Stopped trying to make a difference

I care about my store—or at least I try to. I won’t say too much about which position I work, don’t want anyone to narrow it down, but let’s just say I’ve been here at least a few years and know how to do the job right.

I’m constantly trying to improve sales around the store. No matter what I say, it’s shot down. “DM doesn’t like that” or “Corporate won’t like that.” Or even more dumb: “I think it’s a good idea, but I personally don’t like how it looks.” If it increases sales, what does it matter if you personally like it or not?

I’m trying to display merchandise and increase sales, but if it’s not a hundred percent standardized, it’s a hard no. Rarely am I offered an alternative. And 9 times out of 10, the alternatives are convoluted, dumb, and don’t actually improve anything.

How can you partner with someone, if they want nothing to do with you or your ideas? How can you expect things to improve or change if you do the same stupid c-ap over and over again?

Honestly, I’ve stopped trying. I keep my head down and do what is asked of me, but why try for more.

This is not my only job, by the way. Even with my hours, at non competitive rates it don’t pay the bills.

Excellent post by @XA8DTeF-1caz, on point.

Comment! It's anonymous!

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“Stopped trying to make a difference “

Why bother? It’s like trying to reanimate a corpse.

The company is done. Lots of customer complaints because they no longer care about a good reputation. The top corporate guys will walk with the money. The petty insignificant booksellers will be out of a job and out of luck.

“Where are we supposed to go, if we're middle aged and have done this job for ten years?"”

I put in closer to TWENTY.

Is it scary out there? Yes.

But I had a couple companies I was interested in. The first one I applied to, hired me.

You’re worth more than you think !

You just need to find a company that APPRECIATES it’s employees.

They do exist !

"Everyone says, Get out, now!

Where are we supposed to go, if we're middle aged and have done this job for ten years?"

I did it, brother (or sister.) Is it easy? Nope. Can it be done? Sure.

An amusing anecdote: I'm not what one would call a spring chicken. One of the interviews I went to was me sitting down at a table with two young people, a SM and an ASM, both of whom were young enough to be my daughters (or, in the South, my granddaughters.) This was a very progressive retailer with very good metrics; I did my homework, and I nailed the interview. I had answers for every question; I out-thought these two young'uns like you couldn't believe. I was two or three steps ahead. I could have slapped a deck of Camels on the table, fired one up and poured myself a glass of Canadian Club in the middle of this interview, like Don Draper on "Mad Men," and still have won the day. Then, at the end of it, I got up to shake hands, and my left foot had fallen asleep. I swear to God, FDR in his fourth term would have stood up with more vigor than me that day. I was literally holding on to the table to prevent me from falling to the floor like a gosh darn imbecile.

Not too surprisingly, I didn't get a second interview. But I found something else.

And so can you. Good hunting, brother/sister.

Everyone says, Get out, now!

Where are we supposed to go, if we're middle aged and have done this job for ten years?

It's getting ready to not pay any of your bills.......Get out while you can.

They're trying to do too much with too little.

You can't expect the same results & numbers, if you dump the majority

of your seasoned staff.

I remember years back, before the bloodshed, i complimented a veteran

book seller to an ASM, saying: She is an incredible resource.

He looked at me & said: Well, we have computers that can do all that now.

Thread regarding Barnes & Noble layoffs

Stopped trying to make a difference

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