Monday, October 1, 2012

Retail

Different companies will have different philosophies. Retail management for the most part stays consistent. I have done it for about a 3rd of my life. I am extremely comfortable with several things. I make OK money for myself. My work load is dependent on myself and if I continue to follow the company line, I undoubtedly will have a store within a year or so.

Where is the problem? Is it the consistency? Is it the lack of challenges that retail presents?  I am not sure. One of my best friends told me that his boss wanted to meet me. He wanted to offer me a job. I told him I wanted to meet with him. His boss is an interesting guy. After the initial meeting I felt a great deal of my core principles challenged. I couldn't articulate what set me apart in a retail setting. He wasn't looking at my resume, he was trying to figure out who I was as a person. He was just basing everything off of my friends recommendation. He asked me what I wanted and I felt the words spill out of my mouth. I said quite candidly that I wanted control over my life. Being an assistant manager I have much more less control than I did as store manager. As a friend pointed out it, I was/am a cog in a machine. I think its time I stop being a cog.  He was amazed I stayed at Haggar for 35k a year after being with the company for 9 yrs. I am not knocking Haggar, they made me into the man I am today. I gave them 9yrs of my life. I gave 10yrs to retail in general.

I always dreamed of moving on and taking my skills and talents to manage something else. This new job opportunity is partly that. There are several things, I would indeed bring to the table but I would also have a whole lot to learn. I feel the upside and potential here outweighs my current career path. I think my growth as a person would be substantial because I am going out of my comfort zone and making a bold life move while I am still young. Isn't that what this is all about. Keep learning. Keep moving forward. Keep progressing.