Here’s two forwarded email i got from an officemate. Fun to read yet it really does make sense
CAREER ADVICE
AN OPEN ADVICE ABOUT CAREER DECISIONS:
Several of my staff has approached me lately about their career
decisions. I really appreciate my staff opening up to me. It is quite
reassuring to know that they’re still having second thoughts about
leaving.
Here is part of the email I sent to a “confused” staff:
I have worked for more than 5 companies already so I guess you might be
correct in saying I have had considerable experience about leaving and
moving on. I will not stop you nor tell you to leave, though of course
it will be better if you stay. In any career decision, leaving or
staying I believe, based from my personal experiences, should only be
done for the right reasons.
For one, you shouldn’t leave because you don’t like several people in
the company, nor should you stay because of the friends you have made
here.
At the end of the day, it is your life. Your friends or “enemies” should
not make or break your career. If you let them be the deciding factor,
then maybe you should think twice. You are the craftsman of your fate
and the captain of your ship. Captain Hook shouldn’t be one of your
worries!
Do not leave nor stay because of the “brand” of your company. If that
was the case, I would have rushed off and sign my JO in “C”! Ask
yourself whether you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small
fish in a bigger pond. Know your priorities. Only you can answer that.
Do not leave the company because you’re so damn frustrated about the way
things are being run, or stay because you have this “messianic complex”
that you can change things overnight. Be realistic about the things .
Learn to accept that there is no perfect company. Be accepting that
change is a slow and painful process at times and be thankful that you
realize and act on things that can be changed and improved. Definitely,
do not leave or stay just because your parents want you to. I know I am
advocating obedience to parents but again, we are talking about YOUR
career. But learn to value their wisdom and discern well.
Money isn’t everything. The package being offered now might be better
but look at the long-term prospects. Do not leave or stay just solely on
the compensation package . Look for growth prospects and review their
career plans for you . Your immediate gains today might actually be a
loss a few years from now if you do the Math.
Boredom is another challenge all professionals are faced with during
lull periods in their career. Do not leave because you have become so
bored with your job. Do not stay either because you want things as they
are.
Change is inevitable in any organization. Talk to your boss. Ask for
more responsibilities or other tasks if you’re bored. Enroll in a
special course. If you’re satisfied with the status quo and is just
waiting for retirement hoping things will stay the same, you’re in for a
big disappointment – either you will be forced to change or you will be
forced to leave. Be ready before that time comes. Boredom or complacency
is perennial battle most professionals have to deal with. Arm yourself
with creativity everyday!
Tonight I suggest you rest well. Sit still and listen to what He is
saying. PRAY. I have always made my career decisions through His
guidance.
He was and still is my Career Adviser/Talent Manager. Your work, our
work, is a vocation. He knows us more than we know ourselves so trust
Him for whatever plans He has for you. You can never go wrong.
And remember: Use your head to get to the top. But use your heart to
stay.
MANAGEMENT LESSONS
CASE 1
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long? The crow answered: “Sure, why not.” so, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.
All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Management Learning:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
CASE 2
A turkey was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy. “Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re packed with nutrients.” The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon he was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.
Management Learning:
Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.
CASE 3
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him!
Management Learning:
1. Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3. And when you’re in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!
CASE 4
The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along, they passed some people who remarked “it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding”. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Later, they passed some people that remarked, “What a shame, he makes that little boy walk.”
They decide d they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So the both rode the donkey! Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying “how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey”. The boy and man said they were probably right so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.
Management Learning:
If you try to please everyone, you will eventually lose your ass
CASE 5
Once three government ministers Mr. ABC, Mr. PQR and Mr. XYZ were travelling in an autorickshaw. They met with an accident and all three of them died. Lord of death was waiting for this moment at the doorstep of death. He asks ABC and PQR to go to HEAVEN. But, for XYZ, he had already decided that he should be sent to HELL.
XYZ is not at all happy with this decision. He asks the load of death as to why this discrimination is being made. All the three of them had served the public. Similarly, all took bribes, all misused public positions, etc. Then why the differential treatment?
He felt that there should be a formal test or an objective evaluation before a decision is made; and should not be just based on opinion or pre conceived notions. Lord of Death agrees to this and asks all the three of them to appear for an English test. ABC is asked to spell “INDIA” and he does it correctly. PQR is asked to spell “ENGLAND” and he too passes. It is XYZ’s turn and he is asked to spell “CZECHOSLOVAKIA”.
XYZ protests that he doesn’t know English. He says this is not fair and that he was given a tough question and thus forced to fail with false intent. Lord of Death then agrees to conduct a written test in Hindi (to give another chance assuming that XYZ should at least feel that Hindi would provide an equal platform for all three).
ABC is asked to write “KUTTA BOLA BHOW BHOW”. He writes it easily and passes. PQR is asked to write “BILLI BOLI MYAUN MYAUN”. He too passes. XYZ is asked to write “BANDAR BOLA GURRRRRR…..” Tough one. He fails again. He is extremely unhappy.
Having been a student of history (which the other two weren’t), he now requested for all the 3 to be subjected to a test in history. Lord of Death says ‘OK’, but this would be the last chance and that he would not take any more tests.
ABC is asked: “When did India get Independence?”. He replied “1947″ and passed. PQR is asked “How many people died during the independence struggle?”. He gets nervous. Lord of Death asked him to choose from 3 options: 100,000 or 200,000 or 300,000. PQR catches it and says 200,000 and passes. It’s XYZ’s turn now. Lord of Death asks him to give the Name and Address of each of the 200,000 who died in the struggle. XYZ accepts defeat and agrees to go to HELL.
Management Lesson:
“IF YOUR MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED TO SCREW YOU, THERE IS JUST NO ESCAPE”
CASE 6
The secret is finally revealed. On the first day God created the cow. God said, “You must go to field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years.” The cow said, “That’s a kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I’ll give back the other forty.” and God agreed.
On the second day, God created the dog. God said, “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years.” The dog said, “That’s too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I’ll give back the other ten.” so God agreed (sigh).
On the third day God created the monkey. God said, “Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I’ll give you a twenty year life span.” Monkey said, “How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don’t think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that’s what I’ll do too, okay?” and God agreed again.
On the fourth day God created man. God said, “Eat, sleep, play, enjoy & worship god. Do nothing, just enjoy & worship god. I’ll give you twenty years.” Man said, “What? Only twenty years? No way, man. Tell you what, I’ll take my twenty, and the forty cow gave back, and the ten dog gave back and the ten monkey gave back. That makes eighty, okay?”
“Okay,” said God. “You’ve got a deal.”
Management Lesson:
So that is why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, enjoy and do nothing; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our
family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody. In all these stages, we forget to worship god for his grace on us.