When I started a new job years ago, I arrived early on my first day, trying to impress my boss.
“What a go-getter!”
I stood out in the hallway, waiting, for 45 minutes, till after nine when the first person rolled in, yawning, and let me in. My boss didn’t show up till ten. It was a small ad agency filled with creative people. And while lots of creative people are known for their go-getterness, it’s usually a laid-back, yeah, whatever go-getterness and is hard to come by early in the morning.
That place became my second home and I made such good friends there that it’s hard for me to remember if and for how long I felt out of place in that new place. But, I’m sure I did. I don’t remember wanting to know where the coffee was, but I bet I wanted to. Along with the paper clips, the file folders, the note pads, the copy machine, the rest rooms. My office.
I started a new job yesterday after being on my own for twelve years. Everyone there is as laid back, yeah whatever as all the other ad agency people I’ve ever worked with. Although I didn’t have to wait for anyone to let me in. I was the second one there at nine. Everyone else rolled in a half hour later which gave me time to find the paper clips, file folders, printers, rest rooms. And my office.
While they made me feel as comfortable as they could, I still felt out of place most of the day. Out of the place I’ve been for years. Doing whatever I’ve wanted to do whenever I’ve wanted to do it. I’ve got a lot of new habits to form and lots of old habits to break.
Can’t write for my blog whenever I want to now. But, since I still want to, I think I’m going to have to start getting up really early to do it. Like I did this morning. I rolled out of bed at five, made coffee, sat down at the computer and stared at the screen for an hour, in a daze. I was in full laid-back, yeah whatever go-getter mode.
Impressed?
And now I’ve got to get ready to go to the office. And I have to hurry. I can’t be late!
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