Just Say NO

TGIF! Thank god it's Friday! I'm going home in an hour so I'm happy. It has been a long day. It's been a long week! Heck, it's going to be this way for the next few months so I really should just get used to it. It seems like one initiative after another keep landing on my desk and I'm running out of hands to juggle them with.

But you know what? I don't get stressed out. We have a small company and there is plenty of work to go around so we are all busy. We are all on the same boat. But some of us seems to take the stress in better stride than others. Sometimes I get tired of hearing people grumble about how much they have to do and who is riding on their back and so on and on. Whine, whine, whine. That's why I don't even stick my head out of my office most days.

Truth is, when I'm listening to them whine, I'm thinking to myself, now why didn't this fool just say no and save himself a whole lot of trouble? I too am still learning to say NO, but I'm working on it and am getting better with it everyday. I make no promises I know I can't keep. I just say NO.

Rant. Don't read.

Allow me to rant for two minutes, and I'll bury this rant under a paid advertisement.

Now I have a co-worker who is of equal if not higher rank than I am. She is not my direct supervisor, however. She is a computer programmer, I am not. She works in the next office to mine. I try very hard to be nice to everyone, and help out whenever I can...

But why does this woman stick her head in my office everyday to tell me about a computer related problem she is dealing with when she knows full well I know nothing about it?!! Now, I understand if she was just venting because her job is frustrating her...but she would always ask me, can you look at this? Or, look at me like I can solve it for her. What can I do?

Sometimes, she would send me an email to help explain to a customer a technical problem (She has a bit of a problem expressing herself in English). So I do this for her even though it really isn't a part of my job description. But the irritating part is, about a week later she will come back to me and say, remember that guy I told you to email? Yeah? What was his name again? I don't know, why don't you look in your 'sent' folder? I can't remember his name!

These exchanges really make my eyelids twitch, and I have to try really hard not to sound mean or sarcastic, but GEEESHHH!!!!! (replace word in capitals with expletive of your choice)

Right, now, I just feel like screaming.

Get Organized with Label Writers

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Have you ever crawled under your desk trying to figure out which cable goes with which gadget and wishing your arms are longer as you follow the cable from the computer to the power outlet and back? I have, and it's really hard especially when you're doing it in a short skirt and high heels as I have done numerous times at the office.

Cableorganizers.com presents some solutions to this dilemma and other organization projects you may have. You all have heard me moan and groan about my efforts at organization at work and home before. It's not that I'm messy or disorganized, I just have too much darn stuff to deal with!! I like to label everything as, I've found out, having everything in their own space and having it labeled is the only way to keep track of everything. And that includes those pesky wires that seem to snake all together and everywhere under your desk. I've found that tying them together with cable ties and labeling each what peripheral each wire belongs to, saves a lot of crawling around time.

While labelling is a great way to get organized, sometimes using labels on a sheet that you have to print from a word processing software are not always convenient, especially when you only need one label at a time. I like using portable label makers because you generate one when you need it without having to start up an application on your computer first, finding the right label, and making sure all is aligned before printing it out. Plus, when you put a sheet of labels through a printer multiple times, the unused labels eventually take on a very unattractive grayish tint. I like these handheld, portable label makers for their convenience and portability. For instance, when you're in the storage room and realize you've forgotten to make an a label for a certain item, you don't have to walk all the way back to your desk to make a label. You can make one on the spot.

Here are a few label printers I found on the site that may suit your needs:

Brother P-touch 1650 Labelling System This is my favorite as it has all the features you could possibly need for keeping things organized. This printer uses the new Flexible ID tape and rotated print for cable wrapping and flagging, industrial strength laminated tapes for patch panel labeling, and standard laminated tapes for faceplate labeling. The handheld Brother P-Touch® label maker can create labels with graphics and bar codes up to 1" wide. And for those concerned with inventory management, which is what I have in mind for this model, it has features for sequential numbering and repeat printing.

Brother P-touch P80 Label Printer A step down model from the model above, this one is perfect for home or office use. It uses non laminated, multiple type styles and sizes.

Dymo is a brand I'm familiar with, I use their label printers all the time.
Dymo Label Buddy LM-12813Is a small, portable, affordable and easy to use for basic labelling needs. This label maker uses the embossed adhesive labels that most of us are familiar with, and the labels come pre-loaded and ready to use.

Dymo® RhinoPRO 1000 Like the others, this one has a vertical printing capability, perfect for everyday use.

