Rodney Hide: Beware glass-half-full type

The exterior of Southern Spars. Photo / Doug Sherring

Memo to future employers: watch out for a particular ex-employee from Southern Spars. The fellow is a whiner with a sense of entitlement.

The guy is one of 40 boatbuilders made redundant despite being behind the vessel that Emirates Team New Zealand sailed to America's Cup glory.

He said this week he was "disgusted" that boatbuilding company Southern Spars "let him go" after years of highly-specialised work. The end of the job came as a shock.

I would have thought it obvious that a job building an America's Cup boat would not last forever.

"Surprised and disgusted" then went on to vent how bad his job had been. He had regularly worked seven-day weeks.

"You want to be stuck in a paper suit 13 hours a day, grinding carbon, not seeing your family for four years? Because that's how long the process takes."

So he didn't like the work. He didn't like the long hours. He didn't like the paper suit. He didn't like grinding the carbon. And now he's upset the job has ended.

It's hard to understand his complaint. Given how he hated the job, he should be happy it's ended. And yet he's clearly ticked off.

But why? He signed up for the paper suit and the long hours. No one forced him. It's not like it was the only job in town.

The fellow is also to be avoided because he has vented his bitterness publicly. He didn't want to be named - because it might affect his chances for employment - but he was happy to name and blame Southern Spars.

He publicly bags the very company that employed him and paid him for years.

He should be thanking Southern Spars for the work and income. He should be especially thanking them for the opportunity. He no doubt learned a thing or two. The work would look great on his CV.

And he can look forward to years of bragging at parties and of dangling his grandkids off his knee telling them of their granddaddy building the boat that won the great America's Cup.

But no, he's bitter and angry and anxious to let everyone know.

We all know people like this fellow. They carry a sense of entitlement. They want everything to suit them. They want a job, a house and an income. They want it all on their terms.

They expect others to make everything happen for them. They have no consideration for those risking their all to make the business that employs them. They show no gratitude and no goodwill.

The America's Cup win was made possible by the movers and shakers, the doers and the believers. On the other hand are the glass-half-full types. They are to be avoided at all costs. They drag everyone and everything down.

I would have imagined this fellow to be as proud as punch. It's hard to imagine grumbling at having had the opportunity to build the boat that won the America's Cup.