Slacker@Work

Yes. This is me. I am a Slacker@Work. What that means is that I'm not motivated by what's good for the company I work for, I'm motivated by what interests me. When that works out to mutual advantage (for self and company) it leads to lots of stuff getting done with good speed and good quality, simply because I wouldn't have it any other way. But I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't always work. On balance it's a good deal for the company if they remember the most important thing: Slackers are best at doing what is important to them. Use that power and you'll get a lot of mileage from your slackers.
The ChangeThis slacker manifesto lists plenty of good on-the-job tips, and I can honestly say I have used all of them (except the sucking up. I went for "be nice all around instead).

• I've sent tons of off hour email (at 4AM, before showing up at the office at 9)
  
• I might as well admit I have had questionable sickdays (I don't have that many - I'm a bargain in terms of sick days, so what if some of those were stress relief and not the flu)
  
• I've kept strange work hours:
  
  (this shows my source code commit stats - the only hour I have not registered commits (i.e. work) in is 20-21)
  
• I use keyboard shortcuts religiously (I have custom apps to add more shortcut actions)
  
• I also use the keyboard shortcut that switches between work and weblogging
  
• I procrastinate with the best of them (is October 24. a few days after August 4 I ask you?)
  
• I make lists (obviously)
  

I'm not even sure I want to call this manifesto tongue in cheek. I think it's spot on - but spoken by a true slacker, proud of what he is. Obviously, you've got to keep up your end of the slacker bargain. If you can't say that you're doing stuff that interests you, then you can't do that. And you shouldn't stay.

Posted by Claus at October 26, 2004 10:33 PM | TrackBack (0)