When Customer Service Makes You Disappear

So I sat down quietly on Tuesday morning to do the next installment of the Career series. The phone rang.

Right now, it's Sunday morning at 12:34 a.m. Eastern Time and the first chance I've had to open up the software to get back in touch with our community here at All Things Workplace

What happened?

Well, it's been what you might call a consultant's dream/nightmare. Suddenly, it was important to take action immediately on projects ranging from 360 feedback to talent management to designing a new process for a global system. In the midst of that, a call came in from what turned out to be a new client.

The result: Four consecutive 15-hour days in different locations interspersed with a 4 a.m. teleconference to accommodate global participants followed by a surprise visit from out-of-town friends and then a dinner to celebrate another couple's wedding anniversary.

Hey, it's all good. But I got very, very antsy the longer I felt out-of-touch with the daily interaction at All Things Workplace.

The relationships here are every bit as genuine and real as those in the brick-and-mortar world and I really missed the daily contact and learning. If you commented and wondered what happened, I was working (contrary to much popular belief about consultants:-)

Before the phone rings again I'm headed toward the comment boxes to pick up where we left off, then add the next Career post (along with some things I think I learned from the various engagements this week).

Thanks for continuing to weigh in. . .it's good to be back.

Comments

[Miki]

Hey Steve, glad to know that it's good stuff that's keeping you off the streets and out of the bars!

Work smart and prosper:)

[Steve Roesler]

Thanks, Miki,

When last spotted, I was definitely off the streets. . .

[Ryan]

Sounds like a hectic schedule. Do you feel completely satisfied and fulfilled?

Ryan
http://www.johnassaraf.com/challenge.php?s=hiac2008

[Steve Roesler]

Ryan,

I was wondering who would be the first to dive in with that question.

The answer is emphatically "yes." I'm doing exactly what I set out to do with my business and the range of engagements couldn't be more satisfying.

[Nancy Lewis]

I just figured you were taking a long overdue break...and I tried so hard to be a brave and patient girl...kept telling myself that you'd be back with your usual brilliance. Whew.

[Steve Roesler]

Very kind, Nancy.

Naturally as soon as I "got back," another whole project unfolded. Isn't that how things usually go?

I do appreciate the encouragement and am working on a few posts right now.

With thanks. . .