So apparently I forgot to mention in my previous post that we have now moved on from the topic of "Getting Organized" to that of "Opportunities." The goal of this topic is for us to identify the myriad opportunities for success, growth, and fulfillment that we encounter on daily basis. In other words, we hope that this topic will help us to take off the proverbial blinders so that we can recognize that Random Guy from Law School # 2 asking us out for happy hour is a networking opportunity and not simply another thing keeping us from climbing into bed and catching up on "Lost."
So, in the spirit of opportunities…our next step is to give you guys an opportunity to be more involved with the blog. How, you wonder? Well, by instituting what we're going to call "Questions from Neverland." Basically, we're going to have new posts on a regular basis that introduce adulthood questions that one or more of us are grappling with at the time. It's a very communal way of wondering, "Is this normal?" We hope that your responses will not only help us with our various adulthood dilemmas but also incite interesting conversations among the responders.
First question: What is an adult way to deal with a fight with a parent/parents?
Go ahead, dazzle us with your wisdom. If we get no responses, we might get that "last kid picked for the kickball team feeling" (or as Wendy might identify with.."last Freshman picked for Phys Ed Volleyball Team Feeling")
Get talkin!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Gifted Child
I am incredibly gifted. No, no don't leave yet - I promise I'm not totally conceited. See, I don't mean that I'm gifted intellectually, although I did endure years of gifted classes in my adolescence after completing a puzzle in record time when I was six (I SWEAR this was what was on the gifted test in first grade). See, although I'm no slouch in the smarts department, what I'm particularly gifted at is taking something that others would see as an opportunity and turning it into something terrible and fear-inducing. Basically, I am a big scaredy-cat.
For example, about two weeks ago I was asked by a senior associate at my firm if I wanted to travel to North Carolina to meet with a client. Of course I said yes - you ALWAYS say yes when a senior associate asks you to do anything. Immediately after saying yes, however, I began to freak out. There were SO MANY things that could conceivably go wrong. I could miss my flight and look irresponsible to the associate, I could embarrass myself in front of the client by not knowing what the hell I was talking about, I could forget to get some pertinent information and have wasted firm money, I could get lost in North Carolina and accidentally stumble into some Duke bar (shudder). See? So many AWFUL possibilities.
Eventually I got a grip and realized that this trip was not something to be feared, but something to be EXCITED about. I mean, as far as I know, I was the first first-year associate to get asked to go on a work trip. I mean, talk about an opportunity -sure, I could screw up, but I could also pull it off and look pretty rockstar.
So, I packed my bags and hopped on the plane...and everything went great! No flights were missed, no huge faux pas were made, nobody was disappointed. I survived. Plus, that little ball of fear and insecurity about my capabilities as a lawyer got a little smaller.
Final tally: Adult Baller Wendy: 1, Big Scaredy-Cat Wendy: 0. Gifted IN-DEED.
For example, about two weeks ago I was asked by a senior associate at my firm if I wanted to travel to North Carolina to meet with a client. Of course I said yes - you ALWAYS say yes when a senior associate asks you to do anything. Immediately after saying yes, however, I began to freak out. There were SO MANY things that could conceivably go wrong. I could miss my flight and look irresponsible to the associate, I could embarrass myself in front of the client by not knowing what the hell I was talking about, I could forget to get some pertinent information and have wasted firm money, I could get lost in North Carolina and accidentally stumble into some Duke bar (shudder). See? So many AWFUL possibilities.
Eventually I got a grip and realized that this trip was not something to be feared, but something to be EXCITED about. I mean, as far as I know, I was the first first-year associate to get asked to go on a work trip. I mean, talk about an opportunity -sure, I could screw up, but I could also pull it off and look pretty rockstar.
So, I packed my bags and hopped on the plane...and everything went great! No flights were missed, no huge faux pas were made, nobody was disappointed. I survived. Plus, that little ball of fear and insecurity about my capabilities as a lawyer got a little smaller.
Final tally: Adult Baller Wendy: 1, Big Scaredy-Cat Wendy: 0. Gifted IN-DEED.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Divine Intervention
Most people wouldn't know that I am a Christian, but I am. I suppose that's not a good thing that most people wouldn't assume that about me, and I am working on it. However, I know a thing or two about answered prayers, and I had another spiritual encounter this week. This doesn't sound like it fits in with the conclusion of the "Getting Organized" series of posts, but it many ways, you'll see at the end of the story, it ties in.
