new attitude

Do you remember the song, "I've Got a New Attitude"? While browsing in Sprouts on Monday afternoon, that song was being played. It always makes me chuckle to hear the music that particular grocery store chooses to have playing in the background. I don't believe I've every heard a song in their that predates the mid 70's or is more current than the early 90's. Certain songs must improve fruit and veggie sales!

Music isn't the point of this post. New attitudes abound at work, for the moment. With the new year, new opportunities have arrived. Everyone seems to be a little more upbeat, a little more engaged, and a little more tolerant. Except for my manager. He's struggling. The mama in me wants to give him advice. He admitted he has the back to work blues. He took 2 weeks off like I did. But, after finishing his MBA last year, I really expected him to launch a more aggressive job search. He didn't. He's been in his job for over 10 years and really has no place to move inside the organization. If he wants a new job, it will be beyond our building and with a different company.

Would it be good for me if he left? I really don't know. I'm not interested in that job. I don't want the stress. But, part of what makes my job so enjoyable is working for him. Yet, a new person could bring new energy and would shake things up a bit. That could be good or bad.

Ugh. Time will tell.

limbo

The vibe at work has a bit of a limbo quality to it of late. With my coworker leaving mid August to finish her PhD work (Early Modern English) and the impending hiring of a true graphic designer, things are a bit odd. We know she is leaving. We know we are going to 'try' and hire a designer. We know we have a ton of work to do for the national meeting.

But, things don't feel like they are progressing. And it is all making me a bit nuts. I don't like this uncertainty about who will be doing what come August 11.

I would feel better if they had posted the job opening. I would feel better if the contract for the journal work was drafted and signed.

August is usually a rough month for me with the kids heading back to school and this August will be a bit topsy-turvy at work to top it all off.

Not looking forward to it.

stirring the pot

I unintentionally stirred a rather large pot yesterday. Oops. You just never know sometimes and when I forwarded the 'bounce' report from our last email campaign to the database manager, I really didn't intend for it to become such a large issue.

Well, it did. Okay, fine.

I'm sure the fall out from that one will continue over the next few weeks.

But, it is Thursday and that is a very good thing. And we were approved to purchase new chairs for work! Yeah! So, off to Office D. we will go to try a few on for size. When you sit on your fanny as much as we do, a nice chair is important.

Enough work stuff. Time to enjoy that first cup of coffee, the newspaper, and a bit of conversation with the hubby.

Enjoy your day.

constructive comments

We're in a rut.

There. I've said it. I think the only way to enact change is to first admit that change is needed. We need some changes at work. Going to the national meeting only solidified that thought in my head.

Our association has been very successful over the past 50 years and has grown and filled a need in the research community. But, like every entity, if you stagnate, things start to lose traction. You fail to recognize potential competitors and then fail to develop a plan to re-position yourself in the market. You begin to think that yours is the only show in town. You become complacent in your customer service and as your front line people become entrenched in their ways, service becomes a chore, a bother, a nuisance.

I saw all of this while I was gone to the meeting. I had a long talk about it yesterday with our assistant executive director. A meeting with the exec. director may happen. They lost money last year. The hope this year is to break even.

As my boss told me before we left, "We succeed in spite of ourselves." He's right. But, how long can we sustain that?

It might be time to open the windows and air the place out. I said my piece, and framed it in the concept that we might be missing some opportunities. I think we are. But, in this case, change needs to come from the top down. If the ones in charge don't buy into the idea of trying some new things, the stagnation will continue.

There is truth to the saying that if something isn't broke, don't fix it. But, what if you don't realize that the thing is broken, cracked, or on its last leg? What then?

Is it time for a change? I think so. I do know that I have said my piece and offered ideas and suggestions. It is now time to step back. I had fresh eyes to see everything and how it all works. A new perspective was given.

Do I think the association is going to fail? No, I don't think that at all, but its relevancy and impact may begin to diminish. I've shared my thoughts with the powers that be. That's about all I can do.

coming up soon

We have a library board meeting coming up soon. I need to figure out exactly what is the best way to point out some issues I have with some of the numbers we were given at our last meeting.

The pay for our library staff is not horrific, but when the starting wage is less than that of a school crossing guard it raises some red flags. Especially when they ask for a 4 year degree for many of the library jobs. These aren't the MLS jobs, these are the assistant jobs. Our library is less staffed than many of the surrounding libraries in our area and in the state and our stats are higher than those same libraries.

The town just signed  a new 3 year deal with the management company, so not that my comment will do anything, but I feel that it needs to be said.

I think they are underpaid and the town and the management company both know it.

Hmmm, need to noodle this one a bit.

Other things coming up soon, the leadership meeting at work that will have me in the office on a Saturday. I'm intrigued to see some of these folks in action and to hear the spin, but I hate losing my Saturday off. I'm also interested to sit in on this committee I've been assigned to monitor and guide.

Okay, it is Wednesday. The week is moving along and a nice clip. Speaking of clip...the boy got a really nice haircut for camp. He doesn't look quite so shaggy anymore!!

Enjoy the day.

ready for the weekend

We have a three day weekend ahead. One thing that is a really nice perk about my play of employment is our holiday schedule. We have almost every federal holiday off  plus a few extras. So, there is rarely a month that we don't get a three day weekend. That is perfect for making doctor appointments. I am going to two of them on Monday. Going to be a busy day, but at least I don't have to use PTO to have my physical and such.

Hubby and I have plans for a Saturday morning breakfast date. We may drive all the way into the big city and eat at one of the very famous breakfast diners near the university campus. In the 10 years we've lived here, we've never eaten there. Time to start seeing if all the talk is true.

We may also venture to the cell phone store and see about getting my Christmas present. Yep. I may leave the 'stone ages' and take the leap into the iPhone world. The kids, my boss, and assorted other people all think I'm missing out on a lot of fun by not having an iPhone. Hmmmm. Perhaps. Having one may be quite useful as I travel for work. Sitting in booths at conventions can be a bit dull and if I can play word games with my boss and friends, I could keep myself entertained!

The conference call yesterday went well. We think. The design gal seemed a bit 'out of it.' We weren't sure if she was caught off guard by the fact that instead of a 32 page piece we are going to be closer to 60, or if we really sent her a hot mess in regards to how we organized the content. I'm sure the owner of the company is thrilled that we will owe more money for the production of the piece. Our BOT is thrilled we sold so much ad space. Maybe she just thought her design work was over and when we included two new columnists, she was surprised. Who knows.

We are anxious to see the initial layouts and get this thing off to the printers.  Our first brand new emailed newsletter was sent yesterday afternoon to rave reviews. One of our editorial advisory board members emailed us her congratulations and compliments. Plus, she copied the executive director on the note. Always good when that happens.

So, the boss and I had a good day after several rough ones last week. Things, for the moment, are looking okay-dokey. And it is Thursday. Yeah!