| I have been in the recruiting software and HR | | | | attitude. I was miserable to work with and I had just |
| technology industry for about 14 years and have | | | | removed the one leverage I had. I let him know I |
| seen some of the best and worst in most any | | | | was ready to quit. By doing that and despite my |
| company and any company's personnel. I myself | | | | contributions, I let him know it was only a matter of |
| have been in a few very bad situations with my job | | | | time before he had to replace me. In one meeting, |
| on the line and have handled things both very well | | | | backed by a history of unhappiness and blaming |
| and very badly, which is what this article is about. I | | | | other people, I nearly destroyed the career I had |
| guess it was about 8 years ago now that I almost | | | | been working 80 hours a week to build. |
| ended my career with what we will call blame-a-nitus. | | | | REALITY CHECK FOR US ALL!!!! |
| I was a senior manager within a top Recruiting | | | | Here is a fact that every person looking for a job |
| Software vendor and I had grown very resentful | | | | right now should accept and build on. Everyone |
| because several of the team that had begun with | | | | remembers the people who are negative and |
| the company around the same time I had, were | | | | positive. If you work hard on your social network of |
| being promoted and I wasn't. In my frustration, I | | | | colleagues and pound the pavement, you will more |
| was very vocal and an all around angry person to be | | | | than likely have more doors open than most. All that |
| around. After all, I was putting in more hours than | | | | complaining and blaming does it guarantee you will not |
| anyone else, I was on call 24/7, and I was the go to | | | | move find a job and your industry colleagues won't |
| guy for almost anything when it came to getting the | | | | want to help or work with you. I don't care if they |
| job done and turned around on a dime. I thrived on | | | | are nice to you or are your friends; they won't put |
| the challenge and knew the company couldn't afford | | | | their reputations on the line if they think you are |
| to lose me. Here in lies the problem and illusion that I | | | | going to botch up a role by blaming everyone when |
| think many top people in companies live under. I | | | | things don't go your way. |
| thought I was irreplaceable and that the angrier I got | | | | What happened after that? |
| and the harder I pushed; the company would | | | | After about a day or so I came to grips with what |
| eventually give in. Boy was I wrong. | | | | happened and changed everything about how I look |
| In comes Poker time - the big bet. | | | | at my work. I stopped putting so much mental equity |
| I guess for about a year, I had become increasingly | | | | into my job title and career progression and just |
| bitter and it all came to a line in the sand one day | | | | focused on being the best at any role I was given. I |
| when I didn't get up in the middle of the night and | | | | CANNOT stress how much more successful and |
| handle a support call. I had actually thought it was | | | | happier I have been. After 2 months of programming |
| handled and had gone back to bed but none the less | | | | again and with my new attitude, I was given my |
| the next morning came and there were still problems. | | | | salary and a role on the sales team. Since that time I |
| I was called into the CTO's office and was asked | | | | have moved into executive roles in leading industry |
| why I didn't help out, I explained I had thought it was | | | | companies. I also have an incredible network of |
| handled and then the CTO hit just the right button. I | | | | friends and former colleagues that have helped me |
| like many of you was and am prideful and put a lot | | | | out because of my new found outlook on life. I pay |
| of sweat equity into my work. The CTO told me | | | | it forward which makes me feel better and only |
| that the team thought I had let them down and | | | | builds on my reputation. I try to help friends and |
| abandoned them when they needed me. Upon | | | | colleagues in every way I can. Some have |
| hearing that, I walked out of the room, stewed for a | | | | reciprocated some haven't but it is because of that |
| while, walked back in and told him I didn't want the | | | | work that when tough times come, I always have a |
| role anymore and that I wanted to take a different | | | | network that is willing to help me. |
| role on the sales team the VP of Sales had offered. I | | | | I have developed a list of things I live by that have |
| told him the money wasn't worth the stress and the | | | | made a huge difference in my success: |
| role wasn't going anywhere. I basically put him to a | | | | 1. I am replaceable; there is always someone who will |
| decision and backed him into a corner. He had two | | | | step up. |
| choices in my eyes, make me happy or I am out of | | | | 2. I will never get promoted or move up in the world |
| here. | | | | by complaining or blaming. So what if someone did |
| Here Comes the Moral of This Story | | | | me wrong. It happens to us all. |
| I didn't get any response from him immediately and it | | | | 3. Anger is a guaranteed way to destroy your career |
| wasn't until about 2 days later when I found out my | | | | 4. I can recover from anything; work harder than |
| fate. Instead of getting the role on the sales team or | | | | anyone else around you |
| getting anything additionally, I was given a 40% cut | | | | 5. Be the role model not that person everyone talks |
| in pay and told I would be going back to a | | | | about |
| programming role. Now you might think that was | | | | 6. Never blame anyone for where I am in my career. |
| harsh but it was one of the best lessons I could ever | | | | Top people don't expect life to come to them. They |
| have learned and it is the exact reason I am writing | | | | seize every opportunity. |
| this article now during these rough times. I really only | | | | I know it is hard to get over losing a job or a role. If |
| gave him one choice that day and that was to cut | | | | you have to vent, vent in private and come out |
| out the cancer. The cancer was me and my bad | | | | swinging. Hit your social network and pay it forward. |