Enough, already!
OK, it's MY turn to bitch about work.
Ever since our executive editor left, my worklife has been teetering on the edge of hell. My workload has increased substantially. And though I have not yet fallen into the abyss, I'm pretty close. ::throws a rope down to Row:: ;)
Seriously, not only am I responsible for my original work duties (writing the cover story for the magazine every month, which consists of an average of 9 sources the way I do it (at least 2200 words); writing a news piece on some research (550 words, but with me it's closer to 650 usually); writing Payments WAtch; writing Risk/Compliance Watch (600 words each); new products (total waste of time. just regurgitating press releases but it's a time suck nonetheless); BUT I also have added to my duties Big Deals and Executive News (another waste of time where you rehash press releases. I don't need it) PLUS!!!!! I've had our WEEKLY email newsletter thrust upon me. Yes, I'm officially the editor of that thing, with sole responsibility for the content EACH !@#$ WEEK! I really didn't want it but didn't have a choice. I'm into my 4th week with it now and am getting used to it. In some respects it's ALMOST fun, but it's another time killer. I have to have everything ready for the web people by Monday. So my Friday afternoons are usually spent coming up with ideas for articles so that I have Monday as an extra 'just in case' day. What's worse, I have to now write editorials. I hate writing editorials be/c I really don't give a damn about banking technology and therefore feel I have no definitive opinions to share with people. But somehow, I've managed to crank them out. This week's was particularly strident as I related my nightmarish banking experience from the previous Saturday. I actually got some nice feedback from the readers on that one. But still, it's more pressure than I need.
OK, so now I have the newsletter to do BY MYSELF. I also have to handle the ENTIRE news section of the magazine each month now. That can range from 4 to 6 pages of stories. Rest assured, it will be 4 for as long as I'm stuck doing it. Even my managing editor said it was ridiculous for Kathy, our boss, to think I should have to write all this stuff. He said I should definitley repurpose at least two articles from previous newsletters. I'll do that.
But that's not all. Now that we're a man short, that means I have to help pick up the slack with our stupid fucking webcasts (web-based LIVE seminars). They are so involved. They're usually sponsored by a vendor in the banking tech space. They have to pick a topic and I have to come up with some kind of promotional blurb so that we can sell it to our readers. As the editor, I act as the moderator of the whole things. I have to write a 5-10 minutes presentation that gives a broad overview of the topic being discussed and I have to introduce the speakers and get the Q&A going. Blah. But it's especially fun when the vendor waits until the last minute to get things going, or when the vendor changes its mind about the topic after you're halfway through with the presentation or when an analyst who was supposed to be a presenter during the webcast backs out. Loads of fun when you have to scramble to take care of these things when you have to do all the other stuff that I mentioned above.
Maybe this doesn't sound like a lot. But keep in mind, I'm basically a reporter and I have to now coordinate a huge number of interviews with different people from different companies for different stories. It can get VERY confusing. Not to mention the existing stress of having to depend on these people calling you back in order to get your work done at all. You're essentially at their mercy.
I like keeping busy. I hate just sitting around and not having anything to do. But it's not good to have to operate at such a high level for such long periods of time. I've been completely exhausted. It could always be worse. I'm handling it so far, but I don't know how long I can keep this up. I'm hoping to use this as more chips on my side when I approach her regarding a promotion/raise/telecommuting.
See, Kathy's looking to hire another senior editor, which is what I am. She said this would be an oppotunity for me to move up. Ok, fine. So why hasn't she promoted me yet? I saw the ad for the new senior editor position. It's the EXACT same job description that I have. I'm hoping her plan is to hire this person and then bump me up. I hope. I also have a feeling theyr'e going to shove this person into my office with me be/c we're really short on office space. When that happens, the camels back will have officially broken. I'm territorial, I detest sharing, but most of all, I lose concentration very easily when there's other noise nearby, people talking, etc. There's no way I can do interviews, webcasts and writing with another jerk in my office.
::sigh:: It was a tiring week. K was supposed to come visit but he's not. I told him not to because he sounded pretty exhausted himself and i know how much he hates driving up here. I know it was my doing but I'm still upset. :( And I know I won't be able to sleep tonight despite my exhaustion be/c I'm so mad about this. Tough luck, I guess.
