Vacation!

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Polihale Beach on Kauai, Hawaii

It’s been a long, stressful week that included a family emergency.  Good news is, everyone is doing well.  Bad news is that it was not conducive to writing.  Since I feel like I need a vacation, I’m running an “oldie but goodie” for your enjoyment. 

Ahhh…vacation!  The time to get away from it all. To refresh and re-energize.  Yep, I’m one of “those” people, the kind who believes in taking a true vacation to get away from everything for a week or so.  No checking email, no calling the office.  I tell the people I work with, “If the building burns, save yourself and tell me about it when I get back”.  No sense telling me when I’m not there to do anything about it.

Never have understood the concept of a “working vacation” either – isn’t that an oxymoron?  If I’m going to spend the money for a vacation I want to enjoy it – sans work.

Funny thing is that my family didn’t really take vacations.  A couple times we accompanied dad on a business trip to Florida; along the way we’d wait for him in the car or at a restaurant while he called on clients, eventually ending up at the beach for a couple days.  Every few years Sis and I would go to Grandma’s in Minnesota, but that was it.  No weekends at the lake, no ski vacations, no trips just for fun.

I learned about the beauty of a vacation after business school, when I had friends living in other cities.  Those friends would say, “Come visit sometime” – and whether they meant it or not, I took them up on the offer.  (Note to all of you: if you say “come visit”, know that at some point I will do just that)

It wasn’t always easy for me to take a vacation.  I was (and sometimes still am) plagued by worries: what if something “big” happens while I’m gone? What if someone needs me? What if, what if, what if?

Early on I had a great boss who heard me lamenting the “what ifs” and wisely told me, “There is NOTHING that will happen in your absence that we can’t fix when you get back”.   Logic told me she was right and I’ve tried to remember that ever since.

Last week was it – vacation time!  An entire week of fun at our favorite resort with no work in sight, and it was beyond great.  Vacation Brain kicked in for both Hubby and I as soon as we left for the airport, a definite signal that it was time to relax. We read, talked, swam, lounged and were generally lazy.  Work Brain was nowhere to be seen, as it should be during vacation.

As with all good things, our trip came to an end far too soon and my Vacation Brain reluctantly started powering down while my Work Brain tried to wake from a nice nap.  At the airport, Work Brain said it would be a good idea to download my emails so I could at least scan them on the plane.  Sounded logical, so I tried to log-on.  Note I said “tried” – for the life of me I couldn’t remember my log-in info.  Vacation Brain clearly was still in command.  After some time, I finally remembered and logged in – a small victory for Work Brain.

Hubby was having difficulty too.  Wanting to initiate a call with a co-worker, he started to send an email with his cell phone number – but Vacation Brain forbade him from remembering his own number. Work Brain, unfortunately, reminded him that I had his phone number in my phone.

Once I was online, Work Brain commanded that I look at my in-box. Yikes – how could one person have that many emails in just a week?  My mind raced as Vacation Brain was desperate to keep me in resort mode.  Looking at the subject lines, I tried to recall what I was working on when I left town.

My mind was sputtering, with a vague memory of some projects but not enough for the emails to make complete sense.  And who ARE all these people, wanting answers from me?  Do I work with them?  I could feel the tension in my head as Work Brain fought to recover information from a week ago, while Vacation Brain attempted to keep all that information hidden.

Back and forth, the battle for control raged in my head as I read the emails, trying to make sense of it all.  Once the plane landed, Work Brain started a victory dance, knowing that as soon as we exited the jet way Vacation Brain was history.

Sigh. Why is it always like this? Within seconds of returning from vacation, it’s as though we never left at all.  I enjoy my work but I really do cherish the little bit of vacation I take and I would love for the feeling to last longer than a nanosecond.

Good news is the office didn’t burn.  At least I don’t think it did.

If My Alarm Clock Is The Key To Success, I May As Well Go Back To Bed

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Alarm clock

I’m a night-owl by nature.  My body clock is set so that I get a natural rush of energy in the late afternoon.  When most of my coworkers are winding down, I’m revving up to crank out the work.  This happens again around 9 pm. If I’m not careful, I can easily be up until midnight or later.

