I worked for some miserable humans in the early years, some were psychopaths, some just sociopaths. They were all first rate teachers in a hot stove kind of way.
Corollary to Murphy’s law: No good deed goes unpunished.
In my experience, in one way or another, it seems like almost every company owner was a criminal. Sometimes they’d do the job wrong just to prove they could; even when there was no gain in it. It’s a mindset. The good guys were the exception.
The best part about the good guys is that they encouraged you to do your best work. Most of the work I’ve done is underground or under water so you could kind of understand why most contractors didn’t care about results, the end product was permanently hidden. But it also lacked pride. The good guys understood that if you left pride intact, even if it was hidden, you didn’t need to police the crew.
Corollary to Murphy’s law: No good deed goes unpunished.
In my experience, in one way or another, it seems like almost every company owner was a criminal. Sometimes they’d do the job wrong just to prove they could; even when there was no gain in it. It’s a mindset. The good guys were the exception.
I agree, the good guys were the exception but they sure do stand out because of that, don't they?
The best part about the good guys is that they encouraged you to do your best work. Most of the work I’ve done is underground or under water so you could kind of understand why most contractors didn’t care about results, the end product was permanently hidden. But it also lacked pride. The good guys understood that if you left pride intact, even if it was hidden, you didn’t need to police the crew.
I like this story/message!
What great story telling in this poem. Loved reading it.
Thanks Arjan, loved telling it.
Really nice! A satisfying read.
"Upon this, my first sighting
of a good deed punished,
I took my fine smelling hands
and went looking
for more work
and more wood."
The beauty of what we love insists on being the thing we do - miserable bosses notwithstanding. So glad you've kept looking for more wood, Weston.
That was it exactly. I had to be near wood, no matter what. Damn, it's good to be understood. Thanks.