The beginning of my starfish story

In my job training, our trainer shared with us a story that over the years Jenny Craig has adopted as its' story of inspiration. Tomorrow is my first day on the job so I decided to remind myself of its' message and share it with those who may read this. 

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed

a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. 
The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don't throw them back, they'll die.
You can't make a difference!

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said 

"I made a difference for that one."

Here is to hoping we can all find our starfish-- the way we will make an impact on this world no matter how slowly.  I think my Jenny Craig clients will make some great starfish. :)

Until next time,

-a less befuddled than usual post-grad

The questions they ask and the way they ask them

    Some of you may know this about me, but I am a big fan of two things 1. Quotes 2. The television show Home Improvement.  This post has been inspired by a quote from Home Improvement.

"Every job has one thing in common...it has to be done and it has to be done well."

   After quitting the aforementioned nonprofit canvassing job I took out of college, I decided to take a job at AMC Theatres.  This was my attempt to get the bad taste of my last job out of my mouth and to gain customer service experience in the process.  Plus, free movies.

   At times, while working at AMC, I could not help but notice the judgement customers (or guests as AMC insists we call them) exuded while interacting with me.  It was as if I could visibly see how little regard and respect they held for the job my co-workers and I did.  As anyone who has had a service industry job can tell you, there are instances where guests forget that they are talking to a human and disregarded anything resembling manners or common decency.

    That was a tough pill for me to swallow, but those were strangers who did not who I was or what I stood for.  What was worse, was dealing with the judgement that followed after answering the question post grads are asked ad nauseam, "What do you do with your life now that you are done with school?"  This question particularly annoys me because you know that in most cases they aren't looking for any existential answers.

    They aren't asking you if you are happy or enjoying your life and what you are doing with it.  They are asking you where you work, as if that somehow tells them how successful you are.  To me, the real tragedy of this is that recent post-grads pose this question (with intention to judge) to each other.  However, that is a rant for another time.

    To see peers' judgement of what job I had bothered me on a deep level.  Sure, I was slightly annoyed that they were judging ME.  Yet, I was more annoyed that some people of my generation have not realized the concept the above Home Improvement quote is trying to convey.  It should not be about what job you do, but how well you do it.  How you do your job is what reveals character and strength; not what your title is.  I do not know about you, but I would prefer to be judged on my character and thoughts rather than on my job.  Without attempting to sound like Tyler Durden... I am not my job.

Until next time,
- A befuddled post-grad