Hubby is programmed the same way.  The good news is that our wake/sleep schedules are compatible. The bad news is that our snooze alarms go off for at least an hour in the morning.  Prying us out of bed is next to impossible.  The dog has given up on ever getting her breakfast at a decent hour.

We’ve tried everything to switch our body clocks but have come to the realization that we are night people.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Except Forbes just wrote a piece that basically says to be super successful one has to be an early riser, stating that morning people have been found to be more productive and proactive than those of us who prefer to work in the evening.

According to the article, this is a common trait among CEO’s, government officials and other influential people.  Examples of successful early risers include Margaret Thatcher, Frank Lloyd Wright and Disney CEO Roger Iger.

Well, I can explain these three: Margaret Thatcher lived in London where the weather is all sorts of gloomy.  If she wanted to see the sun she probably had to watch it rise.  Frank Lloyd Wright was living outside at his various Taliesin sites, communing with nature to create the perfect building.  And Roger Iger has to be up; he’s got all those kids and parents pounding at the park gates to get in to the rides.

To entice us to be more successful, Forbes lists 5 things super successful people do before 8 am.  I’m here to tell you why this will not work.

EXERCISE

Forbes says: Exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work.

I Say: First, it’s difficult and dangerous to exercise when you are still asleep.  Treadmills and weights require a certain amount of attention.  Besides, my hair looks terrible and I smell bad in the morning.  The only sense of accomplishment I get from a morning workout is that I get to pick up a cappuccino and donut on the way home, negating the positive effect of the workout. So you can see why exercising in the morning is a bad idea.

MAP OUT YOUR DAY

Forbes says: Basically what they mean is to get your to-do list and thoughts in order during the quiet time before others are up and at the office.  With uninterrupted time, you can also solve some problems.  They also suggest planning a 10 minute break in your schedule to walk around the block or meditate during the day.

I say:  So I’m supposed to sleep peacefully trying to remember the stuff to put on my to-do list in the morning? Sounds like a nightmare to me. Better to scribble to-dos on a Post-It and stick on my computer before leaving the office.  Ever try meditating at work? Especially in a cubicle?  The stares from co-workers and comments like, “Is she alive?” are not conducive to becoming one with the office and at peace with that nasty to-do list.

EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

Forbes says: Take extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep your mind on what’s at hand and not your growling stomach.

I say: Would love to have time for this, Forbes.  I’ll get back to you when I get a personal chef to cook for me.  Right now I’ll have to stick with to-go items like granola bars and coffee in a travel mug, or if I’m lucky a piece of toast.  Even the dog is happy if I just remember to throw some kibble in her bowl.

VISUALIZATION

Forbes says: Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.

I say: I’ve nailed this one.  In fact, I’m visualizing my day right now.  It’s going to be crazy busy, with the phones ringing off the hook, an in-box with 100 emails and a series of unplanned meetings that rip my to-do list out of my hands.  Somehow this visualization exercise has not improved my mood.  Duh.

MAKE YOUR DAY TOP HEAVY

Forbes says: Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress – do that least desirable task on your list first. …. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well-rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well-equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!

I Say:  Here’s a better idea: let’s just forget about that least desirable task altogether, shall we? First thing in the morning I haven’t had enough coffee yet to read the paper much less handle anything important and undesirable.  Besides, my entire day is heavy.  Sweeping that task under the rug isn’t going to hurt anyone, is it?  Out of sight and out of mind equals success, right?

I certainly respect Forbes’ POV on this subject.  But I’m sure you agree that my way is better.

Things I’ve Learned About Being a Good Manager

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Office space pic

My first job out of grad school was working for a great retailer, arguably the best in the world.  The program for incoming “newbies” was nothing short of militant, except it was more fashionable.  Thank goodness for that; I always did prefer Armani over camouflage.

Expectations were beyond high. I remember thinking that grad school was like kindergarten in comparison.  If you’ve seen “The Devil Wears Prada”, you have a sense of what the program was like.

We had a few weeks of boot camp that included a mixture of classroom and hands-on learning, all designed to engross us in the company culture and ways, lest we had any ideas of trying to do something new.