Ever since our executive editor left, my worklife has been teetering on the edge of hell. My workload has increased substantially. And though I have not yet fallen into the abyss, I'm pretty close. ::throws a rope down to Row:: ;)
Seriously, not only am I responsible for my original work duties (writing the cover story for the magazine every month, which consists of an average of 9 sources the way I do it (at least 2200 words); writing a news piece on some research (550 words, but with me it's closer to 650 usually); writing Payments WAtch; writing Risk/Compliance Watch (600 words each); new products (total waste of time. just regurgitating press releases but it's a time suck nonetheless); BUT I also have added to my duties Big Deals and Executive News (another waste of time where you rehash press releases. I don't need it) PLUS!!!!! I've had our WEEKLY email newsletter thrust upon me. Yes, I'm officially the editor of that thing, with sole responsibility for the content EACH !@#$ WEEK! I really didn't want it but didn't have a choice. I'm into my 4th week with it now and am getting used to it. In some respects it's ALMOST fun, but it's another time killer. I have to have everything ready for the web people by Monday. So my Friday afternoons are usually spent coming up with ideas for articles so that I have Monday as an extra 'just in case' day. What's worse, I have to now write editorials. I hate writing editorials be/c I really don't give a damn about banking technology and therefore feel I have no definitive opinions to share with people. But somehow, I've managed to crank them out. This week's was particularly strident as I related my nightmarish banking experience from the previous Saturday. I actually got some nice feedback from the readers on that one. But still, it's more pressure than I need.
OK, so now I have the newsletter to do BY MYSELF. I also have to handle the ENTIRE news section of the magazine each month now. That can range from 4 to 6 pages of stories. Rest assured, it will be 4 for as long as I'm stuck doing it. Even my managing editor said it was ridiculous for Kathy, our boss, to think I should have to write all this stuff. He said I should definitley repurpose at least two articles from previous newsletters. I'll do that.
But that's not all. Now that we're a man short, that means I have to help pick up the slack with our stupid fucking webcasts (web-based LIVE seminars). They are so involved. They're usually sponsored by a vendor in the banking tech space. They have to pick a topic and I have to come up with some kind of promotional blurb so that we can sell it to our readers. As the editor, I act as the moderator of the whole things. I have to write a 5-10 minutes presentation that gives a broad overview of the topic being discussed and I have to introduce the speakers and get the Q&A going. Blah. But it's especially fun when the vendor waits until the last minute to get things going, or when the vendor changes its mind about the topic after you're halfway through with the presentation or when an analyst who was supposed to be a presenter during the webcast backs out. Loads of fun when you have to scramble to take care of these things when you have to do all the other stuff that I mentioned above.
Maybe this doesn't sound like a lot. But keep in mind, I'm basically a reporter and I have to now coordinate a huge number of interviews with different people from different companies for different stories. It can get VERY confusing. Not to mention the existing stress of having to depend on these people calling you back in order to get your work done at all. You're essentially at their mercy.
I like keeping busy. I hate just sitting around and not having anything to do. But it's not good to have to operate at such a high level for such long periods of time. I've been completely exhausted. It could always be worse. I'm handling it so far, but I don't know how long I can keep this up. I'm hoping to use this as more chips on my side when I approach her regarding a promotion/raise/telecommuting.
See, Kathy's looking to hire another senior editor, which is what I am. She said this would be an oppotunity for me to move up. Ok, fine. So why hasn't she promoted me yet? I saw the ad for the new senior editor position. It's the EXACT same job description that I have. I'm hoping her plan is to hire this person and then bump me up. I hope. I also have a feeling theyr'e going to shove this person into my office with me be/c we're really short on office space. When that happens, the camels back will have officially broken. I'm territorial, I detest sharing, but most of all, I lose concentration very easily when there's other noise nearby, people talking, etc. There's no way I can do interviews, webcasts and writing with another jerk in my office.
::sigh:: It was a tiring week. K was supposed to come visit but he's not. I told him not to because he sounded pretty exhausted himself and i know how much he hates driving up here. I know it was my doing but I'm still upset. :( And I know I won't be able to sleep tonight despite my exhaustion be/c I'm so mad about this. Tough luck, I guess.