My favourite when they come to your desk...
"Ah, I see the f..k up fairy has come to visit"
(Apologies for profanity)
:-)
- Rachel Carmichael <wisernet100_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
> Paula,
>
> It just takes practice. You can learn to say no. I
> did. You just have
> to work up to it :)
>
> You start with:
>
> "If I do that for you now, I will fall behind x days
> on the critical
> project I am working on for you"
>
> move on to:
>
> "I'm sorry. I have too much to do"
>
> then to:
>
> "not gonna happen"
>
> and finally, either of the following:
>
> "what part of the word NO don't you understand?"
>
> or (my personal favorite)
>
> "failure to plan on your part does not constitute an
> emergency on mine"
>
>
> Try it, you'll like it
>
>
>
> --- Paula_Stankus_at_doh.state.fl.us wrote:
> > Hmmmm. How come I always seem to be the DBA who
> can't say no - you
> > don't
> > seem to have that problem at all.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 3:58 PM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> >
> >
> >
> > The phone rings. Another user. Still pissed off,
> I pick it up...
> >
> > "Database Administration, can I help you?" I
> answer professionally.
> >
> > Troubled silence on the phone. Politeness is a
> very bad signal from
> > me and
> > they know it. He was rattled.
> >
> > "Uh, hi, this is Joe, technical lead on that
> super-critical project
> > for
> > Benefits? Is this a good time? I have some stuff
> I need moved to
> > production?"
> >
> > The last was a statement, but it came out like a
> question. With a
> > slight
> > quaver in the voice, too. Excellent. Technical
> lead my arse.
> >
> > "Could you be more specific so I can schedule you
> appropriately?"
> >
> > He hesitated. Gosh, I sounded for real. I almost
> convinced myself.
> > The
> > victim approached warily.
> >
> > "I've got a bunch of PL/SQL packages and some
> outlines to speed up
> > the
> > queries with special hints. The scripts are all
> ready for your
> > review, they
> > include the create statements, the grants,
> everything. I'm
> > forwarding the
> > email package to you with signoffs from IT, the
> user department, and
> > your
> > own from reviewing our design and test results".
> This last was
> > delivered
> > with almost pathetic eagerness. Good boy. Good,
> simple, foolish
> > boy.
> >
> > If he could see me he'd be terrified by my grin.
> "Joe, I need you to
> > help
> > me out. You've just given me 10 minutes of work,
> but I'm due for
> > lunch in 5
> > minutes. What do you suggest I do?"
> >
> > Joe knew better, he really did. But his team had
> been up all night
> > finishing and the prize was so close...
> >
> > "Look, I really hate to impose. But we've missed
> several major
> > deadlines,
> > and department head has made it clear if we screw
> up again he'll
> > outsource
> > the whole project and have us laid off. I need it
> now so we can make
> > sure
> > everything's perfect for the big production run at
> COB today".
> >
> > "Consider it done," I promised cheerfully and
> hung up. I surprised
> > him,
> > and maybe myself, with my good spirits.
> Especially since I was more
> > than 5
> > minutes late, closer to fifteen, and my buddies
> were already into
> > their
> > second beer when I joined them for lunch. But the
> extra 10 minutes
> > had been
> > well worth it considering what I managed to do to
> those hints with
> > the
> > outline editor. Just the same, though, I turned
> off my cell phone in
> > case
> > the twit called to find out why his 5-second
> queries took almost an
> > hour.
> > Can't have him taking me for granted, can I?
> >
> > Later that evening, after quaffing several (all
> right, numerous) more
> > ales
> > with the boys, I dialed in from home to check how
> things were going.
> > Mr.
> > Tech Lead was still logged in, no doubt
> desperately trying to
> > determine why
> > things were taking forever. Poor Mr. Tech Lead,
> another sleepless
> > night. I
> > logged off, turned out the light, and slept like a
> baby.
> >
> > Next morning, hangover. The phone rings. I
> snatch it up angrily...
> > --
> > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ:
> http://www.orafaq.com
> > --
> > Author: Conboy, Jim
> > INET: Jim.Conboy_at_trw.com
> >
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> __________________________________________________
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> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ:
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> Author: Rachel Carmichael
> INET: wisernet100_at_yahoo.com
>
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Received on Tue Oct 01 2002 - 09:38:20 CDT
