The Capricorn Boss (December 21 to January 19)
Capricorn employers expect discipline, hard work, and ambition as they were born under the sign of career pursuits. You have to be on your best behavior to keep the Capricorn boss happy, so toe the line to get work done on time and within budget. A good Capricorn supervisor will inspire you to climb the career ladder and reach the top of your profession. Dressing conservatively and highlighting formal accomplishments like degrees, awards, and certificate programs can gain you the Capricorn boss's respect.
The Aquarius Boss (January 20 to February 17)
The Aquarian boss eagerly adopts futuristic theories and methods as soon as they become available. Impress your Aquarius supervisor by learning as much as you can about emerging technologies, new gadgets, and early trends in your industry. Always appeal to their sense of reason and logic when presenting information, rather than using emotional ploys as the Water Bearer has no patience for the drama that other bosses, such as Cancer, may tolerate.
The CAPRICORN Boss
"I told them once, I told them twice:
they would not listen to advice."
"Now I growl when I'm pleased, and
wag my tail when I'm angry'
Therefore I'm mad."
Working under a Capricorn boss can be an enigma wrapped in perplexity, bursting with intricate details and careful planning. Picture a hidden mastermind behind the scenes, orchestrating the complex tapestry of a famous artist's life. Few are aware of their presence, as they quietly navigate the labyrinthine world of a well-known figure.
This particular executive, a quintessential embodiment of the Capricorn traits, holds court from behind a solid desk, expertly managing the countless threads and loose ends that make up the daily existence of the renowned individual. Their responsibilities range from welcoming the singer's relatives at airports to making extravagant purchases or arranging premieres under the glow of floodlights. Calm and composed, they handle legal battles and tax predicaments by skillfully delegating each matter to the most competent accountant or attorney, ensuring that no detail remains neglected or mishandled. Their phone rings incessantly, as desperate calls for help come pouring in from various members of the sprawling entourage. With unwavering precision, they keep track of everyone's whereabouts, reasons for being there, and the precise moment they are expected to return. Their mind houses an arsenal of statistics, some top-secret and coveted by reporters, others seemingly trivial, like the opening scene of a two-decade-old film or the box office figures of a current release. They possess an uncanny ability to source hot, catered spaghetti with Italian cheese sauce in the blink of an eye.
A day in the life of this Capricorn boss knows no boundaries. It commences at the break of dawn, and even as midnight approaches, they tirelessly tie up loose ends and set in motion the orders that will be executed with precision come morning. Often, they resort to shaving, showering, and dressing within the confines of their office, blurring the lines between work and personal life. To witness them in a discotheque or a nightclub is to witness a fish out of water, compelled by duty to put on a poker face amidst the pulsating beats and vibrant ambiance.
Their domain sprawls across an entire floor of a Manhattan building, featuring not only outer rooms and a reception area but also a spacious den reserved for their private use. In one corner rests a grand circular desk, serving as a command center for the myriad papers that demand their attention on a daily basis. The remaining expanse of their personal sanctuary is furnished with plush couches, overstuffed chairs, coffee tables, heavy drapes, lamps, bookcases, and a carpet that feels like moss beneath one's feet. A dining room completes the setup, boasting a table sizable enough to accommodate an entire baseball team for lunch, with china closets, mirrors, dishes, silverware, and glasses adorning the space. The walls are adorned with patterned wallpaper, and tanks housing exquisite tropical fish line the room. It's a space that exudes a sense of home, more akin to a cozy residence than a bustling executive office.
In essence, this Capricorn boss has transplanted their home to their workplace, as the sanctity of the domestic sphere holds paramount importance. Their relatives are a constant presence, reinforcing the unbreakable bonds of family life that never falter in the face of professional obligations.
True to their Saturnian nature, these bosses embody certain qualities that are common among Capricorn executives. They personify a paternal figure to their employees?stern yet fair. The expectation of duty and obedience runs deep, and woe befalls those who forget to feed the velvet-tailed guppies or fail to meet the high standards set before them. Rarely do they raise their voice to issue orders. Instead, their tone remains gruff yet quiet, except in moments of egregious stupidity or careless mistakes that prompt them to bellow, channeling their inner Monty Woolley. While visitors might feel intimidated by their serious and formal demeanor, the staff has come to recognize the tender heart that beats within, staunchly defending their boss against any criticism from outsiders. Nevertheless, they may mutter under their breath when the boss cracks the whip. He may chastise them when they stumble, but he will provide an extra fifty when it's needed or send flowers to the hospital room of an employee's mother. Compliments and flattery are not their style; a mumbled "Yeah, that's good" serves as their version of extravagant praise. Yet, they lend a sympathetic ear to their employees' personal troubles, ensuring they eat properly and wear suitable footwear when rain pours down. The staff becomes a tight-knit family, with the Capricorn boss unequivocally serving as the household head.
