Used as a noun it is defined as: ‘an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time’
The Budget is our ‘bible’. It is that one thing in our lives (holistically) that guide us even more so than one’s chosen scripture.
The budget is powerful. The budget defines us, it shows our ability, it depict our actions, it predicts our working day, it changes our behavior, it tells our superiors how to manage us, it tells us how to manage line staff, it tells our peers how good (or not) we are, it gives us profit shares, it gives us demotions, it gives us warnings, it makes us good or bad parents and partners, it makes us sick, it makes us happy, well you see where I am going with this.
We read the budget or reference to it at least once a day. We ask it if we can spend, and how much, it tells us how much we spent last year, it tells us how much we need to make, it tells us how much we are short, it tells us what the cost per head must be, it gives percentages, comparisons, based on last year, based on year to date, based on room, unit, person, averages, estimates and the list carries on.
The budget is equally evil, it doesn’t tell you how to achieve it. The budget doesn’t tell you what will happen if you exceed it. The budget doesn’t say if it is accurate, the budget keeps silent on whether client X or supplier Y will still be with you in the next quarter, nor if their spend will change. Thus just like the ‘bible’, full of hidden messages, statements open for many interpretations, accommodating a wide range of views which are all acceptable.
The budget is mysterious. We don’t know its true origins. We know it was based on an initial ROI and feasibility, but was it 100% accurate at that time? who knows. We know the investors use it to plan their returns, we know our dear lives depend on it but yet this powerful, mystic and evil being is around us all the time. We are reminded of its existence on daily reports, discussions with superiors and general meetings. We are reminded daily, month-to-date, quarter-to-date, year-to-date.
The budget is devious. The budget is always CPI index based, regardless of economic growth(which, by the way is usually less than half of CPI). The budget’s high expectations are in our lives every second. It can change form, looking good one day, and terrible the next day. The momentum is never stable, no the budget you see, changes all the time, it is elusive and never certain, but somehow always out of reach.
Should we befriend the budget? Some colleagues developed immense skills to always make the budget look good. They will manage their way through an actual vs deficit meeting without blinking. Does the budget give mystic powers to those who worship it? The budget is never really friendly, it’s expressionless face smiling back at you, telling you to increase revenues and cut costs.
I dont know how to end this write up with a good close. There is not much good to close on. Even if you made budget every year for the past 10 years but you missed it this year, well, you missed the budget. It will be remembered for sure.
