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May 14, 2008
Remembering Your Work Life
Yesterday, I read in Newsweek about a woman who remembers just about every detail of every day of her life. It sounds like a gift, but as she puts it, most days are mundane, and she just “hung out.” For example, her memories consist of eating soup on cold days, watching TV and conversations with her parents.
I think many of our days are the same, and that extends to work. However, some workdays are unforgettable. One of my most memorable workdays is September 11, 2001, but there are less dramatic examples of good and bad days that stick in my head. There was the day I discovered I needed to rehome my beloved dog. I spent the day crying in my cube, comforted by coworkers. And then there was the morning my boss called me into his office and told me he was promoting me, complete with a hefty raise.
One of my relatives remembers the day a coworker with a bad attitude had her performance review. When the boss tried to address the issue during the review, the person quit in such a firestorm that security had to be called.
What are your most potent workplace memories? And what makes a workday memorable? Let us know in the comments below.
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Posted by Rebecca on May 14, 2008 at 04:46 PM in The Daily Grind | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
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I remember interning for a sports publisher and I had to schedule book signings with football players. I spent the entire day talking to retired NFL players and some would spend up to an hour telling me about the "glory" days. One player even sent me a care package of autographed stuff.
Good-Times
Posted by: Alex | May 15, 2008 10:10:57 AM
I think I know the person you are referring to providing she is the same woman who was on 20/20 or Good Morning America. The woman literally remembered everything and wanted to be able to forget things we take for granted because of a particular way her brain has developed its wiring system.
However, the question asked was about a most memorable work day and why? I have several both good and bad, and the why has more to do with how the situations were handled. For example one of my better ones is also one of my worst ones because of a "take-over" and my then boss was told not to say anything to her employees, as we would all find out soon enough. Well my then boss mentioned she was transferring to a different store not currently involved with this "take-over" and if we were smart we should apply to other open area positions, because the outlook for the one we were currently in looked very bleak. Happily I took her advice and sought out other employment with a different company just as the "take-over" was announcing mass layoffs, and the company being taken over said they had limited openings at their various other stores, but they would be filled on a seniority basis. I'm not sure what would have happened to myself and the one other co-worker (hired after I was) if our boss hadn't let us in on the "dirty little secret." For me it is most re memorable because it reminded me that if you are a good person, have found ways to keep your job exciting, and still be polite with others there is a good chance that good things will come your way. But say something in a negative manner and not give justifiable reasons for why something is being asked or is occurring and you are more than likely going to get the same results returned to you later on. There is always a lesson to be learned in how we handle situations, and sometimes you have to suffer a lot for doing something right even if it wasn't handled correctly, before something right comes along and can be justified for the negative handling of the other situation. I believe this is why some work (life) memories have a stronger hold on our memory banks then some other memories do.
Posted by: KSJEn68 | May 16, 2008 2:17:03 PM
Great blog entry! I am sure that there will be some interesting stories that come out of this.
To me memories in the workplace are usually focused on the negative. I am in the recruiting industry and I find that I always remember the days that candidates reject a client of mines offer and rarely remember the dates of the positive or when a client is less then happy with the status of their search.
To me a workday is memorable when I feel I have done everything in my power to suceed and make my clients happy with the work that I am doing. This does not happen everyday, but it is always my goal.
Posted by: Jeff Simeone | May 19, 2008 1:43:58 PM
One of my best workplace memories was the day I was offered a new job and knew I could leave my old job, which was all wrong for me. My boss came up to me after I received the job offer and started harassing me to spend more time at the office (I was already working 45+ hour weeks), get rid of my dog (so I could have fewer distractions in my personal life), and spend my commutes working. He told me I needed to make a decision: my personal life or my job. I told him I made that decision a long time ago and that that day was my last. Turning and walking out a door has never felt so good!!!
Posted by: Erika | May 20, 2008 11:28:24 AM
One of my most memorable days at work was the day that I was "laid off". Clearly it was a bad day. However, the circumstances surrounding the lay off are somewhat convoluted. My supervisor at the time informed me that the position that I was currently in was being eliminated so I was no longer needed. I signed some papers agreeing not to sue and in turn I would receive severance pay. The truth is the supervisor needed to free up some payroll dollars in order to hire some heavy hitters in the industry.
After saying my goodbyes I left the store in a daze. Now what?!
It took me almost a year to find a good job, but in retrospect it was blessing. That supervisor was the worst that I had ever had and the only good thing about that job was the pay. I was miserable there and when I think about it the only thing I regret is that I didn't get to quit before I was let go.
Posted by: Stacy | May 21, 2008 6:42:37 PM
You triggered a single unpleasant workplace memory with your article. I had a successful number of years as a college teacher. Promoted early and admired, according to student surveys, I approached tenure with confidence, until an administrator with whom I crossed opinions on several occasions sabatoged my employment. I was devistated at the thought of seeking employment over again. UNTIL, I realized that the part-time activities I had been engaged in for a long time offered me a chance to put into practice the theories I had been teaching about could become reality. My grant writing skills paid off and I was able to conduct research in career planning that resulted in the development and validation of the career assessment: careerfit-test.com, an on-line career test used extensively today at all age levels.
Posted by: Gerald Dudley Ph D | May 28, 2008 2:58:18 PM
Memorable good times involve laughing with my co-workers, and memorable bad times involve the boss with no people skills. She was indiscreet, had a nasty mouth, had a temper, held grudges, played dirty, etc. She was also narcissistic-she took no feedback from her workers, and gradually I stopped trying to contribute to overall improvement and just did the mundane tasks she left to us. I was a well-paid monkey! Ultimately I left my job after an shift change to a noon to nine pm shift. It was a choice uncompromisingly of job or family. My hubby says I've been in a great mood ever since.
Definitely being a stay-at-home mom has been more fulfilling! But I do miss laughing with the co-workers.
Posted by: cath | May 28, 2008 11:29:02 PM
I remember a Department meeting it was a normal meeting until the end. I received a award from the president of the company for great customer services. Then the director of our department ask me who the customer was, I stated I couldn't tell you I treat everyone the same. One is just a important to me as the next. It was great getting the award but I still would like to know what the customer thought I did that was so special for them. It may have just been have a great day, or I take care of that for you. It really is the simple things we remember.
Posted by: Kim Hawley | Jun 2, 2008 1:41:56 PM
