When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right.

A Raisin In the Sun

Review Season is Flu Season. Scratching my head to figure new ways to say I did THE job. How I repent of not doing a BETTER job. My pledge to put away my analogue ways with AI enabled me optimized and reborn. Yes, I would like to keep my job. Really tho, just trying to stay healthy. Eyes on the prize.

I am thankful and appreciative to have a job. I was going to say steady but this corporate thing is more like swinging between six month temporary contracts between the layoffs. Still, I rise.

I am resigned to the review thing. I do wish we could apply some cooking lessons to it. You season and taste for flavor as you go. Dumping it out at the end just results in a salty crust. You gently bloom the spices over a low heat first, you don’t glitter bomb the meat with feedback on high heat.

I like to make a list of things that should count. How many times did I not say what could have been said, and just gave a nod. Better yet, how many times did I stop and genuinely ask a struggling coworker how could I help. Did I put thoughts of me and work away, and be present with people? Did I put my hands and pockets to real use, did I see need and act?

Or what could we do instead of review? How about a yearbook of our bestest decks, strategy docs, and status reports that we all get to sign for each other. We could share our year-in-review how we got through playlists. I have taken to sitcom theme songs on way to work, and funk in the afternoon. A cup of coffee and The Barney Miller Theme and I can rip off an enchanting outreach email.

I am resigned to the review. The company is a financial instrument. I am an instrument of the instrument that can never actually be in tune. One day I will be looking at someone from HR over a screen like Michael and Snoop, being told you never just did as you were told, asking too many questions. Hopefully I get to go out like Michael, and I will say “you look good girl” here is my notice.

Until then I am wiping down my keyboard, staying thankful, and keeping it moving. As Yoda shoulda said, “optimize or optimize not, make it funky.”