I thought keeping a timesheet tracking 30 second intervals was ridiculous until I discovered how much more productive I have become. It’s amazing. I think I’m so focussed that I’m finding that I have completed tasks that I can’t even remember doing.
I’ve spoken to the others on the team and nobody else was asked to keep a timesheet. But the instructions sent to me were quite clear. I won’t be the one on the firing line come the next restructure. Bring it on!
I’ve always loved stories of time travel. Doctor Who, Bill and Ted, Marty McFly. They were my heroes. Imagine having a time machine and travelling back to see the dinosaurs or forwards to a shiny future!
That was the dream. The truth is a lot less fun.
“Unless you sign up for this, you’re out the door.”
Yeah, I’ve got a mortgage and a kid on the way. I can’t afford that.
“We need this yesterday!”
That’s what they always say, but there are only so many hours in a day.
There used to be only so many hours in a day.
Turns out that management go hold of the time machine and thought of a way to squeeze more productivity out of workers. Send us back in time now so we can put twice the effort into our work before.
“Never, ever, meet yourself.”
I knew that rule from the stories. But how to do it?
The timesheet. When you’re sleeping, I’m there. When you are off at lunch, I’m there. When you are pissing in the bathroom, I’m there. I’m there at your desk doing your work.
Who gave you the instructions to use a timesheet?
That was me.
I am you and you are me. You just don’t know it yet.