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March 05, 2010
the john rules
I've worked for friends for ten years straight, navigating safely from one to the other. While I wouldn't trade the feelings of mutual trust and safety, this arrangement has had one horrible downside. When I was writing yesterday's post, I realized just how much like talking with girlfriends' parents this downside is.
I can't be me.
Out of friendship.
When I was working for that cocksucking sleaze Ernest, I couldn't have cared less if I made him look bad. Heck, it was fun. But would I do that to Flo? To Christy? No, the friendship comes first, before my need to call out people's incompetence and disingenuousness.
This has led to the same exchange occurring over and over in my last ten years of work. Only the boss' name changes.
Annette: "Do you want to work with J.B. on [insert some horrible product]?"The rules that have emerged when I work for a friend, then:John: "Do you want to rephrase your sentence such that you get a response you like?"
Annette: "Work with J.B. on it."
John: "Do I have the green light to handle him how I see fit?"
Annette: "Do I look stupid?"
- I always ask permission before going off on someone.
- That permission is never, ever, under any circumstances granted.
posted by john at 10:57 AM • permalink