"I've been fighting so many fires that it feels like Friday... and it's only Monday!"

Quote from VP of Ops. It's been one of those Mondays.

He told me that he was asked to process a business card order for the Canadian Sales Director and even all of the follow up such as the proofing (when the proof clearly did not match the request) and shipping. What a waste of a VP's time, particularly the VP I need for Hotel stuff!

I offered to take on stuff like that from him, but his point was no one from HR to the Sales guy took ownership and expected him to do all the work, when anyone with an education should have been able to look at the proof, see that it didn't match the order, and taken it up with the print vendor from there instead of running back to the VP. It shouldn't take that long or take a team of people.

We had to move on to something else, but next time I have opportunity I will make my point that taking ownership is exactly what I'm offering, because I would rather get his resource to help me with something I cannot do myself, then see him wasting time on a freaking business card order. What the hell, people, why is your boss paying you if not to take care of stuff so they can do the more important stuff, the stuff YOU can't do? I think Chinese people understand this very well, but in the politically-correct environment in US, you often hear "I'm not trying to say I'm more important than you", but the fact is, a VP's time is monetarily and hierarchically more important than mine! I'm ok with that, in fact as Don Draper says, I thank him or her for being in that position every day.

My working relationship contract is "I'll work on the shit from below, so you can deal with the shit from above."Such as reviewing Canadian tax laws with Legal to decide on how to handle CAN orders. You can't pay me to run away fast enough from that.

Source: Mad Men S4E07 "The Suitcase"

Don Draper: It’s your job. I give you money, you give me ideas.
Peggy Olson: And you never say thank you.
Don: That’s what the money is for!...You should be thanking me every day when you wake up, along with Jesus, for giving you another day.

Disclaimer: Unlike Peggy, I don't need thank you's from my bosses. Chinese people are uncomfortable with that... just keep reading my emails and making time to meet with me. And remember me when annual reviews come around and put in a good word for me for a raise. :)

On a pleasant note, had happy hour last Friday with the usual HF gang and also some additions. There was some major gossiping done, to my nosy delight.