Comments on: ‘Dilbert’ on how to save your career

By: Melissa Cornuet, Columbus, Georgia

Melissa Cornuet, Columbus, Georgia — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:33:30 +0000

Confusopoly: Let’s tell everyone how wonderful we are… and not worry about the infractions along the way!
\
My advise to employers? Terminate responsibly.

By: Heather, Madison, WI

Heather, Madison, WI — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:31:51 +0000

I agree with the idea that flexibility is more important than money to many people. I took a $10,000/year de facto pay cut in order to go from a job where I worked 60+ hours/week to a job where I work 40 hours/week and have flex scheduling that allows me to get those 40 hours in 4 days instead of 5.

By: Prashantha Luther, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Prashantha Luther, Colombo, Sri Lanka — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:12:02 +0000

Believe Dilbert is correct to an extent and has played it very safe in his Answers.

One thing that I strongly agree with, is – “Work-Life Balance”, which can be a key differentiator during economic tough times for corporates and better employment opportunities available elsewhere. As mainly GenY focuses on WLB, as a primary requirement from their employer.

By: Cluelessinky, Union KY

Cluelessinky, Union KY — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:47:12 +0000

Confusopoly: I worked for a boss who would give one order in the morning and then ask for something entirely different in the afternoon, and blame me for not delivering the “unspoken.”
It got to the point where I insisted that the boss write down exactly what it was he wanted, and sign it.
I finally left the job after one incident where the boss wrote down what he wanted, signed it, and later complained that when I finished the task it wasn’t what he meant. Time to go

By: K. Akita: Kakamigahara, Japan

K. Akita: Kakamigahara, Japan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:51:58 +0000

I am glad to read some people commenting that they have been striving to live confidently on their own feet, in pite of hardships, to protet theirselves and their loved ones.
To be honest, I’m not a tough person. In fact,I often sank in self-pity mood. But we can’t protect ourselves and our loved ones while whining. So I pretend to be tough. Alice is tough and mighty, and doesn’t care being hated. I envy her, but can’t be like her. So I try to be more tactical. Hence the importance of cool head. But a warm heart is no less important.

By: Eveline S., Brussels, Belgium

Eveline S., Brussels, Belgium — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:14:54 +0000

Great article, find it all very true, should be sent to all our bosses….

By: Maria Eldrick, Hong Kong

Maria Eldrick, Hong Kong — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:05:35 +0000

Annie, thank you. Your articles always come to my mailbox at such great timing. Through the years, Dilbert is therapy for me. Yes I have just joined the statistics of the unemployed. My boss told me that my work can be done by someone else. I find that extremely ironic when it took them months to source a person with the right skill set. I have been relocated from another country to fit the bill.
Anyway, I am pleasantly surprised by how at peace I am about all this. As T. Segerson puts it, this might really be the best thing that ever happened. For my equally laid-off colleagues around the world – I say, hang in there, be positive, be confident!

By: Jenny, Cincinnati Ohio

Jenny, Cincinnati Ohio — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:49:56 +0000

Scott Adams totally rocks. Always has and always will. His cartoons and his blog accurately depict what I see & hear from my desk every day. I cannot tell you how many times something utterly stupid has happened and I have thought, “I saw that on Dilbert!!” I work for the biggest bunch of blithering, insufferable idiots you ever heard of, but they pay well and provide health insurance so here I sit for my 12th year. It’s a trade-off, like everything else. I’m not happy, I’m not unhappy… but I am in disbelief on a daily basis.

By: Jean Sica-Lieber, Rochester, NY

Jean Sica-Lieber, Rochester, NY — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:46:28 +0000

I always enjoy Dilbert, but I must comment on something the cartoonist said which is completely opposite from what’s going on in my company. Adams said companies that are doing well, treat their people well. This isn’t the case here. In fact, my company is doing so well, they think they can treat us any which way they want. In fact, they’re doing so well that they want to do even BETTER! So they’re moving jobs overseas and taking them from Americans. This company is extremely profitable and has been lauded by many for it’s profit margin. But that’s not enough. Talk about GREED!

By: gt in Kansas City, MO

gt in Kansas City, MO — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:41:48 +0000

real time layoff headlines, it’s not pretty.

http://www.layoffdaily.com

By: Mr. Page, San Antonio, Texas

Mr. Page, San Antonio, Texas — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:51:07 +0000

I bought Dilbert Principle in June 1997 and I love reading Dilbert’s comic strips in newspapers.

I came to U.S. in 1998 (from a developing SE Asian country) as an ERP (SAP) Consultant with great pay. I was so happy travelling and learning new things on every project I take back then and I get commendations from my clients for exemplary performance. My skills and market value went up after every project. I did this for 6 years until I joined a great company here in Texas. I quit consulting because my kids are growing fast (now 13 and 7) and I need to spend more time with them and my wife. I now work for one of the best company to work for (oil and gas) as Sr. I/S Specialist and I get above industry standard pay check. But the recent reorganization deprived me of what I love doing most and I’m stuck to doing production support. I’m not happy. But I’m always optimistic and continue to find new things to learn and make the best out of what I’m into. Coming from the 3rd world, whining never existed in our vocabulary. Saving money and spending what we can only afford (without any debt) is our way of life. We try to make the best out of the current situation (good or bad). In my world, failures are opportunities to get better.

