You know, it recently occurred to me that all of you wonderful Smthellaneous friends probably have no earthly idea what I do on my job. (My non-blogging job, that is.) So just for the fun of it, I leafed through a couple of weeks in my Day Timer at work and picked out some activities to list here from that period of time.
Before I post the list though, here are a few pictures of the place where I spend 25 hours each week.
My desk.
Most of the time, I keep the blue curtain between me and the sanctuary closed, but occasionally I open it up so that I can see the big screens at the front of the auditorium and get an idea of what the graphics look like that I’m working on that day.
At the other end of the office is a work table and filing box where I organize all the music that the worship band uses each week. (Sarah is my official music filing person.)
So. Here’s my list of stuff I do, as retrieved from notes and lists from recent workdays. Most are self-explanatory but a few needed a little explanation. This list will probably give you a good idea of why I refer to myself as “The Minister of Miscellaneous.”
1. Retype new song with changes
2. Will 18 sandwiches be enough?
3. Rock and roll oldies (I was doing a slide show of pictures for a memorial service and asked the widow what kind of music her late husband liked.)
4. Sit in with Steve on a counseling session.
5. 350 x 490 (Written in the margins of my book to remind me of the dimensions that a particular image on our church website has to be)
6. All grad pictures in? (Working on media presentation for the Sunday when we will honor our grads)
7. Bird guy respond? (The nickname I gave a guy who contacted the church through our website whose email address had “bird” in it.)
8. Sign up sheet for church lunch.
9. Buy 3 reams of legal sized, 60 lb paper.
10. Find Mother’s Day video; download and insert into media script.
11. Make up new singer schedule
12. Who is running media on Sunday?
13. Pizza with Pastor event?
14. Do visitor letters
15. Organize Board get together
16. Record “Redeemer” on piano
17. Make sign for the food donation box
18. Work on chord chart for new worship song
19. Change directory listing
20. Worship Choir announcement
21. Start Sunday’s bulletin
22. Begin designing poster/flyers for Craft Sale
23. Find a sunrise video
24. Email Sunday’s video to Linda
25. Find music for skit
26. Make new signs for offices
27. Set up table in lobby
28. Offertory slide show
29. Make 30 copies for Steve
30. Order flowers for funeral
31. Call Marsha about date change
32. Start designing graphics for upcoming sermon series.
33. Pull music for Sunday’s service
34. Set up media script for Sunday
35. Replenish supply of “feminine products” in womens’ bathroom
36. Turn in receipts from last week.
37. Send two thank you notes.
38. Create new graphic for website home page
39. Update calendar on church website
40. Order toner for copier.
41. Kiss my boss (Ha. That one was just thrown in there for those of you who read all the way to the end. And of course, my boss is my husband.)
I think what people do for a living is fascinating and would love a description or a list of what YOU do!
I work in my church’s morning preschool, so I’m an official… reader, play pal, boo boo kisser, hugger, potty helper, snack supplier, etc.
Christie,
What a happy job description. I love it! 🙂
Since I am retired I do not have a “paid” job but lots of volunteer ones.
1. Take dogs outside many times per day.
2. Visit Mama in the rest home daily.
3. Prepare dinner (sometimes) for Jim.
4. Sort through mail.
5. Read newspaper some days.
6. Walk the treadmill when I find time.
7. Study Sunday school lesson.
8. Read my devotions daily.
9. Feed the two dogs and cat.
10. Clean up after the animals.
11. Wash and dry clothes.
12. Vacuum
13. Wash dishes that don’t go in the dishwasher.
14. Volunteer at Halifax Healthlink.
15. Take many phone calls.
16. Attend to Mama’s medical needs.
Oh, I think that is enough even though there are more. Do spend time at the computer some days and also have my Pilot Club activities.
Ann,
Doesn’t sound very “retired” to me; you are one busy lady. So glad to read about your full and fulfilling life and about the way that you spend so much time doing for others. Such an inspiration!
Mary,
Secretary AND treasurer? At the same time? My hat is off to you! Jill of all trades is the perfect description.
I’m a “Jill of all trades” – I am a United Methodist secretary and treasurer of our church.
It sounds as though the Minister of Miscellaneous could use an assistant. You sure do have a lot on your plate.
Judy,
Well, I actually do have an assistant. Sarah helps me a lot with filing, video/music editing, sermon graphics, etc. Couldn’t do it without her!
I work for a nonprofit science management organization, and my official title is Executive Coordinator. If you have not the first clue what that means…. don’t worry. I’m still trying to work it out myself. My job has a lot of different pieces, and the title, I think, is meant to encompass them all without being so specific that more can’t be added later!
