- Several times throughout the year we arrive in the morning to find free stuff placed neatly at our desks. A few weeks ago, I arrived to find a free lunch tote on my desk. I probably won’t use it, but my mom or dad might have use for it! My parents and Ryder have received lots of free NHL gear from me! The day we got the lunch totes, we also had a dessert party. This was all to celebrate the start of the playoff season. The desserts were amazing!! Tiny crème puffs, chocolate covered strawberry’s, fruit tarts, etc… One of the admin’s also came by and asked for my t-shirt size, I still don’t know why, but I guess I’m getting a free t-shirt in the near future.
- Flexible work hours. We can basically set our own hours, within reason. AND, we only work 7 hour days…well, not always, but that’s what’s required - sometimes I do have to stay late to finish things up. Being the non-morning-person that I am, I have chosen the late-schedule. I basically work 9:45 to 6:00, with an hour lunch in there…sometimes spent at my desk, but I try to get out and walk a mile every day at some point in the afternoon. I can even walk home for lunch if I want! Most of my department is non-morning people (I think it's an accounting thing as I encountered this at E&Y, too). I loved it this week when one of my bosses, Olivia, and I were on a conference call with a consulting company. We have had on our schedules for weeks now that we would have all-day sessions with them on Thursday/Friday this week from 9am to 5pm. On the call on Wednesday, Olivia said..."What time are we starting on Thursday morning? You realize none of us are morning people, right? We're starting at 9:30. If you want to come earlier, that's fine, but we won't be here until 9:30". Hilarious!
- My new management position. When I first was promoted to manager last August, I didn’t see much change in my job, just title. But, as things have continued to progress, so has my job. There are LOTS of changes going on. The other day, my direct boss referred to us as being similar to a start-up company. It’s really pretty true – they consider me an old employee and I’ve been there less than 1.5 years. It was just a few years ago that the hockey player lock-out occurred and that resulted in extreme lay-offs and a reduction in hockey activity. So, it’s almost like the NHL has started over. The NHL has done really well these last few years, so we’re trying to keep up with the growth and be prepared for more. In the finance department, we are really working on revising processes to make things run more smoothly and efficiently...this means upgrading our Accounting Software, and buying lots of other new software and tools to help us out – all resulting in lots of planning/decision meetings! Anyway, I’m now managing 2 staff and I’m involved in less of the day-to-day stuff and more involved in project management. Right now, this means lots of meetings – usually I just listen because I am still learning so much, but I contribute where I can. And as we go, these meetings begin to result in more and more work on my end. Right now I’m very busy with the budget process until mid-May …we’re on a July-June fiscal year, so budgets for ’08-’09 have to be done soon! Budgeting allows me to “see inside” other departments and I have found it very interesting learn more about what other departments are doing and how much fun other jobs sound and what they spend money on!
- My co-workers are extremely nice, laid-back, and easy to work with.
- Going to the All-Star game! I’m crossing my fingers to go again next year. (Also, secretly wishing that they’d need me to go to the pre-season games we’re having in Europe this year…that won’t happen, but a girl can dream, right?).
- Free hockey games! Free concert tickets!
- I had my annual review the other day and it went very well. I’m always scared of these. Even though I like my job and do what’s expected, I always know that I could be doing more and doing better. I know that I will never be an over-achiever in the accounting world. But, somehow they don’t seem to see that and my review was good! I am hoping that it will translate into a nice raise when we get them in August because I am pretty much counting on it to be able to afford to live without roommates!
- The powers that be seem to try really hard to keep us excited about our jobs and also about hockey. I got off the elevator on my floor this morning and felt soooo confused! The elevator bank on the 14th had white walls when I left last night, but when I arrived this morning, it had been wall-papered. It's pretty crazy now! The hockey players look like they're about to skate right off the walls!
As I just re-read/proofed this entry, I realized that it has a whole lot to do with God's provision. There have been times in the past when I have been so miserable with my job. I remember very late night drives home from work while on my cell phone bawling to my mom (who was in Cali and 2 hours earlier) because I was so tired and overwhelmed. I don't expect to feel that way about this job anytime soon. Just now, I pulled out the notebook I use to keep up with prayer requests. I knew that 3-4 years ago, I had some very specific job-related requests jotted down in there that I prayed over for a long time and I wanted to go back and re-read them. Here are a few of those, straight from my book (FYI...I've bolded/italicized some words here, but in my book I had actually underlined them. Blogger doesn't seem to have an underline option):
- That I would be motivated at work and keep up. (check)
- That I would be so thankful for my job that I would desire to do my best. (maybe not a full check here, but I'm getting better)
- God would have grace on me and grant me the gift of enjoying my job (CHECK, CHECK!)
Additionally, life would probably be nearly unbearable if I hated my job and ached as badly as I do for the friendships I've had in the past. As I did when I moved here, I still feel pretty confident that God wants me to be in this city. I've become confused as to why exactly and maybe I will never know. But, the fact that I like my job makes me even more certain that He wants me to stick around and shows me how loving He is because he's making it more comfortable for me to do so!
Praise God! Seriously.
2 comments:
Wow, this is so awesome and huge! I'm so happy for you!
I'm so glad you love your job. It reminds me that it is possible for one to really find joy in what they do (or at least find some enjoyment) :-) Yeah for you!!
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