Bosses Suck & Some Irrelevant Thoughts

Let's tackle the thoughts first:

I've harboured this nagging question for years: How the heck did the construction crane rise with the building it's constructing? Take a look at it the next time you spot one. The cranes that I'm talking about here are those that sticks out from the centre of the building (usually out of the lift shaft) and transports materiel from the base to the level/floor that's being worked on. It's damn precarious and if you look closely it sways as it rotates carrying the loads. The operator sits in a small cabin attached precariously on the side and can navigate the equipment even without line of sight and purely by radio com. They're that skilled. Have you ever wondered as the building rises over the months of construction how does the crane rise along with it? How do they add the steel "rungs" to it? How do they take them down when it reaches a dizzying height of 80 storeys for example? If you know the answer, please email me!

Now on the bosses:

They seem to take pleasure in heaping misery on their staff. Mine just told me not to hope for anything (ie promotion) next year as the recipients have already been earmarked. He also said that he can't see any significant project that I've contributed this year that is known all over the bank. The phrase "known all over the bank" is subjective but in my place of work, it means one has not trumpeted the accolades enough. The worst comment he made was "If you can run a marathon, I don't see why you can't deliver greater things in 2006". An answer immediately came up on my mind but I bit my tongue and just shook my head. The fact of the matter is running and working while sharing some traits (in that we torture ourselves to no end) are different. The difference? PASSION. What sets a great job apart from an average one is the level of passion the executor put in. I've great passion for running and all that it stands for and I'll gladly do anything associated with it - from volunteering, training and racing, teaching and spreading the running movement and more. I'd run 7 days a week if there's no such thing as a rest day. And being a smoker and non-exerciser, who is he to comment about running? What does he know about training and running a marathon?

I got over being upset the moment I stepped out of the office but I can't help but question my passion for my work. It's diminished. It's not that I don't care for it anymore but I just don't have the desire to go the extra mile. Just do what needs to be done and get out of the office.

Indeed greater things beckon in 2006 and I hope a greater percentage of the success will not be office-work related.