Clean Out Your Desk...

Usually, when you leave a job, you clean out your desk, right?

In this case, I was not sure what I was doing there. I mean, there I was sitting at my desk on a Wednesday, when just that Monday I had been informed that sales was going to straight commission and that my commission would drop by 13%~! The new plan for me was to send out several salespeople for closing - have me set appointments for closers to go in - as if I am not a closer. I am a closer. The sale, in this case, would pay me $6 BEFORE taxes (no base pay, remember?) and this is IF someone actually went out to close the sale!

The thing that is preposterous about the situation, is that we were selling internet advertising. You can sell that by phone, email, links, SCADS of ways that do not involve driving all over the place and looking incompetent because your laptop can't pick up a connection. There is a ridiculous reason for this, but I am bound by contract not to discuss it-you would have to sign a contract, too. I'm not kidding. Just know that I thought it was unnecessary to venture outbound - and I am right in this case.

I began to think how easy it is to sell something in my business that would bring me $6 and it was just bizarre that I kept going there, staying all day Monday, returning on Tuesday AND Wednesday. At some point it occurred to me that there was no check waiting for me even though I spent the gas and time getting there each day; even though I was acting as receptionist and more inside. I started to see how I had become "Milton" from "Office Space" and everyone else was very soon to follow. On that Wednesday, I began to think perhaps I should not return again.

I should have brought my things home.

My Rolladex, globe paperweight, Slinky, silk potted plants, vanilla diffuser, white board, etc. all remained and remain at work. Our office manager offered to meet with me last weekend to get my stuff to me and I could not - it was a Dad weekend. This weekend, well, I just have not called her or anything. Not really sure why not. Part of me is afraid that I will get talked into going back to work for free. It's scary to think I could be that dedicated, but I'm afraid it's true and a real possibility! Instead, I realized that these were all just things, things that could be replaced if necessary except for the Rolladex. The Rolladex can always be rebuilt, however, can't it?

Sometimes avoidance is a good thing. Especially when it keeps you from engaging in self-destructive behavior such as working for free. If you find yourself in that situation, clean out your desk, you can always bring everything back in tomorrow.