Which Way did the Wind Go?
Tales of being a manager in a retail buying office.
First Breeze
"Travis will be assigned to Dept. 70 and Shelia will take over Dept. 96. They will bring their strengths to these areas. This should generate an additional $1.6 million in sales. This should get their attention and see the potential of this office." Trina Marin is the Executive Vice President of the San Diego Satellite Office of Falcon Industries. For the last ten years, she has aggressively pursued a position of power. She is on a mission. This satellite office will be a force to reckon with. The Atlanta Home Office will know it soon enough.
"Martha, I want their offices switched, telephone numbers moved, business cards ordered. Think we can have this by Monday. Great! I’m off to a meeting with a new swimwear vendor. Tanning bathing suits. UV rays are avoided and the person gets a full body tan. What a concept! Win-win. See you Monday!"
"Trina, wait, we are firm on this right?"
"Now Martha, I know sometimes I change things up but not this time. Have a nice week! Monday, then."
Friday morning Martha is greeted by Trina’s global message.
"Hi this is Trina and this message is going out to all associates. Effective Monday December 1st, Travis will be assigned to Dept. 3, Shelia will take over Dept. 17 and Samantha will take over Dept. 96. This is a great opportunity for all. When you see them congratulate them!"
The message came in at 11:30 PM on Thursday. Does this woman ever sleep? Or stop? What happened to "We are firm on this. Go with it for Monday." Now what???
Martha has lived this rollercoaster on more than one occasion. Donald with Sterns Telephone Systems (STS) is always flexible. He keeps the move dance card open until the last minute. Movers are still needed. Everything is set in motion for a clear transition of assignments. All set for Monday. That was easy! Where is that button when you need it?
Make the phone call.
"Hey Trina, this is Martha. It’s Friday at 9:30 AM. I got your message about the shift in assignments. These aren’t the changes we talked about. I would like to double back about these changes."
The waiting game begins. There is consistency with inconsistency. The wind changes direction again. When you are sailing a boat you adjust the sails to harness the wind. At least then you can harness the wind. When the wind is your boss, it is a bit more difficult. Regroup. Adaptability is pushed to the limit.
Martha thinks to herself "I’m doing this because…oh that’s right, I need a job!"
Just another moment in the life of Martha Brimes, Office Manager, Falcon Industries, San Diego Buying Office. Meet Martha Brimes. She has filled many roles in her life – wife, mother, nurse, quasi counselor, tyrant, - combined they allow her to conquer her world.
"How did I get here?" Martha wonders to herself.
She reflects on the last 15 years. Prior to Falcon Industries, Martha had worked in a vocational school. She monitored students’ progress while they reached their goals. Success was measured by work progress, grades and attendance. All of these are tangible testaments to their success and future endeavors. Circumstances dictated she make a change.
Martha reminds herself "I said I would take some time off, regroup and find a new career focus. This is definitely a different focus."
Her reflection is interrupted by the immediate needs of the day.
"Can you please get my laptop to open?"
"Martha, have you looked at the inside of the refrigerator? It is awful."
"My reports didn’t print to the right printer. Now I have to walk to the other end of the floor. Do you know how much time that will waste? Oh, never mind I will just print them again? Rather waste paper than my time."
"My car is gone. I know I parked it on the 3rd floor right next to Sally’s car."
"Oops, sorry that was yesterday. I forgot I carpooled with Larry today. Silly me!"
Are these tangible testaments to her success? Probably not but solving these crises are what make it possible to go to Las Vegas, Hawaii, home, shopping. You do what you gotta do!
"Martha, sorry, I thought I communicated the changes to you. We got some push back and had to re-design the assignments. You are so flexible." Trina giggles. "We are still on for Monday, right? Knew I could count on you. Have a great weekend."
Adaptability is crucial. The alternative is a Martini IV. It is a toss up. Fortunately, Martha has seen this many times. Moving plants, post-its and today’s collection of photos and reports is unaffected. Another box of business cards bites the dust. Just another day in the office!
"Hi Kerry, we have a few changes in the changes. We’ve done this before. Damage control should be minimal - well in the realm of everything. Let me know what is looks like and we will go from there." Another disaster averted by Martha the Super Hero.
