Tough week. I thought I had offended a mentor and that I would have to work a few more years to sit for the exams. Working it out now in a positive way but in general doing a lot of soul searching about being a surveyor, filling out apps and trying to decide am I really ready?
And all this when, due to health issues and bad attitude I don't really expect to ever make a living being licensed. The thing that is currently driving me is the idea of being able to legally dig up some original GLO corners out in the wilderness and document and perpetuate them.
So this is like one of those dockers-wearing office wuss interview questions I always disliked in the dot-com era, but it's what I am pondering today. Answer in whatever style you feel like. (if you're wearing dockers, I give you back your pride. Work on your rebellion.)
STRENGTHS:
I'm always thinking about the worst case scenario. This makes me good at spotting potential blunders or liabilities.
I can swallow my pride and pick up a phone and ask someone who knows, "how am I $&*$#ing this up?"
I can usually answer the same question when asked. (I'm getting better at not telling people when they haven't asked.)
On a good day, I can hold a complex mix of facts and opinions in my head with neither gullible belief nor skeptical disbelief.
WEAKNESSES:
On a bad day I will go to bagpipes and swords at the drop of a hat, and hold a grudge for eternity.
How about you?
Yur not a hair on a surveyors @ss!
> Tough week. I thought I had offended a mentor and that I would have to work a few more years to sit for the exams. Working it out now in a positive way but in general doing a lot of soul searching about being a surveyor, filling out apps and trying to decide am I really ready?
>
> And all this when, due to health issues and bad attitude I don't really expect to ever make a living being licensed. The thing that is currently driving me is the idea of being able to legally dig up some original GLO corners out in the wilderness and document and perpetuate them.
>
> So this is like one of those dockers-wearing office wuss interview questions I always disliked in the dot-com era, but it's what I am pondering today. Answer in whatever style you feel like. (if you're wearing dockers, I give you back your pride. Work on your rebellion.)
>
> STRENGTHS:
> I'm always thinking about the worst case scenario. This makes me good at spotting potential blunders or liabilities.
>
> I can swallow my pride and pick up a phone and ask someone who knows, "how am I $&*$#ing this up?"
>
> I can usually answer the same question when asked. (I'm getting better at not telling people when they haven't asked.)
>
> On a good day, I can hold a complex mix of facts and opinions in my head with neither gullible belief nor skeptical disbelief.
>
> WEAKNESSES:
>
> On a bad day I will go to bagpipes and swords at the drop of a hat, and hold a grudge for eternity.
>
> How about you?
izzat your strength or your weakness? better check inside your dockers!
Just an observation....
Never liked holding grudges, especially for minor things.
I mean ya, when you don't like someone, you probably will have a hard time changing your mind about how you feel, however a grudge is a whole different animal.
I know several people that will develop a grudge quickly and hold it FOREVER with no apparent effort. I cannot even fathom how that feels holding so many grudges for that amount of time.
Soul searching is a good thing. I too am critical by nature. It does help me in my job by making me check and re-check. Just have to be careful to not go too far overboard because it rubs off on people....sometimes the wrong way.
JRL
I liked that line near the end of Batman Begins when Batman says to his mentor something along the words of "It would be wrong for me to kill you. The way I understand things, it is not my responsibility to save you".
Just remember that the very best bagpipers are known for their uncanny rendition of "Amazing Grace" and not "Scotland the Brave".
Very wise!
..dockers-wearing office wuss..
With that attitude you have a long way to go, even if you elect not to become a surveyor. It's about chain of command and recognizing an opportunity for what it is.
Your strengths are SOP for any surveyor. It's like rewarding a kid for getting a C on their report card. I'm sure you have many more, perhaps the ones you don't recognize.
If that is your only self observed weakness, perhaps a call to Dr Laura is in order. (sorta tongue in cheek, but...)
Drop the anonymity and be proud of what you post and sign it!
Keith
If the dockers fit, wear them. I won't, mostly because it has been known for years that the Levi's company gives money to the anti-gun-rights people. I also find that, in general, the dockers are a sign of some sort of middle-management groupthink collectivist. Business casual. I worked my years in cubeland. I started a new career in surveying to get away from those people.
