December 4, 2010
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When an immovable object meets…
Another interesting week in the life of the female roofer.
Last week, as we were driving to KY I was knitting. Now My Dr insists that I do things to remove stress so for awhile when I was unable to work out at all, I would knit. I am not very good but have gotten a scarf or two that I am proud of. I had such a rough week leading up to Thanksgiving that I brought my knitting for the drive. Usually I knit and relax but not this time. I could not get the idea of how I was stabbed in the back over the big bid out of my head and I began knitting the stitches so tight I could barely continue. I decided it was time for me to make a move.
So Monday I called in to my office a vendor that I have not spoken with in seven years. The same vendor that I think played the ultimate hand in having a big job taken from me. I made it painful for him to be in my office and wanted to discuss our “relationship”. I was tough, intimidating and he did in a backhanded way, admit some things that I suspected. I essentially threatened the relationship. You see we have done a great job by them but they have not done a good job by us at ALL. They have actively discriminated against us.
By mid week the word was on the street that I had expressed my discomfort and I spoke to a mutual colleague about it. He followed up with the vendor, reiterating that I was unhappy and that we could build a bridge and it was the correct thing to do.
By Thursday it appeared that we would be doing two large projects with this manufacuters product in Q1 of next year. Like clockwork after the bid opening, I got a phone call denying that was the reason for the call but to invite me to lunch. Now ever time I speak to this guy, my bullshit meter gets pegged. Therefore I am hunker down and become the immovable object. We set up a lunch for Monday. By Friday I got cc:ed on an email telling me where and when lunch was. Yep, same bullshit pattern of not listening to me or thinking to ask me at all. So I countered with where my team would be and when.
This week started with me wondering about my hand and ended with the realization that I have picked up a pair of aces. Monday, I plan to use them. I want something ~ I want for him to sweeten the pot on upcoming work. He hasn’t listened to me in seven years, lets see if he is finally smart enough to pay attention.
