When the initial thought of a possible transfer enters one’s mind it seems like a lovely idea. Almost comforting. Seemingly inspiring to think of doing something different or something better, somewhere else at your company, or making the leap to a whole new environment and going to work at a different company or facility entirely. Even thinking about making a transfer can produce feelings of excitement and anticipation. But not like in the article “Assimilate or Terminate” because that is a BAD form of anticipation. Transfers are most usually initially GOOD anticipation by the employee. You will definitely know the difference when you get there - Shew! 2 Waaaay different forms of anticipation! This excitement may actually even be realized and lived if you can manage to make the transfer happen. If you can manage to “achieve transfer”. THAT can be the hard part.
When I started writing this article earlier this week I kept thinking “Transfer…hhhmmmmmm….trans…..fer….transfer, transfeeeeer, traaaaaans-fer.” I came up with this.
Admittedly, I am a “word junkie”, so I broke the word down. Prefix and suffix. Trans means “Across”. Ok - great. It was the second part of the word that was giving me trouble until one day, when we were running our butts off for an extremely ungrateful “boss” a while back, a co-worker said something to the extent of “What? And leave all of this?”(A la’ Laura San Giacomo, in Pretty Woman) She was essentially asking WHY would she leave this area? WHY would she leave this work environment? I remembered her comment. It kept burning through my brain while writing this article and while I was chewing up and digesting the word “Transfer”.
Then it came to me! Trans = Across and “Fer” must = Fer any dang reason we want! We each have our own experiences and our own reasons for wanting to make a transfer and therefore they are our reasons and probably won’t matter to anyone else. They truly need not be shared or understood by anyone but the owner. Excited at my epiphany I grabbed the dictionary (- yes, a paper one! HA!) I was onto something and needed more input!
The first definition says: transfer - a ticket, as in “Hey! This is my ticket outta here!”
The second definition says: transfer - variation; substitution; alteration; see change or shift. As in, “Oh, are you thinking about making a variation or alteration in your professional life? You think we need to go about hiring a substitution for your current position so you can make a shift or a change?” If this is a workplace Terminator thinking this, your attempts to fly below the radar and “achieve transfer” have been spotted on radar. Make sure your chute is packed and you have rations. You could be behind enemy lines. Buddies may be coming to help - maybe not. Too early to tell.
The third definition says: transfer - a document providing for a transfer; orders, instructions, assignment; see command; directions. This definition sooooo fits if you must carefully and non-threateningly, ask your current “boss” for the tools to “achieve transfer”. Yes, there are special tools. It is the delivery of the request for those tools that can be akward.
You calmly state, ”I would like you to provide me a document to “achieve transfer”, please.” You are simply saying “I would like to go “across” to somewhere else ”fer” well,,,,fer to be performing different work.” You are not acting threateningly, you are unarmed and until now have never been considered dangerous to this person. However, what the person listening to the request for their assistance to “achieve transfer” ot the tools to “achieve transfer”…. ie….the transfer document actually hears this, “Hey there “boss”…yea…uuuuhm, I do not want to follow your orders or instructions any longer and I uuuuhhmmmm,,,,no longer want to be assigned to you. Yea,,,,,and I really no longer wish to take your commands or directions.” This may not be too far off from truth, but most of us don’t ever say it! We ask for the transfer document and may dutifully continue to perform our current jobs until we “achieve transfer”. When we are satisfied that we have, yes, “achieved transfer” we hope to be joyfully rewarded, relaxed, rejuvinated and happily working towards and achieving even bigger, better transfers in the times to come!
Yep, maybe, but did you even get the transfer document yet? Did the “boss” say she or he would get back with you? Ask “when?” You may have to request multiple times and have trouble achieving the satisfaction the tools, one being the transfer document, can provide. The familiar comment “when hell freezes over” rings true in your heart and mind. You become dissatisfied and unfulfilled.
Like the sexual metaphors I love using, you can bet that to some folks, attempting to “achieve transfer” is a sin. To some people it is a big sin to want to strive for bigger, better, stronger, higher and for more. I say to those who would thwart our attempt to “achieve transfer”, “Do not lay your uptight, unachieved baggage on those of us who don’t’ want to travel in your negative thought process of life!” For these poor disgruntled people, definition four has a special meaning of the word “Transfer”.
Definition four says: transfer - Relocation; transferal; removal; transference; change of residence. Ok, that’s a little scary. As in, if the person you are transferring from is threatened by your wanting to “achieve transfer” and thinks, “Oooooh a wise guy – eh? A transferal-type – eeeh? Yea buddy… we’ll get you some transference. In fact, we can arrange for your total removal and even a relocation or change of residence!” Now where did all that come from? Those poor miserable people who pathetically relate to definition four.
Geez-criminy! We just want the opportunity to improve ourselves and do something different! Stop using this as an excuse to eye-ball us, think us unworthy, find reasons to berrate or belittle our progress to make greener pastures, or make the opportunity for greener pastures unobtainable for us. This is a person’s future being negatively affected and rudely interrupted. We all have a future. We all want a good and promising future. This is an admirable goal. We should all have the opportunity to “achieve transfer” and reach some sort of human satisfaction in our work lives. 40 hours + per week doing the same-o, being the same-o, dressing the same-o, just barely recognizing yourself by the time you have even thought of making a change and then working to create a newer brighter future for yourself is a grand recipe. And a grand recipe that many outside cooks may plan to spoil for you, by employing definitions that do not suite you and are not accurate.
In wrapping things up, let me proudly state here and now, ”We are are all Trans-fer-rable”. By that, I give you the following definition to wrap your head around. The definition of Transferrable says: negotiable, transmittable, interchangeable, exchangeable, assignable, re-locatable, movable, conductible, able to be re-stationed, able to be modified and, finally, transplantable. It does not state the prefix “non-“ with ANY of these words because be a person who longs to be all of these things or “aspires to achieve transfer” truly IS every one of these fine descriptive words!And most likely more. Which is probably a big reason they want you to stay. Good for them. Bad for you. Go and grow.
Do not let those who have the idea that “achieving transfer” is a sin; deny you what is rightfully yours. Do not let them convey any of the wrong ideas that “achieving transfer” is bad for you, can make things worse for you or may hurt you. And unlike what your mothers may have told you, you will not go blind! This is for you to decide and to proceed as you see fit. Continue to search out your adventure for your life in your workplace. Strive for more. Go for bigger, better and different if that is your desire. Desire is good! Achieving transfer is good! So do not stop if it is the way for you to continue down a successful career, no matter what that career is. It is yours! Make it what you can and will.
In your attempts to “achieve transfer” may you then be Transferred. Transfixed. And absolutely and most positively Transformed. And rewarded in the most wonderful ways imaginable, until you are satisfied.
Thanks so much once again for reading. I’ll be back with more soon. A big ol’ Thanks and Saaaalute! for the actual vote. Wow! I am humbled and grateful. I will put a pic up soon -K? :o)
apbeilach 2/21/2009
