I have ADHD. I also hate being micromanaged. So when I start a new job, there's a dilemma: should I tell my boss I need to be managed closely (which I dislike, but is more conducive to getting my stuff done consistently on time)? Or do I manage it myself, which means less consistent deadline accuracy but a more enjoyable working environment for me?
I should clarify that it's not so bad that I'm at risk of being fired. But it's a fact that I know something that would make me more productive, but that I'm withholding because it would make me less happy.
Then there's the secondary choices that come from this tendency. Do I make up an excuse or reason why something is taking longer? Am I just honest that I've been unable to focus on it? There's a spectrum of behaviors that I can choose to employ or not employ, most of which improve my work at the expense of my happiness. Some I "have" to employ to perform at a job-adequate level (things like being strict with writing things in my calendar); others aren't as clear cut.
Point being that there's a malicious end of the spectrum, where I'm using excuses and blaming others as a way of avoiding accountability for deadlines. But there's this whole mushy middle where I could be doing more, but I might not be "expected" to. That's where it sucks for coworkers: it's hard when a request is near the line of "this is something reasonable to ask my coworker" and "this puts an unfair burden on them."
Well shit! That’s a very nice comparison, thank you! Nobody’s compared me to Fitzgerald since my 22nd birthday, the guy who held me upright in the elevator, real mensch, bookish apparently…
After a very long career in the grocery business, including store management early on, I can confirm that this is a non-fiction and accurate story. Got a kick out of it. Well done, Alexander.
First half of my years were retail. Never went to college, no fast track, night crew, managed departments, then the stores. I got my unofficial master’s in psychology, haha. Learned the hard way how to motivate and mentor folks. Some of the best, solid people I’ve ever been around. Later years I was in sales, marketing and import buying. Traveled globally. In the picture that’s a brand that’s still popular in New Zealand btw. Thanks For the memories and sorry for babbling on! - Jim
That’s a pretty heartening trajectory! For all the drag of the job, I can’t deny it’s been a great education. Gonna hold onto it while I can, though I'm keen to jump ship after three and a half years. How many years did it take for you to rise beyond the store level and get into corporate?
Well over 15 years in the stores, started as sacker in '70 making $1.75 an hour (wearing a white short sleeved dress shirt and a mandatory, clip-on, bow tie, haha) When I started managing departments and then stores, I started to learn how to manage people without really managing them - if that makes sense. I wasn't their best friend for sure, but I was fair and real clear on what I wanted and expected from them. If they're motivated and have some pride, a six-man night crew can kick some major ass and believe me, we did. The most important factor was instilling a belief in themselves. They didn't want to let each other, or me, down.
The 25 years after that were rewarding as hell too. Much higher stakes, plenty of pressure and gamesmanship but still rewarding. I was lucky enough to be involved in some pretty amazing things, traveled all the hell over and met people I would have never dreamed of meeting. Funny thing though? I still missed those stores and the great people that worked in them.
Btw, much later, when I took an offer to join a major cpg marketer, I used to be in Lakeland all the time visiting with the Publix folks. My opinion only but they were, along with the HEB people in their San Antonio headquarters, the sharpest grocery people...anywhere.
Good lord, I'm writing a short story here. Sorry about that. So, until next time - Jim
Quite an arc! That’s really wonderful to hear — I haven’t seen many people who’ve been with the company more than 20 years but there are some who occasionally come down from corporate who’ve got a sort of energetic glow, the thing you’re conveying in your prose there, talking about the places they’ve been able to travel, the way the job has broadened their sense of self, presented obstacles they remember fondly.
It’s also strange to see how many of them are nostalgic, as you are, about their days in the store. Grinding every night. It seems so strange to me but, as I was telling my girlfriend the other day, the things I read give me a feeling I’ll remember this as one of the more exciting chapters of my life.
I won't get started again because I'll go on and on...and on. Good luck to you in whatever direction and industry you decide to pursue. Thank you again for the subject matter and having the patience for my rambling. - Jim
Sounds like the formulation I’ve seen! And, to be fair, it certainly does make sense if your goal is just to get through the day without dwelling on the stuff you can’t change.
I’ve noticed, among older colleagues, that their shrugs have a greater wordcount than the younger colleagues’ rants.
I’m sure this has been asked and answered here before, so sorry in advance, but do your colleagues have any idea? Do the store higher-ups? It’s deliciously great work.
You mean do they know about the newsletter here? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. One manager who’s kinda passive aggressive did corner me once and make some remarks to indicate he knows about this, and that it’ll get me fired if he tells someone, but that’s OK.
