Well not quite, but the other day I began to feel that I could!! Odd, I know. The main reason why I left the workforce to begin with is because I was working for an organization that was stuck in time and sucking the joy out of my life. As you may recall from reading here, 5 of us quit that day. I have had a great break from the workforce, a bit over three months to be exact and I truly feel refreshed! Have I discovered my mission in life? Not fully. Am I happy with life? Absolutely! Can I go back to work if given the opportunity?? I think so! Will the next job suck the life out of me? It's possible, especially since I have not mastered what my hearts desire is professionally.
This is such an interesting feeling considering the fact that there are many people out there who'd leave their jobs in a heartbeat. I was one of them! However, working was never really my problem. I've been sitting behind a desk looking at a computer since I was 18. The problem was that when Chris and I left Atlanta and moved to Ohio, I simply made the wrong choice of which company to join. I gave that place much more credit then they turned out to be worth and soon learned that the sentiment was shared across the board. I was fortunate to be able to jump ship before I felt stuck there permanently.
I've been quite productive and so happy during my time off. I've worked on my writing, got braces, made changes to the house, got invited to the Nate Show, planned our wedding, exercised more, spent more time with family etc. It's been great! I realize that much of this can change if I sign on to work for someone else. Well, we'll see what happens. If/when I take the plunge back into the workforce I'll let you know! Until then...
Have a great day!!
Showing posts with label Cubicology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cubicology. Show all posts
April 20, 2011
April 5, 2011
Pursuing New Opportunities
Another Cubicology Short. Click here to view the history of Cubicology and other short excerpts.
Pursuing New Opportunities...really? Why is it so hard for a company to admit firings? Prior to quitting my job back in January (shout out to the fab 5 who quit that day! Yep, I gave us a name. They may not know it, but it was a great day and time in history...worthy of a moniker, so Fab 5 it is.) I can’t tell you how many emails I have received saying something like this: It is with great sadness that I have to announce the departure of Said Peon. Said Peon has (now pay attention to the key words) decided (key word #1) to pursue other opportunities (key phrase # 2). Said Peon will be sadly missed. O.k., now the first problem with this is that it reads like an obituary, but I guess it is the loss of someone after all. And what is the deal with decided? They didn’t decide to leave; you (Mr. Employer) decided to FIRE them. And tell me a little more about these other opportunities, since there are sooo many jobs out there in the midst of the recession!
These people did not decide to pursue other opportunities. They were fired and more than likely are in the process of attempting to stave off a breakdown because now they are swimming in a wave pool of the unemployed! Employers drive me crazy with that. They will go to any lengths to prevent themselves from looking like the bad guys. We are not dummies, we know you fired them, we also know that if they decided to leave and pursue other opportunities that more than likely they would have put in some sort of notice and then told everyone goodbye. If we see security escorting Said Peon out of the building and then see someone else cleaning out Said Peon’s desk, we are bright enough to know that they didn’t decide…YOU DID! What in the world are they trying to protect us from?
A company that is a medium for communicating with the entire city that cannot even communicate honestly with its staff, is rather sad. I recall a day when they fired a lady that was working really hard…because we all work really hard right? Anyway, her manager used to talk about her behind her back and that would really bother me. One day I had to help cover her accounts and her manager came to converse with me about them. I told her that she needed to contact her clients and tell them that they fired Said Peon. She kind of giggled and hushed me a bit and said, “we let her go”. I said, yea I know, you fired her, just call it what it is. She said we don’t use that word, I said you don’t use that word. By the way, not many people cared for this manager and she was under scrutiny herself at the time. Fortunately for all of us, she decided to pursue other opportunities not much later than Said Peon that she let go...my thoughts for her..."So long!! Good luck swimming in that opportunity wave pool!"