In my PR company, my goal is to create a synergy among my clients and encourage them to work with and support each other. This was actually going along quite nicely until one client decided that another one of my clients' services were too similar to theirs and therefore created a conflict. They gave me an ultimatum, and told me to choose who I was going to represent. (A virtual "This town's not big enough for the both of us...")
For a few reasons I was conflicted. The aggressors are difficult to work with, technologically inept, demanding, and ultimately never satisfied, however it was steady income coming in from them each month, and I have gotten a few referrals from them. So I did something that I usually forget to do, and I prayed about it.
This was my prayer: "God, make this clear to me. Take the decision out of my hands. Send me a sign." (Really, I'm not kidding...as cliche as it is, that's what I said.)
Two days later, while in a text conversation with one partner in the aforementioned business, I received a text message from the other partner in the business. I quickly realized this text was not meant for me, but instead meant to go to the other business partner.
It read:
F*CK Tink! Don't event communicate with her. She's a bitch. She made her decision. Her and [the other client] can have a nice life!
Now keep in mind, there had been no decision made either way on which client I would represent yet--until then.
It was strange moment. A combination of relief that I had an out that didn't involve an awkward "It's not me, it's YOU" conversation, and a realization that "Wow, I asked God for something, and I got it." I mean it doesn't get more direct than that. I asked for a message, and got a text message.
I read a quote this week by Garrison Keiller that said, "God writes a lot of comedy...the trouble is, he's stuck with so many actors that don't know how to play funny."
Ain't that the truth. So what did I do, I laughed. Hysterically. And so did all my friends that I showed it to. We all had a great laugh at their expense.
So how does this fit in with Getting Organized? Well I started out by getting organized in the physical sense, and by the end of the process ended up with a succeedingly clearer mind, stronger vision, and deeper passion for my clients and my life. I know where I want to go; I know that I'll get there by protecting the integrity of what I've created, and approaching everyday with a sense of humor.
I mean if the big man upstairs is doing it, why shouldn't we?
In my PR company, my goal is to create a synergy among my clients and encourage them to work with and support each other. This was actually going along quite nicely until one client decided that another one of my clients' services were too similar to theirs and therefore created a conflict. They gave me an ultimatum, and told me to choose who I was going to represent. (A virtual "This town's not big enough for the both of us...")
For a few reasons I was conflicted. The aggressors are difficult to work with, technologically inept, demanding, and ultimately never satisfied, however it was steady income coming in from them each month, and I have gotten a few referrals from them. So I did something that I usually forget to do, and I prayed about it.
This was my prayer: "God, make this clear to me. Take the decision out of my hands. Send me a sign." (Really, I'm not kidding...as cliche as it is, that's what I said.)
Two days later, while in a text conversation with one partner in the aforementioned business, I received a text message from the other partner in the business. I quickly realized this text was not meant for me, but instead meant to go to the other business partner.
It read:
F*CK Tink! Don't event communicate with her. She's a bitch. She made her decision. Her and [the other client] can have a nice life!
Now keep in mind, there had been no decision made either way on which client I would represent yet--until then.
It was strange moment. A combination of relief that I had an out that didn't involve an awkward "It's not me, it's YOU" conversation, and a realization that "Wow, I asked God for something, and I got it." I mean it doesn't get more direct than that. I asked for a message, and got a text message.
I read a quote this week by Garrison Keiller that said, "God writes a lot of comedy...the trouble is, he's stuck with so many actors that don't know how to play funny."
Ain't that the truth. So what did I do, I laughed. Hysterically. And so did all my friends that I showed it to. We all had a great laugh at their expense.
So how does this fit in with Getting Organized? Well I started out by getting organized in the physical sense, and by the end of the process ended up with a succeedingly clearer mind, stronger vision, and deeper passion for my clients and my life. I know where I want to go; I know that I'll get there by protecting the integrity of what I've created, and approaching everyday with a sense of humor.
I mean if the big man upstairs is doing it, why shouldn't we?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Burning the candle at both ends...
