I ♥ organisation
Monday, 19 June, 2006
I had a thought back in the dim dark recesses of this year's Easter long weekend that good organisation can actually be a loving thing. It seems to me that less and less people are on the ball with organisation—there are less and less people out there who are structured and methodical and who think like administrative assistants. My perspective might be skewed on this because of all my years of working as administrative assistant, working with other administrative assistants, but it seems to me that the administrative assistant—particularly the good administrative assistant—is a rare breed indeed. Or maybe it's just that I tend to make friends with spontaneous unstructured people who have trouble managing their diaries ... I don't know. Probably not.
Anyway, I was thinking that admin-type people (as I will hereafter call them) are quite valuable people to have around because they can do the things that spontaneous unstructured (and I'm tempted to say “arty” people) can't do or aren't very good at. (Reflecting upon all this, I realised that I'm kind of lucky and a bit odd in that I've got a healthy dose of both creativity and orderliness which ought to combine together to make me into the greatest and most prolific artist the world has ever known [eh heheheh ... back to the blog post ...]). Admin-type people can certainly make life run smoother for others. They can solve problems and resolve issues. They can free up others to do other things.
In Ben's first year of MTS, he was in charge of sending out the ECU weekly email news. Every week he'd get back a bunch of people saying they didn't want to be on this list and could he please unsubscribe them? And then he'd have to go through the database, find them and take them off. Understandably, he got a bit fed up with this and spent the summer between Year 1 and Year 2 of MTS building a MySQL database and PHP website with in-built security so that staff could create email lists (e.g. ECU all, staff only, Arts faculty only, Mission committee only, etc.), and students could unsubscribe themselves and update their own contact details, thus saving Ben (and the rest of the staff team) plenty of time. Plus the site had the capacity to act as an information repository so that staff wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel every time they wanted to do something that had already been done before. (Of course, these things only work when people use them. I suspect no one's been using the information repository.)
But returning to the beginning of my post, how can organisation be loving?
- It gives people realistic expectations: If you tell people that your meeting will go from 6 pm to 8 pm, they can work the rest of what they're doing around that. It's helpful for people to know stuff like how much stuff will cost, what they should bring, what they should expect, what they need to prepare, etc. I arrived at a weekend camp once to find that there wasn't going to be accommodation for married couples. This was quite annoying as I'd only packed one queen-sized sheet, one doona and one tube of toothpaste for the two of us.
- It doesn't encroach or presume on others: A friend told me once that a staff member at her church was always holding meetings that went for hours and hours. People would get up to leave and he would say things like, “Before you go, let's just talk about ...” and the meeting would go on for another 40 minutes. I realise that it's good for people to be committed to church but at the same time congregation members have other responsibilities that they have to attend to and surely with a bit of preparation this particular staff member could have accomplished what he wanted to do in the meeting without it dragging on and on.
- It frees non-admin type people to do other things: Specifically, things that they're good at which aren't admin.
- It helps get things done or make things happen: It's quite exciting when talk turns into action and you actually start to see stuff happening! One of the guys from the Christian Comics Corroboree is organising an anthology of Christian comics, including stuff arising from the workshop. He's aiming to get it out in time for Supanova. I'm so looking forward to seeing the completed publication!
- It motivates others to do stuff: If the guy I mentioned above hadn't been so enthusiastic about getting stuff happening, I wonder whether the rest of us would be as productive or as enthusiastic. It seems to me that seeing stuff happen just gives people a boost—it pushes them to want to do stuff themselves.
- It helps others take responsibility: Good organisation will engineer things so that they do not fall on just one set of shoulders. Delegation is really one of the key tools of MTS, and sharing responsibilities will help reduce stress as each person only has their little area to take care of instead of a million different things that need tending to.
- It helps to train other people: Sharing the responsibility means that others can have a go at doing things they wouldn't normally do. Sometimes it's training on the job and you learn as you go. Sometimes you can work alongside somebody else so they can learn from you. It takes extra time because obviously it's easier just to do it all yourself, but the pay off is that next time you have someone who knows what they're doing and can run with any task you give them.
Obviously any kind of organising needs to allow for flexibility and spontaneity should the unforeseen happen. That's a trick I haven't quite learnt yet. But in the toss-up between structuredness and unstructuredness, I would lean more towards structuredness as the better way of loving your neighbour.
