My career: I’ve been doing it all wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Similar to another poster: 20 years into my career and I’m feeling like the grind is pointless.

My “bare-minimum” colleagues have it all figured out:
- take twice as long as necessary to do any task (so you’re not asked to take on more)
- take sick leave liberally
- keep HR on speed-dial if anything pushes your buttons
- no working outside of work hours

They get paid the same as I do, yet their work is pushed to me while they take leave. Not hating on them - just mad at myself for not setting boundaries and thinking there is payoff in being a model employee.

Wish I’d received this advice sooner!

Depends on your career. You don’t make partner doing the minimum.

You don’t make partner by doing a lot either.
You have to be a tall white man.

Tall white men who take forever to finish tasks, use all of their sick leave and wander out the door at 5pm don’t make partner.

Y’all aren’t lawyers, are you?

Correct. Is it somehow news to you that not all of us are lawyers?

[Anonymous]

My rules for succeeding:
1) most things that go on in the office are a game. And the people who psychologically deal with it best realize it's a game.

2) never get into a pissing contest with a skunk, they'll outstink you every time (from my father). Stay away from the office politician, chances are they spend hours every week figuring out how to scheme. Hours you are not willing to sacrifice.

3) the person who appears to care the least has the most power. Someone with moderate I don't give a rat's ass vibes is perceived as confident.

4) every once in a while so something for the office, like bring in bagels and donuts. It won't cost you a lot and removes any idea that you are a misanthrope.

5) don't be the schmuck who kills yourself all day and leaves at 5:00. Every once in a while, slack off and leave at 6:10.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to subscribe to the George Constanza approach to work:

1. Always look annoyed...people construe that as someone deep in thought and working hard

2. Always carry papers around and appear to be reading or marking them up

3. Go the extra step and actually incorporate the Human Fund so when your own Krueger decides to donate, there is an actual entity to receive the $50k

4. Don't have higher aspirations than your boss. You don't have to be an Urban Planner when Architect is perfectly fine

There are probably others, but that's a start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Partner here. My other partners are totally phoning it in for the most part. Just sayin’…

Sure they are … now.

Clearly you are not a partner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Partner here. My other partners are totally phoning it in for the most part. Just sayin’…

This is possible after you make partner and have enough associates to do your work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

3) the person who appears to care the least has the most power. Someone with moderate I don't give a rat's ass vibes is perceived as confident.

Did you ever watch the movie Office Space? The character who doesn’t care appears confident and ends up receiving a promotion to team manager while his rule-following friends get laid off. There’s some truth to that!