I happened across this phrase, on this page -- Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum -- in an article written in 1877 on the effect of Chinese immigration.
I do not think when you employ a man and pay him his wages that it is servile labor because he works in my wood-yard. I would do it myself if I could not hire a man to do it. If I were "busted" to-day and could not get any better work to do than sawing wood, I would saw your wood for you.
I believe that attitude - that there is no work that's beneath you - exists today, but I'll bet its not very common.
4 comments:
Brings to mind an "incident" or two I had as a techie.
One time I got into trouble for fixing a problem... I was *the* Senior Engineer, knew what needed to be done (it was a misconfiguration of some mainframe parameter in a Cisco router) and all the other techs were at lunch. So I fixed it. And got into some trouble because I did! I looked at my boss and said "you're telling me that although I'm the Senior Engineer, I can't fix what needs to be fixed?" He replied in the affirmative. I responded "I guess I shouldn't tell anyone how to improve the cc:Mail network, then?"
I went to his boss and told him he was being stupid. He didn't exactly appreciate it, but I got the feeling he knew he was. (Oddly, he came looking for a job from me, about 2 years later. I told him "no".)
The other time was when some equipment got delivered late. Like 11PM Friday late. I looked at it, and said "okay, let's get to it, then!" Much grumbling was heard. The Sun guys later bought me breakfast, dinner, whatever it was. I got into it as much as they had to - laying cable, crawling under the raised floors, screwing up and admitting it.
There's some more stuff where that came from! :-D
Carolyn Ann
I have mixed feelings about that. What I *want* to believe is that you're exactly right; if you can do it, do it! What I intellectually believe is "...subject to knowing that it'll be done the right way (both technically and procedurally)"
In a way, it reminds me of when I got in trouble at IBM because I scheduled a change for a weekend when I'd be on vacation. They brought someone in to do it because I hadn't asked anyone else to do it for me -- and then they were ticked with me when I showed up. I asked if I was in trouble for doing what I said I'd do, and they didn't care for that phrasing. It wasn't the IBM way.
You did what you said you would do?!? (Horrified expression on face, recoiling in fear and other dramatic gestures, etc) How could you? :-)
I've gotten into trouble for that, too! Ain't it grand?
Carolyn Ann
Actually, yes. Leads to a smug feeling of superiority. Course, I think it was also why that manager gave me a poor turnover when I went to work for a second one. Hell with it. Kinda.
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