html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> From the archives: You weren't using that, were you?

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

You weren't using that, were you?

My friend Teddy's wife, a very excellent lady, hung around in high school with a bunch of dorky types. (And then she married a friend of MINE! Can you believe it?) They were, by her account, a bunch of meek dorky types, but being bright, they figured out a work-around. They figured that within the whole group, they had enough gumption for one person, and they would pass that around between them. They called it The Spine. They'd discuss in the morning who needed The Spine for the day (hard test, talking to a girl, bringing grades home to the parents) and agree on who would get The Spine when.

I'm gonna asked for something job-related today, and that is not a way that I am naturally assertive. If you don't have anything demanding on your schedule, could I get The Spine today?

27 Comments:

Blogger Erik said...

Seeing as I called into work today...Sure!

9:36 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

Thanks, Erik. It's good to know I have one friend out there, even though Pete and Dave totally stopped by and saw this and were all "Whatever. Handle it by yourself, lady. I'm outta here."

That's cool, Pete in Utah and Dave Upstairs. I totally don't hold grudges.

9:46 AM  
Blogger SydneyDawn said...

If I had one, I'd totally lend it to you.

10:06 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

Thank you, hon.

10:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When asking for something (whether a raise or benefit or title bump of some sort), be specific. Don't ask for a "raise" or "more responsibility." Ask for "a 25% raise" or "full control of West Coast operations" (or whatever; I've read your water-related post, but I still don't really understand what you do). You may already know this.

Keep in mind that the person you are asking would prefer that you be assertive. Being assertive doesn't lead to confrontation, it leads to a better conversation. Think about conversations you've had where people are asking you for something. It's frustrating when they waffle and hedge.

10:45 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

Awesome, Trieu. I think they're gonna turn the California Aquaduct over to me to run. Level pool operations, baby.

10:49 AM  
Blogger Tom said...

You can borrow mine (curled, though it may be, by the weight of my oppressor).

11:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd lend you mine, but I have an exoskeleton. Sorry.

11:15 AM  
Blogger susan said...

It's all yours, m'dear. Use it well!

12:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, how did it go?

Are you now Tsar of all the Russias?

1:51 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

If you aren't Erik or Tom or Susan or Trieu, I can't see why you should get to know.

1:58 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

Or Sydney. She can know.

1:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah, you're a hard woman, Megan.

3:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"bringing grades home to the parents..."

Hmm. Of all the problems I've had as a dorky high-schooler, that was never one of them.

4:03 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

Talked to the guy at length, came to a fine resolution.

4:07 PM  
Blogger Liz said...

Go honey! Good luck!

6:43 PM  
Blogger Liz said...

Just read to the bottom of the thread - glad it went well. damn. I'm late.

6:45 PM  
Blogger Marc said...

I could have spared some spine today, but I need it tomorrow. Sorry it didn't drop in earlier, but it looks like you had enough.

BTW, somebody came by my office at work today and said, "XX saw you with a really striking woman the other day"...I said, oh yeah, when (XX sees me around a lot)...she said..."at the premiere of Sicko, she had blue eyes, dark hair, beautiful"...I said, oh yeah, that's Megan.

This doesn't violate complimenting policy, becuz I'm not complimenting you, XX did.

9:08 PM  
Blogger Pete said...

Sorry, I expected to have one for you, but the previous borrower has kept it overdue.

I was expecting a see a resolution. I was not expecting to be IP-stalked. That'll teach me.

10:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wish my friends and I had had a spine between us when we were in school. Looking back, it would have made all the difference. Maybe we would even have approached the ladies once in a while.

6:57 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

They're pretty scary.

7:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great idea! Keep the Spine for a while and ask out your current crush. No need to thank me...

7:58 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

I 'fessed up. I was right. He's not interested. I'm good with the whole situation, but especially with telling all of you that I TOLD YOU SO.

8:18 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I am home sick so you can use my spine today.

8:50 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh, I see now that I am a day late. Nevermind then, I take my spine back.

8:51 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

Thank you. I can see how your spine would be a particularly useful one.

8:53 AM  
Blogger Jens Fiederer said...

Don't give her back the WHOLE THING.

Nobody needs that much spine, it should be nationalized and shared by the needy....

Oooops, sorry....not my politics.

Proceed.

3:53 PM  

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