I have a meeting scheduled with the President of the company this morning. I’m not exactly sure what he wants to say. The subject of meeting together came up when he asked me to write another article under his name this week, and I told him I wasn’t comfortable doing so any longer.

I have written somewhere between 6-10 articles which he has claimed total credit for so that he can appear to be an expert on a particular website that offers tips and advice from the experts. It’s a good marketing tool to be found there, but it’s also dishonest to get all the credit when your staff is doing the work.

What he doesn’t realize is that most companies expect CEOs to be full of shit. The top dogs of a company are largely there for show and to handle only the most top level issues. They aren’t experts at the services the company provides. Not even close. But our President thinks he can continue this illusion (while claiming transparency as one of his primary characteristics) forever.

Once I made a stand a few days ago and told him it was dishonest for me to write his article, he said, “I thought you might “feel” that way (why the hell are my feelings in quotes?). I was hoping to talk with you today, but since you’re out of the office, when are you available?”

So we scheduled this meeting, and I’m not sure why. He can’t talk me into writing his article. That’s just not going to happen. There are many reasons: 1) It’s dishonest and unethical; 2) It insults me to be asked to make him look good when he refuses to offer raises or give any of his employees credit; 3) It insults me that he has actually believed that I am stupid enough not to know how I am being insulted.

He must think I am a moron (although I write, speak, and generally communicate with more precision than he does). The fact that I have a laundry list of complaints against him just waiting to be voiced is proof that I am not a buffoon and that I have been able to exercise restraint.

For the record, I am venting here so I won’t feel the need to in my meeting. If he gets personal or accusatory, I have more than enough ammunition. But I intend on going in there and sticking to only the most professional and objective points.

I’ll let you know what happens.

For the two years I spent trapped in a cubicle, I dreamed of working from home. It was the answer to all life’s problems. It was the holy grail. Until I got my wish, that is.

Two months into working from home, I was bored and lonely and completely unmotivated. I had no one to talk to, no one to laugh with, no one to argue with, and I was miserable. So I ate. And I ate. And I ate some more.

I had also just quit smoking, so eating was already a hobby/substitute. But loneliness has never been a factor so much since junior high.

It’s fair to say that working from home, without adult interaction, is close to equal torture as the office cubicle nightmare. After working from home for a year and a half, I ended up back in an office. I drive an hour each way. I lose two hours a day with the drive and spend more money on gas and lunches.

And yet, I enjoy my life more now than I did when I was all alone. In the past, my wife coming home for lunch was the highlight of my day. The second most exciting daily ritual was the visit from the cat. He’d come to the back door and whine until I let him in. On especially lonely days, I’d go wander by the back door ten or twenty times, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Kitty.

These days, I’m considering a hybrid schedule. What about working from home half the time and the office the other half? A mix of human interaction and work from home convenience? Given the right position, I wouldn’t care about the drive time. Working from home compensates for a cruel boss. Working in the office compensates for talking to yourself. It’s a toss up.

Well, I have next to no respect for him. He’s incompetent, scared, full of resentment, judgmental, uninvolved, and self-absorbed. He does not know what he’s talking about, but he acts like he does. And though I may regret it later, I just felt the need to say that I have no respect for the man.

I don’t hate him, because he’s not that kind of guy (or I’m not). But I am sorely disappointed. I am disappointed and I pity his pathetic way of hanging his head like a whipped puppy dog. It’s not my fault that he can’t sell to save his life. It’s not my fault he undervalues every employee except the big stupid one (and the stuttering yes man who just turned in his notice).

I wanted this company to work. I wanted it to work out. But the leadership sets the tone, and the leadership has effectively said, “F%#@ you, lowly employees!” So there you have it.

I want him to grow and succeed. I want him to learn how to be a better man, and find some peace and joy in his life. I want him to be a good husband and father. I want him to have his heart’s desires met. Yeah, I care about him. That’s why he pisses me off so much.

Play the victim, be the victim.

Today began extremely well. It went Starbucks well. It goes without saying that a day beginning with Starbucks is a day worth remembering. Lunch was enjoyable. I spent my lunch hour writing a blog at a new cafe. Returning to work was the first mistake. Little did I know that I would return to an email inbox full of assignments all due tomorrow - and the person assigning them is nowhere close to being my boss.

My temper flared hot instantly. It was all I could do to compose myself and write a professional sounding email response. Now that the day is over and I have some distance, I realize that my anger was fueled by my fear. These 8 assignments due within 24 hours which, I forgot to mention, were originally assigned to other people who failed to accomplish them. I had completed all of my assignments for this project and everyone else was behind schedule. When I saw those emails, the first thought in my mind was how everyone would now blame me if the project wasn’t completed on time. The injustice of that scenario caused immediate panic which led to explosive anger.

When everything you do for an employer is at best met with a “Good job! Too bad you still suck at that, that and that,” you tend to feel a bit defensive. While some other employees have received praise from the big man, he feels the need to temper his compliments to me with criticisms. I love the fairness of it all.

After a good half hour venting session with my immediate manager, I felt much better for being heard. It means a lot for someone to listen, understand, and sympathize. Obviously, we’d all like for that someone to not only sympathize but work on our behalf as well. While that would be nice, I’m not holding my breath. I don’t expect anyone at work to be on my side when it really counts. They come to me to take, not to give. Nobody ever comes to give.

Despite that, I feel much better now, having vented at work in a positive manner. My manager is actually a really good guy. He is willing to listen without judging. But even if you don’t have that manager who makes you feel understood, conflict at work should be mandatory. Forget all the political correctness and posturing. Conflict is what happens when real people are honest. Conflict resolution is what happens when those same people want to understand and resolve differences so that everyone enjoys their role in the company.

It is my firm conviction that workplace conflict is a lost artform in desperate need of a renaissance. Perhaps I should start a movement.