I'm doing something I never do. Writing a piece tonite (Wednesday) to post tomorrow morning. I usually have no idea what I'm going to actually say - I get up, check what's been posted over night, check out some news sites and there you got it. Life according to Tammi. If I have something to say, I usually just say it now, knowing that there is little doubt I'll have something to say later. But I got this "mass" rolling through my mind, and I want to put it out there before I go crazy spinning in circles, but I also want to make sure it's logical and makes sense. Well, sense for me that is!
Anyway - Wednesday was a pretty rough day. I had 3 major meetings and no information for the 2 most important. But hey - I'm in sales. I'll just pull the info out of my magic ass and who will be the wiser, right? Me. That's who. And just so you know, I don't have a good poker face. If I think it or feel it, it's written all over my face. So, I don't do that. Can't. It's a waste of time and my good reputation.
First meeting - alright. Meet and greet. Take care of a couple of questions. Next. Lunch with a team mate. THAT was interesting. Found out that there are some things missing on my accounts, LIKE MY NAME - meaning I won't get paid for those shipments. Did I mention I'm on commission?!? Yeah, yippee. Oh, and the way we found that out is she asked if I've been getting the weekly reports. What weekly reports? Who sends them? What do they report? Oh Shit. That's not a good sign.
Third meeting, small design house that orders on a client by client basis. Small orders, no stock, no show room. IOW - very low sales. Still, a customer is a customer is a customer. After almost 2 hours I'm finally done. They ordered 6 flippin' beds. That's it. Oh, and they want me to stop each week to reveiw orders. Did I mention they are 2 hours away, and no other customers near. Weekly??!! No, I'm thinking not.
Meanwhile, the phone never stopped ringing. Not all bad things, just so very much to do. Thursday looks to be another day that starts around 6:00am and hopefully will end around 7:00pm.
So on the way home I'm talking to a friend. She used to be my customer, and we've been friends for almost 8 years. She lives 3 miles from my new home and I've seen her 1x since I moved. It's 6:30pm and we are both finally starting home after long days. She tells me I need a life. All I do or talk about is work. After the "pot calling the kettle black" retort I tell her I have to disagree. I talk politics, just not with her. I support our Military and am starting to get more physically involved with that. Just never talked about it to her. She doesn't know about the blog - and I'm gonna keep it that way. I talk about movies, books, sports and I love a good gossip session as much as the next person.
But it got me to thinking. Is she right? I know I need to get out more, that's a given. I checked my category listing on the site. Nope - work has the least amount posted. I know I vent to the people I call during the day. But I think we also have other, insightful discussions. Hmmmmm
Plus I know plenty of people that work longer hours and more days than I do. It's not just sales people that live like hermits in their cave like cars. IT - that's a pretty much thankless job, and the hours are unbelievable. (I know, I call our IT department at all hours of the day and night - and they are always there and always helpful.) Heck, I know people that work in accounting departments that work 60+ hour weeks. And let's not even get me started on the type of work schedule our Military keeps!!!! We've got no room to complain.
I realize I work - A Lot. But it's the nature of the beast. Plus, since Saturdays are required people don't realize we do get an alternate day off, and I'm lucky enough that it's Monday, so I still get that same "weekend" feeling. Sunday's are mine. I tell you what - I laid on that lounger in the pool till my ass cheeks looked like raisins last weekend. And I'm out there again this Sunday. I don't answer the cell phone, and usually not the regular one, unless it's someone I want to talk with.
So over all, I'm going to have to disagree with my friend. I know she means well but - I do have a life - it's just a little different than what some people choose. I'll make 'em a deal - until you live my life for me, stop telling me I don't have one.
**sharp nod of the head** OK, enough of that. Time to hit the road and make today a better one. (and yes, I really do say sappy things like that out loud)
Posted by Tammi at July 15, 2004 06:00 AMThat eternal optimism is why I love you so much :-)
There's nothing wrong with working a lot if you enjoy it.
And it always seems like when someone tells you to "get a life", the life they want you to get involves meaningless activities that serve only to eat your time and do nothing to expand your mind or relax your body.
You HAVE a life.
And I want to thank you for sharing it with me :-)
Posted by: Harvey at July 15, 2004 09:48 AMIf you can look at your life and say to yourself I am satisfied with it and the way it is going and feel that you have enough life outside work that is the only opinion you need.
Not to many people can actually look at themself and say truthfully "yes I am satisfied with my life"
You need to do that periodically though to make sure you stay satisfied, if your not then you need to make changes.
Posted by: Machelle at July 15, 2004 09:49 AMTammi, Harvey and Machelle are right on. I will add one more thing. Usually when someone says you need to get a life, it's because you are doing something THEY wouldn't like to do. Since THEY don't like it, why should you?
Just think about it for a minute. Whenever you've said someone should "get a life" you generally mean, you wouldn't be caught dead doing what they are doing now. Be it, dressed up for a Star Trek convention, or loading up the RV to trek out to the RV park for a long weekend among the like minded, or even working that 60+ hours a week doing accounting.
I figure that as long as you're happy doing what you're doing - you've got a life! If you call your friend and only talk business with her, well, that might be all your comfortable discussing with that person. It doesn't mean you don't discuss other things with other people.
LOL - I'm really glad to know more than just the business Tammi. :-)
Posted by: Teresa at July 15, 2004 04:05 PMI agree with Teresa. You usually hear that "get a life" thing from someone who wants you to get a life like theirs, not yours. Do your own thing, Baby.
People think that I need one, too. But my days are so full, I need more hours. I don't just sit and soak up t.v. I write, read, and clean during the week after work. I bike and kayak on the weekends. Not many I talk to like to do those things, so it's "get a life." No thanks, got one.
Harvey is right, you got some good spunk.
M - the other M ;)
Posted by: Bonfire7 at July 15, 2004 11:25 PMThanks guys! I appreciate the kind words, and also the common sense.
Harvey - You are one of the highlights of my day!! Thank YOU!
Machelle - Spot on! I do that little re-evaluation on a pretty regular basis. (I'm such an analyst) It's a continuous improvement kinda thing. ;-)
Teresa - Truer than you know, my friend, truer than you know. Oh - and I'm so glad you know the "other" Tammi too!! I love having someone to talk books with!!
Bonfire - You Go Girl!! You exhaust me just reading those comments, but then again the numbers are gonna be turnin' for me again pretty soon and I'm kinda feelin' it. The spunk?! I like that much better than what some have said. ;-)
Posted by: Tammi at July 16, 2004 06:08 AMI'm a bit after the fact, but I would like to toss my two-cents in (being the shy retiring type that I am lol).
But answer me these questions. 1) Are you doing something you love and enjoy? 2) Do you have friends nearby that you know you can pop in on at any time of day or night? 3) Do you have loved ones that are no further than a phone call away? 4) Do you laugh at least once a day? 5) Do you smile at least once a day? and finally 6) Do you hear someone tell you that they love you at least once a day?
If you can answer yes to these questions, then you have a life. Not just any life, but you have your full and blessed life. No one can belittle it and no one can take it from you. It is yours to grasp onto and to wrap around like a warm blanket when you need it.
You have a wonderful life...don't let anyone tell you differently!
(Okay, stepping away from the soapbox now. :D)
Posted by: Lee Ann at July 16, 2004 11:43 AM