That’s good advice, but sometimes it just happens. Hopefully not today right now -- first meetings with him are this afternoon -- as my mind seems to be clear. How it will be in 3 hours is anyone’s guess. I was pretty disoriented up until about an hour ago. I don’t do well without at least 6 hours of sleep.
First impressions. In my experience, there’s two types of managers. 1) Those that look out for those reporting to them, or 2) Those that look out for those above them. I think this guy is #2, but I may be premature in my judgement as he’s only been here two days.
Not a good first impression, I hope he shows you better.
I was a successful manager, I had the numbers and results to prove it, in a number of businesses and different industries. The key to my success was my crews, I earned their trust and loyalty and they responded by doing a great job and that made me look good. I repeatedly had to correct my bosses when they tried to give me credit for their efforts. I would take credit for them, but not for what they did. Most people I worked for saw management as a zero sum game, to increase profit you had to squeeze the workers, but I showed them over and over that an increase in productivity allowed an increase of profit to the company, but I also fought to get the employees their share share, and they came through again and again because I earned their trust that I would do right by them. Every bad manager playing politics or squeezing their workers, hurts everyone at all levels. It burns me, if you can’t tell.
My last position was the best job I ever had until that time. I made more, had better benefits, and less hours than ever before. I had zero risk of being fired and they were very motivated to keep me happy, but The owner did not want me to hire a black worker for the warehouse. He knew he could not tell me this so he made up some BS to prevent it. I did not even know their were any black applicants but he saw some turn in applications to the front desk. He just could not understand why I could not accept this and really thought I would not give up all I had over a matter of principle that did not effect me (found this out later from someone he told). That was why I got out of management. Machining was much better to me, once I got some experience. For a while I was working three jobs and making less.
When I see a business that shows a good crew I try to leave a compliment to the manager, I know that is no accident or just good luck. A bad manager may be lucky enough to get a good employee but he will not keep them as employee or good for long enough to build a really good crew.
Thank you, Sven. I started as a teenager, but I hated it. It went against my temperament and I had regular stress headaches. Elena noticed a big difference once I went into machining.
Here’s an honest question. At times, I’ve buried a few things around the property just to give someone some excitement if they ever find them in the future. One little box had some spent .45 cartridges, an old handkerchief with a blood stain, and some foreign coins. But if like me you expect the country to be very different 50-100 years from now, and not in a good way, what would you put in a time capsule that someone 1) Might find useful in the future, or 2) Would show what America was?
That’s an interesting question, Sven. I’ll have to think about that. An instruction book on manual machining? A few grocery store flyers to show how cheap and plentiful food was?
My first impulse would be a copy of the Constitution as I expect it will have been “improved” or reinterpreted for us by our rulers. But then I wonder if people will be literate then, or will English have been reworked to where the Constitution would no longer make sense. I wonder if it will be considered criminal child abuse for a parent to teach “their” child anything not conforming to the official curriculum, such as history as remembered by the parent or values that don’t demand worship and subservience to the Federal government. Will equal rights for white people be considered criminal racism? Will the concept of biological gender by outlawed?
Will JFK’s “…ask what you can do for your country!” be the new founding principle of our Nation?
A copy of the Constitution was one of my first thoughts. I had thought of a thumb drive with a bunch of stuff on it, but upon further research that doesn’t seem feasible.
Interesting take on “progress”. We can read writing from thousands of years ago in dead languages, but we are losing the ability to retrieve data from digital media just fifty years old.
Happy Tuesday, GN. Man, I slept poorly -- maybe 3 hours all told. That’s all I got.
Good morning, Sven. Sorry to hear you could not sleep, I hope your day goes well. Good luck meeting the new boss.
Thanks, Mac -- I will do my best to be welcoming, optimistic, and enthusiastic. Or I could go full Fatwa.
Never go full Fatwa.
Just sayin’.
That’s good advice, but sometimes it just happens. Hopefully not today right now -- first meetings with him are this afternoon -- as my mind seems to be clear. How it will be in 3 hours is anyone’s guess. I was pretty disoriented up until about an hour ago. I don’t do well without at least 6 hours of sleep.
