While Tom Brady was being interviewed today it made me think...And here is what I thought.

If you want to be succesful, if you want to be taken seriously, if you want respect you need to see yourself those ways. What is the first thing you thought when you saw the picture of Brady? The thing I thought was 'man it would be cool to look like that and be able to dress like that'. He gets to look like that and dress like that because that is the way he sees himself. He looks like someone that is taken seriously because he sees himself that way. He sees himself as successful so he dresses successfully. I think this applies to all area's of life. 

I want to be taken seriously and be professional, so I need to present myself that way. If I do see myself as being professional without first being professional it won't work, I have to act that way also. However, if I see myself as being professional and act professional then others will see me that way also. When that happens, when I change the way I am perceived, then I will walk out my self image. I don't think people esteem themselves highly enough and therefore neither do others. As a result we walk out our lives as underachievers, I don't want to be an underachiever. I plan on being successful so to some extent I need to change how I am perceived by first seeing myself differently and then changing my actions. Anyway, these were my thoughts.

Good Night.

So...here is how it all shakes out. My manager is leaving, my Assistant Manager is staying. Me and the other two sales staff people are switching stores, yes I am going back to my old store. The other Store Manager is coming to our store, the other Assistant is being promoted, and that sales staff is coming to our store. I will have two months or so to prove myself and apply for the Assistant Manager position at the new store. There isn't any guarantee or anything that I would get it but my Regional Manager said that we are opening a new store before my current store moves and it is possible that I could end up on that management team. Lot's of changes, little time. Apparently I will be going back to my old store starting either Monday or Tuesday...

So there you have it...The work puzzle has been figured out.

This week I had two interviews (one interview per company, so two companies) we will call the job's Job A and Job B. Job A interview was on Monday and Job B interview was today, both were sales positions, Job A was inside, Job B was outside. Both interviews went ok, however, neither one are locks even though they could/should be (Job A more so than Job B).

At the end of the first interview (Job A) the guy was telling me that I hurt myself with not being more flexible. My goal, however, wasn't to get a job with that particular company, my goal was to get a certain job at a certain location with that company (well kind of, I am still not sure if I would actually take the job or not, even if offered). Interesting side note before I go on, I have determined that if this company doesn't offer me a job (that I may not take anyway) that they would be complete morons (which I know isn't very nice, sorry) for this reason: I was actually asking the interviewer what type of numbers I would have to put up in order to go to President's Club. This is a huge sign of confidence as well as a sign of very top interviewing skills that a candidate would even want to know how hard it would be, rather than just being something to aspire to. Without coming out and saying it, I was essentially saying I know I am going to be there, I just want to know how difficult it will be, talk about confidence!!! (This was not done on purpose or because I have mad interviewing skills, but more because I just wanted to know, which after thinking about it, is the most impressive part about my interview). 

At the end of the second interview (B) the lady and I never talked about salary, benefits, or really anything else specific. It seemed like she was intrigued with me due to the fact I had been referred to her and that I was interviewing for a position that I had no experience in, as well as no college education in that field (marketing/advertising). Even with that being the case she still wanted to interview me and take me on a tour of the entire building. I really don't know what her fascination was with me unless she was just blown away at my answers to questions and really wants to see if I can hack it. Both people told me that they would get into contact with me within two weeks, both were interviewing candidates all week, at least 7-8 more people, and they would let me know. 

To most people those interviews don't sound to inspiring...it's a good thing you don't know the rest of the situation then huh? Job A (the Monday interview) was the result of an ex co-worker calling me and asking me if I would like to work with him at his new company (were he is a manager, but would not be my manager). Job B (today's interview) was the result of me helping a customer out and then finding out where this person worked, that person referring me to her boss (talking to her boss while I helped her in my store as a matter of fact) and sending her boss my resume. The hiring manager for Job B, I found out, is the aunt of another former co-worker, who when I saw him he asked 'Are you applying for a job with Job B?' To which I was completely dumbfounded (since I hadn't seen that person in months and had not told him I had applied). Two very crazy circumstances huh?

Before we go too much farther I need to back up and give more background information and then we will zoom past the interviews for a moment. While I am constantly looking for better opportunities, these are my first interviews in a while and both of them provide very good unique benefits as well as very unique obstacles in actually accepting the positions. I had been very excited for both opportunities for a while, when Tuesday after my phone interview for Job B, I just really felt that it wasn't the right time for a change. Besides the fact that I am looking to move (I am always looking to move) something says to just wait. Instead of canceling my interview for Wednesday I went ahead with it because hey, you always need practice right? And no need to burn bridges and no one ever said I was going to get the position anyways. If I did get it I could tell the interviewer that I appreciate the opportunity but that I had several offers (hopefully) and I am going to go in a different direction. After coming home from the interview (B) and getting on the computer for a bit I found out some very interesting news...My manager put in his two weeks notice yesterday, how crazy is that?

