Can I just say, and I'm just being honest...

[Fireball]

About a month ago, it was announced that our organization will be closing our store location; two other store locations are also being closed.  Liquidation begins October 2, 2018 and our store will be opened to the public until December 30, 2018.  Afterwards, we will have until Jan 31, 2019 to get the place cleaned up; the keys must be turned in to the liquidators NLT January 31, 2019. 

When the announcement of our store closing was initially made to our store by corporate representatives, they remarked that anyone who wishes to secure a job in another location must stay with the store until the end, be in good standing with the company, and then interview with other stores afterwards: management would assist in setting up interviews and corporate would put a hiring freeze on open positions, so that our associates would be considered before any outsiders.   So far, the general manager of our store, who in general, is not well-respected by our management team or by the associates, has secured another general manager position of another store location; this fact actually demoralized the rest of the management team along with the associates: IMO, it sends the message that there are double standards in our organization and that the associates are not as important as top management.  Unfortunately, our store assistant general manager, who is very capable and knowledgeable and possesses exceptional leadership/business skills, and in general, is respected by the associates and management in our store, has not been offered a position yet.   Why does it seem that the most capable and talented individuals get overlooked and passed over for other people who are not as capable but are more well-liked by the people at the top?

That said, we will need as much personnel as possible to run the store, especially when we start getting into liquidation clearance.  I have tried to communicate to management that we need to consistently make gestures toward the associates that let them know how much we appreciate them: last Saturday I bought the entire store pizza and let them know that it is because I think they are doing a good job; they are handling the store closing well (giving everyone in our store location off on thanksgiving would be a great gesture, especially since the store ends up losing more money being open on thanksgiving).  It is my hope that management will brainstorm ways to take care of our people and that any ideas that can help our store function well are given fair consideration.  However, I realize that I will have to accept the possibility that top management may not care.  


Thanks for your time and attention, AF members and anyone else.

Bolding mine. It's who you know/blow, sadly. There's also a fair amount of good old-fashioned back-stabbing to be accounted for. I've seen it so many times in my life that it makes me sad for the character of most people. I won't bore you with my saga of unrequited genius. I hope you come out of this with a good position, perhaps at some other company.

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

About a month ago, it was announced that our organization will be closing our store location; two other store locations are also being closed.  Liquidation begins October 2, 2018 and our store will be opened to the public until December 30, 2018.  Afterwards, we will have until Jan 31, 2019 to get the place cleaned up; the keys must be turned in to the liquidators NLT January 31, 2019. 

When the announcement of our store closing was initially made to our store by corporate representatives, they remarked that anyone who wishes to secure a job in another location must stay with the store until the end, be in good standing with the company, and then interview with other stores afterwards: management would assist in setting up interviews and corporate would put a hiring freeze on open positions, so that our associates would be considered before any outsiders.   So far, the general manager of our store, who in general, is not well-respected by our management team or by the associates, has secured another general manager position of another store location; this fact actually demoralized the rest of the management team along with the associates: IMO, it sends the message that there are double standards in our organization and that the associates are not as important as top management.  Unfortunately, our store assistant general manager, who is very capable and knowledgeable and possesses exceptional leadership/business skills, and in general, is respected by the associates and management in our store, has not been offered a position yet.   Why does it seem that the most capable and talented individuals get overlooked and passed over for other people who are not as capable but are more well-liked by the people at the top?

That said, we will need as much personnel as possible to run the store, especially when we start getting into liquidation clearance.  I have tried to communicate to management that we need to consistently make gestures toward the associates that let them know how much we appreciate them: last Saturday I bought the entire store pizza and let them know that it is because I think they are doing a good job; they are handling the store closing well (giving everyone in our store location off on thanksgiving would be a great gesture, especially since the store ends up losing more money being open on thanksgiving).  It is my hope that management will brainstorm ways to take care of our people and that any ideas that can help our store function well are given fair consideration.  However, I realize that I will have to accept the possibility that top management may not care.  


Thanks for your time and attention, AF members and anyone else.

Bolding mine. It's who you know/blow, sadly. There's also a fair amount of good old-fashioned back-stabbing to be accounted for. I've seen it so many times in my life that it makes me sad for the character of most people. I won't bore you with my saga of unrequited genius. I hope you come out of this with a good position, perhaps at some other company.

Thanks Fireball and mhbrewer.  I'll try to keep my head up high.

On a side note, studying mathematics is definitely giving me some solace now.  I'm finishing up with studying the isomorphism theorems and working a few exercises related to the fundamental homomorphism theorem.  After this, I think I'll just give myself a basic understanding of rings (they seem exciting) and then call it quits with my self-study/refresher of basic abstract algebra.

[Crossless2.0]

Kernel, are you planning to complete a degree in mathematics, or is your interest in the subject strictly to satisfy personal curiosity?

I ask because you could have a real future teaching the subject at some level, if that would be of interest to you. Good math instructors are few and far between. Your enthusiasm could make a real difference in people’s lives.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

... I was happier fighting for my life in a Cambodian pig sty than I was living in your home.

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

(1) Kernel, are you planning to complete a degree in mathematics, or is your interest in the subject strictly to satisfy personal curiosity?

(2) I ask because you could have a real future teaching the subject at some level, if that would be of interest to you. Good math instructors are few and far between. Your enthusiasm could make a real difference in people’s lives.

Thanks for your response, Crossless. 

(1) I have no formal college education in mathematics: mathematics is strictly a matter of personal curiosity for me.  As a result, I've taught myself high school algebra, trig, pre-calculus and multiple college undergraduate level math subjects.

(2) I agree that good math instructors are few and far between.  However, while I'm enthusiastic about math, I've studied enough math to know that I do not possess the brilliance, mastery, or creativity to do anything special with it (whether it be teaching or any number of mathematics careers).  Thus, IMO, it is best to leave mathematics instruction to the talented and enthusiastic individuals, so that they can make a difference in people's lives.

I appreciate the time that you took to reply to me, Crossless.  Thanks.

[Ravenshire]

(1) Kernel, are you planning to complete a degree in mathematics, or is your interest in the subject strictly to satisfy personal curiosity?

(2) I ask because you could have a real future teaching the subject at some level, if that would be of interest to you. Good math instructors are few and far between. Your enthusiasm could make a real difference in people’s lives.

Thanks for your response, Crossless. 

(1) I have no formal college education in mathematics: mathematics is strictly a matter of personal curiosity for me.  As a result, I've taught myself high school algebra, trig, pre-calculus and multiple college undergraduate level math subjects.

(2) I agree that good math instructors are few and far between.  However, while I'm enthusiastic about math, I've studied enough math to know that I do not possess the brilliance, mastery, or creativity to do anything special with it (whether it be teaching or any number of mathematics careers).  Thus, IMO, it is best to leave mathematics instruction to the talented and enthusiastic individuals, so that they can make a difference in people's lives.

I appreciate the time that you took to reply to me, Crossless.  Thanks.

Brilliance Audio is still waiting to hear a sample reading!

[Seraphina]

The Road Less Traveled
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


-Teresa

[*Deidre*]

CIJS, it feels amazing, this love...but it scares the shit out of me.

[Joods]

Four years is a long time to have to deal with parental alienation. Not in a good place right now and I miss my girl.

[Fireball]

CIJS, it feels amazing, this love...but it scares the shit out of me.

I know that feeling. Cherish it. That is all I have to say.