Having spent the last 3 months dealing with a raft of orders for surgical masks I can honestly say I have changed. The swine 'flu pandemic is something that has pushed my working experience in a totally different direction from the previous 9 months before it began. Whilst I had worked on advanced planning for exactly such an event the pace of work changed dramatically from April 27th onward.
Comfort zones are lovely and cosy but they tend to slow individual growth and I had certainly reached my comfort zone a few months ago. The last 3 months though have pushed me well beyond my comfort zones and have allowed me to develop much faster desicion making skills as well as the ability to improvise and to prioritise work loads.
I will try and get back in the habit of posting here.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Early Starts
My arrival at work on Monday April 27th was unusual for 2 reasons:
1. It takes wild horses to pull me out of bed in the morning and I was arriving at 6.45
2. I was listening to the news on my way to work rather than the curious blend of Hip Hop and county and western that occupies my ipod.
The explanation begins with a phone call I received in admittedly a slighty hungover state the day before. My Dad had called asking if I was in work. I was slightly confused (he has been known to forget things, but days of the week don't usually elude him). The explanation that followed had me practicing a combination of the hurdles, step machine and army obsticle course in an effort to reach my laptop. Following a headless run around the house I found it. (right next to me where I had been using it 30 seconds before my phone rang.) What I read on the internet was the reason for my early start.
Swine 'flu had exploded across the media and I had an idea that would effect my workload on surgical masks, I just had no idea how much...
1. It takes wild horses to pull me out of bed in the morning and I was arriving at 6.45
2. I was listening to the news on my way to work rather than the curious blend of Hip Hop and county and western that occupies my ipod.
The explanation begins with a phone call I received in admittedly a slighty hungover state the day before. My Dad had called asking if I was in work. I was slightly confused (he has been known to forget things, but days of the week don't usually elude him). The explanation that followed had me practicing a combination of the hurdles, step machine and army obsticle course in an effort to reach my laptop. Following a headless run around the house I found it. (right next to me where I had been using it 30 seconds before my phone rang.) What I read on the internet was the reason for my early start.
Swine 'flu had exploded across the media and I had an idea that would effect my workload on surgical masks, I just had no idea how much...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Great Expectations
Having mentioned my glorious new phone previously I proceeded to lose it... excellent!
The result has been instructional in the ability of expectations to define customer perceptions of service. I lost my phone in Dublin, it was (I am willing to admit) my fault, nothing to do with anyone else and definitely nothing to do with the hostel I was staying in. On the coach home I may have used some industrial strength language (unfairly) to describe whoever had profited from my loss. The gentleman who had organised the holiday received a phone call to tell him (and me) that the phone had been found and that if I paid the postage it would be returned to me by post. At this stage my opinion of the hostel was sky high, they had found my phone then gone to the trouble of contacting my mother and my friend to get details to return my phone to me.
I expected to be reunited with my phone over the easter weekend. I have however only just had an email from my mother to say the phone has been delivered to her house. I am still grateful to have the phone back but having expected it sooner I don't feel the same advocay for the hostel I initially did. Moral of the story? Keep customer expectations realistic.
The result has been instructional in the ability of expectations to define customer perceptions of service. I lost my phone in Dublin, it was (I am willing to admit) my fault, nothing to do with anyone else and definitely nothing to do with the hostel I was staying in. On the coach home I may have used some industrial strength language (unfairly) to describe whoever had profited from my loss. The gentleman who had organised the holiday received a phone call to tell him (and me) that the phone had been found and that if I paid the postage it would be returned to me by post. At this stage my opinion of the hostel was sky high, they had found my phone then gone to the trouble of contacting my mother and my friend to get details to return my phone to me.
I expected to be reunited with my phone over the easter weekend. I have however only just had an email from my mother to say the phone has been delivered to her house. I am still grateful to have the phone back but having expected it sooner I don't feel the same advocay for the hostel I initially did. Moral of the story? Keep customer expectations realistic.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Back to Work
So after 10 days off work filled with in no particular order... Dublin, chocolate, singing, Guiness, essay writing and trouble causing its back to work. My inbox had melted and my desk collapsed under the post its but I am finally almost back to even and looking forward to the university exam period so that I can relax free in the knowledge that while everyone is stressed I wont have any.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Phone Tocco
So a few days in Birmingham under my belt and the result.... I need a new phone! However in a stroke of the best luck I have had in ages, my old contract had expired so a new samsung Tocco it is, good times is this phone any good? Mine is charging before I can use it.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Amoxicillin
Went to the doc today... got my usual telling off for trying to stick it out without medical assistance. The answer it would appear is Amoxicilin, fortunately it doesn't say I cant drink so I am going to use my day off to annoy the inhabitants of Aston university... see u all on Monday
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Reflections
Since starting at 3M I have been extremely fortunate to work for a boss who has encouraged me to work outside my comfort zone and increase my skill set. I have a very good relationship with this guy and I am sad to say that he will be leaving our department at the end of the week.
I thought that this change in my working life might be an opportune moment to reflect on my progress throughout my placement over the year.
Things I have learned (in no order)
If you've learned anything throw it up here...
I thought that this change in my working life might be an opportune moment to reflect on my progress throughout my placement over the year.
Things I have learned (in no order)
- 10 Minutes planning saves 3 hours work
- The Sales and Marketing Manager always wants to know the objectives of a given action
- The Sales and Marketing Manager always wants to know the return on investment
- Putting the customer at the heart of everyday activities is not easy
- Putting the customer at the heart of everyday activities provides a good return
- Getting literature approves takes more than a day so remember that when you plan
- Thinking 2 weeks ahead makes this week harder but next week much easier
- If you don't know then say "I don't know"
- Everyone makes mistakes smart people ask for help putting them right
- Admins control the world so be nice
- Regarding the above a chocolate bar goes a loooooooooong way
- Closing a sale still rocks
- spending 10 minutes a day on this blog is a good chill out.
If you've learned anything throw it up here...
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