You can take THIS job and shove it!

Take this job and shove it
I ain’t working here no more.

Johnny Paycheck ; “Take This Job and Shove It” is a 1977 country music song written by David Allan Coe and popularized by Johnny Paycheck, about the bitterness of a man who has worked long and hard with no apparent reward.

I remember my first job that I got a paycheck for as a summer counselor for the City of New York.  I recall my mom retrieving all the important papers out of the closet – social security card, birth certificate, etc. and her accompanying me to the Downtown office where I first completed my application for working papers.  I had just turned 15 years old, and I would be working at the Brooklyn YMCA the three (3) month summer season, June – August.  I recall how excited I was to mimic what I had watch my daddy do my entire life. 

Getting that summer job was a big deal for me.  I jumped up and out down with excitement thinking about all kinds of grown-up things I can do with money in my pocket.  Like I’d watched my dad do a million times before, I calculated the numbers.  I made $3.50/hour (minimum wage in 1982), worked 40 hours per week / eight (8) hours a day to work with kids.  My eyes widened as I saw the numbers multiply from $140 per week; four (4) weeks in each month totaling $560 per month.  “Wait a minute, there are five weeks in July, that means $700 dollar.  I’m rich!” I couldn’t wait to tell my dad.  I set the alarm so I can awaken at the time my father got home from the evening shift at work at 11:30pm.

That night, as he ate the soup my mother left out on the stove to eat, my father and I talked about what it meant to work and earn a paycheck.  He reaffirmed valuable life lessons which I have carried with me the last 40+ years of my professional career.  Words like commitment, loyalty, discipline, and best of your ability were woven into our talk.  It was not the first time I heard my father say, “you will have to work twice as hard as anyone else because you are a girl.”  He said it on the first day of school, sports, etc. While I understood the concept of hard work (me and my sister had house chores every Saturday morning before Soul Train came on), so I knew what it meant to work hard and have a sound work ethic.  But this time, why did it sound like working hard was a punishment?  More on that later…

People don’t leave bad jobs…They leave because of bad bosses, poor management, who don’t appreciate their value.

-Unknown

Fast forward to 2021, I can still hear the value life lessons my father ingrained in me decades earlier.  Which is why I was in a serious predicament in my professional career.   We all do.  There will come a time in your professional career when you will have to conduct a serious health check; like an annual physical.  You may volunteer to ask or be forced to confront what works or doesn’t work for you in that workplace.  And if you want to experience fulfillment, joy, and PEACE of mind (wink wink), you must be transparent and honest about where you are professionally.

Ask yourself and answer authentically, is it me or is it them?  And before you are ready to condemn, cuss, or raise a fuss, check to see if you can do something right now to change the circumstance(s) or perhaps impact a change in the environment or energy in the room.  I believe you can if you are coming from a place of authenticity and truth.  If you are trying to dodge the bullet or take no responsibility for your actions, then cut your losses and go find another gig.  But I promise you, karma has excellent GPS.  Those matters you fail to address, and resolve are destined to repeat itself down the road or at the next place of employment. 

Okay…here’s my story.  As an Administrator for over 30+ years, I have dwelled in professional success exercising my gifts of organization and leadership while at the same time teaching, mentoring, and encouraging younger talent onboarding the business.  Throughout my career, I have loved the work.  I enjoyed every aspect of the work.  Even when the toxicity of office politics or culture would try to penetrate, I remained steadfast in my work and flourished despite it.  The bonus or the cherry on top is I’ve been compensated extremely well.  There is a scripture – Proverbs 18:16 (NASB- New American Standard Bible) A person’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great people.  I believe this scripture and the meaning behind it.  God has put a gift or talent in every person that the world will make room for.  It is this gift that will enable you to fulfill your vision.  It will make a way for you in life and it will bring you success.

Recently following a self-assessment of my present career, I had concluded I had hit a professional ceiling at my department.  And this reality was made even more excruciating when I realized that I had hit a professional roadblock with my immediate boss.  On more than one occasion, I was the victim of false promises and missed opportunities for promotion.  While I was aware of the “squeaky wheel gets the oil” concept, I was convinced that my hard work, integrity, and loyalty would make me an easy shoe in for the opportunities for advancement, without having to ask for it.  I grew resentful of him and was ready to walk away from what was seemingly a great work environment, flexibility, near to home, and colleagues who became dear friends.  I was prepared to cut my nose and walk away from an otherwise lucrative employer because my boss failed to appreciate my value. 

I am not alone.  I was getting ready to make a professional decision while in anger and without thinking it through.  Consequently, I was getting ready to commit career suicide by failing to do two very important things, first – pray and second, consider what doors or opportunities my gifts can open.  I promise you once I stopped long enough to consult with God and write down my pros and cons, ideas of how to approach people popped into my head.  Humbling myself to admit, I don’t know everything, allowed me to breathe and consider and reconsider what I have learned along the way.  I share with a few reality checks since those innocent teen years in New York.

1. There is a huge distinction between a career and a job.  The main difference between a career and a job is that a job is just something you do for money, whereas a career is a long-term endeavor, something you build towards and work upon every day.
2. You determine your worth to your employer/in the workplace.  Yes, you hear a lot about self-worth and esteem and that is very important.  Yet itt lends to how you define and place value to the efforts you put forth in the workplace.  There are a few ways to objectively determine your value at work.
   • Document.  Document.  Document.  Document the evidence.  Keep a record of performance evaluations, emails, special commendations, and awards of praise and accolades from managers, peers, and clients/customers with whom you work and serve.  When it comes time to negotiate for a promotion or salary increase, you can pull out this portfolio as a performance tracker of your greatest hits.
   • Create a scorecard.  As in any game of sports, different hits and passes garner different points.  In football, a Touchdown: 6 points. Field Goal: 3 points. Safety: 2 points.  A pass to the end zone is 6 points plus a 1- or 2-point conversion.  Either way, it is your scorecard.  You get to place the value to each task you complete.  Customer service: 10 points; organization: 15 points; budget planning: 25 points; attendance:  50 points.  Your scorecard paints a picture for your employer of what matters to you most and what benefits the organization. It is telling of your value system.  My value in loyalty is demonstrated in my attendance and availability.  I am at my desk 30 -45 minutes before my assigned start time and back at my desk immediately following breaks and lunch.  My value in work ethic and commitment is demonstrated in my ability to follow directions, plan, and execute to completion.  Define for yourself what is your value and place a score.  You will be amazed at how you measure up.
   • Objectively rank yourself.  Spell out what you believe are the most important credentials, skills, or other attributes necessary to win over the decision-maker and put forth your best foot in each area.
   • Utilize your contacts, references, and mentors.  There is an old saying, “It’s all about who you know.”  In my experience, my successes, gifts, and dedication to service have and still do establish and add to my reputation.  Therefore, it is not about who you know…it’s about who knows you.  In my professional career, I proudly carry the mantle of being a loyal, committed, and successful professional.  My forward movement and promotion to other employment opportunities were primarily based on the recommendations of others.  I don’t believe I have ever had to sit through a professional interview since I was 25 years old. My former employers or peers were happy to refer me to work with them, thus I made them look good.  I believe my value made room for me wherever I decided to go.
   • Follow your gut.  What is your mission?  What brings you joy?  What is your passion?  Whatever that thing is that keeps you up at night or brings excitement and butterflies to your tummy may be the thing you are passionate about.  Seek employment in those areas that provide upward mobility, places to learn, grow and thrive, hook up with men or women in the workplace who can act as mentors and advice you through one phase to the next.  Listen to your gut.  Trust your gut.  Follow your gut.
3. Develop a strong work ethic and do your best.  Remember when I referenced earlier my dad urging me to work harder than anyone else because I am a girl?  In my career, the men were not the only ones I had to surpass, sadly it also meant outperforming my sisters.

