Work again
A lot of people have asked me - does it feel any different now that you've been promoted? That's a good question. Kinda hard to answer too. In some ways, it's not different at all - I was "acting senior" for a year, so the responsibilities that come along with the job were not really much of a surprise. I am expected to perform at a higher level though, so there is more pressure. I've also had people working under me for about 2 years now, so again, not a big change.
All in all, I think the biggest change is that my day now starts at 5 PM. So when all of my friends are out of work, my day is just picking up speed. I come in at 9 (would be earlier but I have to trek into the city now, so they can deal...and they do), get coffee, check e-mails, check voicemails, respond to e-mails, make a list of what I want to get done that day, and it is nearly 10. At this point, one of my managers will want to go over what THEY want me to do that day, and we'll meet at least until 10:45, 11. By now, I am annoyed that my staff have been sitting idle all this time...or that I've given them stuff to do but haven't been around to make sure they're actually doing it...so I get everyone set up. At around 11:45, I start my work, but I only do it for 15 minutes before we all go over to Cafe Metro to pick up lunch.
My lunch hour is supposed to be when I take care of personal stuff, but this is when Sarah has a break in her day, so she will without fail ask me to follow up on a million and one things and I'll be expected to do her stuff first. At around 1:30, James AND Sarah will start asking me if the stuff from the previous day is done (this was the stuff I put on my list at 9, but that I have in no way been able to begin). I'll make my millionth excuse as to why I can't get it done that moment, and will try for the next 2 hours to do work while my staff asks questions, and while I'm putting in calls to the clients. Maybe at 5, when the available associates in the office leave, and when the phones stop ringing, and when it starts getting quiet around the office...maybe then I will get to do some work. But not before I try to get everyone to decide what to order for dinner, and who is going to order it, and why are we ordering so early?
By 8 or 9, I'm usually running out of the office trying to catch the 8:37 or 9:29 train. It's my only chance to fit exercise in, so I always walk to/from the office unless I'm running really, really late. I get on the train, and the laptop gets turned on again...depending on how long the stops are, I can generally fit in another 30-45 min of work. I'll then log on at home and answer whatever e-mails I've missed since 8 PM, which, in tonight's case is 5...sad isn't it? I'll go to sleep exhausted, but knowing that I have another 45 min on the train ride in the morning to make it look like I did a decent amount of work from home...
All in all, I think the biggest change is that my day now starts at 5 PM. So when all of my friends are out of work, my day is just picking up speed. I come in at 9 (would be earlier but I have to trek into the city now, so they can deal...and they do), get coffee, check e-mails, check voicemails, respond to e-mails, make a list of what I want to get done that day, and it is nearly 10. At this point, one of my managers will want to go over what THEY want me to do that day, and we'll meet at least until 10:45, 11. By now, I am annoyed that my staff have been sitting idle all this time...or that I've given them stuff to do but haven't been around to make sure they're actually doing it...so I get everyone set up. At around 11:45, I start my work, but I only do it for 15 minutes before we all go over to Cafe Metro to pick up lunch.
My lunch hour is supposed to be when I take care of personal stuff, but this is when Sarah has a break in her day, so she will without fail ask me to follow up on a million and one things and I'll be expected to do her stuff first. At around 1:30, James AND Sarah will start asking me if the stuff from the previous day is done (this was the stuff I put on my list at 9, but that I have in no way been able to begin). I'll make my millionth excuse as to why I can't get it done that moment, and will try for the next 2 hours to do work while my staff asks questions, and while I'm putting in calls to the clients. Maybe at 5, when the available associates in the office leave, and when the phones stop ringing, and when it starts getting quiet around the office...maybe then I will get to do some work. But not before I try to get everyone to decide what to order for dinner, and who is going to order it, and why are we ordering so early?
By 8 or 9, I'm usually running out of the office trying to catch the 8:37 or 9:29 train. It's my only chance to fit exercise in, so I always walk to/from the office unless I'm running really, really late. I get on the train, and the laptop gets turned on again...depending on how long the stops are, I can generally fit in another 30-45 min of work. I'll then log on at home and answer whatever e-mails I've missed since 8 PM, which, in tonight's case is 5...sad isn't it? I'll go to sleep exhausted, but knowing that I have another 45 min on the train ride in the morning to make it look like I did a decent amount of work from home...