Tatum
Pursuing New Opportunities...really? Why is it so hard for a company to admit firings? Prior to quitting my job back in January (shout out to the fab 5 who quit that day! Yep, I gave us a name. They may not know it, but it was a great day and time in history...worthy of a moniker, so Fab 5 it is.) I can’t tell you how many emails I have received saying something like this: It is with great sadness that I have to announce the departure of Said Peon. Said Peon has (now pay attention to the key words) decided (key word #1) to pursue other opportunities (key phrase # 2). Said Peon will be sadly missed. O.k., now the first problem with this is that it reads like an obituary, but I guess it is the loss of someone after all. And what is the deal with decided? They didn’t decide to leave; you (Mr. Employer) decided to FIRE them. And tell me a little more about these other opportunities, since there are sooo many jobs out there in the midst of the recession!
These people did not decide to pursue other opportunities. They were fired and more than likely are in the process of attempting to stave off a breakdown because now they are swimming in a wave pool of the unemployed! Employers drive me crazy with that. They will go to any lengths to prevent themselves from looking like the bad guys. We are not dummies, we know you fired them, we also know that if they decided to leave and pursue other opportunities that more than likely they would have put in some sort of notice and then told everyone goodbye. If we see security escorting Said Peon out of the building and then see someone else cleaning out Said Peon’s desk, we are bright enough to know that they didn’t decide…YOU DID! What in the world are they trying to protect us from?
A company that is a medium for communicating with the entire city that cannot even communicate honestly with its staff, is rather sad. I recall a day when they fired a lady that was working really hard…because we all work really hard right? Anyway, her manager used to talk about her behind her back and that would really bother me. One day I had to help cover her accounts and her manager came to converse with me about them. I told her that she needed to contact her clients and tell them that they fired Said Peon. She kind of giggled and hushed me a bit and said, “we let her go”. I said, yea I know, you fired her, just call it what it is. She said we don’t use that word, I said you don’t use that word. By the way, not many people cared for this manager and she was under scrutiny herself at the time. Fortunately for all of us, she decided to pursue other opportunities not much later than Said Peon that she let go...my thoughts for her..."So long!! Good luck swimming in that opportunity wave pool!"
Tatum
March 1, 2011
Degrees
Another Cubicology short. Lets talk about money and degrees. What is a bachelor’s degree really worth? Now I’m sure we’ve all seen those commercials and read the many articles that say if you have a degree you can increase your salary by some big percentage and be more apt to make so many more thousands of dollars in your lifetime. We’ve also seen those Dateline and 20/20 specials that showcase those people who have received these very degrees but are making….WAIT FOR IT….WAIT FOR IT……PEANUTS!!!!! How does this really work? I have worked with several people who have obtained a bachelor’s degree and make less than $30,000 a year. I have worked for companies that require a bachelor’s degree but a person in high school or even a drop out can do the job. I honestly believe that many companies do not do their due diligence and really ask themselves what is this job worth. Of course we all know that as much as the company likes for us to believe that they are looking out for us, all that really matters to them is their bottom line…that is no surprise. What company wouldn’t do that? Especially those private companies, anything that does not go into our peanut can goes directly into their personal bank accounts. A company that I resigned from actually had the audacity to require a degree but gave me work that didn’t require a brain…what sense does that make? Therein lies that lack of due diligence. Given that as a precedence if I have the bachelors, what would a masters degree really do for me? I know many people who opted against giving thousands of dollars to universities and became rather successful and are quite happy. Though proud of my degree as it was a personal accomplishment for me, I often think that a degree is overrated and says this about you: I gave away thousands of dollars for a piece of paper and a possibility; of course unless you're on scholarship. If that possibility does not become as tangible as that piece of paper and reap the fruit that you hoped it would reap, well at least you can say that you have that paper!! Who cares that you don’t have any money. Who needs money after all when you have a degree?!
Tatum
Tatum
January 14, 2011
I'm Free!
Today was my last day at my job as you might have known from reading here and I couldn't be happier. 5 people from my department (Advertising) quit today! Doesn't say much for the organization. The realization that I do not have to go back will probably not hit me until Monday morning, and on that glorious day as I pour that first cup of coffee as a tribute to my freedom from craziness, I will have a moment of silence. As the french vanilla cream mixes with the fresh brewed cup of joy I will reflect on the shackles that kept me in a constant state of misery draining all intellect that I once had. While ever so gently dropping in 2 cubes of sugar I will be reminded of the dread that plagued me for 8 hours a day; and as I nestle onto my sofa, turn on Good Morning America and take that first sip of hot liquid heaven in my Oprah mug that says "Become More Of Yourself", I will smile with the fact that I can better utilize the 8 hours that I once wasted, to focus on more of the things that make me happy and stress free. I will be able to focus on becoming more of myself. Even if only for a short time, because I do intend on getting back into the workforce one day; at least right now, I am not. And today, I am blessed, grateful and HAPPY!
