Trust without borders
11 years ago
Did you know that when you call Fed Ex Customer Support and get that voice-navigated menu thing and you say something that it tries to register it, it makes a quiet computerized blip (for lack of a better word) noise that sounds just like the noise the aliens made in Signs to communicate with each other. Not fun at 8:15 in the morning!
I have a point, I promise.
I used to hate election season. All the lying and cheating and scandal that goes on just never appealed to me. But lately, I've taken quite an interest in what's going on in the world politically, and I found out that politics is a way of life for Americans, and that's an unfortunate thing.
Think about politics. What comes to mind? Obama winning Iowa? Hillary winning New Hampshire? The fact that there's a Southern Baptist running again? (And we all know how great that turned out last time.) How they all have something very appealing that they are going to do once in office, although you know that it's more likely than not that none of what they promise will actually happen.
And that's the key right there. None of what they promise will actually happen. They make all these promises to get ahead and get the power they want. Why do they want the power? Maybe they have a secret hidden agenda. Maybe they want to be set for life. The point is, politics is not about running a nation or even running a business. Politics is about stabbing someone else in the back to get ahead for your own good.
Watching political debates makes me laugh. Why? Because they are arguing about running a country, but I can see similar arguments going down at work.
I guess that because we are all humans with a sinful nature, I shouldn't be surprised about what happens in the government, business, and the world. But, I am. Maybe I just am figuring this all out a little bit later than others.
When Tuesday rolls around, or whatever day your state's primary election is, you can vote for anyone you choose. Just remember, though, that it doesn't matter. Popularity is for all the wrong reasons and it's just a matter of time before everyone who voted for the person who won decides they don't like them and claims to have not voted for them in the first place.
It's just like business. Everyone is always covering themselves at no expense. For instance, let's assume that some guy from another company that you are doing a joint project with has been emailing and calling you and basically pushing work he should be doing off on you. Why? Because he asked someone at your job for one thing and they had told him to ask you to do it. So, he started skipping the middle man and sending request after request to you. When you started to get multiple demands rather than an occasional request, you say something about it. His response? Someone at your office had told him to have you do all the work. So not true! But, if it came down to losing the partnership, what were his options, really? Admit he was shoving work on you or cover himself at someone else's expense?
Every day, those are the kinds of things that get dealt with. When I was working at McDonald's, although I enjoyed the job, I craved a fancy business job where I could dress up and sit at a desk and do important things. Now I have that job. And, surprisingly, I enjoyed McDonald's much more. For starters, I was friends with the people I worked with at McDonald's. Why? Because it made the day better. No one really sticks around too long at McDonald's, so the politics of it all are far less than they are anywhere else. Sure, everyone wanted more, but if you made friends with your coworkers and managers, you realized that for that job, it wasn't worth the fight. And what happened? You enjoyed yourself.
But in business, things are totally different. You've got to "look our for number one!" Lie, manipulate, and complain your way to the top. That's what business is. You aren't friends with the people you work with in a job like that because, well, why would you want to be? They don't have your best interests at heart. So why bother? It's all about deceit and betrayal. Who would want to be friends with that?
Moral of the story:
Why am I spending so much time and money on a degree in business when, obviously, I can learn more about business from watching election coverage on TV?
I used to hate election season. All the lying and cheating and scandal that goes on just never appealed to me. But lately, I've taken quite an interest in what's going on in the world politically, and I found out that politics is a way of life for Americans, and that's an unfortunate thing.
Think about politics. What comes to mind? Obama winning Iowa? Hillary winning New Hampshire? The fact that there's a Southern Baptist running again? (And we all know how great that turned out last time.) How they all have something very appealing that they are going to do once in office, although you know that it's more likely than not that none of what they promise will actually happen.
And that's the key right there. None of what they promise will actually happen. They make all these promises to get ahead and get the power they want. Why do they want the power? Maybe they have a secret hidden agenda. Maybe they want to be set for life. The point is, politics is not about running a nation or even running a business. Politics is about stabbing someone else in the back to get ahead for your own good.
Watching political debates makes me laugh. Why? Because they are arguing about running a country, but I can see similar arguments going down at work.
I guess that because we are all humans with a sinful nature, I shouldn't be surprised about what happens in the government, business, and the world. But, I am. Maybe I just am figuring this all out a little bit later than others.
