I Want My Money Back!

I want my money back!  The venders hiked up the price on the popcorn and soda, and they’ve made a covert deal with the theater across town.  I can tell because the prices in that theater are just as high if you take into consideration the quality of the facilities and the surrounding neighborhood.  I bet I could smuggle some soda in here, but it wouldn’t be socially acceptable . . . even though everyone else realizes the swindling as well. 

I’m not enjoying the show.  The previews promised more excitement, better graphics, strong romance, and a little comedy.  The reality of the show is different.  There’s no climax, just surging anticipation and subsequent disappointment followed by more surging anticipation and more upsetting disappointment.  And another thing, I can fucking tell you the ending right now.  The main character will die alone, depressed, and disappointed.  OH! I get it! This is one of those movies you have to be fucked-up to enjoy.  This is much better.  -antiwasp

Filed under: Artistic Writing, Culture, Death, Economy, General Sarcasm, Lessons Learned, Recommendations, Self Actualization, Wisdom, World Wide Policy

Learning through fear and failure

I learn more in a tough environment than in a soft environment.  I learn when I work.  I work when I’m motivated.  I’m motivated when I know that I have something to do.  I have something to do when I know that my boss will check if I’m doing it or not.    

In my current employment I take a new group of Soldiers to play war every six weeks.  Building a field problem for 300 Soldiers to train on Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills and their Military Occupational Specialty for 96 hours at a time in a remote location is taxing.  We, at the company level, plan the operations, the food and water needs, transportation, billeting, build an inclement weather plan, etc.  Well, we recently changed Brigade Commanders. 

The former Brigade Commander visited the field problems, knew the process, and understood the standard.  He made on-the-spot corrections, informed my boss (Battalion Commander) if something was not right in my operations, and chaired extensive After Action Reviews following every exercise.  I thoroughly prepared for each exercise a full month from its start point with MDMP, I continuously sought ways to improve my operations, I checked to ensure my subordinates completed tasks, and I scrutinized my actions during the exercise so the AAR would develop in a favorable way for me.  I learned.  I developed.

The current Brigade Commander does not visit the field problems, trusts that we (Company Commanders) are conducting business properly, and believes in a positive work environment.  She asks questions instead of correcting us because she wants to understand our thought processes so she can learn, she does not yell at my direct supervisor when I’m wrong, and she does not chair an AAR after any field exercise.  We build AAR Powerpoint slides to send to her after the exercises and she ALWAYS sends positive feedback for a “job well done!”  I haven’t done anything wrong in months.  I know because she hasn’t told me that I have.  I don’t plan as thoroughly for exercises anymore, I don’t conduct MDMP, and I don’t learn as much as I used to learn during each exercise.  I’m not developing as I did before.   

I need fear of failure to grow.  I don’t have that.  -antiwasp

Filed under: Environment, Lessons Learned, Military, Wisdom

Ten (Hard) Lessons Learned About Leadership after Eight Months in Command:

1.  Someone has to be the bad guy when managing 300+ people (if the other guy isn’t going to do it I have to be the bad guy)

2.  Becoming the bad guy takes practice (The effectiveness of my “bad guy” didn’t take full effect until after about five tries – but I’m good at it now)

3.  It’s a good thing for people to walk out of my office feeling bad about what they did wrong (it helps them learn) – don’t give them a “but, you’re doing a good job speech” after the ass chewing.  It ruins the lesson.

4.  Whenever a subordinate completes a major project applaud them, compliment them, and if possible find something wrong with the way they did things (this way they won’t get too comfortable and they’ll keep producing)

5.  Mentoring takes more work than doing it myself but if I mentor now I will work less later on

6.  Don’t let subordinates know that I’m tired (it gives them permission to be tired as well)

7.  Don’t complain to subordinates about missions given to me by higher headquarters (it gives them permission to complain about the mission to their subordinates – and the job won’t be performed well)

8.  Leaders in ranks beneath me will do well at things I check on, and will do poorly at things I don’t check on

9.  The mission comes before Soldier Care / Soldiers always find ways to take care of themselves

10.  There’s no such thing as a tired company, only tired company commanders

-antiwasp

Filed under: Lessons Learned, Military, Recommendations, Wisdom