the straw.
June 10, 2008
(No camels were hurt in the writing of this blog post.)
Today I have a story for you, a story about a good friend of mine, and his wife. It is a short story, but one that is close to my heart.
My friend was telling me a bit about recent events in his life, last week and today. He and his wife work at the same company, a company that prides itself on being “professional” and “top notch” (I’ve used different corporate buzzwords, to protect the innocent).
Last week, my friend and his wife were going out for lunch. The nice lady was driving. As they approached the security checkpoint, they stopped. No security guards were in sight. They waited a good 10 seconds, and then proceeded through the checkpoint.
It was then that the security guard appeared, and shouted at them to stop. He proceeded to berate them, and when the nice lady apologized, the security guard offered nothing in return.
This upset the nice lady very much. Her husband, knowing how these types operate, said nothing, but glared at the security guard. When the lady told her boss about this after lunch, he brushed it off and said, “the guard must have been having a bad day”.
This from a company that prides itself on being “professional” and “top notch”.
No. This is unprofessional. Unacceptable, even. (There’s that corporate buzzword again.)
My friend was telling me today how he is now required to generate a document by the end of the week. You see, the deadline has been moved up by three weeks – THREE WEEKS – at the whim of his supervisor’s supervisor.
Failure to deliver on this commitment will be unacceptable.
This from a company which quite publicly embarrassed itself on the international market, and then brushed it off.
(Details withheld to protect the innocent.)
That was the straw.
My friend contacted an old colleague last week, on a whim, to see if there was a chance of employment elsewhere. The response came within 10 minutes by email. You see, my friend is more marketable than his company would tell him.
My friend is not sure whether this lead will go anywhere, but he is encouraged and will continue. He also has some other independent projects he will continue to pursue.
I have asked my friend if I may report on his progress as a new 6 week challenge (seeing as I dropped the ball this week on my running and writing report), and he agreed.
We will see how well my friend does on his quest. I have a feeling that he will do well, once his “urgent” document is out of the way.
Employers:
Beware the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
It may only take your employees 6 weeks to find a new job. Perhaps less.
–
Alas, my friend did not run last week at all. He was ill and felt that it was best not to make it worse. He probably could have run on Friday night, but he traveled six hours by car that afternoon and once the children were settled, he was too fatigued.
He did write, however. Three thousand, four hundred and eighty-seven words. I am proud of my friend.
I am sorry to hear about the last straw, but at the same time I am very proud of your friend. I know your friend is destined for great things.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Cucumber Watermelon
I wish your friend the very best of luck. Your friend definitely deserves better, and I hope it all works out
Thank you Allison – I will pass the message along to my friend, as I’m sure he will appreciate the encouragement
He got some other news last night about a little mini-project he is working on (setting up a blog for a science academy) so that is something nice to look forward to doing. He’s pretty excited about that and will need some help from the Men with Pens eventually (hear that guys?)
@Colleen,
My friend says thank you
wow, this popped in while I was answering Allison’s comment. I am quite sure that it will work out for him…
Brett,
Would my friend pass along to his friend that I don’t feel bad about the last straw, but I feel terrible about the other 3,798,462 straws, please? I hope that good lady saw at least one straw lifted by her very sweet husband. She should keep him.
Be well, friend and lady.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Why Aren’t We Making More Money? Your Pain Points Revealed
I feel for your friend. I hope he finds a good position in a company that knows the value of its employees. Too many companies these days don’t seem to value their employees. Some will go so far as to create corporate programs to enhance morale and work-life balance (gyms, walking programs, charities, etc.). But most of them forget that employees need to be treated with respect every day, not just on special occasions.
I gasped at the company’s treatment. Especially the 3-week stunt. DIRTY.
I love how this friend is recognizing the positive in this, however, and turning it into opportunity! I feel certain we’ll hear something wonderful very soon…
steph’s last blog post..does writing have to be positive in some way to be beneficial?
Kelly,
Yes, I will pass this lovely message along to my friend. He thanks you very much, as does his lovely wife. I’m hoping that she will keep him
May you also be well – good things are in store for my friend!
^ ^
. .
^
o
@Sandie,
My friend thanks you
and he will find something, or create it on his own – or both. I hear you, some companies (such as my friend’s) don’t do a very good job of keeping their employees healthy and happy.
@steph,
As did I! My friend reviewed the contract he agreed to earlier in the year, and it clearly states the original target date. My friend may push back a little if things get delayed and he takes any flack.
But no matter. My friend *does* see the positive in this and he can and will overcome!
I will let you know how he does…
@All,
My friend thanks you for your kindness
Brett, I am sure by now you have reminded your friend of CAN and WILL
WILL being the part of determination. The STRAW often being the part that puts WILL on the table at last. While CAN stands around for a long while when the last straw arrives, WILL gets going…
Send a hug to your friend from me. And tell him good job on his writing. He saves you from getting your rear kicked for not having a writing report. ( I saw your note about being away with your kids in a hotel room. Enough said ’bout that!)
