Bitching according to Hoyle

I entered the work force early, delivering newspapers to an old lady at a bar when I was in grade school. I got paid in moon pies :-). Then when I was 15, I filed papers in an office and 16-18 I worked in fast food. Then I moved, and it was more fast food and a group home for developmentally delayed adults.

Then I was a stay at home mom for 6 years.

Following that, I worked in an assisted living for about 3 1/2 years. What a difference those 6 years made. At the assisted living, I had a boss named Jim, and he had an assistant named Jackie. Jim taught me that if you are going to a boss with a complaint, then have a plan of action in mind as well to fix it. So.... I would go to J&J office and state my intention. They were:

• I came with a problem, and here's a solution.
• I am just coming in to vent and get it off of my chest. No action required.
• I have a problem but don't really have any solutions, help me brainstorm.

I have used this in every single job that I have had since. And it did not stop there... I apply it to most every type of interaction in my life.

In fact... it touches a lot of things for me. For instance, today I was going to type up a blog post titled "I wish..." but it really just seemed well... whiny. "I wish I had more time..." "I wish that I had more self confidence" yadda, yadda, yadda. I do wish those things, and a lot of other things as well. But, I would much rather come up with solutions than just sitting and wishing.

I recently discovered http://www.43things.com/ I have been very busy over there listing things that I would like to do. And then I post the steps I'm taking to accomplish things. It keeps my motivation up. You can find me at 43 things under the name 'renigma'.

Today I posted a list of some of the blogs I follow. Please check them out. Enjoy!