aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
I should try this passing the monkey back system on my wife sometime and see how that works out.
I should try this passing the monkey back system on my wife sometime and see how that works out.
Yes Bill Oncken was famous for his entertaining pitches about the management monkeys. The series was called Managing Management Time.
In my w*rk world, monkeys were something we had (or were placed) on our backs.
What other Megacorp buzzwords did YOU use? Ever play Buzzword Bingo at a meeting?
Sadly, I've been to meetings with the title "Plan for a Plan". No joke.One of my favorite parts of the movie, "Office Space" was a whiteboard in one of the scenes that had "Planning to Plan" on it with a quite the flowchart.
Edit...attached.
Sadly, I've been to meetings with the title "Plan for a Plan". No joke.
When I discovered this board 6 odd years ago, Megacorp seemed to want to have everyone ring-lead everyone else's circus. This was depressing and put me into thoughts of retirement. Once I realized I was near FI, I let others ring-lead the circuses. It seems some let out the monkeys intentionally so they can round them up and play ringleader hero. They create their own circuses. This is rewarded.
I've learned great calm since then and watch the circuses go by.
I never knew this phrase, but it may become my motto. Love it!
What other Megacorp buzzwords did YOU use? Ever play Buzzword Bingo at a meeting?
In my w*rk world, monkeys were something we had (or were placed) on our backs.
What other Megacorp buzzwords did YOU use? Ever play Buzzword Bingo at a meeting?
I want to just reach out to you and thank you for that laser focused reply.I would enjoy networking some time to strategize how we might prioritize our synergies. But for right now, it's not in my swim lane.
Now that I am retired, I am soooooo glad I never have to hear the comment "Why don't you reach out to XYZ"
What I always wanted to say was "I don't reach out to people. I call them, talk to them, send them a letter or email. If I reach out it will be to wring your neck the next you say reach out"
My last decade at megac*rp was in project management. I thought once I had retired a few months, I would want to do some consulting. 4 months into retirement, and the thought of returning, even if only for one-off projects, is almost nauseating. And, I'm glad for that. My time at the local soup kitchen is much more rewarding and I work with better people.
I love that proverb!
Like you, I retired at 61 when I'd planned to retire at 65. No severance package but politics got ugly and I looked at the numbers and pulled the plug. That was May, 2014. Sometimes I can't believe that if I were on my original plan I still wouldn't be retired!
This year I went to a meeting of my professional society for the first time since retirement. It was in Toronto, a favorite city of mine, so I figured it was a good excuse. Besides, my field (property-casualty insurance) is still interesting to me and my son works in it as a claims adjuster. It was interesting- lots of new faces, of course, and many who were into rainmaking barely gave me the time of day- I can't bring them business or hire them as a consultant and my contacts, although extensive, are stale. Still plenty of people I was happy to see.
Last month a meeting of a regional affiliate of the society was held in Des Moines, where DS and his family live. No-brainer- I went there. I had a great time- two women with whom I'd worked and whom I still liked immensely were there and we enjoyed catching up, and left with hugs. Weasel ex-boss was not there. Yay! People close to my age expressed friendly jealousy that I was retired already and enjoying life. Some, when they found I wasn't in any sort of consulting, were incredulous that I was even there. I just explained that the insurance business was still one of many things that interested me.
Oh, yeah- the society has a meeting in Honolulu in November, 2019.
Still, when the hurricanes hit TX and FL, I was really glad my income no longer depended on company profitability.
I am only semi-retired and I have not attended professional conferences for many years. I don't have common interests with them. They like to talk about funding, papers, and academic status, etc., I now like to talk about travel, personal finance, etc.
I am only semi-retired and I have not attended professional conferences for many years. I don't have common interests with them. They like to talk about funding, papers, and academic status, etc., I now like to talk about travel, personal finance, etc.
....Another one, I think I first heard it when DW was watching Dr Phil on TV is "I don't have a dog in that fight". ....
You never had to segue into new paradigms?
Was Michael Vick the guest that day?
Now that I am retired, I am soooooo glad I never have to hear the comment "Why don't you reach out to XYZ"
What I always wanted to say was "I don't reach out to people. I call them, talk to them, send them a letter or email. If I reach out it will be to wring your neck the next you say reach out"
When I did a Google image search for the screen shot from the movie, there were a LOT of pictures of corporate whiteboards that had ACTUAL flow charts/lists/etc. that were mirroring the corporate BS so many of us hate. At first it gave me chills seeing them, but then I remember I am retired so I chuckled and took a nap.
I am only semi-retired and I have not attended professional conferences for many years. I don't have common interests with them. They like to talk about funding, papers, and academic status, etc., I now like to talk about travel, personal finance, etc.
I felt this way quite often even when I was still working. I was the person at conferences or business dinners asking people about their families, vacations, or hobbies. I was probably the exception but I enjoyed those topics more and felt it helped to build relationships.