At the store where I work I have been dealing with a big problem: In a small footwear department where I sell contemporary designer women shoes on commission, I have to work along with twenty-five other people, which is a challenge because the business that our department generates, nor its size is enough to justify the decision by the management for hiring so many employees. Furthermore, the way our pay is set up adds insult to injury; they pay us 10% commission on the shoes that we sell with a draw of 10.00 per hour. At the end of the week, if our commission exceeds our draw, we get pay for the draw plus the commission, but if our draw exceeds our commission, the store pays us the draw, which is the amount of hours at 10 p/h, but our earnings suffer a beating the next time we make the draw; the store takes that money back on the next paycheck. Essentially, what the stores pays us for failing to make the draw is nothing but a loan; the week we don't make the draw, we work for free.
This system can be tolerated in a fair-working environment, but when you are competing with a very large number of co-workers, it is a very challenging situation indeed.
A few days ago, me and one other co-worker were having a small conversation on the sales floor while there were customers in it. One customer behind my co-worker addressed me and said "excuse me" because she needed help with a shoe. My co-worker immediately turned to her, grabbed the shoe from her hand and proceeded to wait on her. I stood there speechless that he didn't have any consideration to the fact that I was there facing the customer and that I was already going to help her. After that incident, I confronted my friend and told him never to do that again. We had a long discussion and it turned out that he didn't know that what he was doing was inappropriate.
A few hours later, I saw him in the lunchroom and had another conversation. I explained to him why I was so frustrated at the situation that had just taken place. I told him that I had accepted that position because I thought it was going to be a great opportunity. I also told him that for the past 5 weeks, my checks have been extremely low, and that it was not enough for me to make ends meet. I told him that sometimes I didn't even have money to pay for child support, and that the only feasible solution for me was to get another job. We ended the conversation in good terms. He promised me to get me in touch with one of his friends so that she could help me with my photography work that I do on the side. A day later he invited me to lunch. We agreed to go today, but ended up forgetting about it because of all the frustrations and long meetings that took place.
At one point while on my break, I noticed that he approaching me from behind to handle me an envelope. He put it in my suit pocket and told me not to tell anyone that he gave me that. I said thanks without turning my back (I was on the computer, but frankly didn't know what to do at the time, didn't want to make a scene) I am thinking to myself, maybe is 20 bucks. I opened the envelope and see five one-hundred dollar bills inside. I was speechless. I didn't know what to say, think, or do at the moment, frozen by what had taken place.
The first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw the guy was to ask him if he was crazy. He told me that he had heard my situation and that he was in the position to help me. I tried to give him the money back but he didn't want it. I couldn't believe what had just happened. This guy, who barely knew me decided to give me five hundred dollars in cash.
I will be forever indebted to this guy, and forever grateful at his amazing act of generosity. This is proof that god exists, and that we can't never guess how he will extend his hand to help us. I learned a powerful lesson today; one that I will never forget: we can't never knows who can be of help in times of need, therefore, it is imperative that we treat everyone with the upmost respect.
We all fall into the habit of judging other people based on their looks, education, race, culture, sex, etc. We do that because of our own internal concepts of what we believe to be true about them. But very often, we are completely wrong by failing to get to know who they really are.
Because of what that guy did, I will be able this week to solve a lot of my problems that I had because of my lack of funds. I thank God for what happened today, and may him bless my friend and his family for his extreaordinary act of generosity.
In other news: I was a little bit more talkative today. Approached people, asked questions, got to know more about them. I even called my mother and wished her goodnight (I call my father tomorrow and everyone else). I went to the gym, stuck to my diet of not eating crap; I had two home-made smoothies. Two peanut butter sandwiches, One big salad, and one smoothie for dinner.
This stuff works!
Thanks for reading.
A few hours later, I saw him in the lunchroom and had another conversation. I explained to him why I was so frustrated at the situation that had just taken place. I told him that I had accepted that position because I thought it was going to be a great opportunity. I also told him that for the past 5 weeks, my checks have been extremely low, and that it was not enough for me to make ends meet. I told him that sometimes I didn't even have money to pay for child support, and that the only feasible solution for me was to get another job. We ended the conversation in good terms. He promised me to get me in touch with one of his friends so that she could help me with my photography work that I do on the side. A day later he invited me to lunch. We agreed to go today, but ended up forgetting about it because of all the frustrations and long meetings that took place.
At one point while on my break, I noticed that he approaching me from behind to handle me an envelope. He put it in my suit pocket and told me not to tell anyone that he gave me that. I said thanks without turning my back (I was on the computer, but frankly didn't know what to do at the time, didn't want to make a scene) I am thinking to myself, maybe is 20 bucks. I opened the envelope and see five one-hundred dollar bills inside. I was speechless. I didn't know what to say, think, or do at the moment, frozen by what had taken place.
The first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw the guy was to ask him if he was crazy. He told me that he had heard my situation and that he was in the position to help me. I tried to give him the money back but he didn't want it. I couldn't believe what had just happened. This guy, who barely knew me decided to give me five hundred dollars in cash.
I will be forever indebted to this guy, and forever grateful at his amazing act of generosity. This is proof that god exists, and that we can't never guess how he will extend his hand to help us. I learned a powerful lesson today; one that I will never forget: we can't never knows who can be of help in times of need, therefore, it is imperative that we treat everyone with the upmost respect.
We all fall into the habit of judging other people based on their looks, education, race, culture, sex, etc. We do that because of our own internal concepts of what we believe to be true about them. But very often, we are completely wrong by failing to get to know who they really are.
Because of what that guy did, I will be able this week to solve a lot of my problems that I had because of my lack of funds. I thank God for what happened today, and may him bless my friend and his family for his extreaordinary act of generosity.
In other news: I was a little bit more talkative today. Approached people, asked questions, got to know more about them. I even called my mother and wished her goodnight (I call my father tomorrow and everyone else). I went to the gym, stuck to my diet of not eating crap; I had two home-made smoothies. Two peanut butter sandwiches, One big salad, and one smoothie for dinner.
This stuff works!
Thanks for reading.
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