Routines

It's been a long week and it's only Thursday. We've all had them...those weeks that drag on and on, one crisis after the next, another fire to put out over there as soon as you get this fire put out.

To start with, its been raining for over a week in middle Tennessee, which always seems to drag Frank's spirits down. On top of that, Frank is having one of those weeks...and to his own chagrin, most of it is self-induced. Not all of it, but definitely a large part of it. What is driving Frank absolutely nuts is that he began the week with good intentions, excited about the positive changes that were in front of him...little did he know.

About a month ago, Frank decided that new computers were in order for the office. Something that should be done at least every 3-5 years. Its been 4, so Frank figured now was as good a time as any to do the deed. So he, with the help of his faithful IT consultant Dave, ordered what some would term "whoop-de-doo" computers...those wonders of technology with all the bells and whistles. They arrived last week and the install was to begin on Monday.

Monday rolled around after much anticipation on Frank's part all weekend and Dave arrived about 10:00 a.m. Perfect, absolutely perfect. Dave started to work and started moving data files and icons to temporary locations on the server and life was good. Somehow though, over the next two and a half days, something went off course. No single event to point to, but it just didn't seem to be going as smoothly as Frank thought it should.

And the rains continued.

In the midst of this conversion, some of the "high-maintenance" clients that Frank's office serve had crisis in their own operations. Some, self-imposed; others, not their fault, but nevertheless, a crisis. All these crises had to be dealt with and required Frank to devote some attention to each. Nothing earth-shattering, but a definite diversion.

And the rains continued.

Frank has been working on a very large project, and near the conclusion last week, a situation cropped up that is going to delay the project. Frank is probably making more out of this than need be, but it is requiring additional time and resources to resolve. Frank would really like to move this project off his desk, but until this aspect is resolved, the project is not moving.

And the rains continued.

And yesterday, just to add insult to injury, the roof started leaking in the lady's restroom of the office. And we're not talking one of those occasional drips, we're talking major...to the point the moisture that accumulated demolished a ceiling tile. Another fire to put out...but at least there was ample water available.

So, after a very long day Frank went home, had dinner with the girls and Tammy, and relaxed for a while, before going to bed around 9:30. Enough is enough.

This morning, Frank got up and cooked breakfast for him and Allison and had his morning coffee. It occurred to him that most of the issues that had, for the most part, ruined his last three days were a direct result of a routine...a routine that had changed.

The routine of Monday morning had been disrupted due to the computer change-out. Payrolls were not done on the schedule that he and Glenda had established, bank statements were not reconciled on a routine. Even though the work was done and by deadline, it somehow just wasn't right.

The challenges presented by the clients were disruptive and required attention to be diverted...a precious commodity that Frank didn't have a surplus of, that extra attention needed to address these situations. But, somehow Frank mustered up the needed resources to assist his clients.

The large project would get done on schedule...Frank remembered that he had a colleague that could help him with the problem aspect. It may require some more work, but with careful planning and scheduling, the project should be off his desk by Friday evening.

The roof...Frank talked to his landlord last night before throwing in the towel for the day, and was told that a roofer had been contacted to give a bid. The leaks had stopped this morning and the ceiling tile would be replaced.

Frank has a friend that is highly involved in project management. After this week, Frank has developed an appreciation for those that can move from one project to the next, or better yet, manage several projects at one time. Each project has its own set of challenges, its own set of fires to put out, its own set of positive changes when finally completed. How in the world can someone make a career out of dealing with all of those aspects day in and day out?

But then Frank, after swallowing down the last bit of coffee, reasoned that some are talented in that arena, while he likes his routines and lists. Life for Frank will assume more of a routine soon and he will be more in what some term his "comfort zone."

Until then though, the rains have stopped.