I make coffee every day before I leave for work or class. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened the fridge that my whole Resident Assistant staff shares today unable to locate my Coffee-Mate. I keep it on the door, and it was actually laying on its side on the shelf. The rule with the fridge is that if it's not labeled, it's communal. My coffee-mate says my name on it a few times: JORDAN SCHUMAN. JORDAN. JORDAN. And around the lid, it reads, "JORDAN TAKES HER COFFEE VERY SERIOUSLY." I also take my coffee light with two Splenda but that is not important in this moment. I am not accusing any of my RA staff of using my Coffee-Mate. I actually think it was the night staff.
Once I got past this weird start to my morning, I got in the car and made pretty great time. It only took me a half hour instead of the usual 45 minutes it does to get to work. In the car, I thought again about my interview with CBS News for a summer internship that I had yesterday. I wondered how long you're supposed to wait in between haircuts. I also realized everyone in the traffic on the way to work is really getting in each other's way and we could all be nice to one another and get out of the way once in a while. These are real thoughts I have sometimes.
Work is pretty slow today. I'm typing at 11:30 a.m. and none of us have done much today except small tasks around the office. I'm feeling very sleepy and I was hungry early on today, but I'm glad to be at work. I really genuinely love the people I work with. It's a mostly female staff, and the conversation is flowing and fun. I realized the other day that in only my third week here, I know I'm going to miss it when it's over.
Today I'm wearing black pants, a coral sweater, two-tone boots riding boots and my black fake-leather jacket. I do love waking up on a Friday and not having to get all dolled up. I'm usually the only one wearing heels so I know I get a pass when I take advantage of a casual Friday. Today for lunch I brought vegetable stromboli and roasted potatoes... but like my outfit choice, that doesn't much matter either.
Lunch is on NBC.
After the hectic storm coverage we put together, NBC decided to treat both our Birmingham and Atlanta affiliate folks. Oh, and while we were at it, we decided to treat ourselves.
I love how classy it is to recognize good work and reward it. (If we do say so ourselves?) When I left work after covering the storm, the staff at the bureau said they were glad I was there that day. They thought I was helpful. It was a pretty cool pat on the back while I know I would've been fine leaving never hearing it.
I enjoy the tradition of acknowledging busy and tedious work, like the Chicago Tribune did for the Boston Globe after the marathon bombing:
Once I got past this weird start to my morning, I got in the car and made pretty great time. It only took me a half hour instead of the usual 45 minutes it does to get to work. In the car, I thought again about my interview with CBS News for a summer internship that I had yesterday. I wondered how long you're supposed to wait in between haircuts. I also realized everyone in the traffic on the way to work is really getting in each other's way and we could all be nice to one another and get out of the way once in a while. These are real thoughts I have sometimes.
Work is pretty slow today. I'm typing at 11:30 a.m. and none of us have done much today except small tasks around the office. I'm feeling very sleepy and I was hungry early on today, but I'm glad to be at work. I really genuinely love the people I work with. It's a mostly female staff, and the conversation is flowing and fun. I realized the other day that in only my third week here, I know I'm going to miss it when it's over.
Today I'm wearing black pants, a coral sweater, two-tone boots riding boots and my black fake-leather jacket. I do love waking up on a Friday and not having to get all dolled up. I'm usually the only one wearing heels so I know I get a pass when I take advantage of a casual Friday. Today for lunch I brought vegetable stromboli and roasted potatoes... but like my outfit choice, that doesn't much matter either.
Lunch is on NBC.
After the hectic storm coverage we put together, NBC decided to treat both our Birmingham and Atlanta affiliate folks. Oh, and while we were at it, we decided to treat ourselves.
I love how classy it is to recognize good work and reward it. (If we do say so ourselves?) When I left work after covering the storm, the staff at the bureau said they were glad I was there that day. They thought I was helpful. It was a pretty cool pat on the back while I know I would've been fine leaving never hearing it.
I enjoy the tradition of acknowledging busy and tedious work, like the Chicago Tribune did for the Boston Globe after the marathon bombing:
In response, the Globe sent the Tribune hundreds of doughnuts.
More than ever, we’ve been honored to be journalists these last weeks, helping our community understand and process the Boston Marathon bombings and related events — but, as you guessed, the experience left us exhausted emotionally and physically. Then your surprise lunch arrived, feeding out appetites and lifting our spirits. Since you helped keep us going, let us return the favor.
Your friends at the Boston Globe
I so frequently feel in my life that 99% of what I do goes unrecognized by the public. I work 9 to 5 three days a week and I still manage to carry a full-time job on campus and go to class. I was on the Homecoming Executive Committee! I'm in a sorority! Look how well I match my clothes and do my makeup!
But you do not do anything for recognition, or you will not do a job that is true to yourself. You must do what you to because you are intrinsically motivated to do so. You must do it because you feel it is right. You should do the best job you can because that's what Jordan is about, not because you'll get praise for that.
I so frequently want friends at the various Globes and Tribunes in my life to pick up lunch and say, "You know, Jor. You're killing it lately." At the end of the day, it's important to compliment those who we think deserve to hear the outside confirmation, even thought they might not need to.
We are, after all, all in this together. And, after all, we do not do it for the recognition.
I'm so glad NBC gets that.
You heard it here first,
Jordan
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