Anonymous
03/15/2013 21:42
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Once I was on an email inviting my boss' boss' boss to the White House. For some reason it didn't occur to me to forward it or do anything and there was a big last minute rush. I got in trouble and was really upset. But I said "I'sm sorry, and it won't happen again" and that's all you can do. I still feel bad about it, obviously.
Also, I interned at ABC and once sent Barbara Walters an inter-office e-message (like IM) that I meant to send to my idiot intern friend. OOPS
Also, I interned at ABC and once sent Barbara Walters an inter-office e-message (like IM) that I meant to send to my idiot intern friend. OOPS
Anonymous
03/15/2013 02:19
Subject: Re:Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
I just started a new job that everyone was convinced I was perfect for. a fantastic opportunity.
During my first week there was a large event on that Friday and they threw me into the craziness. I messed up the profiels that were printed (150) and stuffed into folders, they had to be taken out and I left out names of clients, I mispelled names. We were in the office till 11 the night before until my supervisor told me not to worry and that she and the other ppl would finish working on fixing the mistakes. She was nice and said it happens to all.
I can't imagine how I've ruined my brand and first impression...I cried all the way home.
this just happend today.
During my first week there was a large event on that Friday and they threw me into the craziness. I messed up the profiels that were printed (150) and stuffed into folders, they had to be taken out and I left out names of clients, I mispelled names. We were in the office till 11 the night before until my supervisor told me not to worry and that she and the other ppl would finish working on fixing the mistakes. She was nice and said it happens to all.
I can't imagine how I've ruined my brand and first impression...I cried all the way home.
this just happend today.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 20:34
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
I had to prep my boss for a court hearing (I am an associate at a lawfirm) and I completely fucked up the procedural history of the case (which was a bit convoluted). But when he started explaining it to the judge, the other lawyer was like "uhm no, that's not what happened" and my boss looked like he was trying to mislead the court even though he was just going based of the information that I gave him. I almost threw up as it was happening and appologized later. I am so lucky he didn't can me right there.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 13:27
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I just got something back that had a poor review and my boss told me that my writing was sloppy and unclear and that I was requiring a lot more oversight than she has anticipated. The company I came from 5 months ago touted me as a top writer and this has been a major blow. I'm not used to hearing that I do things poorly as I work hard and generally have not been very criticized, so I feel you.
I worked all last night and today on cleaning it up and she responded enthusiastically to my changes. I think I was just trying hard to get product out quickly and got a little sloppy, but I have been so effing stressed the past 48 hours it's been killing me. I am behind on my next big deadline because of this, but I'm committed to putting whatever hours are needed to get it done in a really impressive way this time.
You are handling it well and if you just take extra time with your next few assignments I'm sure it will be fine.
Oh, and just to add to the email thing, I ALSO accidentally autofilled the president of a foundation from whom I'm seeking funding instead of my coworker to complain about a project that the foundation involved us in. I decided I should probably just drink whiskey under my bed until this week was over. So at least you didn't have bad work product AND an email faux pas in one week! Seriously, worst work week of my life.
It sounds like you
I had a similar experience with writing and it was very disorienting. My writing was highly praised at my prior job, but my new boss thought I needed remedial assistance with writing. It was really awful and was one of the main factors in me transferring out of his division. What I learned is that certain kinds of managers who pride themselves on their writing have a really rigid idea of what "good writing" is -- and if you don't meet their arbitrary standards you're screwed. In my case, this snowballed to me losing confidence in my own ability to write. All around bad news. So my advice to you is, try to figure out if you actually did a bad job, or if your boss has a really specific idea of how to write. If the latter, then the only way to be happy is to mimic exactly what she wants. Or get a new job.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 13:06
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Don't beat yourself up, we all have less than stellar days. I know of case and this is a true story, where the boss was traveling to Denmark. So a few days before he told his assistant that he needed about a hundred Danish Krona on the morning of such and such a date.
His assistant thought that a hundred Danish were an awful lot of pastries, but maybe he was having a big meeting, so the assistant didn't question him any further. She dutifully contacted the local bakery placed the order. The 100 pastries were delivered and in the boss' office when he arrived that morning. Wondering why he had eight or nine dozen Danish pastries in his office he asked his assistant why they were there. The assistant said don't you remember you asked me to have 100 Danish Krona for you this morning. He said yes Danish Krona - money for my trip, not Danish pastries.
It was a pretty embarrassing moment and fodder for many good office stories. The staff all had Danish with their coffee that morning, the boss got the Krona (money) he needed, his trip was a success and today that story lives on in office history lore.
Don't beat yourself up. Good conscienscious employees who care enough to feel bad when things go wrong are very difficult to find. Try not to let it wreck your day.
You're a good person and you'll be fine.
His assistant thought that a hundred Danish were an awful lot of pastries, but maybe he was having a big meeting, so the assistant didn't question him any further. She dutifully contacted the local bakery placed the order. The 100 pastries were delivered and in the boss' office when he arrived that morning. Wondering why he had eight or nine dozen Danish pastries in his office he asked his assistant why they were there. The assistant said don't you remember you asked me to have 100 Danish Krona for you this morning. He said yes Danish Krona - money for my trip, not Danish pastries.
