I never saw work as anything more than a business transaction. They're buying my time and expertise. That's all it is.
I've made good friends who have lasted a lifetime at a couple of places and worked for some really great bosses. I don't see it as a completely cold transaction. I called one of my oldest adult friends up just this last Friday to relate my new bosses commentary on my personality to him, so he'd get a good laugh. I guess I'd list him more as a long time mentor than just a boss. His kids have funny nicknames for me, and we've watched them grow up from little ones to married and having their own kids.
So there's still humanity a'plenty in business. But it's still business. I also understand the business reality is that you must make or save the place at least your salary plus benefits cost, or you're gone.
And sometimes outside circumstance pops up and makes one or the other of those fail. Sometimes bad decisions by others or yourself. Etc.
Nobody is guaranteed anything. That I know firsthand.
Currently working on installing this wisdom into a millennial who's really sharp but often only does the bare minimum to get by. He will cap himself out of future better opportunities all on his own if he's not careful. He has natural people skills and only needs to buckle down on some harder technical stuff to really be an irreplaceable asset to us, or anyone else who hires him.
He's at that stage where he knows he can float and not study and get an "A" at his current role, but hasn't quite figured out yet that a couple of "C" or "B" efforts toward something harder and more important to the company, will result in experience he can easily turn into a future "A" doing a much more valuable job.
It's interesting being in the mentor roll now. I can see some of the frustration of my old boss when I'd do the same thing.
You're right. Buying time and expertise. But you do have to make relationships and be willing to work with and learn from people who can show you the steps to the next level. If you want to go there, that is.
For me, my next progression is in learning to back up and be more strategic than operational and let the young guy take over the operation. I think he will, but I haven't quite figured out what pushes his "go" button yet. He does fine when no one else is around, but if he can sit back and watch, he will. Which probably means I have to make myself look busy enough on the things I don't want him to try to tackle yet, that he will "help out" on the things I do want him to start tackling, and he will have to be given some room to fail and guidance on how to dig out of the hole he digs himself into.
