Balancing not just the budget

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

'Leadership' :rotfl::rotfl: so no, not really.

Is that a new fashionable thing going round in management circles right now? Managers here have stopped called themselves "managers" and are calling themselves "leaders".

I like the definition of Leader: a short strip of non-functioning material at each end of a reel of film or recording tape for connection to the spool.

"Non-functioning" just about nails it...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Yeah, but it's less fun when all the cool stuff requires actual fitness. I was just getting frustrated with it and that's not fun.

No, I suppose that isn't. It depends on your internal ability to deal with non-perfection.



I've learned to enjoy doing things poorly. Online games (where sub-second reactions are still not fast enough) played with a bunch of blind drunk mates are a highly enjoyable laugh-a-minute in my book... :rotfl:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Some of the reasons I wanted to do that training have gone away. I thought it would help turn me into the kind of person I wanted to be

Who would that person be? Has the desire to be them gone away, or has the faith that's the way to do it gone away?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

and actually that's not about the subject matter. But there are still other reasons I love the subject and want to be involved, and that would be easier and give me more options if I do finish the training.

"Just do it!" (TM)

Using the word "love" means you should be going for it. Better to have loved and lost and all that...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I looked up YOUR acronym, and so you can shut up :P

Now THIS has piqued my interest! What do you think ZTD means?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

No, my employer is special. In many ways and some new ones which I found out today. And which are why I will be finishing up a job application tomorrow.

It's always the proverbial straw - nothing has changed on the job or prospects since yesterday, only what I know about how differently certain people are treated.

:grouphug:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I don't do lettuce and cacao is a vegetable

Nobody does lettuce. Every time you pay good money for a tasteless thing like that - lettuce does you...

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Is that a new fashionable thing going round in management circles right now? Managers here have stopped called themselves "managers" and are calling themselves "leaders".

I like the definition of Leader: a short strip of non-functioning material at each end of a reel of film or recording tape for connection to the spool.

"Non-functioning" just about nails it...

Well, supposedly leaders are strategic and require different skills to managers who are operational. There is some sense to this, and some bits are interesting, it's just a bit irritating it comes packaged with 360 appraisals and other such more stereotypical stuff.

On the bright side, I notice I am rather more resilient about feedback these days and take the whole thing much less seriously than I would have done two years ago.

ZTD wrote: »

Who would that person be? Has the desire to be them gone away, or has the faith that's the way to do it gone away?

"Just do it!" (TM)

Using the word "love" means you should be going for it. Better to have loved and lost and all that...

I think I'll be taking a long walk somewhere to chew over all this, one day at the weekend. I did believe better to have loved and lost, and I did, and I'm not convinced it is better so I'm a bit reluctant to do it again. Once bitten, if we need another cliche.

The ideal solution would be to do it, but make sure that I also get to do / find the other things I love so that I'm not giving up other opportunities. And I haven't worked out how to do that yet.

ZTD wrote: »

Now THIS has piqued my interest! What do you think ZTD means?

Well according to Google it stands for either Zen To Done or Zero Touch Deployment, and knowing your sense of humour, I suspect it isn't a reference to Zen.



Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Well, supposedly leaders are strategic and require different skills to managers who are operational.

A strategy is long-term, so once you've done it you've now got a "no work to do" problem. Five year plans don't take 5 years to produce after all...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

There is some sense to this, and some bits are interesting,

Which bits?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

it's just a bit irritating it comes packaged with 360 appraisals and other such more stereotypical stuff.

Aren't appraisals operational?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

On the bright side, I notice I am rather more resilient about feedback these days and take the whole thing much less seriously than I would have done two years ago.

Sometimes success is measured in alienating everyone in equal and fair amounts...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I think I'll be taking a long walk somewhere to chew over all this, one day at the weekend. I did believe better to have loved and lost, and I did, and I'm not convinced it is better so I'm a bit reluctant to do it again. Once bitten, if we need another cliche.

They're not cliches - just universal truths alas. Five thousand years from now when the ice will be two miles thick where I'm sitting, people will still be loving and losing.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

The ideal solution would be to do it, but make sure that I also get to do / find the other things I love so that I'm not giving up other opportunities. And I haven't worked out how to do that yet.