What a total loser I am. I mean according to my last post, I should still be deep in the caverns of my filthy closet sending SOS signals from a makeshift telegraph machine.
Sorry to leave you hanging like that. The good news is, I actually DID organize my closet. I bought matching canvas shoe bins, got about 36 more hangers, did a little Roy G. Biv color schematic from left to right, and it was actually looking pretty sharp.
The bad news is that in the time between then and now, the closet is once again a disastrous reminder of my penchant for disorganization. Especially of the clothing varietal.
Again, no great excuse other than the the overwhelming success of my new business, and subsequent incredible demise of my social life! But I won't let this blog be like all of those beautiful diaries I bought throughout adolescence and wrote in only once. I'm back people, and I'm ready to grow up...not that the past weekend was any indication of that.
Is there a temporary respite from adulthood on holidays that basically demand the irresponsible, binge consumption of food coloring laden alcohol? I think so.
And if not, is there some sort of tablet that takes away the feeling that follows 3 days of irresponsible, binge consumption of food coloring laden alcohol? I hope so.
So I do have a lot more to write about organization and its benefits and also my take on being 26 so far (real asshole of an age), but right now I've got to focus on getting the green tinge off my teeth before work in the morning.
Sorry to leave you hanging like that. The good news is, I actually DID organize my closet. I bought matching canvas shoe bins, got about 36 more hangers, did a little Roy G. Biv color schematic from left to right, and it was actually looking pretty sharp.
The bad news is that in the time between then and now, the closet is once again a disastrous reminder of my penchant for disorganization. Especially of the clothing varietal.
Again, no great excuse other than the the overwhelming success of my new business, and subsequent incredible demise of my social life! But I won't let this blog be like all of those beautiful diaries I bought throughout adolescence and wrote in only once. I'm back people, and I'm ready to grow up...not that the past weekend was any indication of that.
Is there a temporary respite from adulthood on holidays that basically demand the irresponsible, binge consumption of food coloring laden alcohol? I think so.
And if not, is there some sort of tablet that takes away the feeling that follows 3 days of irresponsible, binge consumption of food coloring laden alcohol? I hope so.
So I do have a lot more to write about organization and its benefits and also my take on being 26 so far (real asshole of an age), but right now I've got to focus on getting the green tinge off my teeth before work in the morning.
Organization: Fun? No. Important? YES.
Two posts in two days?! Who I am a power blogger?
Yes, I know this is out of character, but I feel kind of bad that Tink and I have given "organization" such short shrift. Why? Well, because I feel like getting/being organized is actually a really important part of adulthood. Really important. Like, really. I mean, I have one friend who told me that the defining "OHMIGOD I'm an adult" moment in her life was when she created a super elaborate filing system for all of her important papers, her passport, her insurance and tax records, etc. I have countless others who told me that they think remembering to pay all of their bills on time is a real mark of adulthood. Even people like me who came out of the womb making lists and checking them twice have to step it up now that they're real life adults.
No longer can we just throw away all of our receipts and count on our parents to pay our bills on time or remind us of our siblings' birthdays. We have to do it all OURSELVES. And it's daunting, it really is. I mean, I get like 8 bills a month - that's a lot of paper on my kitchen counter and a lot of dates to remember.
I think the only thing you can really do to tackle the organization monster is to be proactive: make that filing system, use an Outlook calendar and/or agenda, set up automatic debiting for bills that don't fluctuate too much, wake up a little earlier everyday and jot down that day's "To Dos," buy birthday cards whenever you're at CVS so you have them on hand when you inevitably forgot you old roomie's special day. I know it's not fun, but it's necessary...unless you want to be "that girl" whose cell phone is cut off because they didn't pay their bill. Trust me, you don't to be that girl.
Yes, I know this is out of character, but I feel kind of bad that Tink and I have given "organization" such short shrift. Why? Well, because I feel like getting/being organized is actually a really important part of adulthood. Really important. Like, really. I mean, I have one friend who told me that the defining "OHMIGOD I'm an adult" moment in her life was when she created a super elaborate filing system for all of her important papers, her passport, her insurance and tax records, etc. I have countless others who told me that they think remembering to pay all of their bills on time is a real mark of adulthood. Even people like me who came out of the womb making lists and checking them twice have to step it up now that they're real life adults.
