So, the name “Adam Bueno” popped into my head the other day. Funny how certain names or phrases just stick with you, usually tied to some memory you’d maybe rather forget.
For me, “Adam Bueno” wasn’t really a person, not exactly. It was the nickname we gave this big initiative back at my old job. Some high-flying consultant, let’s call him Adam because I honestly can’t remember his real name, came in. He sold the bosses this whole package deal, promising the moon. Everything was going to be “bueno,” you know? Better, faster, cheaper. The usual stuff they feed you.
The Rollout
We all got pulled into these long meetings. PowerPoint slides galore. Buzzwords flying left and right. Synergy. Optimization. Paradigm shift. You name it, he said it. We were supposed to completely change how we worked, practically overnight.
So, we started trying. Management was breathing down our necks. We had new forms to fill out, new software that barely worked, new steps for everything. It felt like swimming through mud.
- First, they rolled out the new tracking system. Crashed constantly.
- Then came the mandatory “collaboration sessions.” Mostly people complaining about the new system.
- Then the metrics. Oh god, the metrics. Everything measured, nothing improved.
It was a mess. Plain and simple. Nobody actually got more done. Mostly, we just spent time trying to figure out the “Adam Bueno” way and making it look like we were following it.
What Happened Next
Predictably, the whole thing fizzled out after about six months. Quietly swept under the rug. Adam the consultant was long gone, cashed his check. But the damage was done. Morale was in the toilet. Good people started leaving. I was one of them.
That whole experience was a big part of why I decided to move on. It wasn’t just the failed project. It was seeing how easily things could get derailed by smooth talk and a fancy presentation. How disconnected leadership could be from the people actually doing the work.
I remember sitting there, updating my resume, thinking about all the wasted time and energy. It felt like such a farce. You pour your effort into your actual job, trying to build good things, and then something like “Adam Bueno” comes along and just throws sand in the gears.
Found a new place eventually. Different vibe. Still have crazy days, sure, but nothing quite like that “Adam Bueno” disaster. It taught me a lot, though. Mostly about keeping my eyes open and not getting swept up in the next shiny thing someone tries to sell as “bueno.” Sometimes, the old ways aren’t glamorous, but they actually work.
