Something happened today that made me want to run home and write this blog. My initial reaction was to email my CES Cohort, which I still plan to do, about this very topic. I came to understand, clear as a Windex streak free window, what was going on.
I was at work. I received a request asking for copies of all the paperwork I use to complete my job. Why was this a problem for me? The request came from my supervisor. Let me back up here a minute. My job responsibilities changed right before I was to leave for residency for this program. The bomb was politely laid into my lap. I was told to "think it over." As if any time during residency I was to be thinking about my job. Please. I was walking into my future. When I returned, no more information about my new responsibilities was given. Bottom line: I was now a case manager, a position which did not sit very well with me. The adjustment period has been horrendous for me. Despite the extreme obstacles, I got myself together finally and am still trying to make this work.
It wasn't my supervisor that guided me into this transition. It was the many other seasoned case managers who were kind and understanding to my angst. As more case managers were hired, I found myself among a sea of newbies. These newbies have been my life line and we have been supporting one another. So getting this request, obviously, upset me.
I came to realize there are 3 kinds of people in life. Slackers, overachievers, and procrastinators. Slackers like to ride on the coat tails of others, often at the expense of others. They don't look to do anything for themselves, but rely on relationships to smooth over their inadequacies and lack of effort.
Overachievers. Well, they get right down to business when an assignment or task is given. They jump in head first and fly to get many things accomplished. They often get upset when others around them don't move as fast or aren't as thorough as them. They may feel like they are doing the work by themselves not realizing that they just may not be allowing others to get involved. Other people are not working on their timetable. *Disclaimer: There's nothing wrong with being an overachiever. Just realize that others don't necessarily work the same way, so as not to stress yourself out that you just burn out.
Procrastinators. These people work hard, but do so at the last minute. I believe there are two types of procrastinators: perfectionists, and put offs. Perfectionists procrastinate because they cannot get what they want done in the most perfect and correct way as possible. Therefore, they wait, and wait, until under the gun, they cram all that needs to be accomplished in one fell swoop. Most times, they work best under pressure and do their best work that way. Put offs do just that. They just put off their task because there are so many other things getting in the way of their doing what needs to be done. They don't think about time management, or doing a little at a time. If they can't start doing it whole heartedly, they won't do it at all. Thereby procrastinating.
So there they are. Where you fall? Me? lol I'm the perfectionistic procrastinator. I will give you my all in the last crunch time of the task. Of course, this does not work well with most people. I give spurts, but when it's finally time to get it done, I get the job done. And much to my chagrin, I do a fine job. This has worked for me in high school and in college. It stopped there. This did not work for me in graduate school. I found myself in tears many a nights because I had waited until the last minute to do an assignment. Each time I vowed to never do that again, only to lie to myself and be in the same position time and time again. I've gotten better though.
I find that I'm running into too many slackers in my life and on my job. Slackers equate to spiritual leeches in my book. They will suck life out of you and leave you with nothing. Meanwhile, they continue to live in mediocre bliss---and love every minute of it.
I have an acquaintance that is a slacker. I had a run in with her today. I try to redeem her each and every time. Actually, I had told my husband that I was going to cut her off. She is a liability to me. She takes too much time, effort, and energy, and gives nothing in return. He balked at me. He often tells me that I cut people off when they disappoint me. He's right. (side note: I loathe feeling disappointed.) So I gave her another chance. And today, she proved, yet again, why she's a liability. Only because she seems in the grip of depression will I tolerate her for a little while longer. She's cutting it very close.
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