Take a number and wait until you're called.
Published on May 3, 2005 By dynamaso In Humor
I work in an office. I'm sure a lot of JUsers work in offices too. My office is almost Dilbertian in its design, with narrow passage ways between cubicles designed so no matter which way I swing my chair, my knees will bang into something. Most of the workstations are surrounded by pinboard-like material and topped with glass panels, which means anyone walking past look like they are in a big fish-tank. Most choose to pin up things like the 'Hang In There' posters or pieces of inspiration designed to help them struggle through their day. They also pin lists of phone numbers and calendars on their walls. The phone lists are usually out of date. The calendars are only used to mark out the next public holidays or any future leave. I have both a calendar and an out-dated phone list but no inspirational messages. I do, however, have a picture of Buddha and a print of a really awful Picasso (titled 'Nude in a rocking chair'). The Buddha is to remind me of certain virtues I aspire to and the Picasso is to remind me to never be ashamed of anything I do creatively. If Picasso could have this particular picture exhibited with his signature on it without embarrassment, then there are no limits for me either. If I were so inclined, I would pin the following up to my wall as well:

1. Eagles may soar high, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

2. Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

3. There may be no 'I' in team, but there's a 'ME' if you look hard enough.

4. Process and Procedure are the last hiding place of people without the wit and wisdom to do their job properly.

5. Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

6. Never do today that which will become someone else’s responsibility tomorrow.

7. Every time you open your mouth you have this wonderful ability to continually confirm what I think.

8. Show me a good loser and I'll show you a LOSER!

9. Put the key of despair into the lock of apathy. Turn the knob of mediocrity slowly and open the gates of despondency - welcome to a day in the average office.

10. If your boss is getting you down, look at him through the prongs of a fork and imagine him in jail.

11. If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the of serious the situation.

12. If you treat the people around you with love and respect, they will never guess that you're trying to get them sacked.

13. If at first you don't succeed, remove all evidence you ever tried.

14. You have to be 100% behind someone, before you can stab them in the back.

15. If work was so good, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.

16. Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do.

17. There's no 'i' in 'team'. But then there's no 'i' in 'useless smug colleague', either. And there's four in 'platitude- quoting idiot'. Go figure.

18. Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do.

19. If you're gonna be late, then be late and not just 2 minutes - make it an hour and enjoy your breakfast.

20. A problem shared is a problem halved, so is your problem really yours or just half of someone else’s?

21. Is your work done? Are all pigs fed, watered and ready to fly?

22. I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it was just some b*stard with a torch, bringing me more work.

23. Avoid employing unlucky people - throw half of the pile of CVs in the bin without reading them.


Comments
on May 03, 2005
Yay you followed my advice and posted it

Btw, your work environment sounds claustrophobical, i really wander how you manage?

I'm not saying i work in a paradisiac background but... oh wait, actually i do! Mwahahahaharrrr! I dont mean to be so baaaaaad!!!
on May 03, 2005
Mwahahahaharrrr! I dont mean to be so baaaaaad!!!


Oh yes you do, which is just the way I like you
on May 03, 2005
I have sworn that, at any time in which I am a boss of sorts (ie, when I have my own practice), I will order every single poster from www.despair.com and post them all over the work place. It will be the highlight of my professional career. You definately should check them out if you haven't already.
on May 03, 2005
Blue -
And probably your last act as a boss... those HR types think those things demoralize people... I think they're hilarious but have been warned by management types that they don't appreciate anyone hanging those posters or desk calendars in their cubes.

My answer to surviving my dilbertian work environment is to stock my office with toys! I have:
-A floating globe
-A stuffed penguin
-A bungee jumping sheep
-A 3d laser etching of a guy bungee jumping
-A stress ball
-A weird LED light thingie (Squid Light)
-A few weird bendy stress toys
-A Darth Vader action figure

I also have the obligatory dilbert cartoons posted on the cube wall. And my favorite piece of wisdom... This is to add to your list Dynamaso...