On this eve of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday this quote is appropriate: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are (I am) free at last"
Tatum
On this eve of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday this quote is appropriate: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are (I am) free at last"
Tatum
January 9, 2011
I QUITTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!
Feel the joy? Feel the freedom? See the smile:
That's right baby! Remember here when I said that I might be making a big decision? Well I did! The very next day I put in my two weeks notice...which by the way is huge for me because the way I was feeling, I was liable to just put in a "same day notice". This was a big deal because my co-worker put her notice in that same day, it was our master plan. We had never smiled so much in our lives and everyone noticed. But the smile we were truly feeling was this one:
Oh, and to make the week even more exciting we found out that another guy put in his notice the same day and another the day before! Oh, so liberating. Either way, that's right folks I am outta there!! And I couldn't be happier. My sanity was truly at risk. I've never worked for such an outdated, old fashioned, mismanaged place in my life. When I began working at this company, based on my prior experiences it was like going back in time. They booked conferences rooms using...A Book!!! Literally, can you believe that? Their office equipment was so out dated causing the printer guy to come out at least twice a week; clearly the technology age eluded this place. And when they finally got their all in one machine their excitement was akin to when a baby discovers it's hand...PURE intrigue lol. So funny to watch. I could go on and on.
One week left...yay!!! Unless they read this post and decide to make me leave earlier which just means I get to leave earlier and still get paid!! Hold on a second while I do a happy dance:
Yep that's me...the stick bald version, but still me. My manager was so happy for us. She and another manager both knew and said in their own way that our department was it's own bubble that they too didn't even understand. Major turnover at this place I tell ya.
I'm not permanently leaving the workforce though. If I get a better offer I might be back in it sooner than later. I just need to make better use of my days than I have been. In the meantime, I'll renovate and blog!! Maybe get a part-time job outside of the corporate world and maybe finally move a bit faster on wedding planning...we'll see.
Either way, I'm signing out now to get ready for tomorrow which will be the best Monday ever!!!!!
Tatum
That's right baby! Remember here when I said that I might be making a big decision? Well I did! The very next day I put in my two weeks notice...which by the way is huge for me because the way I was feeling, I was liable to just put in a "same day notice". This was a big deal because my co-worker put her notice in that same day, it was our master plan. We had never smiled so much in our lives and everyone noticed. But the smile we were truly feeling was this one:
 |
| PEACE OUT SUCKAS!!!!! |
Oh, and to make the week even more exciting we found out that another guy put in his notice the same day and another the day before! Oh, so liberating. Either way, that's right folks I am outta there!! And I couldn't be happier. My sanity was truly at risk. I've never worked for such an outdated, old fashioned, mismanaged place in my life. When I began working at this company, based on my prior experiences it was like going back in time. They booked conferences rooms using...A Book!!! Literally, can you believe that? Their office equipment was so out dated causing the printer guy to come out at least twice a week; clearly the technology age eluded this place. And when they finally got their all in one machine their excitement was akin to when a baby discovers it's hand...PURE intrigue lol. So funny to watch. I could go on and on.
One week left...yay!!! Unless they read this post and decide to make me leave earlier which just means I get to leave earlier and still get paid!! Hold on a second while I do a happy dance:
I'm not permanently leaving the workforce though. If I get a better offer I might be back in it sooner than later. I just need to make better use of my days than I have been. In the meantime, I'll renovate and blog!! Maybe get a part-time job outside of the corporate world and maybe finally move a bit faster on wedding planning...we'll see.
Either way, I'm signing out now to get ready for tomorrow which will be the best Monday ever!!!!!
Tatum
January 3, 2011
To Work Or Not To Work...For Someone Else That Is
This post is so fitting right now given that tomorrow I plan on making a big decision...Lets hope I stick with it!!
