Who asks for more work to do?!

I half-volunteered to do some extra work at work.  I say "half-volunteered" because I never come right out and say "oh, I'll do that".  Some people already think I'm too helpful, so I just casually say "if you want me to help..."

There are a few reasons why I offered:

  1. Some of the stuff in this paperwork mountain has been sitting out there since 2005 - it's not that difficult to clear.  Time-consuming, yes (esp when you have to wait for people to fax you stuff), but not really difficult.  Doesn't it bother people to have stuff just sit out there?

2. I have a superiority complex - I think I can do basically anything I set my mind to.  Stuff that I "can't" do is more or less because I haven't yet tried.  I know - delusions of grandeur :)  But given #1, anyone could clear out the list if they would just do it.  (Nike, don't sue me for using your trademark!).

3. I have some free time - or I did, when some of my people were out of the office last week.  Some are back so things might get busy again, but for a while, I was just filing paperwork and waiting for something to do.

4. Given the current economic climate, wouldn't you want to do whatever you can to make yourself invaluable?  I certainly think so.

5. I'm a sucker for praise - if I can make real progress on this mountain of paperwork, maybe people will tell me how amazing I am :)

I've only started working on this mountain but already there are a couple that were easily matched up to other stuff - you just had to know where to look.  I guess people don't bother - they just look at the first page.  I know - people are busy, they don't have time to be a detective, but I am a curious person so I'll always follow the trail.