Not Fired...
but Watered.
So...remember how in my last entry I was wondering how/when I would leave my current position?
I know how.
Today, another uneventful day, I decide to use some of my downtime to browse potential jobs out there. Bentley comes in suddenly, and I try to x out of the window hoping he hasn't seen it, and trying to think of a good excuse for why I was looking at it (I have a friend looking for work, etc)
Then he says very seriously, "Eli, I need to talk to you."
Instantly I think in panic, "He knows!" like Sebastian says in the Little Mermaid (those hard core will know what I'm talking about).
For 20 minutes I numbly work on scheduling his calendar as I imagine a thousand different things he might say to me "What were you doing looking for jobs?" "Your work has been sub par!"
Finally I am brought into the conference room with Bentley and Jen. Bentley looks at me with a slight smile and asks "Are you happy working here?"
I have no idea how to react. They're both looking at me with piercing stares and little smiles of "ahhh yes, we know all"
"Um," I begin far less gallantly than I would have wished, "I'm not sure what to say...I mean, it's work so its fine."
"No," says Bentley, "I want to know if you're happy coming here every day. This has nothing to do with your work. Your work is fine, but I need someone who is going to want to this for the next 15 years, and I know this isn't what you want for yourself. It's not just that you were looking at other jobs, you're clearly unhappy. You're meant to do a lot more than be an office assistant, and that's the only place this job is going. I know you do improv and theatre, and you're gonna work and make people laugh their asses off. This job isn't gonna bring you there."
Then Jen adds, "You also really want a job that you always look forward to coming in. It definitely takes time to find it, and I know you'll get there eventually."
Internally, at this point, my brain is doing a severe "Whaa?"
"So," Bentley continues, "here's what I propose: you stay here and use my phones and my computers to find your dream job. I don't just want you to find another job that you'll want to leave in a year; I want you to find a job that you, in your gut, believe is going to make you happy. All I ask is that you help me find a good assistant to replace you."
"I'm kinda stunned" I say with complete honesty, "I want you to know that I really love this work environment. The set up and the people are all amazing here. It's just the assistant job itself. One of the things I love is how much theatre background everyone here has, I want to go out and get that amazing background and be able to work as they do. You're right, an assistant job is not right for that."
Hence, I've been watered: They want me to find a job that makes me happy and grow as a person. The angels are looking down on me tonight.
So...remember how in my last entry I was wondering how/when I would leave my current position?
I know how.
Today, another uneventful day, I decide to use some of my downtime to browse potential jobs out there. Bentley comes in suddenly, and I try to x out of the window hoping he hasn't seen it, and trying to think of a good excuse for why I was looking at it (I have a friend looking for work, etc)
Then he says very seriously, "Eli, I need to talk to you."
Instantly I think in panic, "He knows!" like Sebastian says in the Little Mermaid (those hard core will know what I'm talking about).
For 20 minutes I numbly work on scheduling his calendar as I imagine a thousand different things he might say to me "What were you doing looking for jobs?" "Your work has been sub par!"
Finally I am brought into the conference room with Bentley and Jen. Bentley looks at me with a slight smile and asks "Are you happy working here?"
I have no idea how to react. They're both looking at me with piercing stares and little smiles of "ahhh yes, we know all"
"Um," I begin far less gallantly than I would have wished, "I'm not sure what to say...I mean, it's work so its fine."
"No," says Bentley, "I want to know if you're happy coming here every day. This has nothing to do with your work. Your work is fine, but I need someone who is going to want to this for the next 15 years, and I know this isn't what you want for yourself. It's not just that you were looking at other jobs, you're clearly unhappy. You're meant to do a lot more than be an office assistant, and that's the only place this job is going. I know you do improv and theatre, and you're gonna work and make people laugh their asses off. This job isn't gonna bring you there."
Then Jen adds, "You also really want a job that you always look forward to coming in. It definitely takes time to find it, and I know you'll get there eventually."
Internally, at this point, my brain is doing a severe "Whaa?"
"So," Bentley continues, "here's what I propose: you stay here and use my phones and my computers to find your dream job. I don't just want you to find another job that you'll want to leave in a year; I want you to find a job that you, in your gut, believe is going to make you happy. All I ask is that you help me find a good assistant to replace you."
"I'm kinda stunned" I say with complete honesty, "I want you to know that I really love this work environment. The set up and the people are all amazing here. It's just the assistant job itself. One of the things I love is how much theatre background everyone here has, I want to go out and get that amazing background and be able to work as they do. You're right, an assistant job is not right for that."
Hence, I've been watered: They want me to find a job that makes me happy and grow as a person. The angels are looking down on me tonight.