Marketing Me! What to do about the gold brick at work?

Your know the gold brick.

Maybe he is the guy the boss spoon feeds sales leads to and helps close every deal.

Maybe he is the guy who goes to meetings, blabs his big mouth off, but has never successfully launched a product. Yet you just found out he is going to be managing your next project because everyone else thinks he is sooo charming.

Or perhaps he is the stellar non-performer who plays a mean game of golf with the boss and now has that cushy corner office while you linger in cubeville?

Okay, so what to do?

The fast answer is leave. Find another job and get away from a company which promotes this type of loser.

The medium answer is to deal with the problem by ignoring him and hoping he does not affect you too much.

The long term answer is to out do this yahoo and show him or her up at every opportunity. Remember, the gold brick bum does not work, does not like to work and rarely produces anything. Use this to your advantage.

Also... make your own alliances. Be it with the HR staff, the support team or operations people. Build your own army of rabid followers within the organization but outside of your own team.

Finally, keep your emotions in check. Gold bricks love people who lose their cool and make wild claims. The gold brick will roll his eyes and turn to your boss with some sarcastic remark about your behavior.

Most of all, keep building your network and fan base outside of the company with your clients, peers and competitors. Nothing is permanent but success!

The world of ex-bosses

I ran into my ex-boss the other day.

Let me preface, I hate the idea of having a boss and having a boss matter.

I work in sales. I basically work for myself. The boss's role is to pay the bills (including me), okay my expense reports and keep Operations off my back.

Back on track - I ran into my ex-boss the other day.

I was having a conversation with a friend at a networking event when he appeared out of nowhere.

"How you are you?" he butts in.

I am fine. I shake is hand and grab his opposite shoulder and shake real hard.

"What are you doing? Looking for work?" (and he is serious, too).

No, I am the director of sales at company x, doing fine, how about you...

"What do you do there? Are you actually selling anything?" (This guy is great!).

Yes, selling lots, top sales in company, great team, etc.

"Huh. Oh well.. " he mutters and wanders away to bug someone else.

Great guy and a great personality.

ex-bosses. Sheesh.