Rigid Flexibility
January 4th, 2008 RachelThis has been a hectic 60 days. A new brand (you’ll see tomorrow), a new website, new marketing materials, new hires, new vendors, new partners, the holidays…and the biggest tradeshow of the year coming up in three days. Whew…when I reflect on what my days have been like, I think the only way I’ve been able to get through it all is by maintaining a zen like stance of…rigid flexibility.
But the hardest part about this kind of mentality is that not everyone else is thinking exactly the same way you are. The number of tasks on my plate where long (not that I’m complaining - who doesn’t love a challenge?) - which meant that at certain times things that I wanted done sooner had to wait a little bit…in order to knock more pressing items off the list.
It’s impossible and silly to expect everyone to understand exactly why what they need isn’t taking priority and your focus is on something else. S’okay. Either they’ll understand just by the harried look in your eye (I didn’t say zen was pretty) or they won’t…and if they don’t, no amount of complaining or listing your to-do’s is going to help them to understand…more importantly, why waste time when you could be getting things done?
This is not to say that a truly interested ear should be snubbed - no, no…this is just to say when you’re getting the pouty face because Joe-shmoe wanted his body copy yesterday even though he doesn’t need it until next week…the best thing you can do is smile, be kind, explain briefly the delay and when it should be done, and move on. They won’t have to pretend they’re interested in your hardships and you can get back to work. 
Now…I have to say, I’m fortunate enough to have a team where this conscious decision rarely comes up. “What can I do to help?” is more typical…how refreshing. Not only that, but I can honestly say that at moments of real panic (like embroidered shirts that made my eyes want to jump out of their sockets and run back to Canada) I was truly blown away by the dedication and teamwork that slapped me in the face and calmed me right now.
“My wife has an embroidery machine.”
“What? Seriously? Stop - you’re kidding. SERIOUSLY!?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll give her a call right now.”
Problem, amazingly enough…solved. And within 24 hours. Did I mention how fortunate I am?
Yeah, I’ve been working like crazy - but I doubt that I would be so satisfied with that were it not for how hard the rest of my team is working too.
Let the CES homestretch countdown begin…
