Light Bulb!

I spent a few hours last night, working on changes to my site, here…..OK, let’s just be honest now, I spent a few hours watching as my fabulous web designer worked on my site, but my point I was heading towards, is that I decided I need to be more diligent in updating my posts.  I truly get a lot of enjoyment, fulfilment, and a great sense of satisfaction out of hitting publish, when I have spent time pouring out my heart in one of these  forums.  I need to do it much more often.  I can write on just about any topic, as I have an opinion on just about every topic, so why not just do it?!  OK, fine, I have talked myself totally into it, now someone just remember to remind me if I slack off a bit.  Someone…anyone…just poke me or something!

Topic of the day: Employment.  That’s a biggie in my life right now.  I have spent the last, ten or twelve years, in some sort of management role.  I love being the boss, in a lot of ways, and in a lot of aspects of my personal life too, if truth be told.  Shocker for those of you who know me, I know!  I love people.  I love when they can learn, and grow from me.  I love how easy it usually is to gain their trust, support and loyalty.  And, I love how they usually end up working for me, not necessary the company I am hired by.  I have a lot of friends, who were at one point, employed by me, and I think that speaks volumes for the quality of manager I am.

I want to be completely honest here, so I am about to say something out loud, I may never have officially admitted to before.  I may not be the greatest manager when it comes to holding people accountable, and/or being tough enough to get the job done.  There, it’s out.  I  always end up being exhausted as a manager, trying to see that everything gets done, while maybe forgetting to delegate where I probably need to.  I am a people person, as you might be able to attest to already.  I like when people like me.  I don’t necessarily live my life caring about what people think of me, or changing who I am to suit others’ needs, but I do like to be liked.  I manage with my heart, and sometimes, that comes at the expense of the “Numbers”.  I honestly believe, if you care about the people who work for you, they will work harder for you, then if you make life unnecessarily difficult for them.  I have also, always been the type of manager who believes in walking the walking.  I have never asked an employee to do anything I can’t do myself, no matter what it is.  I often tell the tale of how I overcame some of my fear of heights.  I have been afraid of heights since climbing a church tower in Switzerland as a twelve year old.  I couldn’t step on the second wrung of a ladder without my knees shaking, and feeling like I was going to throw up.  While working in a particular store, we had very high ceilings and lightbulbs that constantly needed changing.  I avoided that task myself, until one day an employee said to me that I didn’t HAVE to do it because I was management, and could make them do it!  Well, that didn’t sit well with me, and I changed the damn lightbulbs…on a twelve foot ladder, just to prove that, even management has to do some things they don’t like to do.

So, I managed a team of 55 telemarketers, a staff of anywhere from 8-25 as a store manager, and, most recently, a staff of sales reps, ranging from 5-15, I would say.  And, I was constantly in a state of stress.  When things were good, I felt I could breathe, temporarily, but invariably, things beyond my control would creep in, and I would go from taking three steps forward to taking four steps back.  In every situation, as a manager, when I felt too much stress, I jumped back into my comfort zone, and selling.  I am a good salesperson because I just love to talk, and I can get passionate about something if I believe in it.  I have been seeling since Girl Guide cookies, in some form or another.  I get quite a rush out of the people who originally tell me no, and I convince them to step over to my side, and open their wallest!  I have never lied to make a sale, and I don’t believe a true salesperson ever has to.  I am not aggressive, I am assertive.  I am not pushy, I am persuasive.  I have an answer for just about everything, and sometimes they are just silly enough to get a laugh, or make someone stop for just an extra second or two, to listen to what I have to say.

Why am I telling you all this, you might ask?  About a month ago, my stress level was through the roof in my newest management role.  I wasn’t sleeping, barely eating, and never really having a day off, as no matter how hard I tried to interview, hire and train new people, the numbers were just not coming in.  I was doing 10-12 hours days, splitting them between managing and selling.  I was quite seriously, looking to move on.  There is no amount of money, or benefits, worth jeopardizing your health, and I was certainly doing just that.  People were starting to worry about me, and I will apologize to them right here, right now.  I sometimes forget how much stock people can put in a heavy facebook status!  So, when the big boss suggested we switch my role, I told him I was willing to try anything, and just grateful not to be given my walking papers.  I was presented a couple of options, but my final decision did not need to be made right away.  They put me back into a sales role, temporarily, if I choose.  I switched from a program where I could do between two and three sales an hour, to one I am now doing six to seven an hour!  Woo, way less rejection there!  The customer base is entirely different, and much softer.  I am working approximately 17-25 hours a week, still making my same salary, minus my car and cellphone allowance.  My sanity, my health, and my morale is worth tons more than $525 a month!    And, I am only responsible for my own numbers, not everyone’s.  That is huge!  I never thought I could be happy, being in position with no real authority, but Baby, I am loving it!!!!  I make my own schedule.  I get to work in the store nearest my grandsons, once every few weeks.  I work around hair appointments, nail appointments, and trips away.  I don’t have to worry about texts or phone calls on the weekends.  Don’t get me wrong, I have built some great relationships with a couple of the girls who worked for me, and I will always be a support for them, by phone or otherwise, but it is on an entirely different level, I really enjoy.  I really don’t think I want to go back to managing anyone but me, at least not till this stops being fun again!  I am really having fun with this, and it feels good.  I don’t know if it will stay fun, years down the road, but it is giving me the freedom to explore whatever options I choose to, between now and then.  To say I am enormously relieved would be a grave understatement, but it will suffice until I come up with something better….maybe next post!