Household CEO Job Description

This description is for Household CEO.  This person is responsible for household maintenance, operations, decor, health and safety.  This person takes responsibility for the well-being of all household members including, but not limited to, children, spouses and pets.  The Household CEO is also responsible for the care and feeding of all guests.

Daily responsibilities are varied and directly dependent upon the tasks of the other Household members.  The CEO must be flexible and embrace change at every step.  The CEO will not be limited to a regular schedule but must be available at all times.  It is not required but desired that all CEO candidates have 8 arms.

Maintenance my include but is not limited to the following:

• Cleaning of all rooms including the garage or any other outer buildings.  Cleaning will include dusting, vacuuming, mopping of floors, scrubbing all bathroom fixtures (toilet, tubs, sinks and mirrors), cleaning windows, sweeping walkways and driveways.  Cleaning will also include extra duties that are not consistent, such as, oiling wood surfaces, cleaning carpets and polishing silver.
• Fixing broken things.  The CEO may or may not possess the skill/talent to fix items or structural issues within the house.  If the CEO is capable they may choose to fix something themselves.  If it requires more knowledge than that of the CEO then they will be responsible for hiring the contractor who will perform the work.  The CEO is also responsible for inspecting the work of the contractor and making sure that all work is done properly before payment is issued.
• Yardwork also falls under the auspice of Maintenance.  The CEO may choose to perform yardwork themselves or hire a contractor.  Ultimately the CEO is responsible for making sure that all yardwork is done in a timely manner.  The CEO is responsible for daily, monthly and yearly cleaning of yard debris.

Operations of the household is primarily the responsibility of the CEO and include:

• Financial management is the primary responsibility under the operations heading.  The CEO must maintain a budget that allows for all maintenance, care and upgrades to the family home.  This includes items necessary for the feeding, care and grooming of family members.
• Recognition of family and friends is the responsibility of the CEO.  When a gift, for any occasion, is necessary the CEO will choose, wrap and ship the gift.  The CEO will be responsible for notifying other family members of recognition opportunities of others.
• Research of potential household requirements.  The CEO will take the time to learn everything necessary to make an educated decision when purchasing anything for the home.  They will utilize consumer opinions from the internet as well as visit stores that carry the item for comparison.
• Daily activities that keep the household organized and running smoothly such as making beds, laundry, sorting mail, dishes and taking care of pets.

Decor for the home is the responsibility of the CEO and may include but is not limited to the following:

• The look of the family home is the responsibility of the CEO.  After the initial decoration period the CEO may choose to update some items to keep the home fresh and current.  
• The budget for the household decor will be kept by the CEO.  Within that budget the CEO will not only have to make decisions about upgrades but also about replacements for worn items and the purchase of additions to the decor.
• Seasonal decorations will be the primary responsibility of the CEO.  However, other family members may be engaged in some seasonal preparations as determined by the CEO.

The Health and Safety of the family members is primarily the responsibility of the CEO with support and occasional help from other family members:

• The majority of meals will be the responsibility of the CEO.  The CEO will analyze the nutritional content, calories and fat of all meals.  The CEO will balance meals to provide the healthiest, overall benefits to family members.  
• Packaging of meals for other family members to carry with them to school or work.  The CEO will not only pack the meals for other family members but will also make sure that the nutritional benefits are present to make the meal optimal for the family member.  When said family member forgets their packed lunch, the CEO will make other arrangements with them or deliver the meal.
• CEO is responsible for maintaining the safety of the home.  Analyzing cleaning product content, changing air filters, clearing of items in walkways and anything else that could be hazardous to family members.
• CEO is responsible for insuring that all family members have coverage in the event of an emergency.  Working with an insurance company to make sure that all members are covered.  In the event of said emergency, working with the insurance company to handle any claims.

The CEO must be flexible and change oriented.  Most days will bring surprises and the CEO must be willing and able to manage these surprises.  When change occurs the CEO will need to be able to make judgement calls as to whether the change is part of a growing process or needs the attention of the family members.  The CEO must be able to be persuasive and share information with other family members effectively.  Good communication is a must for the Household CEO.  

