Each year, management motivate staff to look ahead at the coming year and set performance goals. I can easily be motivated to party, travel and write; unfortunately, management doesn't view these as “performance goals”. No, what they want are internal goals such as upgrading technical, communication and overall work skills. Essentially, management want us to continually challenge ourselves; to be ambitious. But how do we rise to that challenge without challenging our bosses? How can they ask us to be ambitious when it’s that very ambition that is oftentimes scrutinized as a direct threat to their hierarchal status?
It’s a dichotomy because, in my experience, rising to the challenge of becoming a better, smarter more capable employee can oftentimes backfire and come across as arrogant, egotistical or even pretentious. In other words, there’s ambition and then there’s [perceived] over-ambition, which is great if you’re trying to achieve martyrdom in the office, but not so great if you’re trying to fly under the attack radar of your boss.
On one particular day, I found myself back on the firing line. However, this time, instead of acquiescing, I decided to launch a counterattack. I figured it was as good a time as ever to be enterprising and amibitous, and rise to the challenge of my boss. It was time to step up to the plate and get into the game.
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BOOK EXCERPT
“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” she firmly started. “You’re fired.” My jaw dropped. I nearly had to pick it up off the floor. I was in complete and utter shock. Having been down this road before, I was semi-prepared for what was to come next, but thankfully my skin was a little thicker and I didn’t cry. In fact, once the initial shock wore off (surprisingly fast), I didn’t feel anything at all. I was actually quite relieved and not in the least bit upset. Subconsciously, I knew it was coming.
“Do you have anything you wish to say?” Lynda formally asked, which was a surprisingly welcome change from her usual lackadaisical manner. I’d been staring at her the whole time, trying to process what was happening. In the months I’d worked with her, I never learned to read her. Careful not to put my foot in it, I didn’t answer right away. This was a tough call. I mean, at this point, it really didn’t matter what I had to say. I was fired. Finito! So why hold back? Why not give her a piece of my mind? But I also knew I’d likely regret saying anything at all. But on the other hand, if I said nothing then I was being submissive. I decided to flip a coin on it. Reaching into my blazer pocket, I pulled out a quarter.
“Call it,” I commanded, holding up the shiny quarter for Lynda’s inspection. I admit, I was feeling rather pleased at that exact moment. I was going to let fate decide the outcome of this meeting. The Ice Berg’s face was full of confusion and disbelief.
“Pardon?” Lynda asked, somewhat confused. For a brief moment, she looked like she might smile…laugh even! But then it was gone.
“Call it,” I instructed. “Heads or tails? Do I, or don’t I speak?” Lynda shook her head, as if to deny any involvement in this mad-cap scheme. Smiling like the Cheshire cat, I squinted my eyes, challenging her. I nodded again, letting her know the game was on. I wasn’t going to let her back out. Hesitating, she held my stare, and the moment. I held my expression, and my position. I needed her to call it. The room had become deathly silent. All I could hear was the 60-cycle hum of the lights overhead the grandiose boardroom table, and the pulse of the office muffled behind the closed door. Neither of us moved. Neither of us backed down.
“Heads you speak, tails you don’t.” And there it was. The game was on.
Nodding once in acknowledgment, I winked at my adversary and, taking in a deep breath, I ceremoniously tossed the coin up into the air. As if in slow motion, we both followed the path of the coin as it traveled up into the air, where it seemed to hold for a split a second before beginning its quick descent back to Earth. Reaching out, I grabbed the quarter with my right hand. Nodding again, knowing that the Gods of fate had now spoken, I skillfully placed my right hand onto my left. I could feel the coolness of the coin on the back of my hand. Hesitating, I raised my eyebrows in heady anticipation of what would happen next. The Ice Berg was now sitting on the edge of her chair. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was a gambler.
Slowly, I removed my hand to reveal the coin. We both leaned in to take a closer look. It wasn’t good, at least not for me. Tails. Dammit. The Ice Berg looked relieved. I sat back in my chair feeling defeated. Deep down, I had a lot to say. But perhaps this was fate telling me something? Besides, I reminded myself, it was, after all, my idea.
“You know, I did have a lot to say,” I finally answered, placing the coin back in my blazer pocket. “But, fate has spoken.” Lynda nodded and smiled, relief washing over her face.
“This really is difficult for me, you know,” she repeated, trying to sound concerned but failing miserably.
“So you keep saying,” I answered back, not bothering to hide the contempt that had crept into my voice. “From where I’m sitting, Lynda, it doesn’t look like you’re having much difficulty with it.” I hesitated briefly, giving her a platform to respond, but she just sat there, silent. Finally, I decided it was time to catch my ferry.
END OF BOOK EXCERPT
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At the end of the day, my goal for this year, and every year to come, is to go to work, do the best job I can, and then go home. And I mean that with sincerity. I really do just want to go home. Just joking. But seriously, if I were to have one work-related goal, it’s to do the best job I can, each and every day. And that means working with a strong, supportive and, yes, ambitious team of people who promote that kind of growth. And it certainly helps if those people are also your Frolleagues!
