What not to do or say when you start a new job!

In my mind, when I started this, I thought it would be easy to keep up. Kudos to the bloggers I follow who post regularly. Daily. Even several times a day!

Hats off to your time management, folks. My time is spent knocking out that "real job" stuff, kids, dinner, dishes, laundry, home repair. Shit, I can't even blame it on a man taking up all my extra time. Maybe its Mafia Wars, I don't know. But I will work on it, and hopefully manage my time better so I don't suck so badly at blogging.

But here is a tidbit of irony I'm compelled to share:

For my job, I get the chance to train new sales staff on marketing tools to help them be successful. Our newest hire, KI, happens to be about my age. The credit for this irony all goes to her.

1. First meeting with her was during the interview process - prospective sales reps do a presentation. Some folks interview really well, but fold into the fetal position, murmuring incoherently when in front of a customer. So a bit of roll play is involved. KI was good and all business, however, she never tried to close, never asked for the sale. When questioned about it, KI responded "I didn't understand the instructions." This was a red flag to me, but a power greater deemed it no problem. Really? Really?!?
She wants to be a sales person, but doesn't ask for the sale?
She didn't understand, but didn't ask for clarification either.
And still gets the job. Umm, ok! Hour wasted, decision made. Lets move on.

2. I set up training with KI at a time CONVENIENT to her. She missed the meeting. Called, 20 min late. Can't make it.
Wonder how this would work with Mr. or Ms. Customer? Personally, I would be pissed.

3. Rescheduled training - AKA Strike Three. KI shows up and the first words out of her mouth took me be surprise, I shit you not!

Verbatim - "I want you know I have an IQ of 169." (pause for effect)

So why are you here working for base + commission, Einstein? And then KI does a name dropping spree similar to a B-rated porn star trying to break into the Oscars. Suddenly, she knows everyone who is anyone.

I allotted one hour for training. Should have been two. She was so busy trying to make it a social hour, I almost snapped. I found out about her overnight house guest; all the highly esteemed business people she knows (again); the little country dive she likes to eat at; the highly esteemed business people she knows (AGAIN!) I took a chance and ask why she wanted this job. "I was bored." Really?

My assessment of KI to date:
Cognitive skills - suck
Problem solving - suck
People skills - suck
Time management - suck
Name dropping - awesome. Now turn those "relationships" to revenue and I'll change the suck status on the prior four to something nicer.

Besides, my assessment of me keeping up with a blog - sucks. But I can change that!