So as many of you know one aspect of my job basically consists of planning meetings, ordering lunch, posting materials, killing trees by copying materials and taking notes. Yea... thrilling. The best part is that these meetings are actually 5 hours long...yea 5 hours..
These meetings are so intensive I always have 10 different lists of things I need to do before and on the day of the meeting. Here was my list for today:
1. Get to work a bit early: I was somewhat successful at this. I got to the office at about 7:45, but then proceeded to talk about nothing for 30 min with my boss and ended up starting everything later than I normally do. I think this may be a trend with us... but I like it.
2. Make name tents: I feel about name tents the way they felt about TPS reports on Office Space.... People take these things very seriously. Literally, if you do not have a name tent for them around that table, oh there will be hell to pay. Even if they aren't really a member of the group and are just representing someone, you better not have the wrong name tent in front of them. There are starving people around the world missing food, and you complaining about missing your name tent?
3. Print off last minute materials: This is one of my biggest pet peeves about this situation. Someone last minute will always either change their presentation so it needs to be reposted and recopied, or they just turn it in last minute. In this case, it was my boss who turned her materials in last minute, which I always let slide. Mostly because she is awesome and brings me bagels on Thursdays, but also because she is super overwhelmed and I like to give her some slack where I can ;o)
4. Collect money for lunch: One word: awkward. This is where I get to go around the room asking everyone to pay me $10 for the Potbelly's that will be coming for lunch. I have to try and cut into their conversations about their wife and kids (something I don't relate to at all) and beg like a pauper. There are always a few people who sneak in just as the meeting is starting so I am unable to corner them for money... but don't you worry I get them eventually ;o) No money, No food (see #6)
5. Take Notes: aka bring my computer so I can gchat with my coworkers across the room and try not to fall asleep during the first 2 hours while listening to people talk in circles so that everyone can get their sound bite in.
6. Lunch: Leave right before the meeting adjures and set up the sandwiches, lay out the chips and sides, bring in the ice cold drinks... and then sit there and swat away the hands of the people who did not pay for lunch but are trying to mooch. My roommate calls me the "Sandwich Nazi". Note: I only give away freebies to the people I like ;o)
7. Take Notes: Now that I have added a food coma to the situation, I try to stay awake for the next two and a half hours and comprehend what is going on... Zzzzzzzzzzz
8. Clean up: It is over. Everyone has left. It is 3:30 and I am recycling all those copies that no one took but I am forced to make (a piece of me dies every time). I pawn off the leftover chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (if you haven't had one of these from Potbelly's do yourself a favor and go NOW!), and then steal the leftover tupperware and chips for me and my roommate :o)
9. Go home: I am finally released of my duties and can go home, to either work it off at the gym (which I did) or drink wine (which I wish I did...and may still do).
Can't wait for the next one!
These meetings are so intensive I always have 10 different lists of things I need to do before and on the day of the meeting. Here was my list for today:
1. Get to work a bit early: I was somewhat successful at this. I got to the office at about 7:45, but then proceeded to talk about nothing for 30 min with my boss and ended up starting everything later than I normally do. I think this may be a trend with us... but I like it.
2. Make name tents: I feel about name tents the way they felt about TPS reports on Office Space.... People take these things very seriously. Literally, if you do not have a name tent for them around that table, oh there will be hell to pay. Even if they aren't really a member of the group and are just representing someone, you better not have the wrong name tent in front of them. There are starving people around the world missing food, and you complaining about missing your name tent?
3. Print off last minute materials: This is one of my biggest pet peeves about this situation. Someone last minute will always either change their presentation so it needs to be reposted and recopied, or they just turn it in last minute. In this case, it was my boss who turned her materials in last minute, which I always let slide. Mostly because she is awesome and brings me bagels on Thursdays, but also because she is super overwhelmed and I like to give her some slack where I can ;o)
4. Collect money for lunch: One word: awkward. This is where I get to go around the room asking everyone to pay me $10 for the Potbelly's that will be coming for lunch. I have to try and cut into their conversations about their wife and kids (something I don't relate to at all) and beg like a pauper. There are always a few people who sneak in just as the meeting is starting so I am unable to corner them for money... but don't you worry I get them eventually ;o) No money, No food (see #6)
5. Take Notes: aka bring my computer so I can gchat with my coworkers across the room and try not to fall asleep during the first 2 hours while listening to people talk in circles so that everyone can get their sound bite in.
6. Lunch: Leave right before the meeting adjures and set up the sandwiches, lay out the chips and sides, bring in the ice cold drinks... and then sit there and swat away the hands of the people who did not pay for lunch but are trying to mooch. My roommate calls me the "Sandwich Nazi". Note: I only give away freebies to the people I like ;o)
7. Take Notes: Now that I have added a food coma to the situation, I try to stay awake for the next two and a half hours and comprehend what is going on... Zzzzzzzzzzz
8. Clean up: It is over. Everyone has left. It is 3:30 and I am recycling all those copies that no one took but I am forced to make (a piece of me dies every time). I pawn off the leftover chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (if you haven't had one of these from Potbelly's do yourself a favor and go NOW!), and then steal the leftover tupperware and chips for me and my roommate :o)
9. Go home: I am finally released of my duties and can go home, to either work it off at the gym (which I did) or drink wine (which I wish I did...and may still do).
Can't wait for the next one!
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