Coming from nowhere

Last week we hired a temporary worker to help me with some of the paper work issues we face with the ISO/OSHA audits each year. There are several things that we have to do as a large corporation to maintain our ISO/OSHA certifications which allows us to to do work for other large corporations. Sometimes with my shop duties these processes can become overwhelming, and as the company grows the processes do as well.

So, we brought in a temp with the express goal of finding someone who will be able to learn the processes and step into this position full time as a temp to perm over the next six months. The young woman we got last week is a little rough around the edges but seems very bright and is picking up the subject matter well.

So, this morning I was speaking with the regional workshop manager and we were discussing this young woman. Her lack of education is something that our corporation frowns on, which is a nice way of saying that if we actually posted this position and she applied for it she would not even be considered. As we were speaking about her future with the company he brought up the fact that many people given the opportunity can excel, they just need to be given the chance.

Of coarse this is something that I agree with completely and although he and I are at the opposite ends of the political spectrum, like POLAR opposites, we do often find common ground on some issues. Than he cited an example of someone who "came from nowhere", and his example was Condoleeza Rice.

"Condoleeza Rice, ever hear of her, is a good example.
Yea, former National Security Adviser, Barack is a good example as well
"Close, she was the Secretary of State, Barack is not really a good example."
She was NSA before she was SoS, and why not Barack?

-chuckle-

These things always lead to great conversations. He said he disagreed that Obama was a good example and when pressed for why ...

"Well, he did go to Harvard"
Condo went to Standford
"yea, but he was in a private school before that"
so was Condo
"but Barack never really had any other job"
and Condo has?
"well she taught at the college level"
So did Barack
"well ..... Obama care is going to ruin the nation"
Look ... squirrel!

This guy is pretty new here to our company and we are just now getting to know each other on a personal level. Although we have collaborated on several projects we have never spoke of politics or other personal issues until recently, most of the other upper managers know who I am and that I am not afraid to speak my mind when these topics are broached. I just love the look on some of these "conservatives" when they enter into a debate and are challenged on issues, it is like they expect people on the other side to be just uninformed on the issues.

Just makes for fun times on the shop floor talking with a suit.

I do hope this young woman realizes the position she is in and takes advantage of the situation, it really is the chance at a life altering event.