You work in a pretty conservative office environment.
You're in a meeting and close your office door while in the conference room.
You return to your office and continue working.
You reach for your wallet to go grab something quick to eat.
Your wallet is missing the $226 cash you had.
You know it was there BEFORE your meeting because you ordered something online.
How do you handle?
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Monica,
Your blog post on working a job that you hate touched a chord within me. I did that for so many years until that one day when I had enough and I just didn’t do any more.
I actually turned in my letter of resignation written on a page containing the following poem, a bit pompous, dramatical (I know that’s not a word, but it’s so appropriate in this case),
and completely overblown but also kind of cool, the expression of the supervisor that received it from me was priceless, (fortunately I never have had to, or will use them use them as a reference).
Anyway your blog post and some of the comments on it made me stop and think about what a long hard and ultimately worthwhile road it has been to get to this magically touched happy place where I am at now.
You need to know that sometimes the stuff you put on your blog is meaningful and has a positive impact on some of us that read it. Thank you for this. J-
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Do you know anyone who hates their job?
Not just hate their job...but REALLY hate their job year-after-year-after-year?
They hate the job so much all they can talk about is how much they hate their job?
And yet...year-after-year-after-year...nothing changes?
No new job?
No active search for a new job?
No promotion at the job?
No...nothing?
In YOUR opinion...what does that say about them?
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Your company has a program where they will pay to train you and get you ready to get Project Manager Certification.
It would be a MAJOR step in your career if you received it.
The company tells you, in no uncertain terms, that they frown upon employees failing the test since they rigurously prepare you.
You know of a former co-worker who didn't pass it and he stayed with the company for only a couple of months after he failed.
Would you, in the position you feel you're in now, try and get your Project Management Certification?
Or do you believe the risk would be too great right now...FOR YOU?
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You and your best friend IM pretty much throughout the day at work.
You're both VERY conservative at the office but yall cut the fool outside of work.
When you get to the office you see your best friend has already logged on and you send a message as one would only send to their best friend.
They don't respond for hours but no biggie...that's how yall get down.
You go into your meeting where you're giving a presentation to your department.
Your computer is hooked to the projector.
In the middle of your presentation your best friend responds to your IM from earlier which you'd X'd out of but forgot to LOG out of.
Don't make me fuck you up.
How do you handle?
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You loan a coworker $100.
The coworker said they'd pay you back in two weeks on payday.
Payday comes and goes...no dice.
Another payday comes and goes...no dice.
So you ask and they start bobbing and weaving. Ignoring you basically.
What do you do?
Would you get HR involved?
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You're out of work and not the type to sit around doing nothing waiting on the phone to ring.
You have a friend who owns a small business and you start helping them out.
You go to a meeting with the friend with one of their clients.
The client contacts you after the meeting and offers you a job because they were extremely impressed by you.
What do you do?
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Um...yeah...no. Take yo azz up to them people job and do what they are paying you to do while you are there during the time they are paying you to be there.
Seriously.
What is WITH people? Does this attitude ever surprise you?
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You're in charge of the office Holiday gift exchange.
You cut out everyone's name and put it in a container to be passed around at the weekly staff meeting.
You leave your desk and return to find a manager going through the container.
You clear your throat and they turn around looking guilty.
What do you say?
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I'm in Santa Monica, California at the American Film Market. We brought the first looks for our film, "The Coalition" here and we've been rocking and rolling the entire time.
We've had back-to-back meetings with people who buy and sell film. People who give you 15 minutes to convince them that you and your product are a good fit for their company. People who decide whether or not your film would make money.
Serious business.
This isn't a festival.
Ain't no kee-keeing and shoo-shooing going on.
This is the REAL.DEAL.
Yall know I pay attention to people. It's an occupational hazard. I watch people and am thoroughly entertained by simply watching.
I watched an EXTREMELY talented young man walk around dressed like a hobo. LIke...if he'd walked outside and pulled his grocery cart full of belongings out of an alley out back...I wouldn't have been surprised. I saw this and thought to myself...WHO IN THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS??????????
If Will Smith rolled up in there in sweats and a t-shirt...he's still get mad respect.
Denzel Washington? Same thing.
Clint Eastwood? He could show up in cowboy boots and boxers and folks would follow him around like ducklings.
These people have proved themselves in this industry so they get respect and can pretty much do whatever, whenever ya know?
Someone new to this however? You might need to show some respect to the process. Iron your damn clothes. Put on something presentable. Nobody is saying you gotta go Tom Ford on them mind you...but clean, pressed and appropriate should be a no-brainer.
At least to me.