,
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..A Spring Rain
Brett
Your friend speaks wisely. He writes well, too.
It sounds like that company is gonna lose a lot of people, at this rate.
PS. Poor Camel…!!!
Friar’s last blog post..The End of Days: Ten Sure Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
@Wendi,
Yes, he is very familiar with CAN and WILL. In fact, WILL is so busy he needs to clone himself…
my friend appreciates the hug and the encouragement. He can and will get there.
@Friar,
Amen Brother. And my friend thanks you for what you said.
Brett
I bet your friend is holding back, for the sake of protecting the innocent, like you say.
I bet you he has lots more stories, even better than this last one, eh?
Not that I would know what he’s talking out.
Friar’s last blog post..The End of Days: Ten Sure Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
@Friar,
My friend is full of stories. He’ll tell you a few around the bonfire some time…
Tell your friend this is yet another *sign*. And to follow it.
‘Supervisor’s supervisor’…that made me roll the eyes and smirk.
My gratitude of the day: I don’t have to deal with that kind of crap. Now I can handle the 17 hour work day I have ahead of me with a smile. Thanks Brett!
(that’s not sarcasm)
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen JL,
Oh, he knows
and he’s following the signs, as fast as his little (bare) feet can carry him (without tripping over his kilt!)
I’m glad that you got a kick out of that – yes, someone two levels away decides to take a vacation… chaos!
And may I say, you are very welcome! My friend plans to get to that point himself – if he has to work that hard, he wants it to be “his choice”.
(Yes, he knows that a client could pull a similar stunt. But at least my friend could fire a client…)
Good luck with your 17-hour day – you’ll do fine!
@Karen
A 17 hour day?
UGHHH..
I’m too jaded and burnt out to work like that anymore!
Friar’s last blog post..The End of Days: Ten Sure Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
@ Friar
So am I.
(it’s all so Brett’s kids have cartoons to watch)
3 more days…
@ Brett
That’s the problem with big companies…levels.
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen
Just so long as you don’t make Caillou-type of cartoons that brainwash kids into acting like little Wussies!
Friar’s last blog post..The End of Days: Ten Sure Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
@ Friar
It’s about a purple, evil(ish), hairless, alien cat.
How’s that?
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen;
No…seriously?
I APPROVE…!!!!
Friar’s last blog post..The End of Days: Ten Sure Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
@ Friar
Dead serious.
(you can get a little peek from my blog on the left sidebar link)
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen JL,
I will *totally* watch that show. It looks really neat. Wait until I tell my wife, I mean, my friend’s wife
that I know the person who’s storyboarding it when it hits the airwaves… awesome!
@Friar,
I think *we’d* enjoy watching that on Thursdays…
@ Brett
I hope it turns out OK (a buddy of mine is the creator). A few months ago a certain ‘corporation’ got involved. Since then, there has been compromises, hoop-jumping and schedule nightmares. Animation can be one big widget factory too.
I stay away and just do my thing…I like it that way.
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
Yo,
I am your friend and always will be. Anything I say has no ulterior motives. There is nothing to read into it, I pull no punches.
I will quote Sean Connery in The Rock “Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fsck the prom queen”
People get the meaning behind what he says here wrong. He is not saying people who talk are losers, or that trying your best is a bad thing.
What he is saying is go out there and do it man! Walk up to the prom queen, tell her she is the most beautiful person you have ever seen, then make paasionate love to her.
It takes some people 6 weeks, others 6 months, others 6 hours.
Brett, tell your friend to go home and fcsk the prom queen. I look forward to seeing him in Southern Ontario soon, lots of houses for sale in my ‘hood.
Oh yeah, tell your friend to buy a horse next time, camels stink.
@Karen JL,
It will turn out. I have a good feeling about it…
@Francis,
My friend is working on it, very hard right now. While you are asleep at 4 am, my friend is awake every day. Working on finding a new, better job. Working on his books. Working on that crazy business plan he mentioned to you a while ago (he has a potential partner in the UK).
@Karen JL
No way..!?! You work on storyboarding that? AWESOME..!!
I can see it’s one of those “cool” cartoons…non-educational, that’s purely fun for both kids and adults. I definitely approve!
The drawing style is reminscent to that of “Fairly Odd Parents”, which is another cool cartoon.
Friar’s last blog post..Travels with the Bear: Yellowstone National Park
Good analogy Brett. Great story, too. Of course the analogy goes with the story.
Sometimes the universe hits us over the head with the same old shit and you just have to listen. I think your friend knows the jig is up, and it’s time to move on. Moving on for your friend will be healthy and good. It will be sane. Insanity at work should not be tolerated. Your friend could get sick or worse! Like go postal!
Incidentally, I could never figure this out about postal workers. They don’t have high stress jobs like your friend. Go figure?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Pouring Yourself into Purity
@Ellen,
Thank you, and thank you
Exactly – it’s like a follow on to my last few posts about signs and looking at the note in the mirror. My friend can see the writing is on the wall, and change will be good for him. I’m sure that this was part and parcel to the cold that would not die… but he won’t go postal. Running will keep him sane, and his lovely family.
