sprinklefingers

it’s certainly been a while!

i thought you, my loyal readers, might like to know that you can find me blogging here - some work stuff, some personal stuff - i think you might like it! follow me if you can, i’d love to have you along for the ride.

oh, and, you can also find me here…indulging my love of Mr. Steve Martin.

happy holidays and happy reading!

well, hello there. it’s been a while. and i’m sorry for that.

you see, i think i may have underestimated just how busy our new bakery was going to keep me. since we opened (just over a month ago) i’ve worked approximately 600 hours. and by “work” i don’t mean just coming in to the bakery and kicking back with a cup of coffee. i mean i’ve been working. and i love it! i honestly do. what could be more fun than coming in to work and getting elbow deep in flour, working out a recipe and then sharing it with others? not much, that’s what.

the thing that’s not fun is when i have to stop baking and focus on something like an employee who doesn’t want to work quite as hard as we want them to. or an employee who insists upon missing shifts. or an employee who can’t seem to just be an adult and act like an adult and work like an adult. or an employee who thinks he/she deserves a management position when they can’t even handle their current position. i’m serious, i don’t know what it is about young folk these days, but i’m absolutely astounded by them. they complain about money but won’t help cover shifts. they complain that they don’t get to work enough, but they constantly miss shifts. they say they don’t make enough money yet they half-ass their work. they say they need a job then complain that the work is too repetitive. it’s enough to make me crazy.

here’s the thing, kids: work is work. when you have a job you generally go to that job and do the same thing, day in - day out (that’s why it’s a job.) work isn’t supposed to be a party, it’s work. and, newsflash: you aren’t doing it for free. someone is writing you a check every other week in exchange for the work you do. and while some people may think this is a bit harsh, i’m going to go ahead and say it: you aren’t doing your employer some grand favor by showing up for work…remember, you get paid to be there.

i’ve recently read two amazing pieces by writers much more eloquent than myself, and i just have to share them with you.

first up, thomas l. friedman’s column from the new york times called “the start-up of you”. if you haven’t read it yet, you must do so. he does a way better job of putting into words many of my current thoughts on employees and job hunters. the gist of it: you can’t just say I have a right to a job, now someone else should figure out how to hire and train me. instead, employees & job seekers have to act like a start-up and constantly think of ways to adapt, reinvent & revise. amen.

and then, a blog post by bobby hundreds of the hundreds brand. this guy’s a young guy, but he busts his ass to make his clothing & accessories company super awesome. AND he knows a thing or two about hard work. this blog post is so good that i wish i could tattoo most of it on my forehead. it’s about the ‘millenial generation’ (he calls them millenials) and their take on work. read for yourself:

And that’s the key word: career.  Longevity.  The long haul.  What’s really good with building a career, leaving a legacy, and making a substantial mark on this world?  All the millenials want (and see) is point Z.  They don’t want to sit through and listen to B or C, or work Saturday nights on J or K, or wake up early on Sunday for P and Q.  They just want Z.  And when they can’t endure the pains, struggle, and valuable life lessons that a few years of Ds and Es take, they’re onto the next one.  Unfortunately, they’re missing the point.  It’s not about Z, it’s never been (C’mon Z’s a crappy letter anyways, all it’s good for is Zebra and Pizza).  A truly invaluable life is comprised of the journey: achieving and appreciating the entire alphabet.  The hard work is the trophy.

Work hard.  It’s that simple, guys.  Just work hard and you’ve already one-upped the rest.  It’s an unsung art, and it’s the answer.  And unlike money or connections or all the other excuses people make as to why someone else has the advantage, hard work is something that everyone has access to.

again, amen.

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i’ll be back soon with something delicious, i promise.

ps: obviously my above thoughts don’t apply to every young working person on the planet. so don’t go all crazy on me, got it?