Once we were deemed acceptable enough to stay, the real learning began.  Basically it was a sink-or-swim situation.  You either figured it out or you were gone, as we were reminded daily.   Harsh, I know, but in such an uber-competitive environment what else would you expect?  More than 3,000 applicants each year tried to get in; less than 100 were accepted.

Was it stressful?  All I can say is that it was during this time I had to start coloring my hair.  In my early twenties. Okay, gray hair could be genetic but I’m pretty sure stress had something to do with it.

While this sounds awful to many, I have to say that it was the best business training I could have had.  We were empowered; given the authority that went along with the responsibilities of the position.  Yes, we made mistakes and sometimes they were career-threatening.  But who can argue with getting to make million-dollar decisions on a daily basis – in your twenties?

Something that stands out to me from this experience is that all managers were tasked with developing those working under them.  If your employees were not considered promotable, in many cases the fault was placed on the manager for not preparing them to take the next step.   It was during my tenure at the company that I learned what it means to be a manager.

Being a manager is a tough job.  To be honest, it’s much easier just to work alone. I’ve worked with and for good managers, as well as not-so-good managers, and downright bad managers.

Here are some things I learned about being a good, if not great, manager:

–          Communicate clearly with instructions, expectations, goals – I cannot emphasize this enough

–          Allow for mistakes by your team. Remember that you had to learn at one point, and mistakes are bound to happen – it’s how you recover and learn from the mistake that’s important

–          Don’t be afraid to make a mistake yourself

–          Accept input, yet never lose sight that you are responsible for all outcomes – ultimately, the manager has to make the decision

–          Listening is more important that talking

–          Give directions, not orders

–          Make necessary decisions.  Lack of decision-making leads to uncertainty, which in turn leads to frustration for all.

–          Be approachable and friendly, without losing sight of the fact that you are the boss

–          Be honest in all that you do – your business practice, your treatment of others and yourself

–          Remember, this is not a popularity contest – sometimes the right decision for the business and team is not a popular one

You can command respect by your actions; you can’t demand respect by your words

Am I a great manager?  I’d like to think so, but I don’t know – you’ll have to ask my team.  What I do know is that I try very hard.  I’m not afraid to listen or accept help from those under my care. I’m willing to make the tough decisions that may not win me friends.  Yet at the end of the day, I can sleep knowing that I did the right thing for the business as well as the team.

Sometimes I may not be the most popular, but I hope at least that I’m respected.  That’s my ultimate goal.

Direction Unknown

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Ever feel like you’re spinning out of control? That life is controlling you, instead of you taking the lead?

It seems like I always feel that way. Too much to do, not enough time.

This is not a bad thing.  I’ve got so many interests that I could be busy 24/7.  Could be worse; I could have no interests at all and struggle to find ways to fill my days.  Yet I may have too much of a good thing – between work, writing, family, volunteering, exercising and other assorted hobbies, it’s hard to find even a minute to sit back and relax.

It happened again Saturday night, the overwhelming feeling of “must do this, must do that” overtaking me.   

Saturday night used to be “Date Night”.  A sacred time when we were free from work and stress, when we allowed ourselves time to simply have fun.  Unfortunately Hubby and I had forgotten this ritual and again found ourselves, late afternoon on Saturday, with no plans at all for that evening.

Guess we just hoped that something exciting would happen without any forethought on our part.

I tried to calm myself, as I could feel a meltdown coming on.  Hubby was trying his best to get into the spirit of a last-minute date night, even stepping outside to call me on the phone from the backyard to ask me out.

“Humph! Don’t you think it’s kind of late to be asking me out, an hour before you want to leave?”  I cried.  “Do you just assume I’m sitting around waiting for you to call?”

Amazing how easily I reverted back to single-gal mode, huh?

Knowing that we were reaching critical mass and tears were imminent, Hubby came up with a back-up plan that most women love to hear: “Let’s have dinner and go shopping!”   Gotta love Hubby; he sure knows how to make a girl smile.  Food and fashion are always a win with me.

While this was a nice short-term fix, we still have the bigger issue of our lives spinning out of control.  A planner at heart, I know that direction, not intention, determines destination.  Hubby and I made a promise that night to work on planning more fun, rather than waiting for fun to find us.

This is true for careers as well as date nights.