The RhinoPRO 3000 is a little different from the other printers in that it allows for 2 lines of text which come in 5 text sizes and 3 print styles. It also comes with an optional Hard Case Kit

You can browse through other label printers or read up more on the specifications of the models I mentioned from the website. Another great feature off this website is user reviews are allowed. I like having recommendations or warnings from people who have actually used the product.

A method to my madness

I have never professed to be neat. In fact I have confessed to being an awful housekeeper. Neatness is just not my strong suit. However, I am quite organized. I know, some people will dispute that (my husband for one), but it's true as indicated in this article which claims that messy people are more productive. Sister O was just talking about this in her last post (apparently messiness runs in the family. lol!) where she shared news that a messy desk is a sign of genious.

The photo above is of my office. A far cry from when it used to be neat. It is close to being a fire hazzard with the boxes getting piled up behind my chair. I can't see my desk calendar sitting on top of my desk, I have several projects going at the same time, and they are all sitting on top of my desk it seems.

The way I justify it, and the article agrees with me on this, is that I am just too busy to be neat. Being messy though, doesn't mean being disorganized. I really am quite organized. I know exactly where everything is. On the few occasions when I had been away from the office and had to direct someone to do something in my office for me, they are always amazed when I talk them through a task, like a 911 operator giving life saving instructions.

My boss has an even messier desk than mine and he's a genious! I always tell him, worry when I start dusting and organizing my office because that means I have nothing better to do.

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

BLEECH!!! I just spent the last four days, including two beautiful weekend days, in bed.....with a terrible cold. I don't think it's the flu, I didn't ever have a temperature. What I had was a hacking cough, a relentless one at that, and intense fatigue. No, I didn't go to the doctor, because I am just hard headed like that. I usually wait until I can't stand it anymore or until I develop some unusual symptom that I can't attribute to the usual suspects. I have had been too many times at the doctor's office just to be told I have a bad cold or the flu. Heck, I could have told them that! So how about you, do you run to the doctor everytime you get sick?

When you get sick, do you go in to work anyway or do you use up all your sick time taking days off at the slightest sign of a cold?


Me, I usually try to save my sick time for the girls. We use our sick time (separate from vacation time and Personal Time Off) to take care of a sick child, for doctor's appointments, or when you are actually too sick to come in to work. Normally, with just a regular cough and sniffling type of cold I probably would have gone to work anyway and tried to work through it while trying to stay out of co-workers' way so I don't spread germs. Staying out of people's way is not difficult in my job anyway; my work requires me to be pretty independent and I coordinate team projects usually by phone or email. Face to face meetings are usually intentioned and planned so very much avoidable when necessary. I have a box of kleenex nearby, and a large container of disinfecting wipe to clean everything off at the end of the day just so I don't save any germs for the next day.

This time around though, when the mere act of brushing my teeth fatigued me, I had to use a couple of days of sick time and just stayed in bed for the last four days. I'm sick and tired of being sick!

TGIF!

Have you ever heard of 5S? I was talking to blogger friends not too long ago, and someone used this term to describe their workplace. That was the first time I had ever heard of the term; obviously, as you can see from my workplace. Apparently, this concept is very common is Asia. This is how wikipedia describes it:

Seiri: tidiness, organization. Refers to the practice of sorting through all the tools, materials, etc., in the work area and keeping only essential items. Everything else is stored or discarded. This leads to fewer hazards and less clutter to interfere with productive work.

Seiton: orderliness. Focuses on the need for an orderly workplace. Tools, equipment, and materials must be systematically arranged for the easiest and most efficient access. There must be a place for everything, and everything must be in its place.

Seiso: cleanliness. Indicates the need to keep the workplace clean as well as neat. Cleaning in Japanese companies is a daily activity. At the end of each shift, the work area is cleaned up and everything is restored to its place.

Seiketsu: standards. Allows for control and consistency. Basic housekeeping standards apply everywhere in the facility. Everyone knows exactly what his or her responsibilities are. House keeping duties are part of regular work routines.

Shitsuke: sustaining discipline. Refers to maintaining standards and keeping the facility in safe and efficient order day after day, year after year.

In other words: Sort, Straighten, Shine, Systemise and Sustain which leads to the 6th S, Safety.

Obviously, I missed this seminar. My workplace is a mess. But I call it an organized chaos. I do know where most things are. Just give me a couple of minutes to find it. ;-)

Have a great weekend, everyone!




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