No longer can we just throw away all of our receipts and count on our parents to pay our bills on time or remind us of our siblings' birthdays. We have to do it all OURSELVES. And it's daunting, it really is. I mean, I get like 8 bills a month - that's a lot of paper on my kitchen counter and a lot of dates to remember.
I think the only thing you can really do to tackle the organization monster is to be proactive: make that filing system, use an Outlook calendar and/or agenda, set up automatic debiting for bills that don't fluctuate too much, wake up a little earlier everyday and jot down that day's "To Dos," buy birthday cards whenever you're at CVS so you have them on hand when you inevitably forgot you old roomie's special day. I know it's not fun, but it's necessary...unless you want to be "that girl" whose cell phone is cut off because they didn't pay their bill. Trust me, you don't to be that girl.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
PTI
I get these "PTI: Pardon the Interruption" emails where other attorneys are asking for some referral or information about 2-3 times a day at work. In these emails, the attorneys are usually apologizing for interrupting our very busy days. With this PTI, I'm not apologizing for that, but rather for the interruption in the blog posts schedule....seroiusly, where have we been??!!
I don't know about Tink, but I certainly do not have a very good excuse. I mean, other than, you know, just being busy with life. Anyways, my apologies.Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...
I did pretty good with my "getting organized" goals! I didn't hit them all exactly as written, but I think I totally fulfilled them in spirit.
1) I cooked for myself! Okay, so not three times like I wanted to, but I made one big meal and it served me 4 times - thank you Paula Dean and your easy chicken pot pie (seriously, try it, it's YUM-O).
2) I called my mom at least 3 times AND remembered my Dad's birthday. Go me- favorite daughter status for sure.
3) I did NOT wake up in the morning for the gym. Honestly, it is just TOO HARD. I am currently too addicted to BONES (David Boreanaz...SWOON) to go to bed before midnight, so the morning gym thing is NOT happening. However, I did go to the gym 5 times last week. And I lifted weights 2 of those times, so I'm thinking this is still a win.
4) Not sure I called any long-lost friends. However, I did buy 2 friends birthday gifts AND i hung out with some old college buddies in DC...so again, I'm thinking win.
So...what have I learned? Well, I guess I've learned that the act of SETTING some organization goals is at least 1/2 of the organization battle. Write down your commitment to organization (or, even better, tell it to a friend or parent) and you're definitely more likely to stick to it.
In other news, I'm traveling for work for the first time ever this week and I'm TERRIFIED. Seriously, so nervous. WHAT IF I RUIN EVERYTHING?!
I don't know about Tink, but I certainly do not have a very good excuse. I mean, other than, you know, just being busy with life. Anyways, my apologies.Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...
I did pretty good with my "getting organized" goals! I didn't hit them all exactly as written, but I think I totally fulfilled them in spirit.
1) I cooked for myself! Okay, so not three times like I wanted to, but I made one big meal and it served me 4 times - thank you Paula Dean and your easy chicken pot pie (seriously, try it, it's YUM-O).
2) I called my mom at least 3 times AND remembered my Dad's birthday. Go me- favorite daughter status for sure.
3) I did NOT wake up in the morning for the gym. Honestly, it is just TOO HARD. I am currently too addicted to BONES (David Boreanaz...SWOON) to go to bed before midnight, so the morning gym thing is NOT happening. However, I did go to the gym 5 times last week. And I lifted weights 2 of those times, so I'm thinking this is still a win.
4) Not sure I called any long-lost friends. However, I did buy 2 friends birthday gifts AND i hung out with some old college buddies in DC...so again, I'm thinking win.
So...what have I learned? Well, I guess I've learned that the act of SETTING some organization goals is at least 1/2 of the organization battle. Write down your commitment to organization (or, even better, tell it to a friend or parent) and you're definitely more likely to stick to it.
In other news, I'm traveling for work for the first time ever this week and I'm TERRIFIED. Seriously, so nervous. WHAT IF I RUIN EVERYTHING?!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Tink!
Just wanted to take time out of another Manic Monday to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best girl Tink! She really is the best friend a girl could ever ask for.
So Tink, I hope you've cleaned out your closet enough to be able to locate your best dancing shoes-party hat combo...because it's your birthday and you deserve a party!
xxx,
Wendy
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