When I was laid-off, I took this to heart and mapped out a plan.  Starting with the end result, I worked backwards to figure out how to accomplish my job search goals.  I even wrote everything down on a grease board.  Sometimes it seems like writing it down makes plans more real.  After all, it doesn’t matter how much you want something to happen – without a plan, chances are you’ll stay put.

Simply intending to work on a job search is not enough. We need to have direction – a plan – in order to reach our destination of a job offer.

Even now that Hubby and I are working again we still need to map out our career goals as well as our life goals to make sure they work together in harmony.  Hard to remember this, but we are trying.

Yes, I’ve forgiven Hubby for asking me out at the last-minute.  Although I’m sure next time he’ll remember to plan in advance.

Right, Hubby? Hubby?

The Art of the Sale

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used car salesman

It’s important to know your strengths; what you’re most skilled at.  For example, a career in sales would be a huge mistake for me.  While I’ve worked in retail most of my life, my focus has been corporate office stuff.

It could be residual scars left from having to sell fruitcakes for a school club – whose brilliant idea was that?  The first year was not so bad, as most neighbors politely purchased one to send to a distant relative.  But year two and three?  The neighbors saw me coming and immediately shut the blinds so I would think they were out. Honestly, no one really eats fruitcake anyway, so one is good for a lifetime.

Or maybe my lack of selling skills stem from the fact that I don’t like to be sold on anything.  If I feel the least bit of pressure from a sales associate, I will walk the other way no matter how great the item is. Even if it’s the last pair of this season’s trendiest sandals – I’m serious!

Hubby has watched when a sales associate has tried to trap me, especially those with fake sincerity. It’s not pretty.  My sarcasm and snarky comments can leave even the toughest salesperson wishing they had not approached me.  The commission isn’t worth it.

As we speak, there’s a car salesman who wishes he never met me – lost the sale of a new car due to over-selling.   In an attempt to pressure me into purchasing the car, he told me, “This is the ONLY car in this limited edition color in the state”.  “Really?” I said to him.  “I just drove the same make and model, in the limited edition color, at your competitor across town.”  He was silent as I walked out saying, “You should expect your customers to be smart, not gullible”.

Of course there is a bit of selling to every job and I’ve learned ways to approach others when I want to pitch an idea to them.  Usually a softer intro is best, like “I wanted to talk to you about an opportunity/idea; let’s see if it’s something we can work on”.

Working for big brands, I’ve been on the receiving end of more sales calls than I can remember. Seems like everyone on the planet has a great idea/product/project that would be PERFECT for my company.  Major brands are in the driver’s seat in these situations, as others are eager to work with them.

Just had a call from someone wanting to sell me on an idea for one of my clients who happens to be a big brand.  I’ve never been so offended in my life.  First, this sales person would hardly let me get a word in edge-wise.  Then he refused to provide key information about the opportunity – a reasonable request in order to make a decision – wanting me to pitch him on why my company should be considered.

Excuse me, didn’t you call me? 

It took every ounce of strength to remain professional.  Sarcastic, snarky me was just begging to let him have it.  My colleagues, who could hear my side of the conversation, congratulated me for a great job maintaining a professional demeanor.

Despite my negativity towards sales, there’s one time when I do have to bring my A-game, and that’s during an interview.  Even my resume has to be a selling tool to get my foot in the door.  Once I secure an interview, I have to tell them why I am a better choice than all the other equally-qualified candidates out there.

It’s difficult for many of us to sell ourselves and our accomplishments, yet that’s exactly what we have to do when we interview for a job.  In this cut-throat employment environment, we have to stand tall, speak confidently and show them we are worth their investment to hire us.

Just don’t offer them a fruitcake.  Trust me on this one.

I Want to Know It All

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It’s important that we each understand our areas of expertise as well as our limitations.  This is not something I’m happy about.  I want to be good at everything I touch.  Some of this comes from upbringing.  As a kid I was taught to rely on myself, especially when it came to school.  My parents empathized with my workload and tougher subjects like math and science, yet were not really helpful if I needed coaching outside the classroom.  Quizzing me on memorized lists was one thing; anything with numbers and mom and dad would just smile sympathetically and leave me to figure it out.