When Tuesday rolls around, or whatever day your state's primary election is, you can vote for anyone you choose. Just remember, though, that it doesn't matter. Popularity is for all the wrong reasons and it's just a matter of time before everyone who voted for the person who won decides they don't like them and claims to have not voted for them in the first place.
It's just like business. Everyone is always covering themselves at no expense. For instance, let's assume that some guy from another company that you are doing a joint project with has been emailing and calling you and basically pushing work he should be doing off on you. Why? Because he asked someone at your job for one thing and they had told him to ask you to do it. So, he started skipping the middle man and sending request after request to you. When you started to get multiple demands rather than an occasional request, you say something about it. His response? Someone at your office had told him to have you do all the work. So not true! But, if it came down to losing the partnership, what were his options, really? Admit he was shoving work on you or cover himself at someone else's expense?
Every day, those are the kinds of things that get dealt with. When I was working at McDonald's, although I enjoyed the job, I craved a fancy business job where I could dress up and sit at a desk and do important things. Now I have that job. And, surprisingly, I enjoyed McDonald's much more. For starters, I was friends with the people I worked with at McDonald's. Why? Because it made the day better. No one really sticks around too long at McDonald's, so the politics of it all are far less than they are anywhere else. Sure, everyone wanted more, but if you made friends with your coworkers and managers, you realized that for that job, it wasn't worth the fight. And what happened? You enjoyed yourself.
But in business, things are totally different. You've got to "look our for number one!" Lie, manipulate, and complain your way to the top. That's what business is. You aren't friends with the people you work with in a job like that because, well, why would you want to be? They don't have your best interests at heart. So why bother? It's all about deceit and betrayal. Who would want to be friends with that?
Moral of the story:
Why am I spending so much time and money on a degree in business when, obviously, I can learn more about business from watching election coverage on TV?
1. Name dropping. For example, last week I got a number of phone calls from someone claiming that the owner of the company I work for told him to get me to help him out. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But the overall point was that I had not been told to do the work this guy was asking for, nor did I have the time to do the work he was asking for. And I told him such. But, he thought that by telling me that "I talked to Daren and HE said for YOU..." I would shut up and do it. Not so!
2. Working on holidays. What a freaking joke. If you want to be a small business owner who is truly involved, then don't take December 15 through January 3 off of work and only give your employees December 24, 25 and January 1 off. I've worked New Year's Eve before and it's no big deal, but when nobody that we do work for is open...why do we have to be?
3. As discussed earlier this year, interrupting. When I answer the phone, let me say what I have to say before you start talking over me. And if you interrupt me to drop a name, chances are your call will go to voice mail even if the person you are asking for is standing right in front of me.
4. Getting work calls on the weekend and on my personal vacation days. Specifically, getting work calls on Sunday morning during church for something that is going to have to wait until Monday anyway. So really, why bother calling?! Although the best yet was a call at 7:45 am the day after Christmas, which I had taken off, followed by a call at 8:30 to apologize for the fact that someone else had called me. Really? Do these people hear themselves?
5. Other people using my computer.
6. The fact that because of the way vacation hours work here, I will not get a day off of work until probably the end of May.
7. How my scope of work changes depending on what someone wants me to get done.
8. The fact that I'm usually the first one to get here and the last to leave.
9. Responsibility given to me that I did not ask for, was not hired to be responsible for, and am not being paid for.
10. Dress codes not being followed. I am sick of showing up all dressed nicely because it's a Monday, and yet just because it's a Monday that is also a holiday, everyone else is in jeans...or sweats. Seriously.
11. That way that people talk down to you but disguise it to be more like giving you unrequested advice.
12. The fact that people judge me because I don't eat at all the expensive places around here. Maybe if I was making more money I would. But right now, I get paid about a tenth of what you make to do the same work so LEAVE ME ALONE!
13. People asking for my advice on something and then not taking it at all.
14. People expecting me to be okay with having to fix things that result from not taking my advice.
15. Stuff that I don't need/am not responsible for getting put on my desk, and then comments being made about my desk being messy.
16. My name being spelled wrong. Seriously? It's on like every piece of paperwork ever but when you write it down do you really forget the H?!
17. Being asked about my weekend/days off work. It's my personal time. If I want to share what I did with you, I will. But when you ask me, I will probably make something up because obviously I don't care for you to know or I would have already told you. And when I ask you back, it's just for the illusion of politeness.
