Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I Want a New Job

!!!!!DISCLAIMER!!!!!

I am sorry to have to do it but this post is not a informative, instructional post. It is a rant. If you are here to learn how to use the internet and technology, good. But ignore this post. If you are interested in reading the opinion of somebody who is completely and utterly right then read on. 


I want a new job.  You heard it right.  I want a new job.  Well ok, I would be satisfied with somebody else having this job if they had the power, authority, desire, and ability to do it well.

Ewan McIntosh described his dream job in the Ed Tech Posse podcast he participated in.  He wanted to be paid to jump on each and every bandwagon that came up.  He would then report back to others to see if the bandwagon was worth it.  Now I don't want his job - but my job would probably work well with his.

I want to be a Yes Man.  I want to be a Lets Find a Way Man.  I want my job to be finding ways to say yes to educators requests.  

Educator:  "Can I do/have (insert random skill/technology/tool)?'
Me: "Heck ya - that sounds awesome.  I am not sure how but lets find a way!"

Can I have that job?  Please?  Pretty please with cherries on top?  

I am qualified.  It started back when I was a kid with a bucket of Lego.  Any time I saw a new toy that I wanted (and knew I probably wouldn't get) I found a way to build it.  I was finding work arounds to get what I wanted.

I wanted a Smartboard.  It was not in the budget so I found a way to build the Poor Man's Interactive White Board - for a lot less money.  

We wanted GarageBand on our PCs.  So I found a PC equivilent (and if the Division doesn't get me the license soon going to get a less than legal version!  Yes this is an idle threat.)

I wanted Rockband but didn't want a console.  So I found a free open source program that works the same way.

We wanted Macs to do media editing.  The tech powers that be said no.  I found a way to say yes (and dealt with the consequences later).

I have been trying to do this job for a while now.  I just want the power and authority to make it happen.  I have the desire.  I want to say yes.  I want to say yes to other people!  I just don't have the authority or the power.  

Now we have some of these people in our division.  Yes people.  I suspect that you know who you are and you are wonderful.  You are awesome.  You are great.  Keep it up.  The problem is that you are blocked by NO people.  People whose first reaction is to say NO (usually with capital letters - sometimes with an examation mark).  NO People are controllers - they give up power grudgingly.  Yes People know that sharing power grants you the uber power of collaboration.  It is like that magic penny that keeps growing the more that you give it away.  Yes People scare No People.  No People don't understand them and find them threatening.  

Do not despise No People.  Pity them.  The world is strange and incomprehensable to them.  Treat them like a child that insists on telling bad knock knock jokes that make no sense.  Humour them and pretend that they are funny.  Then move on before things get too awkward.

4 comments:

Ryan Nickell said...

Challenge: can I sent laptops home with students?

Ryan Nickell said...

http://theyesmen.org/

Real Gary Ball said...

I almost put a picture of the Yes Men in this post.

As for the challenge you don't make it easy do you. Trying to call my bluff, or are you trying to force me into a yes? I am checking with Chuck Norris to find the answer. He will know.

Ryan Nickell said...

I already asked Chuck Norris. He said people should be practicing their roundhouse kicks instead of playing on the computer.