I've Got a Secret...

Guess what?

What?

I can't tell you.

PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! First of all, that is such a pet peeve of mine, and secondly, we are in the work place, so why play this game?

It's amazing how the world works. Standards are something that people hold to themselves, whether or not it is them wanting to be more successful or just live life ethically, it is something that we do to ourselves on various levels in our life. This last week was a prime example of things that really slap you back in the face and make you realized, oh - wow, the world really isn't as sophisticated or advanced as we had hoped, at least, not here.

I gave a presentation on Wednesday in front of maybe 250 people... okay, maybe less. The room was the size of a giant conference room - giant meaning corporate America giant - but only half filled. The presentation, 30 minutes long. The day I found out I was going to travel OUTSIDE of where I work and had to rearrange my entire schedule for the presentation, the day before, at 4:30pm. This is not entirely my fault. I believe that if you 1. put the location of the meeting in the meeting invite, this would have prevented me from having a minor heart attack, and 2. perhaps it it shouldn't be assumed that EVERYONE knows where the meeting would be, just because it was historically there in the past. Just a thought... and 3. I only look at agendas to see where I am in the line-up. It is not the first place to think of where the LOCATION would be for the actual meeting.

The presentation went well. Compliments out the door. That made me feel good. Though my standards were higher and I could have talked slower, could have done something even more engaging, not bad for my first grown up presentation.

Then the fun comes in. Meetings with more important people who appreciated my work -- my work that I took courses on in college. That made me feel good. Being apart of a new project. That's fun. Getting my work done and getting recognized (but only during times of eval - not so fun) but still great. And then, the snowball drops.

YC - now dating his "friend" from college... and being super secretative. For some reason, it made my skin crawl, until I realized, looking back at the previous blog, inner office dating is a NO-NO. Actually, it should be NO-NO. But still, it was quite an interesting adventure. Then finding out that one of the associates is getting a promotion, then being told that it had nothing to do with my performance, automatically says that I didn't get the promotion. I don't even think it upset me that I didn't get the promotion, it just upset me that it was told to me in the manner of 1. don't tell anyone, 2. It's not you, it's management (reason), and 3. a reminder that I just may not be good enough, 4. management only want certain people to succeed and if you want those people on your team, you have to play this game, 5. I just report to someone who could care less if I got ahead in my career, as long as Boss Man stays a float, that is all that matters.

I guess I am slightly annoyed because isn't the whole point of being a leader, being a mentor, being someone higher in the food chain, wanting those who come in with the wide eyes and the eagerness to learn, wanting them to be SUCCESSFUL?!?!?!? Maybe I am incredibly naive and have no freakin' clue on what in the world I am supposed to do. But it is such a game that obviously, I am not getting the hang of quick enough. Seriously.

So politics plays a crucial role in the work place. So does making the right friends, wearing the right outfits, having good taste (in general) but not be too snobby. Rules that NO ONE TOLD US ABOUT IN SCHOOL. Minor detail.

I think working long hours will help my shopping needs die down... that would be helpful just in an overall sense.

And dating. Well, that went out the door long enough. The conclusion from last night's not date, date - you can have an amazing time with a friend, who is great company and who can just make you laugh.

Plus, I have my person. Actually, as Fabulous likes to call it, her people. And don't intertwine weekend getaway trips and work. It just isn't a good idea.

Ciao reading world!