Working for the man

[Dave]

Years ago, in my 20s, I really got into Zen, and the Tao teh Ching. My friends didn't get it, but I did. Basically I trained myself somewhat to let go. To 'abide'.

Early Dude training before the Big Lebowski even existed.

Well recently my previous job, there was a lot of stress in the workplace. I actually got into trouble for not reacting to the stress. Because I wasn't letting it all bother me, I was accused of not caring about my job.

There was so much fucking irony in that, because it was bad management that led to the stress.

How do you Dudes handle working for the Man?

[Tripnastic]

It's always been brought up as a positive on my reviews.  Matt stays calm under pressure.  Matt exerts a calming influence during crisis situations.

I work in nursing though, so it's probably different.  I could see a more business oriented culture wanting to see people sweat bullets.  

I'm notorious for down playing situations myself.  Patient with an eye hanging out of his head - "OH MY GOD! WHATS GOING ON?"   "Nothing sir, you're fine. Little scratch is all. Just gonna clean you up a bit. Here's some morphine so you don't get bored while I'm working"

[karmatso]

Years ago, in my 20s, I really got into Zen, and the Tao teh Ching. My friends didn't get it, but I did. Basically I trained myself somewhat to let go. To 'abide'.

Early Dude training before the Big Lebowski even existed.

Well recently my previous job, there was a lot of stress in the workplace. I actually got into trouble for not reacting to the stress. Because I wasn't letting it all bother me, I was accused of not caring about my job.

There was so much fucking irony in that, because it was bad management that led to the stress.

How do you Dudes handle working for the Man?

If you are staying calm in when everyone else is freaking out, including your boss, some managers might feel threatened by that. It may be even worse if it is noticed by their manager. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot you can do in that particular situation. All you can do is to just keep abiding, no matter what.

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

Become the man. That's what I did, my biz partner is a little uptight, but still kinda chill. I run a scrap yard, very dangerous and stressful, but yeah I am known for handling it in a calm manner even under the most stressful circumstances.

[meekon5]

...There was so much fucking irony in that, because it was bad management that led to the stress.

How do you Dudes handle working for the Man?

I just ended up having a complete breakdown and spending about eight months on some very heavy medication.

I don't take it now.

And feel fine, I do now express my frustration rather than bottle it up, which is better for me (better to let the inner Walter out than bottle him up until he pops).

[Rev. Ed C]

I once had a couple of weeks of a work with stress that was leading to panic attacks.  It hasn't happened for a few years, but I've been overworked a lot these past 5 weeks and I did come close a couple of times.

For me, the trick is to let go when you can and give yourself fully to the fact that there's more than 24 hours before you have to be back in and enjoy your time off (if you get it).

One thing that keeps me going when I'm at work is the satisfaction of a good job done.  The fact that I'm making a difference and helping people is what matters, and if The Man is happy with my performance then maybe he'll get off my back.  But, at the end of the day, I work for the customer, not the manager, in my mind, and they're on my side because of the way I treat them, so I'm in a win situation right there.

Trying not to push people out of your corner always works for me, I've always tried to bring people on board with me, so I'm not fighting against a flow, they're in there, flowing with me.

I know The Man is often a figure of anti-flow, trying to push you back up your stream, but at the end of the day, if you can both flow in the same direction, and that is always the direction of success, in any job, you can both be satisfied and have a good laugh at the end of it.

Of course, sometimes the Man is just as arsehole and needs a good ignoring when he starts trying to make you do a salmon impersonation in your life-stream   But, sometimes, good dudely nature and solid reasoning can bring these fuckwits around.  And, if not, get pally with their boss

[Abideist]

I just quit my job when people explode at me. I've found that after awhile, I can't take the bullshit of other people being idiots and it builds up and I eventually explode and kick their ass...

So it's easier for me to just bail out when I notice other people being dicks for no reason, because as soon as they see they can use your as a source to vent their frustration, they assume they can relentlessly. It's like a kindness for weakness type of thing.

fuck that noise.

makes it kind of hard to find a career, but I don't care. I plan on blowing my brains out when shit really hits the fan.

[Lao Dude]

Blowing your brains would be verrrry undude.

[Dave]

I'm glad we are all on the same page. A few years back I had a kind of mental breakdown where I checked outta life for a while. Not good.

makes it kind of hard to find a career, but I don't care. I plan on blowing my brains out when shit really hits the fan.

I agree with Lao Dude. The idea of Dudeism to me is always an alternative to suicide. It's about saying Fuck it, and enjoying your life, regardless of labels and shit other people push on ya.