If you have a leader [in any environment] that is more concerned about his or her advancement, than the safety and security of  the team-- !wontuoteg

My !wontuoteg moment would have to have taken place while I was in the United States Marine Corps. I originally joined because of money for education so that I could maybe have a chance to go and finish a college degree. I decided to join as infantry, and during the process of it all I ended up loving the lifestyle. During my time in the Corps, I debated many times about whether to stay in or get out. I was good at my job as a machine gunner, and was good at gaining the respect from my peers. I picked up rank the fastest and was promoted first among my peers.

When we got back from Iraq the first time, all of seniors got out and I was promoted to section leader. This was a job that was two ranks above my pay grade. A promotion like this was an unheard accomplishment, and I enjoyed being in the position. I also received two Navy Achievement Medals for Leadership recognition.

Before we went to Iraq again, we got a change of leadership in our battalion (Clue #1). Just like any other institution, when new management comes in there is a severe change in leadership whether it is for the better or worse. Our old leader got promoted to colonel for performing his duties above and beyond his pay grade. The new "battalion commander" from the very start was egocentric to where he seemed he was always worried about being in the fight like it was a video game (Clue #2). When we went to Iraq again, every time a mission came up he wanted to put his Marines out there because they could handle the job. It didn't matter whether the mission was poorly put together, and that there was a severe lack of intelligence. We were put out time and time again, even when I, as well as, other officers voiced opposition against some of the missions (Clue #3).

As a Marine though, you do as you're told regardless of whether you know best or not. Over and over,  Marines were put in dangerous situations. but he [the battalion commander] was awarded his medals at the cost of some unneeded situations and harsh consequences for those situations. By the time we got back to the states, my First Sergeant, and other higher ups wanted me to re-enlist.  Instead, I signed up for school and applied for an early exit.  

That was my moment! It was time for me to "get out now."  If you have a leader [in any environment] that is more concerned about his or her advancement, than the safety and security of  his team-- !wontuoteg.

Don’t ignore the clues and ‘run the other way’-- learn from your experiences.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life" (Jennifer's Dad). This is my favorite new quote after reading !wontuoteg.

I loved this short book about getting out and recognizing change. l think it is so crazy how things happen in your life and then you are reminded to look back on what happen so that you learn from your experiences. I definitely had, !wontuoteg experience, that ties into a lot of characters in the book. The awesome thing about my whole experience, is that it is still really fresh.

I worked for a property leasing business for 9 months, when a new company bought our property for $22,000,000 dollars. That transaction was the first day of the rest of my life!  I didn't see the clues and, did not recognize the problem. The new company immediately got rid of the manager and the assistant manager.  The only employees left, were the maintenance crew and a few community assistants, the leasing director, and me.  It was not long before they were also gone. It would eventually be just me and one of my dear friends.

The new manager was a hot head; a very hard person to work for (Clue #1). She was my Susan; she did not care if you had to stay at work until midnight, that's what you were going to do.  Despite her personality, we got along great, and she saw that I was a hard worker and excellent leader.  So, she made me her assistant manager. Well, was I in trouble when I took that position!  I was just thinking, this job will look great on my resume; it is so much money for my age. However, it did not take long until the hard work I was putting in, got shoved to the side (Clue #2).  Susan was focused on bigger problem,s and I was on my own when it came to evicting people; and, going to court for non-payment of rent.

When my 3 month evaluation with the new company came up, I told the manager I couldn’t do the job anymore. I was a full-time student, working 50 hours a week.  I told her, you need to find somewhere else to put me. She quickly apologized and said, “I would love to have you as our Marketing/Leasing Director. “You have a great talent at the sell, and I really think you would be great at meeting with businesses and different community leaders.” We are really behind in our numbers at that time, and needed a lot of ‘push’ to fill our apartment community. So, I told her l would love to be involved with the outside part of our business and once again thought,  it would be another great title for my resume.

Wrong again! Susan hired a friend of hers that had no idea how to do the bookkeeping for the property (my old job) (Clue #3). So what do you think this led to? The friend always asking me questions, which kept me from doing my new job.  

At this point, the manager had succeeded in running off all of the staff; and, the complex were in the re-building process with a weak team. It was getting closer to the end of leasing season, and the end of school, and we were still behind on our numbers (Clue #4).  Corporate was breathing down my back about not doing my job right.  They were sending me ‘Cupcakes’,  instead of solid contributors, that were a waste of my time, and a hold back to what I needed to get done.

I ignored the “clues’  and I ran the other way; because, I needed the money and the lifestyle it provided. There was no ‘job joy’.  Eventually, I saw that things were only going to get worse, and I had to get out while I had the chance. So I turned in my two weeks’ notice and ‘got a life, got a clue and got out!’

I MISSED THE CLUES

After reading the book, ! WONTUOTEG, I can surely say that I share some of the same experiences that Jennifer went through. Unfortunately, I did not have someone to help point out the clues. Now, having hind sight, the clues are very clear. Let's start out by looking at the clues offered at the beginning. 

3 Step Assessment

(1)    I was not pleased with the direction that my career was headed and there was no job joy. At this particular company, I was heading into a long career that had no bright future. Looking back at my experience at the company, several of the different personalities jump out at me.

(2)     I was working for a group of high ranking managers that fell into the "ole codgers" category. Their ways were set and they had all of the control. I was facing the fact that I was headed for 15 to 20 years of working in a position that offered no advancement; and, with the real likelihood of having to work many late nights. I was just as productive as those that had the good positions and was even more flexible in working several different positions; but, I was stuck. But………….. this was the way it was done for years.

I was stuck working with the "look at me" and "fair-haired boy" types. One was in a position that was given to him because he was a relative and the other was doing all that he could to be noticed so that he could attain status and move up the ladder quickly. 

Most of the supervisors fell into the "stooges" types because they would laugh with you and then go tell management that you were not working.

(3)    After about 5 years, my eye opening moment came.  I, along with some others, was told that we were being moved to a position that none of us wanted. Our choice was to move or quit. Reality made me sit down and ponder if this is what I wanted. An opportunity came for me to leave and go to another company. It was now or never. I chose to have a life, I saw the clues, and I got out [!wontuoteg].

Business in the food industry had its security, but happiness and a feeling of belonging is more important. After several more tries on jobs, I can now say that I have “job joy”,  and I look forward to the challenges ahead.

The good news, after reading !WONTUOTEG, I will now be looking for the clues !

E.W.