During the summer after my freshman year of college, I worked as a teaching assistant at a private early childhood center in the Upper East Side and an afterschool TA at The Barrow School in the Village.  I was the best teaching assistant I could be. While the other TA’s stood around during slack times, I looked for ways to help in the classroom or in the main office to prepare for the next day.  As a result, I got better tips from the teachers.  Parents started relying on me to work with their kids and I started receiving some amazing gifts on holidays. Some parents even tried to hire me as an Au Pere to their child and the compensation was far greater than what I was receiving at both locations.  The principal trained me to run the office.  Sometimes I even got to help the other teachers. I wasn’t looking for a career in elementary education, and I wasn’t trying to brown-nose. But I enjoyed the work and gave it all I had. This made the job fun and earned respect from people who mattered: from my boss, and from his boss, the parents, and children.  Eventually I was given a chance to run my own class. Though I tried, I wasn’t particularly good, at first. On the other hand, I was immediately allowed another chance to improve.  And eventually, I was an awesome lead as the afterschool counselor at the Barrow School.  Those parents loved me. They were coming from a 5pm or 6pm shift and the homework was done.  That was one less thing these tired single mothers had to contend with when they got home.  Before long, I was making more money working just six easy hours afterschool than I had been while working 35 difficult hours during the day. And the other TA’s who used to stand around all the time were still standing around — doing the minimum (and earning the minimum).

Conclusion: 

Seek wise counsel.  After I stopped being angry and impulsive, I went to a professional mentor in my organization in who’s opinion I trust.  The very first thing she said, “Linda, you are extremely loyal to those who have been disloyal to you.  It is your blessing and your curse.”  What I appreciated most was she esteemed my character and applauded the person.  My mentor acknowledged more than just a laborer or a good worker, she saw a woman with a glow and how it benefited the workplace.  Her words encouraged me to give myself another chance at working smarter and not harder.  Rather than remaining mad at not getting the promotion or the salary increase, she encouraged me to identify opportunities in which to learn, create a new niche opportunity, utilize contacts and references, or talk it out / write it out.

Following this conversation, I scheduled a meeting with my HR Director.  We discussed my professional career and tracked my accomplishments.  She too applauded my value to the organization and was very accommodating at looking at other opportunities to transition and grow.  Again, examine your motives concerning your professional growth.  Is it about money?  Not all money is good money.  Is it about notoriety?  The most powerful person I know is the one behind the scenes.  Consider the purpose behind the “why?” 

Come with a plan. When I walked into the HR Director’s office, I had a plan.  It is not enough to present yourself as prepared but with no framework from which to demonstrate your preparedness.  Sure, your employer may be aware of your skills at the job you are now doing but what about those talents and abilities you have that you only showcase at home or church.  Tap into other departments, talk to other co-workers, check out the organizations’ job sites and see what positions are available.  Consider sharing those plans with your manager or HR staff.  You will be surprised how those conversations will train you to have other conversations concerning professional growth and salary negotiations. 

Be willing to work.  My plan includes transitioning to another department.  While I am familiar with the policies and procedures of the unit there is still quite a bit of technical information of which I must be aware.  Be willing to take the time to put in the effort to learn the business.  Let them see you are ready to start from the bottom and work your way to top.  Make a commitment to be more informed and thus more vital. 

The answer to establishing a career isn’t necessarily to start scouring the job boards and moving on to the next job site. You may be able to re-establish yourself or recreate a new niche. The first steps to reinventing yourself may including having a conversation with your manager. Talk to them about how you’re feeling and inquire about available promotions or stretch assignments within your company. Let them know what you’d like to do, and you could be surprised at the opportunities available. By looking internally and externally, you’ll boost your chances of finding a new job or fulfilling career moves where you’ll be happier and more fulfilled.

…now what, Linda