Tammi's World

A Vicious Circle

Being organized interferes with my creativity.

I just hate when I'm blindsided - even when it's in a good way.

I've been just slammed at work. All those week long trips in February, a week being out sick, then being gone a week the middle of March and well......it's just ugly.

And, we're short handed. Seriously sort handed.

Now, I am NOT a prima donna. I'll do what ever I have to do, typing, quotes, fires, hell - I'll even help shipping if it means my customers get what they need and we can keep things going.

BUT - it helps to have the proper tools. So last week, at the pinnacle of pissiness, I asked for some additional software so I could do somethings a little easier. Quicker. I was told no. I'm not a staff assistant and my boss didn't want me doing staff assistant's jobs.

OK. Technically that's a great plan. Reality? Yeah, I'm doin' it, have been doin' it so it'd be nice if I could do it efficiently.

Yeah. Answer was still no.

So yesterday I'm runnin' around like a chicken with my head cut off. Literally 4 things going at one time. None of which looks like I'll be able to finish quickly because of the fires I'm trying to put out. Everything in various stages of completeness.

When out of the blue, for the first time in months, someone asks what they can do to help me.

I didn't know what to say. Seriously.

As my mind began scanning what was on my plate, what my deadlines were, and at what stage my projects were at, I didn't know where to start. Or stop.

I felt like an idiot.

Oh, I figured it out pretty quick and off loaded several things - but still. In my mind I should have been able to pick up a folder and hand it off. Everything would have been outlined and documented so that, in case I got "hit by a bus" business wouldn't suffer. It would be easy to know where I was and what I was doing.

Damnit. I gotta get organized. NOW.

But here's my question. When on earth do you GET organized when you have deadlines, phones that never stop ringing and customers that need everything RIGHT NOW? Seriously. Do I take a day and just NOT do what I have on my desk so that I can pull it all together? I can't go in on a Saturday - office isn't open. Staying late doesn't help. I've got reps and customers on the west coast. Hell, my phone NEVER stops.

So what do you do? Any suggestions?

My desk has become a vortex, quickly spinning out of control............

Posted by Tammi at April 3, 2007 05:41 AM | TrackBack