Overachiever: Part 1

I have been labeled an "overachiever". Don't misunderstand--I don't think this was said in a derogatory way, but it was still said. Being the Nonconformist, I must now pick apart this label and determine if I really am an overachiever. And if I am, I've gotta figure out how the hell to fix myself...rid myself of this affliction.

"Think you already have an overachiever on your team? Look for some telltale signs:

Takes on tasks without being told or goes beyond the boundaries of their job description to solve problems

Prefers not to work in teams or take the time to follow basic processes and job functions

Becomes overly concerned with accomplishing tasks, no matter which job function you plug them into."

Hmmm...yes, yes, and yes.

"For overachievers, completing tasks above and beyond expectations provides the same physical and mental high as a drug. But the sensation gets harder to come by as time wears on, so don’t expect them to get comfortable and remain in their current position for more than two to three years. Most appreciate your mentoring but get bored quickly and move on to the next challenge.

Don’t just give overachievers pats on the back and expect gratitude in return. Because they tend to be spontaneous and have little patience for protocol, overachievers demand more of your time than others. For example, they may want to bounce around new ideas at a moment’s notice. Stephen Kern, director of decision support systems in Pfizer’s global manufacturing division, likes working with overachievers, but admits they can spend too much time on a project and not get things done. 'There’s an upside to having overachievers on your team,' Kern says, 'but it can take a lot of energy to focus them because they’re continually looking to accomplish things beyond the obvious tasks.'

Overachievers can often appear scattered and unable to focus, but that might merely signal that they’re focused too intently on one task. And since they hate to be wrong, they don’t always respond well to criticism. William Quigley, managing director of Clearstone Venture Partners, finds this problem among CEOs and company founders. As a board member for several companies, Quigley says he spends much of his time asking overachieving chief executives probing questions. 'I don’t find it useful to tell them about a problem in their supply chain and give them a solution,1 he says. 'Instead I ask them overarching questions about their priorities: Do you feel resource constrained? What areas could you use more help with?'"

Oh, shit. I am an overachiever.

The Dangling Carrot

After months of job depression (this is not to be confused with regular depression, from which I do not suffer), I am finally feeling as though I may rise out of the cesspool of drudgery and be a motivated, productive employee once again. Not sure what has changed, but I think this turn of attitude could be the direct result of three things: the onset of summer; a successful meeting this week with a report that Minionette and I prepared and presented; and an inspirational chat with a colleague (thanks, friend!) that reminded me that we all have to work for stinkheads every now and then but that it shall pass (as most unpleasant, stinky things do). I have renewed hope that I will one day work for someone with great leadership skills.

Maybe.

Newly Created Word

fexasperating -

- adjective

1. irritating or provoking to a high degree...causing one to drop the F-bomb.
2. extremely effing annoying

fexas

- noun

1. one who is fexasperating
2. a place that is fexasperating (like the DMV, not Texas)
   

What's in a name?

My cubemate, Todd, just told me about a professional ball player whose name is Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp." Wow. Some nicknames just shouldn't stick.

O Happy Day!

Just remembered that Emailita is going to be out next week. Woo hoo! A week of focus and clarity! I will be productive, unstressed, unirritated, and unfrustrated! And I'll try not to think about the fact that she'll will return like a bad case of athlete's foot the following Monday.

Humble me, Lord.

Yes, you're getting two for the price of one today. To quote Sadie, what just happened to me is "one for the books." Recently I coordinated an event, complete with door prizes. I must say that we had some pretty cool stuff to give away, so you can imagine...there we were, dialing the digits of all the prize winners and announcing with gusto, "You're a winner!" After instructing all of the lucky ones to claim their prizes, I place said prizes in a box. I thought we'd make this as orderly as possible and just write on the card what the participant won so there would be no hemming and hawing over the stash.

I was called out of my cubbyhole/sardine can/playpen this afternoon to present a prize. When I made it to the front room where the box and eager prize-winner were I was told that two winners were now in queue. I give winner #1 his prize and ask winner #2 for her name. All I could think as she was saying her name was, "Please don't let it be the shoes, please don't let it be the shoes!"

It was the shoes.

She won shoes. And she had no legs. She was in a wheelchair and had no legs. And I gave her shoes because that's what the card said. I couldn't deftly switch the prize because we had already called these winners and told them what they would be claiming.

I got back to my desk and one of the workers from the front room had sent me text message before I had ever emerged from my cubby: "I hope she didn't win the shoes." Wow. Would have been nice had I gotten that message before I hoisted myself from my chair.

It was a very awkward moment for me, and I can only hope that I've learned something from this experience. And that the girl laughed her ass off as she rolled out of the building with her new shoes and thought, "Now that was freakin hilarious! Poor girl!"

What a croc.

That's the way the roll...well, rolls.

It would seem that Emailita has not been through Managing People 101...not that this would be breaking news to anyone. I will not claim to know everything there is to know about directing your peeps, but let me just throw this out there:

If you assign someone a task, let them do it. It's like when you were growing up and your mom said, "Hey...can you butter these rolls while I finish up the green beans?" Then she snatched the knife from your hand and buttered them herself because her way of buttering rolls was the only way to butter rolls properly so how could you be expected to do it right?!

So I will sit at my desk now, twiddling my thumbs, because Emailita has snatched the knife away. Hey...maybe I could fill the glasses with ice!