How to engineer a tumbler

Dear Bob ...I think it is great to point out management challenges and recommend ways to improve.Lately, many of my co-workers are going beyond this, taking opportunities to improve as indictments against the management of the company I work for.Although it would be great if management "got it" with so many issues, they are doing enough things right to keep the joint running, they are watching the finances, and

Dear Bob ...

I think it is great to point out management challenges and recommend ways to improve.

Lately, many of my co-workers are going beyond this, taking opportunities to improve as indictments against the management of the company I work for.

Although it would be great if management "got it" with so many issues, they are doing enough things right to keep the joint running, they are watching the finances, and focusing on core business.

I was allowing myself to get sucked into the doom, dismay, and agony thing until my wife sat me down for a talk, which included that she was getting tired of seeing my mopey look, droopy eyes, and constant bitterness. She reviewed for me the good things this job does provide, the cool things we are working on, and if nothing else – that it is doing a good job of paying the bills. I have to say, that talk has made a huge difference in my outlook and attitude.

While others may argue that the glass is half empty or half full, at least I have a glass to be thankful for.

- Grateful

Dear Grateful ...

And as I presume you know, engineers argue that the glass is twice as big as it should be. Meanwhile, college students ask, "Who drank half my beer?"

You (really, your wife) made a great point. As my own wife has pointed out to me more than once, the more you learn about any company the less likely you'd be to either want to work there or to invest in it.

Every company has flaws. It's important to try to address them. It makes no sense to think of them as the whole picture as you do. The difference between "This place stinks and we need to fix it," and "We can make this place even better," is immense. Most of the time it's mostly a matter of attitude.

Any company that's successful must be doing many things right or it wouldn't be making money. Among the many reasons to keep track of them, there's an entirely pragmatic one that might even outweigh the impact on attitude: If you don't see what's right, you're likely to break it in the effort of fixing what's wrong.

- Bob

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