This post and ensuing bickering over at cakebaker's blog struck a chord with me, resonating with my role at my present job.

I work hard and try hard to make things well. I'm smart and a good problem solver, not the best planner, but I am "meta" enough about myself to realize that, and am always trying to improve.

I work under pressure of deadlines and juggle multiple projects between handling urgent trouble-tickets. I try to be friendly to my coworkers, but often my self-regard gets the best of my tact and grace.

I'm not a well-dressed, glad-handing salesman, all smiles, winks and pop-culture references.

I'm not a frazzled project manager with a million to-do lists but no understanding, asking when it will be done.

I'm sure not the tester, too dumb or cowardly to get his hands dirty coding, who comes to my desk with printouts of errors, highlighted and commented, saying "You screwed up." or "This would be better if...".

I don't have a high regard for the tester. My tone is often angry when I address him. Last month, after he brought a stack of printouts with errors from a project I'd been working on, I slapped my palm down on his printouts on my desk, angrily crumpled the paper and complained to him that his printouts were a waste of paper and would be better as PDFs.

I'm meta enough to realize that I was redirecting my anger at his criticism of my work with a weak criticism of his. I realize that without his contributions, my work would be less. But it is hard to say that, and I will never admit it to him.

After putting the time into the planning and construction, I feel it is my work, a tower to myself, and I want everyone to love it like I do. And I know I am behaving like a child.