Showing posts with label posterity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label posterity. Show all posts

For sure, he can say:

  • Mama
  • Dada
  • Dog
  • Hot dog
  • Up
  • Bye-bye
  • Fish
  • Sock
  • Shoe
  • Hot
  • Book

Have heard once or twice, never repeated since:

  • Love you.
  • Dellaina!
  • Gumdrop
  • Bailey
  • K.Lo
  • Snow
  • No
  • Mine
  • Strawberry
  • Pasta
  • Shrimp
  • Chip
  • Blankie
  • Go, go, go!
  • Duck
  • Quack
  • Moo

The blended together sentences:

  • I-want-that.
  • I-like-that.
  • Thank-you.
  • I-go-up.

These all sound the same. Highly amusing: 

  • Basketball
  • Pom-pom
  • Crockpot

Can’t say, but knows the meaning:

  • Go get such-and-such item.
  • Close the door/drawer/dishwasher.
  • Put such-and-such back.
  • Get down. 
  • Climb up.
  • Walk.
  • Dance.
  • Give me a kiss/hug.
  • Brush your teeth.
  • Hand over such-and-such item.
  • Night-night.
  • Banana
  • Juice
  • Cheese
  • Bender
  • Baby
  • Good job!
  • High five.

Understands, occasionally obeys!

  • No.
  • Don’t touch.
P1020425

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As N.Lo develops in his career, it’s interesting for the staff to note similarities and differences between our employees. Of particular similarity is an eclectic palette. Overall, N.Lo is more open and accepting of cafeteria offerings than his coworker, but mainly prefers an exact replica of his coworker’s meal (if not the actual meal itself). This preference can lead us down an interesting path at times, and the Kitchen Staff would like to note, mainly for posterity, some of the more unusual items favored (and shunned) by our Lo.Co. workers:

  • shrimp
  • dill pickles
  • hard-boiled eggs, but the whites only
  • deli meat rolled up, no bread
  • PB&J sandwiches, but with butter instead of peanut butter—and no crusts
  • unmixed snacks, everything separate, i.e. Cheerios and raisins each need to be served in their own respective bowls, never touching
  • no “liquid”-type foods, i.e. soups, oatmeal, cereal with milk, applesauce, things like that—N.Lo might try them, maybe

Very fortunately, both employees do enjoy their fruits and veggies! Even if that list is more limited for one employee…

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Checked into Sitemeter a few times recently, and I notice we're starting to get a few hits around here based on business term searches. Love. It. Thanks, Google! We appreciate any recognition of our company as a legitimate business. Fortune 500, here we come!

Sampling of recent searches:
six months employee expectations
motivational poster
creative office decor
theory of exchange
interoffice competition
new coworker buddies
managing Casual Friday
workshop tricks
meeting or Mondays Meeting

New visitors to our site, thanks for visiting, and don't forget to leave a comment!
I'm *this* close to begging.

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*K.Lo takes a spray bottle of water, aims it at her face, squeezes, and shouts, "My face!" (And then repeats the sequence.)

*N.Lo cries at his desk, K.Lo runs over and says, "N.Lo is sad! He has gas."

*And, the staff contemplates a uniform overhaul:







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I read a managerial training article recently that addressed employee personalities, and began thinking about my own two employees in terms of the nine personality traits that the article outlines. As the article suggests, these traits are nothing to "freak out" over; as a manager, I just think they're interesting to think about for both training and posterity. Perhaps when the employees have been with the company for twenty years or so, they can look in this file for some help "finding themselves." Whatever that means.

1. Activity Level
K.Lo: She's an active one, more high-key than Management, anyway. At times, she seems unstoppable, and if Management were ever to defy all laws of nature and eliminate the Night Shift, this employee might think it was the most fantastic company decision ever.

N.Lo: Still limited to the Floor Area during the Day Shift, so it's hard to tell just yet. He is content to observe, but occasionally will kick and flail up quite a storm during work activities.

2. Regularity
K.Lo: Responds well to somewhat of a routine and daily structure, but does better if you shake it up now and again. Afternoon Break must be between 1 PM and 1:30 PM, or all hell breaks loose in the office; likewise, the Night Shift begins between 8 PM and 8:30 PM. Office excursions are generally limited to the Morning Shift. Within these parameters, however, the employee becomes restless if day after day presents the same old tasks.

N.Lo: Thrives on routine, particularly with the Night Shift. Dinner schedule is rock solid. Functions in many ways like clockwork.
3. Sociability
K.Lo: Loves to be around people, always has. Too many people in one setting is initially overwhelming, as are new people. Also, though: will openly stare down/size up certain people for no apparent reason. Loves her coworker and often sings the praises of both colleagues and our extended training network.

N.Lo: Smiles a lot, with just about anyone, but most responsive to The Manager, about which The Manager is secretly--okay, not-so-secretly pleased.

4. Adaptability
K.Lo: Adaptability is very dependent on mood and circumstances. I give this employee a lot of credit for high adaptability in social situations and on office excursions or retreats.
N.Lo: Being so new to the company, the New Guy is still becoming aware of his surroundings and therefore is adaptable by default.

