working working working

Today is the 4th day of the 40th week, the 2nd day of the 10th month, the 276th day of 2024 [and I haven't even started my Christmas shopping yet], and:

• Audiophile Day
• Balloons Around the World Day
• Coffee with a Cop Day
• Gandhi's Jayanti - his birthday
• Guardian Angels Day
• Independence Day - Guinea from France in 1958
• International Day of Non-Violence
• International Walk to School Day
• National Custodial Worker Day
• National Fried Scallops day - I do prefer mine broiled
• National Kale Day
• National Name Your Car Day
• National Produce Misting Day
• National Pumpkin Seed Day
• National Research Maniacs Food Day
• National Smarties Day
• Peanuts Day - the cartoon not the nut 
• Phileas Fogg's Wager Day
• Random Acts of Poetry Day
• Rosh Hashana - starts at sunset
• World Day for Farmed Animals
• World No Alcohol Day
• the new moon at 2:50 PM EDT

Quote of the day:
“Your job, throughout your entire life, is to disappoint as many people as it takes to avoid disappointing yourself.” 

~ Glennon Doyle

Today was the third time I had to undertake my new commute in the rain to come into the office.  It wasn't quite as bad as last week's commute, but obviously I have to plan on being on the road 90 minutes each way now.  Spending three hours of my time in the car twice a week when I can do my job quite well sitting in the comfort of my home, is definitely a source of resentment.   How in the world do I do this every day of the week for so many years?!  Back then we just assumed that you had to accept a commute in order to have a job.                  

There has been a lot of chatter about how unrealistic the latest generation of  workers are about their pay expectations.  I had some direct experience with this myself when we had an intern, fresh off two years of college, no business experience, no previous work experience, tell me that he felt he was worth at least $25 an hour - I laughed at him as he wasn't even performing the tasks set to him satisfactorily.  He ended up resigning after he was put on 90 day probation and when I tole him that I was going to hire a full-time person for the job, scoffed that anyone would want to do it.  He was absolutely stunned when I advertised for the position and by the quality of the candidates coming in to interview.  When he asked to see the resumes, I let him look at them and he was honestly perplexed that these men and women were interested in doing the job he had just derided.  I have never heard from him again and I sometimes wonder how he fared in the business world, altho his parents were quite well off and probably had connections to help him.  

I don't mind at all that Gen Z refuses to make work their raison d'etre for existence - my mantra for years has been that I work to live, not live to work - so their insistence on limiting work time doesn't bug me as much as it does some.  But seriously guys, you just don't walk in and make a 6-figure salary when you haven't learned the ropes of the industry, much less your specific organization.  Your valuation of what you are "worth" has little or nothing to do with the market value of your job - and that is a hard lesson of life to learn.

Of course, I have never felt that the market adequately prices for my position - but that is because servicing/support is regarded as a cost center and somehow as needing less KSA [knowledge, skills, and abilities] than other areas.  As many have pointed out, an organization can have the best strategic plan and goals in the marketplace, but if they cannot execute them, it means nothing - and it is the "back office" that enables effective execution.  Allocate insufficient resources [not just number of employees but KSA, which is more expensive] and your results will suffer

So, how am I doing?  [note awkward segue there]

I'm still getting used to the new place - what were comfortable everyday routines are all upended.  I have to stop and think where things are; no more getting up and stumbling about on autopilot.   It doesn't feel like home quite yet as things are still in disarray.  This was what I feared most about the move [right behind worrying about that elevator] - once I return to work, finding the time and energy to continue unpacking just seems beyond me.  Even the days when I am not commuting, by the time I log out at 4 PM, eat supper, call Kit [that's 1 - 2 hours each night], and catch up with my emails, it is after 7 PM and I am really not in the mood to start trying to unpack anything.  It's like having a second job!

And I miss my view from the balcony.  

And I'm still bummed out that I have to park outside instead of a garage for the first time in 17 years.  

And lastly, my ear pods and TV remotes and coasters are still buried somewhere - I can't set up my living room  completely until I find them and I don't know where they are.  

But being in a clean place where I don't have to worry about bugs, where the elevators actually work, where packages are left at my door, and where there is good security?  These things are nice, to say the least.  It doesn't feel like home yet, and I don't really feel relaxed yet, but I definitely feel like this was a good move for me.

One day at a time....