So I'm sitting here in my second office, the office I only visit twice a week, and am looking at the bare walls. Even in this part-time office I brought a lot of things that made me comfortable to be there. Several trips to my car later, I'm thinking of the 'One Box Move' out of an office that we always see on TV. Employees that have been with a company for 10, 15, 20 or more years, are able to pack all of their personal belongings into one box that is twice the height of a boot box. REALLY? I've been in this department for six years and within two offices could have used a u-haul pull by bumper trailer! One Box?!?!
So this got me to thinking. Do I bring too much of me to my office? Do over-estimate the importance of the personal touch? Or do those folks portrayed on TV just not have anything worthwhile to bring to the office? Did they begin working at their last place of employmemt with the mind set that they weren't going to be saying long anyway, so why bother bringing anything? I just don't get it.
I'm sure at my new job, once I have been assigned a work place, within a week I will have as many personal items as I possibly can and am allowed! But lets face it, even if there is a limit to how many personal items you can bring, it will still be more than will fit into a small box!
And that brings me to the next question about this box. Where in the world did they get their box so quickly? I had to empty out reams of paper so I could have one box to use over and over. On TV, not only does the former employee only need one box, but it suddenly appears from under their desk! Sorry folks, again, this just isn't reality.
Tomorrow I will finish emptying my main office. A nice corner office with three windows on two sides. Granted, it doesn't cool fast in the summer or heat fast in the winter, but I had a great view and one of the largest offices in our department. I think I will miss that office more than many other things! But it is time to go, and I am almost ready.
Change is never easy. Leaving a job brings with it several emotions, as does beginning a new job. I think if I were to leave a job with only one box of personal items, I would cry over that fact alone! So, the next time you see a show or movie and an employee is leaving his job and carrying everything out in one little box, ask yourself why?!
OK, I just signed on and read all 3 posts at once. I reacted in an unexpected way: I got tears in my eyes. Being able to "hear" you talk about everything and nothing is such a blessing to me. Miles separate us... but I'm so glad I can still hear your heart!
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