Two months ago, one of my bosses asked me if I would like to become a project manager for the interiors department.
I was very reluctant for a number of reasons:
1. I don't know a lot about interiors.
2. I'm more interested in being an architect, not an interior designer.
3. I feel like I need a lot more experience, generally, before I become a manager. ( I think one needs to be able TO DO the work EFFECTIVELY that one is directing other people to do.)
4. There was a strong vibe that the offer was actually coming under duress. In other words, somebody told my boss to offer me this position, whereas my boss didn't really want me to be a manager.
5. I've noticed there's a trend to give people inflated titles, when they can't really do the job of the title which they are given because they lack experience and knowledge. I don't want to be one of those people. I want to be competent at one job before I move to another.
Rather than straight up rejecting the offer, I promised to think about it overnight.
I went home and told Fritz and he informed me that I was crazy not to take it. His basic premise was that I would do more harm by not taking the job than by taking it and doing poorly.
The very next day, one of the people in the interiors department quit. Which freed up money to hire a project manager from outside the company. Which is what my boss really wanted all along. My offer was immediately forgotten and a job search was started for a project manager.
I was mostly ambivalent. Perhaps I had dodged a bullet and it was all for the best.
So then, a project manager was hired - and she has significantly less experience and less ability and less knowledge than me. She IS the person that my boss wanted to hire, for whatever it's worth. But in the meantime, we are suffering from her lack of knowledge, her inability to actually produce drawings, and her inexperience of ever being a manager before. I'm explaining things to her like the difference between a structural engineer and civil engineer – when, come to find out – what she really need to do is find a plumber to locate the source of a leak in an existing building. I bet some of you reading this – who have no experience in architecture or interior design –ALREADY knew that a plumber fixes leaks, not an engineer. But she didn't: she wanted to know if leaks were the job of a civil or structural engineer. It's painful, PAINFUL, I tell you.
Additionally, I find our personalities are conflicting....which is unusual for me...I get along with most people, but it does happen every now and then. In case you are wondering, the personality that conflicts with me has these trademarks: slow talker, yet very chatty and indirect in their approach. If a woman, then this woman tends to spend a lot of time and money on personal grooming, exercise and clothes. She's likely to speak quite nostalgically about children. For reasons that may or may not be fair, I read all of these characteristics as inauthentic, superficial, intellectually vapid and I have a difficult time not feeling frustrated by them. Yesterday, I started making a list of all the things that are changing in the office because of her influence.
1. Whispering. Not always, but about half the time she goes over to someone's desk and asks a question and instead of asking in a normal voice, she whispers. It may be she's trying to be considerate to those of us working. Or it may be she doesn't want others to hear. I don't know, but it FEELS sneaky and underhanded. Ick.
2. Meetings during meetings. An office wide meeting is occurring and someone - unannounced and unscheduled - shows up at the front door of the office. The new project manager will leave the occurring meeting and go chat with the new arrival. Not just for a minute or two. She'll go have a regular old meeting during the meeting, for 10 to 15 minutes, with whoever just happened to show up at the same time. I don't know: call me crazy, but I think it shows a lack of respect for co-workers.
3. Clothing compliments. We are now, apparently, the type of office where we compliment each other everyday on our wardrobes. Well, not me, because I'm just not into that. But other people are (now). Maybe for some people, this is a bonding exercise. But to me, it feels like distraction from the reason I'm at work. I'm there to work - do architecture. I'm happy to talk with you about a cool building or an awesome new flooring material. But I don't really want to talk about my shoes or my coat or where I got them. (I save that for this blog!) And because the instigator of this new chitchat is my superior, I certainly DO feel like I'm constantly being judged and evaluated on some criteria that has nothing to do with WHY I'm at work.
4. Cuteness and Sweetness. Look, I'm pretty sure this has no business being the criteria for hiring anyone, but these are the types of descriptors being thrown around my office these days after interviewees leave. Argh.
Anyway. Maybe I should have taken her job. As the situation went, I don't think I had the chance to, but whatever. I will say, between the lack of knowledge and the new office dynamic, this project manager is an unwelcome twist on an already strained system.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Seque
This weekend, I'm doing some much needed distraction: that is, I'm obsessing over small things that don't truly matter rather than thinking about bigger issues. I used to joke with people that I needed time to just sit and stare at the wall - (um, kind of like mediation) - but now, I don't really stare at the wall, so much as take photos of stuff with my phone. It is still very zen-like.
This is one of those origami (Moravian) stars sitting on a copper tray that used to belong to Fritz's grandmother. Something about the way the paper and metal were contrasting each other was fascinating. Also - both materials look soft and hard at the same time. Neat.
In contrast to that image - the image below is all the same material. This is a wavy dimensional tile just installed in one of my work projects. It's all white - so the pattern you are seeing below is actually from shadows. There's a chipped bit in there - that's why I was taking the photo. But overall, I was struck by just how graphic and contrast-y it is - considering that the tile is one single color.
