RULE 60

Be prepared for the pain and pleasure

Look, working for a living is always going to be a mixed bag. And the higher up you go, the more true this is. As a lowly accounts clerk, back when I first started out, I got used to being bored, idle, cheesed off, frustrated and sick of the job. By the time I had risen to being a general manager I was strangely surprised to find myself also bored, idle, cheesed off, frustrated and sick of the job.

But whereas when I was starting out I didn’t expect any different, by the time I had risen to the heights I was totally unprepared for the same feelings. I guess I expected every day to be dramatic, exciting, utterly challenging, demanding, knife-edge stuff. And when it wasn’t, I was, I guess, disappointed.

Now, of course, I realize that not every day can be fantastic. Some days will be boring. Some days will be adrenaline-filled and dramatic – but not as many as will be boring. You have to be prepared for the pain and the pleasure. You have to adjust your expectations so that you don’t get cheesed off when it is boring, and don’t explode with pleasure when it is too exciting for words.

Trouble is, if it is boring, you might be tempted, as indeed I have been on many occasions, to liven it up a bit by being disruptive. Best sit on your hands and let the feeling pass. As a manager you aren’t allowed to be disruptive – except in an innovative way of course.