As an adult, this has served me well at times, yet can also be a hindrance.  Much to my dismay, I’ve discovered that it’s really impossible to know how to do everything.  I get frustrated when I don’t understand a concept or have to rely on others who know more about a certain subject.  I simply want to know how to do everything.

What I’m trying to admit is that I’m somewhat of a control freak.  There; I said it.  Hubby is nearly hysterical with laughter.  “Somewhat? That’s the understatement of the century!”   If my eyes could burn something with one look, Hubby would not be laughing so hard.  Even the dog knows this; she’s tucked her tail and headed for the safety of her crate.

Nowhere is my frustration more evident than when it comes to computer issues.  Growing up on the cusp of computers breaking into daily life, I didn’t get the luxury of learning these skills as a child.  Now I have to rely on computer experts to tell me what needs to be done.

Which leads me to today.  I’ve got a super smart computer guy helping me with some web development work – basically cleaning up some behind-the-scenes stuff to make it move faster and optimized for SEO (my knowledge of this concept is so sketchy that I’m not even sure what I just said is correct).  Computer guy sent a very detailed recap of his findings for me to review.  I steeled myself as I opened his document, telling myself, “You can do this; you’re smart enough, you’re good enough, and doggone it, people like you”.

Basically what I learned is that I have the comprehension skills of a five year old when it comes to computers.  His technical explanations may as well have been written in an ancient Mayan language.  “We need to duplicate the H1’s to the X1’s, then erase the A5’s to direct the traffic through the indirect Z2 portal.  As you know, you never want your A5’s mingling with the X1’s.”  After about page three I threw up my hands and frustration set in.  I became irritated with myself because I felt like I should know all of this.

Once I calmed down and thought about this situation, it occurred to me that it’s okay not to be an expert in everything.  After all, CEO’s are not experts in everything. They know their limitations and adapt by asking the right questions and hiring the right people who are qualified.

My super smart computer guy can rest easy, knowing that I will never take his job since computer programming will never be one of my strengths.  That’s okay; I think I like the role of CEO better anyway.

Courage is in the Eye of the Beholder

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All of us have fears, right?  Some rational, some not, depending on whose fear it is.  Take Hubby, for example.  He has a slight fear of heights.  I learned this during one of our early dates, a fun evening at Six Flags.  We had ridden most of the rides, including roller-coasters, when we came to a seemingly innocent ride: the airplanes.  The ride consisted of small two-seater airplanes attached by cables that lifted straight up into the air. Once airborne, the ride began to spin which made the airplanes sort of take flight.  Very smooth and nothing scary about it; a great way to look at the scenery.

Once situated in our plane, I was giddy with childish excitement.  As the plane rose and started to spin, I said to Hubby, “Let’s hold hands while we look at the scenery”.  No response.  “Look over there! We can see the skyline in the distance.”  Not a peep from Hubby.  Finally I looked at him.  My strong Hubby was holding on for dear life, eyes focused straight ahead.   I tried to pry his fingers off the safety bar so we could hold hands, but he was stuck like glue.

Hubby is not too happy with the fact that the world now knows that he fears the small airplane ride, so I’ll share one of my fears.  This is a serious fear of mine, one that Hubby doesn’t understand.  I am terrified of bugs.  Small ones, big ones, you name it. Flying or jumping bugs really freak me out. Even lizards and geckos are included in this category.  No, they are not bugs and yes, I understand they eat bugs.  I still don’t like them and I really don’t want them around.

Not too long after we moved in to our house, I was in the bathroom when something darted across the floor.  Moving the throw rug, a creature ran out.  I shrieked – to no one, since Hubby was not home – and my heart started racing as I looked quickly for a “weapon” in order to protect myself.   Hard to believe I was left alone in Jurassic Park to fend off this evil beast.  Best thing I could find was Hubby’s shoe.   Cautiously moving the door back, I saw something move under a plastic bag that had fallen on the floor when I started doing my bug-freak-out dance (which, by the way, is something to see).  On a hunch, I started beating the bag with the shoe.  Convinced that I had indeed slain the dragon, I put a trash can over the crime scene with a note for Hubby to clean up the remains when he got home from work.   I remain convinced that I was courageous for dealing with this situation, although Hubby just laughs at me.

