Why Cranky Hates His Job!

The following, I have found, is a scary picture (just in time for Halloween?) of a fairly typical American business...

Cranky opens his business at 8:00 a.m. Bob, Sue and Mary wander in by 8:45. Bob and Sue answer phones until Jim decides to show up at 10.

Then Cranky answers the phones, while Sue goes to the bank...except on Tuesday’s when she takes “Scooter” to Doggie Daycare. Then Jim goes, if he’s not on call; or Mary, if she can borrow Cranky’s car (her teenage son wrecked hers). 

On Fridays, Cranky does payroll and takes job orders, unless there are more problems in production. Then Bob takes the orders.

HOWEVER...Bob hates doing that, so he usually lets the phone ring until Cranky drops everything and picks up.

Problem is, Cranky tends to write orders up wrong, as his desk is piled so high with back orders (and good intentions)...he can’t find his price lists.

So, Jim gets mad at Bob for not doing his job. Cranky gets upset at Jim AND Bob for quarreling…and shouts, “If Bob is too [exp!] busy, then Mary can help, if her nails are dry, except on Wednesdays when she needs to get the [exp!] invoices out.”

Cranky’s blood pressure soars while Bob, Jim, Sue and Mary look at him with wonder...“What is Cranky so upset about?”

I think you get the picture! SCARY! Chaos is NOT funny!

In most businesses, there are thousands of details and variables that most workers try to commit to memory, any of which, if botched or forgotten, eat up a company’s profits each year.

Over the past 15-plus years, I’ve seen my own early attempts and frustrations reflected in the faces of others who dared to own their own businesses, only to find them stressed to the point of despair. It doesn’t have to be that way!