I'm 42 years old and I still, as yall know, AGONIZE over what I'm going to wear when I need to show folks I respect the process and take my business seriously. These young folks on some other stuff. They're just so ARROGANT and are already so big, in their own head, that they feel like folks just need to hand ish to them.
That ain't how it works.
You have to get folks to WANT to work with you and/or help you and seriously...who wants to work with someone who couldn't even put in minor effort on their appearance?
Show up people. Show up and get in the game. Don't make it so hard on yourself.
Put your damn cleats on.
Who is teaching these kids how to handle business? Are you ever surprised at how some folks decide to show up looking during career related meetings?
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If you owned a small business and was finally ready to build out office space to accommodate your growth...would you have it set up where there were offices or would you have it set up where everyone was in the same room with the mindset that ideas feed off each other?
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Have you ever had to fire someone? Does it make you feel bad even if they were a really bad employee?
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You are a manager with your company.
There is a guy you've been feeling some kinda way about.
His confidence strikes you as arrogance and he annoys the pig ish outta you.
You've just been informed earlier this week that he's being transferred to your department.
Seems his last manager couldn't work with him but he's smart and a go-getter so they decided to move him instead of getting rid of him.
Cool.
No biggie.
You assign him to a project and give him his action items.
The first meeting with the client is today.
You've met with your team and discussed the project.
Everyone knows their roles.
The meeting starts and you lay out the plan.
The client is excited.
Your team is working well together.
New dude interrupts and says...he'd taken the liberty of laying out an optional plan of action that would save the client several hundred thousands of dollars.
He stands up and starts passing out his plan.
What do you do?
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You get to work and everyone is acting all weird.
Turns out there are going to be layoffs today.
They will be announced at noon.
What do you do until noon?
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It's been a minute since I've been pissed off on the blog.
Lemme rectify that right quick...
In the past month I've known three people who have been flat out fired from their jobs for showing their azz.
I haven't been able to give any of them any words of encouragement.
AT.ALL.
See...I just don't get it.
Getting laid off is one thing. Getting fired?
HELL.NO.
This ain't the climate to be showing your azz at work when you know damn good and well you need your job. Folks ain't juggling multiple offers like talking 'bout anymore. Folks ain't putting out 20 new job ads a day. Folks ain't trying to deal with bullshit from an employee knowing good and well they can hire someone OVERQUALIFIED to do the same job you're doing for the same money.
I don't get this shit.
You're supposed to be to work at 8:00? GET YOUR AZZ THERE AT 7:45 AND GET SETTLED HELL!
You're supposed to have Project A done by Friday? TURN THAT SHIT IN TO YOUR BOSS ON THURSDAY MORNING SO YOU CAN GET SOME MENTORING AND FEEDBACK!
Too much work for you to complete before 5:00? SOUNDS LIKE YOUR AZZ NEEDS TO BE THERE TILL 6:30 SOME EVENINGS!
You're supposed to answer the phone when the receptionist goes out to lunch twice a week? YOU'D BETTER GET UP THERE AND GET YOUR SWITCHBOARD SKILLS RIGHT!
The world we know is resetting. Bullshit ain't flying anymore because employers know good and damn well they have the upper hand. Sure...a lot of employers are still on some bullshit but until you have another job lined up...you're going to have to learn to DEAL.
And those of you who think you're irreplaceable? YOU'RE NEVER IRREPLACEABLE.
NEVER.
EVER.
EVER.
Shit...I'd fire your azz first just to send a message throughout the ranks that bullshit will NOT be tolerated on ANY level.
I don't get mofos walking around doing what the hell THEY want to do and thinking they should still be employed.
Yeah...um...no.
You're a responsible flipping adult.
Go up to them people job and do what the hell they hired you to do.
Shit.
Oh...and please know I'm the LAST person you need to turn to for sympathy in this situation.
Do YOU know anyone who's been fired recently for some bullshit?
SIP: Why you steal boxes? You building a clubhouse?
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Bust your ass and get rich.
Make a boatload of money. Pay your taxes. Lots of taxes. Hire people. Train people. Pay people. Spend money on rent, equipment, services. Pay more taxes.
When you make a shitload of money. Do something positive with it. If you are smart enough to make it, you will be smart enough to know where to put it to work.
I don’t care what anyone says. Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefiting you and your family, but in the broader sense. Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make the more of a financial impact you can have.
I’m not against government involvement in times of need. I am for recognizing that big public companies will continue to cut jobs in an effort to prop up stock prices, which in turn stimulates the need for more government involvement. Every cut job by the big companies extracts a cost on the American people in one way or another.
