A Little Healthy "Competition" Can Sometimes Be Good in the Work Place

Raise your hand if you've ever been in a meeting where there's this one person who always has the best ideas?  Or, at least they think they do.  Maybe it's your co-worker.  Maybe it's you.  Maybe, it's me.

While discussing plans for an upcoming office party today, I suddenly thought, "Hey, we've all got such great ideas!"  Which is a big step for me.  To be honest, I have a tendency to sit in these types of meetings and often think, "What the heck is she talking about?"  Or, "Did he really just suggest that?"

But this morning, maybe I had just the right amount of coffee, I thought, "Brainstorming is definitely the way to go."  Maybe you don't all agree.  Maybe none of you agree. But, usually, something good comes out of the end result.

So what if you didn't think of the gerber daisy arrangements.  You wanted peonies.  But, hey, perhaps peonies are highly overrated.

They said "serve champagne," you said, "Serve margaritas."  As long as everyone gets a nice buzz, it's all good, right?

Same goes for the person who just had to get their hands on your "fung shei" and copied your air terrarium.  Well, somebody had to have it first.  And they made more than one.  And yes, I plan to totally steal her air terrarium idea.

So, instead of building resentments when people come in wearing your purple suede pumps the week after you wore them first, feel flattered.  Besides, you probably wore them best.  

Won't You Be My Neighbor? When Your New Co-Worker Rocks!

I don't want to "jinx" it, but I'm always talking about "toxic people in the workplace," let's hear it for the co-workers who are just plain normal and nice.

I recently got a new cube-mate and I must say, after my last situation, it makes coming to work so much better.

Employers always talk about hiring "the right fit," and "a good match," but so often, what comes out in the interview process doesn't translate to the actual work situation.

After having a "grumpy gills" to spend at least 8 hours with, it's such a pleasure to have someone that I can actually feel comfortable around.

I don't know what the future holds, but I'm going to do my part.  And isn't that also important?  Trying to be the best co-worker we can be?

Sunday Selection: "The Ex" by Alafair Burke

You never really know people, or do you?  And that applies especially to your "ex."

And although Alafair Burke's newest novel, "The Ex" is about an ex-fiancé, I  think that rule can apply to ex-friends, ex-co-workers, ex-neighbors and the like.

It's no secret that I'm just a tad bit partial to her novels.

So, I had high hopes for "The Ex" and the author did not disappoint.

Honestly, every time I thought I'd "figured it out," I was wrong.   

I hope that this is the beginning of many more to come with criminal defense attorney "Olivia Randall."  I really, really like her.

"Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene ever since the shooting of his wife Molly by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman in last night’s party dress, barefoot, enjoying a champagne picnic alone, reading his favorite novel. Everything about her reminds him of what he used to have with Molly. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a message on a popular website after he mentions the encounter. Days later, that same beautiful stranger responds and invites Jack to meet her in person at the waterfront. That’s when Jack’s world falls apart.

 Olivia Randall is one of New York City’s best criminal defense lawyers. When she hears that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide—and that one of the victims was connected to his wife’s murder—there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him—and why?"  ("The Ex" by Alafair Burke)

Book Review: "Rogue Lawyer" by John Grisham

If you turned down a job as Sebastian Rudd's secretary, no one would blame you.  No matter how much the position paid.

Rudd wasn't just given the name "Rogue Lawyer," he earned it.  His clients and practice are, shall we say, a bit unorthodox.  The kind of stuff that you'd see in a movie or TV series.  The kind of stuff you'd like to see in a movie or TV series.  

Action, violence, corruption and a bit of everything that happens in between.  

John Grisham's latest novel is sure to delight both Grisham fans and all fans of legal mysteries.  Told as several different stories, the book is fast paced, eye-opening and a lot of fun.

In bookstores and online now.

"Sebastian Rudd is not your typical street lawyer. He works out of a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, fine leather chairs, a hidden gun compartment, and a heavily armed driver. He has no firm, no partners, no associates, and only one employee, his driver, who’s also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. He lives alone in a small but extremely safe penthouse apartment, and his primary piece of furniture is a vintage pool table. He drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun."

"Rogue Lawyer" by John Grisham
 

New Year/New Attitude

I don't know what it is about turning the page and starting a brand new year that gives me hope, but at this point, I'll take it.

I have to admit it, I've been pretty run down over the past few months.  I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say that the legal industry has changed quite a bit.  And legal secretaries have taken on a whole new role with a different set of expectations and job descriptions.

That's not to say that it's a bad thing, but it's different.  And exhausting.  As firms cut back and technology changes, it's easy to feel that you have to "outshine them all" to prove your worth.  It's no secret that corporate America is looking for the most bang for their buck.  This often means hiring assistants with little to no experience straight out of college and training them on the job.  

It's not necessarily a bad thing but it can be a bit, how can I say, "scary" for old-timers who are either consciously or subconsciously trying to "prove their worth."

But there's something that happened, for me anyway, when the New Year began.  Perhaps it's just getting a little bit of reprieve from a grueling workload when attorneys took their holiday breaks, but I feel like I can compete with the best of them.

This year, I want to spend more time talking here about ways to improve our workspace, our quality of life and our attitudes toward change.

My motto this year, "Change is good.  Change is inevitable.  Embrace it.  Change with it."

Here's to a wonderful fresh start.

Long time, no blog! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Office parties, gift exchanges and too much food in the workplace!

I've been so busy working that I haven't had time to blog.

Good news = I'm still employed

Bad news = I've missed blogging!

Here we are right smack dab in the middle, nearing the end of the annual office party.  It's a little late for my "reminders" about what to do and what not to do at the company party, but just in case you haven't celebrated yet - some general rules are "If you don't want to regret it on Monday morning, know your drink limit."

Now for the holiday gift giving tips.  Firms may or may not give holiday bonuses this year.  But, hey, at least it's not 2008.  And if you're reading this, you're probably employed.  So, that's the "up" side of getting yet another box of chocolates.

And finally, 'tis the season but all things in moderation.  When your vendor sends you a can of cookies, it might be a good idea to share them with your office services people and other co-workers.  It's better to give than to receive and I, for one, have no room for the extra pounds!

Tote-Ally Can't Go Anywhere without my Tote Bag!

Who needs a Louis Vuitton?  Oh, sure they're nice.  Very nice.  But my infatuation with totes is not influenced by price.  I look for durability and overall functionality. 

I carry a tote to work every day.  And often on Saturdays.  You could call my bags a "security blanket" of sorts.

Abusy secretary never knows what she might need in the course of a day.  Not to mention all the "stuff" I have to bring to work just to get through an 8-hour day.

There's newspapers, magazines, a kindle, postage stamps, snack bars, yogurt and an umbrella.  And that's just the stuff I can "disclose" here.

Totally digging my newest addition.  This big boy from Bayside is sturdy, big and roomy and has nice curves.

Law firm life is not easy.  That's why I make sure I'm "armed" and ready.  Pun intended.