"Travis will be assigned to Dept. 70 and Shelia will take over Dept. 96. They will bring their strengths to these areas. This should generate an additional $1.6 million in sales. This should get their attention and see the potential of this office." Trina Marin is the Executive Vice President of the San Diego Satellite Office of Falcon Industries. For the last ten years, she has aggressively pursued a position of power. She is on a mission. This satellite office will be a force to reckon with. The Atlanta Home Office will know it soon enough.
"Martha, I want their offices switched, telephone numbers moved, business cards ordered. Think we can have this by Monday. Great! I’m off to a meeting with a new swimwear vendor. Tanning bathing suits. UV rays are avoided and the person gets a full body tan. What a concept! Win-win. See you Monday!"
"Trina, wait, we are firm on this right?"
"Now Martha, I know sometimes I change things up but not this time. Have a nice week! Monday, then."
Friday morning Martha is greeted by Trina’s global message.
"Hi this is Trina and this message is going out to all associates. Effective Monday December 1st, Travis will be assigned to Dept. 3, Shelia will take over Dept. 17 and Samantha will take over Dept. 96. This is a great opportunity for all. When you see them congratulate them!"
The message came in at 11:30 PM on Thursday. Does this woman ever sleep? Or stop? What happened to "We are firm on this. Go with it for Monday." Now what???
Martha has lived this rollercoaster on more than one occasion. Donald with Sterns Telephone Systems (STS) is always flexible. He keeps the move dance card open until the last minute. Movers are still needed. Everything is set in motion for a clear transition of assignments. All set for Monday. That was easy! Where is that button when you need it?
Make the phone call.
"Hey Trina, this is Martha. It’s Friday at 9:30 AM. I got your message about the shift in assignments. These aren’t the changes we talked about. I would like to double back about these changes."
The waiting game begins. There is consistency with inconsistency. The wind changes direction again. When you are sailing a boat you adjust the sails to harness the wind. At least then you can harness the wind. When the wind is your boss, it is a bit more difficult. Regroup. Adaptability is pushed to the limit.
Martha thinks to herself "I’m doing this because…oh that’s right, I need a job!"
Just another moment in the life of Martha Brimes, Office Manager, Falcon Industries, San Diego Buying Office. Meet Martha Brimes. She has filled many roles in her life – wife, mother, nurse, quasi counselor, tyrant, - combined they allow her to conquer her world.
"How did I get here?" Martha wonders to herself.
She reflects on the last 15 years. Prior to Falcon Industries, Martha had worked in a vocational school. She monitored students’ progress while they reached their goals. Success was measured by work progress, grades and attendance. All of these are tangible testaments to their success and future endeavors. Circumstances dictated she make a change.
Martha reminds herself "I said I would take some time off, regroup and find a new career focus. This is definitely a different focus."
Her reflection is interrupted by the immediate needs of the day.
"Can you please get my laptop to open?"
"Martha, have you looked at the inside of the refrigerator? It is awful."
"My reports didn’t print to the right printer. Now I have to walk to the other end of the floor. Do you know how much time that will waste? Oh, never mind I will just print them again? Rather waste paper than my time."
"My car is gone. I know I parked it on the 3rd floor right next to Sally’s car."
"Oops, sorry that was yesterday. I forgot I carpooled with Larry today. Silly me!"
Are these tangible testaments to her success? Probably not but solving these crises are what make it possible to go to Las Vegas, Hawaii, home, shopping. You do what you gotta do!
"Martha, sorry, I thought I communicated the changes to you. We got some push back and had to re-design the assignments. You are so flexible." Trina giggles. "We are still on for Monday, right? Knew I could count on you. Have a great weekend."
Adaptability is crucial. The alternative is a Martini IV. It is a toss up. Fortunately, Martha has seen this many times. Moving plants, post-its and today’s collection of photos and reports is unaffected. Another box of business cards bites the dust. Just another day in the office!
"Hi Kerry, we have a few changes in the changes. We’ve done this before. Damage control should be minimal - well in the realm of everything. Let me know what is looks like and we will go from there." Another disaster averted by Martha the Super Hero.
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