A Set Up for Failure

Sorry if you didn't read this one.  It was temporary!


I have worked at my job for the past four years and I must say, like any job it has it's ups and downs. I have a co-worker who has been with the company for ten years, and the management team (at least some of them) in the past year, have made his life at work, simply put, hell. Every week a new obstacle was put before him, obstacles that everyone knew he would not be able to achieve. They were put there so that he would fail.

Well, fail is what he did and I feel for him. He called me a few weeks ago and told me that he didn't feel like fighting it anymore because the whole situation just made him too stressed. He talked with his doctor and came to the conclusion that the person creating these problems was extremely toxic. And that manager is indeed toxic. It is horrible to feel like you must tiptoe around people. I'm a highly positive person, but even this person's disposition towards everything is contagious. Luckily I am more capable of performing my job functions than my co-worker is.

That being said, when I see him at work now, I see how much happier he is. Most people would have cried defeat and started looking for new employment. But not him; ten years is a huge dedication to ONE place of employment. I commend him for not giving up. In fact, I think he will do so much more marvelously in his new position. I have seen him really step up to the plate and take ownership of his duties. Before he was always moping around and trying to not make any mistakes. But now, he is on top of it. What gets me though is to see his former boss still wishing for his failure. Everyday it is, "I have to clean up all his mistakes, and he'll screw up his new job sooner or later." What gets me even more is how this person can say, "I like him, I don't want him to do bad," when the complete opposite comes out of his/her mouth. The last few weeks I have needed to keep my mind focused on work and keep myself busy, but this kind of focus is not something I need either. So, I have been customer oriented this week... FO SHO!!!

I am so proud of him for taking a difficult situation and turning it into something good. If only we could all do the same in our real life situations, not just in our jobs.

Sometimes we just have to step back, take note, and make the changes that will bring about a positive outcome. Like I said, it is so nice to not seem him nervous anymore. I wrote him a letter today to let him know that I think he is a strong and that I think it is honorable and exemplifying what he has been able to do.

Peace friends... all four of my followers!