Cha...Cha...Cha...Changes!

Yup.

It is always bound to happen. Whether it is slowly or quickly change always happens. I accept that and the best one can do is roll with the punches. There is a a saying, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

Let us say for example that there is a deadline at the end of the month, a discussion about what to do with some things on the project takes place weeks before this deadline and it has been agreed upon to move in this particular direction. Things are moving along, but wait! A week before the deadline it has been decided that something isn't right and despite the original plan still being logical that it would be better to do it another way for one reason or another. Sure, if there was still time to make these changes and do it the new way, I'm all for it. But one week before a deadline and now there is a change in procedure? What kind of operation is this?

And they wonder why there is a lack of motivation and/or morale. With sheer brilliance like this, it is no wonder that Scott Adams is hitting so close to home when it comes to the workplace.

Transition

I love when the weather is like this. Mother Nature is on her Winter or Spring kick and that leaves things in a bit of confusion as when to turn the heat off, when to put the winter clothing away or is this one of the days I can finally open the windows? It almost reminds me of the weather patterns in the great Pac Norwest, the gloomy, rain filled days only with a slightly chillier effect of the Upper Midwest. I love it! But not as much as I love Autumn. Soon though, this transitional weather will give way to the gradual warm up of Spring, which will give way to Summer and the gradually warmer weather that I am not a big fan of. I prefer the cold, wet damp as it makes me feel comfortable and secure. There's a bit of joy that runs through me when the wind blows hard enough to start the wind chimes and I could listen to them all day when everything around is subdued.

Sometimes it is the small things that bring happiness to fill the void of life's numerous disappointments.

Define...

"Manager"

Looking it up on Dictionary.com it is defined as:

man·ag·er

   [man-i-jer] Show IPA

–noun

1.

a person who has control or direction of an institution,business, etc., or of a part, division, or phase of it.

2.

a person who manages: the manager of our track team.

3.

a person who controls and manipulates resources and expenditures, as of a household.

4.

British . (formerly) a theatrical producer.

When I graduated from college and started working for a sports architecture firm the term "manager" was someone that I worked with who assigned the tasks that I would be working on and was able to answer the questions that I had in my day to day assignments. Heck, even before I started working in the Architectural Department, when I first had my foot in the door at said sports architecture firm working in their Marketing Department, the "manager" would be someone who would assign me tasks to accomplish, ensured that I felt like I was a part of the team and was available to listen to my questions or concerns. As I continued down the road of my architectural career I have worked for many "managers" and have learned about the good and bad about managing. Well, at least in my own personal sense as I am merely talking about me here and not the collective that is out in the ether. After working in the trenches enduring the long hours, the late sleepless nights and passing on taking time off to meet the project deadlines when I finally received the title of "Construction Project Manager" I felt that I was adequately prepared to take on the task.

The initial project where I was assigned to be the "Construction Project Manager" was the first time in my career I was tasked with "managing" a team of individuals on a large scale project and it was exciting! I thought to myself, "I have finally been rewarded for spending all that time in the trenches." I was proud that my hard work and dedication had gotten me to the next level and I was determined to do my best. As all projects go, there were some hiccups, but in the end, I believe my co-worker and I accomplished what needed to be done with the tools we had and with that our time on the project ended.

Allow me to deviate for a short period of time because as I am pondering this post a thought came to my mind. If a company is filled with "Construction Project Managers" and there aren't enough projects to "manage" what happens to those who are deemed, "Construction Project Managers" when they are not managing a project? Why they are required to do the day to day tasks of course. Now I do not mind that every once in a while one has to return to the trenches to be in a support role for a project team. Working in Food Service for a time, I've seen "Managers" come off of a supervisory position to help out where there is the greatest need. Of course, they still continue to "manage" but they also lend a hand. I have no problem with this as it is my philosophy that we all started in the trenches so one should not be afraid to get ones hands dirty again.

I bring that up because after another project where I was assigned the task of being, for lack of a better term, an "Assistant Manager" and then another project where I was "managing" myself for the most part, I have essentially returned back to the trenches. On top of that, because of the economy, a comment heard most of the time from Upper Management, I have had to endure a series of salary cuts. I understand having to sacrifice a bit for the company, but what confounds me is that the company has hired additional staff and I am under the assumption that they too are "managers", the project we are working on has also been farmed out to a company overseas and then when I asked about when those of us who have had their salaries reduced expect to return to the "normal" salary I receive the answer that "where you are at now, is where you are suppose to be".

What?!?! Really?!?! Really?!?!

Looking back at the definition of a "manager" then and comparing them to what I am doing now, there is a vast difference not only in pay but also in responsibilities if I am to believe what the CFO of the company says. At least I see a big difference, of course the CEO continually states that one should, "Step up and take responsibility" on a project and that would be well and good if there were people to "manage". If we are all supposedly "Managers" wouldn't that be counterproductive to running a project? Someone has to do the work because in a team we all cannot be the "Manager". If one was to compare what is going on here with either the "Survivor" or "Celebrity Apprentice" shows, one would see that there is either a defined leader or one appointed by the collective group of individuals. Sure, they have their differences but in the end only one person makes the call. To have everyone be a "manager", in my opinion, makes everyone want to make the call or have their ideas at the forefront and nothing gets accomplished. One word comes to my mind immediately.

Chaos.

Ah...the First Day of Spring

Yes! It is finally here, the first day of Spring! Which usually means that people will become less crabby since the colder weather is starting to move further behind us and there may be a chance of one or two days of snow that will melt the same day it has fallen. Temperatures will slowly climb out of the lower 30's at night and already the days are getting longer.

Of course, this also means that as the snow melts and the grass and adjacent surfaces become more and more visible that it will soon become time to assess the damage of winter and get the long list started of various home repair/improvement items that will need to be done. I've already begun my list and it looks as though it will be quite the busy Spring when the temperatures start to level out enough that I don't feel the need to wear gloves and a stocking cap when I am outside.

There was not much done though on this first day of Spring as it has pretty much rained all day. I don't mind the rain, heck, I don't mind the snow either, so I am fine with either. The rain just tells me that we're warming up and the cold days of Winter will soon be gone. In a way I will miss having to shovel the driveway and starting up the snowblower to make short work of this long driveway we have, but then again, it is a season and it will return soon enough.

So happy first day of Spring!

Bay Scallops & Summer Veggies!

Mmmm! Baby back pork ribs!

Yea! National Pancake Day!