Charmless Billy

Barely a week into the new job and I already lost my temper with a coworker over the phone today. I felt he was being patronizing and unhelpful over an issue we were both responsible for -- and he was a little, but not intentionally. I was out of line, and the fact that I was under stress was no excuse. I apologized by e-mail later, but I still feel terrible. I guess I'll talk to him next time he's in.

I'm not known for losing my cool on the job, and I hate it when it happens. Moments after the confrontation occurred, I started imagining that the entire office had heard it. A strange silence descended upon the place for the rest of the afternoon, it seemed. Colleagues rolling their eyes perhaps, thinking, Shit, what have we gotten ourselves into?

I prefer to be known as the coworker who spent his Oscar-pool winnings on cookies for the office. Now, that was a good move.