What do you do for a living and what is your secret to workplace longevity?
- Thread starter Pokageek
- Start date
I'm an aircraft maintainer in the AF. I just take the water off a duck's back approach with things. I'd go crazy if I let my workplace and co-workers get to me. I'm just glad that I'm on swing shift so I don't have to deal with the higher-ups on a daily basis. 
drakesdad
Member
Im a technical operations manager and I survive by two statements....one which was passed on to me by the president of the company which is "Learn to politic, or become a victim of it" and "choose your battles carefully" other than those two....silent rants...
BlackVert
15 Year Member
i'm a software developer. been doing it for 25 years now
13 years at georgetown university, 12 at the place where i am now (softmed for 9, then we were bought by 3M)
never had a problem
what do you do keith and is there a problem at work you want to talk about?
13 years at georgetown university, 12 at the place where i am now (softmed for 9, then we were bought by 3M)
never had a problem
what do you do keith and is there a problem at work you want to talk about?
BlackVert
15 Year Member
actually i'm lying. i remember now that there was one problem about 10 years ago. my supervisor (his name was Riad) was a real a-hole and one time he accused me of slacking off. pissed me off to no end. he crossed the wrong guy, because the president of the company and i had worked together at georgetown. i told him what Riad had said and that either Riad or i had to go. in a week Riad was gone.
Airline Pilot. Been at this company for almost 3 years. I hate almost everyone I work with. I just ignore people when they talk, and read the paper until I can go home. I am a union employee, and people are laid off based on seniority. That's my secret to longevity.
Kurt
Kurt
Bosko5.0
Active Member
I had to edit my response. LOL to incriminating.lol
Just don't try your best, Do your Best and you should be fine.
Just don't try your best, Do your Best and you should be fine.
sn-95matt5-0
Member
- Nov 6, 2006
- 170
- 0
- 16
i work at a local home depot and while working at a retail store i found out i hate most people. between rude customers and jerk bosses it really gets tiresome. i'm currently trying to get on with the local electricians union as an apprentice. they are higher at an incredible amount right now and that wat i'm goin to school for right now. man i'm tired of working full time and going to school full time.
juiced_94gt
Active Member
Im a Union Ironworker for Local 433 in Los Angeles...Im VERY proud of what I do, I have ran work for the past 6 years as a foreman and it's the best thing that has EVER happened to me, it's hard work but I love it, im 27 making over $40.00 an hour so it's well worth it! plus I have a sense of accomplishment everytime I drive by one of the big buildings I have been a part of. as for people, well layoffs are part of the union and so is yelling, were all great friends though and we all take it with a grain of salt. Were mean at work but humble when we come home! If you need a job let me know
Husky44
10 Year Member
I'm currently a materials manager for a major oil exploration company in Alaska. Been there for 2 1/2 years. Prior to that, I did 23 years in the Army.
How to get along with people--learned that pretty well in the Army--a few things to live by:
1) "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Most of the time in conflict, everyone starts trying to prove the other person wrong. If you start by trying to understand why they think they're right, you will either a) realize there's more to the story than what you knew, and maybe you are wrong; or b) they may be missing some key information (that you have) that will help them change their position once they're informed
2) "Recognize that most people are doing the best they know how with the tools they're given". An old Colonel once told me "remember that none of your soldiers got out of bed this morning planning on screwing up". If your bosses, co-workers, or subordinates are screwing up, one of two things is going on--either they don't understand what should be going on and they're doing the best based on what they know, or, they don't have the right resources to do it right (could be knowledge, information, tools, time, money, etc). The other alternative is that YOU could be wrong, and don't have enough information to realize that YOU are the one screwing up!
3) When I find a problem at work, either with a relationship or with a task, my first question is "what could I have done differently to have eliminated the problem?" Most people today seem to try to find ways to blame others for problems. Most of the time you can't change others' behavior or attitude, but you can change yours.
4) If 1-3 fails, shoot em. Even if you miss, they'll tend to leave you alone cuz they think you're nuts.
5) Always have fun. If you're not having fun, crack a joke (see #4). Life's too short not to laugh, and way to short to hate going to work.
How to get along with people--learned that pretty well in the Army--a few things to live by:
1) "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Most of the time in conflict, everyone starts trying to prove the other person wrong. If you start by trying to understand why they think they're right, you will either a) realize there's more to the story than what you knew, and maybe you are wrong; or b) they may be missing some key information (that you have) that will help them change their position once they're informed
2) "Recognize that most people are doing the best they know how with the tools they're given". An old Colonel once told me "remember that none of your soldiers got out of bed this morning planning on screwing up". If your bosses, co-workers, or subordinates are screwing up, one of two things is going on--either they don't understand what should be going on and they're doing the best based on what they know, or, they don't have the right resources to do it right (could be knowledge, information, tools, time, money, etc). The other alternative is that YOU could be wrong, and don't have enough information to realize that YOU are the one screwing up!
3) When I find a problem at work, either with a relationship or with a task, my first question is "what could I have done differently to have eliminated the problem?" Most people today seem to try to find ways to blame others for problems. Most of the time you can't change others' behavior or attitude, but you can change yours.
4) If 1-3 fails, shoot em. Even if you miss, they'll tend to leave you alone cuz they think you're nuts.
5) Always have fun. If you're not having fun, crack a joke (see #4). Life's too short not to laugh, and way to short to hate going to work.
juiced_94gt
Active Member
I'm currently a materials manager for a major oil exploration company in Alaska. Been there for 2 1/2 years. Prior to that, I did 23 years in the Army.
