A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I decided to change my tact a couple of years ago. - atagirl

Posted: Aug 26, 2010

I began to realize that my victim mindset was the reason I was being treated so badly professionally and socially. Even when I had a good job and good friends, I ended up sabotaging them.

After wising up a little bit in the School of Hard Knocks, I decided to try something different. I was going to work on my relationships both professionally and personally to see if I could get better results and resist the opportunity to strike back, quit my job, tell people off, and otherwise behave like the spoiled brat I am/was.

The American Dream is over, we have to face that. Corporations rule, and if we are going to survive all this, we have to look at what we dish out to others. We have to rein ourselves in and sometimes even pretend we are happy. Having a good attitude will go far in protecting us in what is happening globally. The MTSOs have a lot of power to make us unhappy, and they have the upper hand right now. That is not going to change for a few years.

I suggest that a better tact is to work on our relationships with them. When/if the economy turns around and the unions are able to institute their plans to organize globally and the playing field becomes more even, then we can push for better. Right now, we just need to survive. I don't expect an immediate solution to the economy, and now they are saying there is a double dip chance of 40%, so we need to dig in for the long haul. P*ssing off all the MTSOs, and jumping from one service to another is not going to help your professional reputation.

Find an MTSO that you can live with and serve them well. Work for their someday good references, and use this time to build a foundation for the future. And if you are one of those lucky enough to still be young--don't put your eggs all in one basket--get other skills under your belt so you have future options.

We must be "wise as serpents, but gentle as doves." Time to be practical, not spoiled. I learned it the hard way.

changing tact - MT35

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Wise words!!

just a little fyi: "changing tack" - friendly help

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Really not trying to be a word nazi, but since this is the second time I've seen it this way now, thought I'd mention it. Comes from sailing terminology, I believe. Like tacking into the wind, changing the tack in order to change direction.

Who knows? You might run across it in transcription some day. :)

you need to read the dictionary sweetie nm - mqmt

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nm

friendly help - is correct

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.

Turns out they are BOTH correct. - Learns something new everyday. sm

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changing tack (idiom)
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/change+tack.html

tact (see definition #2)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tact

So, how is "changing tact" correct? - dictionaried

[ In Reply To ..]
Did the poster go from being tactless to now being tactful? Or vice versa? Is that how you 'change tact'?

tack - see message

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Actually, only tack is correct.

If you check the link you provided (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tact), you will note that it states "tact" is commonly confused with "tack".

LOL - anon

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uh-huh

It is sort of like saying Don't start none won't be none - kind of thing. It is called being a grownup!

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Which we should all already be doing. Some will, some won't, I might! lol

If being a "grownup" means working for squat, then - I"ll choose my "childish" desire for -

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any day, thanks.

(left part of it out) - "desire for a living wage". - Sorry. I guess I just had a finger-fart, there!

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;D

And as long as you act childish, that is how you will be treated. - atagirl

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n/m

it's not childish to want to be treated decently and make a living wage - sm

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There is a lot of "just accept your lot in life" advice out there lately, and it's misguided.

One can be mature AND fight for their right to be treated decently and to make a decent wage. It's unfortunate you think someone who stands up for themselves is automatically "spoiled."

The Suits all think needing a livable amount of pay - amounts to childishness. s/m

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I think having to have a new Lexus every year, or a boat parked in the driveway, or a tennis court in the backyard, or a ski chalet up in Aspen, to flaunt all that easy money and keep up appearances, is childish.

The words "self-centered" come to mind, too.

The big muckdey-mucks of any business, not just MT, who think they can have all that bling and gravy at the cost of their employees, many of whom are on food stamps or in foreclosure, are walking targets for kharma to sneak up behind and stab them in the back.

I just hope I'm around to see it happen.

It's not childish to want to be treated decently.. - earlymusicus

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I agree wholeheartedly that there is NOTHING childish about demanding what should be everyone's right: fair wages and decent treatment. Enough of this "let's all hold hands and play nice together and sing Kumbaya" while the corporations continue to screw workers. It's like saying that Martin Luther King and his followers on the Pettus Bridge should have just smiled at the police attacking them and been nice and rolled over. This isn't Pollyanna Land. There is a war going on to destroy workers and make American workers compete with Third World wages while at the same time having to deal with the high cost of living of a First World nation. Enabling one's abusers does not solve the problem. And it's degrading.

There is a timing to all that. - atagirl

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I am talking about surviving to fight another day. We need to be wise as serpents right now. Now is not the time for fighting the system--you will be crushed because their global aspirations are going to prevail, and in this climate, you will be plowed under.