Well use your leadership skills then...long-terms strategic plans, utilisation of scarce resources, and synergies - and all that jazz.*

You can do it.

*Other music styles are available...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Well according to Google it stands for either Zen To Done

Which, looking it up dates from 2012 - and my username (the long version) pre-dates my first post on MSE.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

or Zero Touch Deployment,

I think that came out with Windows 7 - not that long ago...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

and knowing your sense of humour, I suspect it isn't a reference to Zen.

Actually, it's very innocuous, and most people when they find out what it is ask the following questions:

1. Is that it?
2. What does the 'T' stand for?

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

A strategy is long-term, so once you've done it you've now got a "no work to do" problem. Five year plans don't take 5 years to produce after all...

Which bits?

Aren't appraisals operational?

Sometimes success is measured in alienating everyone in equal and fair amounts...

Haha, I think what all this is intended to imply is superiority over those nitpicking management types. Which as you have already pointed out, is in many ways *rse. However, it does make sense that you don't ask the extreme detail-focused nitpickers to do comms or high level strategy (IMHO partly because you should leave them doing what they do very well ie. your day to day business, so that both of you get to stay in a job) - that can be done by those like me who don't mind the fact that the strategy will mutate every five seconds and that the people you have to communicate with may be eejits. My point that the best use of nitpickers is QA - ie. to give them your five year plan and allow them to shred it so that between you you end up with a better one - was not universally supported. :rotfl:

ZTD wrote: »

You can do it.

Yes, maybe I can. I'm still thinking through how though.

ZTD wrote: »

Actually, it's very innocuous, and most people when they find out what it is ask the following questions:

1. Is that it?
2. What does the 'T' stand for?

Aw Z I'm disappointed then - all that work you go to for innuendo, and you didn't make use of a username?


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Haha, I think what all this is intended to imply is superiority over those nitpicking management types. Which as you have already pointed out, is in many ways *rse. However, it does make sense that you don't ask the extreme detail-focused nitpickers to do comms or high level strategy (IMHO partly because you should leave them doing what they do very well ie. your day to day business, so that both of you get to stay in a job)

I think this is where it conflates two different sets of people.

1. The micro-managing nitwits
2. The people who have attention to detail

They're not the same people - many micro-managing nitwits claim they are "big picture". Mainly because you need a big picture to fit a whole train crash on...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

- that can be done by those like me who don't mind the fact that the strategy will mutate every five seconds and that the people you have to communicate with may be eejits.

May? MAY be eejits? Good grief - you have it cushy there!

RosaBernicia wrote: »

My point that the best use of nitpickers is QA - ie. to give them your five year plan and allow them to shred it so that between you you end up with a better one - was not universally supported. :rotfl:

Ironically it happens at my work all the time. Loads of people run reports & comms past the office nit-picker to make sure their grandma and speeling and general logic is correct. You'll never guess who that is... :whistle:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Aw Z I'm disappointed then - all that work you go to for innuendo, and you didn't make use of a username?

The username dates from my time at an economics web forum. It wasn't really a stage for innuendo as it had a lot of Americans on it who had no sense of humour or appreciation of irony or sarcasm or punning.

Sometimes an occasional one did but then got sick of people asking "Are you *sure* you're not Canadian?"

Besides - "work"? Innuendo comes naturally, as everything should - no faking it. I just have a stray thought and up it pops.

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Ironically it happens at my work all the time. Loads of people run reports & comms past the office nit-picker to make sure their grandma and speeling and general logic is correct. You'll never guess who that is... :whistle:

I run everything past anybody remotely interested since 1) as previously mentioned, it means you get sensible improvements, 2) people who refused to join in when you asked for their help are always delighted to tell you how wrong whatever you suggest is, and 3) those who don't read it and complain later can't say they weren't asked. But apparently I'm unusual. Don't really understand why... though it may be relevant I already know I have limited attention to detail :rotfl:


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I run everything past anybody remotely interested since 1) as previously mentioned, it means you get sensible improvements,

You *do* have it cushy.

I usually get "Why can't you tailor it for me and screw the other 80 people who use it?"

RosaBernicia wrote: »

2) people who refused to join in when you asked for their help are always delighted to tell you how wrong whatever you suggest is, and 3) those who don't read it and complain later can't say they weren't asked.

