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One of the best pieces of advice about work is “Just show up.” But, as you know, if you’ve been employed, there are two kinds of jobs: 1. jobs demanding higher executive functioning and attention; 2. mindless jobs where humans become more like robots or a machine. The advice does not work for the most part for the high-demand/high-pay jobs. And mindless jobs are soul killers. So what are we to do with our working lives?
Bring your whole self to work, but mind the danger too. In a previous job for Apple, I was gifted with a three-day orientation and indoctrination in “The Apple Way.” It really was remarkable. Look for a future book about that experience. But, I also learned that I’m too much for some people. A young woman of color was in my orientation group. On the second day our table was reorganized. I thought it was just part of the process. A month or so later, as I was “shirted” and in my role, I was called into the “store owner’s” office.
“There was a complaint.”
Turns out, the young woman was threatened by something I did or said. Most likely, it’s my camaraderie. Somehow, she took it a threat. And she was a Jr. Leader of the workshop, she was being groomed for leadership, as they call it.
<scene>
“Can you tell me what exactly offended her?”
“No.”
“Can we have a conversation with her together?”
“No.”
“Should I address the issue and apologize to her?”
“Absolutely not. Apple has a “non-retaliation” clause that we take very seriously.”
“So we’re never going to talk about it? And you can’t tell me exactly what it was that offended her, and I’m taking a mark on my record?”
“We have an open door policy and complete protection of the people on both sides of the conflict.”
“But there was no conflict.”
“She felt you were threatening enough to report it.”
“So, there’s no other recourse except for me to say, “Thank you for the feedback, even though you’ve told me nothing except stay away from her?”
“Pretty much.”
<end scene>
At the end of my scheduled tenure, I was not offered a full-time position, even though I had some of the highest sales in our group and a 5-out-of-5 Net Promoter Score.
Ho hum. Just show up was not enough.
Here’s the lesson I learned.
Leave Robin Williams at home. Just show up, be happy, do your job, but don’t get too happy or fun. I’m learning that one in my current role as a cashier again.
Amen.
[Listen to the Deep Dive explore the concepts of The Happy Cashier.]
The hope I see in others
becomes the hope I have for myself,
my life, and my own journey.
– The Happy Cashier
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ALT: Botisatva’s Bookshelf | The Happy Cashier Podcast
Please check out my latest book on mindfulness and daily practices.