Entrepreneurs are needed to create and grow companies to absorb those people in new jobs. If entrepreneurs don’t create those jobs, the government ends up having to spend more money to help them one way or another.
So be Patriotic. Go out there and get rich. Get so obnoxiously rich that when that tax bill comes , your first thought will be to choke on how big a check you have to write. Your 2nd thought will be “what a great problem to have”, and your 3rd should be a recognition that in paying your taxes you are helping to support millions of Americans that are not as fortunate as you.
In these times of “The Great Recession” we shouldn’t be trying to shift the benefits of wealth behind some curtain. We should be celebrating and encouraging people to make as much money as they can. Profits equal tax money. While some people might find it distasteful to pay taxes. I don’t. I find it Patriotic.
I’m not saying that the government’s use of tax money is the most efficient use of our hard-earned capital. It obviously is not. In a perfect world, there would be a better option. We don’t live in a perfect world. We don’t live in a perfect time. We live in a time where the government plays a big role in an effort to help lead us out this Great Recession. That’s reality.
So I will repeat my point. Get out there and make a boatload of money. Enjoy the shit out your money. Pay your taxes.
It’s the most Patriotic thing you can do.
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Producer to Producer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low Budgets Independent Film Producing
What are YOU reading?
What's the last book you read that was career related?
Do you and your S/O ever read the same books?
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What do you think of a person with a messy desk at the office? Does it make you think they aren't efficient?
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I know more than a few people looking for a job.
ANY.JOB.
And it breaks my heart that I can't help them.
These people aren't unemployable mind you...they just can't get a dang job because there are so many others out of work currently and the competition is fierce.
Yesterday we got some REALLY good tips regarding selling your home so today...I hope you guys wouldn't mind giving some good tips on how to find a job, how to knock an interview out the park and...how to navigate and negotiate offers.
Cuz seriously...yall rock!
Let's help give some folks a leg up in the competition. Bring it on! Any tips you have that could help someone revamp their job search...PLEASE SHARE!
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"sisters." - Completed March 2010
"Marco Polo" - Completed August 2010
"Commitment" - Completed October 2010
"When Beautiful People Do Ugly Things" - Completed March 2011
"The Coalition" - ROUGH CUT COMPLETED WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 BAAAAABBBBBYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I see it all in line, one after the other...it's pretty dang amazing. We rock. GO US!
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Unemployment for Blacks is close to double the unemployment rate for Whites.
Do you think this is a factor of the NEW (not to be confused with the OLD) sense of racial "discourse" we've noted since 2008?
I was reading this story and this young man's plight made me go hmmmmmmmmm:
Christopher Scott, 20 and a high school drop-out, got a GED last year, but he hasn't been able to find a job ever since.
"It makes me feel degraded in a way cause at 20, I should be more independent," Scott says.
What do you think about HIS situation? Do you think the number is so high because of more people with situations like his or do you think this is affecting those who took the more traditional route as far as college and hard work is concerned to this high of a level too?
What do you think we can do about people like Christopher?
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An old co-worker is your "friend" on Facebook.
They've been out of work since they were laid off from your company.
They call you and as if you would have a problem telling the people that might do a reference check on them that they still work there.
Because they can't find a job being unemployed.
They state they changed that ONE THING on their resume and now they are getting interviews.
They don't want you to flat out lie necessarily...but to just not correct the person if they say something along the lines.
You good?
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What's the last networking event you attended? Was it REALLY a networking event? Was it worth you going if you judge it by the connections you made regarding YOUR field of interest?
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I watched a chick walk up to her boss today and say the following...
Chick: I left my Facebook account open on my computer and someone updated my status to: "I sure do stink today."
Her boss just stared at her.
I stared at them.
Then she said...
Chick: I think it was _____. Are you going to talk to him and tell him that isn't cool? You don't do stuff like that. Can you believe he did that?
Her boss just stared at her.
I stared at them.
The boss closed the door.
When he opened the door to walk out...she was sitting at his desk on his computer on Facebook.
WHERE THEY DO THAT 'ET??????????????????????????
What is the Facebook policy at YOUR J-O-B?
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Morning Monica.
I have an.......odd situation, and I could really use a different prospective from the Tribe.
I have it on good authority that I am about to be offered a promotion.
I don't want the promotion.
There are several reasons I don't want the promotion. I won't elaborate here, but if anyone thinks knowing the reasons will help them help me, I'm all about it.
I am perfectly comfortable in my job now. I have had positive reviews. I'm not afraid to move forward. I like where I am now because it affords me a good salary for the work I do, and it allows me to balance work and life in a manner that is mutually conducive to my family and hobbies.
