Take This Job and Shove It

That’s right. Monday I drove to the restaurant, handed my apron to the banquet manager and said, “I’m throwing in the towel.” Her response? “Okay.” That was it. No exit interview, no follow-up call by the general manager. (I understand they go through a lot of help there.)

The last time I worked was Sunday night. I arrived at 3:45, helped prep for dinner, served two tables, helped clean up and reset the dining room for lunch, and left around 8:30. I made $30 in tips, gave $3 to the busboy (who spent entirely too much time talking to the pretty hostess while I helped him do his job) and $1 to the bartender. I earned $2.83 per hour wages. So for almost five hours’ work, I made $39, was yelled at, scorned, and ignored, and my right lower leg is injured.

I can’t tell you how happy I am to quit that crappy-ass job. What a bunch of impatient, miserable people who begrudged helping others and seemed to always want to find fault. Actually, the two new hires I met were friendly and helpful, and there was one server named Krissy who was such a sweetheart, always willing to explain things or help in any way. The staff ignored Krissy for six months after she was hired.

I didn’t come to the planet to be miserable, though I’ve had my fair share of misery. I want to be happy. And I believe we’re all here for a reason.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. –Henry David Thoreau

In speaking with my preacher friend Phil, he reminds me that my “steps are ordered of the Lord” and that God gives me the desires of my heart. I don’t follow Phil’s brand of faith, but this philosophy is in line with New Thought literature, which teaches that we are local manifestations of an omnipresent Intelligence. This Intelligence directs creation through the thoughts of its local manifestations. That’s you and me (and maybe dolphins and elephants, too, who knows). Meaning we are that Intelligence, not a created species living under sin subordinate to a dictatorial father.

In other words, the desires that well within you for creativity, compassion, love, and service are the drives of this Intelligence seeking to evolve. These desires must and will be filled. It’s the old Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow routine.

Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich says that to be successful we must burn our bridges and commit wholly to our chosen path, and in doing so we can’t help but succeed.

One of the cooks told me I should stick around because the club was so busy in winter that I could make $300 a day in tips. Money’s a wonderful thing, and I want a lot of it. But I won’t trade my soul or my happiness for it. I’ve already lost everything that most people value: business, home, car, credit rating. I’d rather sell everything I have to buy time to start another business than do another day in work hell.

The hardest part is figuring out what to do. I thought I’d like to be an actress, but I have no interest in living in congested Hollywood or dealing with a host of egos. Another desire I have recently developed is to have a chicken farm where I can raise pasture-fed chickens and eggs. I’m having a really hard time finding these locally, so there’s definitely a need. And nature, quiet, and healthy food have become very important to me.

But my true love is teaching people, so I’ll be coming up with some information products to help others improve their health and find more meaning in life. Then people can trade their money for my time and we will both win. That’s good business.