This week’s Work article of Word is by a Kinko’s employee and it’s quite neat. This woman, Natasha Werther, talks about how she used to be a teacher and how she likes this job better. There are two things she mentions that I found particularly interesting.

One is how, even when we grow up, we’re put through tests and situation that make us fell like children. Like, in their case, they had to take this psychological exam as part of their application and then they had to take classes and exams while employed there. Also, she mentions the mystery shoppers and how the managers praise people in public and how no one wants to not have done well cause everyone will know about it. It’s funny how we always want people to think well of us and how desperate we are to please.

While it’s possible that Kinko’s does more of this than other firms, most large companies do treat their employees like children. They make you take tests or go through training about the company’s culture. I find it quite interesting that when you’re a kid, you look forward to a time when your words will not be overridden by adults and then you grow up and, in some ways, act even more childish than you ever did before. For example, the reason we have subjects like ‘Is he approachable?’ in our yearly feedback forms is because as they grow up, people become more judgmental and start segregating people. Whereas a kid who’s never been told that someone is less important than he is would never know to make such a differentiation. Which then becomes the reason to treat these so-called adults like children. Therein lies the irony of the entire thing.

Another interesting point she makes is about how her job has resolutions as opposed to everything else in life. She mentions teaching and marriage as examples. I think this is one of the reasons I like programming so much. When my code works, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. The same goes for the 3-D graphics I do. Immediate feedback and a sense of completion. (Tho both in art and programming, you can always tweak things to be more perfect.) I get the same feeling when I finish a book. While I’m sad it’s over, I feel fulfilled. In a world where we have no way of fixing or changing many things, it feels good to have something completed.

Go read the word article, I think you might find it interesting, too. Let me know what you thought of it.

Btw, I remember when word had that three-eyed smiley and I used to love it. I wish they brought it back. Even though they have some really neat layouts and effects, I miss the little smiley dude.