Monday, February 27, 2006
The first rule of management
You’ve heard the phrase “Shit rolls uphill”? I hadn’t heard this until, like, last year or something. But I think I’ve always known it. I crave the laurels that come with being Important, but I don’t crave the reprisals that often come with it. I think Hopper from A Bug’s Life said it best, “First rule of management… everything is your fault.”
In high school I was on the school newspaper staff. I had a very good shot at becoming editor in chief. Had I wanted it I probably would have gotten it (especially since the girl who took that position turn out to be an over-extended slacker). I took the Assistant Editor role instead. It was perfect. I got lots of credit for being a leader, without actually having to take much responsibility for it. Something goes wrong, she made that decision, I was just helping to support her. Something goes right, I played a big role in making it happen. I win.
In the real world there’s a bit of a dilemma. The higher your status, the more bucks come rolling in. I want the money, but I also don’t want the responsibility. I see many of my managers getting called at home about problems at work. Their vacations stink because they have to check in so often, or they’re worrying instead of playing because a big project is going on. For all their troubles they’re able to afford living on the beach and rolling in expensive cars. But is it worth it? Is all that stress really worth it? Can you enjoy any of the things you can afford?
I’m leaning towards “not really”. True they don’t have the stresses of making ends meet on the home front, but what’s that compared to the daily stresses of the job? Of taking work home with you all the time? This is why I’m quite content being a little worker bee, a cog in the machine. I do my little part and I go home to enjoy the relaxing comforts of being there and not at work. Maybe I’ll try for some kind of middle management (more vacations in the mountains would be nice, or an occasional cruise). But no further than that. Sometimes it’s good to be unambitious.
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