We all have our predjudices based on clothes and appearance. In spite of my humorous dig about your dockers, I do try to reserve judgement until I hear someone speak and see their actions. Most people think I'm an odd bird until they hear me speak. The only places I have ever been accepted at face value based on appearance have been rural farming areas: Alabama where I grew up, Missouri when I went there for surgery a few years ago, and recently in the eastern Oregon desert. It takes a lot of the stress out of life when there is not some smug city slicker smirking about your clothes. I'd move to such a place if I could but I have obligations in the big city for a few more years.
I post these little self-reflective things to get gems of wisdom as in the posts above. GunMan and A Harris and Carl Zeiss replied with some empathy that they have lived thru the same dilemmas I was describing, and I thank those gentlemen. None of us are perfect but we can help each other learn. I read a definition of sainthood once, that a saint was someone who lived their life so transparently you could learn about yourself from their story. Most people have a little bit of saintliness if you ask.
When I post these little self-revelatory things from time to time, there is a side effect of seeing who will take the bait and try to knock me down. Then I file that in my memory for future reference. Since I was a kid I have written off everyone I have ever seen exhibit the slightest bit of cruelty or lack of empathy. That said, I do wrestle with my own vindictiveness, as described above.
Lately I am reaching a place where the most important two phrases I can utter are
"I'm sorry, please forgive me" and "I'm sorry, I forgive you." Some people look upon that as weakness, as uncompetitive. So be it. They can go on their merry way. My life is a much less bumpy ride as a result. When I can remember to stay on that path anyhow.
So, forgive me my dig about the dockers. I forgive your attempt at smackdown.
Tell us something.
"... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" -- Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet.
> Most people think I'm an odd bird until they hear me speak.
I've heard you speak and I still think you're an odd bird.
Which is why I like you. 😀
So, forgive me my dig about the dockers. I forgive your attempt at smackdown.
Actually Mr Bubble, no slam intended whatsoever. You asked. You just didn't like my answer. That's ok by me. Sorta like my survey decisions, I base it on the presented evidence.
I think your "docker" comment is quite appropriate, considering your most recent post. No need to forgive.
Just be carefull about all that forgive & forget - warm & fuzzy stuff. It's overrated.
I think it's better to forgive and never forget. Sort of a fool me once, shame on me - fool me twice, shame on you. Than to forget and never forgive. That makes people really really cynical.
Best of luck in your chosen career.
Never said forget, just forgive ... I guess the grudge thing is when you can't do either one... No offense taken. I enjoy your posts about thinking outside the box as a solo guy, & hope we can meet someday.
Here is my read:
> And all this when, due to health issues and bad attitude I don't really expect to ever make a living being licensed.
"I have an attitude problem."
>The thing that is currently driving me is the idea of being able to legally dig up some original GLO corners out in the wilderness and document and perpetuate them.
"I wish all these tacky coworkers and clients would just leave me alone."
> So this is like one of those dockers-wearing office wuss interview questions ....
"I have authority issues"
> I'm always thinking about the worst case scenario. This makes me good at spotting potential blunders or liabilities.
"I borrow trouble"
> On a bad day I will go to bagpipes and swords at the drop of a hat... and hold a grudge for eternity.
"I have an explosive and unpredictable temper" and
>and hold a grudge for eternity.
"I have an enemies list"
Sorry, you asked.
Here is my read:
Fair enough. All true.
What are your strengths and weaknesses, Mark?
My weaknesses are my strengths
I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone,
But I have a light
The day is done,
I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Or maybe just happy
Think I'm just happy
My heart is broke
But I have some glue
Help me inhale
And mend it with you
We'll float around
And hang out on clouds
Then we'll come down
And have a hangover
Have a hangover
Sit in the sun
Fall asleep
Wish away
soul is cheap
Lesson learned
Wish me luck
Soothe the burn
Wake me up
I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone,
But I have a light
the day is done,
I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Or Maybe just happy
Think I'm just happy
I think I'm Dumb
I don't know where that's from, Snooper, but it makes me happy and breaks my heart at the same time.
Don
Here is my read:
> What are your strengths and weaknesses, Mark?
Nope, you will have to get at least a couple of beers into me before I release that information. Except, you already know about my innate ability to psychoanalyze people I haven't met personally over the internet.
