Work Life Lab by Robin Camarote

Finding balance through trial and error
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Welcome to the Work Life Lab! This is a space for exploring what works and what doesn't when trying to balance your busy work and home life. We all want the same thing- better results for the time we put in. Here I try, test, and tell you about what happens when I test ways to better get the outcomes I want. My intent is to share what works for me in the hopes that it'll work for you too. Thanks for reading!

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elevator dares robin camarote

Awkward things you could say to your boss in an elevator

Robin Camarote October 10, 2017

I recently wrote about making the most of chance encounters with your boss- like in an elevator. The situation is familiar. You're leaving the office and bump into your boss or another senior manager and think, "wow, what luck!" and then, "crap, what can I say to sound smart/competent/capable/promote-able, etc."

To me, the safest bet is to reference back something they've said and ask a follow-up question... nothing too probing. "Hi Susan, nice to see you. Hey, I read your corporate update last month and you mentioned your interest in forming new corporate partnerships. What kind of organizations did you have in mind?"

Pretty straightforward. However, writing this got me thinking about some of the more awkward possibilities. My list of "not to do's" included things like asking...

  • For a raise
  • Why everyone hates them, or
  • How they're holding up since their wife left

For fun or torture, here's are 10 things you could dare your friends to say or do when they see their boss-- or anyone else for that matter- in an elevator.

  1. Say "Ok bye!" 15 seconds before the door opens
  2. "Weird to think only one person is going to walk out of here alive, right?"
  3. "I had a sex dream like this once. All of you were in it."
  4. Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside ask: "Got enough air in there?"
  5. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
  6. Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.
  7. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your "personal space."
  8. Move your desk into the elevator and when ever someone gets on, ask if "they have an appointment."
  9. When the doors close, use duct tape and work furiously to tape the doors together. Ask for help.
  10. When the elevator is silent, look around and ask: “Is that your beeper?”
Intry this! examples&tips, personal Tagselevator, pitch, boss, dares, coworkers, fun
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point of View

The Work Life Lab is a place to explore ways to strike a better balance. professionally and personally. Getting the outcomes you want with more positive impact requires a new mindset and a different way of working. It involves knowing what matters most, focusing your efforts, and managing your time. I believe small changes can create big results. And, I believe in you.

Links to my contributions on these great sites are below.

