As most of you know, I'm moving out to Boston to go back to school. I'm doing a MA in Gender and Cultural Studies at a small school. I leave tomorrow and I'm fairly certain I've packed everything. I've not blogged much recently because I've been working a lot. And before I start the next chapter, I'm going to take a look back at the last year.
Just under a year ago I got back from York and I didn't know what was next. After a few months of a rather drifting existence, I started working retail in November. I didn't know how long I'd be there--I figured just for the holidays. But nine months later, I still have the job and am lucky enough to be transferring to a different store out in Boston.
I've complained about work sometimes, but everyone does. More than anything, I've learned a lot. I've learned how to be proud of my work when that work isn't academic. I've learned about team endeavors that aren't athletic. I've expanded my experiences. That isn't to say the past nine months have just been a social experiment; I needed the job and I've earned enough to make quite a few loan payments. And I was good at it.
I enjoyed the work, most of the time. I didn't enjoy guests getting upset at me for things that were so far above my pay grade it's hilarious. I didn't enjoy picking up other people's slack. I didn't enjoy some of the excesses of consumerism. But, like always, I enjoyed a job well done, being physically tired at the end of the day, having my hard work recognized, interacting with other workers.
I know retail isn't my future. But it has impacted me in ways that I probably can't even realize. I've learned lessons about interacting with new people. I'm able to answer phones and call people without freaking out (most of the time).
I was also able to use skills I've learned elsewhere to succeed at work. Growing up, my dad always told me to "run with authority" when I played sports. I've mentioned before my belief in "fake it till you make it", but this is applicable to retail too. If you act like you know what you're doing and make plans for the day with confidence, people listen and have confidence things will get done. There is a trick to it though. If you act like you know what you're doing, you actually have to learn what you're doing, because people will trust you to do more.
Another lesson I learned growing up was to do more than half a job. Saturday mornings would often include a conversation on emptying the clean dishwasher in our house. The job often fell to me, and being the literalist I was as a kid, I would empty the dishwasher; completely ignoring the dirty dishes in the sink. And then my parents would tell me, often a few minutes later, that I hadn't finished. Translate to the past year: given a task, such a "zone bras", I didn't just pick up and rehang stuff, I super zoned, putting everything in it's place. A job well done the first time will often result in less work. (Think of those classroom posters: "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over.")
The last lesson I learned growing up that was helpful these past few months has been to never say "no". The first rule of improv is "never say no". I'm not good at acting and I'm positive I'd be terrible on stage. But it's a good rule of thumb. I'm not advocating being a "Yes man", but there is something to saying "sure I can do that" when you are asked to do something at work. Even "I'll try to get it done" is better than "no". "Never say no" is about being willing to do more, be more. Live more.
Last November, if asked about how I thought the year would play out, I'm not sure what I would've said. But I know I wouldn't've been able to predict how much this job has impacted me. And, although some of them will never know, I would like to thank all the people I worked with for making life enjoyable for the last nine months. I've truly enjoyed working with you and I wish you all the best.
