Radio | still being [Molly]

Once again, I’ve fallen off the updating wagon. Ah, whatever. Who cares?

It’s been a month and a half since my last update. I swear, I’m not some recovering blogger or something… but the past few months have been nuts, and the past month and a half, ah, well, two months, has been even more nuts.

We finally launched Chapelboro.com. I quite literally feel like I birthed an interactive-internet-local-media-website infant baby. Although I have not given actual birth yet, from what I hear, it’s strenuous and painful. You bleed, sweat, and cry a lot. But in the end, you bring something into the world that you are proud of. And those feelings (including the blood, sweat, and OH THE TEARS), are the feelings I’ve had working on this website.

It sounds trivial, but it couldn’t be more true.

I don’t usually like to use the term “proud” because overly prideful people can sometimes be ugly people. Humility is so important. But I am dadblamed proud of that website and what it not only means for the community of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, but what it means to me, personally. It’s almost symbolic of my journey over the last two years that I’ve lived in North Carolina.

When I first started working at 1360 WCHL (Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s News Talk and Tar Heels Station), I had three other jobs. I was working part-time for the radio station and part-time for three other businesses. I was dying in a lot of ways. I worked my tail off. But I took the job at WCHL with the mindset of, work your tail off and show them why they need to hire you full-time.

So, I worked my tail off. I worked WAY more hours than I was actually paid for and I took the job and made it my own. And in a matter of a little over two and a half months, my boss approached me and offered me a full-time job working for the station. I could finally quit my other jobs.

So, I took the full-time job. The salary wasn’t great, it was going to be tough to make ends meet and I wasn’t going to be eating out or vacationing much, but I had great benefits, a great opportunity, and a full-time job. I took that job with the mindset of, work my tail off and show them why they need to give me a raise and/or promote me.

So, I worked my tail off. I worked WAY too many hours. I learned how to do things outside of my actual job description. And I gained a ton of invaluable knowledge and experience. And, 7 months later, I got a promotion. I was promoted to “Duchess of Digital Media” (best job title EVAR) and I was going to be in charge of the launch of Chapelboro.com. The website had been over a year in the making. I sat in on preliminary meetings, consulted on names, logos, taglines, designs, colors, content. You name it.

I have never worked so hard on anything in my entire life. And I’ve worked hard on a lot of things. But I am really proud of what came out. Sure, there’s still some kinks to work out with it. Okay, a lot of kinks. But hey, it’s the nature of the beast.

Again, I don’t write all of this to sound bragadocious (sweet word) or prideful. I write it to share that you can do anything. With the right mindset and the right work ethic, you can do anything.

I’ve learned so much in the past year and a half and I know I have so much more to learn. I am not where I want to be… yet. But now I have the mindset of, work my tail off, learn a lot, and change the world and stuff like that.

I am so blessed and so incredibly grateful. I can’t thank God, my family, and my friends enough for the support I’ve had throughout the last year, two years, seven years, my entire life. When life smacks me in the face, life backhands itself right back and shows me how lucky I am. (Does that even make sense? It does to me.)

I’m tired. I’ve had one day off in two+ months. But I am okay. I’m like my own proverbial Thomas the Tank Engine.

Also, I get to see my best friend, Bec, this weekend. So I have that to look forward to.

And, of course, as my mother used to say, “This, too, shall pass.”

I apologize if this post made absolutely no sense whatsoever. But I miss writing. And I felt like putting my stream of consciousness down on paper.

Also, on another note, I’ve lost 20 pounds so far. BOOM BROADS!

And, yet, another note… I’ve raised half the money I need for my mission trip to Kenya!! Wahoo!!

All for now.

I know, I know. I’ve told you guys a gazillion times now that I’m working my butt off. Sorry to belabor (is that the right word here?) the point, but I have some advice for anyone who wants to listen… or read.

Even my change is important.

READ: These are simply some frustrations of mine and in no way aimed at anyone in particular. It’s more of a venting tool for me. Take it for what you will, take it for comedy, I’m not being condescending, but I am being serious.

Job 1: Art Gallery Retail Job

Please do not haggle me (or anyone) on the price of a retail item. Look, I am not the owner, nor the manufacturer of the item you want. I did not price it at $49.99. No, you can’t buy it for $25. Please, don’t get mad at me for charging you the actual price of the item. No, I won’t give you a discount. Is the item broken? Oh, it’s not? Then no, you can’t have it for free. So please don’t make me feel like crap when I charge you full price. You are not buying a car. You’re buying a poster. Buy the dang poster at full price.

