Suffering at Work
Sometimes we suffer at work. Suffering is part of life in this vale of tears; we Catholics all know, or should know that. Some of us suffer more than others. Let's take a few minutes to look at an example of the sort of suffering that might come to us at work.
Let's say you're in sales and you work for a long time on a selling your products and services to a prospect. At the point that it's time to close the sale, you go to a superior who needs to sign off on some aspect of the deal. The superior rejects your sale; he refuses to sign; he says something like, "It's not the kind of business we want." You're sitting across from him and you're stunned.
"But wait," you say. "How can you say this? I purposely involved Theresa and Tom, who report directly to you. I engaged them at the beginning of the sales process, knowing they would be involved in servicing this prospect if we closed the deal. We've let you know we were working on it. You were aware of the prospect and the sort of business we were going to book with them. How can you say 'It's not the kind of business we want' NOW? What changed your mind now, at the last minute, just as we're about to close the business?" (In the back of your mind you're thinking, "What a moron! What was this guy thinking when he was apprised of the deal's progress for the last six months? Was he paying any attention? Doesn't he understand the time and effort it took to close this business?") You try to express all this in more polite, professional language. (After all, he is your superior and you do need his approval for the deal to go through.) He just looks at you, and refuses to engage. His mind is made up. He mumbles something like, "I checked out this prospect and just don't think we want to do business with them."
It dawns on you that this sort of business takes work; it will require people to think "outside the box." And this guy has never thought outside a box in his entire life - or at least he hasn't in all the time you've known him. As for Theresa and Tom, it's not their call; they feel sorry for you, but there's nothing they can do.
So you go to your boss, the sales manager. You explain the problem and request that he talk to the moron. He does; he comes back and tells you to forget it. The moron doesn't want to do the business because...and your own boss repeats the lame reasons the moron gave for not wanting to take the business. Again, your stunned.
"But wait," you say. "I had told you all along about this business. You were aware of my efforts. You know that I involved colleagues in a team effort and informed the moron (you don't call him that, of course) all along...." And even as you speak, you see in your bosses face that he's not really listening. But you finish your thoughts because if you don't, you might explode. Your boss ends the conversation by mumbling something like: "Just move on to the next prospect and stop dwelling on this."
After your fury cools, it sinks in that you spent a huge portion of your time on this deal - indeed, it was an enormous effort. You needed the commission - and it would have been substantial. Not only that, but the time you put into this meant you didn't spend time cultivating other deals; you just didn't have time. You knew the risk, but that's why you involved other colleagues and kept everyone informed at every step of the way. Your plan was well thought out: they could have nixed the deal at any stage and you could have "moved on." In other words, you did everything right and the risk you took, while a calculated risk, was prudent.
Now what? No money; maybe even a threat to your keeping your job, as you know you won't meet your quota - probably not even get close this quarter. Indeed, you were struggling before this, and this deal would have set everything straight. Now you're anxious, even as the fury subsides. You pray, but the anxiety builds. So you go to church and pray; you light candles; the anxiety builds.
If you've ever experienced anything like this, you know that this can be a pretty strong source of suffering. The anxiety of not making money, of maybe losing your job, the anger at the injustice of these oblivious bosses not doing their jobs and making proper evaluations, essentially misleading you all along.
It can be - indeed probably would be - devastating. Despondency, even despair, can literally wash over you, overwhelm you, even challenge your faith.
Let's say you're in sales and you work for a long time on a selling your products and services to a prospect. At the point that it's time to close the sale, you go to a superior who needs to sign off on some aspect of the deal. The superior rejects your sale; he refuses to sign; he says something like, "It's not the kind of business we want." You're sitting across from him and you're stunned.
"But wait," you say. "How can you say this? I purposely involved Theresa and Tom, who report directly to you. I engaged them at the beginning of the sales process, knowing they would be involved in servicing this prospect if we closed the deal. We've let you know we were working on it. You were aware of the prospect and the sort of business we were going to book with them. How can you say 'It's not the kind of business we want' NOW? What changed your mind now, at the last minute, just as we're about to close the business?" (In the back of your mind you're thinking, "What a moron! What was this guy thinking when he was apprised of the deal's progress for the last six months? Was he paying any attention? Doesn't he understand the time and effort it took to close this business?") You try to express all this in more polite, professional language. (After all, he is your superior and you do need his approval for the deal to go through.) He just looks at you, and refuses to engage. His mind is made up. He mumbles something like, "I checked out this prospect and just don't think we want to do business with them."
It dawns on you that this sort of business takes work; it will require people to think "outside the box." And this guy has never thought outside a box in his entire life - or at least he hasn't in all the time you've known him. As for Theresa and Tom, it's not their call; they feel sorry for you, but there's nothing they can do.
So you go to your boss, the sales manager. You explain the problem and request that he talk to the moron. He does; he comes back and tells you to forget it. The moron doesn't want to do the business because...and your own boss repeats the lame reasons the moron gave for not wanting to take the business. Again, your stunned.
"But wait," you say. "I had told you all along about this business. You were aware of my efforts. You know that I involved colleagues in a team effort and informed the moron (you don't call him that, of course) all along...." And even as you speak, you see in your bosses face that he's not really listening. But you finish your thoughts because if you don't, you might explode. Your boss ends the conversation by mumbling something like: "Just move on to the next prospect and stop dwelling on this."
After your fury cools, it sinks in that you spent a huge portion of your time on this deal - indeed, it was an enormous effort. You needed the commission - and it would have been substantial. Not only that, but the time you put into this meant you didn't spend time cultivating other deals; you just didn't have time. You knew the risk, but that's why you involved other colleagues and kept everyone informed at every step of the way. Your plan was well thought out: they could have nixed the deal at any stage and you could have "moved on." In other words, you did everything right and the risk you took, while a calculated risk, was prudent.
Now what? No money; maybe even a threat to your keeping your job, as you know you won't meet your quota - probably not even get close this quarter. Indeed, you were struggling before this, and this deal would have set everything straight. Now you're anxious, even as the fury subsides. You pray, but the anxiety builds. So you go to church and pray; you light candles; the anxiety builds.
If you've ever experienced anything like this, you know that this can be a pretty strong source of suffering. The anxiety of not making money, of maybe losing your job, the anger at the injustice of these oblivious bosses not doing their jobs and making proper evaluations, essentially misleading you all along.
It can be - indeed probably would be - devastating. Despondency, even despair, can literally wash over you, overwhelm you, even challenge your faith.
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