As life goes on, I often find inspiration to write through what I experience. The inspiration is strongest when a shift occurs or when something dramatic happens. Yesterday, another chapter of my life came to an end. This chapter didn’t last very long, although at one point I was sure that it would.
But the Universe, helping me avoid stagnation, is always nudging me toward the next experience. After recognizing the signs and evaluating the situation, I put in my notice and quit my job.
As I walked out of Dick’s Sporting Goods for the last time as an employee, I was reminded of how fast food and retail positions are not best suited for my personality. With each new job in these fields, I try to fool myself into believing that that things will be different. But they never are. I am not good at ‘faking it to make it”, which is the go to phrase for upper management. I feel like a fraud when I do this. Phony. Fake. It doesn’t sit right with me and after a few months, my true self emerges. I am introverted, withdrawn, standoffish at times, brooding, and disengaged. All of which are not traits of the model employee. A strong work ethic, competence, and dependability apparently are not enough to outweigh this personality type.
With that being said, it might be hard to believe that I actually enjoyed my job. I love sports, baseball has always been my favorite. Stocking and selling those product was easy. Getting everything out there on the sales floor was a fun challenge. Helping parents get the right equipment for their children was a joy in itself. My familiarity with the products made customer service easy and actually helped balance out my introversion, which can be unhealthy at times (separate blog post about this coming soon).
Helping customers was not the issue. Not being able to peacefully coexist with coworkers is. I believe a competitive workplace brings out bad qualities in humans. Specifically, dead end occupations such as retail, with limited opportunity for advancement, bring out the worst. Self centeredness, manipulation, narrow mindedness, arrogance, and scores of other negative traits come forth, creating a hostile work environment filled with unmotivated and disgruntled employees. This toxic environment is stressful and detrimental to overall health.
So I left.
I’m embarking on a new journey of employment that will take me no further than the steps of my front porch. A work from home opportunity is here. It’s a new and different experience that I believe will be perfect for me and my difficult personality.
I appreciate my time at Dick’s and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work there. I learned a lot about retail, more about myself, but learned the most about the dynamics of a competitive workplace.
As I talk about at lengths in previous posts, my Universe knows me. The Collective Consciousness will always provide tools and situations for continued success and happiness. As long as I stay open to change, as long as I continue to take calculated risks, and as long as I recognize what the Universe is telling me, I will always be in a position for growth and advancement.
No matter how short the last chapter was, the book continues to be written…a new chapter begins today.
Jay Owens 