Friday’s were usually Tom’s only day in the office, and typically, he’d work just a half day since he’d already put in so many hours earlier in the week. Tom had one of those jobs that looked glamorous, but wasn’t. He traveled every week, often to a different city every day. His schedule was grueling. Give presentations all day, drive to the next city, get some dinner, snag some sleep, and start over again the next day.
Though he worked in St. Louis, only one team mate, Mimi, worked with him there. The rest of his team was in Chicago. Another division was also located in St. Louis, so he and Mimi both had an office (cubicle) there to go on Friday’s. Inevitably, the division manager would find a way to tease Tom when he was in the office “must be nice only having to come into the office only one day a week and then make that a half day. We should all be so lucky.”
Mimi witnessed this for about a year. She supported Tom and gave him ideas on how to deal with (or let go of) the situation, but Tom kept letting it get under his skin. Tom was promoted and moved out of that office. The search began, but the division manager wasn’t waiting. The very next time that Mimi ran into him, he said to her “must be nice only having to come into the office only one day a week. Wish I had that job.”
Mimi excitedly replied “You can! We have an opening right now that you can apply for!” Everyone laughed and the division manager never picked on Mimi again.
Sometimes the best way to get rid of a little garbage is to use a little wit and humor. Instead of battling people to prove your point, try going in the same direction.
