And so it goes ...

Shortest job of my life ~ 2 months. Before taking the job, it would have been good to know that in the 12 years of business, there are only 2 employees that have been there for more than 5 yrs ~ all others have quit & I was the 4th hired in less than a year. Ouch. She can (& does) run her business the way she wants to, but it doesn't help management/employee relations & impacts employee output, loyalty, respect &, ultimately, sales.

Not tapping into the skills, knowledge & experience of others reveals lack of trust & timidity ~ fear that others may know more, take over, succeed where you failed. Encouraging others to use their skills, knowledge & experience within the context of their work environment actually helps the employer AND the employee succeed. The employee has meaningful contribution beyond showing up & simply doing a job, the company benefits from happier, satisfied workers which increases exposure, growth & success.

It's really sad when money is seen as the goal & measure of success rather than as a tool. Since no one has ever died & taken their money & stuff with them, putting it to better use (repairing broken things, providing essential tools, hiring workmen when necessary, etc.) would be money & time well spent!!! Disrepair (broken things visible by others) speaks volumes ~ "If they can't afford to fix lights, signs (whatever), they must not be doing very well. I wonder if they're going to make it or have to close." Perception is reality!

As a business owner, I am so very grateful for the men & women who work for our company! They are all gifted, talented individuals who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. While I don't expect that they will all stay for the rest of their career-life, I appreciate what they bring to our collective table while they are there. And, I hope we contribute to their growth as a person & employee while they remain with us. I can honestly say that we (Dave & I) have learned so many things from not only our employees but also from the subcontractors who work with us from time-to-time. As some have moved on, we have lost touch with a few, but remain close to many ~ friends, thrilled when we hear of their growth & success in other areas or even if they are in our industry.

So, I may look for another job or volunteer somewhere ~ after I drive the rig to Dallas & spend time with my in-laws while Dave works on a job. I enjoy being with people, helping them find what they need, encouraging them, learning from them. Life is too short to hold grudges, resentment or bitterness. That's just a massive waste of time & energy. I am also exceedingly grateful that we are in a place in our lives where I don't have to work.

The irony in all this is that what precipitated the confrontation was our new puppy ~ & we sold her to our neighbor tonight bec. they absolutely fell in love with her & their 4 young children will love & adore. It was never about the puppy ~ it was about how the issue was dealt with. And that, my friends, is the moral to this story ~ learn to separate the issue from the person, & address the person with respect to resolve the issue.