However, I'm not an unstructured person. Perhaps my unstructured spontaneous brothers and sisters have their own thoughts on how unstructuredness can be loving?
Current:
seen: Moon 15/10/2009
read: The Incredibles 11/10/2009
seen: She's the Man 05/10/2009
read: I Kill Giants (Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura) 04/10/2009
read: Astro City The Dark Ages Book 1: Brothers and Other Strangers (Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and Alex Ross) 04/10/2009
seen: Children of Men 02/10/2009
seen: Metric (The Metro) 30/09/2009
seen: 500 Days of Summer 25/09/2009
seen: The September Issue 18/09/2009
seen: Gilmore Girls: Season 1 17/09/2009
read: Flight (Volume 1) (edited by Kazu Kibuishi) 16/09/2009
seen: Ponyo 11/09/2009
read: Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert) 05/09/2009
heard: Aimee Mann (Enmore Theatre) 04/09/2009
heard: Ben Folds Solo (Opera House) 31/08/2009
read: Phonogram: Rue Britannia (Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie) 26/08/2009
seen: Northanger Abbey 20/08/2009
read: The Princess Diaries (Meg Cabot) 18/08/2009
seen: The Phantom of the Opera 17/08/2009
seen: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 10/08/2009
seen: District 9 10/08/2009
read: Shortcomings (Adrian Tomine) 02/08/2009
read: AIR Volume 1: Letters from Lost Countries (Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker) 28/07/2009
seen: Persepolis 25/07/2009
seen: Ghost Town 25/07/2009
heard: Gutter Twins (Seymour Centre) 23/07/2009
seen: Coco Avant Chanel 20/07/2009
seen: Gutenberg! The Musical (Seymour Centre) 16/07/2009
seen: So You Think You Can Dance? Australia Live Tour (Sydney Entertainment Centre) 11/07/2009
seen: Every Little Step 07/07/2009
seen: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen 03/07/2009
seen: Synecdoche, New York 30/06/2009
seen: Charlie's Angels 27/06/2009
seen: Penelope 26/06/2009
seen: Coraline 10/06/2009
seen: The Sky Crawlers 08/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Ultimatum 07/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Supremacy 07/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Identity 06/06/2009
seen: Stick it 05/06/2009
Comment:
@Sarah: Thanks for the tip RE Australian Breastfeeding Association! I never would have thought to look there. Ditto KMart: I was wondering if they did since Target don’t.
@Rae: Thanks for the tip! I’ll check it out.
@Little Rachel: Oh, I’ll definitely be up for visitors! I may not be very good company (brain-dead, etc.) but I’ll certainly appreciate visits!
@Rachel C: CONGRATS!!! So excited for you 
Yours sounds like a good philosophy. One day I shall have to blog about Outliers!
@CafeDave: Thanks for the tip!
@Elissa: Thanks for your kind words! It makes me happy that you and Dave were excited we were getting married! Thanks also for the prayers!
@Elsie: There are lots of other lovely things I could have said about you, but let’s not overload my readers, shall we? ;P
Aww...thanks for the lovely things you said about me! I enjoyed reading this post (as I do with all yours). xo
Congratulations to you both. I know you will be such wonderful parents. You sound WAY too sensible! 
(Sorry to read that there were some unusual comments made about your marriage! We thought it was exciting. We still have a lovely photo of you & Ben in our lovely box of special memories. (I was only 22 when married & I was 30 when we had Bonnie...)
Everyone is different! I nodded through your post. SO many people feel the curious need to share their “horror stories” which is just dreadful. I remember complaining to David who said - go find people who are positive & listen to them. Great advice, which I did. Those people still have a big place in my heart because their advice was honest & gentle.
Bless you & Ben & the little Peanut. We pray all goes smoothly over the coming weeks/months ahead. We sometimes forget what a precious little miracle life really is…
Another book from the dad’s perspective I found helpful was From here to paternity - it’s an Australian book, and was followed up with a blog.
Hi!
I’m so excited for you reading your blog about being pregnant I am 13 weeks pregnant with #2.
You’re so right about all the pessimism “advice” that you get. I got so mad about it but never found a good response. I’ve had such joy right from day one with E that I just don’t want to buy into the negativity (I’m sure kids pick up on it too!).
