Who knew they'd cost so much?

The figure is called TCA, which, simply enough, stands for Total Cost of Assholes.

This is an actual, valid, scholastic (?) piece penned by Bob Sutton, Professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University.

Okay, okay, so the terminology for the subject is - (ahem) - colorful.
But why the heck not?!

Call a spade a spade...

and a jerk an asshole!

According to Prof. Sutton in his book "The No Asshole Rule" you can quantify a jerk's cost, particularly to an organization.

One case was about a guy who was such a jerk, he cost his company $160,000 (that's over 6 million pesosesosesoses to us) to pay for hiring and training new people to replace those who've quit because of him; as well as to enroll him in anger management and sexual harassment seminars (and that doesn't include legal fees from suits filed yet!)

My point?
If you're working with or (more unfortunately) for an asshole, here are some suggestions:

1. Know that assholes (jerks, bullies or whatever you call them) feed on fear - your fear.
Doth quote the venerable Mr. G.I. Joe: "Knowing is half the battle."

2. The bigger the asshole, the bigger costs he incurs
It may not translate to direct costs, but keep tabs on the expenses such as the cost of hiring new people or the cost of losing productivity because of his bullying.

3. If you're a freelancer or a consultant, consider applying an "asshole tax" to your fee.
This works 2 ways:
#1. It's a proven fact, jackass clients take up more of your time. You might as well make it worth your while.
#2. Jacked-up fees will deter cheap jackasses from you. If you have to work for an asshole, he might as well be a rich asshole.

And finally,

4. If you have to hire or work with an asshole, make sure he's an insanely brilliant asshole.
To a certain degree, jerks cause a level of antagonism that can keep people around him on their toes. It's like that story about a tank of tuna fish that turns out to taste the freshest off a fishing barge because the shark inside the tank kept the tuna swimming constantly.


But all in all, if they can be avoided - no, wait - ELIMINATED, do so. Some factors may mitigate the stress to some extent, but ultimately, I don't think it's worth it.

And the sooner these assholes learn that they can't get away with that kind of behavior, the better it is for everyone - most especially themselves.

But until then, we can only hope.

I get my best ideas when....

A recent conversation with a friend went like this:

Tin: When do you usually get your best ideas?
Me: Don't you mean HOW do I get my best ideas?

Tin: No. I don't think you can actually tell exactly HOW you get good ideas. But you can pretty much tell under what circumstances you do get them.
Me: Good point.

Tin: So?
Me: Thinking.

Tin: You get your ideas when you're thinking? DUUUUUH!
Me: I meant I'm thinking about the answer.



Me: Dumbass.


Tin: 'scuse me...



Me: Brushing. I usually get my ideas when I'm brushing my teeth.
Tin: Qualify.

Me: Maybe because when brushing your teeth, you're more focused than usual. I mean, for example, you're at a brainstorm session, right? But even if you're in the session, your attention is in a million places at the same time.

Tin: But when you're brushing your teeth...
Me: ...It's just you, the mirror and your face.

Tin: not very inspiring.
Me: Yah, but you can always look away...

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What about you guys out there: When do YOU get your best ideas?

"Don't get me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry..."

As Luc y Van Pelt once said...

..."But is it art?"

Now, I won't get sucked into THAT discussion, but I figured it'd be a nice take off point for this post.

It's an art installation at the Tate Modern in London by artist Doris Salcedo. This piece is called "Shibboleth"


I know I have something to say about this, but I can't quite put my finger on it now...



No wait, I've got it....




.....nah, I've lost it.

"What to Do When You're Working for...." (Some notes)

This particular series won't be so much instructional as they are thought pieces - pieces on the kinds of people we've worked for, the scenarios I and my team have found ourselves in and what little insights we've gained after the fact.

Here's to hoping that if and when you encounter such personalities in your work life, these inane, sometimes irreverent, often meandering posts might come to mind and be of actual use .

Happy trails, my friends!

What to Do When You're Working for.... (INTRO)

Notice that I didn't phrase it "What to Do When Your Boss Is..."

That's just because I've never really had one. (At least the way it's defined by Philippine labor codes.) And if you're pretty sharp, you would deduce from that statement that I was never employed.

But that is NOT to say that I've never worked for anyone.

To the contrary, compared to most professionals my age, I've probably worked for more people than the average Juan.

Which leads me to believe that as far superiors go, I think I've seen a pretty wide gamut of them and will continue to see more so long as my company continues to exist.

I'm working on the first bit and it should come out around the weekend.

I'm not even sure writing an intro for this thing's such a smart move. I might be setting some expectations which I'll fall short of.

But then again, it won't be the first time I fell flat on my face.

So what the hose.

Till Sunday night!






Or early Monday morning...


....maybe in the afternoon.


I dunno....

around that time,


I think....

yah...


definitely....