurred to them while looking at something else. NOT. URGENT.
When I see someone abusing the red exclamation point, I get peevish and I become resistant to responding with any urgency at all. It makes me think that this person is just trying to force themselves into my attention like a little kid who refuses to wait until his mom is off the phone to ask a question and just stands there tugging on her skirt saying endlessly, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
It's rude and more than a little arrogant to presume that your non-essential questions should be the top priority for whoever is receiving them. Now, this is someone that I treat as a customer and they know it, so their questions are very important to me. They're not necessarily the MOST important thing, but I do try to respond pretty quickly. Putting the red exclamation point is only necessary when just getting a response before the close of business won't do. Otherwise, they can just trust me and my understanding of our relationship to compel a timely response.
But noooooo... They mark it urgent. I guess they don't trust me or our relationship or good sense.
That's unfortunate because it will only make it more difficult for me to know when something really is urgent.
So, let this be a lesson to you all. Use the red exclamation point sparingly.
Fun fact: There is also a low priority setting that puts a little blue down arrow next to the message. This is very nice when people use it to denote a communication of low importance. Using the red exclamation point and the blue down arrow appropriately will endear you to those who receive your communications and allow them to share your priorities and provide you with the service you desire.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
10:21 AM
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March 21, 2008
Happy Friday (Not the Good one.)
This image effectively summarizes my week:
Thanks to Big League Chew for sending me that image.
Thanks to Big League Chew for sending me that image.
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
04:46 PM
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March 06, 2008
I Know How You Feel. Yes, It's One of THOSE Days
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
05:34 PM
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February 27, 2008
What's Happening At My Office?
This email was sent to our office this morning:
We gained some additional office space in our building and several people are moving down to the 11th floor. The part that confuses me is "things." If they aren't moving things, what are they moving? People? Animals?
We gained some additional office space in our building and several people are moving down to the 11th floor. The part that confuses me is "things." If they aren't moving things, what are they moving? People? Animals?
Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at
01:16 PM
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