Manifest

So I guess 4 and a half years of undergraduate (without graduating) paid off. This story all started about 3 weeks ago. I went on the Trader Joe's website to sign up for my insurance. After doing so I browsed the website for crew members as I had not done this yet and there was a lot of info. I noticed one tab about becoming a "fulltimer." (fulltime is the term the company uses for managers) As I have been aspiring to become a fulltimer I read the blip about becoming one and followed a 'click here' link. The link took me to a application of sorts. It asked me my two favorite things about TJ's, what my two strengths are at TJ's, and two areas I could improve upon. It allowed me 800 characters per answer. I didn't really think anyone would read it (was actually nervous to fill it out because I thought I might be going over my bosses head) but I was bored and in a writing mood so I did them. I didn't really write like my history professors taught me. I didn't really write like my English teachers taught me, or my geography/aviation/education teachers. (each discipline has a different writing style) Instead, I wrote like college taught me. College taught me adaptation. I bounced through 4 majors in 4 years. This means I not only became multifaceted, but I became camouflaged. Just like any academic discipline, TJ's has its own writing style. They use very colorful visionary words in their flyers and signs. Instead of saying "the wine has a sharp taste," they would say "the Cabernet rolls off the palate but jumps back in at the last minute for a sharp bite, like tart strawberries in early spring." Anyways, I used this poetic jargin and felt pretty sharp. I organized what I felt to be pretty well written responses and submitted them. I expected them to be lost in TJ's inbox of thousands upon thousands of hungry young crew members. Needless to say, I forgot all about it by the next day. Fast forward one week. A series of bills and one or two late notices pushed my mind into another mode. I spent last thursday wondering if I have been doing the right thing for the last two months. Both Jess and I have basically invested our near futures in TJ's. We have sold most of our possessions over craigslist just to stay in California. We live on food stamps. I make just enough to cover rent and bills. She makes just enough to cover her bills. We have a baby due in 5 months. We have a lot on our plate. We have been trying so hard to stay here because everyone of my bosses say that I have a really bright future in the company. I genuinely enjoy my job. Sounds like a promising match right? Well, after enough bills etc, I started to doubt this investment. I didn't really know if I would ever get a transfer to KC where we could make it on my present wage. I didn't really know if I would ever get moved up and no longer require food stamps. I did what I always do when I need a sound idea, I called my brother. We spoke for a hour or so. We tossed around some entrepreneurial ideas we have been having. We discussed my options. The conclusion we came to was that I would need to have a job setup in KC before we went back. Not 5 seconds after I hung up the phone I received another call from my childhood best friend Chris Tidd. Chris and I have been playing phone tag for the last six months. It just so happened that the company he works for IN KC is looking to higher 1-2 guys at the first of the year. The job would be making nearly twice what I am making now and have a better 401k. Needless to say this was the 'answer to my prayers.' I thanked Chris and told him to put in the word. I talked it over with Jess. We agreed and planned out a way to go back, but by the end of the nite we still felt uneasy about the idea. There were just as many ''what if's.'' We agreed to take small steps in the direction of KC and wait to see what happened. Well, by the next day I was already debating when to break the news to my boss. That nite at work, my boss asked me to meet him for a talk in the backroom in thirty minutes. I spent the next thirty minutes with my mind racing. I had never had a talk with my boss in the backroom. My boss is known for being a ballbreaker, so this was anything but a comforting request. I replayed the previous week in my mind. I recalled each item I had miscalculated sales for, resulting in an empty shelf, and a small lost profit. I recalled the memorable customer experiences and inventoried myself for misspoken words. I couldn't really think of much I had done wrong so I worked away until the time came. As soon as we stepped out of the polished world of the "floor" and into the cardboard world of the "backroom" my boss said in a very sober tone, "So corporate sent me your emails today." The words caused my chest to seize. I felt as if I had been caught. I had gone over his head and there was gonna be hell to pay. I tried side stepping my insecurity and causally said, "Huh, I didn't think anyone read those things." While maintaining his undertaker composure he replied, "Oh yes, we are pretty good about catching those things. Anyways, corporate really liked them, and well, I did too!" Cue my state of shock. From there the rest is a little fuzzy. I don't really remember the order of what he would say next, but the jest of it was that they want to begin training me for a fulltime position in KC next year! All of this just 24 hrs after I decide that I don't know what the hell to do with my life and decide to just wait and see what unfolds. I never predicted that convo tho. I have only been working there for 4 months. It has taken every other fulltimer I have spoken with anywhere from 1-5 years to be promoted. Now, my promotion is not exactly official by any means, but I have a pretty damn good shot. I know that if I keep working like I do that I'll have it.

After reading back over that it doesn't really sound like that extraordinary of a story. However, if you stop to think about the timing of Chris and I finally connecting, me giving up on TJ's, and my boss offering me what I have been aiming for, it feels like a miracle. What are the odds of that all playing out by chance? I have not once seriously thought about cutting and running from trader joe's until that nite. I hadn't spoke to Chris in months. I hadn't really even spoke to my boss in months. I even filled those essays out on a whim! If you don't find that timing to be miraculous then please speak up because I am not making the picture clear.

Now, I really don't believe that god lined this all up for me. To say it/he/she did would be a lil self-centered of me, and would void every other persons right to free will. However, I do believe that it is possible to send your/my energies out into the world and influence things.

I have been dead set on getting a chance at this promotion. I don't believe in luck. Set yourself on what you want and go for it.

I'll explain my next goal next time.