Report to Chain

Work is done for the day!

So here's a conversation I had with my manager. She's really cool. My lead is really cool too...it's almost bad for me lol. There is no format to anything, so in a sense...anything goes. I make it up along the way and informally document it and keep up the communication between the developers.

Anyways, back to the conversation. We were kind of just talking and going on about work and life and how far you want to go up the ladder etc. I have a theory about that. I think that it goes in a roller coaster pattern. What on earth am I talking about?!

Well...take a relatively well off family. The parents are ambitious and keep moving up the corporate ladder. The kids at home live a lavish life, but they have to deal with the consequences of their parent's success...no parents. I mean, obviously the parents exist, and I'm sure that they love their children, but the kids don't have a really bonded family growing up. So even though money is not an issue, they grow up and don't care so much about the advancement in the report to chain. They want to do something better with their time than spend it at work all day long (and more) and do a different activity, stay home more with the kids and loved ones, and have a lasting effect on their kids. The kids feel loved and more secure growing up, and they become leaders again. I can see this as an ongoing cycle. Some kids take after their parents instead of following the up and down trend, but we know that studies show that most kids who do well or become leaders grew up secure with themselves. They become leaders and managers, and many times, these jobs are very time consuming.

So that's my theory anyways. I've seen it differ of course. And I base it a lot on my own life. My mom has always loved me, and I knew it...but she wasn't ever there because she worked so much...as a lab supervisor, and then as a business owner. She had grown up the favorite child and well cared and looked after (from what I hear anyways). I on the other hand have everything I need. I was well provided for, but I never had "parents" around really. I didn't hang out with them much. It wasn't often that the entire family was in the house at one time just enjoying each other's company. Mom didn't come home til past midnight most nights of the week. Dad was living away or in the hospital all my life, and my step-dad...well...I never really did know him the 13 years I lived with him. But I knew they loved me. It's funny really. Anyways, my point is that I don't want to be the CEO of some company someday or an IBM Band 10 or IBM Fellow. I'll move up to a certain point where the balance is right, or I'd take something else up that would give me more options, but I would not let work take over my life, and I definitely wouldn't let it come before my family. Ah, a family...someday. What an odd thing to think about. Anyways, I know I want to move forward, but I'm not that ambitious in terms of work...I'm ambitious in other ways. Everyone has their own goals. What are yours?