“Well, I’m going to put my money where my mouth is. I said I’d be cool whatever happened so I’ll be cool.”
I was standing inside one of our stores, talking to a co-worker before heading outside to wave around my sign all day.
A couple weeks before, I had had a meeting with my supervisor that went well (I showed up for work on time and actually went outside, which pretty much guaranteed a stellar review – heck even showing up high as a kite every day would have been fine… I was probably the only sign-spinner who didn’t smoke before work).
When the topic of open positions came up, I had mentioned my experience in marketing and he said he’d see if they needed anyone.
The vice president of sales emailed me and said there weren’t any current openings, but for me to send my resume
Which meant I actually had to write one. For the first time in my life.
I threw one together and sent it back. Around that time, I mentioned the promotion possibility to a co-worker, but said I was practicing being content no matter what the outcome.
The acid test arrived after a couple weeks without a response. So I mentally shrugged my shoulders and forgot about the possibility…
… until that year’s Christmas party rolled around. I realized it was my only chance to be in a room with the owner while he was relaxed and his guard was down. So I planned out what I would present to him, and how I’d say it. The whole idea felt so… right. And logical.
A funny feeling of knowing overcame me
Soon the night arrived. The owner rented out some floor space at a Dave & Busters. Much drinking ensued. I managed to break a novelty-sized candy cane.
As the night wore on, I waited for my opportunity… and then seized it.
I approached the owner, introduced myself, shook his hand, and thanked him for a great party. Then I brought up my experience with marketing, and how there was an opportunity for driving far more customers his way.
He asked me to send him a proposal and I said I would.
[Side Note: Knowing what I know today, I would have angled for an in-person meeting as soon as he could possibly schedule one… but a minor detail in the grand scheme of manifestation]
The good news was, persuasion in writing was my strong-point. So, over the next couple days, I wrote and edited and re-edited until my proposal was ready – and then sent his way.
I also finally got in touch with the mechanic my fellow sign-spinner knew!
So I dropped my car off at his “shop” (his home garage) so he could soak my catalytic converter overnight. Thus fooling the emissions test.
As fate would have it, I got pulled over the day before the test. I explained to the cop all that I went through to fix my car (leaving out the crucial detail I just mentioned) and that I was just about to get my plates renewed. He gave me a ticket, but emphasized how, because it was my third offense, he was supposed to tow me. So, overall, a lucky break.
Anyway, I passed the test.
Yes, I cheated
Call it moral relativism, but I’m okay with the decisions I’ve made.
And a few days later, I ran into the owner on my way outside and followed-up about my email. He was busy and said he’d reply. Again, I practiced being content whatever the outcome… and it wasn’t a few moments later that I spotted a penny on the sidewalk. Nice.
A couple weeks later, when I had forgotten about the whole thing, the owner finally replied and asked when I could meet him in person at his office… and he wrote he didn’t think I’d be sign-spinning anymore! (A prediction that would come… half-true.)
However, my meeting with him would be delayed due to me almost dying. I’ll write about that next time…