So this is what I need help with. If I am offered this position, what are some ways that I can respectfully decline without being deemed "afraid" or "insecure in my abilities" "not being a team player" or just not being considered for the next promotion that comes along?
I'm thinking since I didn't ask for the promotion I should be alright, but I can't be sure, and I don't want to step on any toes along the way.
I don't care if you use my name, edit for length, and if it's ok, I'll respond in the comments section.
TO THE INBOXER: Don't use your name when you comment. These things have a way of getting weird when you do. ~ SIP
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When's the last time you attended a seminar, workshop, conference, festival, etc. that had to do with your PASSION?
Was it worth it?
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I have an immense respect for the average everyday hustler.
Seriously.
We walked out of the ballpark today and a man was right in the middle of the street with a cooler full of ice water selling them for $1. Inside the ballpark...water was $4.
Dude was bout it too. ICE COLD WATER ONE DOLLAR! IT'S FOUR DOLLARS INSIDE...ONE DOLLAR OUTSIDE! GET YOUR ICE COLD WATER!
Robby and I got to talking about how this current economic climate has changed the lives of so many and I told him that I had nothing but the utmost respect for a man who grabbed a cooler...filled it with ice and water and came down to the baseball game. That simple entrepreneurial spirit at work.
We thunk on it some more and wondered where that same man would be in life had he utilized that SMART sense of hustle early on in his life and then we determined that hey...dude could be a multi-millionaire constantly on his hustle. Constantly looking for ways to MAKE money.
I have nothing but respect for hustlers man.
Hustle hard...hustle smart.
Keep hustling.
Your world won't get better if you're lazy.
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A co-worker tells you they came in early and saw one of your colleagues sitting at your desk going through your drawers.
You don't know that colleague like that.
What do you do?
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Yesterday I was at the gym and couldn't find my workout card.
I looked myself and then had two someones look for me.
No dice.
I was told I'd have to get another workout card made and that I could schedule an appointment with a trainer to make a new one next week.
Me: That's not happening. I need my card today. You guys put the cards away so my card should be here right?
I was then told a trainer couldn't do it for me now because they didn't have time.
Me: I understand, I'd like to speak with a manager please.
The manager came and walked to the back and brought out a stack of cards.
My card was in there.
I thanked duded and continued with my strength training portion of my workout.
And THAT'S why dude is a manager.
I hate people with the types of attitudes that makes it all about them and what their PERSONAL schedule can accomodate even though they are in a customer service industry or providing service of some type to someone. Irks the pig ish outta me. Folks wonder why they don't get promotions or they don't get moved up the ladder OR...they get fired. Well dude...it's because you don't go that extra. That extra separates you from the GREAT employees. That extra makes it so it's a joy for people to work with you. That extra makes it so that whenever something major is going on...your name is on the list.
That extra is your spotlight.
We were shooting a movie and I looked over and saw one of the extras breaking down some equipment with crew. WOW.
That extra will ALWAYS be on my list.
Our Producer ALWAYS brings a sport jacket to sets just in case we need some crossover action from a guy in a jacket that we haven't used yet. Robby? Dude brings casual clothes, business clothes, etc. Just in case. When something needs doing...he digs in and gets it done. My girls Becca and Pam always show up whenever they can to be an extra. Whenever they see me looking puzzled they ask what they can get for me. They will always, always, ALWAYS be on my list.
SPOTLIGHT.
I don't like it when folks give me issues pertaining to them when asked to do something relatively simple. It's like...why even start off listing negatives before you even take the time to think it through? There could be a possible good reason and/or solution to the problem that you could have resolved without a whole lot of lip.
I worked with someone once who always had an excuse for doing something I didn't like. The work they did was okay once they did it the way I wanted it done...but there was always some lip action.
Me: I don't like _____. Please fix it by doing _____.
Them: I did that because _______ and ______.
Me: *BLINK* Please fix it by doing _____.
The conversation SHOULD have gone:
Me: I don't like _____. Please fix it by doing _____.
Them: Okay.
Simple.
Egos and attitudes and making it all about you is not the way to be a team player. Remind yourself of this often. Check yourself before someone has to take the time to check you.
Do YOU have that EXTRA?
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What do you think about crying at work? Is it automatically a bad thing or does it show passion for your job? When you've seen someone cry at work...did it change your perception of them?
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You're a manager with your company.
You walk out to take something to one of the employees on your team.
They are sleeping at their desk.
How do you handle?
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Have you ever been in a meeting and was offended by someone in the meeting? What did you do?