The CEO must also be able to multi-task.  Many of the regular household duties will be done consecutively and the CEO must be able to move between tasks smoothly and effectively.  In addition to juggling the routine tasks the CEO must be a magician who can squeeze in the unexpected and still get everything done.

The CEO must be able to maintain a great attitude at all times.  Due to the demanding nature of this position it is important that CEO candidates have an unusual aptitude for letting the small stuff just roll off of them.  This person will need a "just go with it" type personality.

Additionally the CEO will need to be loving and nurturing of all family members, friends, pets and other small animals.  The love and grace of the CEO is necessary for the growing of a family.  The CEO must be able to maintain this lovin' feeling even in the worst of circumstances.

You must have most of the described skills and talents to become the Household CEO.  If you are qualified and interested in the position, then get ready for a well-functioning family!!

Jump Start the Process

As we help to prepare Murphy, my 17 year old stepson, for college I am in awe of the tools that are available to him.  On the site where we signed him up for the SAT there were all of these wonderful tests for personality, career path and majors.  I wondered if so many people my age would be trying to discover themselves now if these tools had been available when we went to school.

But, is it really ever too late?  Only when we are dead!!  As I have been working on my values, skills and talents outline I've wondered if it would be helpful to take the same tests that Murphy took.  Unfortunately, they wanted me to sign up for the SAT before they would provide the tools.  And, that ship has sailed!!  But there is always another way.

The DISC profile analyzes your personality and values!  It will also tell you what career is most likely to fit your particular personality.  The good news is that my values are in line with what I have been finding on my own.  Where I found real help was in getting more clear on my desires and skills.

I find that clarity is often hard to get my arms around when the task seems daunting.  Writing down my skills/talents and values felt important when I decided on these steps.  But, putting pen to paper and making something out of it has been difficult.  Stepping stones like the DISC profile or one of the many other tests available help to jump start the process.

What type of personality are you?

What do you value?

When I started Step 3, writing down what my values are, I got overwhelmed.  I value so much in life that the list is truly exhausting.  So, I put down my pencil and thought of this a different way.  I mean, if you really think about it, there is value in almost everything.  What I was trying to get at was what are my non-negotiable values.

To make it a little easier I tried to get outside of myself.  Thinking about the values that I admire in the people closest to me.  Thinking about the things that I work hard to maintain and enjoy every day.  What really means the most to me?

If I put it in those terms I come up with a quick list of values:

relationships
family
aesthetics
knowledge
faith
acknowledgment
freedom
growth

I know you may look at this list and say, well duh, who doesn't value those things.  But really think about it.  Is it important to you that things look pretty?  That might not be high on everyone's list, but it is important to me.  I value pretty.  I work really hard to make our home, our yard and our stuff beautiful.  I like to present dinner on pretty plates.  I like my work space to be pretty.  It is important to me.  That might not be high on everyone's list.  But, knowing myself, I'm not happy if it isn't pretty.

So you can see how starting to put down values and really thinking about where they fall in importance can help you to see how your talents/skills will match up.  Speaking of talents/skills, I think that is a much harder task to identify those.  I'm working on it.  But, I kept coming back to...how does that fit in my value list?  So, I decided to focus on this one first.

What is your most important value?

Step 3

I'm posting Step 3 because I believe it should be done in conjunction with Step 2.  So, while you are thinking about your skills and talents and really blowing them out for Step 2, you should be thinking about your values.  That is Step 3.  What do you really value in life?

These are exercises that take time.  You can make lists quickly and get the exercise finished but, take the time to think about what your skills/talents are and what makes you put them on the list.  Why do you think that this is an area of expertise or deep knowledge?  What is your experience in this area?  What do you know about this particular thing?  I have skills/talents that come from doing and reading but that have never been a part of any formal career.  I'm putting them down and explaining why I'm putting them down.

