The past two days have been met with a somewhat disturbing revelation. This revelation reinforces that which I already know, but hoped I was wrong about.
You will never make it anywhere in life if you have to rely on someone else to get there.
Story time:
So, the theory was pretty straightforward. I'd simply work in jewelry until I gained the experience necessary to go to the next level - management. I'd study in my free time. I'd study while I worked, and concentrate on what I already knew when I wasn't studying. I'd understand sales. I'd end up as a talented bench jeweler and designer. I'd make sure that I understood how business worked on a small scale and a large corporate scale. I'd make sacrifices of money, time, security and sanity. I'd prepare everyday waiting for an opportunity to arise. Then, when it did, I'd pounce on it. Not only would I dive in, I'd make a big splash too.
After, success at jewelry management, and advancement through a couple of rungs on the corporate ladder I'd jump. I'd start my own company. It wouldn't have anything to do with jewelry. I'd consult, and teach a new way of thinking about management.
The business plan is already finishded. I know how the advertising will work. I know how much PROFIT I'll make in the first year. I even know how much staff I'll need to hire. I know the office space I'll need, and I'm even pretty sure I know what my desk will eventually look like. I know what my expenses will be. I can even tell you that I'd be able to run at a profit from the beginning. Mind you, it may be a small profit initially, but, within one year, it'll grow to be huge.
The only thing that I lack at this point in time is credibility. "What does an unproven hick with no degree from the hills of Western Maryland know about business? He has no management experience on his resume whatsoever. If he's so good then why is he still searching for that perfect employer? Why does he need anything at all? He's got it aaaaaalllll figured out.", and I do. lol. (I don't, but I've figured out a great deal more than my current and former employers.) The difference between them and me is the fact that I understand one basic truth. I'm not right all the time.
I spend everyday doing three things:
1. Having a correct opinion, attitude, and purpose in my own profession, and in my own life.
2. Planning on what I'll do and how I'll react when I'm inevitably wrong.
and
3. Studying to figure out how to modify my current behavior and opinions to support #1.
It sounds boring, but that's all autopilot stuff. It comes naturally to everyone... at least the first two. That, is what separates me, and many other people from my former employers. They do the first two parts well, but they will be beaten by someone who does the third part, and crushed by someone who's good at it.
"When you are not practicing, remember; someone, somewhere, is practicing, and when you meet him he will win." - Ed Macauley
I'll run things differently. I understand what employees are looking for, and I'm willing to give it to them. This isn't arrogance talking. This is the same as you or anyone else saying that one and one makes two. It's something I've learned through study. Management is something that can be learned, and I can prove it. You just need to have the right teachers. I've found the right books, and, if examples on how not to do things are good teachers, then I guess I have had the best. But there is someone out there who understands exactly what I'm saying. I haven't found them yet, but they're out there.
This has led me to an unsettling conclusion. I need to be that teacher - somehow. I had hoped to go the easy route: become a store manager and train people to be better people, not better employees. i would raise their standards, and in doing so, I'd create an environment where everyone was challenged yet happy and supportive.
It would be a team atmosphere, and in that vein there would be unfortunate cuts to the roster. The reason for those cuts being that I would build the best team possible all the time. This would create a sort of utopia for my staff because as long as they worked to be the best they are always safe. Always. I will always go to bat for them. I will take the punishment from up above because I know that my team is the best team possible, and they will succeed from it.
There'd unfortunately, be no room for gimmes. Everyone has to perform all the time. There will always be room for fun, and lots of it, but we will be there to accomplish our goals first, no matter what we have to do in order to accomplish them.
We will work hard to play very hard.
That was the plan, and it still may be, but for now it looks like I have some difficult decisions to make. The store that I was told that I'd be taking over is the performing well above expectations since the time I've been hired. The manager is obviously doing something right, and I commend them for that. I have no desire to move anywhere else in the region I'm in, even if there was an opening. (I hear that a store in western NY is available... brrrr) So, that means I have to find a different region to go to in order to take a manager's job (most likely scenario... hopefully in the Baltimore/DC area - at least I have lots of friends there). Or, I have to start my own company and just market around any credibility issues (I've talked about this for years, but I just always wanted to be a bit more secure financially before going this route). Stick it out with the region I'm in and wait for someone to screw up in the two places I'd accept (not at this pay rate). Or, go work for a different company (the least likely of all scenarios).
I'll know more info about my current status on Tuesday, but I think it looks grim. Most of you don't realize the frustrations I've had in dealing with jobs where things were promised, but never delivered. This is one more time that it's happened. Eventually, you'd think I'd come to expect it, but I always hold out hope that maybe this manager will be the one to show me that they worked harder to get where they are than I did to remain where I am. The frustration mounts.
So, tomorrow I'm off to a store in West, by God, Virginia. I'll be working with someone who carries a loaded gun to work, and she is not a cop (or fbi agent). It could be interseting. I guess I'd better compliment her on her hair.
Tuesday I plan to be in the Baltimore/DC area, and I'll stay til Wednesday. It'll be fun, I can't wait. So, you may not get an update til Thursday or Friday.
Take care.
Mo
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