How do you like your new boss?

So Lester, my friend asks, how do you like your new boss? He's an ass hole. Wow, he says and asks how did you like your last boss? Asshole! And the one before? Asshole!!! And before? Assholes, Assholes, Assholes, Assholes ALL!!!!!! This could have gone on all day but we decided to stop this and start complaining about the weather.

This has gotten me to thinking. When it comes to supervisors I am either an asshole attractor or an asshole projector. What do you think I am? Yep it's pretty obvious if I can take just a step or two back. If I can just assume the role of observer rather than angry, worried, scared, pissed off, frustrated, victim. Shit.

This reminds me of a story I read somewhere. Too old to remember where I read it but young enough to remember most of the story with a reasonable level of accuracy. A man came to the gate of a village and asked the guard, "What kind of people live in this village?" The guard replied "what kind of people lived in the village you came from?" The man said "oh they were awful people, mean, selfish, impolite and nasty." The guard replied, "You will find the same kind of people here, you should move on to the next village." A second man came to the gate of the village later. He asked the guard, "what kind of people live in this village?" The guard asked, "what kind of people lived in the village you came from?" The man replied, "wonderful people, loving, kind and generous." The guard replied, "You will find the same people here please come in you will be very happy here."

The fact is none of these people were really assholes. My judgment certainly does not make them so. They were just like everybody else who is doing their very best with the tools and experience they have. My level of appreciation for their contribution has little to do with their talent or intent. There is no question I have left some people behind feeling the very same way about me. It is all in our perceptions and our willingness to be fully accountable for our choices and our outcomes. In the end we are the sum total of the choices we make.

Thanks for reading.