Some guy in a poorly fitted suit changed the course of Steve’s future
As you may recall, I’ve outed myself in an attempt to create a best-selling novel by yours truly. I am proudly participating in NaNoWriMo this month and shall transform myself into a mean, green writing machine — sorta like the Incredible Hulk, but with a green ponytail.
So my good buddy Steve, the Original Angry Penguin from World Peace, Angry Penguins, and Miracles, has graciously agreed to guest post for me today so I can focus on producing 50,000 words of compelling, magical imagery the likes of which you’ve never seen or read.
Well, that’s the goal.
I challenged Steve to tell me about one of the Unsung Heroes from his past. And by hero I mean a random person he ran into who made an impact on him — large or small.
We all have more than a few people in our past who made a comment that helped change our views, behaviours (Steve’s from Canada so that extra U is for him) or just made us smile for a minute.
That’s what this post is about.
Cue the introductory music as she stage whispers, “Steve — you’re on!”
Way back in 1998, I was working at a government department, bored out of my skull and disgusted with the pathetic inefficiencies of the bureaucracy. I worked well, within my own team of programmers and technical architects, but did not play nicely with the overly-officious pencil-pushing knobs that littered the department.
You know the type: so concerned about covering their own asses that they would follow the documented procedures regardless of how inappropriate or inefficient. Thus, I found myself mired in a position I hated, without any prospect of moving forward in my career.
In short, I refused to be a brown noser.
A GTEC (Government in Technology) conference was underway, and I took the opportunity to get the hell out of the office for a few hours to attend it. I explored several booths, picking up the sort of geek-desired toys one would expect at this type of event. In one of the side-rooms a gentleman from a local private firm was at the podium and a small crowd had gathered.
Burdened as
I
was with
a bag of
geeky goodies,
I grabbed a
free coffee, plopped myself
into a chair, and pretended to listen. All I remember of his topic was that it was incredibly dry and technical, and held nothing of interest for me. After about half an hour, he finished and took questions from the floor.
Again, many questions were dry and technical, but one caught my attention. Someone asked him how difficult it was to do business with the government that had so many layers of bureaucracy which serve to slow down any process.
The speaker paused for a second, and stated that while working with the government could be lucrative, it did have its downsides: particularly in its inbred inefficiencies and lack of adaptive abilities.
He spoke about agile tech firms that had to change as technology changes or they would quickly become extinct; about how governments had to learn to be adaptive in the face of technological advances or they would quickly become understaffed, or at least staffed with under-qualified employees, as the skilled employees left for more challenging and lucrative opportunities.
He also mentioned how working for the government could help in providing a person with training and experience, but he could not understand why anyone would remain there in the face of so much demand from the private sector. He agreed that almost iron-clad job security is certainly appealing, but it paled in comparison to the possibilities being offered in the private sector.
It was something I needed to hear!
I went back to my office and put my resumé online. The next day I had a call from a headhunting firm and they set up an interview with a private tech start up.
Within three days, I had a new job and put in my two weeks notice. I haven’t looked back since.
I’m where I am now because of some guy wearing a poorly fitted suit who spoke honestly about the job market and emerging tech firms at the time.
Hey Steve,
I’m stuck in my job – I’m a customer service rep and I’m trying to find a way out any ideas lol.
@cardiogirl I’m doing it too I doubt I’ll reach 50,000 but I’m aiming for about the 30K and see what happens
Thank you for sharing your story :)
Hey Hannah, what’s your handle over there? We’ll be writing buddies!
Nice! Nothing like being granted a ticket to freedom.
Also: “knob” is a woefully underused term here. I shall endeavor to bring it back in force.
Also: where did one post one’s resume online in 1992? I’m pretty geeky but I think all I rocked in those days online was my sexy multi-digit Compuserve email address.
Ooo…typo…that should be 1998 not 1992! Oops. And I proof-read that sucker a half-dozen times. Good catch.
(whispers from stage left, “Got it Steve, it now says 1998 in the post.”)
STEVE! You’re Canuckian, but you’re NOT a brown-noser?! Well, holy shit. I didn’t know that was allowed.
That’s it. I quit. Brown-nosing, that is. I shall start with Louie, my Bad Place Boss. Today, he will be yelled at. But only ‘cuz he will yell first. Then, I will yell. Then I will probably cry. At which point, I will possibly quit.
Kalifornia, here I come.
I thought you were setting up camp on my futon. Maybe you can make it a pit stop on your way to Kali.
I could set up camp on your futon, sure. If I outstay my welcome, will you pay my way to Kali, just to be rid of me? Can I take the futon when I go?
Hey Steve can you send that guy in a poorly fitting suit down my way?? lol
I have fiction on the brain.
But that would be a really interesting story, wouldn’t it? A guy kind of frumpy and bumbling who went town to town steering people in different directions — for good not evil. But the sequel could have the guy turn evil.
I think we’ve been so fortunate that hubby’s job has always Gotten really miserable just as it was time to move on. The people we see sitting in dead-end jobs for years just floors us. Take a tiny risk, send out that resume, contact a headhunter, and Low and behold, a great new opportunity presents itself. It’s always been worth the risk. We’ve also gotten to meet some interesting people, live some cool places. Now going international is a possibility within the next two years. Paltry job security (which is always an illusion anyway!) can’t Top that. We’ll take the risk every time.
very smooth. very smooth indeed.
@Well done Wendy, well done. Wow, international? That takes some real balls in my opinion. But I actually want you to do it so I can live vicariously through you.
What a weird thing — in the past when a friend moved away I really felt like that connection was gone because no one keeps up with letters or email. But blogging is so different. The thought of you moving makes me feel like I’m moving with you.
Isn’t that strange?
@Soonerchick You have one heck of an eagle eye, you know that? You alone are causing me much joy and merriment.
“The thought of you moving makes me feel like I’m moving with you.”
What a strange and interesting thought. And so true. I guess that is because blogs are about ideas and experiences, and letters and emails are about what you had for dinner.
It was so smooth I didn’t even know what Sooner was talking about at first. Well played.
Life’s too short to just wait it out! That’s true when it comes to jobs, relationships, and clothes! And I’m getting a hair cut this week, growing it out… for what!
I love that about clothes! I’m going to amend that to include Chuck Taylor low tops. Life is too short to live without a new pair every so often.
way to go steve. i feel you on the job to nowhere, i know a little something about that myself…i too need to make some changes because there is just no reason why i am sitting where i am, other than it pays, doing what i do, when it’s not what i do. it’s not who i am. it’s easy to get stuck and comfortable, but you heard something that moved you to action and haven’t looked back. thanks for the additional motivation. i WILL join you soon. i even teared up a bit. so close to home.
and thank you cg, this was great. i’m proud of you participating in nanowrite. my face actually broke out in a smile when i looked at your side bar and saw your progress. i can only imagine what brilliance you are constructing in…
“….producing 50,000 words of compelling, magical imagery the likes of which you’ve never seen or read.”
you ain’t never lied.
Hey, maybe that frumpy dude is going to touch your life via Steve. But it really is easy to stick with the evil you know. I spent years working at a job I did not like, which became a job I hated.
But the money was good and I was used to that lifestyle. So I hear you on trying to make a change, especially in this economy.
I really am jacked beyond belief with this story. I keep having new ideas and inspirations, it’s like I can’t keep up with my own brain. It’s weird, but exciting.
Go for it Nat!!