Management Styles

I have found it very interesting being an employee lately, rather than the manager or owner of a business. I suppose, in some ways, I have forgotten that businesses are still run through Tayloristic and Machiavellian means means. That was never my style. But that seems to be the case in some places, such as the one where I am now. Unfortunately, there will most likely always be people at the level on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that will respond to this sort of management. They need a job (as we "all" do), and will do whatever the boss tells them to do. It does not matter if it is a demeaning task... because they do need to be done. However, when someone crosses an entire room to ask me to do something that they could have already had done five minutes ago (but that they feel is "below" them), there is a problem. Is any task truly below anyone? Of course, if the "boss" is too busy catching up on neighborhood gossip, then I am sure that person would need help doing menial tasks rather than accomplishing them herself/hiself.

I guess I did not realize that some managers had people who would gladly cover ther inadequacies and make sure that they were performing all of the tasks they needed to perform for that day. I have always been the last one responsible for every task that was on my plate for the day -- no matter how many or how often those things changed. I suppose this is why I am no longer cut out to be an employee. Perhaps the bar I have set for myself is too high for some others to reach. Or perhaps it is their lack of trying. I'm nothing special. I don't think that what I ask of myself is anything out of the ordinary compared to what every manager should ask of themselves.
Interestingly, this particular person that I work for now seems to think that she is in this position simply to have other people do her grunt work. It is very hard to have respect for someone who, obviously, married into the position they are in, and have decided to take advantage of that. Does this person put in a lot of hours? Heck yes!!! More hours than most normal people ever would. However, if any of these hours were used to their capacity, rather than chatting with friends and gossiping about other owners and the like, this person could cut her work time in half! It's about actually working when you are at work. It's about working smarter, not making it look like you work harder. Maybe I am wrong. I just think that work ethic speaks volumes more than so many other things when it comes to how you are perceived. Maybe not. That's just the way I was brought up. It's what I know.

McTaxes?

I caught the end of news story the other day where some municipality in California (imagine that!) was thinking about taxing soda. Their reasoning was that bad eating habits, etc. cost money. Unhealthy behaviors, in their opinion, cost too much money in health care, etc. Do we truly need the government to tell us what is bad for us? Are we not adults and able to make our own decisions about ourselves, what we ingest, and how we live?

What's next, taxes on fast food? Tax cuts for people who exercise three times a week at a government-sanctioned and controlled health facility?!? Come on, people. Let's get real.

What ever happened to being RESPONSIBLE as an adult?!? If you cannot be responsible for yourself, then I suppose we could never expect you to be responsible for the five children you have had. Nor can you be held responsible for the fact that you have allowed them a gallon of soda a day from the very day they knew how "yummy" it was. Afterall, you are "too busy" with the rest of your life to actually spend enough time with your children to instill good habits upon them. It is much easier to cave to their every whim... including soda, fast food, Twinkies (TM). Let me ask you this. Who told you life would be easy? Who told you someone else would cover for your own stupidity? If you need someone to control every aspect of your life and you are not able to handle to responsibilities of being an adult and not being a tremendous burden on the rest of society because of it, please let me know. I can give you a long list of countries to which you can relocate where your every move will be mandated from above. That is not what we are about here, people! At one point, people were intelligent enough to make decisions for themselves and their families. That no longer seems to be the case. However, I do not think I should pay an extra tax on the occasional soda that I drink because you have overindulged to the point that you are obesce, diabetic, or have a million other health problems. If you then choose to be a leach on society, then I suppose I will continue to work and pay for your sorry butt. However, there are SO many people out there who, for very unfortunate circumstances, actually NEED the help, that can't get the medical attention, etc. that they need, that I don't feel you deserve anything from anyone. If you had been like the rest of us and had to work for everything you have, you may not be over-indulging in ridiculous things such as a gallon of soda a day for fifteen years. There's a Vet somewhere that needs comparatively little help who has done more for you than you have ever done for him/her. This Vet is probably saddened by the fact that they have fought for you and that your government, for your own protection, is even thinking about a tax such as this one. The only reason for this tax is to save a certain populous from their own glutony.

My point: don't blame the rest of the country for your own short-comings. Be an adult. Be responsible. It is not the easy road. It is the right road!