It's me again, back from a long hiatus. I could give many reasons for my extended absence, but truth be told, I just haven't felt like writing for a long time--until now.Recent events at work have compelled me to find an outlet to work out my thoughts. The events are nothing major: just the same old struggles of severing "friendship" bonds that I no longer want tying me down as well as "movin' on up" in my organization while lazy co-workers bitch, complain, accuse, make excuses, and do everything under the sun--except their work--as they watch from the sidelines, stagnating and festering in their same positions.
Why can't people just do what they're paid to do? It's so simple. They could avoid so much of the extraneous B.S. if they just focused on their jobs. Then we'd all be rewarded for the stellar work each one of us contributes, we'd all feel appreciated and validated, and there'd be no need for them to feel resentment towards me, or for me to feel guilt at receiving opportunities denied to others.
What's really tragic are those people who've managed to get ahead in the past and then muck it up with their unprofessionalism, plotting, scheming, and other craziness. These people, more than anyone else, make me firmly committed to keeping my distance from them. I don't want to be associated in any way, shape, or form with these "bad karma magnets." And I swear, those who do associate with them are going nowhere fast.
People like this have also made me realize the need to keep my sense of self-worth independent of advancement or demotion. I've seen people who've attached their egos to their positions of power, only to get humiliated and deflated when the rug is pulled out from under them. One person likes you and gives you an opportunity, then the regime changes, and if you've abused your power and pissed off too many people, there goes your prestige and honor.
At the end of the day, I'm there to do a job. If the current regime wants to promote me to a managerial position in order to carry out their goals, I hope I will always remain grounded enough to just focus on the task at hand and disavow myself from any delusions of grandeur or honor. If the next (or even current) regime feels it's time to demote me from a higher position of power, I still hope I can just focus on whatever needs to be done to contribute to the organization the best way that I can.
Based on my own experiences as well as what I've witnessed of others', I've come to realize the true meaning of "work is work." The minute you start attaching your identity to a particular "clique" or position of prestige, you're setting yourself up for a lot of unnecessary and avoidable misery in the future. When all is said and done, it's just a job. If emotions start to boil for whatever reason, give it up, turn it loose, and move on. Not an easy lesson to live by, but vital if you want to avoid going postal--and no job or social group is worth making me go out like that. Not a chance in hell would I let that happen.
