The First Week (Almost Done)

It is Thursday night and there is one more day left in the work week. First week of the new job and I must say that it seems to be going well. The mapping process is very different from what I am used - much more structured and formal - and most of the work is research and revision of existing maps. The actual mapping work would probably bore after a while but the cartographers who do it have been doing it for 9 to 22 years. Amazing, really. They are good at what they do - they work hard and are focused. A little introverted but really - does that matter? They get the job done.

I don’t get to do any mapping myself but I can see that I will certainly be able to influence what goes on. It is satisfying to have one’s own group that one is responsible for and can shape. The boss looks upon me as the resident expert - daunting, perhaps, but also satisfying. It might be too early to judge it as a success but I’m feeling good about it. Even my worries about being a good manager have diminished. I think I know what I need to do. Once I start feeling very comfortable and secure, I tend to relax. That is when I start making mis-steps that can be costly. I need to watch out for that.

The commute is long. It took about 1 hour and 40 minutes one day but then I left at 7 AM. The next day I left an hour earlier and saved 20 minutes. So that is what I’m doing now. Audio books and a new and interesting job make the time pass quickly.

Once again, I can’t say enough about how exciting it is to be part of a company whose focus is maps. Maps, maps, maps. That is what it is all about. The Chief Operating Officer from the US was in today and it was a pleasure to hear him talk about the company, changes in the industry and the directions the company is headed. And then to think that I can be a significant part of that. (And also to hear that the boss has spoken highly of me - already!)

A happy camper? Definitely this week!

The First Day

As expected, the first day wasn’t too bad. Much talking to one person and then the next, finding out how the company ticks and what the processes are. My tendency is to feel like I’m not doing anything because I’m not sitting at a desk making maps or writing documents. But I soppose this is the life of the manager. It seems like a good work environment. I feel that it will only be more challenging from now on in. And I feel like I’m still fooling them and will be found out sooner or later. “Hey, you can’t do this job! What were we thinking?”

But maybe not. We shall see.

My 2 Lines of Fame

It is always flattering to be recognized - but this time I am not referring to the recent job offer. A couple of nights ago I began reading Tom Koch’s book The Cartographies of Disease, a book I had picked up at the past Canadian Cartographic Association conference. Along comes a quote - from me (Heersink, 2001). I reacted with surprise, of course, since I had not expected it. Someone was quoting me! I obviously had something worthwhile to say in that little book review I wrote for Cartographica. This is the second time this has happened; the first was another article in the same magazine. But this was the first time it appeared in a book. How exciting. My wife was a bit jealous, understandably, since it is she who is the writer.

Which led me to think: I could write a cartography related book and I will. I will keep careful notes of my experiences as a manager of cartography with the new company and see where that takes me. And how about editing a collection of past company map products? Now I am excited.

A related dream last night: I dreamt the new offices were simply a cinderblock warehouse, dingy and dark. The manager had glass doors and walls to his office but inside it was decrepit and weedy (yes, weedy). The hallways were dark and dank but instead of feeling deceived and depressed I thought that it wouldn’t be too hard to improve on the situation.

It is still 3 weeks away until the new job starts. I am looking forward to it.