How to Survive—and Even Thrive— When Pulled in Many Directions Many Hats, One Head: How to Survive—and Even Thrive— When Pulled in Many Directions

My Hats, Your Hats: How Close? Small School (150-200) Branch Campus of Major University (7000+) Duties—primarily Registrar A Banner school One-person office

My Hats, Your Hats: How Close? Many Others = inch wide, mile deep Small College Registrar = mile wide, inch deep How Handle Wide-ranging Duties? Glass Jar, Rocks Illustration Lessons?

Big Rocks Go in First Big Rocks at Work Make Boss Look Good Keep the School Open Improve Institutional Effectiveness Keep Auditors Satisfied

Tips to Handle the Big Rocks (and the Little Ones, Too) 1. Never Agree to Present a Lecture on “How to Survive and Thrive When Pulled in Many Directions.”   2. If you can’t know everything, find a friend who does! (Network) Let them know how thankful you are for their assistance.

Tips, Cont’d 3. Communicate with Key Personnel   4. Take Advantage of Available Resources 5. Use Technology to Your Advantage Calendar Smartphone

Tips, Cont’d 6. Get Help! Trying to do it all yourself will not work 7. If Faculty or Student asks Question, Send Answer to Everyone who might need it 8. Choose Listserves Carefully (Small College Registrar, ATSRAO) 9. Plan Ahead and Work Ahead so you Won’t Get Behind

Tips, Cont’d 10. You can’t change others. You can only change your attitude. You can get upset but it will not help Laugh and move on

Have Fun (Email in December to Faculty concerning grade due date ) According to the Mayan calendar, if all grades are not in before 12:01 PM on Friday, Dec. 14, the world will come to an end. And it will be YOUR fault.

(Email to Students re: Graduation Application) Have Fun (Email to Students re: Graduation Application) Plan A Return application by Jan. 11 Receive your graduation info by Jan 18 (before spring classes begin)

Plan B Return form after Jan. 11; receive your graduation info AFTER those who turned the forms in by Jan. 11. There is no guarantee that this response will come before spring classes begin. You might not be in the correct classes that you need to graduate, and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Comments, Questions, or Observations?