I started a post about how frustrated I was about a situation I was in. I even scheduled it to be published for this morning. I love TypePad precisely because you can schedule a post. What can I say? Life is busy but I always seem to have a lot to say.
It turns out that there was no need for me to be frustrated because (as I surmised in my post) there was a reason for why I was excluded from the situation. In the end, it was simply a matter of me asking someone why I was being excluded. Actually, it's not just me who was excluded but an entire department.
Once upon a time, I worked for a global consumer packaged goods company. It was early in my career and it was great experience. Not only because I got to travel and see the world but also because I worked with some great people. I choose not to talk about the no-so-great people I worked with and for because it would make me remember what I consider the most important years in my career annoying.
One of the people that I worked with, let's call him Al, was a tough manager to work for but he was extremely fair and I learned a lot from him. Besides the fact that he loved to say, "Who's your pal? Al - Al's your pal!" and other crazy things like that, he taught me that you are responsible for managing your career. It's a piece of advice that has served me well throughout the years. It's also a piece of advice that has made me even more neurotic that I already am.
One of things that Al taught me besides that he was my pal; that cash flow never lies; and that it was possible to have fun in freezing Montreal in the dead of winter was that if I had a question, I should ask. There was no shame in asking a question that you didn't know the answer to. Asking wasn't a sign of weakness (unless of course it was truly a dumb question like "what's my name") and asking saved a lot of time spinning your wheels. I remember once when I was on an audit and I didn't understand something, I spent an hour or two trying to figure it out by myself. Al peered over his granny glasses (yes, he wore granny reading glasses) and delivered this line that I have NEVER forgotten:
"Irene, what is the matter? Remember, inquire before you perspire."
He was right. Even though he didn't give me the answer, the mere exercise of talking through what I didn't understand made me realize what the answer was. There are times when I wonder what one of my favorite managers is up to. I know that he has children - girls no less - and I wonder what other pearls of wisdom he has taught them. I am sure that if they're of dating age he has taught them some sort of self-defense. He has probably taught them to not be afraid of asking questions or for directions; how to have a good time in situations where you think good times are NOT to be had; and that there are times to be serious and times where it's okay to kiss a perfectly good stranger in a Canadian bar for $10.00. Okay, so maybe he didn't teach his girls that last thing.
You kiss random strangers!?
Posted by: Sam | August 21, 2007 at 11:33 AM