A few weeks ago I had a bit of a chuckle to myself when one sewing/bloggy friend told me that another mutual friend had described me as totally laid back. When I told my boss this, he nearly fell off his seat laughing, ‘You just save it all up for when you’re in here then?’ he managed to get out, between snorts of mirth.
My day job requires me to spend a chunk of my time tracking project plans to the nth degree, to ensure that things are delivered to deadlines. As the team I manage always comes in near the end of a project, our time is the most likely to be squeezed by previous teams’ over-runs, so I have to ensure that other teams deliver to us when they are meant to almost as much as I have to make sure that my team turns around what we need to do within the timescales. The net result of this is, I suppose, that I am one of the least laid back people in the workplace!
In ‘sewing land’, which I hit when I leave the office, I may have the occasional deadline for larger projects, such as for swaps or blog hops, and more frequently for bee blocks, but those deadlines are entirely of my own choosing, and I can (and do) say ‘no’ if it doesn’t suit me. I do expect myself to deliver on time if I have committed though!
Equally, other people have deadlines to send things to me, but these deadlines are not ones I can get stressed about, albeit I may feel a tiny bit irritated. Why not? Well clearly I have quite enough of that at work, but also I kind of have to weigh up the importance of my bee block or whatever arriving during my month versus a bunch of other things:
1. Will I die of cold waiting for this particular finished quilt? Highly unlikely
2. Will I starve without it? Whilst I like a fair amount of fibre in my diet, this might be a step too far
3. Is this finished quilt going to contribute to world peace? Highly unlikely
4. Am I actually going to finish this quilt the very second the last of my blocks drop through the door? History says highly unlikely
5. Will this block potentially push my bee-mate over the edge? Possibly
Going with good old risk-based analysis, #5 ranks highest, and to be honest, given my answer to #4, it’s not worth #5 happening by forcing the deadline. I’m not perfect though, I do expect that people will actually deliver at some point, and I do still have 6 viewfinder blocks yet to find their way here from last October ;o)
Now I’m not saying for a minute that everyone else should do this, but, you know, it works for me…
So funny! What a great post!
I can really relate – my work behaviour often runs into my non-work behaviour and I should try harder to kurb that tendency too. LOVE the red and blue cartoons the best – as they are me to a tea.
PS: can't believe you are awaiting blocks from last October – that would try the patience of a saint, = Saint Katy
You? Laid Back? Hmm, OCD comes to mind. Giggle.
Hugs
LAID BACK?! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha and tee-hee, 'scuse me while I dry my tears. Glad to be the sounding board for your irritations – after all a stress shared is someone else's problem:)
Dad
P.S. Have you an emoticon for "Shakes head and titters?"
Ha! haha. I never would have thought you were laid back. hehe.
Ah, so you're an IT project lead! Too bad you can't come to my work — my favorite project lead is eligible for retirement, and I'm scared for when she decides to leave. I hate doing project management stuff! :>
Actually someone did describe you as laid back to me not so long ago. And I guess it's all relative. You're obviously more laid back than some people I could mention…
Actually at work I have to meet deadlines if I don't people don't get paid. I dropped out of both my bee's recently because I wasn't meeting deadlines and it was becoming a stress. I have enough stress in my life without adding sodding sewing to the mix. I never minded if I received bee blocks late because people do have lives and they do have a habit of getting in the way. I thought we all sewed for fun?!
Hahhaha!! You're so funny and the very fact you wrote this post in such a humourous way proves your laid back ness 😉 XX
How hilarious! On so many levels, thanks for the giggle.
I love Vimrod…all so appropriate. Hope your 6 missing blocks turn up soon!
Since last October, yikes! At what point do you give up waiting?
Loved the blog write-up. This is exactly why I'm not in a bee — I would hate being late and I would try very unsuccessfully not to get irritated when someone didn't mail me my blocks (unless they contacted me). Still 6??? Isn't that most?
Love it. Friends (although not my very best ones) and work colleagues too have often commented on what a calm and collected person I am – they just haven't seen me at home…….I can keep it up professionally and in most social situations but it does slip for my nearest and dearest, thankfully they seem to cope just fine, mostly!
Just goes to show how different personalities are required for different situations – and how we all have different sides! Juliex P.S. Hope those bee blocks make an appearance
I would not describe you as laid back but compassionate and reasonable are better words. I wonder if you need a friend to seed you a block?
Im a lot like you – at work Im measured and very in control…always on time and a complete stress head.
But at home nothing happens until I damn well feel like it. Thats why I often end up spending weekends in my pyjamas and Im always the last one to my monthly sewing bee….
I could so relate to this post!
I know exactly what you mean. I stress over the details of my daughter's health and my husband's job, so sewing needs to be my fun and relaxing time, made of deadlines of my own making. Do you need help with the missing blocks? Happy to step in if I can 🙂
Ha I'm waiting on one block missing from July 2012! But the lady recently got in touch and said she would still make it for me if I wanted! I said yes! We shall see what happens!
6 is a lot though – did they take fright at your block ?
not sure what i enjoyed more, the post or the cartoons!!!! i need some of those for my daughters!
Ha ha, funny post. But still waiting for 6 blocks….not funny
Perfectly hit the nail on the head there and I love the comment from your Dad. Stress less, that's my moto !
Thanks for thelaughs!
And the great cartoons
That is why I not in any bees; Too many people don't care enough to do the right thing, and I would be mega stressing to make sure that the blocks I make are absolutely perfect.
I can't think what inspired you to write this post?! 😉
Keep soldiering on. I say in 10 years time will it make any difference if I stressed about a problem. Most of the time the answer in NO.
ha ha!!!! LOve, love, love this post. You're absolutely the best with words and adding appropriate pictures and quotes to go along.
Too true, life is stressful enough without adding to it – if you have the chance to let something go (ie not let it stress you) then it's a great thing to do. Although sometimes some things just really push my buttons and I can't help myself. But for the most part, I try not to set myself up for failure and don't commit to things that might very likely annoy me (such as unreciprocated bee blocks) or stress me out (something I'm not sure I'll have the time for).
Hop to it, any of those reading that owe Katy a bee block!
Wonderful post!! So right, sewing should be fun and relaxation and we can choose our own stress levels/deadlines within it. Which is why I have still been able to resist bees and swaps (they're so tempting though…) as I know I'd be stressed about meeting deadlines other than for my course…
this is a great post. We all want our things NOW but in the scheme of reality they don't really matter. I'm just glad there are responsible people in the world and most are good hearted and will eventually do what they have agreed to do. That being said…I am caught up with my bee blocks but not my own personal list!
Hahaha. You obviously manage the stress of work well otherwise you couldn't write about it so frankly. I never used to manage work stress well, but I've since learned how to be more cruisey about it. Otherwise I was worrying myself sick. Do you work in engineering? My husband used to and it was all about deadlines and delivery. Thankless work. He got out!