Frustration

There comes a time in all of our careers where things don't go so well. Don't get me wrong- Budget isn't closing her doors anytime soon. But, whether its lack of business, morale, hiring problems, et cetera, we all get angry and frustrated sometimes, no matter how much we love our jobs.

How much are you willing to take at your job? Are you in it for the long haul, or are you just balancing on a stepping stone? That's a scary answer I'm sure. Hell, it's a scary question too. But it's a question we must all ask ourselves if we are to be happy. Being in a job you tolerate or like can be rewarding. Can be.

In spite of your best efforts, sometimes there are road blocks, and other obstacles along the way that can stop you from doing you best. These road blocks can even stop you from caring. Being jaded and cynical in the business world is not a good way to be. Being naive and foolish is also a bad idea.

Like many things in life, business, a good one, is a delicate balance. You must take it seriously, but you must also be calm and lax about it. You must work hard, but you must also rest and slack off every once and awhile. This is your job. Maybe even your career. What's the point in doing anything if you can't enjoy it somehow? Because you stop living after a while of being stuck in a place you hate. You just...survive.

I am frustrated at work. We are having morale and hiring issues, and this is augmented by the fact that we had a very rough and very slow August (as was expect, summer is our slow season). And my stress can leak through and contaminate others very easily. As I try to claw my way out of my own negativity, the others around me must also be trying to better themselves and keep a positive attitude. Otherwise, why are we even here? What are we even doing? Why does it even matter? It fuckin' doesn't.

Sometimes, you're the only one that wants to make a change for the better. Or at least try to make a change. But you must also realize that just because others don't care as much as you do, don't listen to you enough, or ignore you too much, doesn't mean you have to yield to the status quo and become another mindless cog in the grave great machine of work.

We all get frustrated sometimes. We all wanna quit our jobs at least once in our lives. That's normal. But you must also ask yourself if your complaints are genuine feelings of anger and disgust, or just workplace Monday blues. Think about it.

Taking Crap

No matter how good you are, no matter how hard you try, you just can't please everyone. And sometimes, it is directly your fault that you haven't pleased someone. This goes true in life, and in business. Hence the title of this entry, "Taking Crap".

Customers that complain are very important to a business. They let you know what you're doing wrong, what needs to be improved on, what you need to do to be a better company as a whole. I'm glad that we get customers that complain at Budget. We're not perfect, nor will we ever be.

But we all run into individuals in our lives, whether personal or professional, that simply cannot be satisfied. No matter what you do, there is always a problem, there is always something they want done over, there is always a discount they want applied. These types of people (perhaps you are one for shame, shame) can often sour the positive mood of a company, and wreck morale.

This shouldn't happen.

No matter what criticisms you receive in your life, take them with grace, and dignity. Stand up for yourself when applicable, and accept/admit when you are wrong. It gets hard to listen to customers complain sometimes not because it annoys me. It's just that...I feel like I failed them, and I want to try and make things right. As for the other type, I simply deal with them the best I can, and then disconnect from the feelings that the situation has inflicted upon me.

Being in business means you must being accepting of criticism, and capable to take abuse. A thick skin combined with a good attitude and acute intelligence will prevent you from being hurt, and allow you to improve and grow your business.

Any war stories you'd like share?

Hard Work Breaks Office Chains

Over the past weekend, Budget got a large account. So large in fact, that we didn't have enough people to do it, so I and my father worked alongside four other employees to get the job done. After my father left for a wedding, it was just me, and the crew. The manager in me spoke up, making sure that I watched everything that was going on, and made sure that everything got done right. But there was another part of my job and position that I had forgotten about, and that's the physical, back breaking labor.

When I was a teenager, I would work over the summer with my 'rents cleaning homes. I would dust, wash floors, and clean bathrooms. It was hard work. In fact, the only other time I've encountered something more difficult on a job site was working at a farm slingin' hay bales. Anyway, I had become restless at Budget as of late. Bored. Unproductive. In fact, I was dreading the past weekend, and wanted someone else to take my place. But there was no-one else.

There was no-one else, and I am glad that there wasn't. I had forgotten about the physical end of the job, and how rewarding it is to work alongside with other people going towards the same goal you are- cleaning. I was sore, covered in sweat, mentally and physically exhausted,  but I went home that day knowing that we, not I, we did a good job, and out customer will be happy. And guess what? They were happy.

If you are stuck in an office for the majority of the day like I am, try and get out in the field somewhere to do some real, honest to goodness physical labor if you can, or are able. It shakes off the dust of being a sedentary creature sitting at a computer all day. I know this because I am recharged and re motivated to do good in the company again, and it was all because I reminded myself of how hard all our employees work, and how much time they put into they're jobs. I feel like a new man. I truly do.