I remember the time when I had a lot of free time…
I remember the time when I wished I had a cool fun job…
I remember the time when I thought life is stable and it was great…
I remember the time when I had time for friends and family to hang out with…
I remember the time when I believed that life was going my way…
I remember the time when I thought that I had all the answers…
I remember the time when my blog was one of the main essences of my life…
Then it all went down hill the day I stopped dreaming and faced reality. And oh, reality bites, but I try to keep that smile on my face every day and say, “TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE BETTER!”
I have been working like a dog this week. I even work after work till late at night getting stuff “done.” Why? Because I deal daily with LAST MINUTE people!
Sometimes I wish I was a house wife with 3 kids, being their boss, and telling them to shut up. That would release my anger on a daily bases! 
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I have a hyothesis. You deal with ‘last minute’ people because those people have got used to you being able to deal with their last minute problems/requests. Perhaps you should try letting them down a bit, you know, failing to get those last minute things done quickly. Then they’ll find someone else to dump last minute things on. Just a thought
Have those last minute people read this :
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/07/upstream-and-downstream.html
Then start a new process at work where you only work on important things rather than critical things.
Employ a three strike rule where every co-worker you have has 3 strikes where they can miss a deadline / delay your work and get away with it… after the three strikes are up, the work just will not get done (because it is always urgent but never important… if it were important it would’ve been done earlier).
Try to find things that are repetitive in nature (like monthly reports) and similar corporate junk (that I don’t have to deal with any-more thankfully now that my blog is my primary income source/focus) and invest time with your coworkers to create whatever needs to be created:
# Databases
# Excel template sheets
# Report template documents
# Email Surveys that autofill your database / reports
# Shared documents via google docs, google wave, or sharepoint to reduce re-work
# PHP / Code scripts for things like dealing signing up new users , dealing with customers , or handling stuff that is so level a computer can do it , if the process were setup correctly
Once all this is done, you won’t have to redo the same ‘drone’ work every cycle…
Now move on to working UP the supply chain… use something like 37 signals basecamp , or other similar, project management software and deploy it in the organization for these lagging processes….
Assign the work online and send it out
Set earlier deadlines and arrange alerts to the collective manager
Once someone up-stream in the process starts lagging… the manager starts getting bi-daily alerts that stuff is behind schedule
You may want to ignore everything I said above because it’s impractical. I know how hard it is to change an organization from within… which is why I quit trying and just walked out one day… but on the other hand :
I remember the time when I thought I could make this a better place to live.
I remember a time when I thought taking one for the team or covering for a coworker’s tardiness would get me ahead.
I remember a time when I thought management cared.
@Meyrick Kirby
It’s not really their fault, but other partner company’s fault of being last last minute!! At least today it is not so stressful!!
@Haitham Al Humsi
Very interesting, and I know Seth’s blog, it is amazing!! Thanks for sharing!!
There are two days of the week that you shouldn’t think about … yesterday & tomorrow – Dr. Phil McGraw
[...] I remember the time Posted by admin on July 15, 2010 random I remember the time when I had a lot of free time… I remember the time when I wished I had a cool fun job… I remember the time when I thought life is stable and it was great… I… [...]
That’s right Charlie live one day at a time,and don’t cry into your beer and lime.
@Mona
That’s the problem Mona, people like you know about things like what Seth’s talking about … and the people that need it the most (the ones delaying the work) are for some reason or other oblivious or disinterested in doing a better job.
MONA you said : Sometimes I wish I was a house wife with 3 kids, being their boss, and telling them to “SHUT UP”.
Me: God willing
A truely disturbing thought
yeah life and it’s variables..it’s beyond anybodies understanding.
@Charlie
Great quote!! I agree 100%!
@Meyrick Kirby
Good!!! :up:
@Aman
I know!! Tell me about it!!
What is the work do you even after the work times? Code review? If you could be a bit clear maybe I could give you few tips…
And your said wish is far more laborious than managing your present time!
Just suck it up and work we all need money to survive. You need to stop being so angry And relax then maybe you will stop being so bitter and loney. Ok one guy broke ur heart most chances u had a lot to do with why he dumped you.
@Ousama
Thanks! Your so nice!
Procrastination never equals efficiency, I hate last minute people as well, and I remember many of the same times you mention in your post. Reminded me of the Michael Jackson Song, the video was playing in my head for a second.