So, finally on Friday, at 13h00, me and the boss meet. It's a "shaky" meeting, as he's obviously in a very unfamiliar space, and I'm both revved up to go into battle, and wary of being fired!
Anyway, he says that my outburst was "uncalled for", and the main problem he has with that is because I don't realise how much of an influence i have on the rest of the team! Wow, now I know - thanx!
Anyway, I explain my frustrations, the reason why I reacted to "violently?" and we get through that. I agree to apologise (to him) that way I only get this "verbal warning" as opposed to a written one - makes it easier all round.
Then we get into the things I brought up in the email to him. And here I don't pull punches. Facts are facts, and I inform him that I am quite capable of escalating any / all of the issues if need be. I don't care too much for some of the individuals who are "stalling" the process, and I don't have to care if they get into shit for it. he agrees to be more supportive, so i give him my deadlines on these.
We agree that the department is understaffed, and it's NOT MY PROBLEM. We also got to negotiate my quotas / targets / challenges for this first half of 2008 - looks more plausible now. He admitted that they still didn't have a mathematical / scientific means to allocate the targets, so i gave him one! Duh?
Anyway, I have got through this one basically unscathed, but I think I'm getting close to the fine line now, well, I'm probably on it, but need to watch I don't cross over it....
This year should prove to be "fruitful" from an earnings perspective, let's hope I'm right!
Later all....
Salagatle!
LIU - Look It Up!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A "pick me up" tip
HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it "Robert Mugabe".
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you. "Do you really want to get rid of
"Robert Mugabe ?"
6. Firmly Click "Yes."
7. Feel better?
Tomorrow we'll do Jacob Zuma
I HAVE GOT RID OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ALREADY!!!!!!!!! IT WORKS……………….
Salagatle!
1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it "Robert Mugabe".
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you. "Do you really want to get rid of
"Robert Mugabe ?"
6. Firmly Click "Yes."
7. Feel better?
Tomorrow we'll do Jacob Zuma
I HAVE GOT RID OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ALREADY!!!!!!!!! IT WORKS……………….
Salagatle!
Ok, so the doos didn't pitch!
Boss (name removed to protect myself!)
Now maybe you will begin to understand my frustrations!!!!
I agreed to meet this am at 8, even after I told you the problems with getting here at that time. You did not get here at 8!
I have been trying to get you to explain to me why my revenue target for last year was so much higher than that of the whole xxx Midlands sector target. In Jan 2007, when we met with the xxx team, and xxx management put his numbers up, I asked the question, but you told me I didn't know what I was comparing! Mid year I sent you an email again questioning the same thing. To date you have not responded (I'm not sure you have even opened the mail). At the end of the year, again, still no response. I have subsequently asked your manager to look into it.
In Jan this year, you gave me my new targets for 2008. I asked - Is the Profit for the whole of our dept / for the whole of xxx (services) / xxx only midlands and only my challanges? You didn't know / haven't responded.
Then I move to xxxx (my new account), and get my new targets, which are exactly the same as I got for xxx!! I have rejected both identical letter now. What this process has shown me, eventually, because asking the question has never delivered any answers, is that there is no calculated allocation of targets. A number is received / cut up by the number of salespeople......! How else would my number stay the same.
Apart from which, if there was any alignment to my sector / accounts / there would be some serious difference in the numbers issued.
Managers DON'T respond to emailed requests - Office Tramp (not her real name) still has not opened some of my emails, and has still not released an update of the PYE's outstanding for xxxx - this after promising the client 3 months ago in a face to face meeting he would have it in two days!!!! My predecesor has asked for it, and so have I!!!!!!
She didn't even accept a meeting I set up, for Client Executive, with Your Boss and myself (and her), where we wanted to discuss the massive opp. coming out of xxxx, and to try and find a fast track route to releasing SOW's!
This was her response to me:- Euroafrican (my nom de plume), I don't agree with this approach - we must discuss issues internally first before we involve the sector. Regards
What does this tell you? I'll tell you what it tells me - She admits there is a problem, and is not willing to address it with those people she is affecting directly!!! That's what this email tells me.
