Why I Said BYE-BYE Retail.

Have you ever felt like you were missing some really important moments in your life? Did you feel like you were no where near what you wanted out of life? Corporate rules bringing you down? Management made you feel like less than you were and taking advantage of you? I answered YES to all of these.

When I got my start in retail (Rogan's Shoes circa 2007) I did it just to have gas in my beat up death trap of a car and to be able to afford things I wanted- and to save up for college items. I worked 2-3 nights per week and both weekend days, unless I needed the weekend off. I loved the people I worked with as they were truly amazing to me. I felt at home in that store. But, I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So, graduation came and went, the summer ended, and I went to College at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. I quit my job there in favor of spending time at home when I would come home. I did not want to work while I was visiting or on break because I was already burned out from school.

I was studying Elementary Education with a certification in Middle School teaching. It was something I have always had a passion for. I was the little girl sitting in my grandmother's extra bedroom teaching out of old textbooks she had from her teaching days. But, I really didn't want the education for myself. I was more social. I loved being in the first classroom with my kids but I did not enjoy their teacher. She kind of ruined student teaching for me. I still love teaching, but I put it to work elsewhere. So, I came back and ran a Stride Rite in Northbrook, IL- the store has closed.

I was treated so poorly and overworked. I asked for a raise once and was told that I wasn't eligible for a raise because of X,Y,&Z. Yet, they would give me a 2% raise. That put it up to $8.67. I was doing almost everything in that darn store. I ended up leaving because I was so burned out and exhausted of working open to close multiple days a week. I spent 6-months recovering from the burn out and exhaustion I went on to finally say hey- You need to get back to work!! So, I found a job as a Part-Time Keyholder at The Walking Company. I really wanted to be the Assistant Manager, but that was a ways off.

I started there on February 7th, 2012. August 2013, I was finally promoted to Assistant Manager- because my boss was told to do it and see if I sink or swim. She made my life hell. Constantly calling me on her days off or after she had already left for the day. I was left these obscene To Do Lists and was sometimes told, do not leave until YOU complete these tasks. (I would then get into trouble if I did not delegate. And if I did delegate I was in trouble for them not doing it right and me not doing it.) She wrote me up for my phone once or twice for it being on the counter- (but I was not using it) I just left it there when I walked in at 7:30 am and never moved it. I was working over 50 hours just trying to be the best Assistant Manager I could be. I did anything and everything I could do to be the best! It wasn't enough for her.

Here's a short story- We painted our store white from horrendous green. I came in one morning to finish the window areas. I didn't have enough paint to finish by the time I had to open. I was basically chewed out because I did not call my manager to tell her, I left it half finished, I wasn't responisble enough to do the job- yadah yadah.. She left to get more paint and called my District Manager to complain about me. He called me and told me what she had said about me (she) calling me lazy and irresponsible. I just about lost it. I told him how I came in at 5 am and did EVERYTHING I could to get the paint job done. When I told him all of it, he actually ended up siding with me. She got written up for it. I was transferred later due to my boss (another person) wanted to get rid of me. But, it worked out better because it was closer to where I was living after I had my daughter. That Manager wasn't much better. I would do everything for her.. and I mean EVERYTHING!! I made schedules, did paperwork, monthly papers, etc, etc. She was never grateful or anything, she was ALWAYS complaining about me behind my back to my old boss and my DM. She also gave me a TERRIBLE review when it came to a new process that we had to do. Turned out, she did not even do it, she had an employee that hated me do it. Talk about LAZY!

So, when push came to shove and my Store Manager position was given away to another manager, I said enough was enough. I left. I missed out on first steps, walking, and so much because I was working 50+ hours a week. My fiance and I hardly saw each other because I worked and when I came home he left for work. It was a strain on our family. So, when my mom offered to let us come and live with her in Florida, we jumped at the chance. We packed up and left in June 2017. Best decision we have ever made. We got away from the craziness in Chicago and the insane taxes and cost of living there.

Since being down here, I have been a Stay-At-Home-Mama since we came down. I started working from home in April of 2018. I wanted to do something that I could spend time with my family and help others. I became a Life Coach. It was going well and I found a Health & Wellness product that I absolutely loved, so I joined their ranks in May of 2018. In November of 2018, I joined the ranks of an AMAZING Clothing company. I am so glad I did it. I can work for as little or as much as I want and I get to see my Fiance and my daughter daily. Best Decision EVER!!