First impressions. In my experience, there’s two types of managers. 1) Those that look out for those reporting to them, or 2) Those that look out for those above them. I think this guy is #2, but I may be premature in my judgement as he’s only been here two days.
Not a good first impression, I hope he shows you better.
I was a successful manager, I had the numbers and results to prove it, in a number of businesses and different industries. The key to my success was my crews, I earned their trust and loyalty and they responded by doing a great job and that made me look good. I repeatedly had to correct my bosses when they tried to give me credit for their efforts. I would take credit for them, but not for what they did. Most people I worked for saw management as a zero sum game, to increase profit you had to squeeze the workers, but I showed them over and over that an increase in productivity allowed an increase of profit to the company, but I also fought to get the employees their share share, and they came through again and again because I earned their trust that I would do right by them. Every bad manager playing politics or squeezing their workers, hurts everyone at all levels. It burns me, if you can’t tell.
My last position was the best job I ever had until that time. I made more, had better benefits, and less hours than ever before. I had zero risk of being fired and they were very motivated to keep me happy, but The owner did not want me to hire a black worker for the warehouse. He knew he could not tell me this so he made up some BS to prevent it. I did not even know their were any black applicants but he saw some turn in applications to the front desk. He just could not understand why I could not accept this and really thought I would not give up all I had over a matter of principle that did not effect me (found this out later from someone he told). That was why I got out of management. Machining was much better to me, once I got some experience. For a while I was working three jobs and making less.
When I see a business that shows a good crew I try to leave a compliment to the manager, I know that is no accident or just good luck. A bad manager may be lucky enough to get a good employee but he will not keep them as employee or good for long enough to build a really good crew.
(Clumsily falls off his soap box)
That’s all good advice, Mac, and I can’t say I’m surprised at how you handled managing and management.
Thank you, Sven. I started as a teenager, but I hated it. It went against my temperament and I had regular stress headaches. Elena noticed a big difference once I went into machining.
I originally went to that last job to get out of management. I went in as an order picker in the warehouse. It sucks you back in.
You’re the type of politician we need -- someone who is good at the job, but doesn’t want it.
Like George Washington, just wanted to get back to his farm. The politicians we need.
Afraid I would be terrible in office.
Happy Tuesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Sven, and Mac!
Sven -- sorry about your sleep situation. I hope your meeting with your new boss goes well.
Coyotes howling like every hour on the hour -- that’s what kept me up.
Good morning, Paddy.
Good morning, Mac! I hope you and LIttle Mouse are doing well!
Here’s an honest question. At times, I’ve buried a few things around the property just to give someone some excitement if they ever find them in the future. One little box had some spent .45 cartridges, an old handkerchief with a blood stain, and some foreign coins. But if like me you expect the country to be very different 50-100 years from now, and not in a good way, what would you put in a time capsule that someone 1) Might find useful in the future, or 2) Would show what America was?
That’s an interesting question, Sven. I’ll have to think about that. An instruction book on manual machining? A few grocery store flyers to show how cheap and plentiful food was?
Both good ideas.
Naughty Sven!! I love it.
My first impulse would be a copy of the Constitution as I expect it will have been “improved” or reinterpreted for us by our rulers. But then I wonder if people will be literate then, or will English have been reworked to where the Constitution would no longer make sense. I wonder if it will be considered criminal child abuse for a parent to teach “their” child anything not conforming to the official curriculum, such as history as remembered by the parent or values that don’t demand worship and subservience to the Federal government. Will equal rights for white people be considered criminal racism? Will the concept of biological gender by outlawed?
Will JFK’s “…ask what you can do for your country!” be the new founding principle of our Nation?
A copy of the Constitution was one of my first thoughts. I had thought of a thumb drive with a bunch of stuff on it, but upon further research that doesn’t seem feasible.
Interesting take on “progress”. We can read writing from thousands of years ago in dead languages, but we are losing the ability to retrieve data from digital media just fifty years old.
Will “public servant” change from one who serves the public to a member of the public serving the State?
Maybe this book. It seems to be the Democrat’s guidebook now.
A mass shooting that got zilch attention from the anti-2A crowd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsAk9hzXblY
We wouldn’t want the plebes fearing for their safety due to open borders and a free flow of drugs into this country.