Every now and then I bring this window up and stare at the empty entry field for 10-30 minutes before I close it and move on to something else.
I’ve had alot going on lately, but just haven’t been inspired enough to post. Really, I don’t think its as much of inspiration as it is a ‘time and place’ issue. Either way, I’m lame.
So .. I was in Chicago last week for a training class… Since I was staying pretty close to Lakeshore drive/trail, I’d brought my road bike with me but didn’t ride it. Mostly it rained or was real windy. I did spend some time walking around the city, had some deep dish pizza, some large bottles of Fat Tire Ale, and made it through 4 whole days without getting in an automobile. It was a nice escape.
This morning I described this job (to my coworker) as being like a mental violation. I mean, the work is good. When I’m doing work, I like what I DO .. but the politics in this place are just unreal. Now, I’ve been around the block a little bit. I’ve worked as a contractor to EDS at GM; I’ve been a contractor to GM; I’ve been a contractor to Ford; and I’ve worked at a Tier 3 Automotive Supplier. I’m no stranger to office politics, to business politics, to crazy mindgames and manipulation for the sake of profit.
But here, there is no profit. Here, the organization is not run by businessmen/women. No. This place is run by nurses and nuns. This is a business envisioned by clinicians and supported by doctors. There is alot of emotion here. We coddle our userbase because we are afraid of them. It is the perception that our userbase (doctors, clinicians) are putting food on our tables, and therefore, they should be treated like saviors.
To make matters worse, our boss has been here so long that he’s forgotten how business-minded organizations run. He’s forgotten what its like to sit in the hotseat and be the hands-on technician supporting these applications and coddling our saviors. He has stepped the full step from worker-bee to manager. He’s even started monitoring our web usage. Lately, he’s been printing old HEAT tickets (IT Trouble Tickets) and leaving them on our desks for us to follow up on.
I don’t mind working hard. In fact, I like having things to do. But these mental games are killing me.
