Categories: Culture, Fun & Games, Uncategorized
Don’t be jealous.
It is Egg McMuffin AND popcorn day in my office.
One co-worker is making popcorn in our theater sized popcorn maker.
Another just brought in Egg McMuffins for the entire team.
What kind of goodies do you have in your office?
Categories: Culture
Today I had a completely random thought that went something like this:
How do I feel about religion in the workplace?
I quickly knew my answer:
Last week I received my first hate comment here on Who Stole My Stapler. After searching the internet for the “name” of the person that left the comment, I very quickly determined that this asshole makes a hobby out of leaving asshole comments that have little to nothing to do with the actual post.
So I deleted his comment.
I find it mildly disappointing that I can’t hit a delete key to magically erase other assholes from my life. Not that there are really all that many because I think I have really brushed up my skills in the department of detecting and ditching asshole types from my life. But sometimes you just cannot escape being in their presence. Sadly, assholes are everywhere. From the internet to our neighborhoods and even *gasp* our workplaces.
So what’s a girl to do when she wants an asshole-free existence? Who Stole My Stapler now presents….
Categories: Culture, Fun & Games, Office Ettiquette, People, Politics, Professional Boundaries
Today I learned about a condition that seems to be afflicting my son called Testosterone Poisoning. It is the best explanation I can come up with besides the fact that we have had a completely effed up week and he is beyond tired because of it.
Because I have been so absorbed with my very emotional boy child this week I am mentally (and physically) quite drained which means I have exactly BUPKIS to offer you.
In the spirit of providing you something new and interesting to cast your eyes upon I now present to you…
::drumroll::
Categories: Culture, Life on the 3rd floor, People, Uncategorized
Anyone that reads this blog or my personal blog Kazoofus probably knows that my pet peeves change with dang near every breath I take. Just browse through the Who Stole My Stapler archives for proof of some of my workplace and career pet peeves.
I just read an article on Women’s Health Magazine that reminded me of something that I have a hard time comprehending:
Categories: Culture, Life on the 3rd floor, People, Uncategorized
It is probably true for most people that all work and no play makes for one dreary existence. I am an extreme advocate of work/life balance for everyone. This is as important for people without children as it is for people with children. What I’m not prone to state, however, is what YOUR work/life balance should look like.
A few years ago I was on a large company project where key resources worked in multiple locations throughout the United States. I joined the project when it was in an official state of chaos or in project lingo “status: red”. The entire team was stressed out and the Project Manager and Program Manager were overwhelmed with the size, scope and complexity of the project. They were unsure of how to get things back on track.
I did not enter the scene with any answers for them in fact, I peppered them with a whole lot of questions as I tried to wrap my brain around the size, scope and complexity of the project. Within my first week on the project I was dizzy with the number of directions the Program Manager, Project Manager and now I were being pulled. I realized in that first week that if I didn’t start taking notes I would never be able to get it all straight.
I am not one to criticize anybodies chosen profession. I suggest that all people do what fulfills them. I am however a person that believes there is a time and a place for everything. So when I say what I am about to say please know that I am trying to be observant of the appropriate time and place for a certain role that exists in our society.
Cowboys.
A fine, fine job indeed. I particularly appreciate the work of cattle ranchers but cowboys belong in saloons and home, home on the range. They do not belong in a corporate environment.
They create an atmosphere of good cowboys and bad cowboys (us against them) . They tend to create a feeling of competitiveness in a place where teamwork should rule the house.
In the end Cowboys in corporate environments generally start showdowns.
This, I think, is bad for business.
Now I’m not saying a little cowboy mentality can’t sometimes be good for business. There are times when someone brave needs to ride in on their horse to save the day. Cowboys are good at that. Cowboys can also think fast on their feet in some circumstances. I mean did you ever see that movie where the city slickers created a stampede with their coffee bean grinder? Those cowboys (the real ones) were on it.
(This reminds me: executives should stay off of ranches).
But I would say nine times out of ten the rigid exterior of a cowboy, the competitive nature and the unplanned risks a cowboy is willing to take, well, none of it belongs in the business world. I am willing to bet we have all had our fair share of cowboy encounters in the workplace. When you think of the cowboy mentality what characteristic comes to mind? Do you have any tricks (hog tying maybe) for dealing with cowboys in the office?
How do you knock cowboys off of horses?
Categories: Culture, Life on the 3rd floor
I have a secret for you. Shhhhh…lean closer…listen carefully to what I am about to say.
Ready?
I am finally back to work after a long slow recovery from surgery. I was out of the office for six weeks and during that leave I had some time to browse the internets. One of my world wide hangouts is Work It, Mom of course.
Recently I asked a question in a Work It, Mom forum trying to uncover how women view their career and what they feel holds them back from achieving career success. The results were not entirely shocking to me. It was noted by one mother that she feels raising her children is her top priority at this point. A list of mothers noted something that I have heard from women before.
