Happy New Year

Because a new year is as good a point as any for a fresh start, I spent two hours or so New Years day making a list of what on our websites, including those not visible to the public, needed to be fixed, changed or dropped. —These are things that, for the most part, I can implement without asking permission or jumping through hoops.

I made another list of internal policies, procedures and computer interfaces that I feel need to be fixed, changed, clarified or dropped.
-These things I can only present as suggestions to the appropriate parties.

The trick with either of these two lists is knowing what I can take control of without special permission or meetings, and which I need to forward to someone else. Because even in an organization small enough for anybody working there to be on a first name basis with all the other employees there are specific areas of responsibility and authority that need to considered when making even minor changes. There also the complications that arise from office politics and turf, because doing anything without consulting the person that feels they are entitled to some sort of input, can lead to hurt feelings, retaliatory back-stabbing and some world class hissy-fits. –Such is life.

This morning, before leaving for work, I drank my last two cups of coffee and re-read my lists, revised them, scrapped many of the ideas that had seemed important, edited both lists to include only things that are practical, and sent them on for approval and further revision to those people who’s job it is to make the final decision.

In the mean time I’ve started work those things I can change without consultation.

Beginning anew at the first of the year gives me a fresh mental outlook and a renewed sense of enthusiasm. –This will wear off as the mundane realities of day to day business take precedence over anything that lacks urgency, but for today at least, I’ve got a running start on the first of these projects.