[TheThinkTank] full-timers/directors/project coordinators: how's the job treating you?

[Jonathan Morrison]

I think there is merit and downfalls to both hierarchy and communal
structures.  All "successful" organizations will find a healthy compromise
between the two as they grow and learn, the rest will stagnate and/or
disappear.

That being said, I would like to answer Rachael's original question...

"Live in the moment and give what you can for as long as you can, and then
get out before the organization and/or you start to suffer."

I serve more than what is considered full time, and I do it because I love
the organization, the mission, the volunteers, the potential, and the people
we serve.  Above all I consider myself a servant of the mission and the
organization, I am there to help it succeed and help those that need our
services.

I was given a gift by being able to do this full-time and that is in the
back of my mind everyday I go to work.  I can only hope that as an
organization we can provide similar jobs for others with a desire to
dedicate themselves to this unique blend of community outreach and bicycle
advocacy.  While I have energy, I know I won't be able to keep this pace up
forever.  Right now there are more administrative things that need to be
done than their are people, so I pick up that slack and take the blame is
something isn't satisfactory.  (Why is it the loudest critics are the ones
with the smallest piece of the bigger picture?)

As we create more jobs, my job will change but for the better of the
organization -- less hours, more responsibility.  Hopefully I can grow and
change with the position or at least have the forsight to know when someone
else would do the job better.

One interesting thing is that I don't ride as much, there are a couple
volunteers that jokingly claim I don't know how.  I still love to, but to
keep sane I need time away from bicycles.  So I have hobbies and other side
projects for balance.  I wrench on cars (OMG!), motorcycles, the house,
programming projects, watch netflix with my wife Joe and our three cats, go
to the park and play fetch with our dog Apollo.  That balance is what keeps
me going, without it I think I would burn out.  Over half a decade and still
going strong.

-- 
Sincerely,

Jonathan Morrison
Executive Director
Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
2312 S. West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
w: 801-328-2453
c: 801-688-0183
f: 801-466-3856
www.slcbikecollective.org

On Nov 20, 2007 7:31 AM, rachael spiewak <rachael at sopobikes.org> wrote:

> since taking on directing sopo full time, i've come to find that this job
> is all kinds of intense.  wonderful, but exhausting.  i'm wondering.. how
> much if it is me and how much of it is this job?  is it unique to community
> bike shops, or is it like this for other kinds of organizations?  or is it
> more about the organization being a start-up?  for the folks in a similar
> position: what's your day like?  hanging in there?
>
> thanks!
> rachael
>
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