How to get along with people--learned that pretty well in the Army--a few things to live by:
1) "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Most of the time in conflict, everyone starts trying to prove the other person wrong. If you start by trying to understand why they think they're right, you will either a) realize there's more to the story than what you knew, and maybe you are wrong; or b) they may be missing some key information (that you have) that will help them change their position once they're informed
2) "Recognize that most people are doing the best they know how with the tools they're given". An old Colonel once told me "remember that none of your soldiers got out of bed this morning planning on screwing up". If your bosses, co-workers, or subordinates are screwing up, one of two things is going on--either they don't understand what should be going on and they're doing the best based on what they know, or, they don't have the right resources to do it right (could be knowledge, information, tools, time, money, etc). The other alternative is that YOU could be wrong, and don't have enough information to realize that YOU are the one screwing up!
3) When I find a problem at work, either with a relationship or with a task, my first question is "what could I have done differently to have eliminated the problem?" Most people today seem to try to find ways to blame others for problems. Most of the time you can't change others' behavior or attitude, but you can change yours.
4) If 1-3 fails, shoot em. Even if you miss, they'll tend to leave you alone cuz they think you're nuts.
5) Always have fun. If you're not having fun, crack a joke (see #4). Life's too short not to laugh, and way to short to hate going to work.
I love this answer
OurBlue95GT
New Member
Lucky me, I'm a stay at home mom. Joe works for a local bread company delivering bread to stores. In this economny, people are eating more at home, so it's easy for me to stay home with 3 kids.
But before I stayed home, I worked at a local union facotry that made military parts. HATED IT! Good money though. Before that, local supermarket managering the front end.
IMO- kill them with kindness, people hate that. Their trying to be jerks to you and you are smiling away. They get frustrated and leave 99% of the time.
~Amy
But before I stayed home, I worked at a local union facotry that made military parts. HATED IT! Good money though. Before that, local supermarket managering the front end.
IMO- kill them with kindness, people hate that. Their trying to be jerks to you and you are smiling away. They get frustrated and leave 99% of the time.
~Amy
Corrections Officer for 6 years.
What I found for my key to longevity is to leave work at work and your personal life at home. Of course co workers will learn stuff about you and you will become friends with some but you can keep that at a limit. The more your personal live is known the more your name gets thrown into the rumor mill. If I have a bad day at work you have to know that once you walk through the front gate its over and dont take out any work issues on anyone else. Its hard not to mix work and your personal life but in my line of work its a must b/c you will drive your self insane if the two of them are brought to much together
What I found for my key to longevity is to leave work at work and your personal life at home. Of course co workers will learn stuff about you and you will become friends with some but you can keep that at a limit. The more your personal live is known the more your name gets thrown into the rumor mill. If I have a bad day at work you have to know that once you walk through the front gate its over and dont take out any work issues on anyone else. Its hard not to mix work and your personal life but in my line of work its a must b/c you will drive your self insane if the two of them are brought to much together
KamiKaziDK
Member
I'm an overnight security supervisor and I credit the crappy economy, having a child and not wanting to put effort into finding a new job on my ability to stay here. haha. I do plan on going to school again though for nursing or finishing my teaching degree, I'm young and have a little time to decide though.
How to get along with people--learned that pretty well in the Army--a few things to live by:
1) "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Most of the time in conflict, everyone starts trying to prove the other person wrong. If you start by trying to understand why they think they're right, you will either a) realize there's more to the story than what you knew, and maybe you are wrong; or b) they may be missing some key information (that you have) that will help them change their position once they're informed
2) "Recognize that most people are doing the best they know how with the tools they're given". An old Colonel once told me "remember that none of your soldiers got out of bed this morning planning on screwing up". If your bosses, co-workers, or subordinates are screwing up, one of two things is going on--either they don't understand what should be going on and they're doing the best based on what they know, or, they don't have the right resources to do it right (could be knowledge, information, tools, time, money, etc). The other alternative is that YOU could be wrong, and don't have enough information to realize that YOU are the one screwing up!
3) When I find a problem at work, either with a relationship or with a task, my first question is "what could I have done differently to have eliminated the problem?" Most people today seem to try to find ways to blame others for problems. Most of the time you can't change others' behavior or attitude, but you can change yours.
4) If 1-3 fails, shoot em. Even if you miss, they'll tend to leave you alone cuz they think you're nuts.
5) Always have fun. If you're not having fun, crack a joke (see #4). Life's too short not to laugh, and way to short to hate going to work.
i can relate to this a bit I'm a network administrator at a school district for 9 years and I come across people thinking they know more than me sometimes I let it go and other times I have to let them know how dumb they are for thinking their way is the right way when its absolutely WRONG
all great advise in here no matter what type of job you work.
i'm a data center administrator/analysis. its sooo freakin political here, its not even funny. we now have two different IT departments fighting against each other for superiority because we both know we'll be merged at one point or another. this whole thing only effects the management structure but that of course trickles down to the works and forces them to do things that aren't supposed to be done and stuff like that. all the upper managers are just looking out for eachothers asses and not doing their jobs. its horrible.
i just do what i'm told, document EVERYTHING even if its wrong. Admit fault when it is your fault. keep work at work to stay happy at home. treat everyone with respect even if they don't do likewise.
i'm a data center administrator/analysis. its sooo freakin political here, its not even funny. we now have two different IT departments fighting against each other for superiority because we both know we'll be merged at one point or another. this whole thing only effects the management structure but that of course trickles down to the works and forces them to do things that aren't supposed to be done and stuff like that. all the upper managers are just looking out for eachothers asses and not doing their jobs. its horrible.
i just do what i'm told, document EVERYTHING even if its wrong. Admit fault when it is your fault. keep work at work to stay happy at home. treat everyone with respect even if they don't do likewise.
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