Mediator

I worked a lot last week. I actually managed to get 8 billable hours out of both Tuesday and Wednesday. That's billable hours, meaning time I'm actually working, not cooking or eating or on the phone with anyone (other than the one paying me). It doesn't include breaks or walking to the mailbox or checking email or checking to see what my cat is yelling about. It's not time that I spend distracted or thinking and looking out the window unless I'm thinking about something directly related to what I'm being paid to do.

It takes me a minimum of ten hours to work eight and often takes me as many as eleven or twelve. I'm actually pretty good at time tracking. I'm actually very honest about my time and if anything, I estimate in the client's favor. Especially my main client because I appreciate the regular work so much and the fair pay I get from him.

But it can be weird. Thursday I worked at his house, helping him with some random things like turning his answering machine back on because he somehow turned it off and can't figure the thing out. I helped him put photos of him on his yahoo personal profile. I spent much of the day helping him re-arrange his office, disconnecting all the computer stuff and re-connecting it after the move. Then, I spent the last hour mediating an argument between him and his live-in renter/worker.

She's doing many of the things he's tried to get me to do but I've ignored or avoided.... Living there, for one thing, he was trying to rent part of his house to me. She's paying his bills, and even cooking and cleaning for him.

I'm so fucking happy I didn't let myself get sucked into all that work. I'm smart for keeping at just doing the website, computer, and technical stuff.

But mediation between two people with terrible communication skills? How did I get that job?

They both like to talk for a long time and interrupt others but neither likes to be interrupted. It was horrible. It came to them yelling. I think she may have cried. He used me as an example several times of how she should be. I was stuck in the middle, but instead of taking sides, instead of taking anything personally or getting involved, I stood there patiently as long as possible and then said a few honest things about both of them. I said some things about how I have managed to work for the guy for so long. I think I saved her job since he was ready to fire her, and they began to communicate like adults.

He's in his 50's and she in her 40's... both are Buddhists/Hindus, do yoga and meditate but I rarely see so much ego and impatience. It really made me feel like I've come a long way in recent years. Me, and the people I like to surround myself with.

But I owe part of that to working for him. He's been a great lesson in Zen: surrendering myself to the job and the insane demands of the boss and enjoying it peacefully. I'm paid hourly, so couldn't care less. It was difficult to let go of my personal need for control, my ego that says I know better and don't need to be micromanaged, my impatience, and distaste for working with someone so insane. But I've worked for a lot of people and they've all been insane, egotistical, freaks. I rather be micromanaged and accomplish something cool than to be let loose into the machine and feel directionless and pointless.

He actually doesn't micromanage me anymore and we have a good relationship. He fed me lunch Thursday and we sat in papasan chairs, eating kichari, watching the rain and the wind beat the bamboo growing in his backyard. We talked sometimes or just sat quietly and then got back to work.

I have to work at his house again tomorrow.

Posted by Ari at 22:34:03

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