Career advice: at what point to you just go ahead and start pointing out things/peopl

[OldLarry]

e that are just plain fucking stupid? Assuming they are not a) the Boss b) related to the boss c) sleeping with the boss.

I gotta start smoking dope again or I'm going to rip someone a new one...

[Blurreds_left_nut]

depends on how long you want your job. My career has taught me the following: the bigger the company, the bigger the idiot (mgmt). The people at the top are by no means stupid. The fog of war just clouds their judgement. The paint everything as black-white, when really everyday business lies in the grey.

[mike_h]

e that are just plain fucking stupid? Assuming they are not a) the Boss b) related to the boss c) sleeping with the boss.

I gotta start smoking dope again or I'm going to rip someone a new one...

When? About 2 weeks ago. Can't say it went as well as expected, but it really felt good.

[Lexi-Bell]

I'm not afraid to speak up even if it is the boss pulling stupid shit. Sure I may take some grief, but my mental health is worth it.

Either that or I'm too stupid to keep my mouth shut.

[Viva]

I generally just point at people and laugh.

[telepariah]

I have the hardest time keeping my mouth shut, but if I don't I find that I just make more trouble for myself than I want. The powers that be always remember it was me who was a squeaky wheel but they don't remember the content of what I said. The good news is that all the things I was pointing out 5 years ago have come back to bite us so hard that now we are looking at implementing all of the ideas I had back then. The bad news is when it comes to claiming credit nobody remembers that these were my unpopular ideas at that time. Damn! I hate it when I'm right!

Japanese proverb: The nail that sticks up shall be pounded down until it is the same level as the rest.

[hev]

This is really hard, and I am running into it big time with my recent job switch. I guess it’s “being professional”, but it’s kind of ridiculous. Especially tough when it's the client.

[schuss]

If they tell me to do something stupid, or are going in a dumb direction, I generally express my feelings on it. Granted, I'll jump through the hoops anyhow if they expressly tell me too (I do like paychecks), but I usually make sure my objections or comments are heard. If I couldn't shoot my mouth off all the time, I probably would hate my job.

[Que]

Good question. The rule of thumb I've always found to be most productive is to not pop off about someone... any big mouth can do that. Instead, put your energy into getting rid of the idiot by a) taking his job, b) finding someone better to do their job, c) getting them hired somewhere else, or d) leap frogging them and cleaning it up on the backside. That being said, just because someone is acting like an idiot doesn't mean that they are. Too often I have found that the "idiot" just doesn't know how to do his/her job. The larger the company, the more likely this is to happen. A few hour spent mentoring or even blowing off steam with one of these types can turn them around.

Lastly, if the client is an idiot, just do their job and make them look good. They're the client - that's what they are paying you for.

[Danno]

I have the hardest time keeping my mouth shut, but if I don't I find that I just make more trouble for myself than I want. The powers that be always remember it was me who was a squeaky wheel but they don't remember the content of what I said. The good news is that all the things I was pointing out 5 years ago have come back to bite us so hard that now we are looking at implementing all of the ideas I had back then. The bad news is when it comes to claiming credit nobody remembers that these were my unpopular ideas at that time. Damn! I hate it when I'm right!

Japanese proverb: The nail that sticks up shall be pounded down until it is the same level as the rest.

This is when the CYA method is very important. You need to be able to pull out the 5 yo email and say "see, I told you so!". Then they'll know you were right. Of course they'll also think you are a dick...

[telepariah]

Right. That is precisely my problem!

[PTracy P1]

work for yourself. may suck at first, but down the road, your orgasm's your own damn business.

[Cirquerider]

PTracy beat me to it. I have been self employed for going on 11 years. The boss doesn't really care if I say You're stupid, get to wok, what a moron, etc. OTOH, he gives me the day off for powder, and never asks for a doctor's slip. Self-employment money is good, it just isn't always consistent. The deductions are a bitch because you write big checks.

[Arnold Pants]

There is almost always a way to put a positive spin on something, even though it might taste like bile to do it.

[Cono Este]

There is almost always a way to put a positive spin on something, even though it might taste like bile to do it.

That's good advice.

I like to say, their are those who do, and those who justify what they do. Play the game, laugh at them on the way home. In the end, it will pay off, and thats all that matters.

[skiing-in-jackson]

You sound smart enough for self employent. Now is the time.