I was originally hired for my writing and editing skills, which is awesome because it means I’m actually using my English degree! I still do a lot of writing and editing: I manage a daily email listserve, writing and editing announcements that get sent worldwide to several thousand people in our research community; I write articles for our three/year newsletter, and edit the entire publication; and I edit and occasionally write a few sections for the many science and workshop publications we produce. Aside from that, I am project manager for a couple of our major programs, I work with our board of directors and member institutions on planning the future of the organization, and I deal with a lots of miscellaneous tasks that get tossed my way. It’s very rarely repetitive… there’s always something new happening, which is the major factor in why I (usually) love my job.
Kristina,
The only thing I could think of after reading the list of things you do is whatever would they do without you if you ever quit? You are one multi talented lady!
I work full-time at Walmart. My primary job is Apparel-Home Sales Associate. But I can be found running a register on the front end, running the jewelry counter (currently spending a lot of time there!), or running the fitting room. I stock merchandise and zone it. I help set up modulars. I do a lot of stuff at work!
Kristi,
Sounds like you are multi-skilled and cross trained. I’m sure your day is never boring with all of your running around from department to department! Setting up, stocking, running registers–I think my brain would get overloaded quickly! (I’ve always said I would NEVER have the courage to run a register because of all those pesky numbers involved.) 🙂
The nice thing is that the registers at the front end tell you how much change to give the customers. 🙂 The one at the jewelry counter does too even tho it is different than the front end ones.
Kristi,
I’m afraid I would somehow still get confused.
Hey, Kristi —
I worked retail for a lot of years, but I’m not sure I could handle Walmart! Customers there always seem so frantic and pushy! I was wondering… what does it mean to ‘zone’ merchandise? Thanks!
– Kristina
I teach Discovery Kindergarten (age 4 – 5) to Fifth grade students (age 10) how to use computers! I *LOVE* my job!
Jan,
Wow–teaching small children to use computers? I bet your job is full of funny little incidents and the joy of seeing a kids’ face light up when you show them something new. How fun!
I’ve had a few different jobs….hostess, retail clerk, insurance claims processor, customer service rep, claims adjuster, administrative assistant…
But, then i had my little boy and became a stay at home mom. By far, it is the best, most rewarding job i could ever ask for. Our son is 19 months and we have a little girl on the way, due in November.
Traci,
You’re right. Even though you’re multi talented and have done a lot of stuff work-wise, mothering a 19-month year old and a soon-to-be-newborn is the best job on earth.
I am about to finish my residency in pediatrics, which I loved, and continue in pediatric hematology/oncology. best job in the world 🙂
Renee,
Whenever I see the words “pediatric” and “hematology/oncology” together, I shake my head in wonderment at the doctors and nurses who choose that field for their specialty. (Or should I say, their calling.) You open your heart to pain every single day even as you make an enormous difference in so many peoples’ lives. Thank you!
I am the receptionist in a doctor’s office. Not just any doctor, but an old-fashioned, private practice doctor, who cares for people from birth to death. It’s a small office, away from the hospital, where the elderly doctor and his wife have a garden around the office building and bring the 3 of us who work there chocolates and birthday gifts and take us out for lunches. The doctor’s wife makes jewelry, which she gives away to patients. The doctor always has a sucker in his pocket for the kids. When there is produce in the garden, the patients are on the receiving end of gifts of whatever is ripe that day. I believe that I have the best job in the world. I get to have imaginary baseball games in the waiting room with little boys while they wait for their mom’s to be done with the doctor. I get to hold babies and cuddle them while other members of their family are getting taken care of. I get to talk with patients who need a friendly ear and console people who need a hug. I don’t have to be the person with the needle or the xray machine (Yup, we have our own and do our own blood work, too!), I love my job and my co-workers and the doctor and his wife. I love our patients and the people who I get to interact with on a daily basis. It is wonderful to have high tech medical facilities (I’m a cancer survivor, so I know!), but our little office, where we play with the kids and hand out hugs and fresh garden produce and jewelry, is by far the most awesome job I have ever had.
Dawn,
Wow. That job description just left me with a huge smile on my face. I got a mental vision of a Norman Rockwell painting the whole time I was reading. I don’t know who is more blessed–the doctor and his wife, the patients or YOU! Thanks for reminding us all that those kinds of places still exist in the world of fast moving, sometimes impersonal medicine. Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow, you really do a lot Becky! Your church is blessed by your service to them. In fact, I bet that although much of the things you do are “behind the scenes” you are the integral spoke in the wheel that keeps things running so smoothly, efficiently and well. I’m a big fan of to do lists too!
