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By kilax, August 20, 2014 11:02 am

I got a kick out of this article Steven sent me about Daimler’s (the German Automaker) solution for emails you receive when you have your “out-of-office” auto reply on – they delete them. Ha! How awesome is that?! Is someone continually emailing you even though you are off? You’ll NEVER see the emails. Ha. Ha ha.  

And I found this tidbit mentioned in the article to be interesting – that the tech industry and several unions in France have signed a deal that makes it so that companies can no longer contact their employees electronically after the working hours of the day are over! 

So… Europe is either really progressive, or people are going to be picking up the phone more to communicate with each other. Maybe a bit of both?

Now, compare that to what we have going on in the US – people who are too afraid to go on vacation, because of the amount of work they will have when they get back, the fear that no one can do what they do while they are gone, and that they don’t want to appear replaceable. Sigh. 

I actually read that first article this weekend, and right away, thought about how grateful I am that my company has such a great work/life balance. I feel free to take leave when I want, and rarely look at my phone when I am off, unless I am expecting something “urgent.” We work our set hours each day, rarely more. Our leaders respect our family time. I knew my company was like this as I was interviewing, and it’s a huge part of why I took the job. 

So to read that article yesterday, about people fearing taking a vacation… ugh, it just made me feel sad. Sad that people feel so trapped like that! Okay, and it made me interested in what the article called the “martyr” complex – that you are the ONLY one who can do your job. I wonder how many jobs are really that way. 

I like the Daimler attitude better (about why they are deleted the emails people get when they have their out-of-office on):

Daimler believes that people on break actually deserve a break, and that managers shouldn’t try to wring out a few extra hours of work that likely aren’t necessary. It might have a point: studies even suggest that Germany, France and other countries that discourage overtime are very productive.

How about you? When you’re off work, are you truly “off”? Do you have a hard time taking vacation?

I wonder how generational this is. There is definitely more of a devotion/loyalty to work in older generations, and a tendency to see it as a means to an end, in younger ones. 

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By kilax, April 10, 2014 6:18 am

Does anyone else have a mostly project based work setting, with (somewhat) definite beginnings and ends to each project?

For some odd reason, I was thinking about work this morning as I drove to meet a friend for a run, and how one project, which was supposed to be a 5K effort project, had turned in to a marathon. Or maybe an ultramarathon. A poorly executed one.

In the running world, I prefer the comfortable steady pace of longer distances, over the sprint of a 5K, or even a 10K.

In the work world, I do well under pressure, and enjoy a “sprint” 5K effort from time to time. But I prefer* to stay around half marathon effort most of the time – going along at a decent pace, still having time (or enough glucose in my system) to think things through.

What I apparently don’t like at work, is the longer distances. Getting lost on the course. Losing my timing chip and starting over. Deciding to run the course twice. Dragging things out. That would be fun doing it with a friend… but I didn’t sign up for an adventure race. It just feels inefficient. 

And maybe that is where I am getting off track. Comparing charted courses to something un-charted. Bad metaphor, bad! Oops! I have no excuses for the connections my brain makes in the early morning. Or why I decide to share them here. It looks like I just wanted to get a little frustration off my chest. 

What’s your preferred work pace? Or life pace?

As I was thinking about this more, I started to think about the things that hit us in life at such a fast pace there is nothing we can do about it. Ugh. But I won’t get all morbid.

*My preferences don’t mean anything, I realize, just dreaming, here.

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By kilax, July 31, 2013 12:45 pm

Awhile ago, I was telling Steven about a run with friends and he asked me what one of them did for a living. I told him that I thought they worked in a certain field… but I wasn’t sure exactly what they did. He was surprised work didn’t come up when we ran. Hmm. Maybe it does for other people, but not for me – I run to escape all that!

Then yesterday, Anne and I were chatting and I realized I don’t really know much about what she does for work*. I know how she feels about work. And where she works. 

Anyway, you know this all got me thinking – one of the most common questions that comes up when you meet someone for the first time** is “what do you do for a living?” Right? So, why the hell don’t I know (more specifics, anyway)?

I wonder if the fact that I often run with bloggers or people in my running club, makes it so that I feel comfortable talking to them already, and skip all of the dinner party/getting to know someone type questions. Maybe?

Or maybe it’s just that I don’t want to talk about my day job, so I assume other people don’t as well?

Hmm. 

