The First Week

I already sort of answered the first question when Todd asked me earlier in the week at the membership meeting, “What has been the biggest surprise?” I told him how the atmosphere isn’t overly businesslike, to which I received a round of laughs and comments saying how I would find out soon how businesslike the atmosphere can get. I tried to clarify what I meant, but just kept digging the hole I was in even deeper.

But after that meeting, Todd came up to me and asked what I meant about businesslike. I told him I meant more that he wouldn’t be riding everyone to get their work done and create stress. He told me that even though it’s fun and lighthearted a good amount of the time, there are times when you have to be on top of some people to get the best work. The key to a successful and fun office, Todd said, is knowing when you need to get on someone’s case and when it’s time to back off and let them do their thing.

That has been my biggest surprise here. How in tune everyone in the office is with each other and how each person knows how to work extremely well with everyone else. The office runs smoothly even when it is stressful because there is such a great team at SHM filled with people who not only work with you, but want to know you and help you in any way they can.

In the next six months I hope to learn how to be a contributing part of this great team, and gain the knowledge and experience to work that way in any job I have in the future. I hope to learn everything I can about marketing and SHM, but more importantly, I want to learn how to generate an amazing businesslike work atmosphere like the one here at SHM. I’m excited to be here and I can’t wait to see what comes next.