Apathy is Failure

I had a manager once who I knew had quit on the job. It was when I was just getting started on my time in the Navy, and I was at A school (the school where I learned how to do my job) in Pensacola, Florida. I spent 2 weeks working in the mess hall (cafeteria) as a counter. I stood there all day, clicking a clicker, counting the people who walked into our mess hall.

I had a supervisor who told me he was on the road. I’d never heard that term before, so he was kind enough to explain it to me.

Retired On Active Duty  – R.O.A.D.

He meant though he was still collecting a paycheck, he was done working hard. His goal was to get me and my colleagues to do as much work as possible, or actually, just enough work so he didn’t have to do anything over.

This lesson has stuck with me ever since. And this was in the fall of 1992.

I knew right then I would never quit on my team or the folks who are paying me. I don’t mean quit like leaving the job. I mean quitting and staying and collecting a paycheck for doing nothing.

I will work as hard as I can for as long as I can, and when I don’t care anymore, I will not phone it in.

I will just quit and turn in my security card and go home.

As a manager, when you stop caring, you are a failure.

Apathy is failure.

Road sign photo credit