What I've learned about my job

I've sometimes wondered why my job exists. I have no subordinates. I go to no regular meetings. I have no deliverables -- products that I create. I synthesize no new knowledge. I generate no analysis.

I am, in short, a lackey. In more military terms, I am an action officer. Stuff comes up, and I get assigned to "go take care of that."

For example, in summer 2020, I got assigned to manage the COVID-related supplies. In December last year, I went to Kumamoto to be "the guy on ground," even though there was actually nothing for me to do. And more recently, when we needed to contract out some work on a building to make it short-term-liveable, that became my project. So I keep busy; there's just no consistency to what I do from one month to the next.

As a result, my #1 responsibility is to "be available." If something happens, I have to be around so I can be told to take care of it. If the boss has a question, I have to be there so I can relay the message. Telework is not an option in my office because of this.

If it sounds ridiculous, it is, but there's a good reason why it came to be this way.

Back in the "fire and fury" days of 2017, there was a big focus on what would happen in Japan if things went badly with North Korea. During that time, my section worked a lot of overtime developing plans for a "what if" scenario. It was so much overtime, in fact, that a manpower study justified creating a new position. That was how my job came to be.

As time went by, though, the big boss switched out, and other priorities replaced the focus on contingency plans. Those "what if" scenarios fell by the wayside.

So now, instead of me actually doing what my position description says, I just come in and do what I'm told. And if I'm not told anything, well ... I stay busy regardless.

Back when I was on active duty, it would have bothered me. Now, however, I'm beyond he point where I have to chase down dragons to slay -- it's no longer my job to create new priorities. I'll do what I'm told, and I'll do the best job I can, but I'm no longer interested in going "above and beyond."

I've learned there's no value in creating things that can't be sustained after I'm gone.