People who are supposed to be our back office support are
a) Understaffed (not my problem!)
b) Slack - not responsive - always waiting for someone else / something else
c) Non - communicative
d) Probably overpaid as they do not seem to stress like I do about not making money!!!!
And now you want us to do call reporting - just more office / desk work. And why? Because it's another way of checking on what your staff are doing! And I know it comes from the top down. It's not the first time - this has been tried 3 / 4 / 5 times in the 12 years I have been with My Current Employer - to no avail. But in the past, my manager has pushed back, knowing that call reporting is a pain in the proverbial for salespeople!
And, yes, I am probably the only one who objected / complained, but then, I usually am. However, in subsequent telephone calls from my peers, all agreed that they felt the same way - they have just either given up trying to push back / question, or are too afraid to.
So, my statement when leaving your meeting was:-
If I have to call report, I expect a daily update from the back office support people who are doing stuff from me! I stand on this. If I do not get the stuff I need, I can't close deals. If I can't close deals I don't make money. if this is because of the slack / pathetic / support, then I am going to get frustrated, and blow my top at more time wasting instructions!!!!
As it is, I did do my call report for the next day, and as you can see - ALL MY PROBLEMS COME FROM BACK OFFICE SUPPORT / SLACK DELIVERY MANAGEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you done anything with that yet?
It's too easy to manage by process and procedure, and to manage targets / siebel / pipeline / signings.....
It's a much more difficult task to manage the people and their expectations, thisr issues and challenges.
Thanx for ruining my Valentines day breakfast with my wife!!!
################################
And now we wait.....
Salagatle!
Now maybe you will begin to understand my frustrations!!!!
I agreed to meet this am at 8, even after I told you the problems with getting here at that time. You did not get here at 8!
I have been trying to get you to explain to me why my revenue target for last year was so much higher than that of the whole xxx Midlands sector target. In Jan 2007, when we met with the xxx team, and xxx management put his numbers up, I asked the question, but you told me I didn't know what I was comparing! Mid year I sent you an email again questioning the same thing. To date you have not responded (I'm not sure you have even opened the mail). At the end of the year, again, still no response. I have subsequently asked your manager to look into it.
In Jan this year, you gave me my new targets for 2008. I asked - Is the Profit for the whole of our dept / for the whole of xxx (services) / xxx only midlands and only my challanges? You didn't know / haven't responded.
Then I move to xxxx (my new account), and get my new targets, which are exactly the same as I got for xxx!! I have rejected both identical letter now. What this process has shown me, eventually, because asking the question has never delivered any answers, is that there is no calculated allocation of targets. A number is received / cut up by the number of salespeople......! How else would my number stay the same.
Apart from which, if there was any alignment to my sector / accounts / there would be some serious difference in the numbers issued.
Managers DON'T respond to emailed requests - Office Tramp (not her real name) still has not opened some of my emails, and has still not released an update of the PYE's outstanding for xxxx - this after promising the client 3 months ago in a face to face meeting he would have it in two days!!!! My predecesor has asked for it, and so have I!!!!!!
She didn't even accept a meeting I set up, for Client Executive, with Your Boss and myself (and her), where we wanted to discuss the massive opp. coming out of xxxx, and to try and find a fast track route to releasing SOW's!
This was her response to me:- Euroafrican (my nom de plume), I don't agree with this approach - we must discuss issues internally first before we involve the sector. Regards
What does this tell you? I'll tell you what it tells me - She admits there is a problem, and is not willing to address it with those people she is affecting directly!!! That's what this email tells me.
People who are supposed to be our back office support are
a) Understaffed (not my problem!)
b) Slack - not responsive - always waiting for someone else / something else
c) Non - communicative
d) Probably overpaid as they do not seem to stress like I do about not making money!!!!
And now you want us to do call reporting - just more office / desk work. And why? Because it's another way of checking on what your staff are doing! And I know it comes from the top down. It's not the first time - this has been tried 3 / 4 / 5 times in the 12 years I have been with My Current Employer - to no avail. But in the past, my manager has pushed back, knowing that call reporting is a pain in the proverbial for salespeople!