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I got annoyed recently at a dude who isn't a college graduate and yet seems to have had an okay life so far. Dude works in a service industry and has a life that seems comparable to that of someone who has a graduate degree and is working in a position of management.
I got annoyed because dude came across as trying to celebrate college dropouts who made it as if it should be a source of encouragement to those who were on the fence about going to or completing college.
I doubt if Steve Jobs ever had to fill out a job application in his entire life.
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Getting to work with people I already trust, have genuine affection for and trust.
That shat is hot!
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One of the Tribe needs some advice from a real live employment attorney so if you're one or know of one...please send me an email so I may connect you.
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Your work setup is a huge room with open cubicles.
Most of you listen to music using your headphones.
You do too but when you're really concentrating hard...you don't.
One of your co-workers has a habit of humming to themselves when a song comes on they really get into.
Whenever someone mentions it...they stop.
No biggie.
The co-worker is a nice person and you like them but the humming is way old.
You've joked around with them about their humming before but nothing has happened.
You're ready to choke the shat outta them.
How do you handle?
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I've decided to become a Relationship Expert.
To make me more official-er...I'm also going to call myself a Dr. as in my first name. Monica shall be my middle name. Mingo...last. SIPh.D are the initials behind my name that I'm going to use officially.
The title of my first book shall be called...
"Keep Ya Titty In Ya Bra...and other words of wisdom."
Send me money.
Buy my product.
Coming soon.
I mean cuz really...the only criteria it seems you need in order to call yourself a RELATIONSHIP EXPERT...is just to call yourself one right?
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.
o_0
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Your coworker is always talking about terrorists and how she doesn't trust Muslims and about how bad the illegal immigration problem is and how they are killing up everybody.
You don't really engage her but sit next to her so you have to listen to this ridiculousness on a regular basis and have perfected your side eye and IGNORE as far as she's concerned.
She listens to all the scary radio talk shows via her headphones.
You haven't said anything to anyone about her rhetoric cuz it's really not that big of a deal to you.
This morning you decide to honor the moment of silence for the victims of the Arizona shooting.
Your phone rings during the moment and you don't answer it.
When you finish she asks you why didn't you answer your phone and you tell her you were participating in the moment of silence our President asked for out of respect for the attempted assassination of the Congresswoman and the killing of 6 Americans by a homegrown terrorist.
Her response: That kid was deranged! He wasn't a terrorist! You're listening to too much liberal media!
Do you respond? If so...how? Do you talk to anyone in Human Resources about her? Do you say anything to your boss? You've never said anything before...would this make you?
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Does YOUR company give Christmas bonuses? Did they used to before the economy slumped?
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Yall know that the unemployement stuff you pay is for insurance right?
Right.
It's not like it's a pot of money with your name on it and once the money runs out...you don't get anymore.
It's INSURANCE. You pay your insurance premiums when you're employed in the event you're ever UNEMPLOYED (for a good reason) and then you may use the BENEFIT of having the insurance in the first place.
Same as your car and homeowners insurance.
Folks wouldn't be ashamed about using their car insurance if they were in an accident so they dang sure shouldn't be 'shame 'bout using their unemployement insurance. That's what it's THERE for. You PAID for it...you should be able to USE it when you NEED to.
Now...I'm a bit annoyed right now as I've been for a minute at all of the idjits on what passes for news making it seem as if Americans who have worked hard all of their life and paid their insurance premiums shouldn't be allowed to use them in the manner by which they should be used.
Sure...some folks are using them for longer than usual but guess what? THESE FOLKS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR LONGER THAN USUAL!
I'm feeling some kinda way as you can tell.
AND THEN...THEN...I hear about this deadbeat azz dad dude who hadn't worked for dang near a year before Katrina still getting unemployment payments and I understand why so many folks think there are people out there misusing the system and representing their circumstances differently and getting over.
Sheesh.
The system is fugged up but I'd bet the majority of the people using their benefits really wish they didn't have to. I mean hell...the bit of money they pay out to folks is NOT paying folks' bills in their entirety. No way in hell ESPECIALLY when folks have been out of work for SIGNIFICANT time.
Sorry...I just got annoyed by something regarding Unemployment and it reminded me of how pissed I was a week ago when a fool said some crazy ish on "Morning Joe."
What do YOU think about extending the period by which folks may use their unemployment insurance? Have YOU ever had to use your unemployment insurance? Were you ever 'SHAMED to do so? If so...WHY WERE YOU 'SHAME?
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Your boss is in a pissy mood and says to you:
"You may be talented but you're not irreplaceable."
Would you start looking for a new job?
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