gregor22
Woof!
On Monday, May 7, this year and after working another 13 hour day, I was having dinner with my wife and son, when Joshua asked me if I was going to take him to school the next day. That was part of our routine, I usually closed the store on Tuesdays and would have some Joshua and Daddy time in the morning before I would take him to school. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I had to tell him that I couldn't take him because I had to work early again the next day and couldn't take him.
Previous to this conversation, I had been working 6 or 7 days a week, since we had our "wage management initiative" a year ago March, and I had to fire the best 40% of my employees. This was followed by the "management model" change a year ago June where I had to let 40% of my managers go. Most of my days were 12+ hours. I had been contemplating giving my keys up the week before Black Friday, like one of my buddies did.
Leave to my, then five year old, son to make see what is truly important. After I told him that I couldn't take him to school, he asked me, "Daddy, why don't you ask your manager to ask another manager to work for you so you could have a day off with me?". That pretty much sealed my fate right then and there. I called my District Manager the next day and told him that we needed to talk. I gave him my two weeks notice, and walked out of the store on May 22, after 18 and a half years.
On January 1, 2006, on this board, I stated that my plan for the year was "to be the best daddy I can be". I got away from that. Thanks to the gift from my son, I am getting back on track. Last weekend we went to San Diego for the weekend and I asked Joshua what his favorite part of the trip was. He told me that it was being with mommy and daddy, not the Zoo, not Sea World, not the Wild Animal Park. You can imagine how that makes me feel. I made the right decision.
This Father's Day, remember who we are honoring. I lost my father almost five years ago, and my mentor(just like a father to me) just a few months later. Fortunately, my step-father-in-law is still around, so tomorrow, I will spend some quality time with him on the golf course. If my other father-in-law was here in Vegas, I would do the same with him. Golf will be followed by a jump in the pool and having Joshua help daddy with the grilling.
Dads, let's be the best daddy's we can be this next year. My gift came early.
Gregor
Previous to this conversation, I had been working 6 or 7 days a week, since we had our "wage management initiative" a year ago March, and I had to fire the best 40% of my employees. This was followed by the "management model" change a year ago June where I had to let 40% of my managers go. Most of my days were 12+ hours. I had been contemplating giving my keys up the week before Black Friday, like one of my buddies did.
Leave to my, then five year old, son to make see what is truly important. After I told him that I couldn't take him to school, he asked me, "Daddy, why don't you ask your manager to ask another manager to work for you so you could have a day off with me?". That pretty much sealed my fate right then and there. I called my District Manager the next day and told him that we needed to talk. I gave him my two weeks notice, and walked out of the store on May 22, after 18 and a half years.
On January 1, 2006, on this board, I stated that my plan for the year was "to be the best daddy I can be". I got away from that. Thanks to the gift from my son, I am getting back on track. Last weekend we went to San Diego for the weekend and I asked Joshua what his favorite part of the trip was. He told me that it was being with mommy and daddy, not the Zoo, not Sea World, not the Wild Animal Park. You can imagine how that makes me feel. I made the right decision.
This Father's Day, remember who we are honoring. I lost my father almost five years ago, and my mentor(just like a father to me) just a few months later. Fortunately, my step-father-in-law is still around, so tomorrow, I will spend some quality time with him on the golf course. If my other father-in-law was here in Vegas, I would do the same with him. Golf will be followed by a jump in the pool and having Joshua help daddy with the grilling.
Dads, let's be the best daddy's we can be this next year. My gift came early.
Gregor
