Time to de-stress

Hello PowerSuiters!  Today, I felt like beating myself up in the ladies restroom, in efforts to get out of working a full day, like Jim Carey did in Liar, Liar - (which by the way has been coming on TV like 3 times a week these days!).  Juggling my job duties (which there are many), training my colleague, recruiting and interviewing for my replacement all while under the thumb of a really demanding boss (tomorrow, I will share a great article I found on the Internet about handling demanding bosses).   

Then, there's blogging(clearly you see, I am having issues staying focused on that), reading the latest book for my book club, volunteering with the American Cancer Society, and my swim class (this is a job in itself - whew!)

Last year, I briefly saw a psychotherapist to help me get a grip on all the stressors in my life.  While she told me all the things I pretty much already knew could help me (in the first 2 minutes of my first meeting I told her, she would NOT be prescribing me any drugs) like doing yoga and/or meditation, prioritizing things in my life and not overstretching myself, different breathing techniques and also something that I forgot the technical term for, but it consisted of clinching my eyes shut or my fists for intervals of time and releasing until I am more relaxed.  Does anyone know the term for that??  Anyway, all those things do work, when I have time to do it or remember to do it!   Although, I have not tried yoga yet - so guess I need to sign up for that once my swim class ends!

I also know of another resource, and I am a little embarrassed saying I have not used it!  EAP - most companies have an Employee Assistance Program that is FREE!  Employees can call a toll-free number or log on to the vendor's website and request reading materials on various topics, or find a therapist, support group, etc. 

I guess sometimes people (or me) know what to do, but won't make the time for themselves to get it together and take action.  So, don't be like me, use your resources or just extracurricular activities to help you (me) de-stress - there are lots out there, the Internet has everything!  I will look too and save myself a self-inflicted beat down!

So close, yet so far away...

Anticipation - expectation or hope.  This describes me today but times 100!

I mentioned that I received a promotion, but have not yet transitioned to my new role.  Having formally accepted the offer about two months ago, I am beginning to feel as if I am on an episode of Punk'd and my boss will any day now let me know that there is no new job! 

While I am helping recruit for my own backfill, I am taking on more projects and tasks in my old/current job, which leaves me to think that I will never get on to my new position.  I am definitely taking it all in stride, staying positve and optimistic and training my colleague so she knows what to do when I finally leave. 

Access Denied...

Just a little rant....I am all for company security, information technology rules and regulations. 

However, at work I like to listen to my playlist.com music site (that I so excitingly blogged about last February) read a little Hollywood gossip here and there - fashion police anyone!  But guess what, I'm blocked now.  One little Microsoft Upgrade, has sent all my favorite sites to upgrade exile.  
  
I know people look for jobs on company time and on company equipment - which is very crazy, inappropriate and a huge risk and that kind of thing should be prevented.  Some people may blog at work (I may think of a topic and email it to myself), facebooking (yeah FB is blocked too - but I'm not a Facebooker anyway - face what?) Others may twit, tweet, chirp - whatever they do on Twitter - I'm not a Twitterer either (am I starting to sound lame?) People also shop on their company computers (I've done this - whoops) but hey, plane tickets and concert tickets are the most I do.  You can't lallygag when buying those types of things.  And I can't forget about my new found love - Groupon!!!!  Yes - I groupon at work!  Those deals are on the clock....

But I suppose I'll get over it - I can still listen to CDs on my computer and I brought in my Ipod docking station for my listening pleasure.  As for shopping - still gonna do that - I'm not blocked from groupon.com, ticketmaster.com and expedia.com ~ HA! 

So, while I am both for and against personal Internet use on company property and time - here's my two cents - you, my FBers and Twitterers - there is always those apps on those oh so suped-up phones that you could use throughout the day, No, I don't have an Iphone or blackberry - so I really don't know how those apps work either!  But, those TV commercials make it seem like its easy!

Money ~ Power ~ Respect

Wow! I am really slipping here with the blogging.  I've definitely got to do a better job at managing my time and making the time to blog on a consistent basis - phew!  But I am determined to do just that.  Vogue's March  issue titled "The Power Issue" helped me put some pep in my step.  With Lady GaGa on the cover I was compelled to read it, but once I opened it there were lots of articles about women famous and not so much who are making power moves.  Those with hectic schedules, kids, demanding careers, etc.  So I thought to myself - Get it together girl!

Soooo, what's been going on - Money, Power, Respect...

Money
Corporate America never ceases to amaze me.  I've gotten a promotion, ummm about two months ago, but am still working in my current position.  When will I transition??  Good question.  Tell you more about that later.  But very excited about the promotion - right on track with the goal I set for myself.  A promotion with a side of raise.

Power
Lots of volunteering - here, there, and everywhere.  Hey - trying to get my philanthropy on!  The power of giving (time, money, advice, skills) is priceless, nothing compares.

Respect
Hmmmm - what else - joined a book club through www.meetup.com.  Very cool, check it out.  We just finished "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.  Very, very good book - check that out too.  Next up - "Water for Elephants".  Respecting myself by continuing to learn, grow and meet new people.

Help me to help you

This week I confirmed that as a "right-hand man" you are required to watch the act of thinking.  In my job, while I am not an assistant by title, I always end up assisting my boss with numerous tasks and projects, making copies, fetching files, and the most fairest of all - watching her think. 

With some internal company restructuring we have a new leader with a different management style, and different needs and priorities.  With this comes more complex projects requiring me to assist my boss on assignments I've never been exposed to before.  This is great news for me, because I now have the opportunity to learn some new skills and interact with other colleagues.  Yea Me!

However, I realized that its not enough to listen to my boss debrief the situation, get educated on the details, retype documents that our predecessors did not save electronically, analyze the next steps based on my perspective as a newcomer to the information, BUT I also must sit in my boss's office and watch her as she thinks of where additional documents may be, who could have possibly signed the missing document, what the calculation on the 19th page of the contract means and so on!!!!!   How do I know that this to is a requirement - because when I position my body to leave her office to return to my desk, she snaps "Wait, give me a minute".  A minute to do what, I ask myself.  While it would be fantastic if my superhuman power was mind reading, I don't possess that skill set and watching someone think is a waste of time if it isn't an active brainstorming session.

At the end of the day, don't ask someone to watch you think, help them to help you accomplish whatever outcome you are looking for by not wasting their time, but telling them what you are trying to achieve, uncover, or make a decision on.  Next, write down the follow up items that need some additional thought and lastly, decide on a time to reconvene once you had the opportunity to actively think and discuss next steps.