Unlike Santa Claus, they don't distribute Christmas bonuses with joyous abandon. However, they are never stingy when an employee finds themselves stranded in Las Vegas without a return plane ticket or when the hardworking assistant requires assistance with an overwhelming medical bill. (In the case of the Las Vegas scenario, they will swiftly wire a return ticket rather than cash, always opting for frugality.) Although gruff, they possess a gentle and timid side. Charity solicitors can expect generous contributions, with an extra zero added for causes connected to children or the elderly. Rest and nourishment often slip their mind due to the weight of responsibilities, requiring gentle reminders to take a break or savor their lunch. Occasionally, they descend into a black pit of Saturnine depression, shutting themselves away from the world, gazing out the window at Central Park, with no one daring to disturb their solitude. Phone calls are put on hold, and office problems are set aside until the cloud of melancholy lifts. Clad in conservative attire, donning dark colors and understated styles, they possess an air of a wise grandfather. A pocket watch, a relic of times past, frequently makes an appearance, its presence reminiscent of an era gone by. Adorning the walls of their workspace are antique bric-a-brac and faded photographs of cherished family members, their beloved wife, children, and various relatives.
Such is the essence of a Capricorn boss. Hold this image in your mind, and you'll gain a solid understanding of what to expect from any Saturn executive, including your own. Spare moments won't be squandered; they expect you to follow suit. Is the switchboard silent? Excellent. Use the time to file those letters. Is the schedule light today? Wonderful. Move those cartons in the stockroom. Don't waste office hours on nail polishing if you're their secretary, and resist the temptation to engage in lengthy phone conversations with your loved ones if you're a male employee. Your Saturn boss will materialize instantly, like an avenging genie, his frown palpable. Inviting your beatnik, bearded brother with a guitar to visit you at the office would be ill-advised. Even though they deeply value family ties, both theirs and yours, they would raise a conservative eyebrow of disapproval. Female employees who drench themselves in overpowering perfume and male employees who practice their putting skills in the conference room won't find favor in the office of a Capricorn executive. To them, heavy perfume belongs in the bottle, and putting belongs on the golf course, preferably at the most prestigious country club.
They hold a deep reverence for individuals who have surpassed them on the mountain of success, making it wise to familiarize yourself with the social register. If you didn't graduate from Vassar or Harvard, ensure you have an aunt or uncle who did. Make sure they know you take your mother out for lunch every Wednesday or that you fund your younger brother's tuition at a prestigious preparatory school, and your chances of promotion will increase. Clean nails, courteous manners, and impeccable grammar are necessities, while efficient work without complaint or whining is a must. In front of strangers, never address them by their first name, and never utter a word of criticism about their family. For Christmas, gift them a chipped and faded oil painting of Thomas Jefferson, acquired from an antique shop, or a rock discreetly procured from Nancy Hanks' birthplace last summer. Capricorns hold history and tradition in high esteem, but be cautious not to disclose the nature of your acquisition. Their commitment to scrupulous honesty is unwavering. While apple-polishing won't earn you a raise, understanding their lonely heart will garner their trust. Though others may perceive them as firm disciplinarians with hearts of stone, let them know that you see beyond the surface:
A shy and sensitive soul longing for freedom and casualness, yet shackled by the demands of Saturn?obedience, order, and authority. To you, they will treat as a beloved son or daughter, occasionally delivering a firm hand when you falter and rewards when you excel. They won't abandon you in times of trouble or lock the door when you need assistance. Just remember to feed those velvet-tailed guppies.
The AQUARIUS Boss
"What sort of things do you remember best?"
Alice ventured to ask.
"Oh, things that happened the week after next."
First and foremost, double-check. Are you absolutely certain that your boss's birthday falls in late January or early February? Having an Aquarius boss is as rare as stumbling upon albino pandas. If you happen to have one, consider yourself in possession of a collector's item, a treasure that may appreciate in value with time.
