Thursday, September 03, 2009

overwhelming order

I was back to work on Monday for exactly three hours when a gigantic order from a new Japanese customer rolled in. An order big enough that it caused me consternation and concern, rather than a sense of joy and elation. I immediately had this feeling of, "I will never be able to fill this order." It's a monster: sprawling, huge, covering all my weak spots (cake stands), and demanding to be fed with an endless supply of birds, cherry blossoms, and bell jars. As I typed in the order and watched the number at the bottom of the invoice grow and grow, my dread deepened. Part of my reaction stems from my experience with the five-figure order two years ago. I really think that I am scarred from that experience and I now I have a post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms when I get a big order.

But I also have to acknowledge that I really messed up that order myself. Mistake number one: procrastination. I have a leftover habit from college of putting off important things because I like to work under pressure. I was one of those students spitting out big papers hours before they were due, and I liked it like that. Unfortunately working under pressure in ceramics does not yield the same brilliant results. After I wrote up the overwhelming order, I immediately broke it down into its smaller parts, assessing all the pieces I would have to make and assemble. Then I got on the phone with Hector, my man at the factory, and laid it all out to him. He called me back within hours with a delivery schedule, and then I broke down the order further into a production schedule for myself.

I feel a bit sad for myself that success has started making me nervous, instead of happy. Maybe everyone feels this way when faced with a mountain to climb. But I've also decided that there is to be no whining. I've gotten myself organized, I'm assembling my troops. I'm determined to make this order a better experience, and someday-- maybe soon-- when I get an overwhelming order again I'll be able to jump up and down and clap my hands with joy.

7 comments:

  1. You'll quit your complaining when you get that check in your grubby little hands. And I am going to say congratulations and I will not feel a bit sorry for you.

    Now you'll be able to say "I"m huge in Japan!"

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  2. Congrats on a five figure order! That's terrific!

    I was telling another potter that I never realized how overwhelming good news can be. Bad news you can talk yourself into a better mood. Good news means you actually have to bust ass! I'm interested to hear in the whole progress. :)

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  3. I AM huge in Japan! Trying to buy a pair of jeans there that fit my Euro-style butt was one of the most frustrating experiences...

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  4. Congrats on the big order! We all know you can do it and will do an amazing job!

    It sounds like you are really breaking it down into workable bits and thats really going to (hopefully) take your stress level down a few notches :)

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  5. My sincerest commiserations. I just finished an order that was WAY too big for me. Until it is in the customer's hands, I will feel its weight.

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  6. Hi Whitney, yeah, breaking it down into steps sounds like a plan to me. Congrats on the large order.

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  7. Awesome opportunity. After you complete this order, you'll be ready for another vacation.

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