The 18 year old hussler.
After having my son young, I had to figure out how to make some cash…fast. I did not go to college, well I did but …beer. My first job was working in Walmart in the Vision Center, so a little customer service and cash counting experience. I was working nights at the casino dealing blackjack, which I actually really enjoyed but hours and pay was super sketchy and inconsistent. Plus, my morning sickness (24 hour sickness) was so bad, I had thrown up on my blackjack table 3 times, ruining the felt, when my very kind Pitboss asked me to come back after I had the baby. Today, not sure that would be legal but at 19, I didn’t think I had any rights. For the record, when you are dealing black jack, you cannot turn away from your table because people could steal all of the dealers chips. I couldn’t “clap off” my table until someone was there to relieve me. I would yell for my Pit to come but he was old and slow so, BLEH! Everywhere, all the time, for the entire duration of my pregnancy.
I had this side thing of being a part time, on call, temporary hired teller at a small bank. It was pretty cool because I could sit all day and no one ever came in. My supervisor liked how I spoke to customers and I would let them know when they weren’t in the best accounts, not because it was expected but because I was bored as hell. They kept me on longer than my temporary term so I just kept soaking up the medical insurance. However, $7.50 per hour was not going to support a baby so I started gunning for the next rate increase, which would only come if I was promoted to a personal banker. I started training myself, inserting myself into unwelcome situations with the other bankers to watch what they were doing and ask way too many questions.
I convinced my supervisor that I was ready to get that next gig (not ready) and they let me have it. WHOOOO $11 per hour. Still not going to cut it but that was easy enough, so it did it again, and again, and again…until I was a branch manager of the bank. I was way too young, too green, and didn’t know what the hell I was doing but I had a kid to feed, so you figure shit out.
Today’s Flavor
My current job is pretty cool. I am still in banking but I am more of a “mover and shaker,” a “Schmoozer,” and a developer of all things business. I do not like any of those terms. Basically, I cover business development for the organization in 18 different cities across MN, take care of large relationships, and serve as a face in the community. I get to go to a lot of events and I work insane hours at certain points in the year but it has it’s perks. No two days are the same. Most of the people at my company are pretty legit. If I want to take a half day to go to my kid’s school field trip, my boss says, “Go for it.” I can do a lot of my work from anywhere, with the exception of things where my face must be involved. This was a new job when I got it. It was created around Rachael. I suck at sitting in an office and focusing on my computer. I talk way too much and drive people crazy with my inability to sit still. So, out into the world I go to move and shake and know all of the people everywhere.
Indispensable Habits…I mean skills.
Is anyone indispensable? No, not really. There are 20 people lined up waiting to take my job if I croak and/or get fired. There are lots of people that take sales jobs. Mine isn’t even really sales, but more about being in the business of people. People say cliché things like this a lot but really. There are even people who have the same gift of gab I have. However, I try to focus on building the things about me that are unique, things no one else can or wants to do. First, I am intrigued by public speaking. Jerry Seinfeld once said that 9 out of 10 people are afraid of public speaking but only 2 out of 10 are afraid of death. So his joke in a routine once was, “so that means when you go to a funeral, most people would rather be laying in the casket than delivering the eulogy!” I love that.
I like watching the weird physical things people do their hands, feet, and sweaty armpits when they speak. Its amazing isn’t it? You can get done with a speech and not know what the hell you just said. You just straight up blackout and generally, that takes a ton of tequila for this girl (that’s an exaggeration)….an unimpressive about of tequila for this girl!
So I focus on speaking really well, controlling my body, and delivering messages in a way most people will not try. My speeches tend to be more like stand-up comedy routines, not that I am actually that funny, but just because I think I am the most hilarious person I know. Also, I speak about boring, uninteresting shit, like finances and your credit score. I do what I can to keep people awake. I get great feedback so it is working. I also am good at walking about of a new room of complete strangers and making sure everyone knows me. I just am not afraid of approaching people and that has come in handy too. You just have to find these little gaps in the market and figure out how you will make those your identity.
Anyways, if my work needed to replace me, they could find someone to fill my spot, no doubt. However, I enjoy doing certain things that no one else will do, work all kinds of hours, and will jump into whatever new adventure our leader throws our way. Even finding all that in a new candidate may not be that hard either but I promise no gives a shit about their company and truly believes their own speeches the way I do.
How did I “get” my boss(es) to say yes to me volunteering abroad for 4-5 weeks straight.
No one else does my job when I miss a day. I am a department of one. It all just sits and builds up for my return. So people are sometimes surprised to hear I am taking SO MUCH time off work, or how did I pull that off? Well, one part luck or good fortune and some parts are not luck at all. First, I am very fortunate to work for a company that legit believes in giving back. This is because of our CEO. That kind of shit rolls down hill, you know? He walks the talk and so we all do too. Simple as that.
Next, I have moved through two bosses who approved this time off and they just are really cool about stuff like this, pretty flexible. Why are they flexible? Maybe because they just naturally kind of are, but also, because they know I am out there working it. I work my tail off for my company, show up to as much as I possibly can and step up each day. I also made a point to be sure they understand how much volunteering abroad means to me and why. Lastly, I explained what motivates me. I have to pay my bills but once I do, throwing more money at me is not going to motivate me to work harder than I already am. I value time and flexibility. That is why I stay there when other banks try to poach me. They give me that and I will stay loyal as the day is long. It makes me feel valued and everyone just wants to be loved. Lastly, I do use my own PTO that I save up for this, so in case a coworker stumbles on this shit, no they do not sponsor or pay for me to do this. I just am lucky I can take all of my PTO at once.
If you are pumping yourself up to ask your boss for this…..
Stop sweating, if they say no, then you are in the same boat you are today. Which is no boat, on a beautiful sea getting sunburned with a beer. So just put your big girl panties on and prepare the following points of discussion:
- Did you put in 110% this year? If so, prove that shit.
- Is this really important to you, like enough that this is where you are ready to dig your feet in?
- What is the project? Why do they need you? Why are you the best person for the job?
- How will you bring these skills and experience back to your job here?
- How will you prepare for job coverage during your absence?
- Do you even have enough PTO for this?
- Is the place safe? What have you learned about the culture so far? Show you are committed and learning whatever you can.
- Are you ready to work your ass off before you leave and get back? Because the two months before and after I leave are hell, and I love it, and it’s totally worth it.
So if you are still wondering how I balance it all, here is the short answer:
I don’t.
I go balls-to-the-walls all year round, then leave for a month, then chase my tail once I get back. There is no balancingthis kind of thing. I swear it is worth it though. When you go on that first volunteer abroad trip, you will come back a different person and you will do anything to chase that high again.
