Monday, November 03, 2008

In my last entry, I revealed how I had become a victim of the sour economy by being fired from my sales job for "slow sales and lack of need for a salesman right now".
Fortunately, I found a job on the same day I was fired. BUT!!!...when I went in to settle the terms of my new employment, I received a call on my cell phone from my former boss's attorney. She informed me that I had signed a non-competition agreement when I went to work there in 2003. I looked it up and realized that I had inadvertently signed a "3 year-300 mile" non-competition form that I had forgotten about. To start, the terms(3 years-300 miles) is extremely excessive for ANY job. Then, I was" let go", I did not quit to pursue employment elsewhere. In my opinion, this should negate any non-competition agreement. Lastly, this profession is what I know, what I taught myself, and have customers who will "go where I go" or just go elsewhere if I am not in this business any longer. I am a strong believer in customer service and loyalty, and this has benefited me in the long term with a strong customer base, loyal to me, not my former employer. I have been threatened with a lawsuit and with a restraining order that would prevent me from going to my new place of employment. I ask, is this fair? Why would someone fire you and then tell you you can't work in the same industry? What insane idiot thinks that telling me that I am not needed because the economy is poor, then telling me I can't work, doing what I know, is fair? I WANT to be sued for this. I want a trial by jury. I want 12 people to tell me that this is just! I am dumbfounded by the lack of humanity, the lack of common sense, and just the plain lack of sympathy by this ignorant jackass. This man has to be the greediest, coldest person I have ever met,and I regret the day I ever went to work for him. I have made a lot of money for this company, and at the same time, for myself by being a good salesman with a knack for customer care and service. Traits that are largely missing in the retail/wholesale industry these days. And I don't apologize for doing my job well.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Well, the Great Recession? of 2008 just claimed another victim--me! I was a salesman for a local building material supply company(who shall remain nameless because I am going to make every effort to see that they fail) who's ignorant owner decided he didn't need a saleman in these slow economic times. He said he will just rely on the walk-in/call-in traffic to keep the doors open. Well, good luck(not really!)! Do I sound bitter? Maybe a little, but I feel that a large weight has just been removed from my back. Mainly because I carried that little company thru hard times and good times. Customers have told me that I was the only reason that they still bought there. Makes me feel good that I have been so well thought of! I am now trying to get on with what has been known as "The Competition". I will take as many customers with me as will go and increase this company's bottom line, all the while watching the other one slowly fade. (hands rubbing gleefully and smirking). I could never understand the mind of this past employer. No advertising, no price adjusting, no loyalty to employees-every one is there just to provide a warm body to get the job done, even if it is a poor job. Well, poor decisions have toppled many a bigger company than this one, so let the rumble start and walls crumble. Adios, good bye, and good riddance! Sell it off at auction and move to Colorado(a clue?). See ya!
Ever own a dog? Most of us have. I always feel that a dog owns you, not the other way around. Dogs lives are too short...too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish. So you live fully in the moment with them, never fail to share their joy or delight in their innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There is such a beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and for the mistakes we make because of those illusions. I hope I can always have a dog by my side, even as I grow into an old man. The love in a dog's eyes can even take the edge off of that, and can even give you a reason to keep going, to know you just can't let them down.
If it doesn't already show, I miss the dogs that have gone on to the other side of the rainbow bridge, and I hope they are waiting for me when I cross.

Dedicated to JAKE, JAZMINE, CHESTER, TAZMO, AND ALL THE OTHERS.