Knock Knock. Anybody Home?
I found that there was a company near my home that works with Black Soldier Flies.
I'm a sucker for insects and decided to check it out.
It appeared abandoned.
Anyway, as my overthinking brain operates, I had spent quite a bit of time researching the company.
Come the beginning of the next week I decided to see if anyone was there.
There seemed to be just 2 cars first thing Monday morning.
So, I ventured to the front door and rung the bell.
A young man came downstairs;
"Yes?"
"Do you have Black Soldier Flies here?"
He was baffled. Trying to process my question as there were no signs about what this business entailed.
"Yes, how did you find it?"
I blabbed a heap of information on how I found the business. He was trying to keep up with all the things I was saying. Fortunately, he had no trouble accepting my babbling.
He suggested we trade phone numbers and that he will give me a call later.
Ok.
Coffee and Contradiction
We did indeed meet up for a coffee.
He asked me lots of questions about how I found the business, what my motivations were, my experience in the field, and what my work status was etc.
I, in turn, had questions about their BSF (Black Soldier Fly) business, the bottle-necks, the issues I knew about, and how he overcomes those issues.
Anyway, he suggested that he might need people in July (this was April) and that he would let me know if anything comes up.
I felt that I had not been consistent in my answering as to my availability, my future plans, * was*answering one way, then contradicting myself several times.
I tend to do this when speaking about Future vagueries.
My adaptability to circumstances and my motivations can somes come across as lacking sincerity.
To me, if I was the listener to my answers, I would be think I was full of baloney. That I was just saying what he wanted to hear.
But, the answer(s) was(were) honest, as when it comes to the Future I am uncertain on how things twist and turn...
So, we ended it there. July came and went without any further contact.
October arrived and out of the blue I receive a phone call from the BSF guy.
"Hey, a person is going on leave for a month, are you available?"
Matter of fact, I am.
Although, I have worked within the industry, the methods are very different.
Also, my fitness level needs time to adapt to a labouring role.
Battered and Bruised
I am a slow-learner. So, it takes me a while to get back into the swing of things.
Even things that I have done a million times require time to get back on track.
I see it as a good sign if I am literally bruised, exhausted and sore.
Also, the business is smelly which just ensures you need a nice shower at the end of the day.
I made many novice mistakes which really pains me.
Even basic tasks are daugnting until my body and brain finally get used to the routine.
But once I get back into my groove I become a tempered sword - stronger and stronger after each reforging.
Some Habits Die Hard
I wanted to have less care in this role. Just turn up, do the tasks required, go home.
Then I start finding myself reviewing the processes. Setting up challenges for myself. Collaborating with colleagues to ensure we are all getting the work done... and so on.
Reviewing the processes
My brain starts running through the processes at night.
Then the next morning it tells me that we should do it a different way.
I tell the boss my idea. He knows I am a smarty pants so his compliments are always back handed.
"That's a good idea. I find 10% of what you say can be helpful." Smirking to himself having won a point with that comment.
Anyway, he changes the process and the senior employees implement it. Then I smirk to myself when they tell me the new process and how to do it.
Setting up Challenges
I am a big fan of Time & Motion when it comes to processes.
How long a task should take and how can we minimise the Actions to be more efficient.
Especially, with my slow-learning I need to go from feeling negative to becoming a positive.
For example, jumping on a sit down forklift after 25 years was a massive change. I was used to a stand up forklift. (While also not having driven any forklift for a few years).
So, looking like a noob, making some small errors and taking way longer than I should.
My goal then became to get used to the turning circle, the clutch brake, the process and timing.
With each day I started becoming more proficient.
Then learning to lift properly again. I used to manouvere 40kg boxes off and onto pallet stacks with ease by myself. It has taken a few weeks as I start to apply proper leverage lifts to get heavy items to where I want them to be without straining myself.
Collaborating with Colleagues
I find people very difficult. Especially, if their motivations for working are very different to mine.
I had to console some who were concerned that I was replacing the person I was covering for.
First, they berated me for not being skilled enough. Then, they berated me for going beyond what they wanted me to be.
So, when the collegue returned from holidays, he came up to me asking all the When/Where/Why's.
I reassured him that I was not taking his job. If there wasn't enough work then I would volunteer to go home. He was happy with that. I demonstrated this to him when there were a couple of quieter days & I did go home.
Then I found out things that were going on in their World.
They are a different Culture and so their bubble did not translate into the Boss's bubble.
So, once they embraced me into their bubble, I was then able to convey to the Boss some things that they didn't know how to tell him.
For example, 2 others were planning to go on Leave. So, I told them they should tell the boss ASAP as they were in error to think it could jeopodise their employment.
Fortunately, they told the Boss, who then told me he'd need me to stay on for a couple more months.
Also, because they see me talk directly, and casually, to the Boss, they try to use me for their ends.
This is not the first time I've encountered this in my working life.
So, the way I deal with it is to say it loudly and openly in front of the Boss and them. (That is if the topic is beneficial to all).
This makes sure that they don't try and use me as a tool.
However, the problem that I then create is my accessibility.
Accessibility
Ok, I will end with this - "Issue" - that I have.
When I am at work I prefer to be busy. Also, I like to get involved with what is going on to avoid me shutting myself off.
So, when Sales asks for help, I say Yes.
Production, Yes.
Operations, Yes.
Boss, Yes.
Cleaning, Yes.
Customer, Yes.
Delivery guy, Yes.
Which then causes some grief when different areas call dibbs on me. Or they feel that I belong to them.
This can be tough as ultimately there are several processes during the day that must be done.
Any "extra" assistance I can only do between processes or if there is a gap between different processes.
So, here I am with potentially another 3 months of work ahead of me.
It feels good to get my fitness level back up and to get my hands dirty again.