Yes. Was wondering specifically about the newsletter here because of its incisive excellence. I have been fascinated with that company for decades, since I tangled with their corporate folks when I was doing a story about their continued stiff-arming of the Fair Food program which, of course, they can do because they have no shareholders to pressure them other than the ones who work for them, which poses quite the dilemma. At the same time, I feel deep affection for the people in my local store, some of whom have been around for years, our kids have grown up together and so on. Anyway, I really love what you do here. And Cubafruit - effin’ WOW.
Wow, quite a hefty pair of compliments there, thank you! I’m really happy to hear you’re enjoying what goes on here, and all the more moved to hear a kind word about Cubafruit. Still feels kinda vulnerable and over-exposed, so it’s been nice to not field any darts about it.
It’s not a difficult job, just exhausting and repetitive and very public-facing. This guy is strikingly sweet and friendly, and he’s got a sturdy build (early-30s, I think). I can see how, in conversation, he might’ve seemed like a good candidate.
Up here in Canada, there are three major companies that have cornered the grocery business and they are all unionized, so it's a lot harder to get away with that kind of behavior.
While we're talking, I'd like to know how bad the shoplifting is in your store. It's getting pretty bad in our store. Security guards in the evenings and all day on weekends. Just curious 🤔
Well I’m in Miami, which is a major tourist destination, but right now we’re officially into peak summer weather. A couple days ago it was 90 degrees at 7 p.m., and the sun is out until 8:30 p.m. sometimes. So this is our dead season. Tourists don’t come because it’s too hot and, as a result, there’s less stealing.
And I’d say the bulk of theft that does go on, frankly, is customers eating food as they shop, not looking suspicious because they’re so confident and blatant that we just assume they’ll pay for it at the register, but then when we’re closing up, in the last hour, we go to neaten up the shelves and find banana peels, empty bottles of coconut water, whole halves of sandwiches they took from the cooler…
I have ADHD. I also hate being micromanaged. So when I start a new job, there's a dilemma: should I tell my boss I need to be managed closely (which I dislike, but is more conducive to getting my stuff done consistently on time)? Or do I manage it myself, which means less consistent deadline accuracy but a more enjoyable working environment for me?
I should clarify that it's not so bad that I'm at risk of being fired. But it's a fact that I know something that would make me more productive, but that I'm withholding because it would make me less happy.
Then there's the secondary choices that come from this tendency. Do I make up an excuse or reason why something is taking longer? Am I just honest that I've been unable to focus on it? There's a spectrum of behaviors that I can choose to employ or not employ, most of which improve my work at the expense of my happiness. Some I "have" to employ to perform at a job-adequate level (things like being strict with writing things in my calendar); others aren't as clear cut.
Point being that there's a malicious end of the spectrum, where I'm using excuses and blaming others as a way of avoiding accountability for deadlines. But there's this whole mushy middle where I could be doing more, but I might not be "expected" to. That's where it sucks for coworkers: it's hard when a request is near the line of "this is something reasonable to ask my coworker" and "this puts an unfair burden on them."
You have written another prose poem. It's an unusual talent. F. Scott Fitzgerald had it
Well shit! That’s a very nice comparison, thank you! Nobody’s compared me to Fitzgerald since my 22nd birthday, the guy who held me upright in the elevator, real mensch, bookish apparently…
🤓
Every read gets better
I continue to enjoy your musings...such gentle humor and insights. I have Cubafruit but need time to get it started. Keep on with your efforts!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying this stuff — and doubly delighted to hear you’ve got Cubafruit lined up!
After a very long career in the grocery business, including store management early on, I can confirm that this is a non-fiction and accurate story. Got a kick out of it. Well done, Alexander.
Thanks, Jim! And kudos on making it through the trenches!
First half of my years were retail. Never went to college, no fast track, night crew, managed departments, then the stores. I got my unofficial master’s in psychology, haha. Learned the hard way how to motivate and mentor folks. Some of the best, solid people I’ve ever been around. Later years I was in sales, marketing and import buying. Traveled globally. In the picture that’s a brand that’s still popular in New Zealand btw. Thanks For the memories and sorry for babbling on! - Jim
That’s a pretty heartening trajectory! For all the drag of the job, I can’t deny it’s been a great education. Gonna hold onto it while I can, though I'm keen to jump ship after three and a half years. How many years did it take for you to rise beyond the store level and get into corporate?
Well over 15 years in the stores, started as sacker in '70 making $1.75 an hour (wearing a white short sleeved dress shirt and a mandatory, clip-on, bow tie, haha) When I started managing departments and then stores, I started to learn how to manage people without really managing them - if that makes sense. I wasn't their best friend for sure, but I was fair and real clear on what I wanted and expected from them. If they're motivated and have some pride, a six-man night crew can kick some major ass and believe me, we did. The most important factor was instilling a belief in themselves. They didn't want to let each other, or me, down.