Right now, I’ve reduced my workload for a short while due to some health issues, so my professional work tasks on my to do list are shorter than normal. However, I am doing freelance writing- right now I’m writing an article for an online magazine about aboriginal education in our province. And parenting our daughter takes a lot of my time, especially because it often feels like parenting: extreme gladiator version (we’re not a typical family, not only because of my health issues, but because we adopted our 13 year old daughter 3years ago out and she has some special needs too that make life always interesting and never dull).
I found it really interesting hearing about your job.
Have a great day!
Jenna,
Yes, I LOVE my behind the scenes work–it’s where I am the happiest.
So you’re writing about the education of aboriginals for a magazine? I wouldn’t even know how or where to begin but what an interesting subject! And congratulations for having (and taking) that opportunity to expand your writing horizons.
And yes, mothering someone with special needs is a MORE than full time job all by itself. When you add in your health challenges–well, you have a plate full. But I know that love and joy also weave themselves through your day and through your work and that makes it all worthwhile.
I’m a church secretary and I love it.
Anonymous,
Hooray for church secretaries! There’s no job quite like it.
My days are busy. I am a daycare provider and have up to 10 children here each day. Finally its nice out and our snow is gone so we can once again, get outside in the play area and run, jump, swing, ride bike and sqeal with happiness, well the kids do, ha!
Wendy,
Ten kids is a LOT! And I know that all eleven of you greeted the melting snow and the emerging of the sun with great joy. Running, jumping, swinging, riding bike and squealing with happiness is a great way to spend one’s day–and you get a front row seat on all of that! 🙂
“Kiss your boss,” reminds me of a story. About 20 years ago, I was doing a grad program in Israel. One of the most popular classes was “Women and Jewish Law,” which was taught by the wife of the institute’s immediate past Rabbi and Director of Jewish Studies. When asked if she would be teaching the class again the following semester, her response was, “Previously I would have said yes right away, but since I’m no longer sleeping with the Director of Jewish Studies I really don’t know.” Her response garnered befuddled looks, then big smiles and giggles.
Leah,
That is too funny. 🙂 And how wonderful to have had a chance to do a grad program in Israel and be taught “Women and Jewish Law” by a woman. Fabulous opportunity!
I work at Amazon.com. I am in one of their many call centers. I am on the Consumer Electronics and Personal Computers sales team. That’s not as bad as it sounds. If a customer needs a question answered about an item they want to buy, they call us and we answer their questions. No…I didn’t know ANYthing about electronics and computers before I started working here. But, I was trained and I’ve learned as I went along. And I’ve learned that Amazon is a great online place to shop! We have everything…TV’s, computers, clothes, jewelry…even groceries!
I’ve been here for almost 2 years and I learn something new everyday!
Thanks for sharing…this is fun!!
Krista –
Just wanted to tell you how much I absolutely LOVE Amazon.com. I live in Alaska, and while I try to buy as much as I can from local retailers, there are many things that simply aren’t available to purchase here. Amazon.com is always the first place I check, and almost always where I wind up clicking the ‘Buy’ button, too. It’s astonishing that such an enormous, mostly faceless, internet company can have such amazing customer service. Major kudos (and thanks!) to you and coworkers!
– Kristina
Krista,
I’m sort of jealous of all the things you’ve gotten to learn about electronics and pc’s over the years; I LOVE knowledge, especially about computers. I (along with a bazillion others) am a huge fan of Amazon. Thinks for being part of what makes it so great!
You are amazing, but why do you do so much? Aren’t there other secretaries? I hope that list is not from one 25 hr. work week–you need to do some delegation, girl! Go home and put your feet up, for goodness sake! 🙂
Anonymous,
Thankfully the list was culled from about 2-3 weeks of work, not just one. My saving grace is that I do not have to answer the church phone or greet visitors so I’m not constantly being interrupted. If I had to do all that, too, I WOULD go bonkers. Thankfully, I absolutely love doing just about everything on that list so it doesn’t seem all that much like work. (And yes, I DO put my feet up from time to time.) 🙂
Pant, pant, okay now breathe! Whew!
Sharyn,
Breathing is good! 🙂
I teach Music for Young Children…so…I talk about snowmen a lot (the basic chords), dance with Dinosaurs and Elk, sing songs about the music alphabet, go on about how crescendos are such fun, hand out rhythm instruments, watch tiny fingers find keys on the piano for the first weeks but by the end of the year see them able to read notes fully on the staff and play with two hands one at a time but in a row (if they’re in the youngest class) or hands together in every other class. The neatest part is comparing the piece they played at the recital LAST year to the one they will be playing next week!
