#186 - Plot Fixin’s the 4th: Run on Ire
I hereby resolve not to have any extra-comic rants, because it makes navigating comics impossible…
(From 02-11-2008) Press Sincerity
Has the mind not been occasionally likened to a facet? Tap it and wonder at the deliverance - or lack thereof, as the case may be. As a few of you know, liquidstupid is a damn friendly guy.
The retail experience has an interesting impact on that. The question becomes how valid, how honest is that friendly nature? Does he really mean it when he tells you “good day” and “thank you”? I know there are those who do not so long as they are paid come end of day.
My attitude is this: My wages are a matter of compensation. To me this means my strut on the sales floor is not showmanship. If the product will likely fail, or has met with bad review, then I will knowingly inform you. Should I lack knowledge on the topic, I will openly admit it.
This is about reputation, reliability, and trustworthiness. Though ill-trained, I do my best, and at the end of the day 100% is all I’ve got. The challenge is remaining friendly in the face of flat out ignorance, idiocy, and outright misery.
I have encounter all of these, and as long as I employ my time in retail, they will recur. In managing any form of stress, the first step is awareness. Mind you, awareness serves in any situation. Without it, frustration and anxiety ensue.
Douglas Adams (God rest his soul), once wrote: “The universe is a very large place. So, the creators of the Hitchhiker’s Guide places the following words in large, comforting letters on it’s cover: ‘Don’t Panic’.”
I posted this sign up in a couple places for frequent employee review. It helps. You look at it and are reminded of a very important habit to keep. It’s simple - keep it in your mind and you too can stay sane.