And, yes, I am probably the only one who objected / complained, but then, I usually am. However, in subsequent telephone calls from my peers, all agreed that they felt the same way - they have just either given up trying to push back / question, or are too afraid to.
So, my statement when leaving your meeting was:-
If I have to call report, I expect a daily update from the back office support people who are doing stuff from me! I stand on this. If I do not get the stuff I need, I can't close deals. If I can't close deals I don't make money. if this is because of the slack / pathetic / support, then I am going to get frustrated, and blow my top at more time wasting instructions!!!!
As it is, I did do my call report for the next day, and as you can see - ALL MY PROBLEMS COME FROM BACK OFFICE SUPPORT / SLACK DELIVERY MANAGEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you done anything with that yet?
It's too easy to manage by process and procedure, and to manage targets / siebel / pipeline / signings.....
It's a much more difficult task to manage the people and their expectations, thisr issues and challenges.
Thanx for ruining my Valentines day breakfast with my wife!!!
################################
And now we wait.....
Salagatle!
I cannot for the life of me
Imagine how anyone can drink "Klippie's 'n Coke" without ice!!
Salagatle!
South African movies
South African are now making films, even our politicians are involved
Salagatle!
Salagatle!
Update
Ok, so the boss sms's me yesterday, asking to meet today at 8. I sed I have to leave home at 5.30 to get here for 8, and do so Mon and Tues already. What about 9? He sed no, he's in some other meeting from 9 - 4. So I sed ok. So, I'm here now, and it's 7.15 am. He's not in yet. No surprise. We will see what time he gets here, and what the situation is at 8.
Other news - a group called , which is all about getting South Africans that left the country in the past for various reasons to come back, this morning reported that there has been an increase of 20% in the number of inquiries from expats about returning. Is this good? 20% of what you dickheads! 20% of 50 is 1! Think about it. Whenever anything is reported in percentages, it's basically off a low base, which would, if reported in real numbers no portray any significant picture.
From the 702 webpage:-
The Homecoming Revolution says despite reports that South Africans are leaving the country en masse, it's had a 20% increase in inquiries from citizens wanting to return home this year.
Indications from emigration lawyers and moving companies over the past few weeks are that hundreds of people are leaving the country due to pessimism stemming from crime, the power crisis, the economy and the political situation. Hundreds of people are reportedly packing up and leaving the country following what’s being described as a perfect storm of bad news.
But the Homecoming Revolution's Martine Schaffer says in January alone, the organisation experienced a 20% increase in inquiries from citizens abroad wanting to return home.
Greg Anderson has lived in London for 10 years, but has now decided to move his family back to South Africa.
In fact this dick's actual words were:- "After living in London for 10 years, and the lifestyle in South Africa is more attuned to what I am looking for now that I have children"
What? This guy is a first class poes!! He is so out of touch he's not even on the same planet as us! Wait, he'll get here and discover his kids can't play in the street like he did, or ride their bikes down the road like he did. They can't even safely use the fucking toilets at their school without the possibility of being mugged, or worse still, raped. "More attuned to...." What the fuck does that mean? To me it says, he wants a lifestyle for his children where they will live in fear all the time, behind security bars. Where the teachers are slowly but surely being replaced with uneducated / unqualified morons (unless he does the private school thing). Where he's going to struggle to get a job. Where his wife has a better than 60% chance of being raped.
Oh, yes, "More attuned " You loser.
I'll tell you what's going on here, he's fucked it up in the UK, can't hold down a job because he's probably arrogant, full of shit, lazy. So he's running home!
More later!
Salagatle!
Other news - a group called , which is all about getting South Africans that left the country in the past for various reasons to come back, this morning reported that there has been an increase of 20% in the number of inquiries from expats about returning. Is this good? 20% of what you dickheads! 20% of 50 is 1! Think about it. Whenever anything is reported in percentages, it's basically off a low base, which would, if reported in real numbers no portray any significant picture.
From the 702 webpage:-
The Homecoming Revolution says despite reports that South Africans are leaving the country en masse, it's had a 20% increase in inquiries from citizens wanting to return home this year.