18. Being asked the same questions over and over again, and giving the exact same answer over and over again, but nobody doing anything about it.
19. People calling/texting/emailing/instant messaging me on their day off. If you aren't here, I shouldn't have to deal with you.
20. Working on huge projects, turning them in, never hearing anything about them, and then being told 4 months later to do the same project again. Because nobody pays attention to what I do.
2. Working on holidays. What a freaking joke. If you want to be a small business owner who is truly involved, then don't take December 15 through January 3 off of work and only give your employees December 24, 25 and January 1 off. I've worked New Year's Eve before and it's no big deal, but when nobody that we do work for is open...why do we have to be?
3. As discussed earlier this year, interrupting. When I answer the phone, let me say what I have to say before you start talking over me. And if you interrupt me to drop a name, chances are your call will go to voice mail even if the person you are asking for is standing right in front of me.
4. Getting work calls on the weekend and on my personal vacation days. Specifically, getting work calls on Sunday morning during church for something that is going to have to wait until Monday anyway. So really, why bother calling?! Although the best yet was a call at 7:45 am the day after Christmas, which I had taken off, followed by a call at 8:30 to apologize for the fact that someone else had called me. Really? Do these people hear themselves?
5. Other people using my computer.
6. The fact that because of the way vacation hours work here, I will not get a day off of work until probably the end of May.
7. How my scope of work changes depending on what someone wants me to get done.
8. The fact that I'm usually the first one to get here and the last to leave.
9. Responsibility given to me that I did not ask for, was not hired to be responsible for, and am not being paid for.
10. Dress codes not being followed. I am sick of showing up all dressed nicely because it's a Monday, and yet just because it's a Monday that is also a holiday, everyone else is in jeans...or sweats. Seriously.
11. That way that people talk down to you but disguise it to be more like giving you unrequested advice.
12. The fact that people judge me because I don't eat at all the expensive places around here. Maybe if I was making more money I would. But right now, I get paid about a tenth of what you make to do the same work so LEAVE ME ALONE!
13. People asking for my advice on something and then not taking it at all.
14. People expecting me to be okay with having to fix things that result from not taking my advice.
15. Stuff that I don't need/am not responsible for getting put on my desk, and then comments being made about my desk being messy.
16. My name being spelled wrong. Seriously? It's on like every piece of paperwork ever but when you write it down do you really forget the H?!
17. Being asked about my weekend/days off work. It's my personal time. If I want to share what I did with you, I will. But when you ask me, I will probably make something up because obviously I don't care for you to know or I would have already told you. And when I ask you back, it's just for the illusion of politeness.
18. Being asked the same questions over and over again, and giving the exact same answer over and over again, but nobody doing anything about it.
19. People calling/texting/emailing/instant messaging me on their day off. If you aren't here, I shouldn't have to deal with you.
20. Working on huge projects, turning them in, never hearing anything about them, and then being told 4 months later to do the same project again. Because nobody pays attention to what I do.
This morning, on my drive to work, I encountered something I've never seen before.
I turned onto the entrance ramp for westbound I-94 and had to come to an abrupt stop. There, right in the middle of the entrance ramp blocking most of the lane was a vehicle. But the odd thing about this vehicle was that it was a Jeep without it's top, caked in mud, and missing it's driver's side rear wheel. It was also turned completely around and facing oncoming traffic. There weren't any people in the area, or police officers either, and the police station is like one mile down the road! It was odd, and luckily there wasn't any snow so I was able to drive through the grass to get around the Jeep.
Great way to start your morning, huh?!
I turned onto the entrance ramp for westbound I-94 and had to come to an abrupt stop. There, right in the middle of the entrance ramp blocking most of the lane was a vehicle. But the odd thing about this vehicle was that it was a Jeep without it's top, caked in mud, and missing it's driver's side rear wheel. It was also turned completely around and facing oncoming traffic. There weren't any people in the area, or police officers either, and the police station is like one mile down the road! It was odd, and luckily there wasn't any snow so I was able to drive through the grass to get around the Jeep.
Great way to start your morning, huh?!
Forget all the hate lists. The only thing I truly hate in life is when people interrupt me.
- Working in a city that is on the water where in the summer, the bridges go up every half hour whether or not there's a boat that needs to go under the bridges. Then, traffic backs up for about 20 minutes.