These are the one single shoe that I could wear all the time. My parents got this particular pair for me for Christmas. But it is the third time that they have bought (almost the exact) same shoe for me. I started wearing a shoe like this around 2002, and I haven't stopped. Every three years (or so) I stick them my Christmas list. The good news is that I will truly squeeze every penny of value out of these shoes.
At our house, we are hoping to optimize value by expanding upon Noah's cooking repertoire. This is a meal that NOAH made. That's right, the 11 year old made this. Can you believe it? It's a Jamie Oliver chicken recipe. Noah had to stuff herbs and butter under the skin of the chicken (Ew) and when he finished doing that, he still wanted to make the homemade pasta on the left of the photo. AMAZING.
Our refinished dining table is holding up pretty well, but our not-refinished dining chairs were falling apart. Since I can't seem to squeeze refinishing into my schedule (for 6 years now), we sucked it up bought these Ikea chairs. I was very much liking these chairs back in 2013, but couldn't bring myself to buy them (or their even nicer cousin, the Mantis Chair). And guess what? The Ikea ones were discontinued, so then I really couldn't buy them. Until one day I luckily found SIX on Craigslist and could then justify the (second-hand) cost.
Rather than going second-hand, we got a new rug in the living room. Well, actually, my brother got it for me. (Thank you!) Worried a bit that it was too matchy-matchy with my mother-in-law's artwork hanging on the wall, but I think it's good. Our living room gets a lot of kid-play, so I'm hoping it will hide the kid's dirt as well.
It's probably time for me to stop ignoring the mess and do something a little more productive. Here's to a perfect balance or productivity and distraction on your weekend.
This is one of those origami (Moravian) stars sitting on a copper tray that used to belong to Fritz's grandmother. Something about the way the paper and metal were contrasting each other was fascinating. Also - both materials look soft and hard at the same time. Neat.
In contrast to that image - the image below is all the same material. This is a wavy dimensional tile just installed in one of my work projects. It's all white - so the pattern you are seeing below is actually from shadows. There's a chipped bit in there - that's why I was taking the photo. But overall, I was struck by just how graphic and contrast-y it is - considering that the tile is one single color.
These are the one single shoe that I could wear all the time. My parents got this particular pair for me for Christmas. But it is the third time that they have bought (almost the exact) same shoe for me. I started wearing a shoe like this around 2002, and I haven't stopped. Every three years (or so) I stick them my Christmas list. The good news is that I will truly squeeze every penny of value out of these shoes.
At our house, we are hoping to optimize value by expanding upon Noah's cooking repertoire. This is a meal that NOAH made. That's right, the 11 year old made this. Can you believe it? It's a Jamie Oliver chicken recipe. Noah had to stuff herbs and butter under the skin of the chicken (Ew) and when he finished doing that, he still wanted to make the homemade pasta on the left of the photo. AMAZING.
Our refinished dining table is holding up pretty well, but our not-refinished dining chairs were falling apart. Since I can't seem to squeeze refinishing into my schedule (for 6 years now), we sucked it up bought these Ikea chairs. I was very much liking these chairs back in 2013, but couldn't bring myself to buy them (or their even nicer cousin, the Mantis Chair). And guess what? The Ikea ones were discontinued, so then I really couldn't buy them. Until one day I luckily found SIX on Craigslist and could then justify the (second-hand) cost.
Rather than going second-hand, we got a new rug in the living room. Well, actually, my brother got it for me. (Thank you!) Worried a bit that it was too matchy-matchy with my mother-in-law's artwork hanging on the wall, but I think it's good. Our living room gets a lot of kid-play, so I'm hoping it will hide the kid's dirt as well.
It's probably time for me to stop ignoring the mess and do something a little more productive. Here's to a perfect balance or productivity and distraction on your weekend.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Visions of Success
I've had way too many commitments going on lately: the holiday stuff, the work stuff, the re-new my architectural license stuff, volunteer scout stuff, volunteer in the neighborhood stuff, the household visitor stuff, and the kids-are-not-in-school stuff. I've also been working on some side projects – an architecture project to be more precise – that I hoped would turn into an opportunity to leave my full-time job and venture out on my own.
It didn't pan out.
Better to find out now than later. Still... working on it was about 25 hours of work that I didn't really need on my plate this month.
As a result of this experience, I find myself thinking a lot lately about how I define success in my professional life. I want to be intellectually challenged, but not overrun by hours of work at someone else's whim. (I REALLY don't want to work for a firm that double and triple books my time.) I'd also much rather have flexibility than reliability. I'd prefer a variety of work to redundant work. I'd prefer clever, respectful co-workers over funny, dramatic, or lone wolf-types.
I'd like to choose my own poison, rather than be spoon fed it.
