The Best Breakfast in the World

Yesterday was a bad day at work. Usually a calm person, by the end of the day, my emotions were getting the best of me and I was using my resources (wonderful colleagues/friends) to vent and keep from completely imploding. People were predictably supportive, encouraging, patient. The 10-hour day closed with me going home to get some distance and start over.

This morning I was determined to hunker down and get many of my tasks off my desk, completed and crossed off my list. I could no longer stomach external factors slowing my own progress and success. I knew that this was going to be the day I would have to close my office door.

It may sound like a small detail, but it isn't. We have such a small cast of characters that everyone is very openly in everyone else's business. The few of us who have offices, always have our doors open. There's an unspoken pattern that the only time for closed doors is in the interest of a conference call on speaker phone, so as not to annoy others, and when there is a delicate matter to discuss, usually bad news of some kind. In the past, when discussing the amount of work on my desk, Main Boss has suggested that I close my door and just not take calls or interruptions. I know he means well, allowing me to isolate myself, but I see it as an unrealistic strategy. The fact is, every department is in some way connected to and dependent on the work that I do. Sales wants to know if we're on schedule for shipments. Shipping often relays info about incoming or outgoing deliveries or shortages. Production often needs to reconcile discrepancies in inventory. Accounting needs my signature or has external mail to disseminate. Phone calls and emails just add to the endless ways I get side-tracked and detoured on a daily basis. I know that I need to be accessible.

But this morning, I had made up my mind. I had to put my own responsibilities first, get a few projects done, and get back ahead of the game instead of working in panic mode. I was closing my door. I still felt bad doing it, thinking that everyone would wonder what was wrong, so I just called out, "I love you all, I just have a lot to do today, so I'm closing the door." This made everyone chuckle and I knew we'd be alright.

I got started, the bitterness of the day before still hoovering over my mood. Just looking at some of my files brought up irritations as I attacked them. I turned on the iPod to listen for something calming, and went about my work.

15 minutes into my work day, I got a knock at the door. Yep. This is how it was going to be. 7:15, interruption number one. I looked up and saw through the glass wall panel that it was the lab guy who I consider a friend and had been part of my support system the day before. I waved him in. He walked in, set an aluminum foil covered plate on my desk and walked back out, closing the door behind him. I smiled and thanked him, telling him to hold on while I grabbed one muffin or whatever was under there and gave him back the plate. We often show up with a box of donuts, croissants, cookies or treats of any kind to share with everyone in the kitchen. I assumed this was the same except that I noticed that the plate was hot in my hands. He was long gone by the time I'd managed to pry the aluminum off, to find the most incredible surprise:

Remember this?: Foodie on a Mission

Well, under all that foil was a great big plate of prosciutto and goat cheese omelet with rosemary potatoes. Still hot from the stove. I was absolutely flabbergasted. And laughing. I'd mentioned my obsession with this particular breakfast enough times that it was a running joke. Once in a while I'd pipe up with, "I could really use a prosciutto and goat cheese omelet with rosemary potatoes right now." I didn't think anyone was paying attention, and that it was just a source of humor. Turns out, as I came out of my office to thank him and answer questions about, "Hey, what did he give you?" that another colleague had also written the exact menu on a sticky note and hidden it under her keyboard, hoping to some day come across the establishment that could finally make that happen for me.

Everyone thought it was a really cool thing to do, as did I, thanking him, not just for the amazing amount of thought, effort, and care that went into this gift, but for turning my mood completely around and reminding me that I really do work with some great people.

I was encouraged by everyone to enjoy my breakfast since the only real boss that would be in that day wasn't due for another couple of hours. So, for the rest of the morning, I worked through files and munched on the best breakfast in the world.

I did spend the rest of the day with the door closed, but the usual crowd came by on and off, coming in and chatting or looking out my window, then leaving again and closing the door behind them. The dynamic is lovely. They knew the closed door wasn't for them, that they were welcomed into my office always, and felt free to let themselves in with a quick knock. I did get much done, compared to the day prior.

But mostly, I was reminded that I have people on my side just as much as I am on their side and that we all want very much to be successful at what we do and like to work together to make that happen. And that we appreciate each other. Today I felt appreciated.