The Chain of Power

From the eyes of a newbie and the chain of power. 


With my seventh day completed, I finally feel a little more at home, I now know the important things such as where the bathrooms are, how to brew a new pot of coffee, which security officers are friendly, and where not to park...


I am still very new, and everyone is aware when I can't get the front door open so a stranger from the other side must open it for me. But who runs this company that I work for? Was it the president who just opened the door or a colleague? I only know the few I talk to on a daily basis, and a few people above me. And although I know where the 'important people ' are, I do not know their faces or names. The power in the company is downstairs blocked off on all sides with big wooden doors and offices with windows overlooking the interstate and a parking lot. One of the perks of being an important person in this company is that you get great parking, right in front of the door. Everyone else has to park on the side of the building and when the temp drops and my heels are on, I better watch out for ice. 


I might not work directly with the offices downstairs, but I want to germ my way into their radar. I am all ears at work, observing as much as I can to learn the ins and outs of this business, and just the other day I caught half of a story about a woman who was taken off salary and placed on an hourly pay. This sounds like death to me, and perhaps it was a wonderful thing for her, I am not sure. But this situation never even entered my mind, I have been working so hard the last few years to get a salary and get off hourly that the thought makes me cringe. 


So my question to the public is, How do you get to know the power people? And is this a good idea to get on their radar?


Hailey

meeting coworkers.

From the eyes of a newbie meeting coworkers.
Being the new one around the workplace it is hard to know my boundaries, invitations, and whatever else I might run into. I have a little cubical to call my own with two huge computers, a swivel chair, and the basic filing cabinets and such. I have been to a couple of other peoples cubs where I learn things about them such as whether they have a special someone, if they are having a baby, if they travel, I get a peak inside of their lives away from work. 


My first day I heard some very peculiar conversations. From the other side of my cubical  I heard a woman who sounded just like Kristen Johnston on Bride Wars haha! And another person who I learned a lot about what they do and don't like, and work was not a like! This person intrigued me because I couldn't figure out if they were male or female. They had stated their name a couple of times but it could have gone either way, and their deep raspy voice that used such lines as "hey girl, you'll be fine" just contradicted themselves. I can't believe I know so much about this person except their gender! I have never met them, or the woman who sounds like Kristen, but we are inches from each other everyday with just a five foot fabric  wall between us. 


I have a lot of people to meet and it is kind of stressful. Every time I go to the coffee machine I have to introduce myself again and as they introduce themselves to me I might as well not listen because there is no chance in the world I will ever remember their name. I am learning so much it is exciting, but my brain is on overload and a person's name won't fit. I forgot about starting to work at a new place, half of what you learn is for the company, and the other half is social. 


Hailey Schultz

first day.

From the eyes of a newbie's first day.

Today, September 7, 2011 was the first day of my career. Last night I didn't sleep very well, I kept waking up thinking I had overslept, and then left and hour early for work to make sure I got there with plenty of time. 

Because Indianapolis is a new city to me I am staying with my mothers friends parents old friends of 22 years. They were gracious enough to take me in. Everything seems too good to be true right now, I keep thinking that I will walk into my new job and suddenly wake up from a heavy sleep. Until I do wake up this is a pretty amazing dream, exactly what I had been blogging about for quite some time.

Personally I thought that the first day would be more monumental, don't get me wrong it was a good day, but it felt just right and ordinary. I think this is a good thing, everyone who works there is extremely nice, so inviting, and I got to work on a project my first day which was exciting. When I got back to my mothers friends parents friends of 22 years I felt satisfied, unstressed, and I couldn't wait to go back. 

Finally I feel comfortable and wanted by a company, and by such distant connections that have taken me in. I love Chicago, and I will always miss it as long as I am away. But Indianapolis, so far, has brought a warmth to me, and I hope to bring something to it.

Hailey Schultz

as I walk out my front door.

From the eyes of a newbie as I walk out my front door. 
All my bags are packed, toll money in a cup, a check from mom in my purse, a bag of snacks in the passenger seat, and my last night at home as a resident. 


Tomorrow is a big day. When I step out of the door and walk towards my new 2004 Toyota Matrix, I know that this will always be Mom's house, but my life has officially detached and re-rooted in Indianapolis, IN. Life is full of memorable first steps. When I was seven months old I took my first step, rather young I know (my mom actually would tell people I was nine months when they saw me walking because she thought people wouldn't believe her). I actually can't believe I made it this far, when I was five days old I got my head stuck in between a fan and a coffee table, when I was one year I pulled a TV on my head, when I was five I swore there where sharks swimming up the bathtub drain trying to eat me, when I was ten there were whales in the Holiday Inn public pool, and when I was eleven there were killers who always came into the house and tried to kill me. 


After recovering from the television incident and fighting off whales, I believe I can take Indianapolis head on. I will probably have a panic attack or two and maybe a few tears, but this is what society tells me my end goal is. After this I think I am suppose to get married, have a boy and then a girl, buy a house with an open layout and drive a minivan. But first, I will work on the job part.


Hailey Schultz

I wish I could fast forward two months.

The new blog title is now relevant to my current status & will continually change based upon what life puts on my plate.


From the eyes of a newbie I wish I could fast forward two months.
It is rather overwhelming to know that starting Wednesday my life will never be the same. I will be at work before 8am and leave for home at 5pm. I have been able to dodge rush hour the last five years as I took night classes, morning aerobics, and worked as a dinner server, now I am part of this long line at Starbucks slash massive traffic jam slash suppose to be helping the economy. 


This is a huge step in becoming more grown up, and I couldn't be happier. Although I love challenges and new experiences this is more overwhelming than I thought it would be. A lot has to be done the next two months and quite honestly I wouldn't mind if I could skip it all. 

I love blogging about my thoughts because it is a wonderful release, and that way those who want to hear what I have to say can read it, and all of my friends and family can be sparred, or read it on their own time...I hope you join me on my journey through life as a newbie.


Hailey Schultz