It’s funny – someone asked me a few weeks ago if I still have my architecture related day job, because I post so much about teaching at Essential Fitness and about Fake Meats on Facebook. I do!

Ha, maybe that is just it – for me, I tend to talk more about the work I enjoy (and feel it’s appropriate to discuss)!

Can you name what your workout buds do for a living?

Do you like to talk about work when you run, or would you rather not think about it?

Most people I know don’t understand what I do, anyway. They hear “architecture degree” and think ONE thing. But! I’ve written about that before!

*Pretty sure she’s a bounty hunter.
**Whether or not it’s appropriate.

Comments (52)

By kilax, February 13, 2013 7:36 am

… is having my post ready to go in the morning.

Because Wednesday is the day I am usually in the office (not working from home) each week. And who knows what post ideas I will come up with if I wait to write until I start my working day. So far, I have been inspired to write about:

• my irrational annoyance when I go to use the microwave and someone just started using it
• how silly I think it is that we no longer have paper towels and paperware dishes in the kitchen
• how every Ash Wednesday I am reminded that you should really, really, THINK before you speak, but that I cannot share the story why
• my continuing frustration with being made to do things with which I don’t agree
• how I feel like I cannot be honest with my job frustrations around certain people because they will judge me for not having a traditional “architecture” profession, instead of just realizing it’s normal job frustrations

Let’s look on the bright side. They now carry my favorite pens at work! I shouldn’t have to bring them from home anymore!

My job is actually really great. I just need to vent sometimes.

Do you try to avoid writing about work “stuff” on your blog? Are there things you want to blog about (work-related or not), but can’t?!

What blogger can answer no to that last question? Hee hee.

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By kilax, November 7, 2012 6:26 am

Approximately, anyway.

As I walked to our polling site last evening all of a sudden I had a flashback to the 2008 election. I was really anxious that year too. But not about the race. 

November 4, 2008 was the day I accepted the offer for my current job*. 

I didn’t pursue the position. I nonchalantly had my interview. I was just doing it to stay fresh. 

Then I got the offer and fretted over it big time. So many people told me it didn’t make sense. I wouldn’t advance. It was a bad decision. Blah blah blah. 

But some people really supported me, and told me to do what I thought was best. And I still think about that to this day. 

Have you had some friends or family show true support when you were making a huge decision?

I was so stressed about it the decision, I didn’t talk about it on my blog. In fact, my post from that day is a funny story about Data! In honor of Data, here he is, helping Steven out at work. 

*I actually found the email confirming it was election day that I accepted! I even remember how we celebrated that evening. 

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By kilax, September 11, 2012 7:41 am

I was completely surprised this past weekend when Erin gave me this beautiful pin to wear during my 50K on Saturday:

What a caring, thoughtful gesture! Thank you, Erin! I will definitely put it on my vest for the race.

I was also surprised this past weekend by how much support and encouragement I got for my 50K when it came up with friends I’ve met before and people I was just meeting for the first time. Everyone was so kind, telling me they know I’ll do great, have fun, and so on. It’s not as surprising that people who’ve been following my training schedule online would think I’m going to do well, but strangers? That is an awesome vote of confidence in someone you’ve just met and know nothing about!

And don’t get me wrong – I am not complaining about this! It made me feel quite good. It made me think “Yeah, I will do well! They’re right!”

And then I thought about it some more.

When Erin gave me this pin I jokingly (sort of) said I should wear it to work, because that is where I need to believe in me the most. I’ve been given a lot of projects lately where I am in unfamiliar ground. And I struggle with the unknown. I have a hard time planning for and leading a meeting when I don’t know what the outcome will be, because it’s a creative brainstorming meeting. That is not where I thrive, and I feel really anxious and uncomfortable. Most of the time.

Yet, just like with the running, someone who didn’t know much about me, believed that I could do it. So why does that make me feel comfort when it’s related to running, but not at work? I am going to try to channel some of that running confidence in to work confidence. Try.

In what aspect of life do you most need to “believe in you”?

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By kilax, March 14, 2012 4:54 am

It’s so weird being in NYC for work, when I normally come here for “play.” Every time I get in the subway my brain tells me to figure out how to get to Gina and Steve’s house, but that is not always where I am supposed to be going!

Sometimes it is though:

But I’m working too. And my work involves some play. Well, fun is a better word:

Anyway, I guess if I am going to be coming out here more for work, I better get used to the feeling of NYC being a place of work and not just play. I can’t look at every day as an “explore NYC” opportunity.