5. Intensity

K.Lo: Yes, she is intense.

N.Lo: He is much more low-key. Though he has had his moments of full-fledged employee dissatisfaction, it takes a dire set of circumstances to get him there. His complaints are relatively few and do not often escalate.

6. Disposition
K.Lo: Perhaps the most complex aspect of K.Lo's personality. Perhaps it is the most complex aspect of any female employee's personality. When she is happy, she can be most pleasant and highly entertaining. She is, as a stranger once commented, "magnetic." When is she not happy, on the other hand, she can be quite a bear, and Managerial Patience Reserves deplete quickly. See traits 7 and 8.
N.Lo: Mainly pleasant, though like everyone has his moments or days.

7. Distractibility
K.Lo: No, she is not easily distracted. If she wants something, she is single-mindedly driven to have it. As an adult, this trait will serve her much better than it does as a two-year employee.
N.Lo: Seemingly distractable, unless he is facing an especially difficult work obstacle.

8. Persistence:
K.Lo: Yes, she is extremely persistent. Tenacious! In the positive sense, this employee possesses quite a bit of contagious enthusiasm for workplace ventures. In the negative sense, the employee is not yet able, at all, to reign in her desires.
N.Lo: If faced with a difficult work obstacle, the employee will request assistance, but initial requests are calm. However, at this juncture in his career, needs and obstacles are admittedly simple and few.

9. Sensitivity:
K.Lo: Possibly sensitive, as shown in her reactions to loud noises, such as bus brakes and airplanes and barking dogs. However, her "fright" may be just a phase.
N.Lo: Possibly sensitive. Workplace morale improves significantly when physical conditions are improved, such as a new diaper or changed shirt.
Conclusions: The employees might just be polar opposites? At least in terms of temperament and routine. However, insofar as their working relationship, they may eventually complement each other's work styles very well. Overall, because N.Lo is so new to the company, and K.Lo is still a relative new-hire herself, the true nuances of each trait remain to be seen.













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A fellow company owner confessed recently in comments that she corrects her employee in certain word pronunciations so that she has an accent, which I find highly amusing. I worked at a company in upstate New York for 18 years, and now run a company in the South, so I can't help but wonder what sort of accent my employees will adopt. Will they take after Management, or will they pick up on pronunciations used by local companies and training facilities. K.Lo, as previously noted, loves to say, "Shake and bake," and stretches out this particular phrase with quite a drawl. Also, more recently, K.Lo and I have created a new game that we play quite a bit on the Day Shift. The dialogue goes like so:

K.Lo: Hi, Mommy.

The Manager: Hi, K.Lo.

K.Lo: Hey, Ma-ma.

The Manager: Hey, K.La.

K.Lo is very entertained by her name switch--as am I. I know most of her colleagues call their managers "Mama," and I imagine that's who she picked it up from. What I most love is when K.Lo steps up the game a notch by dropping her voice and pushing out her lips in a fake-pouty way to say, "Hey, Ma-ma," in a super-drawl. Ah, K.La. Where does she come up with this stuff.

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It was a long day at the office, one where so little and so much happened. As Manager, I feel like I need to recap some of the little bits and pieces for a) posterity and b) self-reassurance that The Lo. Co. is in fact productive, that all the minutes flying by in a blur contain something of substance.

Tasks Completed
2007 Tax Return e-filed (CFO)
Meatballs made (Kitchen Staff)
Finding Nemo watched (K.Lo)
Voice exercised (N.Lo)
Executive Suite dusted (Housekeeping)
Executive Bath cleaned (Housekeeping)
Load of light clothes washed (Laundry Fairy)
VIP phone call fielded (The Manager)
Books read, toys played with (K.Lo)
Naps taken (K.Lo, N.Lo)
Company excursions to Target and Costco planned (PA)
Several clients/colleagues emailed regarding various VIM's, or Very Important Matters (The Manager)
Exercise regimen completed (The Manager, assisted by K.Lo)
Employees diapered, fed, clothed, diapered, fed, clothed, diapered, fed, clothed, etc. (The Manager)

Also Managed To
Completely screw up the blog template on (Mis)Adventures (The Manager)
Alienate mendacious a little (The Manager)
Spill grapes all over floor on purpose while Kitchen Staff cooked meatballs (K.Lo)
Scream bloody murder while the Kitchen Staff cooked meatballs and The Manager fielded VIP phone call (N.Lo, K.Lo)

And Attempted To
Film video of N.Lo speaking up, which of course he ceased to do as soon as the camera started rolling (The Manager)
And on that note, I leave you with this, a pretty perfect summation of the day:

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As an employee, K.Lo tends to be quite enthusiastic, a real team player, with a lot of pride in her work. Mainly for posterity, I'd like to note her usual narration for a diaper change:

When approaching diaper changing area: "Diaper change!"
As Management opens container of Desitin: "Diaper cream."
After diaper is fastened, in a sing-song: "Stand uh-up!"
When pants are pulled up, shirt straightened, a very business-like: "All SET."

Basically, K.Lo has taken over for Management in letting herself know what's happening, what step we're on. Kudos, once again, to our star performer.

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