My philosophy was/is to be a relaxed mum and from that figure out what was best for my baby/child. Get advice when you’re not sure on things or want to know how other people approached things, read books (loved Outliers!) that aren’t all about parenting… but just enjoy.
In a sample size of one to date, I’ve had such a happy, chilled out son right from day one. People say all the craziest advice… glad you don’t do guilt
With love,
R
Thanks so much for writing more! I love hearing how you’re going and all your thoughts.
After watching my sister I agree with you that it seems the first six months are perhaps the hardest. She got quite lonely at home all day; weekends were all right because then her husband was around but it’s just as you say… one feed ends then the next begins! If you are accepting visitors during this period then I hope to use some RDOs to come have grown-up conversations!
The book review of The Second Nine Months makes me want to read it now!
Names: We have one girl name that we both like and no boy names that we agree on. But they are also top-secret… so if anyone else uses them we can’t accuse them of theft! 
Yay Peanut, keep on growing, can’t wait to meet you!
Hello! Thanks for sharing
I loved reading your pregnancy update! I am glad to hear that things are all going pretty well, and I hope the rest of your 2nd trimester is as good.
I just wanted to add, that some other blokes decided that there was not much for the fathers-t0-be, and made a couple of DVD’s just for expectant dads. They are called ‘Being Dad’and i think they are available at big W. I have both though, if you would like me to send them!
Just wanted to wish you all the best!
Love
Rae
re: gluten: no idea!! I didn’t have to go on that diet - it was probably related to the test I didn’t do.
At the risk of adding to your list of advice:
Re: maternity bras - because I’m big I had to look hard for something nice in my size and discovered the Australian Breastfeeding Association. They have a massive range online and most are (dare I say it) sexy.
Re: maternity clothes - Kmart have a nice range of basic stuff.. I only found out towards the end of pregnancy and I would have liked to know earlier!
Re: Parenting classes - if you’re at RPA you can just ring the midwives section (they’ll put you through) and ask directly.
Congratulations again
Don’t laminate your ultrasound picture That is my advice.
Congratulations! This is so fantastic!
Thanks so much for sharing all of this… people swap engagement stories but rarely pregnancy stories! And it’s kind of similar don’t you think, all this excitement leading up to a big day!
So happy for you guys! Actually never been more excited for anyone except my sister! I think it’s because I think that you will both be amazing parents and love the idea that someone could grow up in your family.
Looking forward to many more posts on the topic.
Lovely news, Karen.
Thanks everyone! I will be sure to ask for help when I need it!
Great pic!! Peanut is cute! :D
Praying for you all!
xx
:D
I had a similar sort of morning sickness.. except I threw up! I’m suitably impressed that you coped OS.. that must have been tough.
It sounds like you’re doing marvelously otherwise!
Book recommendation on something a bit less technical and a bit more human: ‘Birth’ http://www.birthnet.com.au/
Praise be to God indeed! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
Congratulations, Beilharzen! Welcome to the slightly-bewildering world of pregnancy (and birth...and children...). God has blessed you greatly with this new life. We’ll be praying for Peanut’s growth and development, and for you guys as you prepare.
I’m sure you’re surrounded by baby veterans, but always happy to help with books/advice/recommendations/listening.
B&L;
Excellent job Karen! You SHOULD be pleased with yourself!
Have you discovered http://www.ravelry.com ? It is an excellent site with thousands of free patterns in its database, lots of support, tips, forums etc and of course - friends like me? Look me up when you get there - fionag77
PS Are you just wearing a bulky dress or are you sporting a bump under that dress?
oooh.... It’s done and it looks great on you! xxx
Well done on all that hard work! It looks great and will be very snuggly come winter!
Thanks for letting me know, Timo!
Hi there,
Thanks for pointing out the shortcoming on our website. I’ll pass it on to my colleagues and hopefully it will be rectified soon.
The documentary at Fashioning Now was by Holly Kaye-Smith; I’d be more than happy to put you in touch with her if you’d like.
Again, thanks for the comment, much appreciate it!
Kind regards,
Timo Rissanen
Thanks Mark! Much appreciated!
Rich survey, Karen. Particularly I was struck by the notion of Jesus being clothed with our sins. I heard recently somebody suggest the crown of thorns was a kings crown but it was made of the symbol of the curse in the Garden - thorns. I would like to read your thoughts about Joseph’s coat of many colours.