I think that values play such an important role in our lives that it doesn't matter what our skills/talents are unless they fit with our values.  The definition of value includes words like important and desirable.  Given those words think of the things in your life like relationships, giving, faith, etc.  How important are they in your life.  How valuable are they?  Is it possible to practice a skill/talent within the confines of your values.

Have you ever had a job where you were good at it but it sucked the life out of you?  Most likely your skills/talents were being put to good use but your values were being compromised.  That type of situation isn't uncommon.

That's why understanding our values along with our skills/talents is an important step.  I'm really looking forward to this self-reflection.  I hope you will enjoy this as well.

Step 2

I would love to say that this step is about visualizing what I want in my life.  The problem with that is that I don't know what I want.  I can come closer to saying what I don't want than what I want.  That's the problem.

I believe in manifestation of our dreams.  I don't buy into the whole theory of "The Secret" where you open a catalogue of the universe and order up what you want.  I think it is more complex than that.  In addition to knowing what you want and being able to "order" it, I think you must act "as if".  For example, if you say, "I'm an actress", but you never audition for parts...it probably isn't true.  Sophia Coppola isn't going to ring your doorbell and tell you that you are the best person for a part in her next movie.  No, if you say you are an actress then you go to auditions, acting classes, read the rags, get an agent, etc.  You do the things that actresses do.  Then you are on your way.

But, in addition to "acting as if", I think there are other factors.  You always hear the term, "Karma is a bitch."  Well, if you lie, cheat and steal to manifest your dream, it probably won't turn out like you hoped.  Don't you think we were put here to be the best person we can be?  To serve a purpose?

Purpose...yea, that would be the core of "who I am."  So visualization will have to wait for another step while I figure out purpose.  My coach and I touched on this not too long ago.  But, in usual fashion I was impatient to get to the "doing" stage.  I've always been so driven to "be" somebody that I haven't given myself the chance to really explore what my skills and talents are.

So, Step 2, is to make a comprehensive list of skills and talents.  Blow them out with lots of detail.  Give them qualitative and quantitative measures.  Do you love to do something?  Are you an expert at something?  Do you have extreme depth of knowledge about something?  And, don't forget to add those less tangible talents.  I believe that listening, loving and nurturing are critical to society.  If you are really good at that...put it down.

I hope you will join me in this step.  I think it will be fun and eye opening.  If you have trouble, ask someone close to you to help you identify your strengths.  Sometimes it is easier for them to see you than it is for you to see you.

365 Days

Okay so I started writing this blog, thinking about how I'm going to figure out my path/purpose and wondering where I am going to fit in all the work.  But, overnight I started to formulate a plan in my head.  The reason I am here wondering what I should be doing with my life is because I always put myself low on my to-do list.

If you are a wife, mother, employee, daughter or sister you will understand what I mean.  I wake up with good intentions for doing something for me.  I mean, I am a middle-age, overweight woman who needs a pedicure and her eyebrows waxed.  That is just the beginning.  I also need a career that fulfills me and to finish unpacking from our move over 8 months ago!! Note*  If I unpack the rest of the mystery boxes I might find the rest of my clothes.

So, I think to myself every night as I get ready for bed, "I'm going to go for a nice long walk in the morning."  In the morning, I feed the dogs, and the boys if they are with us, then check my email.  I usually have a couple of things that I need to respond to whether personal or professional.  Once I get started I get behind immediately.  So the next thing I know I am rushing to take a quick shower to be somewhere on time.

What hit me last night is that I can't keep doing this.  The laundry, housework, emails and everything else will still be there if I take a little time to do something for me.  So for the next 365 days I am going to carve out at least one hour every day to do something that gets me out of my head, allows me to breathe and take care of myself.  I mean body and soul.  Exercise, go to an interesting lecture, read something that helps me grow or take a walk outside.

During the time that I gift myself I will be turning off and tuning in.  No cell phone or computer.  Listening to myself and feeling something other than rushed and stressed!!

Found this deal this morning and think I will give hot yoga a try.  Friends say that it is an amazing experience!!

Arrichion 20 hot yoga classes for $20!