Both of these fears seem irrational to others.  I don’t quite understand the fear of the airplane ride and Hubby doesn’t understand my intense fear of all things creepy-crawly.  But we try to face our fears when necessary. Hubby was courageous to ride the airplanes with me, knowing that I would enjoy it.   I knew I might be carried away by the giant creature (bugs always grow in size as you retell the story) but I faced it anyway.

When we were both laid-off, we each experienced new fears, some serious and rational, some not.  We both had moments of “I’ll never work again” (totally irrational) as well as moments of “money could be an issue” (definitely serious).   At the same time we found courage to face our fears and in the process realized we could overcome the new reality of unemployment.  Yes, it was tough and I’m not sure you can ever be totally prepared for such a thing.  But with focus and determination you can find the silver lining in the gray cloud.

Remember, something good always comes out of tough situations, even if the situation involves a kids’ ride or a giant mutant bug.

College Review Course

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I love being on a college campus!  Everyone is so eager to learn and happy to be there.  There’s an energy that permeates just about every building and walkway.  It’s fun to sit and watch the students coming and going, stopping to study or cram for a test, engaged in conversations for a group project.  Fortunately, I have the opportunity to spend time on a college campus a couple times each year, interacting with the students and professors.

 

I wish that this type of interest/excitement/whatever-you-want-to-call-it would continue throughout our careers.  After we’ve been working awhile something happens to us work veterans; we tend to get bogged down in the details of work life, becoming frustrated and sometimes disillusioned to the point of wanting to throw in the towel and open a pig farm to get away from it all.  Pigs? I’m just brainstorming here. Think about it: how hard could it be to have pigs?  Just feed them and shelter them; after all they seem to be happier dirty so no need to bathe them.  There is the natural odor that comes with a pig, and I guess they are not litter-box trained so that could be an issue too.   But you get my point.  We all have moments where we lack that just-out-of-college enthusiasm.

 

Here are some things we all need to remember from college:

 

–          Enjoy learning. Just because we’ve left campus doesn’t mean we should stop learning. It’s good for our brains and brings a sense of accomplishment when we’re through.  Not to mention it’s great for the resume.

 

–          Throw yourself into your projects/work.  I remember being so intent on doing well for my classes that I developed almost laser-like focus to achieve a good grade.  We should do the same at work; think of how much we would accomplish.  Maybe we’ll even get a raise, if not a gold star on our Power Point presentation.  At least we can go home knowing we did our best.

 

–          Focus on what’s important. In school, we all had dreams and aspirations that helped us focus on the prize – an A in a class, receiving a diploma and getting a job.  While we won’t get a diploma from work, by setting work-related goals we can focus on what’s truly important for us at our jobs.

 

–          Make new friends (network).  This was easy at school since we met other students all the time.  It’s a bit more difficult out in the work force but equally as important. Whether it’s networking, making new friends or even keeping up with old friends, make time to reach out and touch someone.

 

–          Look toward the future with optimism.  With our careers wide open and out in front of us, in school we were excited to jump into the future.  Again, sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the here and now that we forget that each day is building on our future.  Try to maintain some of that fresh-out-of-school optimism – it’s amazing how good you’ll feel at work.

 

I need to continue to go back to college periodically to feel alive again, energized to learn and optimistic about the future – my future. Without pigs.

 

Interview Pressure Cooker

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And we’re live in 3…2…1…Good morning!  Thanks for joining us today – how are you?

How am I?  I’m a nervous wreck, if you want to know the truth.  Here I sit at my desk, all dressed up like I’m actually in front of this interviewer. In reality he’s in another city and the interview is over the phone.  For all I know this guy’s interviewing me from his garage wearing his pajamas.  This is my first radio interview as an author.  I should be excited – someone actually wants to talk to me about my book.

I am excited; this is what I’ve been waiting for. It’s a huge opportunity for me to get my personal work in front of a larger audience. That’s probably why, for the first time in I-can’t-remember-when, I’m nervous.  This is real – and I want it to be perfect. I’m so afraid I’ll make a mistake, say “you know” too many times or laugh nervously until I snort.   [Mess up; goof up; whatever you want to call it.]

