NJM #27 - My Big Mouth in These Foolish Things

Worked from 11-5:30 today. It was fine-ish. But it’s already getting old. Is it Christmas yet?

I’m still making some rookie mistakes and Dick Manager is still barking in my ear piece, but I’m kinda getting used to the register and how they want us to do things procedurally.

I did say something I truly regret to my work bestie Sied today. I honestly thought that as a temporary holiday employee I was likely making less, probably a lot less, per hour than the others. And so Sied and I were joking about the holiday goings on in the mall and I just said something about the fact that I am making $XX per hour that I can’t afford to pay the $50 entry fee for some winter wonderland pop-up instagrammable display that I want to see a few doors down.

Apparently, unbeknownst to the both of us, Sied and I make the same hourly wage and he’s been at the store for SIX years. And if we’re being totally honest, I actually make more than he does because I rounded down .50 when I tossed out my wage.

And don’t forget, Sied is the #1 sales associate in the company! I’ve seen him work. This guy busts his ass at work. He truly moves the needle for the store and they’d feel a big loss if he left.

It’s not like I don’t hustle (well, I might not super hustle - I am “acting my wage” after all). It’s that I know this is temporary and I will be moving on once the holidays are over, but I am worried that I may have caused a rip in the fabric of the team.

I can’t worry about it too much. After all, Sied himself says that there’s massive turnover every single month, so it’s not like I’m going to cause an actual revolt. But I sure would hate it if Sied lost his zest because of what I flippantly said to him today.

And also, what we are making is not a living wage. What I am making for working the last two weeks won’t even cover my COBRA insurance coverage for the month of December. That’s no exaggeration!

This is a side gig for Sied too, but I can’t believe he’s been killing it for the company and only makes $XX!!!! It’s absolutely ridiculous. I bet he could make twice as much somewhere else. And if he were on commission, my dude would be making over six figures, I can guarantee it.

Hm. Maybe this is a good thing for him. Could I have opened his eyes to much, much better options? Maybe he’ll take some steps to get out of there and make some REAL cabbage.

…and with more perseverance (and hustle!!!), I will too!

Show me the MONEY!
GS