Things I’m Learning

1.) Corporate America is all about “teams.” Everyone is on a team. E-mails are addressed to teams. Clients are calling in to speak to their team. Two people, a department, a company… all are teams. There’s no “I” in team, but I need a break from all these damn teams.

2.) I’m not a great runner and yet I’m training for a marathon. Turns out that most marathoners are not great runners. Whew! I thought you had to be an Olympic athlete in order to accomplish this. Nope. Turns out that many of my friends who have completed multiple marathons have walked in a number of them. It’s all about the experience.

I foresee the experience of my exhausted body literally crawling across the marathon’s finish line. 

Head Up

A colleague approached me this morning with some advice.

He said, "Did you know that when you walk around the office you always have your head down? I challenge you to pick your head up and look everyone in the eyes today."

And you know what? He's right! I have to be honest, I don't love my new job. I'm often overwhelmed by the people. But if I become more approachable and pick my head up, then I'm sure I'll learn that the people aren't so bad. Maybe I've been afraid that I will actually like it here.

So, Chad, thank you for Yoda moment and for the challenge. This is something I will focus on.

Buried

I've been trying to focus on my life lately. As in, my life outside of the office.

Except that it's really hard to do that when I'm literally buried in work.

Le sigh...

Organize Your Writing

From LegalGeekery

I recently edited a friend’s law school admission essay. He would like to pursue business law and wrote a great story about how his current job and experience in growing a fledging business has led him to this field.

Except, when he got to his final paragraph—the most important part of the whole essay!—he lost focus. He wants to be a lawyer so badly and for so many reasons that he tried to spew it out all at once. His confusion was there on paper for us all to see. There were disagreements between subjects and objects; there were run-on sentences; and I think he talked about a blooming flower once or twice.

This is a mistake a lot of writers make. We want something so much that it’s incredibly hard to articulate. “I just want it, okay?”

So, these are the suggestions that I offered to him and, therefore, are offering to you in your own writing projects:

Please delete the flowery writing. There’s a time and a place for this and a law school application is not it. Additionally, flowery statements signal to me that the person is hiding behind metaphors rather than choosing the right word—a sign of a poor writer. If you don’t believe me (or if you want to learn more), check out On Writing Well.

You need to break down the various reasons as to why you want to be a lawyer/doctor/writer/whatever. For example, my friend wants to help people, resolve disputes, develop his business acumen, become a good lawyer, get international experience, and… and… and.... Whew! In one sentence, this is overwhelming. If each point is instead broken down, it appears both possible and admirable. Provide examples and then provide more examples. (Examples and quotes are what got me through my English degree. Worked for my History degree as well. Who'd have thunk it?)

Don’t lose your personal voice. My friend was very good at telling his story, but in the conclusion he switched gears and wrote what he thinks he should say. Yes, he wants to become a lawyer, but the law school committee already knows about lawyers; what they do, what they’re like. They’re more interested in your personal contribution!

I have yet to see my friend’s second draft, but I hope (as all editors do) that he’ll take my comments and at least consider them as an option. Many times, just thinking about a certain sentence can lead to a whole new direction that’s even better than the one I proposed.

I hope this is helpful! And keep writing, y'all—practice makes perfect.

We Know More Than We Think We Do

Oftentimes, I feel like I don’t know anything. Seriously. I am just a mass of cells or whatever wandering around the universe with no purpose---and no intelligence.

Then someone asks a question and I’m able to quickly and succinctly answer them or, at a minimum, send them in the right direction.

So maybe we know more than we think?

For example:

1. At work, the editors who are technically above me constantly ask for my advice on everything from letters and book descriptions to how to deal with difficult authors. It’s amazing how much I know about the publishing business. If I can’t answer, at least I am aware enough to say, “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask x or check out y?”

2. Cooking. I freak out every year when it comes to planning meals for our Lake Powell trip. I don’t know why. I’ve become a significantly better cook over the last year (I could only go up from incompetence). However, when cooking at home the only person who suffers from a complete mishap is me or my roommates. When on vacation, the 5 of us eat only two meals---breakfast and dinner---and we eat well. Very, very well.

The good news, though, is that I’m not as intimidated by new recipes. I already have my two dinners planned. Breakfasts are a challenge since I never make them on my own. I don’t think the guys will be too pleased with my standard instant oatmeal or yogurt and granola. I’m actually excited to try some new breakfast recipes this weekend. If they don’t work, there’s always eggs, bacon, and pancakes---and you can’t go wrong with the classics.

3. I don’t consider myself a fitness expert by any means. I do admit that I’m more active than the “average” person (whatever that means). Living in Boulder, I usually think that I suck as 60-year-olds pass me on trail runs. Recently, though, a number of friends have asked for my advice on training---and shockingly, I can answer their questions as well. More importantly, answering their questions means sending them to more reputable sources.

So maybe we shouldn't sell ourselves short? No, I don't know everything nor do I profess to. But then again, I'm not a waste of space either.

