WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS: NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Ever wonder why you got the last minute call?

Before one preens and begins speculating, or celebrating one's abilities, importance, or position, one should know, in detail, the circumstances that facilitated one's presence. 

It may be beneficial to know who was in the running. Who preceded you on the job? 

Why are they no longer there? 

(Remember, you can't make an informed or intelligent assessment without knowing and considering all sides of an issue).

Competent people don't just disappear for nothing. There's a reason why people respectfully decline what others consider great opportunities, and it's not always because they're too busy or incapacitated. Perhaps experience has taught them lessons they have no intention to revisit.

Business is often messy. 

One should consider that being asked doesn't always indicate a preference for one's skills set. 

Favor isn’t fair, but every opportunity presented does not constitute favor. 

It may be that others have been sought, but have refused to endure known dysfunction, weak leadership, poor, inconsistent, or dishonest business practices, abuse, unrealistic expectations, or untenable working conditions.

Don’t become what you wouldn’t tolerate. 

Know what you're getting into. 

Keep your eyes and ears open. 

Remember you always have a choice.

Sometimes, by their own words and behavior, managers, supervisors, or employers forfeit, repel, and exhaust other willing, faithful, capable, and available workers, and have no choice than to enlist the aid of clueless, mediocre, gullible, desperate, overly ambitious individuals--or like-minded opportunists. 

It's never good to find you're on board because numerous others have said an emphatic, "No".

On any job, do your part, do your very best, (and by all means, get that coin), but be very aware when you have been invited to be pawn in a scheme to hurt, humiliate, insult, ostracize, demean, embarrass, show up, antagonize, or lure someone else. 

The adage is true: If they'll do it to them, they'll do it to you. 

Don't ever get cozy or comfortable around ruthless people. 

Never blur the line between friendship and business, and know the parameters of the job. 

Be clear about what you will, and won't do. 

Have expectations. 

Maintain your standards. 

If they have their business hats on, then doggone it, you keep yours on, too.

Perhaps one monkey doesn't stop a show, but if you're the new monkey enlisted to keep the show going, don't get cocky and begin debasing your predecessors just to fit in. 

One day, you may find yourself comparing notes with the monkeys who got kicked to the curb.