11 Years---11 Lessons

October 3, 2011

OCTOBER 3, 2011. 

That was the first official day at my job. I had previously interned at my job earlier in the year for a few months, but October 3, was my first day as a full time employee! 

Boy! I was nervous but kinda relieved, I knew everyone and what was expected from interning so this was like stepping back into something comfortable. I hit the ground running that day and I like to think I haven't stopped. 

Over the past 11(!!!) years, I have moved from the front desk clerk, to probate clerk, to adoptions clerk, to minor's bookkeeping clerk and helped out in almost every department. 

I am settled into my office as the adoptions and minors accounts clerk. I like to think that I have the two happiest positions in the office. I enjoy what I do and I am consistently learning something new. Everyone once in a while. I come across a fact pattern and think to myself, "huh! Thats a new one!" I have made so many connections with attorneys, agencies and people  over the years its really neat to look back and think, what I have actually done. 

11 Years. 8 Adoption Days. Countless Clients Helped. 

This year, I want to take a moment and reflect all that I have done and how I have impacted lives for the better, I came up with a list of 11 lessons I have learned working at my job. 

My very own name plate

1. Take notes

Every position I have been in, I have taken notes and complied them into a binder with examples. This was one of the best things I ever did. I cannot possibly remember all the information that has been throw at me since I started. These binders are a great resrouce for unsusal situations and little nuances that come along. I have pulled out my front desk binder many times in the past few years because I got a call or email asking a specific question about a front desk procedure; being able to flip to the appropriate section and have the information written down was perfect.

2. Figure out a system that works for you 

I have tried so many different things over the years and I think in the past 3 years, I have finally got a system down that is working for me. 

Three things that work for me:

Quick Reference Binder- This binder has extentions of all the people that I might need to call; information on interest rates; procedures that I complete daily; and other helpful things that I would need quickly especially when I am on the phone. 

Planner and a notebook- The planner keeps all of my meetings and appointments together while the notebook keeps a list (which I make at the beginning of the week) of everything I want/need to get done that week. 

Color Coding- This has been a game changer and helped SO much. I wrote a whole post on that a few weeks ago; you can check it out here.

3. Keep a happy file

I can happily say that I started this very early on in my career. It may not always have been in the same bright yellow folder that in lives in now but I have always kept any cards, mementos, notes people have sent/left/gave me over the years to reflect back on. I also keep photos that I take out of my frames in here and my canceled stamp collection.  (Yes, I collect neat looking stamps that I have received/seen over the years. Its probably one of my favorite things I have  in my office.) I also kept the very first envelope that I received that was specifically addressed to me. It must have been in the middle to end of October, thinking about that. It was really neat to see my name on something official. 

Sometimes when I am having an off day or I am sad, I pull this bright yellow folder out of my drawer( it lives next to the reference binder) and thumb through it. All those great memories really can give you a good boost of positivity. 

Mail call!

4. Always be open to learn new things 

Being able to learn so many things over the years was due to my eagerness to learn new things. I was always curious about this or that and while when I started there was a lot of transitions, that afforded me to "fill in" in different departments and learn new things. Even now, as I am settled into my department, I am consistently learning new things or having things pop up that I need to do research on. That is what keeps the job interesting and not dull. 

5. Ask for help

This is something that has taken me a very long time to actually implement.  I always thought asking for help meant that I wasn't doing my job correctly and it would be not accepted. That can't be farther for the truth! Asking for help means you don't know something and that's okay. Asking for help doesn't mean you are not doing your job correctly, it means you need help, (and that's it) and that's OKAY! You are a better employee if you ask for help rather than struggle and not get the task done.

6.  Take lunch

No one wants a cranky co-worker around. Lunch is so important; you need to be able to step back from your work and reset yourself. An employee who works through lunch, in my opinion is not any better than someone who takes their lunch. If the company is providing you a specific time period for your lunch, take it. Go for a walk, go run errands or actually eat. You earned that break and you should take it. You should also take your mini breaks during the day too. 

7.  Dress better than you think

I wasn't sure how to word this lesson but I always think you should dress appropriate for work. If you are working in an office, don't show up in jean shorts and a crop top. Wear work appropriate outfits that you are comfortable in and adhere to the company's dress code. 

I like to take cues from  my boss and what she wears. I sometimes will dress, business casual some days if I know I don't have meetings but most days I feel like I am business. We are now allowed to wear jeans (thank you pandemic) but I have tried to wear them a few times and I always felt weird; like I was breaking the rules. 

 I was very much into matching desk supplies at one time

8. Write things down 

During your work day, you are bombarded with information. Some of the information, you don't have to write down because its just common knowledge; other information is important and you will need to remember it, write it down! Trust me, even if you think your mind is really good for remembering things, its better to be safe than sorry. My color coded post it notes come in handy with this, especially if I forget to write down the date. Trust me, you will thank yourself for writing it down. 

9.  Be you, always 

If you are funny, quirky, quiet, loud, smart, artistic, glam, and the list goes on, OWN THOSE THINGS you are. For a while, I hid my quirky side; after a while, it became tiresome hiding that and now I just own it, in and out of work. People will like you because you are YOU!

10. Remember the secretary/paralegal/law clerks's name 

I don't know how many times I have called an office and instead of speaking directly to the person who is in charge, I spoke with the secretary/paralegal/law clerk (who technically runs the office) and after multiple conversations with those people, I always asked for them by their name and used their name in the conversation. It always makes someone feel extra special when you use their correct name. I know from experience when someone uses Gabrielle and not Gabriella in a conversation, I feel like they actually listened to me. 

The secretary/paralegal/law clerk will always be more than willing to help you if you are kind and understanding too! They are the ones doing the work/making the documents you need, so remembering their names and being kind is so helpful. 

If you worry you will forget their name, write it down on a note card and file it away or make a note of it in your quick reference binder, by their phone number. Its the small things that make all the difference.

and lastly.....

Seven Sweet Years

11. Have a snack drawer

 Yup, I have no shame in admitting that I have a drawer in one of my filing cabinets that is labeled "Snacks" and it has snacks along with random items I might need when eating- plates, forks, knives, napkins etc. This has been my very favorite thing in my office because you know that feeling in your stomach and all you have is a mint in your desk and the vending machine is covered in sticky notes saying the machine ate their money. Having a snack drawer with a few options saves you money and keeps you not hangry. 

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Those are my 11 lessons from the past 11 years. 

I am looking forward to the next 11 years (well actually 14 years ) until retirement. HA!

What are some lessons you have learned and passed on over the years at your job? L
Let me know in the comments below.

[[Make kindness your mission and love your legacy]]