I was volunteering with a non-profit I cared about, at the behest of the director, who was a long-time friend of mine. The goal was to get their web store and recurring donation form built...a project I was informed had taken seven years and three leads so far, with no end in sight. The non-profit was in imminent danger of going bankrupt in a few months without the new site.
Through my initial work, the current lead on the volunteer project offered me a job at his then one-man IT firm. The pay was pretty good, and the circumstances were right, so I accepted.
A couple of months in, I started noticing some weird things in the project at the non-profit I was working on with my (then) boss. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere even still, owning largely to the platform we were using. Said platform (Odoo) was only being used because my boss said he liked it, but he had no timeline to finish this simple website with a CMS, basic web store, and donation form.
The director of the non-profit came to me asking about the timeline. He'd already been informed by my boss that it was "impossible to say for sure, but it will take at least ten years.". The director asked me to look into how to speed the project up, and as he the final authority on the non-profit project, I agreed.
Having familiarized myself with Odoo over the prior months, and having ultimately concluded that it was the single worst code base I'd ever laid eyes on (seriously, avoid it like the plague!), I began to look for alternatives. I found one, and put together a robust proposal that would guarantee the web site would be done, to spec, within three months. I tried to propose it to my boss, but he announced he was on vacation until the end of the year, and was not to be disturbed.
The director of the non-profit took charge and had me present my proposal at a board meeting of the non-profit. By time my boss got into the conversation a week later during a follow-up meeting, he was enraged that I'd proposed something without getting his permission first (although he'd refused to take my or the director's calls).
When the director confronted him on the 10+ year timeline, and then declared "Whatever we use, it will NOT be Odoo," my boss literally threw a kicking-and-screaming-tantrum during the board meeting, which I have never seen the likes of before or since!
Then he began the games: he attempted a strategic gaslighting campaign during the board meeting, dragging it out to a four-hour affair. I had to constantly interrupt him to correct deceptions. "This proposed platform has no transactions!" he declares at one point, scaring the business manager, until I forced him to admit he meant database transactions, not financial transactions.
When he played the "I feel so dishonored" card (it was a Christian organization), I announced to him, in front of everyone, that what he was doing was dishonest and unethical. He had manipulated his volunteer position into a paid position at an already struggling non-profit (something he had been foolish enough to do in front of me two weeks prior), deceived everyone into paying for an expensive and unnecessary corporate license of Odoo, and then strategically manipulated the project to never end. After all, as soon as the site was deployed, he'd no longer be needed for 20+ hours a week. I caught him out in several deceptions. And then I announced, in that meeting, that I could not in good conscience, work for him anymore.
The result: his sympathy cards went from playing religious notes to failing to impress the board. He was removed from the lead role on the project. And as I was his only employee, he had to drop some of his clients....clients I was now certain he was taking advantage of.
// , “It is not so important to be serious as it is to be serious about the important things. The monkey wears an expression of seriousness... but the monkey is serious because he itches."(No/No)
This is unfortunate to hear. I've worked for non-profits before, and often the ones that do the most don't end up with the most funding. And many of the Christians I know will give others the benefit of the doubt not only as a matter of tact, but as part of a religious inclination, too.
It's interesting that you characterized his words as "deceptions," rather than outright lies. This is "paltering."
In the world of business and negotiation, paltering is a means of using ‘technically true’ information to get a better deal.
--Tracy Schorn
Seems like you ran into what Dr. Simon would call a "manipulative person."
From what you posted here, this asshole went through two of the three basic affects of manipulation by manipulative people:
Rage
...he was enraged that I'd proposed something without getting his permission first (although he'd refused to take my or the director's calls).
literally threw a kicking-and-screaming-tantrum during the board meeting
Self Pity
he played the "I feel so dishonored" card (it was a Christian organization)
Charm
Did you notice, at any phase, this developer "turning on the charm" at some point?
For you and for anyone who would like to recognize, and hope to avoid, a tale like the above, I recommend the following book Dr. Simon:
I was not allowed to reach out to the clients because my employment contract had a few clauses.
As to the psychological assessment...oh, yes, I identified him as a manipulator just prior to that meeting, and a possible borderline sociopath, at the time. (I've got a communication background with a strong psych interest). Unfortunately for him, I not only have a radar for manipulators, but a looooong history of dismantling their machinations.
// , “It is not so important to be serious as it is to be serious about the important things. The monkey wears an expression of seriousness... but the monkey is serious because he itches."(No/No)
Over 10 years for a simple website? Woah, that's unbelievable... I myself worked for an NGO and also helped out with a website they were building, I know how hard it can be for them financially. In my case I felt bad getting paid for it as it didn't seem like I did much. But 10 years!?
Good on you man, be proud of yourself!
I know, right? 10 years was obscene, especially given the 7 so far. No website takes 17 years to build.
I wish I could say the story ended well, though. The moronic final ending is that they wound up not using my proposal at all, but starting over with the original plan from 7 years before and bringing on a brand new lead remotely, while allowing "Manchild" (the former lead who threw the temper tantrum) to stay on as "just a volunteer developer". The website would take an additional year. But that mistake was due to some endemic organizational issues, especially hunger for control. The director, who had been appointed to his role by his late father, the founder of the organization, was strategically undermined and then replaced by his alleged friends who wanted to do things their way. The organization suffered as a result.
