The circle of total corporate awesomeness
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Hi Josh, What a wonderful brief essay that communicates, literally, and "literarily," so much of the "gestalt" of your work-place. I found myself wishing I had written this myself in my on-going novel based on my experience at my last full-time gig for a game-platform development (built on top of DirectX) company that shall remains nameless, but was truly a combination of circus, revival meeting, and mental hospital. But, "creative honor" forbids me to ever use your words ! :) best, Bill
"Every two days we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003". Eric Schmidt of Google.
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
_Josh_ wrote:
The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would osmehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Hire me as a consultant, I'll only need half a day, will straighten them out and won't fear for my job as I was only a consultant.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Sounds like they need an electric monk.
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pwasser wrote:
Middle-management full of hopeless people whose only contribution was lots of "awesomes" or whatever the going term was in those days.
Yep, we've expanded and taken on a whole new level of middle management - people mostly from outside the company with little to offer other than 'management experience'. But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
pwasser wrote:
Company long gone - unfortunately - because these people took the poor bugger who was bankrolling the place to the cleaners.
Fortunately we make enough money to continuing being completely awesome for a very long time
_Josh_ wrote:
But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
Does Barney Stinson work there?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Awesome! :)
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_Josh_ wrote:
The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would osmehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Hire me as a consultant, I'll only need half a day, will straighten them out and won't fear for my job as I was only a consultant.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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But if you're not positive then we would have to consider you a less than awesome consultant and make the only positive move available - to fire you!
_Josh_ wrote:
But if you're not positive then we would have to consider you a less than awesome consultant and make the only positive move available - to fire you!
What if I stick the positive end of a AA battery up my arse, will I be positive enough then?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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_Josh_ wrote:
But if you're not positive then we would have to consider you a less than awesome consultant and make the only positive move available - to fire you!
What if I stick the positive end of a AA battery up my arse, will I be positive enough then?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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pwasser wrote:
Middle-management full of hopeless people whose only contribution was lots of "awesomes" or whatever the going term was in those days.
Yep, we've expanded and taken on a whole new level of middle management - people mostly from outside the company with little to offer other than 'management experience'. But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
pwasser wrote:
Company long gone - unfortunately - because these people took the poor bugger who was bankrolling the place to the cleaners.
Fortunately we make enough money to continuing being completely awesome for a very long time
_Josh_ wrote:
people mostly from outside the company with little to offer other than 'management experience'
You have again reminded me of my time back then. The philosophy was that one did not have to know the industry or be technical - in fact that was a disadvantage - one had to know how to "manage". That was of course as simple as "awesome". The chief proponent of all this bs was ... you guessed it .... the HR manager btw great post.
Peter Wasser Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. Frank Zappa
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
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_Josh_ wrote:
the project is not going well and way behind schedule
_Josh_ wrote:
Everyone is now happy
Except your customers (understandably) :-)
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Shameel wrote:
Except your customers (understandably) :)
No no no we are our own customer and we think we're awesome!
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
which company is this then? bryce
MCAD --- To paraphrase Fred Dagg - the views expressed in this post are bloody good ones. --
Our kids books :The Snot Goblin, and Book 2 - the Snotgoblin and Fluff The Snotgoblin for the Ipad -
The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
_Josh_ wrote:
My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand
Better that your heads are stuck in sand. The smell is not so good when stuck up your -- or, each other's -- arse!
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which company is this then? bryce
MCAD --- To paraphrase Fred Dagg - the views expressed in this post are bloody good ones. --
Our kids books :The Snot Goblin, and Book 2 - the Snotgoblin and Fluff The Snotgoblin for the Ipad -
_Josh_ wrote:
But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
Does Barney Stinson work there?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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pwasser wrote:
Middle-management full of hopeless people whose only contribution was lots of "awesomes" or whatever the going term was in those days.
Yep, we've expanded and taken on a whole new level of middle management - people mostly from outside the company with little to offer other than 'management experience'. But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
pwasser wrote:
Company long gone - unfortunately - because these people took the poor bugger who was bankrolling the place to the cleaners.
Fortunately we make enough money to continuing being completely awesome for a very long time
_Josh_ wrote:
But we're agile now and agile is, by definition, awesome.
Well, it makes you look like you're always doing something, right? How could that be bad? "Try this." "Nope. Don't like it." "How about now?" "A little better, but not quite what we're looking for." "OK. Is this better?" "Closer. Keep trying." "Ta-da! This one'll wow you!" "Nah. I liked the first one better."
No dogs or cats are in the classroom. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Does this remind anyone else of the tabletop RPG Paranoia? YOU ARE IN ERROR. NO ONE IS SCREAMING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. The Computer is happy. The Computer is crazy. The Computer will help you become happy. This will drive you crazy. Being a citizen of Alpha Complex is fun. The Computer says so, and The Computer is your friend. Many traitors threaten Alpha Complex. Many happy citizens live in Alpha Complex. Most happy citizens are crazy. Which are more dangerous traitors or happy citizens? Rooting out traitors will make you happy. The Computer tells you so. If you are not happy, The Computer will use you as reactor shielding. Being a Troubleshooter is fun. The Computer tells you so. Do you doubt The Computer, citizen? Troubleshooters get shot at, stabbed, mangled, incinerated, poisoned, stapled, blown to bits and accidentally executed. This is so much fun many Troubleshooters go crazy. You work with many Troubleshooters. They all carry lasers. Aren t you glad you have a laser too? Won t this be fun? Ring any bells?
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
Hmm. I might actually enjoy that for a change. I work for <redacted>red-and-gold-flag-former-film-company-who-filed-chapter-11</redacted>, and morale is really low. It's a great big ball of suck at the moment.
Software Zen:
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The company I work for has seen a big 'cultural change' over the last couple of years instigated mainly by the HR department. One of the things that is now valued almost more than anything else is positiveness. EVERYTHING here is awesome now, the company, the work, the technology, the management, my 4 year old PC, etc etc. Meetings are elephanting funny as we all sit there knowing the project is not going well and way behind schedule but we all tell each other and the management how well it's going and no one is game to ask difficult questions for fear of being seen to be less than positive. Everyone is now happy simply because everyone is told by everyone else that everything is awesome. My only fear is that we'll all end up with our heads stuck so far into the sand that we wont be able to hear each other say how awesome we are and everything we do is and that that would somehow make things less awesome. This can only end well for all involved.