The ATL

I'm heading to Atlanta on Friday morning to attend the annual American Sociological Association conference. I'm so excited to get out of town. I've been telling people that although I've been busy every weekend this summer, I don't really feel like I've gone anywhere. Besides, I've never been to Atlanta so it will be a fun city to explore.

I still need to tackle how I'm going to pack for this thing. Something tells me that my wool, two-piece suits might be a little warm.

My Black Suit

Another good note is that I scored a really nice Briggs & Riley suitcase for free. Holla! I've been borrowing my parents' suitcase for years now, and I was starting to think that it's time to grow up and buy my own. I just didn't want to spend the money. Well, my boss bought a new suitcase and gave me her "extra" one. I'm always glad to take her hand-me-downs of expensive, barely-used items. One of my favorites so far is a gorgeous cashmere Italian sweater. Score and score.

I've only gone to meetings for political scientists, so I'm interested to see what the sociology crowd is like. I think they may be a little more outgoing and friendly given their work, but with academics you can never be too sure.

I'm leaving town. Hurrah! Now I just need to figure out what to pack. Damn.

Random

Since I've been gone for so long, I'd like to share some of my random thoughts via cell phone pictures taken over the last couple weeks. Yup, that's right: I still don't have a camera. And I like it. Don't hate.

I've been riding my little commuter bike as much as possible. My goal for this week is to not drive my car unless I'm leaving town. It's easier said than done.

It's after 7pm on a Tuesday night. I'm at work. This is what my desk looks like. I hope I don't run into the Creepy Janitor.

I can actually look cute some days! Here's my rockin' new halter and cute scarf. The only good thing about having linebacker shoulders is that I can rock the halter tops.

I love, love, love my Korean shirt from Adam. He has a shirt from Boulder in return. Check out the awesome project, TXP.

Besides the office, I spend a ridiculous amount of time here: Boulder Indoor Soccer.

My office is boycotting Amazon. They're bullies. But I have a huge and slightly worrisome crush on my new Kindle. It's that amazing.

I have been cooking. Not as much as I should, but still. Cookies!

Lastly, I'm debating about going here: Australia. We'll see.

Random Thoughts + Stuck at Work + Cell Phone Pictures + Hot Chocolate = Love

Weighing in on Chicago

I'm literally weighing in here. In 5 days I have managed to gain 5 pounds. And my god, it was worth it.

I was lucky enough to travel with my fabulous friend and coworker, Karen, who is a complete foodie. Before we even got there, she had a list of places to visit.

I didn't get pictures of everything with my crappy camera phone, but here are some of the highlights.

Hello, Chicago!

Water. Yacht. Yes, please.

The Bean!

Playing around under the bean.

Navy Pier.

It's playoff time!

Cupcakes! I'm not a huge cupcake fan, but these were that good.

Car bombs for Karen's birthday!

Karen, post-bomb.

Some of the other restaurants and places:

Exchequer

Garrett Popcorn

Trader Joe's (this place needs to come to Colorado. Pretty please?)

Russian Tea Time (instead of tea, we had their standard 3 shots of vodka.)

Cafe Iberico (oh my god, this is the best tapas place in the world.)

Oh, yeah. We also worked. We worked a lot. As in my cheeks are sore from talking and smiling for three days straight and my feet don't want to see my heels again. Ever.

The booth.

A red beacon of light, inviting people to come buy books---and to 

write more books for us to publish.

I loved Chicago. I want to go back. Now.

If only....

I'm going to Chicago

And you're not.

Neener neener neener.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities. If I could move anywhere tomorrow, Chicago would be it. (In the city, not the suburbs).

Too bad I've applied for multiple jobs out there with no luck.

Oh well. Boulder ain't too bad.

Chicago's Palmer House Hilton, looking hawt in business suits, and pizza and beer all on the company dime? Yes, please!

Oh yeah, and I'll work a little bit too.

Caught up?

Get this amazing and magical thing: I am almost all caught up with work! This hasn't happened in, well, years.

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. This entire weekend I did not go in the office once nor did I feel any need to. Again, insane!

This is my little work notebook. I survive by this and take it everywhere with me---almost comically so.

So, my new goals:

1. Do not get behind again!
2. Do not get behind again!
3. Find out what in the h-e-double-l I'm going to do with myself with all this free time.

First of all, now that I'm healing I honestly believe that hurting my knee has allowed me to get caught up---with life, really. As much as I hated being sedentary, when I go to the gym now I actually feel stronger. My muscles have finally gotten the rest they've been begging for. I can concentrate better at work. Before, when I played two soccer games on Tuesday nights it meant that I was absolutely useless on Wednesdays at the office. I couldn't think. I was exhausted all the time.

So now is the hardest part: BALANCE. I honestly believe that this doesn't actually exist, but I'm going to try. Balance with work, an active life, and myself.

