I bet I can guess what the subject of the next email I receive from this list will be!
-----Original Message----- From: Parrett, Sue [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 3:04 PM To: Exchange Discussions Subject: RE: Shortcuts to Outlook objects According to Merriam-Webster, profession and trade are synonyms: Entry Word: profession Function: noun Text: Synonyms TRADE 1, art, calling, craft, handicraft, metier, vocation Seriously, Greg, if you are so disgusted with this profession, why are you still doing it? -----Original Message----- From: Greg Deckler [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 12:45 PM To: Exchange Discussions Subject: RE: Shortcuts to Outlook objects Man. It does not matter how you view yourself, it is a matter of how others perceive you. Military, doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. are held in much higher regard in society than the "computer guy". Why? The reason this is the case is because these are viewed as professions whereas the computer industry is viewed as a trade. Actually, it really makes no sense to discuss this anymore. Profession vs. trade, go look it up and then compare IT to the other professions I have mentioned. Look at the real differences between these industries. Open your mind a little bit and really look. There are stark differences. The problem is, until the IT industry gets over its fascination with vendors and products (tools). For example, take a hematologist. A hematologist is a specialist in the process of taking blood. A hematoligist is NOT a specialist in this or that needle or syringe. By being a specialist in the PROCESS, they automatically have to be specialists in the tools of their profession. It is a completely different paradigm. Look at how long the IT industry has been around, only several decades. Doctors, lawyers, engineering, etc. have been around for centuries. Who do you think has things figured out, us or them? If we ever want the IT industry to be considered a profession on par with other professions, then we need to take steps to emulate those other professions. Chief among these is getting rid of this fascination with vendors and tools. It is idiotic. You get certified in a tool and a year later that cert is worthless. How about getting certified in "email migrations", a process? Learn the process, don't learn the tool. By learning the process, you by definition must learn the tools in order to execute the process. Well, I guess this problem really is systemic to the IT industry and there is quite likely no hope. In a century or two, maybe the IT industry will mature to the point that it can become a true profession. But if this myopia continues, it will never get there. And there are many, many reasons that we, as an industry, should WANT to get there. But until people recognize this issue, we will forever be mired in a trade. > <rant> > > I'm sorry, but I have to finally step in here and add my $.02 worth. > You state and I quote: > > "Go talk to lawyers, doctors and architects...The difference is stark. > In one, drug reps giving away free samples is seen as a huge problem, > in IT it > is not." > > What a crock of $H!T! It is COMMON practice, for drug reps to leave > piles of free samples with every doctor they visit. Doctors are then > able to let > patients try different brands/different types or strengths of > medicines in order to see what works for them, without what can > sometimes be HUGE out-of-pocket expenses to the patient, for a product > that doesn't work for them. It also keeps the doctors from having to > fight with an HMO over paying for a prescription, until such time as > they know for sure which one works. > > As Bill Cosby would say, "Grab a Coke and a smile" and go buy a clue > somewhere. > > IT people can be viewed as a Professionals instead of "craftpeople", anytime > they want by simply following a few simple rules: > 1. Dress professionally. For guys, this means slacks, dress shoes > and a button-down, collared shirt...maybe with a tie. It does NOT > mean raggedy, holey jeans/shorts with stained T-shirts and sandals. > For women, it means slacks, dresses or a professional length skirt > nice blouse and dress shoes. > It does NOT mean mini-skirts, flip-flops, short-shorts and blouses > that expose all their cleavage. > > 2. Know your product, make an INFORMED decision and consider all your > options, before opening your mouth in front of management or outside > of your > own IT group. Your status as a Professional will be greatly enhanced > and your opinions will carry much more weight, if your work and your > advice stand up to the test of time. > > 3. Don't go out partying / socializing in public with your management > or subordinates. Keep work at work and your social life separate. > There is nothing that will damage a person's professional reputation > in the company they work for faster, than to go out and get drunk and > rowdy with their boss > and everyone else in the company. Some of the biggest problems in companies > are caused when former co-workers get promoted up the management > chain, they > still go out partying together and then the subordinates expect > special treatment from their "buddy". > > I have met almost every single one of the people that have taken the > time to > participate in this "discussion." Every single one of them in my > opinion, displays the utmost in Professionalism and represents our > industry VERY well. I could have a discussion about any IT-related > topic I wanted to and > this group of people would be the FIRST ones to propose changes to my > configuration or propose alternate Non-MS related solutions to my > problem. They do what it takes to get the job done. Most of them are > my what I strive to emulate professionally, because they follow the > rules I've outlined above (well, except for Andy. He does tend to get > a tad bit rowdy > now and then...but he's a lot of fun anyway. :0P ) and are respected > by their peers because of it. > > I'd say that if you don't view yourself as a Professional, it's > because of your attitude or because of a shortcoming of your own...not > theirs. > > </rant> > _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