  • 2018
    • Nov 23, 2018 Maybe one day I'll laugh about this Nov 23, 2018
    • May 22, 2018 What is this blog about? May 22, 2018
    • May 12, 2018 Surviving the Annual Girls Trip May 12, 2018
    • Apr 11, 2018 Traveling with Kids Is Too Easy Apr 11, 2018
    • Feb 19, 2018 The answer is E. All of the above Feb 19, 2018
    • Feb 4, 2018 The Rules on the Bus Go 'Round and 'Round Feb 4, 2018
    • Jan 21, 2018 The plan for the plan Jan 21, 2018
    • Jan 17, 2018 Skipping Rocks Jan 17, 2018
  • 2017
    • Nov 23, 2017 My better Thanksgiving Nov 23, 2017
    • Oct 29, 2017 Alternatives to the Twilight Boarding Zone Oct 29, 2017
    • Oct 23, 2017 Never make another decision about what to eat Oct 23, 2017
    • Oct 22, 2017 Call me hot sauce (maybe?) Oct 22, 2017
    • Oct 18, 2017 What happens at Pawpaws house... Oct 18, 2017
    • Oct 10, 2017 Awkward things you could say to your boss in an elevator Oct 10, 2017
    • Oct 4, 2017 Outraged cereal-lovers unite! Oct 4, 2017
    • Sep 10, 2017 At the end of the day, this is what I really want to know Sep 10, 2017
    • Sep 4, 2017 End with the beginning in mind Sep 4, 2017
    • Aug 29, 2017 Staring Off Into Space (and the Contents of Your Stomach) Aug 29, 2017
    • Aug 22, 2017 Create a Beautiful Arrangement in 18 Simple Steps Aug 22, 2017
    • Aug 14, 2017 Notes from the Newly Literate Aug 14, 2017
    • Aug 6, 2017 Good morning! $1 lemonade! Aug 6, 2017
    • Jul 30, 2017 I left my stomach back there Jul 30, 2017
    • Jul 23, 2017 The Recipe That Made Me Cry 'Uncle' Jul 23, 2017
    • Jul 16, 2017 Eat like it's 1947 Jul 16, 2017
    • Jul 13, 2017 Catch and Release a Lightning Bug: Week 2 of our Summer "Learn to Try" Challenge Jul 13, 2017
    • Jul 5, 2017 Do a Cartwheel: Week 1 of our Summer "Learn to Try" Challenge Jul 5, 2017
    • Jun 26, 2017 Summer "Learn to Try" Challenge Jun 26, 2017
    • Jun 21, 2017 If I don't say thanks, I'll cry Jun 21, 2017
    • Jun 15, 2017 Do you have a condiment? Jun 15, 2017
    • Jun 7, 2017 How Not to Take a Picture of Your Wife Jun 7, 2017
    • Jun 1, 2017 'Til Dirt Do Us Part Jun 1, 2017
    • May 26, 2017 All's well that ends well: Linc's birth story May 26, 2017
    • May 5, 2017 Totally Soaked May 5, 2017
    • Apr 30, 2017 How to get (and maintain) high employee morale Apr 30, 2017
    • Apr 24, 2017 Back from maternity leave Apr 24, 2017
    • Apr 12, 2017 Spring Mini-Break Apr 12, 2017
    • Apr 7, 2017 Planting our garden Apr 7, 2017
    • Apr 6, 2017 Why metrics matter to me Apr 6, 2017
    • Jan 25, 2017 Small Changes, Big Impacts Jan 25, 2017
    • Jan 19, 2017 Up In the Air. Again. Jan 19, 2017
    • Jan 10, 2017 Passive Directives Jan 10, 2017
    • Jan 3, 2017 Creating a Vision Board with Kids Jan 3, 2017
    • Jan 2, 2017 the rest is still uncolored Jan 2, 2017
  • 2016
    • Dec 31, 2016 Have Your Best Year Yet Dec 31, 2016
    • Oct 4, 2016 Love Warrior, Special Book Report post Oct 4, 2016
    • Jul 4, 2016 Happy 4th! Jul 4, 2016
    • Jun 13, 2016 Oh, Orlando Jun 13, 2016
    • Jun 10, 2016 How Not to Travel With Kids Jun 10, 2016
    • Jun 2, 2016 Sisterly Advice Jun 2, 2016
    • Jun 1, 2016 On reading blogs Jun 1, 2016
    • May 27, 2016 eBook video update May 27, 2016
    • May 24, 2016 Vote here for the new eBook cover May 24, 2016
    • May 20, 2016 No. Thank YOU. May 20, 2016
    • May 16, 2016 Successful working parent partnerships May 16, 2016
    • May 13, 2016 Rain, rain May 13, 2016
    • May 12, 2016 Start Your Meeting Right With These Introductory Talking Points May 12, 2016
    • May 9, 2016 Building Leadership Buy-in May 9, 2016
    • Mar 30, 2016 How to Love Your Job Again Mar 30, 2016
    • Mar 21, 2016 Internet of Things Mar 21, 2016
    • Mar 7, 2016 Exercises for improving leadership skills Mar 7, 2016