If you haven't read the back story of Cubicology you should click here for that. O.k. so what better way to express the frustrations of working for someone else than to write about it? I talk too much probably to a fault and speak only the truth, which often catches people off guard, I am rather surprised that I have not been fired. It’s much safer to write about the highs and lows of the 9 to 5 then to express them verbally to the actual people who cause the lows! Even though my lack of a filter causes me to do that anyway…some might call me fearless, but I have just developed a case of not caring. Not to mention, I’m sure there are about a zillion people out there who highly dislike their current jobs; or they are not sure of what they want to do for a career and are trying to be grateful because honestly, given the economy and the recession, having a job to some people is a definite blessing. I have to ask though, is it worth being miserable? I’d like to believe that we all have a certain talent or a certain interest that we would rather be pursuing on a full time basis. Maybe just maybe, those unhappy souls should just jump out there to create their own happiness instead of sitting at a desk in a cubicle wondering and wishing they were somewhere else. Maybe your time is better utilized working on your dream for 8 hours instead of wasting 8 hours being miserable for what many would say are peanuts!
Peanut [pee-nuht]
-noun Informal. a very small amount of money: working for peanuts. Or how about this! Peanuts: What the employer pays you because in their company they have the upper hand and they think that you need their job!
Before I continue, maybe I should first give you my credentials so that you can make an educated decision as to whether or not this is worth your reading pleasure. I am an opinionated blogger. There you have it! That's what makes me an authority and gives me to the right to say what I want...MY BLOG. OK, but seriously, I graduated from high school and I graduated from college just like many people, nothing fancy there. I’ve been working in Corporate America since I was 19 and I have worked with both bright people and no so bright people. More often than not the people that I have worked with only spoke in a language of subliminal truths and political correctness, which was a language that I did not speak. With that being said what I am writing are my opinions and perceptions. Some people would deem me an expert on real talk as I do not speak fluff. Now, here is your assignment should you choose to accept it: walk away and continue on with your wonderful 9-5 or stay and be enlightened…This message will self-destruct in ……….!
Some may say that I am bitter, or I must have been treated badly, when in fact it’s all based on the fact that I really don’t like to go to work and I have yet to find a job that I like to go to everyday. That pretty much means that everyday I go to a place that makes me kind of unhappy for about 8 hours. I can see how that would make me seem angry and bitter to some. I guess I could just quit, couldn’t I? Maybe I am meant to be a stay at home person, I’m not quite sure…what would that make me, a homemaker?? I'm not a mom so the title Stay At Home Mom does not apply to me. So until I figure out where I am supposed to be, I have decided to collect the peanuts and make good use of my time, find ways to make my job more interesting. And don’t be alarmed, I am not going to go on some diatribe suggesting that you talk to your boss to see if you can get more challenging work to help you be more fulfilled, or say to look for the positive side of your job and realize that some people make less than peanuts and you should be grateful…blah blah blah!! I think you already know that there are many people who can tell you that stuff, people that go to school specifically to learn how to teach you how to sell yourself to an employer. I will leave all of that great advice for them to share with you.
I understand, I may have already touched a nerve with some of you, and if that is the case shouldn’t you have stopped reading this two paragraphs ago? But since you didn’t, I’m glad to have you! Please continue. I would encourage all of you reading this that if you are going to spend 8 hours of your life at a place that you hate going to every morning, to at least follow my lead. Be efficient and productive and find the fun! Use those hours to write about it, research, and brainstorm! Get to your desk, put your headphones in and first things first, go to ABC.com and find Good Morning America and listen in on the news of the day, and then Oprah.com to get some sound financial advice from Jean Chatzky and/or relationship advice from Laura Berman. From there I suggest the View, and then how about a soap opera or two…shout out to Hulu! This is fuel for the soul. If you work in an office full of dull blue and gray cubicles that look like a maze and make you feel that you are trapped in an ant farm or rat race (did I mention that office space is the best movie EVER?!) then you need to find the sunshine! You have to learn how to tune out the misery that is your job and focus on things that make you happy, things that are not the job. There isn’t much of a science to this, but you have to learn to look busy and be swift. Learn how to minimize a screen in a split second, make good use of the alt tab keys. All the while creating your master plan to jump ship. And when the new annoying director of the department emerges from his corner castle and comes galloping by on his high horse pass your tiny cubicle just to ask if you are living the dream (because of course he is being paid to feel that way, and thinks you should feel that way too) you can say…I’m working on it right now Jack Ass! But I digress.
