December 27, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
It’s once again that time of the season when we shut the door on the year past and look forward to what lies ahead.
As a progressive leader who is highly tuned in to spiritual matters, you are probably wondering what trends and fashions might be specifically relevant for you in 2010. “Brad,” you might ask, “How can I maintain my coveted status as spiritually “in?” Ah. Well, thankfully you have the Shrinking the Camel blog to turn to in your time of need. What management fads should you be paying attention to? What is the next wave of insider biz-lingo that you can casually refer to in conversations at dinner parties and conferences? How will you maintain your spiritual leadership-cred in those cut-throat business circles that you travel so comfortably in? Well folks, here are my takes for 2010.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Career, Spirituality | Tagged Business Trends in 2010, Collaborative Capitalism, Embedded Generosity, Multi-tasking, Spiritual trends, The Trusted Advisor | 17 Comments »
December 23, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Like Joni Mitchell says, “It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cuttin’ down trees…” So enough with the depressing “Letters to STC” and all the boring business talk for just a minute. Instead, I’d like to give a blogging gift.
This morning I was reading in the book of Galatians (yes, I am still trying to read a passage from the bible every morning, and you should be too) where the Apostle Paul was talking about the fruits of the spirit. And since I am totally in synch with the holiday season, I immediately thought of fruitcake. And fruitcake reminded me of gift-giving. Which made me think of all the fellow bloggers and faithful commenters out there who have been so extremely supportive of Shrinking the Camel over the past year, those who I now consider to be good friends. What gift can I give them?
I was going to send out a few special emails or Tweets, but instead I decided to give away select portions of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, right here on this Blog. Call it a spiritual fruitcake. You can even re-gift it, if you want. Continue Reading »
Posted in Blogging | Tagged Fruitcake, Fruits of the Spirit | 17 Comments »
December 22, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Dear Bradley,
I feel stupid because I have to wear my winter coat every day while I’m at work no matter what the season. In the summer our building is air conditioned and it’s usually around 65 degrees at my desk when its 90 outside. Now that it is winter the building is heated to 80 degrees yet I’m still freezing because my boss opens his window even though I’ve told him over and over that the cold air bothers me! I have also complained to our union about it because I have a sinus condition. If I run my space heater too long I get debilitating sinus headaches or a sinus infection.
I don’t know what else to do. All of my complaints have fallen on deaf ears. No one cares if I am comfortable at work. Jobs are difficult to come by these days and I can’t just quit and go somewhere else.
Cold and alone
——————————————
Dear Cold and Alone,
That indeed is a challenging situation – something that most people take for
granted, but for you is tortuous. It is unfortunate that your requests fell
on deaf ears, but then again, how did you pose the problem? If it was heard
as whiny complaint from a hypchondriac (no offense, please!), then they are
more likely to blow it off. Another approach is to turn it into a
productivity issue. In other words, make the issue all about getting more
work done, making your boss look good, and having as few distractions as
possible.
Positioning the problem in a way that makes it look like you are really
interested in helping others do better might get someone’s attention. And
when you bring up the problem, be upbeat with a positive attitude – make
sure to smile and use plenty of eye contact when you present the problem!
Try again, and I hope next time you are successful!
All my best to you,
Bradley
Posted in Career | Tagged Letters to STC, Office temperature, Work environment | 1 Comment »
December 20, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Dear Bradley,
I am writing to you because I feel stupid all the time, well since my bitch office manger let me go after working with her for 7 years. She said I always made mistakes, maybe so, but so didn’t everyone else in the office. She always yelled and screamed at me and made me feel that I couldn’t do anything right. I will admit that I am not perfect but she is certainly not. She also would talk about other employees in the office.
Do I sound angry? I am because I have been out of work for 9 months and can not find a job in this economy. I feel that I will not be able to work in a job again. She tore down my whole being. I am a married female with two children and at 43 years of my life I have never felt this way before. How can a person do that to another human being? People in the work force should not put each other down but help one another. What is wrong with people in this world? Continue Reading »
Posted in Career | Tagged Abusive Boss, Letters to Shrinking the Camel, Losing a job | 8 Comments »
December 18, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Hi Bradley,
I do indeed feel stupid at work. I’m always being told that I miss details and no matter how many times I check and check again my work, it always seems I miss SOMETHING. This has been haunting me since first grade, and right into the work world, I’m 33 and an office worker, and am currently being treated for ADD, though I don’t think the meds are helping.
Only at work do I miss details and get told I make stupid mistakes. I would love to get a job that isn’t detail oriented, but I don’t know what that is. I have lost more jobs than I care to count because of this, and go from one job to the next starting over, only to have it end in the same result, despite putting 649% effort into doing a good job. Yeah, that’s my venting session for the day. =)
Posted in Career | Tagged Feeling stupid at work, Mistakes at Work | 5 Comments »
December 17, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Hi Brad,
I am constantly aggravated at work. I go above and beyond at work on special projects (that I do on my own/take initiative to do), etc and still feel like my “higher ups” think I’m a 17 year old out of high school. I’m 23 in actuality but have a young face.