"Carry the torch, not to light the way for others, but to set your peers on fire"
on May 03, 2005


I work in a lab but I have a dilbertian workstation to do my paper work when I have to.

I have to agree with Zoomba on Dilbert. I have a Dilbert Daily Calender - the kind that you tear off a page a day.

I also keep a few toys and stuff around my workstation
- a toy gun that shoots yellow rubber bullets
- a couple of lego magnets
- hound dog puppy soft toy
- a game mag stashed in a drawer
on May 03, 2005
Ah, but Zoomba, that is the beauty of being a physician in private practice. No HR people to deal with. Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
on May 03, 2005
Maso this list is hilarious! I especially love 21, 22 and 23!
on May 03, 2005
BlueDev... I hate you

Think your office will need an IT guy?
on May 03, 2005
Think your office will need an IT guy?


Absolutely. When I am finally practicing I have absolutely no intention of having any paper charts. It will all be (at least using current technology - who knows what they will have in a few years) tablet PC's, on a Wi-fi network that updates everything into a common database. No need for transcription services, no illegible chart notes, none of the crap that I have to put up with now. And that will most definately require an IT guy.

I'll look you up.
on May 03, 2005
In my office hangs several priceless original pieces of art ( hand crafted by my 10 year old ) a 12 x 20 metal poster of Barney Fife " Fife Security Service, Not much gets by him!" The required licenses, pictures of the family.....and every single plaque, award, diploma, and certificate I have ever received ( we call it "The Me Wall" ) and yes, it's there to help close that sale......
Boring doesn't begin to describe my usual day, I'm here ALONE until 3pm, except for the occasional prospect or customer making a payment. I check JU, play solitare ( got 3 card down to 74 sec ) check the discussion on Black Board in a couple of classes, check my e-mail, go back to JU, play Spider ( got 2 card in 105 moves, up to 49% winning % ) Check out Ebay ( sold a car there last wk ) check my P&L, check my A/R, look at my Acct balances........zzzzzzzzz

I just dusted off my exercycle and brought it to the office, maybe between post I'll log a few miles.....
on May 03, 2005
Hahaha... On #10 I don't need a fork!
on May 03, 2005
BlueDev,

I will order every single poster from www.despair.com and post them all over the work place


- what an excellent site. I particularly like the 'When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can turn into deadly projectiles'. Thanks for the laughs.

Zoomba,

have been warned by management types that they don't appreciate anyone hanging those posters or desk calendars in their cubes.


It is almost as though 'management types' don't have a sense of humour. As for HR people, I think there name is a misnomer. They should be called 'Inhuman Resources'. I've added your suggestion to my list as well. Thanks for your comments.

Raven, Dilbert is cool but Larson is better, IMHO. What I would really like is a Non Sequitur Calendar. Thanks for stopping by.

Serenity, my personal favourites are 1 & 17. Thanks for your comments.

Dynosoar,

play solitare ( got 3 card down to 74 sec ) play Spider ( got 2 card in 105 moves, up to 49% winning % )


I'm impressed. I don't know my solitaire stats, but my Spider stats are lousy. And the only way I'd be able to fit any exercise machinery into my cubicle is if I stick it to the roof. And that aint going to happen... Thanks for your comments.

Shovel, yeah, I thought of you when I saw #10 too. Besides, they don't allow forks in prisons, do they?

on May 03, 2005
Besides, they don't allow forks in prisons, do they?


Just wimpy little plastic ones. I didn't know it until a couple of days ago, but a regular soda straw can be a heck of a weapon! Imagine someone slamming you in the face with one like a knife and you get an idea. I had never thought of that, but it has been done and done effectivly. Weird...

Anyway, I'm printing these and putting on our office bulletin board!
on May 03, 2005
a regular soda straw can be a heck of a weapon


Unbelievable! I am constantly surprised by the myriad ways us humans can figure out to hurt each other. It makes me sad

I've passed this on to a number of collegues in my office and there are now a number of copies printed and posted in conspicuous places. I wonder for how long though...