Or can I?

Ha. I guess the bottom line is that I don’t want NYC to lose its magic feel if I start working out here. But maybe the new work will be so exciting, it will only make the city more exciting! I think that is a possibility! 

Comments (12)

By kilax, March 8, 2012 2:50 pm

Steven – I hope you appreciate the post title because you are going to be the only one who gets the reference!

Why is it that whenever I already have a short day planned at work (left at 2:00 today to make it to an appointment) that I get the most *requests? Seriously – I was approached and/or contacted today by multiple people, mutiple times, about three old projects of mine that are CLOSED. Over. Done with. I want to be helpful, but I am going to be gone all next week in New York City and potentially taking on a new detail for a project located there. Why does this have to happen now?! I do not have time for this…

Do you ever feel like everything gets busy at work when you are trying to **leave?

I am ready for a new kind of work crazy. I hope this New York thing turns in to real work, so I can do something different for awhile. 

Otherwise, ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In other news, I am such a sexy beast that the owner of the restaurant Katie and I ate in for lunch gave me free baklava. 

Just kidding – about the sexy beast part. He did give me free baklava, but because he recognized me from ordering catering there before. Nom. 

I was sad when I left lunch, because I was having so much fun chatting with Katie I didn’t want it to end. But then I remembered she lives super close to me. Boo yah!

*crazy stupid
**really, GTFO***
***Using the acronym in the literal sense here.  

Comments (24)

By kilax, March 5, 2012 4:51 am

Awhile ago I felt completely overwhelmed with a project at work. The workload was divided between me and two other people, with me running the project and taking the bulk of the work. And I felt like I couldn’t get it finished in time. 

So I came in early and stayed late to work on it. But that wasn’t doing it. 

Someone noticed I was working late and offered to have another team member help with the project*. Ahh. Instant relief. Just knowing someone was going to help. 

Image source: timetchells.com

Work hasn’t been so nutso, because I have been doing a better job of leaving work at work and forgetting about it on weeknights/weekends. I have a new work smartphone and I don’t know how to use it well, except to make calls – and this is good. No more checking the calendar/emails when I am not working. Come Monday morning I usually have no idea what the week has in store for me and that is a good thing**. 

But this post is not about work. It’s about asking for help. 

I’ve been on a downward spiral since the end of January. I just can’t seem to shake the self-sabotaging funk I am in! I gave myself February to try to figure it out. That didn’t happen. 

So I asked for help. I found a therapist who specializes in the issues I am dealing with and made an appointment. 

Instant relief. 

Instant. 

It’s crazy, how much just asking for help makes me feel better. 

Do you instantly feel a bit better when you ask for help?

I mean, asking for help is not going to automatically “fix” me or anything, but it gives me a glimmer of hope! 

*I had already asked for help but I won’t even get in to that.
**Of course, I can remember my lunch dates and which days I am working at home! 

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By kilax, February 29, 2012 4:49 am

Check out Chez Julie’s interesting post that reminded me I wanted to write about this at all. 

A lot of my job responsibilities are in reviewing documents and drawings*. And that has seeped over in to my personal life. 

Let me warn you now – don’t ever send me anything** to review unless you are ready for suggestions and a lot of  “did you think about this?” questions.

I am… let me make up a word, commentative.

Pretending to review something on my netbook

My poor sister. She is searching for interior design internships and sends me all of her cover letters to review. And I always have to say something! I just can’t help it! I’m all, “I am not sure if the tone is appropriate here.” And she’s like “Kim. This is the same cover letter as last time, with the firm name and a few other details swapped out and you thought that was fine before.” Oops. Sorry, Chris. 

I just have to look for something to comment on, every time I am given something to review. I can’t help it. I think it makes the people I work with hate me. I like to think it makes me thorough. I secretly like reviewing things. Whether or not I know what I am doing (mostly not).

I have the same problem in meetings. If someone asks for an opinion I feel like I should come up with one. Why else would they ask, right? 

Yeah. That one has gotten me in trouble.

I like to think that people must really want my opinion if they are asking for it? Maybe? Maybe?

Maybe I need to learn to keep my mouth shut?

When someone asks you for your opinion on something, do you usually spend the time to thoroughly review whatever it is and give your honest opinion?

*for accuracy and compliance, not grammar/spelling/and so on.
**things people ask me to review: websites, forms, surveys, invitations, emails, cover letters, resumes, retirement letters (just teasin’ ya, Dad), photos