It's a good thing. Right?
At work, the goal is to get to do NSA seminars. Why? Because you make more money doing them. Your sales are MUCH higher and your incentive speaking fee is at least double what you make on regular seminars. Plus, if you do NSAs, you travel out of state a lot more and that sort of travel earns you little bumps also. So. Everybody around me is in a rush to get to do them. The guy who started right ahead of me is VERY eager. The woman who started right after me is chomping at the bit. The woman who started a month or so before me thinks she is about to go into training and she is ecstatic.
But me? I just want to take my time and really understand everything about this biz before I am pushed into teaching it.
Problem is, if you turn down additional responsibilities or promotions, well, that reflects poorly on you.
So, the NNA in all its wisdom, decides that I am ready to start doing NSAs. Before Jason = who will take this as a personal affront. Before Kate - who wants it bad and thinks she should be pushed ahead of everyone because she is also an attorney. And before Becky who definitely has seniority.
So, I'm flattered. Right? But what do I do? How do I tell Jason I just leapfrogged over him? This guy is emotional and intense. He will stick the knife in so deep I won't be able to dig it out.
But I am flattered. And it will be nice to make additional money. And it did happen a lot faster than everyone said it would. Which MIGHT have something to do with the fact that the department is growing and they just promoted two NSA instructor's right out of their seminar presenter roles.
So maybe I'm not so flattered.
posted by Andrea @ 8:20 PM
11 Comments:
Or maybe they just look at who they believe is the best PRESENTER (rather than who is most eager, who has seniority, or how is an attorney). To them it is all about money. Which does beg the question, would you be paid less than the others, thus making it even MORE profitable for them? That is the only non-flattering reason I can come up with.
Also, since this is a job with more travel, I'm willing to bet they feel you are the most honest, reliable, and trustworthy. This SHOULD be a big deal to them, since you are on the road more than the rest.
Also... this HAS to be considered some form a reward for a job well done. Doesn't it seem as though this much be their way of saying, "Hey... great job. We don't ever want to lose you!"?
It is definitely a show of regard. They told me flat out that one of the key factors is if they feel someone can handle being on the road by themselves, taking care of the problems that frequently come up, being accountable, etc. I've already had to deal with a couple of bad situations and managed to get through them without failing the attendees or making the NNA look bad.
No, I am not cheaper than the other folks. We all get our base salary no matter what we are doing. Then we get the same percentage of sales. Our incentives run from the $50 we get for doing half of a CA basic seminar up to the $200 we get for doing an NSA on our own (might even be more than that if we cross into ET zones). Kate and Jason might have a higher base rate to reflect their master's degrees, but the amount of money that we receive for doing NSA seminars vs. basic seminars is the same no matter the base rate.
And I don't miss my workload deadlines - they do. I have an outline for a script due on Monday - my supervisor gets it the Friday before. If they have an outline due on Monday, their supervisor gets a sob story from Kate on Tuesday about how she has never done one before and she tooooold you she needed assistance and a rant from Jason on Wednesday explaining how ridiculous it is that a man with his extreme speaking talents should be used up on mundane tasks when he could be teaching the rest of us how to actually speak.
I wish I was making those things up.
Anyway - I do see it as regard - my greatest concern is that my co-workers will further ostracize me (and it DOES matter - I have to travel with these folks - we live in each other's pockets when we are on the road), and somehow characterize me as a traitor. Believe me, when they sent me in an emergency to PA - not to speak, just to help someone out when another presenter was ill - Jason and Becky were furious that I got to go out of state before them.
Ah well,. I'm just tired tonight. All will be well. I like my job and my employers like me. I get along with my co-workers and I have friends outside of my immediate department. Jason will just have to suck it up.
I think it is great, you deserve it and you are not the type to flaunt it in people's faces, so they will get over it. Or they won't and eventually they will be gone. That's how it works.
I agree with Jen. You usually don't win the popularity contest when you're climbing the ladder. I've experienced that first hand when I worked for Hyatt Hotels. People I thought were my friends turned fierce enemies. I guess they weren't my friends in the first place.
Andrea this is ALL wonderful. Just ignore and rise above the pettiness. Congratulations!!!! I'm so happy that positive things are happening for you.
Yeah well good for YOU Andrea! I'm glad YOU are happy.
I'm miserable. I'm on the BOTTOM rung at my company and I won't be climbing any higher. Is that fair? Hardly!
On top of that my monthly bills are about to get a lot higher. I can't talk aout it any more...
David
David, if you are at the bottom rung, all you can do is go up! It's actually odd being so low on the ladder at a company - but I like what I do - so I'll take the low man position. Of course, YOU can't really move up without firing the person above you. And I don't think that is going to happen. Regarding the increase in bills, well, that happens when you become the high tech internet provider in a new area.
Maggie and Jen - I don't mind enemies - although I haven't really had to deal with it much in the work place - it's what those enemies DO. But everything turns out okay. I guess I raised the warning flag high enough. My supervisor sent me an e-mail stating that she had decided to avoid the potential "static" and have Jason train at the same time as me. Such a relief. He never needs to know that he wasn't originally going to be with me. And I won't have to take his emotional tirade. I called him froom the road to congratulate him (pretending that had only just found out myself and never alluding to the fact that he was there by default - to prevent "static" - and I said - "Aren't you excited?" He said, "That's too strong a word." I said, "But you've wanted them to start you on training." His guttural, annoyed response, "It's about time."
JERK.
Mom is furious that I won't tell him the truth of the situation. But I don't need to tell him - I can just vent HERE. Sorry folks.
Congrats on the promotion. Sorry that it comes with a different set of issues. But focus on the positive...you will always know that you were before Jason.
Is that mean???
Rachel
Andrea, I firmly believe that time will fix any rifts that develop. You will lead by example, and eventually even biggest ego (Jason) will realize why you got the nod. Just keep doing what you're doing, and it'll all work out. By my estimation (which is held in very high esteem by myself), you are a leader that leads by example. There is no better way to lead.
When you run for a seat in congress, I will vote for you (but only in your primaries).
Also... why do these posts seem to be out-of-order? You are responding to my post, but are below my post. What's up with that?
Thank you for the kind words. As for the responses, the first one is at the top. Then the next one just below it. And so on. Unlike the blog posts which go earliest at the bottom, latest at the top.
And uh, Bruce, should I ever run for office, you had better change parties and vote for me every step of the way. But don't worry, I won't be putting you in that position. Ever. Considering my financial history... Then again, how many companies did GWB bankrupt? Maybe I'm PERFECT.
I also think it is fantastic!! You didn't get this because you stabbed anyone in the back, climbed over anyone, or slept with the boss...(you didn't did you? he-he)you EARNED it by being a person who does their job the right way and doesn't need someone to hold their hand. Congratulations on all of it...doing a good job, enjoying yourself and kicking butt!
Donna
UPDATE ON YOUR LIFE, PLEASE.
When are you coming to AZ? Maggie's mom and sisters are going to have a shower for her soon. Do you guys want to come out for it? I know it's a hassle, but I also know they'd love to have you out for it. I think they have a date set for next month. Call us if you can be here (see if you can bring mom with you) :-)
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