Organisation. Why is it that the human race seems to be divided into to those who organise and those who do not. I seem to spend much of my time organising for certain people (beyond those who pay me to do so), yet with others, I simply naturally default to their organisational skills (I know my place!). Is there a pecking order of organisation, with a strong hierarchical structure, in which we all have our positions, or are some people just dominant in all things? Whilst I may be considered an able and extremely competent organiser by most, do these elite, super-organisers look down their noses at me? (Or am I simply a better person for knowing the beauty of reverse psychology delegation..?)
Just as some people go through life never buying their round, perhaps there are also people who go through life never organising anything. Currently on my list of things to do involves a wedding. Not my own, I hasten to add, but one in which I have a role - that of best man. I would never lay claim to have organised much at all for this wedding - by all accounts the bride and groom have found that this mammoth task simply consumes their lives. However, their is still much to be done for the Stag night - although the burden is lessened by an rock-solid "no strippers" command order from the Highest Authority.
It’s not just organising that throws up this issue. Perception is, obviously, something that changes from person to person. However, I am in perhaps the unusual position of being perceived by different groups of friends as totally different people. Naturally there is some common ground - my lack of subtly is near legendary - but for the most part, people could be describing a different person.
And naturally it is not me who changes, but rather the difference in groups (honest). Perhaps the best, and most basic example, is that of technical skills. My childhood friends, who are for the most part engineers, computer programmers, or scientists, view me with pity when it comes to my skills with either computers or more practical work, such as fixing a push-bike. This is not (as far as I can recall, although I do remember in my model airfix days (??) producing a rather colourful green and white spotted helicopter; not highly realistic, but a wonderful example of my early creativity) down to any specific incident, but more the result of a general perception, possibly brought about by the fact that they are, by virtue of their careers and interests, more expert in these fields that I. And rationally, I defer to them when need or opportunity arises.
However, a very different picture emerges from both my family and my university friends. Not that I am in these eyes by any standards expert, but am considered at least on par or extremely adept. My mother is constantly phoning to ask inane computer related questions, and I am happy to help her. Within the hierarchy of technical ability I rate considerably higher than her, but then, I fear I am not alone in this (sorry Mum!).
Still at the end of the day, I guess those we know for longest are going to be those who are less likely to keep up with the nuances of one’s character. My friend, who takes the plunge in September, will almost certainly always be the 16 year old I knew 7 years ago. Things changes, but memories only fade.