Indications from emigration lawyers and moving companies over the past few weeks are that hundreds of people are leaving the country due to pessimism stemming from crime, the power crisis, the economy and the political situation. Hundreds of people are reportedly packing up and leaving the country following what’s being described as a perfect storm of bad news.
But the Homecoming Revolution's Martine Schaffer says in January alone, the organisation experienced a 20% increase in inquiries from citizens abroad wanting to return home.
Greg Anderson has lived in London for 10 years, but has now decided to move his family back to South Africa.
In fact this dick's actual words were:- "After living in London for 10 years, and the lifestyle in South Africa is more attuned to what I am looking for now that I have children"
What? This guy is a first class poes!! He is so out of touch he's not even on the same planet as us! Wait, he'll get here and discover his kids can't play in the street like he did, or ride their bikes down the road like he did. They can't even safely use the fucking toilets at their school without the possibility of being mugged, or worse still, raped. "More attuned to...." What the fuck does that mean? To me it says, he wants a lifestyle for his children where they will live in fear all the time, behind security bars. Where the teachers are slowly but surely being replaced with uneducated / unqualified morons (unless he does the private school thing). Where he's going to struggle to get a job. Where his wife has a better than 60% chance of being raped.
Oh, yes, "More attuned " You loser.
I'll tell you what's going on here, he's fucked it up in the UK, can't hold down a job because he's probably arrogant, full of shit, lazy. So he's running home!
More later!
Salagatle!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Traffic and travelling and the boss
So, Monday mornings I have a meeting, every week, at 08h00 at the main offices in Sandton. It's around 42 km from home. last week I left at 06h10, and got there at 08h10! Yesterday I was up at 05h00, left home at 05h25, and was in the office parking basement at 06h05! @ Hours early for the meeting!
Tuesdays I have a meeting at the clients offices at 07h30 am. it's in the middle of the city (Johannesburg). About 35 km. This morning I left at 06h02, and pulled into the parking lot at 08h05!!! Geeezzz -whats a guy to do?
Anyway, so far so good. New account is great! Clients - those I have met - are great. Some are grumpy, one who I first dealt with on the phone and who really came down on me was great today when I met him face to face!
Yesterday afternoon we had a sales team meeting. I attended, under duress as I was tired after getting up at 05hoo. Anyway, I had decided I'd go, keep my mouth shut, get it over with, and leave. Yea, Right!!!
So the boss goes on about his London trip, and about our new big boss over there, and his plans. So far so good. No need to interject. He talks about route to market plans, how this new guy does not agree with the current format (what's he know anyway - he's from the software part of the business, completely different kettle of fish), and what he thinks we should be doing. No problem so far.
Then he puts up a slide that had the heading "Call Reporting"! Now I start to warm up - in fact, I got to just shy of boiling. At some point I interjected. What do you mean he wasn't expecting it? Everyone was expecting it! that's what I do - only me, cause the rest of them are sheep! No offence, but if more guys / girls spoke up, it might create a status of "They are taking us seriously", but as it's only me, every time, I'm on a hiding to nothing. But, I have my principles, and I satnd by them.
So I say, "If you are expecting us to do call reporting, then I expect the guys doing the back office support for me to guive me a daily update of th status of the work they are doing for me! Christ, this is a lot of crap. How many more processes / procedures / check points do you guys want to put in place to monitor us? Why can't you just look at what our pipeline looks like? That will tell you what we are doing?"
At this point he was trying to tell me to sit down, I was already at the board room door, with laptop bag on shoulder, on my way out! I looked him in the eye and said, "Not going to happen Boss, I'm leaving now, before I lose it completely and make this a problem for me and for you! We can discuss this further off line, in a one-on-one! And Left!
A bit later he tried to call me, 3 times. Each time I answered the call, could hear him, he couldn't hear me. I called back, later, and left him 3 messages. He sms'd me that we should meet this am at his office. No can do, am at client. Maybe in the afternoon.
This afternoon he couldn't meet with me, so it will have to be tomorrow, so I said ok, but after 10 am. We will see where this goes. I could be in some serious shit this time!
Salagatle!
