:: motions to imaginary waiter :: Motivation please?

Fresh out. I recommend the frittata with a side of sloth.

Or, if you start out with sloth, you won't have the motivation for anything else. (Remember this when you decide to work your way through the Seven Deady Sins.)

Ugh, I hate this! But I think I have to do it. I always get hip to the negotiating game way too late.

waves pompons for Nora and DJ

I once played one where we had to guess the names of baby animals (it was a co-worker at The Nature Conservancy).

That sounds like a good shower activity. I also like Vortex's advice book.

Today is already On The List. Grrr.

OK, here's the whole email (for context):

HR lady,

Thank you so much for meeting with me yesterday to discuss the position in the Dean’s office as his assistant. I enjoyed having the chance to discuss my work and life experience, as well as my general outlook of both. I also thank you for delving deep into the job description; I find it immensely helpful to really understand all that’s going on, even the stuff not actually found in the job description! Relatedly, based on our discussion, I’d feel more comfortable leaning toward the $XY,000 end of my salary requirements that I mentioned yesterday.

I look forward to hearing about the next steps in the process- I see that the Dean has announced the (new ops manager who will be overseeing the position I'm applying for) news!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Nora, I think that looks great.

Nora, "leaning toward" sounds a bit soft, but I have no actual helpful suggestions.

Go, Nora. Think how much easier it is to negotiate via e-mail pre-offer than it would be face-to-face with an offer on the table.

juliana, I know what you mean though.

"...feel more comfortable with the $XY,000 end of my salary requirements that I mentioned yesterday"

???

I think I'm going to have to agree with putting today on The List. I had stupid traffic this morning, as in, no actual wrecks or anything, but every idiot the Great State of Texas deemed it appropriate to hand a licence to were out in full force this morning. I have a different coworker out today, still leaving me with a net of one coworker-the one who will not handle anything that is not explicitly his job, instead handing it off to me who's job it explicitly is not. Everybody wants updates and then insists what I see in the database is not correct, which may be true, but I can't tell that from here, and the one counselor who is here and could move the file keeps handing them off to me.

Also, clients who call wanting information on their file should give me the correct last name. When I say, "You said your name was Smith? I have someone matching your social under Jones." Please do not say "Uh Huh," as if that were a thing I would have known. I will make the bad MM patented splorchy sound with your skull.