What does this mean? I don't know (besides the fact that in two weeks my current manager will no longer be employed by my company), I really don't know if I want to do management, it would be a title (who cares?) and a higher base pay rate, however, it would probably be a lower commission check due to...lots of factors at our store. I know for a fact my Assistant Manager didn't get a commissions check last month and mine was quite nice (actually kind of low for me) but it is usually double or more of my monthly take home (which is how I actually make money working for Sprint). Let's look at possible scenarios, they promote my Assistant Manager to Manager, thus keeping continuity in the store (and thus assuring that our store never hits our quotas, ever). Then they look for an Assistant, they look to me because of my seniority and abilities. Or they could bring in a new head guy and then leave everyone where they are, and lastly they could promote from another store. I don't think our Assistant is ready for management yet, this is his first Assistant job and he hasn't been on it very long...and he hasn't really proved anything either...either way. This strategy doesn't make a lot of sense to then promote me also, who has no management experience; however, stranger decisions have been made. 

What is most likely? They hire an outside manager who then comes in and has to learn everything again, and we are put in a position that could get better or worse. I tell you what, I am not up for another go around of a lazy manager who comes in and does nothing. On the other hand, if they hire a psycho then I am gone as well. If they promote the guy from the other store locally...it is time to move on. I really don't think I am up for management; a lot of things would have to fall into place for that to work, I just can't see it happening. Realistically they would have to bring in a completely new manager, with the current Assistant stepping aside and then for me and the new manager to be absolutely on the same page. Chances of that happening are probably about 1000:1. Things could change, but for the next few weeks/months it will be interesting to see what transpires. I just had a completely random thought, this better not effect vacation time for me in October!!!

Today I was listening to a song by Toby Mac and some of the background singers said something about being people of peace. This in and of itself isn't such a big deal, and I don't necessarily think that they meant anything in particular about it other than just having something to sing in the background, but I decided to write a blog about the purposes' and roles of peace in a Christians life. This blog isn't going to be very long though, here goes.

When the Bible or Christ talk about peace they are not talking about peace with nations or the absence of war. They are talking about being at peace with God as a person, and peace between you and me or peace between you and your neighbor. Neither the Bible nor Christ were talking about peace externally (though maintaining peace even amongst chaotic external conditions is important) being at peace emotionally and through Christ is what is necessary.

While I was at work the other day I found out that the bank that we deposit our money at everyday, had been robbed, oh, I would say, about three days prior. Not only that, but my manager had been at the bank a mere 10 minutes prior to the robbery, how crazy is that?!?!?! So, naturally I had to take the deposit to the bank a day later and guess who I saw at the bank? No other than a Mr. South Bend Police Officer (I thought you have to be kidding, what is he doing here? j/k) Anyway, I know some will worry (though there is no need to), I thought that this was an interesting story and I wanted to share it none the less. If I wanted to scare people I would tell them about the death threats I receive over the phone at Sprint!!! But that story is for another time. Be good to your cell phone sales reps folks, see what we have to put up with?

A while ago I wrote about all of the water problems that happened to our house...now we are getting them fixed. Today we had our contractor over and he will be starting tomorrow. Tonight we went to Lowe's to pick paint colors and carpet color and style as well as flooring for the kitchen. It feels pretty good to have everything finished and to know once we are done then our house will be so much more...well it will be a lot nicer. My sister Dana was with us and my cuz Jeff was with us tonight as well as last night, so...props to them. By then end of the week we could be living in a completely new house. Should be lots of fun. Once it's done we will puts up lots of before and after pictures for ya.

Today I finally sold two rental houses that I have been dealing with for...quite a while!!! There is a really, really, really, really, really (well you get the idea) long blog in there someday about my many experiences with my rentals, but I will save that for a day when I want to humiliate myself and make everyone laugh. Actually I will save it for my book :)

So anyway here is the long and short of it (actually only the short). I listed three of my 6 rental properties for sale (there is a trivia for ya, how many people new I owned rental properties, how many of you knew at one time I owned 7 of them?) and through many obstacles along the way (including our closing date changing at least 3-4 times) and one of my houses apparently selling without me selling it (once, no really) and then getting that worked out, I finally sold them today. I had to work all day, but closing doesn't take long so I had someone cover me for an hour while I would be gone...except it was an hour and a half before we even started. Once we started it took about 20 minutes and then ONLY another 30 minutes for them to make copies of everything. In end the guy who bought them thought he was getting a good deal and I definitely thought I got a good deal. How many time do you hear of someone selling a property for less than they owe on it, not paying closing costs, not paying commission for the realtor, and not bringing money to closing? Plus I got rid of a problem house? I am guessing you don't hear of it to often.

Here is the interesting thing though you know how I said I listed 3 houses? Well I only sold two, bummer huh? But I still have 3 houses for sale, bummer number two huh? Hopefully I will sell the other 3 very soon and then list and sell my personal residence so I can then move to Florida, wouldn't that be great...living in Florida? I know, I can't wait.