I hold on to my current job because of the current economic crisis and my family’s needs. But I also continue to find new opportunities (non-consulting and no travel) even with lower pay just to do the things I (used to) love as a Consultant.

I completely agree with Scott Adams. Flexibility, learning new things and family time are far more important things than money. In addition, tele-commuting will be great.

Thank you for this opportunity.

By: mike morger, loveland, ohio

mike morger, loveland, ohio — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:41:15 +0000

Over 25 years ago, in the depth of a earlier recession, I came up with the notion of ‘boss diversity’ too. I left corporate life, for the freedom & risks of self-employment, and it is the best decision I ever made about worklife. I work harder than most everyone I know, but I enjoy great rewards, and I have been fired by only a couple of ‘bosses’ through the years, but I have always managed to replace them with better ‘bosses’ (AKA clients) for whom to work.

By: K. Akita: Kakamigahara, Japan

K. Akita: Kakamigahara, Japan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:19:30 +0000

It’s no use whining.
What Dilbert teaches us is that life is cruel, and we should laugh while fighting back against mean and stupid bosses.
I am ready to fight with only an underpants worn, as Dilbert often does.
Those who whine, in my view, have been belileving what must not be trusted on. Those in power have been telling us to take responsibility for whatever fall upon us, be it what has been the result of their irresponsible condcuts. In such an upside-down society, what would you believe in?
Only in my cool head, I dare say!

By: Sleepless Mike, Fort Worth, TX

Sleepless Mike, Fort Worth, TX — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:54:40 +0000

I was gravitated towards this topic not because I’ve loved Dilbert so much over the years but because I was just fired this week for the first time in my career. I think the problem that I was fired for has to have some kind of record for the LEAST amount of impact caused. The only impact that was truly felt was the impact on the ego of my ex-boss, and it showed because I got to keep my benefits for 2 whole days with no severance. I also reminded him I was still a customer and I demanded that the critical problems he was not handling properly be fixed. The look on his face was very complicated for a second, I’ll take that with me the rest of my life!

I was directly told that all my past performance had to bearing on the matter at hand, I’ve always ‘exceeded expectations’ in all my reviews, had nice bonuses due to performance, and none of that mattered regarding what happened. All this proves to the ones left behind is all the extra heart and soul they put into their jobs like I did is no kind of insurance against rough times as far as the company is concerned. And to quote another iconic media and exploration on the corporate world, this “will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired.”

What matters though, is other people DO pay attention to the good work done over the years. I’ve been humbled by all the positive activity that took place with the firing, I already have job interviews lined up next week because all my other ‘bosses’ over the years who I’ve worked for want me to work with them again. All the other times I’ve left jobs in the past I did not burn the important bridges-all the other relationship opportunities presented by circumstance or as I believe, God.

Thank you for this blog, this has been very therapeutic in these trying times, I think I can go back to sleep now.

By: Dean Massalsky Grosse Ile, MI

Dean Massalsky Grosse Ile, MI — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:09:37 +0000

If we had national health care, I would be willing to guess that 30% of all employed people would go solo, but as it is, most hang on like grim death because great health care coverage is financially out of reach, especially when self employed. Scott Adams is brilliant, Dilbert rings true…Maybe the new administration can help us punt our PHB’s by giving us a PPO on our own.

By: Ricardo Gouvea, Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Ricardo Gouvea, Rio de Janeiro Brazil — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:51:16 +0000

Probably Dilbert did not worked in a company that puts customers and employees in first place. Some companies do it and prosper more than the others.

By: June Cheatwood, Virginia Beach, VA

June Cheatwood, Virginia Beach, VA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:09:47 +0000

I am one who agrees that other things can mean more than money in a career. Example: I once worked for a cancer researcher — an M.D. — who obtained grant money then squandered it on his yachts, etc., and though he paid more than anyone else there was nothing for me to do. Zilch. He was never there. I nearly went crazy from boredom, plus utter disgust with this criminal. The only “work” he gave me was to lie about what he was doing and, especially, to look busy if I heard anyone coming down the hall. I quit in spite of the pay. Any ethical person would have.

By: Kevin Twine, South Orange, NJ

Kevin Twine, South Orange, NJ — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:25:44 +0000

Getting lots of bosses and being independent would be great – if we didn’t need health insurance.

By: san jose california

san jose california — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:13:41 +0000

dilbert is skeptical about green economy saying it may not be next big thing for economic recovery.
In my opinion the point of green economy is to save this world from global warming and creating much needed energy independence.
Green economy is the need of hour, need is mother of invention, innovation will happen if govt persue this need. As a result jobs will be created and impact enonomy in positive way in next 5-10 years when it will becomes main stream.

By: Paul, Miami, FL.

Paul, Miami, FL. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:10:20 +0000

Artur Koestler and Scott Adams knew some of the same people. The major difference was the jacketing system.

It turned out poorly for Rubashov, the true believer. Hopefully, it will turn out much better for Dilbert.