Ok, so I wrote about how I’m struggling/the project is struggling because we’re working too hard & not resting enough.
So, I’m still not sure how to solve that, but I’ve at least come up with some ideas as to why it’s even a problem, which must be the first step to getting past it.
The Why
1. We seriously underestimated the hours that the kiosk is required to be open during this month, and what that would be like as a reality (the mall was open 93 hours this week… and will be 107 hours this coming week. I’m not sure why I thought that would be do-able, but… turns out, it’s not.).
2. I seriously overestimated my personal capacity to be here.
3. Because we’ve been pushing ourselves, all of us are either highly stressed or sick. (Not good!)
4. I noticed last Monday that being “understaffed” was a problem, and have let an entire week go by without doing something proactive about it.
5. Going along with #3, sometimes people can’t make it in, and then we have less staff to work with.
6. I simply haven’t put the word out that we are struggling and need staff/volunteers. There are a lot of reasons for that, including:
- It can be difficult to find volunteers, especially on short notice, during finals week in a college town, etc.
- The unknown legal factors of having staff who aren’t being paid (if we were a non-profit, fine, but technically we’re a business?).
- Not wanting to advertise that we’re “hiring”, because it is just an experiment (heck, we’re not even being paid!)
- My assumption that people wouldn’t want to volunteer at a mall kiosk. (It is fun, just not when it’s marathon-style for one or two people).
- It seems like since this is our project, we should just take care of it ourselves….?
7. I’m too independent for my own good, and I dislike asking others for help.
The Bottom Line
I think at the end of it all, the fact is, we haven’t solved the problem because… we haven’t tried to solve it directly. I can keep thinking it out, or, maybe I could just start coming up with some options for how to find some volunteers.
It is both amazing & frustrating that when we started the project, that we didn’t see any of the”impossible” factors as obstacles, and found ways to make things work… whereas now, because of the effects of fatigue, all that’s obvious is obstacles, in even the simplest challenges.
I read a great article about the health care community/professional nurses– highly applicable, because they typically are overworked, long shifts, etc. It was really interesting to see the connection between fatigue and error.
It will be even more interesting if we can apply principle #8 “Be Resourceful” and #9 “Get Around Obstacles”, and hopefully move past this problem so we can focus on finishing the project successfully.
Your suggestions are definitely welcome… 
4 Comments
December 18, 2006 at 4:16 am
Dealing with stress….
Your so crossing a crux with this project, however the only advice I can give is a little in retrospect, my first company I set up I used to work 7 days from 8 am through to 2 am for first few years, I could only operate at these hours for 2-3 month stints before my body shut down, however I was doing something I LOVED, It was a joy for me, also pushing my body and mind to meet over commited deadlines,I took as a challenge to see how far I could push myself. I also found that by finding like minded people to compare with we pushed each other, often going beyond all nighters into 36 hr shifts BUT we really loved what we were doing and belived completly that what we were doing was SO important.
Your project like all the start up’s I witness is moving into the reality phase I suppose Its this point that you as a person decide to make it work or not, its all about whats inside you now and if your willing to give the extra it takes to make it work, your smart enough and your seeing what you did wrong and reacting to it, focus again, resolve the problems, STOP thinking to much and use your gut instinct, you KNEW you were understaffed but let your brain and pride fource your decision to non action. Forget about others rules and restrictions, expectations and limitations and find your way.
I LOVE what your doing, now make it work.
Steven M
huan.co.uk
gardeners-world.net
tackdirect.co.uk
boohoobaby.co.uk
December 18, 2006 at 7:47 am
Carolynn,
Keep your head up. You’re going through what all retail managers are going through at this point in the holiday season. I remember my wife having to work open to close the last 20 days up to Christmas. Hopefully you are getting support from those around you to handle the little stuff (laundry, your x-mas shopping, cooking, etc).
I too did retail for 10 years and know what you’re going through. Keep telling yourself that it’s only another couple of weeks!
December 18, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Steven,
Thanks for your comments.
I am slooowly getting things in order today…
I actually considered shutting the kiosk down yesterday, but, like you said Steven, I thought I’d try making it work by just addressing those problems first.
The first one I tackled today was the phone (the lack of communication since my phone was stolen has been a serious challenge!), and although it was
more complicated than it really should have been, it’s up, and so that’s giving me some motivation back to tackle the other things. So.. stay tuned!
December 18, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Craig,
Thanks also for your comment.
I don’t know if I had just never really paid attention to what shopping is like at Christmas… at a mall… but seriously, it’s intense. 
And, I remember about 2 months ago, on a weekend, I wanted to go to the mall for something, but they closed at 9 pm and I was frustrated… “Why does the mall have to close so EARLY?!”
It was definitely before this project was even an idea… and now, I’m wishing they did close early… year round! Anyway, it’s funny how those ironies occur.
Thanks again for your visit!
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