Looking forward to the next installment. Regards,Mark
It is lovely - and looks great on you.
You’ve made me want to read it - though I may need an interpreter at times!
Well done with the sewing!
I think it looks good - very relaxed and spring-y.
Hey Sandra! Thanks for the tip! I read it yesterday, but I struggled a bit because Lewis doesn’t start from the Bible. I wasn’t convinced by his argument. What did you think?
Interesting post Karen - Thanks
I like the ending too! :D
xxx
Fantastic post, Karen. Just great. Thanks!
Thanks Bec! Eternal life just keeps getting better and better ...
I do like the way you ended this post - excellent thought.
Personally I don’t feel that way. Maybe that’s something you should blog about?
Wow. Lots of things to pick up on there. It’s been interesting to see the changes to your blog these last 6-12 months: Twitter is certainly more immediate, but are there (gasp) downsides to having its constant buzz in the ear?
Is our (already fractured) ability to concentrate on a single relationship at a time further jeapordised by the regular buzz of tweetdeck (and worse yet, by the imagined sense of loss that goes with being off the grid)?
Or am I just projecting my own fears?
Hi Karen!
If you’re still thinking about this… I just read CS Lewis’s essay “Learning in War-time” which exactly addresses this issue (ie. how can we justify cultural & aesthetic pursuits when people are going to hell around us?). Have you read it? i’d be interested to hear what you think..
(i have it in his little volume “Transposition and other Addresses”, but it’s easily findable online)
I’m doing my own series on the trials and tribulations of writing on my own blog here http://sedshed.blogspot.com/search/label/From%20Head%20to%20Hand
It’s coming along slowly
Coincidentily, I stumbled upon the above Phonogram vs. the Fans cover when digging around for ID concepts for Salt. A disturbingly brilliant image.
Thanks Karen. At the very least, this post gives some context to your myriad of phonogram tweets. At best, it has reinvigorated my stagnated appreciation of comics.
Seriously, though 4,549 words. Is that the best you can do? I say, longer!
Blinks:
Why non-religious parents are starting to home school their children. Problems with American public schools. New models for education that will work (instead of just rote learning and teaching things to kids earlier).
Maybe discomfort is better for writing.
Showing her daughter that women are great by doing tours and walking in the footsteps of famous women. I like that this article is about engagement.
Jordan White, editor for Marvel, answers questions.
Jamie McKelvie answers questions.
Vision therapy as a treatment for ADHD, learning disabilities and even autism. The scientific community's opinion. The results of concentrated therapy.
Kieron Gillen on Phonogram, Siege, Ares, Loki and his collaborative relationship with Jamie McKelvie.
Superheroes and how they have changed the way we see urban landscape. Their attraction to New York.
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Comments
good admin is a blessing, bad admin is definitely a curse; anytime a system becomes an entity in itself, it becomes more and more unloving - when people need to slot into the way a system works, instead of a system working for the people.
i’ve only really ever managed to organise myself well. i’m not good at organisation of others.
but for your last question i have this reflection - unstructuredness leaves room for love. it leaves room for the ‘I’ve got the next 16 hours free to help you do X’, it leaves room for responding to the unstructured chaos of life with acts of love that haven’t been set up in advance.
Hey Karen, I reckon you’re definitly right. But I also agree with Seamus, there has to be room for love. I have been terribly disorganised but am getting better, and I can see the benefits of being better organised. (I read an awesome book called Getting Things Done which was really helpful).
cheers,
Bron.
True—I should have clarified my thoughts by commenting on the sliding scale from disorganised to down-to-the-last-minute organisation. It’s good to have a balance as Seamus points out, like planning 16 free hours for unstructuredness. Being too structured means less flexibility and therefore less opportunities to fit things around other people and love them.
Yes, that’s true that structuredness is important. I would argue that good organisation means that you learn to say yes, and no, appropriately. And also when something unforeseen, unexpected, unknown happens, you know what you’re supposed to be doing, how to contact the person you’re supposed to be doing it with, so that you can attend to the other emergency.
I love being organised. In fact, a symptom of my depression is that my life, my diary and my room turn to cosmic disorder, and leave me feeling out of control.
That being said, being of the womb of one who cannot stomach change or lack of organisation, I need to be careful to be tolerant of those who aren’t so organised!!! Having a mobile, and thence them being able to contact me, helps hugely with my patience!!!
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