    • Mar 7, 2016 Bad Boss Stories Mar 7, 2016
    • Mar 1, 2016 Clutter's Global Reach, a guest post from Evan Zislis Mar 1, 2016
    • Feb 24, 2016 Get Organized for Greater Productivity Feb 24, 2016
    • Jan 26, 2016 Newly pregnant at work Jan 26, 2016
    • Jan 12, 2016 far out Jan 12, 2016
    • Jan 11, 2016 To Master Social Media, Simplicity Wins Jan 11, 2016
    • Jan 5, 2016 worry along for the ride Jan 5, 2016
    • Jan 4, 2016 Will you be happier freelancing? Jan 4, 2016
    • Jan 3, 2016 Welcome back! Jan 3, 2016
  • 2015
    • Nov 25, 2015 The Devil Named Meetings Nov 25, 2015
    • Oct 30, 2015 Let's clean house Oct 30, 2015
    • Oct 15, 2015 our project problem, post 3: smaller wins Oct 15, 2015
    • Oct 14, 2015 our project problem, post 2: flawed staffing and more Oct 14, 2015
    • Oct 13, 2015 our project problem, post 1: the false security of the PMP Oct 13, 2015
    • Oct 7, 2015 a more graceful transition Oct 7, 2015
    • Oct 5, 2015 good work equity Oct 5, 2015
    • Oct 4, 2015 promises and intentions Oct 4, 2015
    • Sep 3, 2015 today we say goodbye Sep 3, 2015
    • Aug 24, 2015 26 questions to kick-start your week Aug 24, 2015
    • Aug 17, 2015 dressed out Aug 17, 2015
    • Aug 12, 2015 deliciously technical and controversial Aug 12, 2015
    • Aug 3, 2015 move right Aug 3, 2015
    • Jul 17, 2015 Shake it off Jul 17, 2015
    • Jun 30, 2015 Target requirements, save money on federal real property Jun 30, 2015
    • Jun 29, 2015 count me in, mapping performance metrics to build buy-in Jun 29, 2015
    • Jun 24, 2015 what are you talking about? Jun 24, 2015
    • Jun 23, 2015 knowing the limits creates freedom Jun 23, 2015
    • Jun 16, 2015 into africa Jun 16, 2015
    • Jun 12, 2015 let's take the next 2 days off Jun 12, 2015
    • Jun 8, 2015 three steps lead down a better path Jun 8, 2015
    • Jun 5, 2015 days gone by Jun 5, 2015
    • Jun 4, 2015 the truth about change Jun 4, 2015
    • Jun 2, 2015 this is your career Jun 2, 2015
    • May 28, 2015 we need more words for meetings May 28, 2015
    • May 26, 2015 when more data doesn't work May 26, 2015
    • May 22, 2015 getting clear on roles May 22, 2015
    • May 19, 2015 the problems with project-focused organization units May 19, 2015
    • May 15, 2015 the workplace reimagined May 15, 2015
    • May 14, 2015 fit in or stand out May 14, 2015
    • May 8, 2015 have you heard? May 8, 2015
    • May 6, 2015 Planning to plan? Answer these 9 questions first May 6, 2015
    • May 4, 2015 Follow through or else May 4, 2015
    • May 1, 2015 what's your frontier problem? May 1, 2015
    • Apr 29, 2015 Hey B'More, what's my action? Apr 29, 2015
    • Apr 27, 2015 the facilities frontier Apr 27, 2015
    • Apr 24, 2015 high impact organizations at CBODN today! Apr 24, 2015
    • Apr 22, 2015 sticking with it Apr 22, 2015
    • Apr 21, 2015 the two-step: gaining leadership buy-in at work Apr 21, 2015
    • Apr 17, 2015 a map in bloom Apr 17, 2015
    • Apr 16, 2015 3 tips for experiential board meetings Apr 16, 2015
    • Apr 14, 2015 extreme makeover, powerpoint edition Apr 14, 2015
    • Apr 13, 2015 3 "must do's" for your next advisory council meeting Apr 13, 2015
    • Apr 10, 2015 talking nerdy Apr 10, 2015
    • Apr 8, 2015 all together now Apr 8, 2015
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Work Life Lab by Robin Camarote

Finding balance through trial and error

The Work Life Lab is a place to explore what works- and what doesn't- when trying to strike that elusive sense of work-life balance. I'm a working mom with three kids. I try things and share my experiences with the hopes that some of the best strategies might work for you too.

Robin Camarote, LLC | , Falls Church, VA

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