The One Question That Defines Company Bureacracy

Why is this so hard? And the follow up question - Why is this taking so long?

Make a peanut butter sandwich. 30 seconds.

Walk to and eat lunch. 1 hour.

Draft a project plan. 2 hours.

With enough experience you become very good at estimating the time it takes to do basic things.

Enter into a large corporation.

Process a service request. Days.

Schedule a meeting. Weeks.

Build something in IT. Years.

The successful manager is the one that can cut through the organization to get things done. Unfortunately, it's hard to get through the bureaucracy without getting some battle wounds and scars along the way.

Comments

I'm Back!

Probably not an even close comparison to the return of MJ. But the feeling is there. It's been a few years to say the least. I blame Covid... and my lack of motivation to put anything out on the inter-web. That said, it's a different time and I'm a lot older. Things have changed, but they haven't. I'm still trying to find that next gig. Breaking through this so-called barrier of being a company leader or executive still alludes me. And all my friends are more successful than I am. So cheers to that. I look forward to writing more. Cheers - PB

The Thing About Cheese

The book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" has been on my bookshelf for more than a few years. Quite honestly, I don't remember if I read it end to end. So I picked it up and the story vaguely started coming back to me which means that I did read it, but didn't really READ it. My thing about business self-help books like these are that the concepts and ideas being communicated don't really sit with you unless you are in a situation that makes the ideas hit home. It's like being a sports analyst without having never really played the sport. Nothing makes it real like having the experience. A quote that hit home for me was, "...a change imposed is a change opposed." And yet this is how many corporations impose their edicts expect change to happen within a workforce that is more than happy to oppose the guys in the ivory tower. Yes I'm talking about the latest safety policy, finance department "guidance", or expense policy ch...

Diary of a Job Search

I am not any stranger to looking for a new job. When I was in big firm management consulting, I used to say, "The one thing about this job is that you are always looking for the next one." Whether you are on the bench or on an engagement, you should always be spending time out of your day planting seeds for the next engagement or job opportunity. Unfortunately, I have not followed my own advice in over a decade. Now, I'm trying to resurrect relationships and break through AI job site filters -- and all the job search horror stories that happen on LinkedIn are happening to me. Whether you haven't looked for a job in a few weeks or since before COVID, here's what I've learned: There are people that genuinely want to help. Cherish those people and reciprocate accordingly. There are people that you thought you knew, that will disappear on you. (I think the kids call it ghosting). I'll be honest in that I'm no angel. I'm sure I've done it to...

Stuck between mediocrity and excellence

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