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A/S/L: 37, Male, Weston-super-Mare, UK
Marital: Relationship
Interests: My kids, movies, music, literature and computing
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Sunday, 21st November 2004 @ 14:47
uhmm. Jon, Some good points, and rather a classic arguement. "what's the point of doing anything if you are not remembered" this was the main view of the greeks, around 800bc. and I would like to think we have come on from there. How ever your point about doing what makes you happy is just, and if making some one think you are good at your job make you happy that is all well in good. You did not state in your comment if you ARE good at your job, just your views on how people see you.
I'm glad you have a happy balance in your life, and it is a shame, that we are not all sat around a table in a local pub. this conversation could go on all night.
Pete. Not at Parkway etc. but will sort something out when I'm up there.
note: my spelling and/ or grammer have never and will never improve. so sorry for the piss poor engligh.
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Saturday, 20th November 2004 @ 06:40
Well... just to clarify a few points here...
To be friends with a manager does not require "sucking up" or to "kiss ass", as to be friends with anyone, for example Tudor, requires none of this so why would a manager be any different. Most successful people like surrounding themselves with like minded people, if you want to get on then get on with those who get on...
What we are also talking about is perception. If your boss perceives you to be good then in their eyes you are. This does not require the "live to work" philosophy, but more of a working smarter philosophy. Delivering what they expect when they specifically ask for it is better than working your ass off 24x7. I work 9 'til 4:30, and "work" from home two days a week, yet I perceived as a top performer...
And finally, success is what others think of you under their wants. You may do everything you want to do and think its really cool, but if no one notices you when you die have you really been a success? I'm sure we could all reel off some amazing things we've done... travel the world, been in a rock band, climbed mountains, swam seas, own a big house in the country, have a fantastic family with beautiful and smart kids, or to have learnt the legendary Mr Chow's five finger punch of deatch kung fu move, but that doesn't appeal to everyone...
@Pete: As for my wardrobe, and it doesn't surprise me that it is one of the first things you remember?! :) All I can say is bless the world for the internet and DVDs as my wife has taken up all wardrobe space now :(
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Friday, 19th November 2004 @ 20:18
Well I'd like to sya to all my old colleagues that you're all wonderful (in your own unique way) and it was a pleasure working with you, before I had to depart to Scumdon.
And Tuds, update your site more often! It's a great read.
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Thursday, 18th November 2004 @ 15:22
My word, who'd have thought that something I wrote could start such a thread of former-colleagues flaming one another? (In a nice way, of course)
In many ways I agree with Paul, I have made a decision (or rather series of decisions) about my life. I've taken risks, I've made some mistakes but then again other decisions have paid off too. Paul's right in so many ways that when he first started I probably was a proverbial (as opposed to physical!) pain in the ass. But then again, I suspect that "jon" remembers further back than that, to 1991 back in my "soft fluffy bunny-wabbit" days, when he once showed me the content of the bottom shelf of his wardrobe in his flat in Redland. (Get the right Jon, did I Mr F-W?) In those days I really was the proverbial corporate yes man and I don't recall getting any great reward for being so. I do however remember being what Robert Kilroy-Silk so eloquently describes as 'shafted'.
I've learnt a lot from the ways I've been treated by employers. But Paul's forgetten the Third option (Third Option, not Third way although I will admit there's a copy of Giddens' book of the same name above the PC at the moment!) That third option has to be to do something completely different. (Cue Monty Python soundtrack of 'always look on the bright side of life', etc)... to generate options, to consider alternatives, to do something..... else!
You know what, that works too. Which is why in thirty minutes time I'll be stood up in front of a room full of freshers, giving a lecture on Data Design, having just organised my windsurfing trip for next Wednesday (Yup, I get to play during the day and get paid to do it too) having turned down an invitation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to be in London with them today.
Tudz, don't be a sheep! You have great instincts. Use them to find a solution that fits with your aspirations rather than with someone else's business plan.
Pete D, MA Applied Social Research, BA (Hons ) Housing Policy & Management, HND Computer Studies, Cert. Tenant Participation, MCIH.
PS : Paul, when are you going to cross the car park and come have lunch in the Faculty? I'm only next door remember!!!!
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Thursday, 18th November 2004 @ 14:14
now now no fighting please. needless to stay you have two options in working life.
1: Kiss ass do as you are told and always be someones bitch.
or
2: come in at 9 go home at 5 take the money and live your life, happy with the view that you true to your self and your friends.
i.e work to live, not live to work.
I think pete did the right thing, for years he was a stubborn "pain in the ASS", then he told stock of his life, now he is doing something which makes him fell good about his self. soon he will have washed aways his years of sining.
Jon. remember you are a womble.
Wendy, I will be home at about 4:45
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Thursday, 18th November 2004 @ 12:25
Make your own friends in management???!!!
Not everyone is prepared to kiss managements arses under the pretence of friendship. You can bet your life that they will gladly push you over the edge rather than jump themself.
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Wednesday, 17th November 2004 @ 22:58
Pete said..."What will be will be"..... oh no it won't! I never agreed with him anyway! (That's if you know who I am PD?)
You make your own destiny, and lets face it - management are as in the dark as the "mindless sheep" they manage (apart from the ones you can't trust [PG???] who are too worried about themselves rather than their staff - so just take the first sesnible exit in that case).
Make your own friends in the higher ranks of management and if you're good they'll look after you, and if you're that good you'll look after yourself.
We're about to be outsourced (again) although I'm not allowed to say to whom yet as they don't know and it'll affect the final bids, but I won't stay around and be TUPEd if the deal/job isn't right.
Rebel! Scare the business! And watch everything get insourced in 5 years time...
Just don't be a sheep... you're too close to Wales and you'll end up getting shafted and I'm not talking metaphorically!
Rant over... Jon
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Wednesday, 17th November 2004 @ 18:45
Tudz,
I would have thought that if your time in Cannons House taught you anything it should have be that (a) change is inevitable (b) it is usually triggered by people woefully unprepared to deal with its consequences and (c) perception is stronger than reality...... Sometimes, for example, it's convenient for managers to cause their staff to believe they have no job security (it's cheaper than paying redundancy if a manager simply allows all his staff to resign). Plus, it allows the employment of cheaper, even-less trained staff with fewer awkward conditions of employment like a proper wage for example.
Whatever will be will be. The thing you CAN change however is how you feel towards events.
Pete.
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