I know what you mean – how hard can it be to sort mail?
Brett,
Imagine what a postal worker would do at the widget factory! Oh my!
Part and parcel to the cold that would not die. Interesting. Your friend is a good reader of the signs. Perhaps he reads the runes.
It reminds me of the time I got exzema on my hands and it wouldn’t leave due to a dysfunctional relationship that I was involved in and had to separate from. This person was literally getting under my skin.
I haven’t had the condition since we moved away from this person.
I hope Owen is feeling better.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Pouring Yourself into Purity
@Ellen
A friend of mine can relate to your exzema. In his case, it was chest pains and insonmia due to a toxic co-worker and bad management. It was literally making him sick.
But he transferred to another department, and it went away.
Unfortunately, with his new job, he’s pretty much in the same boat as Brett’s friend.
Oh well. At least he’s a bit better off (by default).
Friar’s last blog post..Travels with the Bear: Yellowstone National Park
Ellen,
No kidding… it would not be good!
Yes, he does read the runes sometimes, and he is learning how to read them better. Our environment has a definite effect on us, and it is not just chemical or biological. It can be a feeling. A person/personality, or a place, can make us ill. The connection between the mind and body is strong. You know all of this, I know.
Oh yes – Owen is fine! Back to his old tricks
thanks for asking.
@Brett
It’s amazing, eh? How all it can take is that one wrong person to ruin an otherwise perfectly good work environment.
For example, I once worked for a close cousin to the Anti-Christ.
I think you know who I’m talknig about!
Friar’s last blog post..Travels with the Bear: Yellowstone National Park
Brett, my kilted wonder friend, tell your friend that I am proud of him for allowing that to be the last straw. You see so many others continue on even after the camel’s back has been broken and he is lying shredded in the hot desert sun and wolves are picking his carcass. Your friend had the courage to recognize that he could change his destiny. I have worked with people like your friend and they have all transitioned into bigger and better. Can AND WILL!
You know Brett, sometimes that’s exactly what it takes… a straw.
I hate it when employers gush all over their customers and crap all over their employees. That is one of my pet peeves.
Tell your friend good luck
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..What I’ve Learned About Blogging
@Friar,
Exactly. The old saying, “one bad apple spoils the bunch” is a really good one.
@Karen,
My friend says “thank you”, and the words CAN and WILL are at the forefront of his thinking today. He even sent for an ambulance for the poor camel
@Melissa,
My friend says thank you – he has a lot of inspirational people to help him, such as yourself. He’ll keep the straw as a souvenir, a memoir for later when he is successful and laughing at what transpired here this week.
Tell your friend southern Ontario is about 2.5 hours from me. Doesn’t Naomi Dunford live over there?
Procrastination is not my friend today. I suppose I need a break.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Pouring Yourself into Purity
@Ellen,
That’s what I was thinking. My friend needs to go and visit you
and maybe grab Naomi on the way through… she’d be up for a beer I think.
I think your friend is a top bloke. Uhm, he is indeed destined for greater things and one of these days he has to come and visit us here in sunny Oz. (Beer included).
I’m sure your friend will do very well and I’m really proud of him for having doen what he did. He truly rocks!
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Is Libel A Rising Issue For Bloggers Worldwide?
Monika,
I’ll let him know that you said that
and he will definitely come to visit you in sunny Oz for a fourex – after all, it will only be a 3-hour flight from his new home…
My friend thanks you for your words of encouragement…
Brett, I add my voice to all who congratulate your friend on his decision and wish him well. It takes a brave person to acknowledge the straw and do something about it.
I also agree with Karen: many people continue to ignore the straw and pretend the camel is still moving along as usual. (Wolves? We don’t see no stinking wolves!) A lot of them are afraid that they are not marketable — afraid to find out whether they could make it in another situation. Sometimes the broke-back camel, prison, seems safer than the world outside…if your friend is breaking out, well, some of my friends are tech recruiters if your friend needs help.
April, the reformed passivist’s last blog post..Ego Imprisons the Passivist
April,
Thank you for stopping by to say hello and I’ll pass your message on to my friend.
(short delay)
My friend says thank you for your words. He is still busy with his plans, and he says he would appreciate chatting with you about your tech recruiter friends. He will send you an email
To April again – PS, I like your blog very much (and so does my friend!)
Brett,
I wish your friend the best of luck with his plans and look forward to hearing from him. I’m glad you both like my blog.
I like yours, too, but I’m running behind on my reading today. Any running? Any head injuries? Any inspiration (BTW, I’m 3 weeks behind on BSG, so please make sure you include spoiler alerts
)? I’m off to check my reader and find out….
April, the reformed passivist’s last blog post..Ego Imprisons the Passivist
April,
You should have received a message from my friend today
I’m going to do a short run tonight, no head injuries so far (fingers crossed) and BSG is very very good (just saw Episode 10, I won’t write about it without a spoiler alert!)
I’ll have a new post up tomorrow morning at 04:00…
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