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Sucking it up.Submitted by mnemosyne on Sat, 02/23/2008 - 6:37am.
I'm primarily self employed, and while I love my work I'm not sure I'm such a great boss for myself. I've been comparing myself lately with some of my (childless) peers; seeing their sharp websites, the research and extra projects they're doing, their fancier, more expensive and time consuming set-ups. A main reason I chose my profession is that it lets me set my own schedule. This was the plan, that I wouldn't work all the time, that I would prioritze my kids, working and earning less, for now. I guess I'm wanting more. I have a job on the side, a stupid waitressing gig I do a couple nights a week. I'm good at it, the money is great, and it's a nice busy multi-tasking superficially social contrast to my primary work. And it's corporate. And I got "written up" tonight--for something I don't feel was wrong and my managers don't feel was wrong, but them following Corporate Procedure and filing me away as a drone, a number, rather than a valued and respected employee. This doesn't sit well with me. My knee jerk reaction is to walk off. But I'm sucking it up--because that's the real world, right? I guess I'm just trying to weigh the benefits and cons of self-employment vs. working for the man. When taking the easier route is the smarter choice, or when it's selling out. I know you can't give me the answers--but maybe you can tell me your perspectives and experiences. What do you think, mamas? I second all of that--first off, the toilet paper/post-it line made me laugh. I have white-out, binder clips, paper clips, pens, and sharpies on my desk, all from my current or previous (temp) position. They don't pay me enough, dammit, I'll take the balance in kind! I agree with this. As long as your "day job" doesn't PROHIBIT you from doing the things you love, the things that feed your soul, you're not really selling out. And it doesn't have to be permanent. You're smart to reconsider your situation and figure out if it's worth it, and only you can decide, but if your job gives you the ability (the housing, the money, the health care) to spend time and energy on what really matters to you, it's contributing positively to your life. I've had this thought in the back of my mind ever since I got this job--I'm working for a HUGE employer, with 7,500 employees, easily. I NEVER thought I would be doing that. I thought I'd be the guerilla activist in the trenches, you know? And maybe I would have been, no one can say, but I elected to keep H instead, and if I'm going to be a responsible mama, I have to keep a roof over our head. This job definitely isn't my destination. I haven't "arrived," as they say. But it will be a good step on the journey. I'll take these skills and this work ethic (and the pension...) and do wonderful things after this stage of life. But this stage needs to happen for the next four or five years, at least until H gets into school (life has to get cheaper then, right...or at least I'll have gotten a few raises.) I say: work for the man, steal and rob him fucking blind, take all the toliet paper and post it's that you can! you put a bigger dent in this world by fucking with them. a few of us an infiltrate the matrix, mess it up, maybe have some fun, and walk away with a decent/good paycheck. go for what you know is right. you've been independant for a long time, you know i did this too, when i was a ho. This is just what I needed to hear, I love you! I'm kinda on the other side. I'm in my first year of teaching high school. Not corporate, but long hours (7:30-4), inflexible schedule and in my opinion just too much work to have the kind of balance I want in my life. But, I feel very secure. I have an excellent retirement plan, good benefits, and am finally on the path to getting my finances into shape. I got an offer to cut my hours back next year, but it comes with a significant pay cut and I'd have to pay 5 times as much for benefits...so trying to weigh the two. |
hi mne -
first off: the write up was pure red tape/politics/bullshit, i'm sorry that this happened. you work hard, and do an excellent job, you're a professional for fuck's sake! they know this.
selling out: you know why? because that shit pays the fucking bills! "selling out" is not "selling your soul", unless it feels that way.
you can be independant and sell out, you can speak your mind and sell out, you can wear goofy clothes and sell out, it's all the same.
i had to take a management position just for the money and to switch my schedule back to a day shift following my split.
and you know what? i needed that money more than anything, and most importantly, i come into work everyday and i'm still me!
i hang with my original crew, because this is me! i've gotten some shit about from my boss, but what can she say? she's the nutter who hired me, and i'm loyal to the people i love, period. i'm loyal to the people who are good to me.
and in this case, it happens to be the receptionists who get treated like shit. I WAS A RECEPTIONIST! it's funny how people assumed i wouldn't hang with my friends anymore after reaching the almighty "middle management" routine! liars!
my point: selling out is not the same thing as KISSING ASS. those two things always get confused. kissing ass is what gets people in trouble, or makes them sell themselves short.
I say: work for the man, steal and rob him fucking blind, take all the toliet paper and post it's that you can! you put a bigger dent in this world by fucking with them. a few of us an infiltrate the matrix, mess it up, maybe have some fun, and walk away with a decent/good paycheck.
go for what you know is right.
you've been independant for a long time, you know i did this too, when i was a ho.
that door swings both ways, and if it's easy right now for you to jump through it, just do it.
you can score big/better that way.
keep us posted on what you decide - love, dc
goddess informant