If you are smart, you will use anything and everything to survive until globalisms equilibrates. Do you think the Indians are just going to sit there and make 3rd world wages forever. I don't think so. They are getting a good taste of what we used to call the American Dream, and they will rise up just like American workers once did.

Now is not the time. We have to be cunning about this and wait it out.

But biding our time is NOT paying our bills. - I need things to change NOW. n/m

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X

I hear you, but it isn't going to happen. - atagirl

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I wished it was. Knowing I brought home paychecks of $2500 twice a month and now I bring home paychecks of $1000 is very disappointing, and I work harder now than I did then. We are in a depression, so we have to live with it until the rich people get through messing with us.

Don't let them drag you down, atagirl. I like your attitude. - MTPockets

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You had to know there would be those on here who would attack you. Some people just live to sharpen their nails on others backs.

I enjoyed your post. It caused me to stop and think about some things I hadn't considered in a long time. It was not sugar coated, it was common sense advice and I appreciated your point of view.

Thanks for posting such a thought provoking post and don't let the negative Nancy's on here get you down.

Agree, Atagirl, with value of adult attitude and - Poppy

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and honest and intelligent adult evaluation. Replacing a fog of confusion and resentment with some understanding of the forces at work is terribly important to weathering these times without our hair falling out from anxiety.

BTW, the other day I heard Robert Reich say he felt the chances were over 50% that we are heading into a double-dip recession cycle. I am also glad I have a job even if I don't have the free time I used to--a problem to deal with when we're all in a better position.

Not to worry, they are all probably too young to realize. s/m - atagirl

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And I can cut them some slack for being there since I haven't realized the better way for that long myself.

They don't realize this is not a critique of wanting a better lifestyle, but rather a look at reality in our nation right now. No amount of jockeying for better pay by whatever means is going to produce the end result without some wisdom on our parts.

My post is simply about being wise. The reactionaries want the good old days to come back, but they aren't going to do that. In our economy, it is every man for themselves, and we have to face that and find our way to survive. The MTSOs are not going to take care of us. That is OUR responsibility, so find a way to survive. We can use the MTSOs, but don't depend on them. And remember that the major corporations are who did this to us when you get to the voting booth.

So what if we have to take our pride down a notch or two to survive. At least we survive to fight another day.

This is about survival, you know--there is no more American dream.

Except for those of us in our 50s and 60s, who need - a change soon, or will grow old on welfare.

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X

I know. I am in my 50s. - atagirl

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Change in the way things are isn't going to happen soon. I understand recovery from this recession could take into the next decade. As they reduce our standard of living, none of us are going to get off free, no matter how we wish. Better to prepare as best we can.

For me, I have my eye on a double-wide Frigidaire box, and I know an unoccupied bridge that I can put it under. I will live in luxury in my golden years, unless it floods.

PS: You won't have to worry about welfare, Social Security, or your retirement savings. s/m - atagirl

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It won't be there when we retire. The republicans tried during the Bush administration, and now the democrats are staging a raid of Social Security.

We need to look at alternatives. I am trying to get my children to only marry people with the last name of Rockefeller.

It might work with ETHICAL employers, but MTSOs - ARENT ethical employers. n/m

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x

In a country where greed is a family value, you won't find "ethical." - atagirl

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But we still gotta work so we can take care of our families.

Greed is destroying America. Im sure that, although - not likely in our lifetimes, but likely -

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those of our children or grandchildren, America will end up being taken over 100% (either by force, or bought out by), some other country.

As The Donald aways says, "It's nothing personal. It's just BUSINESS."

So, I guess we better tell all those grandbabies to study Russian, Hindi, Japanese or Mandarin in school, because it may have to become their first language.

Business never was ethical, was it? Think about the 1920s-30s - Just wondering

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Look at how the rich got really, really rich on the backs of the poor working class. Nothing has changed. Our field is no different. Expecting it to be different is unrealistic. If you can find an ethical field, please write back and let us all know how to get into it.

You've made some good points. Very interesting idea and you may just have the best approach - Thanks for posting

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I can't argue with much that you wrote. I'm not sure that I totally agree that it's bad to switch employers if you find one that meets your needs better. If you start realizing that nobody meets your needs, of course, that's different.

true... - sm

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I stuck with it and gave good service for a long time, but finally had to give up on the employer I stayed with for 11 years because I just could not make a living any more. I hope the next one is a bit better.

There is a time to change employers. s/m - atagirl

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I was speaking of those that jump from one service to another thinking the grass is greener over there, no wait, the grass is greener over there... OMG I see very, very green grass over there! etc., etc.

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