Monday, August 23, 2010

The Office

I had to move a cowhide sofa with the Patrick Nagel print throw pillows to put my bike there.  That's a joke.  I actually don't have any Patrick Nagel print throw pillows.  Or a cowhide sofa.

It's official - I no longer work from home.  Last Thursday and Friday we moved into an office space in Huntington Beach.  Friday afternoon the Internet and phones went in.  Today was our first full day in the new place.  And it's a pretty cool space.  We've got a small front room we'll use for samples and an open floor plan everywhere else with high ceilings and a roll up door that lets in the ocean breeze.

I say "we" and "our" because I've started hiring. Since last October, I've worked for a Canadian based music apparel company and I was tasked with opening up the US market.  For awhile, it was easy to handle everything myself and use the central services in Vancouver for administration.  But it's got to the point where that isn't working anymore so we are putting some people in place in the US.  Sadly, California's unemployment rate is currently at 12.2%.  But that does make for some quality people looking for work and I think we'll end up with a good staff.

Though I'm going to miss lounging around in my boxer shorts all day, I think it will be cool to get up and go someplace to work again.  I'll get more done and I'll have someone besides the dogs to talk to.  Though the last time I did this it ended in disaster, there are some key differences.  I'm not the ultimate boss as I still report to HQ in Vancouver.  That will be nice.  And it will only be 4 people in 800 square feet, not 30 people in 20,000 square feet.  That will be nice too - low key, chill and theoretically much easier to manage.

I had to unpack a few boxes of "personal office" type stuff that had been stacked in the corner of my garage for the last two years.  To be honest, I was a little worried about how that would go - I really didn't want seeing a bunch of this stuff to trigger bad memories.  In the end, it didn't.  My biggest problem was cleaning two years of dust off of everything without sneezing.

 View from my desk.  I still need to get a power strip so I can plug the external monitor in.

I don't think the move is going to affect my training schedule too much.  Due to the lack of a shower, lunch time runs are now out of the question.  But I bought a case of wet naps and I'm hoping that will be good enough to clean up after a bike ride.  Ultimately, whether or not this plan works will be up to the staff and not me.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

I'm going to try out a new cycling route tomorrow.  It's a 20 mile loop that isn't too much different than what I would do from home, except the PCH portion is farther north into Long Beach and Seal Beach.  But it's still fairly traffic signal free and should be doable in an hour.

Possibly the best part of the deal is that our street is named Triton lane.  Gotta love Greek mythology.  It also sounds kind of tough.  There is a Boeing plant across the street where parts of Skylab (remember that?) where built.  Yes, I'm a bit of a space dork.

15 comments:

FLATOUT JIM said...

Cool new office.

I remember Skylab. A couple of idiots from here tried to pass off a piece of an old tailpipe from a broken down truck as wreakage. I don't think NASA bought their story.

KovasP said...

I don't envy you returning to an office job, however, I do understand the benefits of in teracting with adults rather than dogs and children. Hoping the lunchtime bike rides work out for you. Definitely should be an interview question: So what would you think if your boss rolled in hot and weaty after a noontime ride?"

Barbie said...

Enjoy returning to office. Sounds like you are already sorting how out how things will work between business and pleasure.

Matty O said...

I get a lot more done in the office than I do at home. That being said I also have a much better demeaner interacting with the other employees during the day than being couped up in my home all day.

I do like my dogs though, and they like when I am home because they always bring me gifts while I work... bones, de-fluffed toys (they leave the stuffing strewn about the house for me).

This is huge. Good job man, I hope that things work out for you. Good luck acclimating to a new training schedule too, that may be the hardest part about this.

Unknown said...

I've heard of these "office" things that people go to do work? Very interesting! So it looks like you are the Michael Scott of this office. so we should be expecting many stories about the various hijinks that occur.

Good luck with the new diggs and good luck with finding some quality staff!

skierz said...

If you are the boss, you are allowed to be a little sweaty when you come back from lunch! Who knows you may inspire an office full of triathletes! Congrats on gorwing the business!

Big Clyde said...

Looks like a good fit for you. Enjoy it.

Emz said...

love the office.

YAY for the business!

Lindsay said...

Glad business is good! A new office is exciting, though you shouldve planned better and found a space with a shower!

The Green Girl said...

I sincerely hope the new office doesn't put a damper on the training schedule!

Unknown said...

Have fun settling into your new office.

If Baby Wipes are good enough for NASA and their astronauts, they are good enough for lunch runs. I use them at school when I find time to escape.

RockStarTri said...

Good luck with the new space!

ajh said...

Good luck and enjoy the new space.

Glenn Jones said...

Hmm. I'm busy winding down a business as we speak. What are you looking for? I'm tied in with a couple of networking groups. I can keep my eyes open for you....

Kelsey: the Blonde Bullet said...

Congrats on the new space! That's awesome. I'm actually very jealous. Working from home has its perks, but I feel I'd be happier (and more productive) in an office. Then again, if my office was in Huntington Beach, I probably would get even less done that I do now. So good luck with that :) Sounds like THE LIFE!

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