hi.

i wanted to share this today even though i am not the biggest fan of talking about money. and i don’t want any (potential) future employers reading this and taking it the wrong way. but i think it’s important so here goes nothing.

you probably don’t know this but a few months ago i took a second job. two reasons for this - 1. i’ve always believed in the value of “paying your dues” and doing some sort of service- oriented job; my first job was data-related at a college which is essentially the opposite of that so i wanted to pay my dues sooner rather than later and 2. i work primarily remotely. if i don’t make the effort to see people i can go weeks without seeing people outside of my family. human interaction is healthy and necessary and i wanted to make that a bigger priority this year. and this was a really convenient way to do it.

so i started this job. fortunately, i wasn’t relying on it as my primary paycheck and it wasn’t in my long-term career plans in the slightest, so although i showed up and did my best each time, i was able to have a really easy-going attitude with it. read: i rolled with a lot of punches. i’m a hard worker and truly operate within a “team mentality” and i will work relentlessly to back that up. needless to say, i learned a lot.

and here is the best lesson i learned, the lesson worth $500.

bet on yourself and you cannot lose.

bet on yourself - bet on your future, bet on your work ethic, bet on your ambition. don’t think small; don’t allow others to force you into small thinking, either. work isn’t everything, but work ethic is something i pride myself on, and that is what plays a role in the bigger picture of life.

don’t confuse being a quitter with taking action after you come to the conclusion that certain pieces just don’t fit together anymore. if you do not respect yourself, you cannot expect others to, either.

there’s a difference between being able to compromise and becoming a doormat.

being nice and accommodating all of the time is something you do with the best of intentions, but don’t forget: people can and sometimes will take advantage of your best traits. it’s your responsibility to stick up for yourself.

no reason to stay is a good reason to go, yet sometimes good decisions aren’t necessarily easy decisions.

so i left :)

make no mistake: i didn’t burn bridges, or leave on bad terms whatsoever. it was amicable, and it was the right thing to do. i stood to make about $500 over the next month, which is how long i planned on staying - that may not be much to some of you, but it’s also not the easiest thing to walk away from.

but you have to bet on yourself. the hours i would have spent working there are going to be spent on other projects that i’m really excited about - things that don’t result in a $500 check, but leave me feeling fulfilled and will someway, somehow lead to something bigger and worthwhile.

plant your seeds with the right intentions and good things can’t help but grow.

my friend ryan recently told me that sometimes you don’t learn lessons from people; sometimes you are put in situations that force you to grow yourself.

i think that can be said for this particular moment, and i’m grateful for it. it’s a really good feeling to realize you know how to stick up for yourself and even more so, that you cannot be bought. self-respect, pride, dignity.. that’s what matters at the end of the day.

thank you for reading ♥️