I almost lost it!

Dateline - Rochester, NY - I am not really sure what happened today. As I entered the customer and was about to go into the owner's office, one of the workers came in and shut the door and they started going at it.

Now, that's the way to start a day!

Or actually, it was just a precursor for what was in store. I have to admit that this wasn't a particullarly hard day until about 4. At that point, I just got tired of trying to push a string UPHILL!

I am the first to acknowledge that there is usually more than one way to get a task done correctly. But if you are going to ask me for my help on such a mundane task as having me call out a 57 page report line by line and then making changes in the system, don't ask me what you did wrong (I wasn't there when you made the entries)and when I tell you how to correct the situation, don't take the 30 step way to do it (when I have repeatedly shown you the 2 step way)! And while I am happy to create a flow chart of how procedures should go through your organization, at least have enough smarts to not make me actually identify the individual, the basket, and where to put the paperwork and at what times of day you should be getting it.

Thanks for letting me off on a rant here.

Some disappointing or at least challenging news. I got to get another pool guy. My guy isn't giving me the time I need to get the business I am getting done. More stress. Which is certainly never welcomed, but least of all now.

TTFN.

Different city…SOS

Dateline – Rochester, NY – At least I have changed my locale a little. It seems like I have been spending the majority of my time in Syracuse. Not that it is a bad town. It is just NOT where I want to be spending my time, especially during the last 4 months. The rain and the cold along with a good bit of snow have truly done a number on my “alleged” psyche.

Usually, a change of scenery brightens up my outlook. But that just isn’t the case at the moment. This customer has just as many or more warts than the last two and is not even trying to meet half way on this.

At this point in time, it doesn’t really matter what city/customer I go to. I feel like the customer has permission to hand me my head and serve it to me cold. The only solace that I take away from the experience is that over 90% of customer’s reaction is not based on my performance, but more on the limitations of the product that I am attempting to implement. That being said, I could ALWAYS do a better job. And the last 4 months have been spent for nothing if they haven’t been a true learning experience.

I don’t mind getting experience. I just don’t want to know walking in the door I am heading for one and not knowing which direction it is going to come from. Everyday is a new revelation. If it was just a revelation to me, I could accept it. In many, if not all, the surprise comes to the company as well.

But, all is not as bad as it seems. I got a call the other day from someone who is definitely interested in my services. Services that I KNOW I can provide and at a price that bases out even better than this position.

On the third hand, I have been seriously eyeing some condo’s in St. Augustine, FL. I gotta do something. I feel like a shark that isn’t moving.

And at he end of the day, perhaps THAT is the problem. I am seemingly never secure in my present situation. I feel like I started to think about retirement later than most and I am trying hard to make up for lost time. I need help.