All told, I'm glad I got out of there when I did. Manchild was the tip of the iceberg.
The Project That Doesn't End
I was volunteering with a non-profit I cared about, at the behest of the director, who was a long-time friend of mine. The goal was to get their web store and recurring donation form built...a project I was informed had taken seven years and three leads so far, with no end in sight. The non-profit was in imminent danger of going bankrupt in a few months without the new site.
Through my initial work, the current lead on the volunteer project offered me a job at his then one-man IT firm. The pay was pretty good, and the circumstances were right, so I accepted.
A couple of months in, I started noticing some weird things in the project at the non-profit I was working on with my (then) boss. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere even still, owning largely to the platform we were using. Said platform (Odoo) was only being used because my boss said he liked it, but he had no timeline to finish this simple website with a CMS, basic web store, and donation form.
The director of the non-profit came to me asking about the timeline. He'd already been informed by my boss that it was "impossible to say for sure, but it will take at least ten years.". The director asked me to look into how to speed the project up, and as he the final authority on the non-profit project, I agreed.
Having familiarized myself with Odoo over the prior months, and having ultimately concluded that it was the single worst code base I'd ever laid eyes on (seriously, avoid it like the plague!), I began to look for alternatives. I found one, and put together a robust proposal that would guarantee the web site would be done, to spec, within three months. I tried to propose it to my boss, but he announced he was on vacation until the end of the year, and was not to be disturbed.
The director of the non-profit took charge and had me present my proposal at a board meeting of the non-profit. By time my boss got into the conversation a week later during a follow-up meeting, he was enraged that I'd proposed something without getting his permission first (although he'd refused to take my or the director's calls).
When the director confronted him on the 10+ year timeline, and then declared "Whatever we use, it will NOT be Odoo," my boss literally threw a kicking-and-screaming-tantrum during the board meeting, which I have never seen the likes of before or since!
Then he began the games: he attempted a strategic gaslighting campaign during the board meeting, dragging it out to a four-hour affair. I had to constantly interrupt him to correct deceptions. "This proposed platform has no transactions!" he declares at one point, scaring the business manager, until I forced him to admit he meant database transactions, not financial transactions.
When he played the "I feel so dishonored" card (it was a Christian organization), I announced to him, in front of everyone, that what he was doing was dishonest and unethical. He had manipulated his volunteer position into a paid position at an already struggling non-profit (something he had been foolish enough to do in front of me two weeks prior), deceived everyone into paying for an expensive and unnecessary corporate license of Odoo, and then strategically manipulated the project to never end. After all, as soon as the site was deployed, he'd no longer be needed for 20+ hours a week. I caught him out in several deceptions. And then I announced, in that meeting, that I could not in good conscience, work for him anymore.
The result: his sympathy cards went from playing religious notes to failing to impress the board. He was removed from the lead role on the project. And as I was his only employee, he had to drop some of his clients....clients I was now certain he was taking advantage of.
I never regretted it.
Well darn if you choose to do honest work... 😒
Good for you, doing the right thing.
The world needs more people like you. You're awesome!
This is unfortunate to hear. I've worked for non-profits before, and often the ones that do the most don't end up with the most funding. And many of the Christians I know will give others the benefit of the doubt not only as a matter of tact, but as part of a religious inclination, too.
It's interesting that you characterized his words as "deceptions," rather than outright lies. This is "paltering."
Seems like you ran into what Dr. Simon would call a "manipulative person."
From what you posted here, this asshole went through two of the three basic affects of manipulation by manipulative people:
Did you notice, at any phase, this developer "turning on the charm" at some point?
For you and for anyone who would like to recognize, and hope to avoid, a tale like the above, I recommend the following book Dr. Simon:
amazon.com/In-Sheeps-Clothing-Unde...
By the way, did you ever reach out to those clients?
I was not allowed to reach out to the clients because my employment contract had a few clauses.
As to the psychological assessment...oh, yes, I identified him as a manipulator just prior to that meeting, and a possible borderline sociopath, at the time. (I've got a communication background with a strong psych interest). Unfortunately for him, I not only have a radar for manipulators, but a looooong history of dismantling their machinations.
Keep dismantling, please. Things that might be obvious to the experienced, like yourself, can blindside those of us, ahem, who are not so savvy.
Over 10 years for a simple website? Woah, that's unbelievable... I myself worked for an NGO and also helped out with a website they were building, I know how hard it can be for them financially. In my case I felt bad getting paid for it as it didn't seem like I did much. But 10 years!?
Good on you man, be proud of yourself!
I know, right? 10 years was obscene, especially given the 7 so far. No website takes 17 years to build.
I wish I could say the story ended well, though. The moronic final ending is that they wound up not using my proposal at all, but starting over with the original plan from 7 years before and bringing on a brand new lead remotely, while allowing "Manchild" (the former lead who threw the temper tantrum) to stay on as "just a volunteer developer". The website would take an additional year. But that mistake was due to some endemic organizational issues, especially hunger for control. The director, who had been appointed to his role by his late father, the founder of the organization, was strategically undermined and then replaced by his alleged friends who wanted to do things their way. The organization suffered as a result.
All told, I'm glad I got out of there when I did. Manchild was the tip of the iceberg.
after all its all because of da dinero
Wow, thanks for sharing this. Very interesting story!