Tuesdays I have a meeting at the clients offices at 07h30 am. it's in the middle of the city (Johannesburg). About 35 km. This morning I left at 06h02, and pulled into the parking lot at 08h05!!! Geeezzz -whats a guy to do?
Anyway, so far so good. New account is great! Clients - those I have met - are great. Some are grumpy, one who I first dealt with on the phone and who really came down on me was great today when I met him face to face!
Yesterday afternoon we had a sales team meeting. I attended, under duress as I was tired after getting up at 05hoo. Anyway, I had decided I'd go, keep my mouth shut, get it over with, and leave. Yea, Right!!!
So the boss goes on about his London trip, and about our new big boss over there, and his plans. So far so good. No need to interject. He talks about route to market plans, how this new guy does not agree with the current format (what's he know anyway - he's from the software part of the business, completely different kettle of fish), and what he thinks we should be doing. No problem so far.
Then he puts up a slide that had the heading "Call Reporting"! Now I start to warm up - in fact, I got to just shy of boiling. At some point I interjected. What do you mean he wasn't expecting it? Everyone was expecting it! that's what I do - only me, cause the rest of them are sheep! No offence, but if more guys / girls spoke up, it might create a status of "They are taking us seriously", but as it's only me, every time, I'm on a hiding to nothing. But, I have my principles, and I satnd by them.
So I say, "If you are expecting us to do call reporting, then I expect the guys doing the back office support for me to guive me a daily update of th status of the work they are doing for me! Christ, this is a lot of crap. How many more processes / procedures / check points do you guys want to put in place to monitor us? Why can't you just look at what our pipeline looks like? That will tell you what we are doing?"
At this point he was trying to tell me to sit down, I was already at the board room door, with laptop bag on shoulder, on my way out! I looked him in the eye and said, "Not going to happen Boss, I'm leaving now, before I lose it completely and make this a problem for me and for you! We can discuss this further off line, in a one-on-one! And Left!
A bit later he tried to call me, 3 times. Each time I answered the call, could hear him, he couldn't hear me. I called back, later, and left him 3 messages. He sms'd me that we should meet this am at his office. No can do, am at client. Maybe in the afternoon.
This afternoon he couldn't meet with me, so it will have to be tomorrow, so I said ok, but after 10 am. We will see where this goes. I could be in some serious shit this time!
Salagatle!
School in the 50s / 60s / 70s vs. School in the 21st Century
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1950 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up mates.
2005 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. Mobiles with video of fight confiscated as evidence. They are charged with assault, AVOs are taken out and both are suspended even though Johnny started it. Diversionary conferences and parent meetings conducted. Video shown on 6 internet sites.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1960 - Jeffrey is sent to the principals office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2006 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counseled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Drops out of school.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1970 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has an affair with the psychologist. Psychologist gets a promotion.
Scenario: Mark, a college student, brings cigarettes to school.
1950 - Mark shares a smoke with the school principal out on the smoking area.
2005 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug possession. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Vinh fails high school English.
1960 - Vinh goes to Remedial English, passes and goes to college.
2006 - Vinh's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and his English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Vinh is given his Y10 anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers, puts them in a model plane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1970 - Ants die.
2007 - Security and ASIO are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1950 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2005 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy. Becomes gay.
Salagatle!
1950 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up mates.
2005 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. Mobiles with video of fight confiscated as evidence. They are charged with assault, AVOs are taken out and both are suspended even though Johnny started it. Diversionary conferences and parent meetings conducted. Video shown on 6 internet sites.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1960 - Jeffrey is sent to the principals office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2006 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counseled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Drops out of school.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1970 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has an affair with the psychologist. Psychologist gets a promotion.
Scenario: Mark, a college student, brings cigarettes to school.
1950 - Mark shares a smoke with the school principal out on the smoking area.
2005 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug possession. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Vinh fails high school English.
1960 - Vinh goes to Remedial English, passes and goes to college.
2006 - Vinh's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and his English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Vinh is given his Y10 anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers, puts them in a model plane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1970 - Ants die.
2007 - Security and ASIO are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1950 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2005 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy. Becomes gay.
Salagatle!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)