tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742305166151734198.post3601245506847269909..comments2023-08-18T06:03:28.680-07:00Comments on Alpha Asian: Iron Rice BowlUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742305166151734198.post-16226320044300018692012-12-12T14:58:27.128-08:002012-12-12T14:58:27.128-08:00Yeah email is good way to CYA. Like they say, the...Yeah email is good way to CYA. Like they say, the faintest of ink is better than the clearest of memories.<br />Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13649094298355514533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742305166151734198.post-20513592581149316762012-12-12T14:55:10.272-08:002012-12-12T14:55:10.272-08:00Thanks Masir. Glad to see you back blogging!Thanks Masir. Glad to see you back blogging!Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13649094298355514533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742305166151734198.post-91942314590680614732012-12-11T23:47:44.302-08:002012-12-11T23:47:44.302-08:00Very good post. You just inspired me to write a bl...Very good post. You just inspired me to write a blog on this topic. Good stuff.MaSirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17112263977105108306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742305166151734198.post-66944592293435512332012-12-11T12:08:29.649-08:002012-12-11T12:08:29.649-08:00Interesting post....there's something to be sa...Interesting post....there's something to be said for having economic security if you're going to use it to further enrich yourself through self improvement or indulging in your hobbies or interests. As for not caring? That's not something I can answer for other people, I can only address what motivates me outside of the work life. For as much as the job I have (a federal government position) is interesting and lets me see and do interesting things, I don't enrich my soul from the job. it gives me great life experiences, but i look elsewhere for things that feed my soul. i would hope others do the same. Very rarely is anyone their job; it might define a part of who you are, but it shouldn't consume you. <br /><br />Moreover, I think in terms of workplace advancement, we should all know by now that meritocracy is a fiction. Like James said, it's about the social networking, your corridor reputation within the company. Doing good work is important, but the other half of it is the politics. Who do you align yourself with? Who's coat tails can you ride? And sometimes the best people don't get promoted, so let me talk about the other side of the equation. <br /><br />I am not a mid level supervisor even though there are great chances to be one, I have had others advocate me to take a certain position ,etc.. I know that I can be one and a damn good one because I've seen all the mistakes others make. I also had a great boss and learned a lot from him (having a mentor is definitely a plus). Yet, I remain a senior journeyman and I am content with that role. I made peace with not getting promoted within place here in my field office (politics and competing against HQ entities makes a promotion here virtually impossible). I could obtain one at HQs or take one out in another field division, but I choose not to. Besides, who the hell wants to move and go to El Paso? Or take a supervisory slot in Milwaukee? There's no guarantee that anyone will appreciate you taking a less glamorous post. The powers that be just want to fill a slot. They don't give a damn about your sacrifices. <br /><br />You see, sometimes it's not about the extra cash or the job title. It's about your happiness. I'll just say that I spent my early years at HQs hating life. Sometimes, a bureaucracy is very much like high school---with all the cliques and the gossip crap that goes on. For me, to go take a supervisory position for a unit that doesn't engage in the kind of work that I'd find interesting would be simply be for the cash. And it would also bore the shit out of me. Additionally, the quality of life would suffer. My commute would be longer, there would be more meetings, more headaches to deal with and you have to deal with section chiefs that you don't like and never respected. That's the big problem: having to deal with other managers and section heads that you've disliked. And they will now be your peer group once you become one of them. <br /><br />I'd say you have to pick and choose carefully in your decision making process. For me, it has to be the right place with the right people. And think about what your escape plan is should the people you allied yourself get removed or transferred. The long knives come out once people know your benefactor is gone. You also have to examine what your own value system is and what you're willing to compromise. And always leave a paper trail that shows that YOU did the work, be it a memo in the file, to your boss, an email that also CC's the front office heads. That way, the boss can't bad mouth you behind your back and trash your work. How will he or she explain why they sent you an email congratulating you on a job well done and then trash you to the higher ups and say that you dorked up the project? <br /><br />Like James said, always keep your good reputation intact. Don't always trust people to do the right thing so protect yourself in a bureaucracy. And find that one person you can trust and have as a mentor. <br /><br />MojoRiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11311457975441192174noreply@blogger.com