It has been a while since I wandered over to Di’s place for Share Your World, so I figured it was time to see what kind of trouble her questions could get me into.

This week, Di has us talking about work—the ideal job, workplace disappointment, promotions, teamwork, and the kind of company we might build if given the opportunity. Considering some of my experiences over the years, a few of these questions were easier to answer than others. A couple may have poked the bear.

As always, these are my answers, shaped by my experiences and whatever wisdom I managed to salvage from them.

You can find Di’s original Share Your World questions here: Share Your World — 5th October 2026

Now, let’s see what kind of mess I can make of perfectly innocent questions.

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If you could have an ideal job, what would it be?

My ideal job would be creating art that feeds me spiritually—work that leaves me feeling more alive for having made it. And hopefully, some of that joy finds its way into the work itself, so the people who encounter it can feel a little of what I felt while creating it.

Have you ever been disappointed with a job you thought would be ideal?

Yes, of course. Oddly enough, it wasn’t the job itself that disappointed me. I enjoyed the work. The problem was the people I worked with and, more specifically, their interpretation of the rules.

I’ve always believed rules should provide structure and consistency. What frustrated me was watching the same rules bend, stretch, or suddenly become carved in stone depending on who was involved or who was doing the interpreting. Eventually, even work you enjoy becomes difficult when you spend more energy navigating people than actually doing the job.

Do you believe promotions in the workplace are given to those who work hard, those who are qualified for the job, or those who happen to be friends with management?

I’ve actually seen all three.

I’ve watched people get promoted because they worked hard and earned it. I’ve seen qualified people move into positions because they were genuinely the best person for the job. I don’t have a problem with either of those. Even when I wanted the position myself, I could respect the decision if the person had earned it.

It’s that third one that gives me the “sweet ass.”

When friendship, favoritism, or office politics carries more weight than ability, experience, or effort, it damages more than morale. It tells everyone else that the standards they were told mattered really don’t. Work hard. Learn your job. Become qualified. Do everything right—and then watch somebody leapfrog over you because they know the right person.

That’s not promotion. That’s preference wearing a name tag.

Do you prefer working as part of a team or on your own?

It depends on the task at hand—and, admittedly, who the hell is on the team.

I enjoy working on my own. There is a certain freedom in being able to set my own pace, make decisions, solve problems, and adjust direction without having to hold a committee meeting every fifteen minutes.

However, some projects are simply too large or complex for one person. The sheer scope of the work requires a team, and when you have the right people—people who understand their responsibilities, communicate, and respect what everyone brings to the table—a good team can accomplish things that would be nearly impossible alone.

So, I suppose I prefer working independently when the work allows it and collaboratively when the work demands it.

Just choose the team carefully.

If you could build your own company, what would it be?

I would build a creative studio along with a small press dedicated to independent authors and artists.

The studio would be a place where different creative disciplines could cross paths—writing, photography, visual art, filmmaking, graphic design, and whatever strange idea somebody dragged through the door that morning. I wouldn’t want creativity divided into neat little boxes. Some of the most interesting work happens when those boxes get knocked over.

The small press would focus on indie authors, particularly writers with strong voices who might not fit comfortably into what traditional publishing considers marketable. I understand the value of standards, editing, and professionalism, but I also believe there is a difference between helping someone strengthen their voice and sanding away everything that made the voice interesting in the first place.

I wouldn’t want to build a factory for content.

I’d want to build a place where people could create work that feeds them spiritually—and hopefully some of that joy, truth, madness, and humanity would make its way to the people who eventually experience it.

What are you grateful for this week?

This week, I’m grateful that we made it home safely.

It was one of those trips where enough things went wrong to remind you how quickly a plan can become something entirely different. We dealt with problems, adjusted when necessary, and kept moving, but we didn’t do it alone.

We had a solid support team behind us, and I can say without hesitation that we would not have made it through everything without them. Sometimes you don’t fully appreciate the people standing behind you until circumstances force you to lean on them.

So this week, I’m grateful for safe travels, good people, and the reminder that being capable doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone.