Lowered Expectations
If there is one thing that I can tell you first hand it’s that in retail when it comes to employees, you tend to get what you pay for. Generally speaking, if you have made it into management (either through schooling, or through several years of climbing the ladder and kissing ass), you are typically paid pretty well for the job that you perform. 98% of my co-workers either have degrees, or they have 2-4 years of a collage education, all are high school graduates.
In some areas of the country, well I won’t even continue. Just read the article.
I’d rather make myself rich working for myself but for now at least I’m content making a living working for someone else. It happens to be a big box, but in all, I am currently making more money than I would be had I actually finished school and received that education degree. I have a LOT less stress and do a LOT less work too (that is of course a matter of opinion to some). I’m happy having made a decision to work for a company that has provided me with advancement opportunities that do not depend on education but rather on performance. Many people won’t ever be as lucky as me and sadly, because of the job market that exists, many people are having to lower their expectations of what they can accomplish at least in the short term. It saddens me that Walmart is trying to capitalize on a huge problem however if those without work are able to put their ego aside and accept a job with an income (any income), Walmart (and many other Big Box stores) can offer a steady income and the potential for growth. Never in my life did I ever think I would be a person to promote a career in sales, especially retail sales, but just as an example, when I moved up to TC with Jirar 5 years ago, I had quit my job, I had no savings, and no prospect of a job. Jirar had a job but it was no way, no how, going to support both of us for any length of time. My economy sucked in much the same way everyone else’s did with a poor job market and slim opportunities. It’s a matter of motivation and perspective. Within a month of moving up here I had a part time job for minimum wage, within another 3 weeks I found a second job. Within 2 months I was part time at Menards, within 6 months I was full time. Within 1 year I was an assistant manager, within 1 1/2 years I was the department manager. I went from an income of less than $100 a week to a $45K+ a year carer because I was willing to put my ego aside and take a job I didn’t think I would like because I needed an income, ANY income. I’d do it again too if I had to, and yes, I would work at McDonald’s flipping burgers if that was the difference between having a job and sitting around doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself all day. Yes, the job market is bad right now but it would not be so bad if people would give up the “i’ll never do that” attitude and actually took a step to better themselves. ANY income is better than none at all.
On a sad related note, we currently have a “begger’ loitering in our parking lot. He sits out by the curb all day, every day with a sign asking for money to help pay for a surgery for his daughter. A sad story indeed but worse, he’s been asked why he’s not yet come into the store and asked for a job application (he’s been out there nearly 2 months now). We are in fact hiring people. He needs the money and clearly he can commit himself to something since he’s been sitting on a bucket with a sign now for 2 months. His response? He won’t work retail because he’s got an education (spoken with a snotty condescending tone of voice). Clearly that education is doing him a world of good sitting out there on the corner, in the snow, in the cold. His problem? He has too much of an ego, he’s too good to work for a company that takes in billions of dollars a year in profits and is the #1 Home Improvement center choice by consumers in the Midwest. He won’t “lower” himself by doing work he think’s is beneath him. Sadly, he’d be making more money with a job than he’ll ever get begging in our parking lot. A good entrepreneur knows 1 thing. Location, Location, Location. Sorry buddy, our parking lot is never going to do it do you. He ought to know better than to beg from the locals. It’s the fudgies who have the money up here and they are all vacationing in sunny warm places right now.
So now, after that rather depressing post, I’ve got the weekend off from work and I think I may take a drive up to Northport this weekend with the dog and take some pictures. I’ll have to see how the weather is. Hope you are all doing well, sorry I’ve not written much. I’ve been just too busy and too tired and it’s only going to get more crazy as we head towards spring.