This leads to the question: Do I dive back into all my soccer teams again? Do I get into new hobbies? I miss soccer. I miss the people even more. The problem, though, is that I don't have a mental stop light. I can't say "No." One team leads to three more invitations and I soon find myself in over my head. So this is what I am hoping to do: Continue with only a team or two, but also pursue other things. I don't like being bored, I hate watching tv all night even more, so we'll see how long this lasts.

In my newfound freedom, guess what I did this weekend? First of all I helped my friend Emily who just broke her foot. Poor girl!! I helped her by taking her out for food and eating all the junk food we could get our hands on. I mean really, what else are friends for?

I also cooked! As with all my cooking, it was an adventure. I made the Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast and Apple Pie from her new cookbook.

The roast turned out A-MAZ-ING. And it was surprisingly easy. Pictures!

Just out of the oven.

Pot roast with roasted veggies and brown rice. Yum!

The apple pie was a different story. First of all, it all seemed to come together just fine but I didn't think to put it on aluminum foil because, well, the directions didn't tell me too. I'm very literal with recipes. I don't veer off course unless I miss a step or just do it wrong (which is common). So, the filling inside the pie proceeded to drip out of the crust and collect on the pan. Okay, whatever, but when I pulled the pie out and cooled everything off, the drippings literally carmelized/candied on the pan! It was impossible to get off!

Trying to soak my carmel-coated pan.

Chefs and foodies, cover your eyes: I had to take a metal knife and scrape the filling off my non-stick pan. Yes, very painful but there was no way around it! A brillo pad was worthless. So, lesson learned: Aluminum foil is my friend.

Continuing the debacle, when I tried to get the pie off the pan it turned more into an apple crumble. Hmm... maybe because all the filling to hold it together had dripped out? I can't be too sure. Luckily it was all still very yummy (whew!). Perfect with vanilla ice cream.

Apple pie/crumble.

The good news: Everything I do is a learning process. The bad news: I know nothing.

Luckily, two men are ooh-ing, ahh-ing, and groaning as they are eating my pot roast right this very second. Three votes for the roast. Hurrah!

Motivation

Generally, I'm a very motivated person. Probably too much so.

I'm often in over my head with 60-hour work weeks, late nights at the office, and countless soccer teams.

Except for right now. Right this very second (well, this week really), this is how motivated I am:

Can a gnome please come into my life and do all of my work and make all of my decisions? I'll be accepting resumes starting... now.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Pay comes in the form gratitude and reduced grumpiness (both worth their weight in gold).

I Could Be Skiing

It's Saturday afternoon. I could be skiing. In the mountains. Where there's snow, and trees, and friends. Instead, I'm here...

I'm at the office.

But I have a game plan: I'm going to get caught up (buahahaha! that's funny) and then I will conquer my job, conquer my company, and, finally, conquer the publishing empire.

Watch out, world.

New, Smarter, Faster, Stronger?

New computers are supposed to make life easier, right? Right?

Wrong.

My office, and my life, has exploded into chaos and nighmare.

Yes, I have three desks and yes, they are all packed with manuscripts and computer software. Not to mention that the tangled mass of chords under my desk---which were so neatly organized before---is seriously messing with my OCD.

The tech guys were on my boss's computer until after 7 last night and are coming back again today. My boss asks eighteen questions every time she clicks her mouse. Poor guys.

Easy as pie.

Workaholic

I work too much.

Honestly.

I'm salaried and I constantly pull 10- to 12-hour days with no overtime pay. The company has also put a freeze on salary increases. I'm often burnt-out and frazzled. In short: What The Hell Am I Doing?

I need to get a grip on time management. The problems are that 1.) I usually get much more done after 6 pm when everyone is gone; 2.) My boss comes in late and works late and thus expects me to stay as well; and 3.) I honestly don't know what to do with myself if I'm home at 5 or 5:30.

I recently read an amazing guest post on Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You To Be Rich (buy his book, by the way, it's amazing!) about how to be accomplished and successful while working an 8-hour day. It's all about time management and productivity. I'm good at my job and I enjoy what I do, but I have to admit that I need to be more focused during the time that I am there! My new goal is to get a lot done, progress within my company, and still enjoy my personal hobbies.

Maybe with a 40-hour work week I will actually have time to get through my reading list. I could run more, make time to see friends, study for the GRE, cook, sleep, and even (gasp!) relax. I have seen so few movies and tv shows that it is hard to hold a casual conversation. True story.

Work less? That shouldn't be hard, right? But it is, trust me. Society commonly defines people by their occupation and we often become emotionally invested in our jobs. Personal success and failure determined by a paycheck. Not good.

Balance is the goal. Time management is the key. And being happy—both at the job and away from it—is worth the fight.

So, this next week my goal is this: To work my a** off (as usual), but in a consistent and productive manner for 8-hours a day. And then go home. This will be hard, and it may take some time, but I think both my personal and professional lives will benefit from it.

It's gonna get interesting.