I’ve prepared for this just like I would for any important event.  As a PR person I’ve done many live interviews for the company that required I be prepared and able to react quickly to any question thrown my way.  One wrong answer in those situations and, well, let’s just say it would not have been good for me.  Plus, I’m a veteran speaker who actually prefers being in front of a large audience over a small one.  A phone interview? With notes in front of me? From the comfort of my own desk? This should be a piece of cake!

My mouth is dry as I reach for the 64 oz jug of water I have on hand, just in case.  Problem is it’s too heavy to lift.  I try not to make noise shuffling my notes that are laid out in front of me: prepared questions with my answers typed out, along with a copy of my resume and of course my book.  LOL! This is my life, my story and my book, the book that I spent countless hours writing, reviewing, editing and writing some more.  You’d think I would be able to chat about this ad nauseam, without a care in the world.

I try to sound upbeat, even smiling as I talk. I read somewhere that it helps if you smile when you speak, even if it’s on the phone. Apparently it makes you sound cheerful.  Whatever.  I just hope the interviewer can’t hear the sweat running down my face.  I carefully listen to his questions, and try to answer casually, watching myself lest I fall into the bad habit of saying, “um” and “ah” too much.

I start to relax a bit, thinking this is going well, when out of nowhere he says, “Well, that’s all the time we have today.  Thanks so much for joining us on…”  What?  Wait; we’re not done yet, are we?  I frantically check my notes; did I say everything I wanted to say?  My mind races as I try to recall every bit of the interview, hoping that I sounded professional and that my Texas accent didn’t go into overdrive.

Sigh.  And just like that it’s over.  With me sitting at my desk, all dressed up, a face shiny from perspiring and an incredibly large mug of water.

Working Distractions

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Is it just me or is anyone else finding it hard to concentrate anymore, especially when it comes to work?  I am more easily distracted than I once was and it’s annoying.   What’s worse is that I seem to be busier than ever yet accomplishing the same, or even less.   I refuse to believe that this has anything to do with age; everyone knows I’m 29 and holding.

I’ve tried all sorts of techniques to help me stay focused: diverting my eyes from the computer, getting up from the desk for a walk or stretch, making a to-do list, scheduling work on my calendar with sound notifications, etc.  I’ve even asked Hubby to gently remind me to stay on course if he sees me sidetracked when I’m working at home.

So how are these tactics working?  Not very well.

  • Diversions –Used to be that I could simply close my eyes or look away from the computer screen for a minute and I would regain focus.  I still use this technique; it’s just that I become re-focused on my smart phone with such things as solitaire, checking other email accounts or looking at  Facebook  to read riveting news updates like “having bologna for lunch today”. This of course leads to numerous comments on my part as well as providing my own riveting update. Talk about a time-suck. Thirty minutes later and I need to be diverted from this diversion.

 

  • Stretching – Sitting is a necessary evil. Gotta do it at work, since my desk is too low to use my computer while standing.  Yet sitting makes me tired (go figure) so I try to get up and stretch or at least walk around periodically.  Didn’t seem like an issue until I decided to get my blood flowing with some in-office yoga. My “downward dog” seemed like a good idea at the time, until I looked up to find a colleague pushing my door open to ask a question.  Awkward.

 

  • Lists – “Make a list and stick with it”, everyone said.  “It’s so easy”.  Okay, I’ve got a list.  Actually, I keep making lists. They are everywhere – on my desk, in my purse, next to my bed, on the refrigerator, on post-it notes. You name it; I have it on a list.  And the list just keeps growing with all sorts of ideas, plans and work. Oh, wait – you mean at some point I’m actually supposed to follow these lists and check something off?  Silly me.

 

  • Calendars – I schedule my work as though it were a meeting. The calendar “pings” an alert to keep me on track.  It’s just that I’m so far off the track that I ignore the pings.  Hey, I think this may actually be a distraction instead.  All I’m doing is making lists.

 

  • Hubby – My dear, sweet Hubby. He took this assignment very seriously, standing over me, tapping his watch, telling me to focus on the task at hand.  Turns out it was Hubby who gained focus.  Sleeping on the couch does that to a person.  Poor Hubby.

 

Anyone have better suggestions?