- Having a job where you are viewed as a kid. I do the kind of work that someone would pay an outside company $80 to $100 an hour to do, but I make what a kid fresh out of high school would make. And everything is always "good experience" for me, even if it's something that I've been doing for years or that nobody else has any clue how to do!
- Women in $65,000+ SUVs. They don't know how to drive and they usually think that because they have such an expensive vehicle, the rules of the road don't apply to them. I just want to throw bricks at them sometimes.
- Anyone who thinks that me being quiet in the morning means I'm in a bad mood. Maybe I'm just tired. I work full time, go to school, drive 40 minutes each way for work, have a boyfriend, friends, and a dog. Or maybe, I just don't like how you think it's absolutely vital that you come over to my desk and attempt to engage me in conversation about something I have absolutely no interest in!
- People who think that just because I've expressed an interest in one particular thing - like perhaps a movie whose target audience is 8 to 12 year old boys - I must be interested in every single thing that could somehow, on any level, relate back to the before mentioned thing.
- Tactless people. I know a lot of them. And in all seriousness, I've reached the point with some of them where any respect I may have once had has severely decreased. It is hard to watch someone pretty much be a perfect example of a horrible human being and yet still they expect you to respect them. I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen. And to further add to that, it only gets worse when the tactless person is also a good combination of the other types of people I don't like. There's nothing worse than a tactless person who thinks they know everything about me and who I am (even thought they really know nothing about me) and acts like they are a shining example to others and demands that I respect them.
- Bridges. Because of this. This morning, I told my mom that if I die because of a bridge, I fully expect her to sue every single person she can. And, if my death occurs on the Zilwaukee Bridge, I expect my family to pretty much own Michigan!
- Unorganized work spaces. My desk at work is spotless. And I keep it organized. And I keep everything else that I'm responsible for organized. Shipping materials, binding materials, assorted office products. They are all nicely organized. So why can't others return the favor and try to keep their areas - or even just things other people need access to - organized!
- When I'm given a computer to fix and there is no rhyme or reason as to how the files are organized. Maybe it's because I like to keep things organized, but seriously, why would someone just save things under random names and in random places on their computer? Do people not realize how hard that makes things for me?
- When places I like go out of business. For example, yesterday Aharon and I planned to have a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant, Steak n Shake. We hadn't been there in a month or so and I had sold some makeup so we had a little extra cash on us. So, we get there, only to find out that they went out of business the day before. I cried a little standing in the parking lot. It was the saddest thing ever. I'm still sad and I probably will be for a while.
- Power outages. Especially ones that last for 7 or 8 hours. And even more especially, ones that happen on a day when all I really wanted to do (because of my sorrow over Steak n Shake) was watch the reruns on NBC. Because that's something I look forward to on Thursdays.
- Customer Service. It really doesn't matter what company or anything like that. So insert your least favorite here: _______ Customer Service. Because I have found that the vast majority of them really don't want to do anything to make your life better. A week or so ago, I had to call Xerox Customer Service because of problems with Madison Heights' copier. Basically, she told me she couldn't do anything, but she paged a technician for me. The technician called and told me that she couldn't do anything for a couple of weeks but "here's what I could do!" What's with pushing their jobs onto me? That sucks!
- America's obsession with celebrities. It's such a waste! Every day, I wonder less and less about why the rest of the world hates us. Maybe if we had a bigger interest in real issues, the rest of the world wouldn't want to see us dead.
- Caffeine, but only because it's a diuretic. Otherwise, I love caffeine and I need it to survive. But I hate having to use the restroom like every 15 minutes.
- The fact that people are saying that with the recent hot weather, we are in a heat wave! I can't remember a single summer where we haven't experienced at least a week where it was in the 90's every day. Come on, people! This is Michigan. Get used to it!
- People who can't carry on conversations. This does not include quiet people. I have no problem with them. I'm talking about people who want to talk you to death but don't really care about what you have to say. Bonus points if the person will talk over you when only the two of you are involved in a conversation.
- Ice cream trucks in the city of Memphis. Mostly because no matter where they are within the city limits, I can hear their annoying music. And the music they play is truly annoying. I don't know why kids are drawn to it. If I was a kid I would cry. But then again, I don't like ice cream.
- City wide garage sales. Or as my dad calls them, "Pre-landfill sales." Enough said.
- Forgetting my lunch. Especially when my lunch also had my breakfast in it.
- The fact that it took me a week to come up with enough things to fill this list!
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