Hooray for ‘specials’ teachers (that’s what they called them in my public school, anyway)! Music, phys ed, library, art…. the ‘specials.’ My elementary music education has stuck with me… many years later, I still play piano, sing for fun, and am trying to learn the violin. All kids should have music in their lives. Thanks for what you do!
Kristina,
Trying to learn violin? You are a brave woman. Of course, having piano knowledge already on board will help a lot. Enjoy!
Thanks, Becky! It’s incredibly hard… my fingers are quite resistant to the ways and speeds in which I’m asking them to move! But I’m persistent (read: stubborn) and have this crazy dream about playing Pachelbel Canon in D…
If anyone would like to share my small slice of classical heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkrKOZfKDkI . Painfully beautiful.
Kristina,
Thanks for sharing that link. I took a “culture break” and listened quietly for a few minutes, putting aside technology and busyness for the beauty of that music.
MusicGirl,
I love your job!! And I so enjoyed the way you describe it and the obvious enthusiasm you have for what you do. Your students are blessed to be under the tutelage of someone who not only loves them but also loves what she’s teaching them. You go!
I am retired but when I worked I was a housekeeper first in a hospital cleaning patient rooms then at a wellness center. I just have one idea that would cut one thing out of your to do list. at the church I went to in arkansas is was the one who got the names and addresses from the vistor list and wrote them little note of welcome please come again. maybe some one in your church could take over that job for you… just a thought
Sharon,
When Sarah was in the hospital I always took special note of (and said special thanks to) the ones who came in every day to clean her room. It’s a job that is so many times overlooked but so very, very important. Thank you for the years you spent doing that. (And I loved your church visitor idea!)
I am a legal assistant (us old timers still call ourselves secretaries). Not that exciting. Rarely in court helping anyone win a trial. It does involve a lot of organizational skills which I seem to use solely at work and don’t apply at home as I should. Right now we are in the throes of trial prep for a multi-million dollar trial in federal court in California. I wish it would settle but there is little chance of that happening. We are very concerned for our client and the outcome could affect the future of their business. I have worked here for almost 30 years. Good people. Very honest attorneys – don’t be so surprised about that one! So many don’t like attorneys (I can see why not) because, like doctors, most of the time when you come to see us, you are in trouble and need help. Not the most pleasant of situations but attorneys are a necessary evil(?) to help you through a tough time.
Mary,
Almost thirty years? I can only imagine how much you have learned and seen and done over that time and how invaluable you have proven yourself to the attorneys you work for!
And yes, it is great to hear a story about good attorneys–I know there are a lot of good ones out there there but unfortunately it always seems to be the unscrupulous ones who get the press.
You sound like you are a great asset there.
You do a great job!…Wonderful photos of the Sanctuary!….Kudos, Miss Becky!…God Bless!…..
Scooter
Scooter,
Glad you liked the photos; thanks for the encouragement. (And it was great seeing you this morning!) 🙂
Your to do list is like mine…everything has to be noted or there’s no chance i’ll remember!
I’m an online marketing manager so I work with clients’ websites to get them high results in Google as well as running social media accounts and blogs….my typical Toggl/to do-list looks a bit like this:
Meta content
Write blog about moustache care – deadline fri 17
New client website analysis
Get milk from lunch van
Put expenses receipt in
Check Michael (my assistant’s) work
Add “catering equipment london” to report
Weekly update for client X
Implement WP blog about PDFs for client B
lunch (this occurs every day ;))
social document
facebook social strategy
Write about ostriches in popular culture
and so on…..I bet that all sounds thrilling!!
Rebecca,
Well, actually it DOES sound thrilling! 🙂 I love the variety and interesting aspects of all your tasks you listed–it sounds as though each day holds different stuff (well, except for lunch being the same) and you never have a chance to get bored.
Great job!
I like # 41!!! Always nice to be in good with the boss!! As for my job… you pretty much know most of it… I collect cells from children that have solid tumors, such a brain tumors, neuroblastoma, etc… we freeze these cells and keep them until ready for transplant. Then we thaw them out, send them to the floor, and pray that cells engraft quickly! We also prepare bone marrow, cord blood, granulocytes, and other products that are necessary for transplants. Basically, if you are at Duke and getting a transplant, then I am your girl! Whether we prepare the cells fresh, or collect and thaw, we support both the adult and pediatric programs… And it is all worth while because of kids like Sarah, and so many others that are happy and healthy years later… but have the experience to help others that are going through it! 🙂