And of course those people who complain about you "not asking them" share everything they have, and don't try to spring fait accompli's...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

But apparently I'm unusual. Don't really understand why... though it may be relevant I already know I have limited attention to detail :rotfl:

It's usually rooted in the ego. Many people don't want to share anything because others say "Well that's wrong." - and they can't take it. When it turns into the train crash, then others' hands have been involved, so they can be blamed instead.

Cynic? Moi? :A

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

I usually get "Why can't you tailor it for me and screw the other 80 people who use it?"

Ah, perhaps I should clarify sensible after filtering similar responses to what you get...

ZTD wrote: »

And of course those people who complain about you "not asking them" share everything they have, and don't try to spring fait accompli's...

I'd be more interested if they did - at least then they'd be actively thinking about the process instead of just not wanting anyone else to.

ZTD wrote: »

It's usually rooted in the ego. Many people don't want to share anything because others say "Well that's wrong." - and they can't take it. When it turns into the train crash, then others' hands have been involved, so they can be blamed instead.

Cynic? Moi? :A

Not sure that applies so much - some people are delighted to argue their case, they just don't want to discuss it in any way that might suggest it wasn't All Their Idea.


I guess it all keeps me off the streets and in chocolate so I can't complain too much :rotfl:


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'd be more interested if they did - at least then they'd be actively thinking about the process instead of just not wanting anyone else to.

Yes, except the thinking of the process goes along the lines of "My empire - it's too small. What can I do to make it bigger?"

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Not sure that applies so much - some people are delighted to argue their case, they just don't want to discuss it in any way that might suggest it wasn't All Their Idea.

I think that's a fundamental difference between our two jobs. IT does think about the future - but the past is the elephant in the room. Or more specifically - the broken past.

"IT - we fix your broken stuff (TM)" aka "Have you tried turning it off and back on?" :rotfl:

If you want the future - it'll break in the same way...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I guess it all keeps me off the streets and in chocolate so I can't complain too much :rotfl:

"In chocolate"? As in a chocolate bath?

RosaBernicia

Guess what? :rotfl:

I just did all my banking transfers and my debt now stands at -£4985.74 :j:j:j sub 5K barrier now broken :T

I am still adjusting to only having one real CC bill to pay. This month I had to wipe £15 off the other one to zero it again but it's sorted. I also realised that the reason I only get sent a statement for the current account and the letter about my interest charges hadn't appeared is because I no longer have an overdraft and so there are no charges!!!

My 'pots' are going well and I love having the software manage them rather than having to fiddle about shifting money between accounts. I know it isn't quite the MSE piggybanking system but it serves the same function and to me there is no value in having the money in separate accounts so long as I track the account as a whole and know how much I've got in each category. I now have

• one for the car, which covers all the annual costs of insurance, maintenance, breakdown cover etc and a generous estimate to allow for any repairs and replacements
• one for gifts which covers everything related like Christmas, birthdays, congratulations and leaving presents etc; it gets a generous average estimate each month and is working really well as now I don't dither about what to buy people due to juggling those costs with others - I know I've got the money there.
• one for vet bills, which is essentially the beginning of a self-insurance fund for the cats. They are covered by insurance but it's with the highest possible excess as I only really want them covered for accidents. I didn't realise you can get specific cover for this so will research it next time I renew and up the pot contributions if I take it.
• one for dental bills - though I should probably look at getting an insurance plan to cover the basics.

I haven't got a pot for my eye care as I rarely wear contacts now, the eye tests are only about £20 and I got my last pair of glasses for £80 (thank you lovely SpecSavers).

There is nothing in the holiday fund at present - I emptied it into a buffer fund pot just in case I do need to move suddenly. There's about £250 in there at present as I also used some of it to pay for a professional membership this month (bit annoyed as it's expensive but I felt I need some broader info and that's the easiest way of getting it - plus it looks good on the CV). I should have some backdated pay coming next month which can also go in here, and once things are clearer I will probably just split it in two so half can go on holiday fund and half to the last CC.


There, that's me updated and happy

Off to order some fabulous chocolate as a treat to celebrate (budgeted for under groceries :cool: )


Rosa xx