I know, I know – EVERYONE is stressed around the holidays. I get that. But you know what, for me personally, this year feels extra rough. The good news is is that this is the first holiday season in awhile where I am content where I’m working. Maybe that’s why I have the time to stress about the small stuff. But these blokes I work with treat the holidays like the X-Games: extreme, baby! Here’s what the agenda looks like. And mind you, this is ONLY tomorrow!
The day will kick off with the department assembling in our boss’s office. We are each allowed to pick one schwag item that he received during the year. I hear there are some t-shirts, mugs and other assorted freebies. THIS is our “bonus.”
The big gift giveaway is followed up by a department outing. We will all carpool (not if I can help it!) to a local Christmas tree. At this point, I’m told the bossman can be persuaded into buying us lunch. So I have to wrestle him for his good graces? Whatever.
Back at the office it’s our last day to let our co-workers know what we’ll be cooking for the holiday potluck next week. I haven’t broken the news to my wife yet that she’ll need to tie on the ol’ apron to help me out. If she declines, Taco Bell. Extra scallions for everyone!
Then, and this is where I get queasy, five of us have to rehearse three Christmas songs that our boss has requested we perform at some company bigwig holiday lunch. An attempt to decline was not well received. I will be getting a half a day off for my embarrassment but I don’t like being forced to be the butt of someone else’s joke.
Remember, we’re still on ONE day.
It all winds down with the big holiday (let’s call a spade a spade – it’s a Christmas party) tomorrow night. Now’s the point where some communications guru will tell me what a great networking event it’ll be.
No. It’s a night where everyone is under the microscope. Bosses will talk out of line and rookies will make mistakes that they will pay for over and over again.
I’ll take it all in stride and be sure to report back. Right now I can’t wait to get the Working Podcast back up and running in January ’07. It’s topics like this that I can’t wait to open up dialogue about! Things could be worse. Last year a guy e-mailed me what his office was doing.
I’m no Grinch – but I will be on my best behavior through it all. Big smiles, minimal alcohol and positive visualization.
I better go. Tomorrow’s a long day.
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