Quotes for the 'Chaos Coordinator' (Moms and Managers)
sarcastic Perspective
Managing a team of toddlers or a team of corporate engineers is fundamentally the same: it’s mostly just herding cats who have very strong, and often contradictory, opinions about snacks. Yeah, it sound weird but toddlers and engineers are similar in terms of driving you crazy. You don’t have ‘control’ over the situation; you just manage the disaster until everyone goes home (or goes to sleep). These quotes are for the coordinators, the handlers, and the ones holding it all together with sheer willpower.
"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing."
— Phyllis Diller
"They are ultra-energyzed curious little monsters, their nature just doesn't allow them to sit still. It is for sure required process to make them omnipotent human beings in the future, but until they grow up and that future comes...hang on"
Wait for the storm to pass before you start organizing, or you'll just be tired and still surrounded by toys.
"Being a leader means handling chaos with grace. Or at least with a lot of caffeine."
— Howard Schultz
Energy management is just as important as disaster management. Sometimes a double shot is the best strategy for survival.
"Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease."
— Lisa Alther
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results."
— George S. Patton
The best way to coordinate chaos is to give it a goal and get out of the way. Trust is the ultimate management tool.
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."
— Douglas Adams
"The problem with being a leader is that you're never sure if you're being followed or chased."
— Claire A. Murray
"The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling."
— Theodore Roosevelt
"When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you."
— Nora Ephron
"The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame."
— Robert Bloch
"If you're going through hell, keep going."
— Winston Churchill
"A leader is a dealer in hope."
— Napoleon Bonaparte
"Speak when you're angry and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret."
— Laurence J. Peter
"You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute."
— Tina Fey
"Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions."
— Mark Twain
"It is hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse."
— Adlai Stevenson II
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Embrace the storm. You’re doing a great job, even if it feels like you're just putting out fires one at a time. Stay organized (as much as possible), stay caffeinated, and remember that you’re the one who keeps the wheels from falling off. See you at the debrief.