Recently, for example, I asked my boss about a project a customer was inquiring about. It’s been 3 weeks and I found out he passed it off to the accounting manager. When she told me about it I said “Well if I knew he would need someone to do research on it, I would have helped, if you want me to do it, I can”. I said it nicely but I was responded by “No…that’s OK”, and the way he said it was like “No, you’re obviously incapable of handling this small task”.
Meghan Continue Reading »
Posted in Career | Tagged Bad Boss, Confidence at work, Taking initiative | 5 Comments »
December 16, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Hi Bradley,
I don’t know if it’s the environment or the culture, but I just don’t feel like I bond very well the people at work. I have no one that I feel I could go to and chat to about how I am feeling. I am a marketing manager here, and we started having these marketing strategy meetings where everyone seems to have an input/idea and I feel like the one who should have the most ideas should be me but I just can’t seem to have any ideas or enthusiasm when I’m in the meeting. However, when I’m out of the work environment I have ideas about what the company should be doing, but I just feel stupid when I’m at work. It just feels like people are good at telling me what to do but practicing it in-house is more difficult.
I’m not sure whether this is any use though, but I guess i just seem to have this inferior complex with the people at work.
Hope to hear your feedback,
Kate Continue Reading »
Posted in Career | Tagged Confidence at work, Inferiority Complex, Marketing Manager, Self-Confidence | 2 Comments »
December 15, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
Over the past year or so since starting up Shrinking the Camel, I have come across some interesting opportunities that I never would have expected from blogging.
Of course I have met many wonderful new friends and acquaintances from all over the world, and these people make it all worthwhile, interesting and fun. But there have been other, unexpected sidelines. For instance, I receive free books and magazines from people who want me to review them. I always say “Yes,” so that I can get the free material, but unfortunately I don’t always follow through with the Blog review part. Also, I have been invited to speak at a couple of events. One was in sunny Southern California, where the invitation came with a hopeful “if I am in the area” caveat (as if I frequently hop from Philly to San Diego for a little surfing. Wrong). And last Spring I was approached by a fine young and ambitious Christian man who worked for a brand-name high-tech company looking for some mentoring and career advice. I don’t know if I helped him very much, but we had several very meaningful exchanges, and that was very rewarding.
And now, there is this: I have an ongoing personal career advisory service for people who feel stupid at work. Continue Reading »
Posted in Blogging, Career | Tagged Benefits of Blogging, Bullying bosses, Feeling stupid at work, Letters | 9 Comments »
December 10, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
I once heard a story about Henry Kissinger falling asleep in the middle of a very important meeting. Everyone noticed, but no one dared say anything because he was such a highly respected diplomat. The moment he came to, upon picking up the few fragments of sentences that were being discussed in mid-conversation, he immediately interrupted the group with some blinding insight.
I try not to fall asleep in meetings, whether I am making the presentation, or receiving one. Because, unlike Henry Kissinger, I am very concerned about what people think of me. I would rather make sure I come across as sharp and capable and prepared and on the ball. I guess I haven’t achieved enough yet in my career that would allow me such unguarded self-possession. Continue Reading »
Posted in Ambition, Career, Spirituality | Tagged Definition of Successs, Fallin asleep in meetings, Henry Kissinger, Spiritual definition of success, Success | 23 Comments »
December 8, 2009 by shrinkingthecamel
A CEO friend of mine was approached recently by an employee who complained that a co-worker was trying to poison him. When he told me, I laughed at first, because that is just so hilarious, to think someone is so paranoid as to imagine a co-worker is trying to poison him. This sounds more like it came right out of a wacky comedy, like the “Nine to Five” movie with Dolly Parton and Lilly Tomlin.
My friend then grimaced a bit, an unintended facial twist that said, “This is so ridiculous that I can hardly keep a straight face, but I feel so sorry for this poor sucker.” He went on to tell me in very somber and professional tones how this employee had been concerned for his life – especially during break-time, when he suspected that a Certain Someone had tampered with his bag lunch, which had been kept in the unsecured office fridge.
I would have just told this employee to order out more often, and stop taking chances with the unmonitored corporate refrigerator. But my CEO friend is much more sympathetic and kind towards his employees. He proceeded to launch a full-scale covert investigation on behalf of the suspicious employee. Nothing turned up, of course, but it made this person feel much safer.
To continue reading, click here to go over to my post at The High Calling Blogs.
Posted in Ambition | Tagged Gossip, Office Gossip, Office Politics | Leave a Comment »
It’s once again that time of the season when we shut the door on the year past and look forward to what lies ahead.
