Things I’ve Learned In 61 Years Part Five

If your boss beats you down in front of others in a meeting, makes you the scapegoat, and never stands up for you, look for another job immediately. If you have the cash to float, give them the finger, you’re getting fired anyway.

If your department has been cut to the quick and you are forced over and over to cut, run like hell. You’re next.

If the President of your company beats you down in a meeting with your peers and gives a directive to your boss regarding your department, give them the finger and run like hell.

Even if you are on a salary that doesn’t mean you’re available 24/7 to take calls. If they are a top-level executive, they made the decision to marry their job, other employees are not paid the same, and should not be expected to be available you your beck and call.

If you schedule time off work and are expected to work, cancel the PTO day. Why lose pay when you’re working.

When you actually get to take a day off, don’t answer your phone, period. Nothing is so important that your boss can’t take care of, if so then let them fall on their face.

If you walk and push your baby stroller in my grass instead of the sidewalk, you might find a few big surprises next time.

If you let your shrubs grow in my yard, I will trim them myself. Tall trees are different, I will let you know when it’s time to call the tree company for a trim. I have one clueless neighbor. One year the city wrote them fines for their trees growing too far into the street. He had let them grow for years and when the tree guy came out, they cut a ton off and butchered the trees. That’s what you get when you use the lawn guy to cut trees.

The way to trim a tree if you are getting too much shade is not to cut the top of the tree off. You might as well chop it down. And don’t forget to have the stumps removed, they are unsightly and if you can’t afford to remove the stump, how can you afford to buy the house. It brings down the value of your neighbor’s houses.

If you have trees in your yard, learn how to take care of them and have them trimmed by professionals. The money spent will come back when you sell the house.

If you are treated unacceptably write the corporate headquarters, send the letter to the CEO and any other executives you think are responsible for the department which you received the treatment from. Don’t send an email, write an actual letter on the computer or by hand and mail it to each one. They will be shocked to receive a letter and you will already have their attention. That doesn’t guarantee a response back but no doubt the issue will get looked into. The first thing to remember is to cool your temper first, spend a few days drafting the letter, and take a look inside, ask yourself, are you the problem or is it the companies? Don’t write the letter in a negative tone, instead write to inform them of an issue or issues that you believe need their attention.

If your pharmacy fills a prescription you didn’t need or fills it incorrectly, don’t accept it and make them put it back on the shelf or correct it. It doesn’t matter if the prescription is free or not, they still make money if you accept it.

If your pharmacy regularly tells you the wrong answer, get in the habit of writing down the name of the person you are talking to. My pharmacy is famous for this behavior. Pharmacists have too much power and at least at my location they interpret the law and rules differently.

It’s important to know how your pharmacy fills prescriptions. Do they refill on the date it was filed or the date it was picked up? They are very different and if they don’t use a solid process, you may have to run to the pharmacy today because you’re out.

If your partner or friends interrupt you before saying the second sentence or make a comment that isn’t relative it is frustrating but not worth fighting over because they will not change. 

If you work for a Japanese company that has a facility in America, they expect you to have a Japanese work ethic which is work long after your boss calls it a day, work when you are off work, and have late-night meetings to accommodate the time frame difference every week, they will distrust you and will always believe whatever a Japanese employee says before you. You also have to be available 24/7 and it’s a tick against you if you’re not. If you far exceed the American work ethic but your work ethic isn’t up to Japanese standards you’re considered a slacker. 

Using a company’s reward perks can pay off if they have a good program. Amazon where I shop for almost everything has a Subscribe & Save program. If you know you buy an item at the same time every month, subscribe and save money. Sometimes it’s 5% and others it’s 15%. I’m learning to take advantage of these savings and it’s reassuring to know you can change or cancel anytime.

Melinda