Life Changes

As we get older, we have to think about where we are going. Not so much physically but more emotionally. There is a theory about a mid-life crisis. I don't know if that is necessarily true, but there comes a time, when one needs to reflect on where they are today, and where they want to be in the future. Perhaps it is just a point in life where one wakes up and realizes that there is more to life. Or maybe it is the old adage that life is too short. Whatever it is, here is what I have found out. Because the older person has a stronger work ethic generally, the younger people, who are usually the ones in power, use the older people. They heap more work on them, knowing it will get done right, but they won't pay them accordingly. In my case, I made a lot of money for Macy's. I did a lot of stuff that wasn't in my job description, because I wanted my store to succeed. However, I wasn't paid for all of this other stuff. My younger supervisors knew how strong I was with my work. They knew how I could do so much stuff like selling, stock work, inventory, and managing departments. They also knew they could walk all over me, because I had to have a job. I didn't wake up one morning and realize I was being used. It was a process. But, that day came when I had to make a change. I am not suggesting that everyone make a change when getting to a certain age, but I think that the ones with a strong work ethic should look at where they are, and do they want to do the same thing later on. And to you younger folk, some of your peers are very good. They have a strong work ethic. Others seem to be a bit jealous of your elders and want to look big, so you boss them around. You should treat people like you want to be treated. If you give someone a new job, you had better be prepared to do it yourself. If you don't know how to do something, and you know that an older worker can do it better than you, then that is the time to educate yourself. After all, you will get older, and someone younger will come along and fire you, because you didn't know how to do something. Think about it. In the meanwhile, the younger person may find themselves doing the work, because the older person is making a change in life. It is all about being prepared. When I visit my old store, I hear that people miss me. They miss my work. They miss my sales. I guess they should have thought about that earlier. Use me but don't abuse me. If you abuse me, it is bye bye. Life is too short.