On the real...Pt. 2

Had to take a break... Back to the subject at hand

Supporting the Deputy was definately a challenge for me because in a one-on-one meeting with him one day he basically expressed he wanted someone who could run his entire workday for him. Hold the phone...If I am going to direct and run your day for you I might as well have your job. What does it gain me to make you look organized and on point when in the end you are the one taking the credit for work you don't really do? Here is an example:

One day in a meeting a discussion of reorganizing the various groups in our building came up. During that meeting they discussed staff changes and well as location changes but no one had a true plan on how to go about getting this done in a timely manner. Let me see...I have worked inventory where all we did was coordinate moves and do them, I have worked Helpdesk where there were times we not only moved but reconnected people back into the network. LIGHT BULB!!! Now that I can do. So I ran a copy of my resume off and showed the Deputy that I was qualified to coordinate this. He agreed to give me my shot and gave me a 3 day deadline. I coordinated with a person that could handle the reconnection of the phones and we did a walk-through to determine the best way to make the move seem flawless. Long story short...2 days and we were done.

Now there was an area that was secured and it was told that network security would be occupying that space. Fine with me but you have some issues that need to be corrected before they could move. One of the biggest was enough network jacks to accomidate the many computers and the fact that the room would have to be rewired in order for that to happen. One thing about me is this...I know how to stay in my lane and this was definately one of those moments. So I kindly informed the Deputy he would have to get one of the managers to take on this resposibility because it would require the hiring of an outside source. This was also involving spending money which did not fall under my resposibilities contractually.

His reply..."Take care of it!" Okay now I am about to loosen this tie so let me walk out of here. I went directly to his backup (She was so cool I enjoyed working with her. She was one who came to our wedding and that said alot about her as a person) and explained what he just told me. She said "How could he do that?" "Don't he know that could count against your contract?" Meanwhile he went to my direct and told him I was NOT doing my job or following orders. Well of course the direct is going to come to me and instead of asking what happened just outright accuse me of it. Okay so now it is time for me to let them know where they need to get off at so I called an impromtu meeting with both the Direct & the Deputy. Funny part...when I brought up my reasoning for not doing this neither party owned up to what was said to me. The Deputy says he never told the direct I was not doing my job and the Direct said he never said that.

Okay so now I am tripping. Question to the Direct "Then if I was doing my job, why would you even bother me in the first place?" Boy it got quiet. "Before we even leave this room let it be known I do know what I can and can't do contractually and taking on something like this requires someone who is AUTHORIZED to give the yes or no on the job being done and follow through with making sure the money is there to do it. Not in my job description." Sounds like insubordination doesn't it? What it is is me letting both of them know I am not going to put myself out there like that. Standing my ground, covering my ass truth be told. Now the Direct was a character himself. He was indian that swore he was white. You know what I mean. In the very beginning of me starting on this particular position he was NO help. This is him..."Here is where you are going to be sitting, see you later." Thank GOD I knew some of the people there and was able to get some kind of help settling in. That action had already set the standard on the kind of work relationship we were going to have.

Now mind you the Direct took on the responsibility of meeting with the various vendors on doing the job. Technically he wasn't supposed to no more than me because he was a contractor. But he did and for me from that point on almost every thing I did seem to become a complaint. Well one day the manager of the NOC told me he needed to talk to me. I though I had done something wrong but that was far from the truth. He basically told me there was a position open for the helpdesk and it was in DC. He told me he felt strongly about me taking the position, he said he knew I would be able to walk right in and make it happen for him. All I asked was to be able to make the same as I was making because I do know how they try to low-ball you. He said not a problem. Once everything was in motion I gave my two week notice.

Now this was the best part of the whole thing. I asked for a week before starting the new position and he had no problem with it. Now on my last day you know everybody wants to take you to lunch, get you cards signed by everybody and let's not forget that "Sorry to see you go, you were such a valued worker" speech. It was different somewhat. There were many people who I knew were very serious about my leaving and how they were going to miss what I brought to the team. Now I had the Direct thinking I had no job and had no idea what I was going to do. He OVERSTRESSED if I needed anything to let him know. This is him..."I know some people if you ever need to find a job." But I kinda felt like it was a practiced speech and he happy to see me go. Rumor has it they went through 2 or 3 people in that position and ultimately lost the contract.

What was the impact I left? The Deputy started wearing neck ties like I did. I even had some of the other co-workers come see me and that really made feel good to know that here were some people who really appreciated what I brought to the game.