The 25 years after that were rewarding as hell too. Much higher stakes, plenty of pressure and gamesmanship but still rewarding. I was lucky enough to be involved in some pretty amazing things, traveled all the hell over and met people I would have never dreamed of meeting. Funny thing though? I still missed those stores and the great people that worked in them.
Btw, much later, when I took an offer to join a major cpg marketer, I used to be in Lakeland all the time visiting with the Publix folks. My opinion only but they were, along with the HEB people in their San Antonio headquarters, the sharpest grocery people...anywhere.
Good lord, I'm writing a short story here. Sorry about that. So, until next time - Jim
Quite an arc! That’s really wonderful to hear — I haven’t seen many people who’ve been with the company more than 20 years but there are some who occasionally come down from corporate who’ve got a sort of energetic glow, the thing you’re conveying in your prose there, talking about the places they’ve been able to travel, the way the job has broadened their sense of self, presented obstacles they remember fondly.
It’s also strange to see how many of them are nostalgic, as you are, about their days in the store. Grinding every night. It seems so strange to me but, as I was telling my girlfriend the other day, the things I read give me a feeling I’ll remember this as one of the more exciting chapters of my life.
I won't get started again because I'll go on and on...and on. Good luck to you in whatever direction and industry you decide to pursue. Thank you again for the subject matter and having the patience for my rambling. - Jim
This makes me so glad to be retired, even if the only idiosyncratic person I have to deal with is myself.
The view from the good seats!
We don’t like it when the shortcomings and challenges of our lives are pointed out.
It feels confrontational.
We’d rather know the truth, ignore it and resent it.
Just don’t tell us about it! 🤣
Sounds like the formulation I’ve seen! And, to be fair, it certainly does make sense if your goal is just to get through the day without dwelling on the stuff you can’t change.
I’ve noticed, among older colleagues, that their shrugs have a greater wordcount than the younger colleagues’ rants.
Astute observation.
I’m sure this has been asked and answered here before, so sorry in advance, but do your colleagues have any idea? Do the store higher-ups? It’s deliciously great work.
You mean do they know about the newsletter here? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. One manager who’s kinda passive aggressive did corner me once and make some remarks to indicate he knows about this, and that it’ll get me fired if he tells someone, but that’s OK.
Yes. Was wondering specifically about the newsletter here because of its incisive excellence. I have been fascinated with that company for decades, since I tangled with their corporate folks when I was doing a story about their continued stiff-arming of the Fair Food program which, of course, they can do because they have no shareholders to pressure them other than the ones who work for them, which poses quite the dilemma. At the same time, I feel deep affection for the people in my local store, some of whom have been around for years, our kids have grown up together and so on. Anyway, I really love what you do here. And Cubafruit - effin’ WOW.
Wow, quite a hefty pair of compliments there, thank you! I’m really happy to hear you’re enjoying what goes on here, and all the more moved to hear a kind word about Cubafruit. Still feels kinda vulnerable and over-exposed, so it’s been nice to not field any darts about it.
I feel like I know more about the people you write about than most writers could make me understand in an entire novel.
Well that’s nice to hear! I’m not sure my colleagues would appreciate it, but hey.
How did the new guy get hired in the first place?
It’s not a difficult job, just exhausting and repetitive and very public-facing. This guy is strikingly sweet and friendly, and he’s got a sturdy build (early-30s, I think). I can see how, in conversation, he might’ve seemed like a good candidate.
Up here in Canada, there are three major companies that have cornered the grocery business and they are all unionized, so it's a lot harder to get away with that kind of behavior.
While we're talking, I'd like to know how bad the shoplifting is in your store. It's getting pretty bad in our store. Security guards in the evenings and all day on weekends. Just curious 🤔
Well I’m in Miami, which is a major tourist destination, but right now we’re officially into peak summer weather. A couple days ago it was 90 degrees at 7 p.m., and the sun is out until 8:30 p.m. sometimes. So this is our dead season. Tourists don’t come because it’s too hot and, as a result, there’s less stealing.
And I’d say the bulk of theft that does go on, frankly, is customers eating food as they shop, not looking suspicious because they’re so confident and blatant that we just assume they’ll pay for it at the register, but then when we’re closing up, in the last hour, we go to neaten up the shelves and find banana peels, empty bottles of coconut water, whole halves of sandwiches they took from the cooler…
This is another great one, I agree with the comment about prose poetry 😊.
Funny and infuriating. Montaigne came to mind at the end: “the knowledge of courtesy and good manners is a very necessary study.”