Choice Mindsets

It’s not that we try to keep it cold at Choice One. It just… happens.

There are benefits to a cold office. First, we keep our field surveyors well-seasoned for work outside in cold weather (although not Alaska cold, Eric, we still don’t get a chopper). Second, it matters less when there isn’t any room in the fridge for our lunches. And third, we get to do extra of one of our favorite things: wearing green (in layers, naturally).

There’s no shame in “work” mittens, Sammy. As our graphic designer, we need you to stay warmed up and ready for anything, like sketching graphics for Choice One promotional stuff and developing cool project renderings. Unfortunately, though, mittens aren’t going to help you with your most daunting task: getting engineers to cooperate on Christmas card photos, music videos, or anything beyond perfect right angles (or the occasional roundabout circle). For that, you may need to trade your mittens in for boxing gloves.

Why Kyle keeps track of the number of times he stands at his current adjustable-height desk is a murky, mythical legend at Choice One. There was something about Allen Bertke asking for a stand-up desk and Kyle nobly relinquishing his stand-up desk to Allen in an act of tremendous generosity. Then Allen “allegedly” never using the stand-up feature and Kyle becoming bitter and something, something, something…

Kyle’s stand-up/sit-down log shouldn’t be a surprise. If you haven’t noticed, we like to keep track of irrelevant things out of spite. Like the number of times Jeff Kunk has bought doughnuts (0), the number of times Nick Selhorst has spilled his drink (54), and the number of times we’ve told Jeff Puthoff he’s old (officially 7—as recorded by Lexy’s calendar—but in actuality more like millions).

If we’re keeping track of things, we have to count the number of times Kyle has frowned at Allen (just over the wall in the photo) about his desk/seat/everything (2,190), which is statistically more than Kyle has actually used his stand-up desk. Kyle, you don’t have to prove your worth to us with charts and logs: we love ya no matter how many times you whine about… er, use the stand-up desk.

Each morning the Choice One crew meets on Zoom to quickly discuss what each of us is working on. It helps us to know where help is needed and keeps us focused and accountable. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Choice One conversation if we didn’t give each other a hard time, no matter how short the meeting.

January 27^th is Lexy’s work anniversary at Choice One. So on her calendar, she made a recurring note to “Remind Jeff Puthoff he’s old.” This tradition, now seven years old, is about how young Lexy seemed to Jeff when she started and how old that made Jeff feel (Lexy is 26 years younger than Jeff). And so Lexy rightfully reminds Jeff of his oldness each January 27^th and allows all of us to hold her accountable for what is clearly her most important, most crucial task of the day.

So what will Jeff be working on? “Crying for two hours in the bathroom,” thanks to Lexy’s yearly age statement. Good thing we put in some extra bathrooms over the past few years. We wouldn’t want to interrupt Jeff’s realization he hasn’t been getting any younger. Happy seventh anniversary, Lexy–may Jeff’s tears be a well-earned gift!