The reality of being employed

A disadvantage of being employed is that sometimes you just have to accept a decision and realise that no matter how much you disagree with it and dislike it, it's going to happen anyway. And if you are not in, then you are out.

I had an afternoon to kick off the execution of a decision I strongly disagree with. I could feel my frustration grow, demonstrated by violent typing on the keyboard, increased sighing, tossing and turning on my chair. Just before the smoke started pouring out of my ears, one of my colleagues asked me if everything was alright. I had obviously given all the signs to demonstrate that it wasn't.

As asking the audience would only add to my frustration and 50/50 would still leave the wrong answers, I decided to call a friend.

My dear friend invited me to his office in the pretty suburb and that's where I landed twentyfive minutes later. He allowed me to let off steam clogged between my ears (previously interrupted by my considerate colleague), park the negative thoughts elsewhere and then we had a proper brainstorming meeting. I had finally snapped out of the downward spiral.

Lesson learned: when frustrated and negative, better leave the office to find new ideas in a more inspiring environment! And use one of your lifelines; it's worth it.