For anyone who wonders what difference one person can make, let me tell you the difference can be HUGE.
I’ve worked in the same place for about five years now. The first four years, I had two great bosses and I was very happy. Then in March last year my boss quit and I ended up working for a horrible person who is a complete control freak who trusts no one and treats everyone like they are idiotic children. The constant “what are you doing?” questions and the backstabbing talk that he engaged in about everyone ELSE made me wonder what he said about me when I wasn’t in the room.
I was miserable.
I will admit that I have a hard time pretending to be happy when I’m not. It is hard to get excited about getting to work when the whole time you are there, your stomach is clenching because you never know what horrible thing your boss might say next. It is also really hard to go from a professional environment of mutual respect and trust to one of complete distrust and disrespect.
I spent every free moment trying to find a new job, and I achieved that goal. I am back in a professional environment filled with mutual respect and trust, and I’m working harder then ever. But I am also happier than I’ve been in a long time.
I feel comfortable talking about how unhappy I was for those nine months now because three months ago I started a new job in the same place, but working for a new boss, and I am happy again. We work hard. Really hard. I get to work early most days and stay late. Long days. I don’t mind, though, because I like and trust the people on my team.
Mutual respect and trust make all the difference in the world. Life is far too short to put up with less.