It was a pretty embarrassing moment and fodder for many good office stories. The staff all had Danish with their coffee that morning, the boss got the Krona (money) he needed, his trip was a success and today that story lives on in office history lore.
Don't beat yourself up. Good conscienscious employees who care enough to feel bad when things go wrong are very difficult to find. Try not to let it wreck your day.
You're a good person and you'll be fine.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 12:54
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
I had an entire account taken away from me because I was told that "I didn't have the right skill set" to get the job done. I was devastated and got laid off 8 months later. It was very humbling and I was a wreck for a long time. OP, I know this isn't your reality and my story is much worse than what you're experiencing but I told you that because you need to focus on WHY you missed the small, but important detail. Stuff happens but the big thing is not to make the same mistake twice. Good luck, feel better and they way you handled it is spot on.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 12:33
Subject: Re:Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
I once almost lost my company 80K on a deal due to a pricing error.
I called the manufacturer rep and begged and pleaded for an 80K discount so I could come out even (OF COURSE a profit is always the goal). Thank God the rep gave me the discount out of pity, but I was working from home that day and freaked out so badly that I was dripping sweat and peeled my clothes off. I was on the phone begging and naked.
I called the manufacturer rep and begged and pleaded for an 80K discount so I could come out even (OF COURSE a profit is always the goal). Thank God the rep gave me the discount out of pity, but I was working from home that day and freaked out so badly that I was dripping sweat and peeled my clothes off. I was on the phone begging and naked.
Anonymous
01/31/2013 12:33
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Was supposed to provide directions and introduce a keynote speaker at a conference (I was the conference chair) I got mixed up with the time and was sitting in the lobby having a cup of tea while 250 people sat at tables in awkward silence until the keynote speaker finally introduced himself just as I was walking back in.
Was on a committee that was ranking applications -giving them a score in 5 areas. Somehow copied my columns wrong and turned in all the wrong scores completely messing up the averages and rankings. Took me awhile to figure out what happened and I delayed the whole process and was the cause of a lot of problems...
Was on a committee that was ranking applications -giving them a score in 5 areas. Somehow copied my columns wrong and turned in all the wrong scores completely messing up the averages and rankings. Took me awhile to figure out what happened and I delayed the whole process and was the cause of a lot of problems...
Anonymous
01/31/2013 12:17
Subject: Re:Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Yesterday I had the worst day of my new career. By not listening to what my customer was saying to me, hearing only what I wanted to hear, an order got totally messed up, refused by our client and the blizzard of company emails with my name embedded within commenced. Not to mention costing our company thousands of dollars and tarnished image with clients. After a sleepless night, I called my supervisor and explained that regardless of whether I was wrong or right, ultimately it was MY responsibility to check the facts and I did not. I profusely appologized for causing the mess.
He was very understanding and told me to not worry, these things happen. I am still beating myself up badly today, but at least I was honest and can live with that.
He was very understanding and told me to not worry, these things happen. I am still beating myself up badly today, but at least I was honest and can live with that.
Anonymous
01/06/2012 21:32
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Hi OP, I just got something back that had a poor review and my boss told me that my writing was sloppy and unclear and that I was requiring a lot more oversight than she has anticipated. The company I came from 5 months ago touted me as a top writer and this has been a major blow. I'm not used to hearing that I do things poorly as I work hard and generally have not been very criticized, so I feel you.
I worked all last night and today on cleaning it up and she responded enthusiastically to my changes. I think I was just trying hard to get product out quickly and got a little sloppy, but I have been so effing stressed the past 48 hours it's been killing me. I am behind on my next big deadline because of this, but I'm committed to putting whatever hours are needed to get it done in a really impressive way this time.
You are handling it well and if you just take extra time with your next few assignments I'm sure it will be fine.
Oh, and just to add to the email thing, I ALSO accidentally autofilled the president of a foundation from whom I'm seeking funding instead of my coworker to complain about a project that the foundation involved us in. I decided I should probably just drink whiskey under my bed until this week was over. So at least you didn't have bad work product AND an email faux pas in one week! Seriously, worst work week of my life.
It sounds like you
I worked all last night and today on cleaning it up and she responded enthusiastically to my changes. I think I was just trying hard to get product out quickly and got a little sloppy, but I have been so effing stressed the past 48 hours it's been killing me. I am behind on my next big deadline because of this, but I'm committed to putting whatever hours are needed to get it done in a really impressive way this time.
You are handling it well and if you just take extra time with your next few assignments I'm sure it will be fine.
Oh, and just to add to the email thing, I ALSO accidentally autofilled the president of a foundation from whom I'm seeking funding instead of my coworker to complain about a project that the foundation involved us in. I decided I should probably just drink whiskey under my bed until this week was over. So at least you didn't have bad work product AND an email faux pas in one week! Seriously, worst work week of my life.
It sounds like you
Anonymous
01/06/2012 20:51
Subject: Just messed up at work - remind me that it happens to everyone!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What industry is this that your product is given an actual grade? Really curious and nosey.
Fed gov and its not a "grade" per se, its just outstanding, satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Are you on a quota system?
Yes.
Balancing quality and quantity is sometimes difficult in a quota system. Just learn from your mistakes and remember it's an overall numbers game. The war is not lost in one fight.