Yo, I'm bouncing.

From what I’ve gathered, many people my age do not like their jobs. That being said, no one in his or her right mind will complain about any employment “in this economy.”

So as a recent quitter myself, my best advice is “just put in your two weeks notice!” Most people will hear this advice and automatically think that the benefits will manifest in two weeks—when you no longer have to work at your boring job. However, in my experience, the gratification was instantaneous.

As soon as I announced my plans to leave the radio station where I worked, I was relieved of so many burdens. No longer did I have to wrestle with my potentially reckless decision to quit a stable paycheck. It was done. My decision was made. That was that. I also did not have to grapple with telling my manager that I was leaving and her potential disappointment. I had told her; she was surprised; she was disappointed. But despite her disbelief of my choices, she was also supportive, which assured me that I had made an exciting decision. I had been hiding my plans to move for over 2 months—and that can put a huge strain on someone as candid and outspoken as I am. Within mere hours of my resignation, I was able to chat freely about my move and upcoming job search. Clearly I liked the office environment, because for my remaining 3 1/2 days of employment, I stuck it out, serving 9-hour days. I didn’t exactly intend on sitting at work that much—after all I no longer had to pretend I was busy. I just had to clean out my desk and prepare my client files for the Account Executive who would replace me.

Of course it was easier for me to enjoy my final days at work compared to many disgruntled peers, because I didn’t hate my job. It had been a difficult decision to leave in the first place. Here I was with a job where I loved my managers, the “higher ups,” my co-workers, the overall company culture, and of course, all the perks that come with working for popular radio stations. In fact, my last week of work was so pleasant that I soon started doubting my choice to leave. In the face of major changes, it is so easy to forget the days where I was bored to death with Norfolk and frustrated with my job.

But I’ve paid for my apartment and my roommate is counting on me, so there is no turning back now. But at least I can leave this job with fond memories of my experiences, co-workers, supervisors, and socializing-away my last week.

My experience was romance-free.

If You Can’t Outsmart Them . . . you’ll be single and bad at your job.

(crazy is right)

Working in sales is tough. It’s like being that annoying one-night stand who clearly did not get the hint and won’t leave you alone.

In modern dating, girls are taught to be coy and hard to get, god forbid genuine interest scares a guy away. In sales, you have to be persistent and resourceful about finding new ways to talk to the “decision maker.”

If I do enough leg work, I can usually track down my prospective client using his office number, direct line, cell phone, e-mail and showing up at his door (office door, that is, not home). Much like I try to hide excessive interest in my newest crush, I also try to hide the fact that I have enough free time at work to call the same client 10 times a day. To conceal the frequency of my attempts, I monitor and limit the number of voice mails, emails, and “missed calls” I leave my client, because my real purpose is to catch a real-live human on the line.

 

In dating, calls and texts (and direct tweets, and wall posts, and status comments, and picture comments…) have to be strategic and carefully planned to say as much as possible without seeming like a stalker. What? You think you can make conversation whenever there is an appropriate or funny opportunity? Are you crazy? You’ll have that guy (or girl) avoiding you like the plague because you’re “just getting too serious.”
Now you and I both know that you only commented on his “Share your favorite, ‘your momma’ jokes” wall post because ‘your momma’ jokes are your specialty, but he might perceive it as a desperate need for attention.

There are various schools of thought when it comes to flirting. Personally, I’m not a fan of playing dating “games.” I prefer to be (somewhat) straightforward and if the guy bites, great. It is much simpler and keeps you from wondering if he really understood the underlying message of your 160 characters. However, in sales you have to come up with inventive (not manipulative) ways of sparking the clients’ interest. Being frank and using the most off-putting word ever—advertising—rarely gets you anywhere. Another option, as lectured by a college friend, concentrates on the perils of seeming more than a little interested. “Always leave him wondering, and second-guessing,” she said. Only the best sales people can snag clients by playing hard to get, and you definitely need a good product to sell. I think Apple could probably pull off this technique, but they’re too nice to ever try. Other girls like to slowly wear the guy down. Text, show up, and utilize mutual friends as much as possible until he gives up, and gives you a try. From my brief experience in sales, this seems like the most reliable, albeit draining, approach. I’ve been advised by more experienced co-workers that it usually takes months, if not a year, to get a client to sign a contract. Most peoples’ interest in an individual, as opposed to money, does not last that long.

Perhaps the main similarity between dating and sales is if the boy or the client is truly interested in what you have to offer, then the relationship comes easily. At this point, voicemails (an archaic tool only used by the most serious of relationships) are left and returned promptly and unexpected visits are no longer seen as threatening.

****I’d love to hear a guy’s perspective…

Electronic Cigarettes...updated

I have received new information about e-cigarettes from a pipe & tobacco shop-owning client of mine. Apparently these devices, created to help people quit smoking by gradually reducing the amount of nicotine they inhale while fulfilling the physical addiction that comes with smoking, are gaining popularity for new reasons.

These cigarettes produce water vapor instead of smoke; thus, making them acceptable to smoke indoors where regular cigarettes are prohibited. My first reaction is that this is helpful to smokers who have tired of leaving the bar or restaurant every time they need a smoke, more so now because of new legislation. But the more I think about it, this could be useful in airplanes (and airports), long bus trips and even non-smoking hotel rooms.

Once again we see that where there is a will, there is a away--A motto long recognized by anyone trying to get away with breaking rules.