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Subject:Niceness as a career path From:Mark Dempsey <mxd2 -at- OSI -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 14 Aug 1998 07:45:19 -0700
Recent posts decry the lack of niceness, presence of flaming, etc. On
behalf of rude people everywhere, I write.
1. If you want a career in tech writing, or in animal husbandry for that
matter, you will, from time to time encounter jerks. If you want a
career path without jerks, well...sorry, wrong planet.
2. If you don't tell them where it's tied up, they can't get your goat.
Taking offense is strictly (100%) up to the offendee.
3. Being "nice" in the sense of being an insipid doormat is absolutely
detrimental to any career advancement. Many times being "nice" is really
being a victim, being phony, etc...Be suspicious of niceness! You are
tech writers, not doormats for hire!
This from a fellow (me) who once sold real estate:
Suggested strategy for dealing with jerks: Hold a contest for the
biggest jerk. As I would encounter them when cold calling, I'd listen,
thinking "Okay, you're in the top ten, do you want to go for number
one?"
BTW, I'm *not* suggesting you confront every jerk. Ignoring them works
much better.
Yours, in the quest for better mental health,
-- mailto:Mark -dot- Dempsey -at- osi -dot- com
--
-- Mark Dempsey
-- Technical Publications
-- Objective Systems Integrators
-- 101 Blue Ravine Rd, Folsom, CA 95630
-- 916.353.2400 x 4777