I would like to work on a solid computer system, because there is nothing more annoying (to me) than a slow/under-powered computer backing up to a server over the internet. I would like to work with a solid software packages that are optimally utilized, because lacking software or inadequate utilization of computer software is close second for frustration. When the computer works, when the software is available and appropriately utilized, working on my computer is almost zen-like. I'm in Flow, I'm in the Zone, I'm so happy! Sitting in front of my glowing monitor, all the chaos of my household life and three-kids-two-cats-one-au-pair melts away and I have in my computer a perfect, abstract model of a building under my control. Again: I'm so happy in this state! But when the computer stops working, or the saving takes a long time, or the internet slows down my speed, or the software isn't available: I'm miserable! I'm miserable when I don't have tools that I need to control the work that I am doing.
I'd like to hold myself and those around me to a high moral standard. It's deeply disappointing to see people in power who are manipulative, abusive, rude, or disrespectful. I don't want to support this type of person as an employee, employer, or client. I want the ability to walk away from people like this. I want to vote with my feet.
I've said (over and over and over again) that my goal is to have my own firm. Still is. It needn't be big. It can be just me and just a few projects. What is clearly not my dream, or not my version of success, is to work for a big firm and be a cog in the wheels. Is that anyone's dream? Probably not: but I do think there are a lot of people out there who would choose the security of a corporate type job to risk of being independent. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just not for me.
Additionally: I can't help thinking that the state of comfortably employed as being the truly risky matter. As an architect, I spend time watching the winds of the economy. The construction industry is always the first to fall and the last to rise when the economy tanks. I've been an architect through one recession and one downturn, so I don't take their impact lightly. I wonder if it might be easier to support yourself as a sole proprietor, with little projects, in a recession? I don't know - but I do know that overhead is a significant part of architectural costs. There's also the fact that as an employee, you are ultimately dependent on a very few people's evaluation of you. Do they think you are working hard enough? Are you profitable enough for the company? How are you in comparison to the person sitting next to you? These questions will maintain or end your employment. Where as, if you work for yourself, you are likely to have a much larger pool of opinions to draw upon.
I try to paint this picture of myself – this picture of where I want to be – so that when opportunities arise to be more independent, I can pursue them. I'll get there; I know I will. It just takes time.
It didn't pan out.
Better to find out now than later. Still... working on it was about 25 hours of work that I didn't really need on my plate this month.
As a result of this experience, I find myself thinking a lot lately about how I define success in my professional life. I want to be intellectually challenged, but not overrun by hours of work at someone else's whim. (I REALLY don't want to work for a firm that double and triple books my time.) I'd also much rather have flexibility than reliability. I'd prefer a variety of work to redundant work. I'd prefer clever, respectful co-workers over funny, dramatic, or lone wolf-types.
I'd like to choose my own poison, rather than be spoon fed it.
I would like to work on a solid computer system, because there is nothing more annoying (to me) than a slow/under-powered computer backing up to a server over the internet. I would like to work with a solid software packages that are optimally utilized, because lacking software or inadequate utilization of computer software is close second for frustration. When the computer works, when the software is available and appropriately utilized, working on my computer is almost zen-like. I'm in Flow, I'm in the Zone, I'm so happy! Sitting in front of my glowing monitor, all the chaos of my household life and three-kids-two-cats-one-au-pair melts away and I have in my computer a perfect, abstract model of a building under my control. Again: I'm so happy in this state! But when the computer stops working, or the saving takes a long time, or the internet slows down my speed, or the software isn't available: I'm miserable! I'm miserable when I don't have tools that I need to control the work that I am doing.
I'd like to hold myself and those around me to a high moral standard. It's deeply disappointing to see people in power who are manipulative, abusive, rude, or disrespectful. I don't want to support this type of person as an employee, employer, or client. I want the ability to walk away from people like this. I want to vote with my feet.
I've said (over and over and over again) that my goal is to have my own firm. Still is. It needn't be big. It can be just me and just a few projects. What is clearly not my dream, or not my version of success, is to work for a big firm and be a cog in the wheels. Is that anyone's dream? Probably not: but I do think there are a lot of people out there who would choose the security of a corporate type job to risk of being independent. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just not for me.
Additionally: I can't help thinking that the state of comfortably employed as being the truly risky matter. As an architect, I spend time watching the winds of the economy. The construction industry is always the first to fall and the last to rise when the economy tanks. I've been an architect through one recession and one downturn, so I don't take their impact lightly. I wonder if it might be easier to support yourself as a sole proprietor, with little projects, in a recession? I don't know - but I do know that overhead is a significant part of architectural costs. There's also the fact that as an employee, you are ultimately dependent on a very few people's evaluation of you. Do they think you are working hard enough? Are you profitable enough for the company? How are you in comparison to the person sitting next to you? These questions will maintain or end your employment. Where as, if you work for yourself, you are likely to have a much larger pool of opinions to draw upon.
I try to paint this picture of myself – this picture of where I want to be – so that when opportunities arise to be more independent, I can pursue them. I'll get there; I know I will. It just takes time.
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