SURVIVING IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES !

If you want to survive playing someone else’s game, you have to play by their rules. So it goes when you have a boss. I spent 10 years teaching at the high school level and I worked for a vocational school and I traveled between 4 different high schools in those 10 years.

In those ten years, I had to learn to live with 2 vocational directors and 4 high school superintendents. All these people had different personalities and expectations, sometimes opposing expectations. It was like trying to deal with 6 different bosses.

I remember all the frustration and anger I went through trying to keep everyone happy. One day a more mature teacher took me aside and provided sound advice:

1. You can’t fight and change the system, it’s a losing battle.
2. When you are in a specific school, follow all of their rules with a smile.
3. When dealing with the vocational director, do the same.
4. It doesn’t matter if you feel it makes any sense or not.
5. If you can’t do the above, find another occupation.

I did follow his advice for several years and then switched career paths.

I recently had a conversation with someone who’s salary was cut (everyone else’s salary was cut as well in this particular business ) due to the economic conditions we are experiencing. He was not a happy camper. My advice, play by the rules. A cut in pay is better than no pay.

I recently talked to a friend of mine who is a nurse. She was making $32/hr and had been with this particular hospital for 25 years and was downsized. She applied for work in a nursing home and was offered $22/hr and she asked for $25/hr (she stated she was very insulted by the offer). The rules of the game with the nursing home where that the particular position that was open paid $22/hr. Someone else got the job.

It’s tough to swallow at times but the rules are the rules. The only way you can change the rules is to be your own boss. Then the customer makes the rules!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts