It’s a slow day, and I cut out of work at 4:30 after emailing a customer to tell them, “just because they wrote something down in their project plan, doesn’t mean that A: I knew about it B: Committed to doing it or C: Have resources available to accommodate their 11th hour request.”
Client responded back with a screen shot of said project plan, which I have never seen before. “See! I wrote it right here! If I write it down, it becomes real, right? I don’t have to actually tell you of my plan! It’s Microsoft Project, It’s Magic!”
I closed my laptop and walked out of the building. I can’t tell if my pending departure (35 days and counting) is making me better at my job or worse. I’ve actually become more aggressive, less likely to let our customers get away with the various schemes and tricks they always play on vendors. There was a time when I cared if they were happy (and to be honest to get a good review). Now I just want to be efficient and avoid unnecessary extra work. All customers are the same. They are like little children who need boundaries and rules. They will ask until you say no. They will cajole you, pester you, whine, and throw tantrums, but in the end you know what’s best for them, and “No, you can’t start another project until you finish this one. You barely even touched this project and you want more? Don’t make me call your father.”
They’ve taken to calling me the assassin at work; I wonder if it’s related.
So life goes on, albeit with me treating my clients more sternly. If you expect the process of quitting your job, moving abroad and starting a new life to be exciting—it’s not. It’s a big decision, a big rollercoaster, a huge secret, and then… nothing. You wait. Tick Tock. Are we in Madrid yet? No? How about now? Oh.
That will change soon enough, I have no doubt. I will likely puke on the day I quit my job, and then spend the next two weeks suppressing the urge to do little dances in my office and as I walk down the halls.
In the 80’s there was this Get Rich Quick guru, that my mother had some cassettes for (PS didn’t work) and he always talked about getting rich then walking out of work with mistletoe hanging from your belt (I can only assume in the back, but it was the 80’s so whatever). That image always stuck with me, and while I don’t want them to kiss anything of mine, I do want them to get the eff out of my way.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Nice Site layout for your blog. I am looking forward to reading more from you.
Tom Humes
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Ay, Christine! You always make me laugh, not only because you’re funny but because everything you write reminds me of something in my own life. When I knew was just waiting for the *&^$ to hit the fan at my job as the assistant director of a social service agency, I’d just walk in my office in the morning, come out to run a therapy group, go back in my office, shut the door, and it was then that I finally got the spine to say “Your failure to plan, Boss, ain’t my problem. And I’m not going to bail you out anymore.”
Julies last blog post..How I’m Making Peace With My Camera… and How You Can, Too
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Thanks so much for your comments! I will throw them right back at you about your site, very insightful postings and I will be following from now on.