So I blogged a little while back about having spent years totally immersed in a project, a project that took an enormous about of research and nit-picking detail work. Only to find out in the end that the division I was doing the work for had run out of money for the project a couple years before and didn't bother to tell me. Well, after beating my head on the desk for a while in order to not strangle someone I comforted myself with the thought that at least everything was now in place if the project ever got renewed. I gave a presentation, and then took from my presentation and report and wrote an article for publication in a trade magazine about the project. Months ago.
My division chief OKed the article for publication and told me to send it up to the Chief Geodesist for review. I did. Chief Geodesist says it needs to come through my division chief, not me. OK, lets do it the step by step through the hierarchy. So I send an e-mail to my division chief about it and he immediately sends the article to the Chief Geodesist with his blessing. An hour later I get an e-mail from the Chief Geodesist - my division chief is at a conference and he doesn't want him bothered. Have Tom send it. In other words, have Not Division Chief repeat what my division chief just did an hour a go. While at his conference.
And all the while because the real world people outside the HQ actually don't play at being Abbot and Costello, I've got an editor I personally know at that magazine waiting for the article.
Been doing this job for 33 years. Getting real close to telling people what I think of them and suggesting actions that are probably physically impossible.
Impossible yes, but the mere suggestion forces them to do the visual in their minds. The look on their faces is often satisfying.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't be able to see their faces - HQ's heads are already stored in a dark place..:-)
DeleteCream and excrement both rise to the top; first the one, and then - later - the other. Given sufficient time, only the latter remains.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so sick of lack of leadership and arrogance in our front office that it doesn't take much to set me off.
DeleteI understand the frustration
ReplyDeleteAh. You must work for the government...
DeleteHate to say this, but I told you that you were going to run into problems... Please let us know when it DOES get published!
ReplyDeleteI will. And I long for the days when I can, as a private citizen, go into the records and write some of the awesome stories that are contained there.
DeleteI worked in retail for 10 years (yeah, I know...stubborn), and learned very early on that "people will get promoted to their highest level of incompetence". Adding a degree on their wall usually boosts that incompetency up a few notches. Had a manager ask me one time what I thought we could do to improve the store...after I listed a few things I thought would help, he looked at me and said "well, we don't do that here," and asked me for more ideas. Duh. I wouldn't have suggested it if we already did it!!!
ReplyDeleteAs for your situation...this is why mankind invented firearms and ranges in the first place, I believe. Nothing soothes the frustrated beast like a good, healthy dose of gunsmoke.
I so hope I can practice the Zen of shooting soon. Won't be next week because I'm needed in Baltimore again, but maybe the week after.
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