With January comes the first textbook rush of the calendar year at work, a hurried time when things really get cooking in the campus bookstore and tensions can sometimes run high. Since I’ve last posted, I’ve become the systems manager at my store, in charge of all the technology including about 50-60 workstations, both Mac and PC, and our back office systems, which include an AS/400 server and an IBM 4690 POS controller system. These are ancient technologies, coming from before the modern age of Windows, OS X, and T3 internet connections.

 

During this textbook rush period, when I will have to process more sales than usual, I also have to begin mapping out a timeline representing workstation replacement and new technology implementations, which are to take place over the next 1-3 years. Some of these I will have to develop myself, including book search kiosks (using Mac OS X Cocoa, of course!), and new interactive demo computers to illustrate some of the computing technology we use. I will also develop training sessions on applications usage, and using technology to better service customers.

 

I also have to go to Missouri at the end of the month for training, and then after a few days back home, it’s off to Florida for a week with my father. I’m sure to need that week after this month.

 

My main concern this month is to keep my productivity up during this busy period. I’ve been checking out David Allen’s <i>Getting Things Done</i>, a productivity method for lazy people (hah), and it makes a lot of sense. Of course, getting myself organized enough to actually finish the seminar I have is difficult enough. But I feel if I can master this method this month, I’ll be ready for anything.