Seriously, the typical Aquarian boss would prefer starvation over the monotonous nine-to-five office routine. Making decisions makes them uncomfortable, giving orders feels unnatural, and the rigid atmosphere of board meetings, let alone the presence of rigid vice presidents, is entirely incompatible with their free-spirited nature. However, this does not imply that Aquarians lack the skills to be effective bosses. Uranus, the ruling planet, is full of surprises, and one of those surprises is the Aquarian boss who, despite lacking the conventional qualifications, turns out to be indispensable.
When an Aquarian, burdened by the aforementioned negative traits, assumes an executive position, they effortlessly conjure new tricks from their bag of surprises. They may exhibit absent-mindedness and forgetfulness, eccentricity and unpredictability, alternating between shyness and boldness. Yet, hidden behind their enigmatic and distant demeanor, lies a mind as sharp as a bear trap, concealed within those peculiar, distant eyes. Furthermore, they possess a highly tuned and perceptive intuition that might lead you to believe they carry a crystal ball in their pocket. Additionally, they possess an uncanny ability to analyze, dissect, and evaluate information with a razor-sharp insight. Moreover, their intuition extends to establishing warm connections with everyone, from the office boy to the company's most prominent customer. All of this is supplemented by their broad and liberal Uranian philosophy, which allows them to peer into the future while others stumble over the minutiae of the present. These are the surprises I was referring to. Despite the average Aquarian's unsuitability for an executive role, they effortlessly adapt to the position, as though it were their destined path, which, in reality, it is not.
There is, however, another side to the coin. Your boss might occasionally address you as "My secretary, Miss... ah... ah... Miss... uh... what was your name again?" It can be maddening when they clandestinely plan complex projects and spring them upon you at the last minute. You've likely experienced the frustration of being assigned an entirely new and unexpected task without any explanation for the change. But let's admit it, beneath it all, they are rather endearing, aren't they? Once you become accustomed to their idiosyncrasies, sudden shifts, and unforeseen surprises, most Aquarians are genuinely lovable. I must also mention their unwavering opinions once they have made up their minds.
If I were you, I wouldn't attempt to borrow money from an Aquarian boss. If they are a typical Aquarian, they disapprove of living beyond one's means. While some Aquarians may live in luxurious comfort, the majority are content with a modest room as long as they can devote twenty hours a day to advocating for improved housing for the less fortunate. They won't impulsively grant raises, but they won't be stingy either. With your Aquarian boss, you will receive what you deserve—no more and no less. They can be incredibly generous when they recognize someone's exceptional performance that surpasses the call of duty. Make no mistake, they expect your absolute best, nothing less. Failing to meet their expectations may lead to being politely and kindly, but firmly, let go. An Aquarian has no tolerance for slackers or those who put in half a day's work for a full day's pay. To them, such behavior is a form of dishonesty, and they despise dishonesty as much as cats loathe water.
Regarding your personal life, the Aquarian boss harbors no desire to pass judgment or offer advice. However, they possess an insatiable curiosity about it, making it challenging to evade their probing Uranian inquisition into your private affairs. Rest assured, you can share anything with them without fear of shock. Nothing surprises them. They are the most astute observers of human nature within the zodiac, and they will never look down upon you (nor will they look up to you). Your vices and virtues merge into an intriguing and colorful tapestry as far as they are concerned. They take it all in stride, and it doesn't alter their opinion of you. The town drunk and the giggling teenager hold the same level of camaraderie and closeness to them as the president of the local university and the state senator. If your Aquarian boss is authentic, you will find no prejudice or discrimination in their demeanor. In essence, you risk being fired should they catch you pilfering stamps or hiding an unfinished report in your desk. However, if they discover that you are a bigamist, your father served two prison terms, your son indulges in marijuana, or your wife practices yoga in the nude on the back porch, they will simply shrug, considering it your life, and perhaps even come to your defense against your critics. An Aquarian boss will not be bothered in the slightest if you hold conservative political views while displaying a picture of Calvin Coolidge alongside their portrait of Franklin Roosevelt. They won't bat an eye if you stumbled into a taxi after the last office party. Just don't cheat them, lie to them, or, heaven forbid, break your word. Promises and ethics fall within their narrow-minded category.