Most of what I am speaking of was spurred by one place. But hey, they gave me great material!
So enjoy!
Tatum
If you haven't read the back story of Cubicology you should click here for that. O.k. so what better way to express the frustrations of working for someone else than to write about it? I talk too much probably to a fault and speak only the truth, which often catches people off guard, I am rather surprised that I have not been fired. It’s much safer to write about the highs and lows of the 9 to 5 then to express them verbally to the actual people who cause the lows! Even though my lack of a filter causes me to do that anyway…some might call me fearless, but I have just developed a case of not caring. Not to mention, I’m sure there are about a zillion people out there who highly dislike their current jobs; or they are not sure of what they want to do for a career and are trying to be grateful because honestly, given the economy and the recession, having a job to some people is a definite blessing. I have to ask though, is it worth being miserable? I’d like to believe that we all have a certain talent or a certain interest that we would rather be pursuing on a full time basis. Maybe just maybe, those unhappy souls should just jump out there to create their own happiness instead of sitting at a desk in a cubicle wondering and wishing they were somewhere else. Maybe your time is better utilized working on your dream for 8 hours instead of wasting 8 hours being miserable for what many would say are peanuts!
Peanut [pee-nuht]
-noun Informal. a very small amount of money: working for peanuts. Or how about this! Peanuts: What the employer pays you because in their company they have the upper hand and they think that you need their job!
Before I continue, maybe I should first give you my credentials so that you can make an educated decision as to whether or not this is worth your reading pleasure. I am an opinionated blogger. There you have it! That's what makes me an authority and gives me to the right to say what I want...MY BLOG. OK, but seriously, I graduated from high school and I graduated from college just like many people, nothing fancy there. I’ve been working in Corporate America since I was 19 and I have worked with both bright people and no so bright people. More often than not the people that I have worked with only spoke in a language of subliminal truths and political correctness, which was a language that I did not speak. With that being said what I am writing are my opinions and perceptions. Some people would deem me an expert on real talk as I do not speak fluff. Now, here is your assignment should you choose to accept it: walk away and continue on with your wonderful 9-5 or stay and be enlightened…This message will self-destruct in ……….!
Some may say that I am bitter, or I must have been treated badly, when in fact it’s all based on the fact that I really don’t like to go to work and I have yet to find a job that I like to go to everyday. That pretty much means that everyday I go to a place that makes me kind of unhappy for about 8 hours. I can see how that would make me seem angry and bitter to some. I guess I could just quit, couldn’t I? Maybe I am meant to be a stay at home person, I’m not quite sure…what would that make me, a homemaker?? I'm not a mom so the title Stay At Home Mom does not apply to me. So until I figure out where I am supposed to be, I have decided to collect the peanuts and make good use of my time, find ways to make my job more interesting. And don’t be alarmed, I am not going to go on some diatribe suggesting that you talk to your boss to see if you can get more challenging work to help you be more fulfilled, or say to look for the positive side of your job and realize that some people make less than peanuts and you should be grateful…blah blah blah!! I think you already know that there are many people who can tell you that stuff, people that go to school specifically to learn how to teach you how to sell yourself to an employer. I will leave all of that great advice for them to share with you.
