Category — Office Space

Fun Fact: As a graphic designer, 92% of your time will be spent on unpaid favors.

Illustration by Tobias Lunchbreath

Seriously I am losing it lately..I usually go through this now and then but more so now..

Work. It’s a place I have never seem to have much luck with, I underestimate my skills, try to share my ideas (which I can say are usually pretty good and logical) without trying to be a know it all and my ultimate goal is to be better designer with never reaching that opportunity every time.

It seems every design position I’ve been in - I’ve tried to create and design and editors, publishers, sales, even janitors - they all want to do the designing and won’t let me just do that part of my job that really is MY JOB.

So I fight hard, as hard as I can but then in the end just have to let it go because it’s a constant struggle of insanity

Now if I put more effort into fighting for my own company, or going out to get more freelance then maybe I could let go of this other struggle and just fight for myself. and win.

So in the midst of my vent I found this site and I cried and laughed all at once because really - I’ve heard almost every single one of these scenarios in my years of freelancing and I don’t know why I thought for so long that I wasn’t able to put up with a lot, I have, I do and I probably will continue to do so..but helps to know others in my field are going through this

www.clientsfromhell.tumblr.com

Some steps to live by..now if I can only remember these each time..

The following ways to reduce procrastination have often worked for my clients

an actual discussion here at work between my editor and myself..

“paola are you on the phone?”

“no. just have my headphones on?”

“are you sure your not on the phone?”

I find humor at work mostly everyday, every hour.

This was a response to an email that was sent to the art department…the first part is the email sent and then my response to it…
November 11, 2008

Dear Tom & Anthony, Nancy & Lois, Maria & Paola:

Hello. Can we please move the big green Cutting Board back over to the Art Department? It is now in the huddle area over by me and Barbara.

It once was situated in the Art Department section by Maria, in between Maria’s desk and Paola’s desk (Mary H’s old desk).

It may be overlooked when we’re packing for the new building, since it is hiding in this huddle over here by the mail slots. Would someone in the Art Dept please pack it with the rest of the equipment going over?

Can we please put it on one of the desks/countertops for now, in one of your three areas: Tom/Anthony area; Nancy/Lois area; Maria/Paola area ?

Please let me know what is best, and I’ll ask Robin to move it over to you in the morning.

Thank you all for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Maryanne ——–

cc: Caren, Meg

——————————————–THE RESPONSE————————————————–

November 11, 2008

Approximately 4:41pm on a cold cloudy day at CMPMedica

Dear Anthony, Nancy & Lois, Maria & Cherie, Cortney & Santa, God & The Cleaning Lady,

Hello. The big green scary cutting board has now been moved to the Art Department. It is now located in the huddle area over by me and Maria & Cherie. The exact map coordinates are latitude: 41.08667 / longitude: -73.460274. If I had time I would get a tattoo like Angelina Jolie so I won’t forget it’s whereabouts.

Many years ago the big green scary cutting board was located in the Art Department section by Maria, in between Maria’s desk and Mary’s desk (Paola’s new desk).

It may be overlooked, that BIG GREEN SCARY CUTTING BOARD, when we’re packing for the new building, and since it is hiding in this huddle ready to jump out and scare you and even possibly be used for harm by someone not realizing it’s purpose in life could someone move it? And move it fast, by today, possibly within the next 10 minutes or 15 to be exact?

Maybe over to the bathroom? The closet? The kitchen? Will it fit under your desk?

Can we please make a decision and figure out where to put this cutting board?

Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Under the desk!

Or maybe in one of your three areas: The IT guy what-are-you doing really area; The IT guy burping area; The IT guy are you still eating area?

Please let me know what is best or I will have to decide for myself and as you can see that would take a lot of time, so much that by the time we move I will have come to decision but the building would be locked and that big green scary cutting board will be left alone by itself on the empty 1st (technically 2nd) floor.

And while we are add it can someone who moved My Who Moved My Cheese book please return it?

Thank you all for your time and consideration and help with listening to me plea for mercy

Sincerely,

Paola DiMeglio, ext ICANTTELLYOU

cc: Santa