What A Bust
And I'm not talking about anyone's anatomy either.
So the last two days were supposed to be highlighted with big meetings and all kinds of talk. But, as usual, they ended up being quite unproductive and much like my work experience here thus far, a major disappointment. Good thing I passed up a chance to go to Wildwood for this. The last sentence was sarcasm by the way.
I ended up getting stuck in the office quite a bit later than I had hoped which resulted in my not being able to do the Scotch and Cigars thing last night I was anticipating. Then again it was probably for the best, after the partying I did last weekend and Tuesday night. Maybe this weekend, we'll see. Today, I do have my call with the finance guy and we'll see what I can work out.
I can't really get into minute details for the obvious reasons... Just in case anyone from work is reading this... But we need to cut cut cut. However, my boss is slightly disappointed that we haven't been able to do a little more in Customer Service this year. My answer to that was that in the last 3 years, the headcount of the group has grown by 1 despite revenue nearly doubling and additional support functions being added like they're going out of style. Last year when doing budget for 2k5, I wanted to grow the group from 7 to 18 (though I could have gotten away with 15) and instead I got 9. However, when one person left, I was told not to backfill that position cuz the money was needed more elsewhere. So 8. In addition to that, with added tasks and requirements company-wide, workload has increased quite a bit. So he wants to improve Customer Service by quite a bit, while cutting budget further so we can increase headcount in sales and marketing. Unfortunately, I can't make things in the department any more cost efficient. We're running so efficient it's unbelievable, but they want more for less and well, we have no where left to go. So essentially my meeting with our finance guy is to see if there is any way we can either leverage more money to increase support staff so we can accomplish what I had put forth in my business plan last year, or look to move operations to a group that has those resources already.
Our billing group is in the same situation. But, that is a group of 1 right now. It should be 2-3, but its 1 and they want to make that more efficient. What sucks is that we're the 2 groups that don't bring in direct revenue (unlike sales and marketing) but without us, things go down the drain. I've got a "promise" from my boss that he'll do everything possible to keep me up here for that extra year, but again, unless it's a guarantee in writing, just seeing the shit that's going on right now, there's no way I'm taking that gamble. More happiness.
On the lighter side of things... Today is supposed to be a day off in the province of Quebec. It's the feast of St. John the Baptiste. Basically, it's like the 4th of July to Quebecers. The streets are filled with blue and white buntings and the the Quebec flag is flying everywhere. From what I understand, it's quite a rowdy party. I am hoping to head downtown later today just to walk around and check things out. Unfortunately, my 1pm meeting kinda breaks up the day, but that's ok. Even if it doesn't go well, I'm always up for a good time, so there should be some fun tonight! One thing about this supposed holiday that kinda pissed me off is that The Montreal Gazette, our local English newspaper, doesn't get printed today. What the Christ? Does news just stop for the day? Even their website doesn't have up to date news, just a message saying the paper won't be printed today. So, as a result, I'm writing to you folks. Checking my work email here and there also. Maybe I'll sit back and continue to watch DS9 season 2 on DVD until 1 and figure out what I'll do from there.
One last thing I'm looking to do this weekend, and I have written about this before I think, is going on a ghost hunt. Back in the 1800's there was this prostitute, Mary Gallagher (she's Irish, imagine that), who was beheaded by another, jealous prostitute and every 7 years, her ghost is said to return looking for her severed head. This year marks the 7th year since the last time she was supposed to have been seen. How cool is that!? The one thing I need clarification on is what date it is. Some say June 26, some say the 27th. The 26th is the most used date. I think they say the 27th for the touristy people just to keep them out of the way. So either way, one of those (maybe both of those) days I'll be headed over to Griffintown to see if she appears this year. Kinda creepy!!!
That's it for now. All be updating the blog at least once, maybe more this weekend. Oh yeah... Land of The Dead premiers tonight. That might be a good movie to check out too. I'll keep you posted!
