Low Morale

Posted on 2009/10/07 23:20:50 (October 2009).

[Wednesday 6th October 2009]

Low morale. Yes, the past few days will probably win the star for the lowest point under the happiness point of view of 2009.

There are several reasons, mostly linked with the work environment where I happen to be at the moment, but the ramifications into other aspects of life are quite strong too.

Things at work have been pretty shite of recent, the company is undergoing yet another spell of financial crisis, this time induced by the banks that promised us some money in June and that did not send anything yet.
Unfortunately this means that we need to do all sorts of things to show figures that are completely unreal, most of these practices have been made legal by the crappy government that we have now, some are still illegal but I guess I need not to worry about it. On the top of that we need to get in orders of course, but the foolish choices of the directors got our stock levels to be totally low, and even if you manage to close in a deal with a client we do not get to send anything because the products are not there...

As if this is not enough the whole company (fuelled by the trade unions) is pointing the sales division as the culprit of all this mess, even though we really have little to do with it.

Do we face a serious threat of being shut down? Probably, but surely even if we survive this 2009 we do not have any certainty that 2010 will actually TAKE PLACE for us...

In this frame-set, the whole personnel is really unsatisfied, downhearted and sad, and even though I have tried not to be dragged into the general feelings I seem to have started walking down that path too. It's not so easy to play a "deaf ear" every single day, sooner or later these generalized feelings start to sink in.

Yesterday we went to see a possible house to buy, we liked the place, but all of a sudden reality set in and I have been thinking all day that even if we ever get to find a house that we can afford, how in the world am I going to take out a loan in this situation? What if I loose my job 2 months afterwards, it could mean loosing all the savings that I will put in the venture. So the quite crappy feeling of not being able to move forward is also entertaining me recently.

I have tried to look for other jobs but it seems that nothing is out there for me, no calls, no interviews, it's really a bad moment.

Lastly, just because I want to vent it all out, sports. A colleague of mine told me that I could join the team that he's playing in, but all of a sudden all the training matches that they have to make, all the meetings and league games seem to be cancelled at the last minute. I know that he just joined them so maybe he cannot get another member in, but for three good weeks I have been feverishly hoping to go back on the field, just to prove to myself that my knee is now ok. I even went running to keep fit, but now that I start realizing that there is not going to be a match for me I also gave that up.

Ok time to go to bed, positive things of today have been the fact that the judges ruled against the infamous law that Berlusconi's government tried to pass and the movie "Inglorious Bastards" that I think is one of the best films I have seen in years, at the same level as Pulp Fiction.

Great job Quentin!

I don't think it's a smart idea to write down all sort of things that you do at work. Maybe your blog doesn't have many visitors, but you never know who's reading.

If I were in you I'd edit the post.

Posted by Federico at 2009/10/07 23:56:58.

I have written far worse things than the ones up here, and I am still at large and about. On the top of the fact that I never mention the name of the place where I work, I do not think that I have written something so terrible, as the practice that I describe it is not a criminal offence anymore in Italy. Having said that I might have been less direct, so I'll write something a little different, after all if I were to remove everything I would fall in the swamps of self-censorship that is something that I want and must avoid at all costs at least on my blog...

Posted by Lox at 2009/10/08 07:45:42.

How about marrying Chiara (I come to the wedding btw) and give a hand in the running of Chiara's family hotel (which you told me is in the city center of Firenze)?

That's what I would do. There is no better job than welcoming and chatting with people (and make them pay for the night of course).

You speak Japanese and English. Chiara speaks French. Both of you are a complementary pair and fit for it.

Do her parents consider retiring? Do you get on well with them?
Mind you, I'm not telling you to marry Chiara in order to get a professional future in hotel business. I'm just saying that this might be a wonderful opportunity.
Personally, I'd love to do it.

Forza, Lox !

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/08 10:19:12.

Oh and... I can't cheer you up about the failing prospect of joining a football team. I HATE football!

;-)

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/08 10:32:10.

Sheri: Not as easy as you think, working in the same hotel with Chiara might not be the best way to continue the relationship :D
It's already hard for her as it is; you know small family run businesses are not easy environments to work in... Especially when you come from outside. I guess I could be a doorman, or a receptionist, but certainly it would be extremely hard for them to accept me as a co-manager... I could sell my body though, be an EXCORT (then quickly become MP, you know that is the career that you get here in Italy if you know the right people...)

Posted by Lox at 2009/10/08 11:14:26.

Ah but you don't have the right persuasive argument to be appointed MP, my dear. You're far too hairy...!

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/09 07:30:00.

Perhaps if you shave and grow implants...

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/09 07:30:49.

(mammary implants, si capisce)

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/09 07:32:00.

Actually, come to think of it, I can picture you as a transvestite. You have the look, you know.

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/09 07:33:43.

Well, all I can say at a time like this is that you should look at the GOOD THINGS that you have! I must admit I'm as guilty as the next person for getting "down in the dumps" about general life-stuff. However I look at my wife, my kids and of course the mirror (!!) and realise things are not so bad! I have very little money these days - and don't seem able to earn more in this environment!

There's a great war-time find, discovered recently, that the UK government used to "boost morale" during the start of WWII. Take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_Calm_and_Carry_On

Posted by Nigel at 2009/10/09 21:25:43.

Nigel: Thanks for the comment, It's like you said, but sometimes it's good to vent the dissatisfaction out.... Asfor the poster that is total class, I should print it our and hang it at work!

Posted by Lox at 2009/10/10 14:15:50.

Sorry to hear about your recent malaise Lorenzo. May I suggest heavy and irresponsible drinking?

Posted by John at 2009/10/12 20:02:14.

A hangover wouldn't help, John!

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/13 07:31:42.

Sheri: Debatable! :D

Posted by Lox at 2009/10/13 18:42:54.

:D

Posted by Sheri at 2009/10/16 18:41:06.

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