Oh there is so much more and I am hardly finished. But right now I am on mental overload and need to chill for a minute. Stay tuned.

On the real...

Well here I am again writing, thinking, wondering, hoping and praying for my break-through. It has been almost 2 months since I have gotten up to go work for someone else and recieve little to no credit or respect for what I do. In a way it is such a relief to not have to deal with the stress but in another (and most important) way it has brought on stress...

Financial stress, Emotional stress and in some ways physical stress. I have applied for numerous jobs (most outside of the DC area) and have gotten some replies. But the truth be told I have become a little tired of having to PIMP myself to show my worth when it comes to seeking employment. What I lack on paper and certification-wise, I do have in years of experience. Is it not said that experience IS THE BEST TEACHER? Then why is it so hard for me considering I do have the experience.

I will not lie when I say one of my biggest goals is to have my own business. Not for me but for my children to one day run or reap the benefits from. I don't want them to have to be employeed by a company that really doesn't appreciate what they bring to the overall success of that company. I don't want them to have to work for a company that has someone in charge who has NO people skills, shows NO respect to the person, is not willing to help in growth career-wise, and is only concerned about themselves and their image. I have been there and done that.

Now there was something on the news not too long ago that stated employers are now surfing the internet to see what kind of activities prospective employees are indulging in. This is to determine whether they would be a suitable fit for employment. That to me is a load of crap. The same folks that are doing the searches could be indulging in possible activities that are grounds for termination too. But who is checking them? Speaking of checking...is it me or does it seem like everybody is checking everybody, and the ones that really need to be checked are slipping through the cracks? Now my last job was probably one of my biggest challenges. I TOLD YOU IT WAS GOING TO COME!!! Here's the story:

I had the honor and priviledge of working at NMIMC for at least 2 years in at least 2 different positions. The majority of the work I did was mainly IT Support (Helpdesk if you will) as a contractor mostly and boy did I learn a lot. In that place alone I had established quite a few valuable relationship with so many people. I perfected my customer support skills...or at least I thought I did. I got to know how to respond promptly and effectively and in some cases was a liason because the customer wasn't happy with the level of service they were recieving from another tech. On the personal side it had been said numerous times that I brought energy and smiles to many people. I have been told that just by a small joke, compliment or even a smile that I made someone's day.

Well I got an offer to be an Executive Assistant (Secretary) there (I had done my time in the IT side and there were no openings at the time) making more than I would have imagined (compared to what I was making) at that time. No this job had me doing some things I had done a long time ago (summer job action) and some things I had never done before. But the vibe I got was because I had such an established relationship there they felt more comfortable with me filling that position.

*SIDE NOTE*One of the biggest changes for me personally was having to wear shirts and ties everyday. Now if you ask anyone that knows me personally they will tell you I can't stand wearing ties. Why you ask? Simple...Over 400 years ago my ancestors arrived here with shackles around there ankles and necks. And even though that was then and I didn't live in that time the pictures that I have seen showed me that as long as that shackle was around their neck they were limited in movement, growth and achievement. But take the shackle off and they ran. They ran because they knew it was more out there for them to do and learn. Freedom to prosper from their work and knowledge but it was no secret that master feared a smart black person that was given opportunity. Ask any free slave.

So now I got this job that I have to wear a tie to everyday. Now that particular wardrobe was limited for a reason but change is something that is part of life. Now my stand on this particular change was "how do I do this and not lose me in the process?" Well I am known for wearing clothes and colors that most men are afraid to wear or won't wear. Call it unique...eclectic...or in our community P.I.M.P'ish but to me it is a sign of a leader. There are rules for pulling it off correctly and properly. Certain colors & stlyes at certain times. So I was BLESSED to be able to find a place that I could coordinate my wardrobe to be professional looking, have the SEAN FLAVA and most importantly feel comfortable. But like most stereo-types I ran into a few who assumed I was PIMPing, sold drugs, or flatly was making too much money which was far from the truth. I even had a few of the clients think I was in charge of the whole operation. I believe that was mainly because I was their Primary contact.

Now supporting (because that is what I did, I wasn't working for him I work for GOD) the Deputy Director had it's good moments but the majority of the time it challenged my patience. Here was a guy who had been in this position for a long time, he seemed to enjoy the 2nd man spot because in that position he could order other people around. When the Director was in the house he seemed to not like being told what to do or be corrected when he was wrong. From where I stood I was wondering why everytime he ever applied for the Director position he got rejected. But that was between he & his superiors.

CONTINUED in PT. 2