seasonal transitions

Photo by: wearpants

Photo by: katierin*

gainfully employed

In mid-February I was hired to work full-time as a copy/layout editor for Metro News. No contracts. Permanent full-time with benefits and three weeks of vacation.

It's been a long haul, and it's taken me awhile to fully absorb the good news. 'Security' and a steady income (instead of a steady outgo) make their presence felt in small ways. Small things like splurging on that maple syrup and not having to be aware of every penny's whereabouts gradually become a larger easing.

I have worked in good and bad jobs, but often I have worked at good jobs in badly managed organizations. And that can turn a good job sour quickly.

One of the things I treasure about Metro News -- and treasure is not too strong a word -- is management. I have often worked in technical jobs (pre-press production in printing firms) where management came from a sales background and had no real understanding of the actual work process. (And I know this is not true of sales in general.) At Metro I am working under people whose knowledge of processes is real and who undertake the reality of their positions with actual, real responsibility.

It is rather amazing to me.

A few months ago I read an article that touched on organizational culture and said that, according to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, there were four kinds: academy, baseball team, club, and fortress. It wasn't hard to see the fortress mentality that I came from, where management lied as a matter of course and everyone's job was always on the line. (At one point I was the last surviving 'union' member in a union-broken shop -- another story, another time.)

And I recognized that I seemed to be in a real 'baseball team' culture at Metro: with individuals respected and appreciated for their individual strengths, yet as part of a larger game where the efforts merged. And with managers -- 'coaches' -- who have played the game from every position, love the game, and know how to get the best from every player.

It makes work fun, and how rare is that?

koolsla

A friend forwarded haikus on the subject of cole slaw from the maisonneuve magazine site.

As mentioned by a commentator on the site, I am a member of the cole slaw anti-defamation league.

(Note: KFC's green mushy dye is not cole slaw.)

And here's my little laud:

Tart and crunchy,
Vinegar kisses my throat,
unappreciated

Defenders of the slaw, I challenge you.