salience

It's time to recall a pet peeve: all close-minded, self-centered individuals please step forward!!

I hate people. Even though I love to schmooze, I really do hate "people." You know, the collective, irrational backlash that is inherent whenever the great walls of defense go up.

Here at work I am the messenger to many other GE employees that the billing process is changing and they have to take an active role now. Of course, it never goes over well. The best times are when I get angry calls that begin with, "what the hell is this advanced billing engine crap, anyway? I've never taken an active part in billing, why do I have to start now?"

First, I would like to point out that it is only my job to be the messenger. I did not suddenly have this idea for an automated billing system for GE Global one morning in the shower. Thank you though, that notion is flattering, but really I had no hand in revolutionizing any company. Honestly, I didn't even play any active role in ABE's development. Now that we have that cleared up, I'll tell you who I am.

I am a lowly intern whom few respect. Thusly, I am an easy target for angered CPMs who now have to spend fifteen minutes less on the golf course to go online and submit an invoice.

Today, is a perfect example. Currently, I am working on a complexity matrix to determine the roll out strategy for the final version of ABE to be released before Christmas this year. I'm at my desk, calling all of the portfolio managers to get their opinions, creating / emailing training tools, etc--generally doing things Angela does not have time to do. In essence I am her catch-all, make-sure-all-of-the-details-are-covered person. A fun job really, as I have many things to work on, and not just one huge project.

But then there are the clowns that I have to deal with. Today's winners for most annoying GE employee are:
-a certain portfolio manager in China
-a biller in India
-a CPM in Brazil
-a site manager in Venezuela

Yeah, all of those countries look cool when I list them. But back to my point here: "people."

What I am really frustrated with here is this rush we are all in: too busy to read every line, we are content to skim. In reality, why even put forth the effort of beginning in the first place if our intentions are not to obtain the full value? Why push the responsibility to another party, when it is one's own laziness which deters him from taking the extra seven minutes to read something thoroughly? Never mind the fact that all of his questions would be answered in doing this. It's much easier to call the girl who sent the email and blame her for inconveniencing the institution that is "the golfer."

::sigh::

I had a fun conversation with a certain Manager of Cash Flows (fourth position below CEO). His solution? Although these gentle souls need extra attention, I really should just scream out "shove it, you fool!!" and hang up. It's a nice idea, but eventually I would get into trouble with someone who cannot take a joke.

So what is my point??

Why should I drop everything for one, lazy moron?
Someone who obviously doesn't give me the common courtesy of attention, and yet demands just that?
It's such hypocrisy.

Make a decision:
Do something.
Or don't.
No half-assed anythings, please.

Don't. Waste. My. Time.