Hydrant dreams during fire drills

Putting the fire out

“Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke. Means it's time for a promotion.” Nigel, The Devil Wears Prada

For the past year, I have been up for promotion. I have the bags under my eyes and dollars debited to Hot Yoga to prove it. Over the course of the last year, fire drills were constant personally and professional. I hit a point where getting to the next level became all about solving problems and building relationships. As a result, equipped with my natural hair and seasonally appropriate suits, I took risks for growth andput my best foot forward. I have been tested, shedding a layer of weird girl physicist left over from undergraduate studies, and earning the official seal of consultant. 

Now that I’ve earned the promotion, the smoke has not cleared. In fact, the forest fire is raging and requiring my constant attention. Managing others has brought a whole new perspective into my professional space. And the other ‘stuff’ did not go away.  Additionally, personal matters need to be tended to. There has been no time for me to celebrate or reflect, just the constant push forward.

Recently, I am finding solace in organization. My Life List excel spreadsheet has become a savior. When it comes to after 5 pm, well planned, intentional social gatherings and Skype calls with new friends have helped me to be in firefighter mode by 8 am sharp.

Hydrant Dreams

Sometimes I dream of a world with minimal firedrills. It could be my industry, functional, or career choice, but I doubt it. It seems as if the current global market is a flurried state of constant emergency. News headlines show that there is little solace for the world of business. So, when I get bogged down with my own world and there is no motivation to be found on my daily news outlets, I dream of my own enterprise where I am chief firefighter. I do not have a business plan or structure for my dream enterprise, but I do have standards.

-Noone, regardless of location or coordination across locations will work before 6 am or after 8 pm. –This standard in itself may still seem like I’m a slave driver, but I work in technology which needs tending to 24 hours a day. I personally feel that despite this, we all should have time for sleep and family.

-At each promotion point, all promotion announcements will happen on a Wednesday, and a celebratory 2-day sabbatical will be granted allowing for a 4 day weekend. – Most people do not have time to celebrate their success which really takes away from the shininess of it all.

-Open and honest communication will happen across the organization to everyone including all third party and vendors. – There will be no secret changes communicated out with 30 day’s notice. People will be the central focus of my dream enterprise and will be treated as necessary

-Third party and vendors must have a high enough emotional and ethical IQ to have the best interest of my enterprise in mind.

-To the extent possible, hierarchies will not exist. – Do flat organizations work? Need to look into this.

-We will have an event catered to family, friends, and pets. – Our loved ones have to hear all about our work days, so they should be able to party on the enterprise dime for all those unclocked listening hours.