Job 2: Retail Clothing Store at the Mall

No, we don’t have any “doorbusters.” Does it look like you are shopping at Radio Shack or Sears? No. That sweater you are holding is $278 and is practically made of gold and the hair of angels. We aren’t going to offer it 70% off before 9AM. So shut up.
You don’t have your receipt? You don’t have any sort of proof whatsoever that you purchased this item at any time, yet you want a full cash refund when you return it and you’re mad that I’m giving you a refund in store credit? Our store has an awesome return policy and a program in place to make returns super easy for you to return things. For all I know, you could have picked up that item when you walked in and said you bought it but are now trying to return something we already own. No dice, my friend. No dice. Take the store credit and scram.

Job 3: Server (mainly), Food Runner (sometimes), and Hostess (sometimes) at local Pub Restaurant

You paid for your meal with a coupon, gift certificate, gift card, or some type of similar voucher? Guess what? You still need to tip me. Just because you only paid $1.27 for a meal that actually cost $51.27 doesn’t mean you get to tip me off the $1.27. Many people don’t know that servers only make $2.13 an hour – and all that money goes to taxes. The only way a server makes his/her living is through tips. So when you only tip me $0.50 (cents) on a meal that should have cost $51.27, that is like $9 that I am losing out on. Oh, and I have to tip out a percentage of that to three different people, so in reality, I only made $0.20 (cents) out of that $0.50 (cents). Does that make sense to you?
Servers make $2.13 an hour. I said it before, I’ll say it again. As a server, my largest “paycheck” was $9. Yeah NINE (9) dollars. The $2.13 an hour goes to taxes. That’s it. The only money a server makes it off of tips. Keep that in mind the next time you walk out without tipping, or tip 10%.
No, 15% is not a good tip. I know many of you will disagree with this, but if you have EVER waited tables, you know that it is not exactly the easiest job. I have waited tables for 7 years and I can’t tell you how many times I have burnt myself, cut myself, dropped plates on my foot, sprained my ankle, sweated, been cursed at, walked out on, etc. It is a physically and yes, sometimes emotionally taxing job. Sure, some servers suck, but you have no idea what could be going on that day to make them a crappy server. Hey, they could be working four jobs. Cut ‘em a break and leave them an extra $2. It won’t hurt you.
Yes, sometimes your food taking a long time or coming out wrong IS NOT the server’s fault. Those guys in the kitchen work their butts off – and many times, there are only 3 cooks trying to make food for a completely full restaurant. It’s hard work. I respect the cooks and the dishwashers SO much. I could never do that job. So, if your food takes a couple extra minutes, politely ask your server why, and understand that they might be slammed back there. Unless you have to catch a plane or train out of town, an extra 5-10 minutes isn’t going to kill you.
When a food runner is standing at the end of your table calling out the names of the dishes, please wake up and respond. Although I have been working out lately, that tray that is on my arm when I am delivering your food is sometimes REALLY heavy and can be really hot. I can’t stand it when I stand at the end of a table, call our names of dishes, and no one responds. The table just keeps on talking and I called out, “Cheeseburger?” at least 12 times then the guy I am standing right behind says, “Oh woops! That’s me.” I say, “Oh, no problem. I didn’t need the 3 layers of skin that plate just burnt off.” If you see someone standing at your table, answer them. They are not decoration.

Job 4: Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Local Radio Station

NOTE: I haven’t told you guys about this job yet. I am actually really excited about this job. It is a part-time, hourly job, but I am really excited about the opportunities that this job can and will bring me. (More info to come later).

If you call a company and the receptionist (me) answers and I’m nice to you, please don’t be mean to me. I have gotten so many calls lately where the people are downright RUDE to me. And when I am pleasant to you and doing my best to answer your question, please be nice to me. Being nice goes a long way.

Okay, I’m done ranting. Well, not ranting, just expressing my thoughts/frustrations/things I have learned.

I want to know, what takeaways do you have? Do you disagree with me on anything? Is there anything you have learned in the workforce that you want people to know?

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

I love you. Yeah, you. Reading this.

Word.