Unlike Aries or Leo bosses, they won't expend energy trying to convince you that voting for a particular candidate, dating a specific individual, or wearing a particular color tie constitutes a mistake. And unlike Cancer, Capricorn, or Libra bosses, they won't employ persuasive strategies to sway your perspective. Live your life as you choose, and they will celebrate your individualism. Conversely, never attempt to impose your personal code upon them. They won't display any anger, and probably won't even feel it. They might smile and nod thoughtfully, their gaze drifting into the distance, but it would be akin to talking to a wall. They will listen to nearly anyone. Listen.
That's all.
Although they formulate their own ethical code and keep their own counsel when it comes to their personal life, business decisions are another matter. If your Aquarian boss is anything like the average Uranian man, they will seek everyone's opinion on proposed strategies and may even delegate the final decision-making to a subordinate. There is a method to this madness, which differs from the indecisiveness of a Libra. Aquarius isn't evading responsibility. They derive enjoyment from sitting back, wearing an "I-told-you-so" expression when the decision you made (contrary to their keen intuition) fails miserably, as a lesson for you to learn. You must be cautious of this. Aquarian bosses usually grant you all the freedom you require, and even more, should you request it. It is fortunate if they explain the reasoning behind their opinion once, as they rarely offer a second explanation. It is up to you to grasp it the first time, or you will receive a series of confusing statements as a reminder to pay attention to their words.
They expect you to possess antennae that can pick up any missed information from the surrounding atmosphere. They are unaware that others lack their Uranian gift of absorbing knowledge from three simultaneous conversations while peeling an orange, dialing a phone number, and sifting through a stack of interoffice memos.
Don't become too entrenched in your ways around an Aquarian executive. You might walk in one morning to find that your office has been relocated to another floor, with no prior notification. Change is constantly in the air around these individuals. You may experience the disconcerting sensation of your boss unexpectedly descending upon you, sporting a warm and friendly grin, and discarding your entire system out the window—the same system the office has adhered to since the Civil War. In its place, they will introduce a new, faster method devoid of unnecessary details. Is it difficult for you to adapt so swiftly? Do you need at least six months to adjust, as the new system currently appears as Greek to you? They can't fathom that. To them, it's all perfectly clear. Don't worry; you'll catch on. They will wait patiently. And patient they are. While the average Uranus-ruled mind may brim with nervous curiosity beneath the surface, Aquarians generally remain composed and exhibit an image of calm, thoughtful deliberation. I must emphasize the word generally. Of course, there was that one time they dashed out of the office to chase after six fire trucks, the turtle race they organized on their carpet using real turtles, or the day they had miniature TV sets delivered to each desk during the World Series. Let's not forget the morning they temporarily assumed control of the switchboard, just to experience it, resulting in crossed wires, disconnected calls, accidentally selling a half-million-dollar deal to a high-ranking representative from a major TV network, and subsequently forgetting the individual's name when they arrived to sign the contract. However, under normal circumstances, they are placid and composed. So what if they are occasionally eccentric? They rearrange the water cooler monthly, making it impossible to find, and enjoy changing your day off without prior notice. What are these minor inconveniences when you work for a boss who is genuinely fascinated by the book you're writing on Kansas City jazz? And how can you stay angry at a boss who doesn't mind if the bookkeeper grows a beard, their secretary wears white fur boots with rhinestone heels, or the new filing clerk parks their bicycle in the reception room?
They may spend a day incessantly talking your ear off, followed by a week of seclusion within their office, disregarding staff, customers, and suppliers, absorbed in solitary contemplation. They are replenishing their soul, and these moments of retreat are necessary. Regardless of how recently you joined the company, they will consider you their friend. They are even good friends with the competition. Despite what is written on your company letterhead, friendship is the Aquarian boss's true business. Recently, someone discussing today's corporate conformity nostalgically remarked, "Give me back the good old-time individualistic executive with gravy stains on their tie, who got things done without calling a committee meeting for every little snag." Undoubtedly, that person was reminiscing about an Aquarian boss they had encountered years ago.
While reflecting on your own Aquarian executive, you remembered all their idiosyncrasies last week when they received the Man of the Year award from the mayor at that grand formal banquet. You had concluded that, despite their unpredictable ways and eccentric habits, they were one of the most distinguished bosses one could have. Then, by chance, you glanced under the table, only to find their feet impatiently tapping the rug, adorned in neatly polished black dress shoes, one wearing a blue sock and the other a yellow sock.
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