"We Build" Nichole Nordeman


So far I have learned this much:


What's the same?

• Effort: I work just as hard.
• The Others: Spectrum is the same. There are people who are smarter, lazier, faster, brighter, dumber than I am.

What's different?

• Perception: People respond differently to me. Some are happy for me. Some are not. Some challenge me. Others praise.
• Responsibility: I feel even more deeply a desire to be useful to those I lead, to support them and to make them successful.
• Measure of Progress: Completion of a tasks takes longer, involves more deliberation and is harder to track.

What I'm working on?

• Temperance: Be more patient when I communicate. Speak last, speak respectfully but firmly.
• Choosing My Battles: Prioritizing. Focus on what counts the most, tackle less impactful concerns judiciously. Don't waste your precious brain space -- you ain't got much left.
• Seeking Legitimacy: Some don't know that I'm part of my new group, much less leading it. Tempting to declare myself, but be patient. It will come naturally, and that's the best way.

What I'm proud of?

• Maintaining Respect: I feel I've treated those around me with respect.
• Embracing Challenges: I've welcomed every difficulty and every problem as I view these as lessons that will allow me to grow and learn. Nervousness and fear have been replaced by an irrepressible curiosity. I want to be better.

"Everyday Struggle vs. A Day in the Life of a Fool" Notorios B.I.G & Frank Sinatra

The content of this blog had strayed over the last few months, becoming the kind of self-indulgent drivel symptomatic of somebody who really has nothing to say.

But, let's get back to Business (Casualty).

This coming week is my last as a computer go-for. Gone are the days of my scurrying around the 52nd floor of a Los Angeles highrise to examine the squeaking roller of a Hewlett Packard 3450 or to ensure a laptop's ability to detect wireless networks. Sorry, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you convert this spreadsheet into a PDF. Don't misunderstand; these are vital issues, profoundly impacting productivity. But the gratification that comes with desktop support wanes quickly and rare is the creature who finds enduring satisfaction in these responsibilities.

Come June 18th, I will begin an internship to manage Company's Helpdesk. The Helpdesk is the first line of technical resolution for the company. Call us, we'll help. If we can't, we'll find somebody who can. It matters less what this department does than my blatant lack of qualifications for this job. I have to manage people.

So this is what this blog will focus on. Learning how to manage. My methods, my mistakes. My observations and, hopefully, some discoveries in successfully managing a team. It will be an ongoing process, and Business Casualty will become a living document of my experience.