Finding Inspiration

It’s been difficult and time consuming but I’m finally finding inspiration for a return to the old blog in a most curious manner. I’ve been facebooking and tweetering (whatever it’s called and it ain’t my cuppa) because that’s all the time I’ve allowed myself to expose and record my thoughts. I realize that I have way more thoughts than allowed on either of those venues and have tremendous difficulty censoring myself. Here’s the bottom line inspiration: I’m just not a snippet kinda gal. 

Onward.

I work with some pretty cool people. They are funny, sarcastic, caring, intelligent, talented, jaded, and all on their way to something better… someday. We all deal with needy, pathetic, stupid people on a daily basis. No matter what kind of day we are having, there’s always at least one demanding, self-professed, idiot in need of a hand-holding experience. It always starts with: “I just need three copies but I don’t know how to use the machines. You‘ll have to do it for me.” There’s never a “please” or “thank you” in their request because, of course, I am there to serve them. They are intimidated by the equipment and get mad at me and demand I do it for them. I do so happily but what started with copies turns into the eventual list of all inadequacies in their lives. Good thing it only takes a minute. A long, long minute…

Tests my patience severely.

One of the guys I work with is originally from Louisiana; New Orleans, I think. He’s one of those kinds of guys who can fix just about anything and loves to tinker. Yesterday he fixed my cash counting (weighing) machine just by giving it a look. I swear to God… that’s all I saw him do and the damned thing obeyed his command.

When I was new, he would eye me suspiciously and only speak when spoken to while drinking in my movements to see if I was fluid, or not; making me feel watched to the point of paranoia. I thought, maybe, it was a regional, kind of southern thing and it might be. What do I know? Of course he’s very polite and giving of his time and talent but guarded in a way that, at first, put me off a little. Then I realized that his thoughts and observations run as deeply as mine and he was merely sizing me up. It has taken nine months but he now speaks freely and hangs out with me while I’m working.

Yesterday I asked him about one of his tools and he followed me around like a(n) (certain) eleven year old explaining how he’d modified it himself and how it was better than a Leatherman (His tool is a Gerber.) because it now works like a switchblade and is oh-so-convenient if your hands are busy, etc… I love his tool-speak and geek-speak. He’s such an interesting guy. His wife is pregnant with their first and our conversations are getting ever more interesting.

Another guy I work with is an auditor and is now in the unenviable position of going to each center and measuring how well each is adhering to SOP standards. I’m sure he feels the collective groan when he walks into a center unannounced. (‘Cause that’s how it works, people! Audits aren’t effective if you’ve slicked the place up before the process and then go back to your old ways. Some people just don’t get that.) He is perfect for this job because he’s very matter-of-fact and a terrific teacher. He also doesn’t put up with any bullshit. He told me some stories about “coming-up” in his management career and had me laughing so hard I had to loosen my belt.

He’s one of my favorites (which I can’t say out loud because he’s an auditor and it would look like I’m sucking up) and I love spending time with him and telling stories while he searches for hits and misses in my processes. I’m never offended or put into a defensive position with him. He always takes the time to tell me what and why, which makes sense for me, and gives me the heads-up on what to expect next time.

This is a guy who came up and out of adversity and is stronger for it. He was a restaurant manager, a server, and an op’s manager. He worked as an assistant manager who really took a lot of abuse but learned how turn it all around to get to where he is now without bitterness. He’d probably protest that last bit and call himself bitter about some things but I just don’t see that in him. Bitter ain’t his style but I love his acerbic wit, sense of humor, and leveling sarcasm.

I was telling him the latest about a particular team member and all he said was, “Bitch just needs to move on.” So right, sir! His comedic timing is perfect. When the door is closed he drops F-bombs with a certain, je ne sais quoi, Johnny Depp-Cap’n Jack swagger that so aptly describes the frustrations of trying to change a culture through checklists and procedural reviews. I love it and giggle girlishly while nervously wondering what dumbshit thing one of my employees may have done to fuck up my audit score. No matter what it is, when he leaves and I’ve got that score in my hand, I feel smarter and better for it.

Told ya; perfect for the job.

These guys are two of my fav’s and I’m eager to get to know them better. I also work with some real doozies; people who should have moved on long ago but are hanger-on’s for lack of inspiration.

Me, I’m finding it where I can get it these days and it ain’t in snippets.

It never is.