Ronalfy.com — The Personal Website of Ronald Huereca

This post was written as part of Peeve Week 2: Work.

We all have pet peeves at our workplace.

Over time, I have noticed that some of my pet peeves are things I should simply “get over.” Workplace life became less stressful for me, when I learned this essential fact:

I am not your mother or father and I am not going to change you, cure you or fix you.

and Fact 2:

“Getting Over It” is harder than it looks.

Here are some pet peeves I have faced down just this last year.

1. Making coffee. We had a small cheapo coffee maker that served about 30 people. For some reason, each time, I went to get coffee it was empty. The last person didn’t make a new batch. Grrrrr. Then one day, I was in a hurry to get to a meeting, and I drained the last cup…so there, I thought. Over a process that takes, what, 2 minutes??!!?? My solution? I brought our gigundo coffee maker from home, the one we have just in case we ever have 50 people over for breakfast. Peeve solved.

2. Cleaning the microwave. I don’t use the microwave, but it seems to be in constant use around lunch time. Pot pies or whatever are boiling over, popcorn is being burned and no one seemingly has time to clean up after themselves. It grossed me out the one time I opened the door. My solution? I don’t open the microwave anymore.

3. Fast message leavers. Has this ever happened to you? Someone calls and leaves their number so fast that you can’t quite get all the numbers? Grrrr. My solution? I should slow up when I leave my number, and geeze, say it twice, puh-lease. And, here’s the deal I made—if I can’t hear your number, I simply will not call you back…doh.

4. Loud gum chewers. Grrrr. My solution? I get a tissue and reach up to the person’s mouth and say HERE SPIT THAT OUT. Oops. That is how I feel, not what I actually do…I simply chant to myself, I’m-not-their-dad-I’m-not-their-dad.

G.L. Hoffman is CEO and Chairman of LinkUp, an employment media company. He is a serial entrepreneur and a new venture investor/operator/incubator. He has been featured in FORBES as well as local business publications and newspapers. This article was originally published on his website: Pet Peeves Around the Office.

Related posts:

1. The Great Expresso Debate
2. 500 Words – The Wrath of the Hot Coffee
3. Thank You For Your Opinion, But No Thanks
4. My Favorite Job Hunting Pet Peeve
5. Work Place Annoyances (Speakerphones, Nail Clippings, etc…)