So the last two days were supposed to be highlighted with big meetings and all kinds of talk. But, as usual, they ended up being quite unproductive and much like my work experience here thus far, a major disappointment. Good thing I passed up a chance to go to Wildwood for this. The last sentence was sarcasm by the way.
I ended up getting stuck in the office quite a bit later than I had hoped which resulted in my not being able to do the Scotch and Cigars thing last night I was anticipating. Then again it was probably for the best, after the partying I did last weekend and Tuesday night. Maybe this weekend, we'll see. Today, I do have my call with the finance guy and we'll see what I can work out.
I can't really get into minute details for the obvious reasons... Just in case anyone from work is reading this... But we need to cut cut cut. However, my boss is slightly disappointed that we haven't been able to do a little more in Customer Service this year. My answer to that was that in the last 3 years, the headcount of the group has grown by 1 despite revenue nearly doubling and additional support functions being added like they're going out of style. Last year when doing budget for 2k5, I wanted to grow the group from 7 to 18 (though I could have gotten away with 15) and instead I got 9. However, when one person left, I was told not to backfill that position cuz the money was needed more elsewhere. So 8. In addition to that, with added tasks and requirements company-wide, workload has increased quite a bit. So he wants to improve Customer Service by quite a bit, while cutting budget further so we can increase headcount in sales and marketing. Unfortunately, I can't make things in the department any more cost efficient. We're running so efficient it's unbelievable, but they want more for less and well, we have no where left to go. So essentially my meeting with our finance guy is to see if there is any way we can either leverage more money to increase support staff so we can accomplish what I had put forth in my business plan last year, or look to move operations to a group that has those resources already.
Our billing group is in the same situation. But, that is a group of 1 right now. It should be 2-3, but its 1 and they want to make that more efficient. What sucks is that we're the 2 groups that don't bring in direct revenue (unlike sales and marketing) but without us, things go down the drain. I've got a "promise" from my boss that he'll do everything possible to keep me up here for that extra year, but again, unless it's a guarantee in writing, just seeing the shit that's going on right now, there's no way I'm taking that gamble. More happiness.
On the lighter side of things... Today is supposed to be a day off in the province of Quebec. It's the feast of St. John the Baptiste. Basically, it's like the 4th of July to Quebecers. The streets are filled with blue and white buntings and the the Quebec flag is flying everywhere. From what I understand, it's quite a rowdy party. I am hoping to head downtown later today just to walk around and check things out. Unfortunately, my 1pm meeting kinda breaks up the day, but that's ok. Even if it doesn't go well, I'm always up for a good time, so there should be some fun tonight! One thing about this supposed holiday that kinda pissed me off is that The Montreal Gazette, our local English newspaper, doesn't get printed today. What the Christ? Does news just stop for the day? Even their website doesn't have up to date news, just a message saying the paper won't be printed today. So, as a result, I'm writing to you folks. Checking my work email here and there also. Maybe I'll sit back and continue to watch DS9 season 2 on DVD until 1 and figure out what I'll do from there.
One last thing I'm looking to do this weekend, and I have written about this before I think, is going on a ghost hunt. Back in the 1800's there was this prostitute, Mary Gallagher (she's Irish, imagine that), who was beheaded by another, jealous prostitute and every 7 years, her ghost is said to return looking for her severed head. This year marks the 7th year since the last time she was supposed to have been seen. How cool is that!? The one thing I need clarification on is what date it is. Some say June 26, some say the 27th. The 26th is the most used date. I think they say the 27th for the touristy people just to keep them out of the way. So either way, one of those (maybe both of those) days I'll be headed over to Griffintown to see if she appears this year. Kinda creepy!!!
That's it for now. All be updating the blog at least once, maybe more this weekend. Oh yeah... Land of The Dead premiers tonight. That might be a good movie to check out too. I'll keep you posted!
posted by Surviving In The Burbs at 6/24/2005 09:23:00 AM
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