Own Your Stuff! A Life Experience Story with a Junkyard Dog

 

Own your Stuff!

A Life Experience Story with a Junkyard Dog

Once upon a time and many years ago, (like a really long time ago, yes, I am old), I had a very interesting experience that is worth telling you all about. I hope that through my telling of this story that we can all gather some strength and face our stuff when we get called out.

One of my early jobs was working in management for a large corporation. I worked with another manager who ranked just above me a bit. After a few years, we both left the company to go on to do other things.

I went on to management with another company. At my new job, I had to work with a manager who was meaner than a junkyard dog. No exaggeration. No one wanted to be around her or have any interactions with her at all costs. She was great at burning the skin off people with the fire that came out of her mouth. She had a very negative spirit and was not a nice person.

Moving forward several years later, I now owned my own business and was working a bunch, so it was hard for people to reach me. This was before home computers and cell phones mind you.

One day, and after many tries, the manager I worked with at the first job called me and I happened to be available to talk. He had hired an employee and was having a lot of difficulties with her. He had found out through the grape vine that I had worked with her in the past and was inquiring of my help to figure out how to handle her. His intent was to fire her, but some circumstances were getting in the way of him being able doing that.

He wanted to know what my experience was with her. I told him the truth of what I had experienced and what I had witnessed, her personality, and her report with other coworkers. He confirmed that was the same thing that he was experiencing as well. We discussed some options for him to try. He thanked me for my help and that was the end of the conversation.

Several weeks later, I received a phone call from the junkyard dog. Word had gotten back to her of what I had told her manager. She went to yelling and screaming out her vulgar language and throwing out her nasty spirit. I never interrupted her as I quietly and patiently waited for her to stop.

Her rant finally ended with, “Did you say those things about me? Did you?”

I said, “Yes, I did!”

Her response was, “How could you do that to me?”

My response back, “I didn’t lie, did I?”

There was a short pause, then she chuckled and begrudgingly said, “No.”

In which I replied, “Then I think this conversation is over.” And I hung up the phone.

Lessons:

Never say anything behind someone's back that you wouldn’t say to their face. I have found this to be the best policy.

Own your stuff. If you said it or did it, own up to it. Yes, you may take a hit/bruise/whatever, but it will gain you some self-respect in the long run. And if it was an offense, you will have a better chance of being able to ask for forgiveness and make things right again.

Debra Lee

Author/Keynote Speaker/Life Coach/Biz Coach/Blogger

Books: "Making Wise Choices" & "It Is What It Is"