I'm not big on needing people.
Self-sufficient, independent, aloof - call it whatever you like - that's me. I know that I can always count on myself. And sometimes I can count on others, but mostly it's me who gets the job done. Throw me into a work-related scenario and the words "self-starter" and "anticipatory" get added to the abovementioned list. Basically, I need very little coaching or hand-holding; I know what needs to be done and I do it.
Now let's talk about that good ol' Squeaky Wheel - the whiner, complainer, and all around assistance-sucking vacuum that exists in every work arena. This person (or, if you're hideously lucky, there may be more than one) is like that bad kid in your elementary school class; he/she takes up most of the teacher's time with his/her antics and deprives the other children of attention. (Who has time to congratulate the spelling bee winner when Snotface McGee has set fire to the blackboard erasers again?) The workplace Squeaky Wheel rolls around and makes a lot of noise - complaints about his pay or his latest assignment - until someone greases him down... and makes you exceedingly jealous in the process because you may feel like complaining too, but you're keeping your mouth shut and "doing your job."
As you might have guessed, I'm not a Squeaky Wheel. I, in fact, am a Painfully Silent Wheel. Some might even call me Martyr Wheel - give me the biggest, heaviest cart and I'll carry it forever. I don't ask for help and I generally don't need it. But what I do need - like everyone else - is to be appreciated. And while that Squeaky Wheel is squeaking away, it seems as though there's hardly a glance given to the rest of the wheels on the cart. Eventually, even the strongest wheels wear down if you don't check them over from time to time.
So, the moral, I guess, is to squeak once in awhile - even if you feel silly doing it. Me, I'm off to set fire to some blackboard erasers!
