Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
new job story
Hopalong:
Well, it's kinda funny.
Six months after I got myself fired by Nboss, I finally reached out to someone local whom I knew he had worked for when he first came to this area. Same industry, just a small-scale retail version. The story I'd heard somewhere was that Nboss had basically taken advantage of this man, swiped customers and gone off to begin his own enterprise (which I'd joined about a year later).
So I wrote...after an awkward call to his store during which the nice employee who gave me the right email to write to, also clued me in that "he" was now "she." Fascinating! The new boss, a pleasant and interesting woman, was male back when Nboss worked for him. Anyway, she is now a transgender woman (still in the process) in my general age group...and she hired me PT for an expansion idea she has. Just 3 days/week for now. She knows my goal is FT by Thanksgiving (so I don't have to dip into retirement funds).
In a nutshell, I find her personally very likeable, even endearing, and professionally ditsy as hell. I'm mostly enjoying it, save for those times when her time management issues make me look like a professional organizer. But I'm grateful, and hoping that our collaboration will build a nice new revenue stream for her that will trickle down enough to me to make me feel safe.
The "office" is absurd...gorgeously decorated little space behind a warehouse space...no air, but it's pretty! But I'm finding it's okay. For one thing, the business is right downtown which I LIKE. I take walks on the sidewalk with Other Humans (imagine!) and am getting exercise going up and down the stairs too. Goofy, but I'm overall pretty happy. I have told her that sometimes I'm just going to take my laptop and head for a coffee house to get a change of scene and fresh air. I didn't ask, but told. I think the trust is growing so when I do that for the first time next week, she'll find she can handle it. I couldn't take it being in that basement space all winter so I want to set a healthier precedent now.
I've been there three weeks and really do feel appreciated. She seems dazed by how much I know about this niche. And we have fun brainstorming together. She says it's the first time she's ever been able to "talk shop" with anyone to this extent, because she's been a solo business owner for such a long time.
I've avoided talking about Nboss with her for the most part. I think she's absorbed my hints that my former situation wasn't good and so far, she is treating me with much more respect than he ever did. I am grateful for that.
I'm pretty much taking things one day at a time, and it's improved my life and outlook already. More later as things move ahead.
Hugs
Hops
Twoapenny:
Hopsie this sounds like a good situation! Really good that you are putting 'getting out of the office' stuff in place from the start and maybe the ditzy aspects will settle once you've been there for a while. It sounds like she may not have had an example to follow and has probably been too busy to get on top of things? That could all change now you're there, it sounds great. Funny that you've both experienced NBoss, he certainly gets around! Anyway, keep us posted. I'm glad that things are sounding good :) Are you still doing the wine tasting thing as well? x
lighter:
Hi Hops:
It warms my heart to read your take on those pieces that don't serve you..... the darkness of basement space in the winter, and how you'll proactively handle it, for instance.
The only thing that popped up for me was the respect part...... driving the mission forward, without being cast in role as professional organizer, seems obvious, and a little tricky to me.
If new boss gets dependant on you for organization it might be hard to keep the mission on track without new boss feeling.... resentment? Losing perspective?
Not sure, just sharing what came up. Honestly, your post has so much promise, and hope, and possibility for growth..... I'm very happy for you.
I can just imagine the creativity radiating off you. How wonderful to take a project you feel competent and confident to run with....
and run.
Breath the busy, sunny, productive fall air, my friend.
What wonderful news: )
Lighter
Hopalong:
Hi Tupp,
Thanks for the good wishes...no, the wine-serving adventure was over after 3 weekends. I had only 2 days/wknd and they cancelled half of them as I was heading out the door to work. They hadn't explained it was a new retail model where if the business anticipates a slow day (again, last minute) they'll just cancel a worker's scheduled shift to trim costs. I arranged my calendar to put work first and it didn't sit well that they would increase low-paid workers' instability that way. Very exploitative. Secondly, my 22-y/o glamorous manager treated me like an irrelevant bad smell, refused to train me thoroughly and literally turned her back and gossiped away with a yet-younger worker when there were no customers. She clearly didn't like having an older person around.One day when I realized I felt like crying (Mean Girl memories) I decided it wasn't worth it. I've never regretted the decision for a moment.
Hi Lighter,
Yes, it'll be tricky at times because of her issues. But that's not something I can really control or fix, I don't think. So I'm just staying focused on what's positive and what does work, and hoping for the best. I'm well engaged and she appears to be sincere about moving my position to FT as soon as her financing for the expansion is lined up. If that does not happen, then I'll look elsewhere...but for now, I'm accepting her at face value. In the present, it's good.
Thanks, guys -- I'll keep posting job stories on this thread as they come up!
hugs
Hops
JustKathy:
Wow, Hops, congratulations! This job sounds wonderful. Even though you don't yet have the full-time schedule you need, it does sound like you're really hitting it off with your new boss, and will get to that place very soon. So happy for you. :D
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