I understand, I may have already touched a nerve with some of you, and if that is the case shouldn’t you have stopped reading this two paragraphs ago? But since you didn’t, I’m glad to have you! Please continue. I would encourage all of you reading this that if you are going to spend 8 hours of your life at a place that you hate going to every morning, to at least follow my lead. Be efficient and productive and find the fun! Use those hours to write about it, research, and brainstorm! Get to your desk, put your headphones in and first things first, go to ABC.com and find Good Morning America and listen in on the news of the day, and then Oprah.com to get some sound financial advice from Jean Chatzky and/or relationship advice from Laura Berman. From there I suggest the View, and then how about a soap opera or two…shout out to Hulu! This is fuel for the soul. If you work in an office full of dull blue and gray cubicles that look like a maze and make you feel that you are trapped in an ant farm or rat race (did I mention that office space is the best movie EVER?!) then you need to find the sunshine! You have to learn how to tune out the misery that is your job and focus on things that make you happy, things that are not the job. There isn’t much of a science to this, but you have to learn to look busy and be swift. Learn how to minimize a screen in a split second, make good use of the alt tab keys. All the while creating your master plan to jump ship. And when the new annoying director of the department emerges from his corner castle and comes galloping by on his high horse pass your tiny cubicle just to ask if you are living the dream (because of course he is being paid to feel that way, and thinks you should feel that way too) you can say…I’m working on it right now Jack Ass! But I digress.
Most of what I am speaking of was spurred by one place. But hey, they gave me great material!
So enjoy!
Tatum
December 4, 2010
What Is Cubicology?
I created this blog to talk about my moments; some (not all) of the things that play a part in my life. After having entered blogland I've been so inundated with the joy that I get from this blog, and so inspired by the creativity of the many other bloggers. With that being said, I've kind of neglected one section majorly, Cubicology. I had every intention of continuously working on this section but I've neglected it because it's not a real positive thing in my world. In fact it's the one and only negative in my life. So though it remained there as a tab:
the thought of writing in that section just gave me the blues. Oprah and Dr. Phil would say to get rid of the negative energy in your life, and unfortunately I'm surrounded by it for about 8 hours 5 days a week.
I haven't written much about Cubicology because it's not a happy place right now and do I really want to bring a negative light into my happy blog world? The thing is however, I need to be authentic and Cubicology is part of my world. Not sure how long I will keep Cubicology around for the simple fact that it was spurred by one black hole in my life. So until I rid myself of that, I'm jumping in full force...as a mechanism to vent.
What is Cubicology? It's the study of cubicle dwellers. Well, that's the definition that I'm giving it.
I'm somewhere in the back of this room doing this:
So now that you understand what Cubicology is you should know that I will use this portal to post some of the antics, stupid office quirks and cubicle encounters of the lowly and frustrated.
So for those of you who are more familiar with my happy goofy fun loving self. Please note, this section makes me angry...kind of. You won't like me when I'm angry (Quote: The Incredible Hulk). Or, maybe you will; after all I am multidimensional. Hope you'll come back!
Tatum
the thought of writing in that section just gave me the blues. Oprah and Dr. Phil would say to get rid of the negative energy in your life, and unfortunately I'm surrounded by it for about 8 hours 5 days a week.
I haven't written much about Cubicology because it's not a happy place right now and do I really want to bring a negative light into my happy blog world? The thing is however, I need to be authentic and Cubicology is part of my world. Not sure how long I will keep Cubicology around for the simple fact that it was spurred by one black hole in my life. So until I rid myself of that, I'm jumping in full force...as a mechanism to vent.
What is Cubicology? It's the study of cubicle dwellers. Well, that's the definition that I'm giving it.
 | ||
| Yep these guys |
I'm somewhere in the back of this room doing this:
So now that you understand what Cubicology is you should know that I will use this portal to post some of the antics, stupid office quirks and cubicle encounters of the lowly and frustrated.
So for those of you who are more familiar with my happy goofy fun loving self. Please note, this section makes me angry...kind of. You won't like me when I'm angry (Quote: The Incredible Hulk). Or, maybe you will; after all I am multidimensional. Hope you'll come back!
Tatum
November 4, 2010
A Case Of The Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays!!
I can totally handle Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!
Recognize this:
We even have a machine (a printer...NEW printer mind you) that makes us want to do this:
because it breaks every single day.
Most days I feel exactly how he looks:
So until I win this:
I will have to:
But hey:
Recognize this:
How about this:
Or maybe I should just get to the point.
This is the best movie ever. And for those not familiar with it. Congratulations, I envy you.
We even have a machine (a printer...NEW printer mind you) that makes us want to do this:
because it breaks every single day.
Most days I feel exactly how he looks:
Or get a visit from these guys:
I will have to:
Tatum
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
