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I actually managed to wake up at a decent time this morning, though I was still slow moving and reluctant to get out of bed. I've had troubles with getting to bed at a decent time for months now, which has understandably led to me having a late start of the morning. I'm hoping that as fall sets in I'll be able to work passed this... Since I actually managed to roll my sorry and tired buttocks out of bed at a decent hour I found myself able to listen to this morning's installment of Coffeebreak. This morning's guest was Billy Grayson of the Battle Grove Cemetery[1]. While most of the topics were fairly dead (bad pun, sorry--i just couldn't avoid it), there were two phrases used which for some reason seemed to strike me. "Company is coming..." A phrase which is a motto of sorts that Grayson uses (and Rick has picked up) in reference to keeping things presentable at the cemetery's grounds. A phrase which Rick would like to see become a mantra for the city of Cynthiana to keep in it's mind. Company is coming. Company is coming. Company is coming. Imagine if Cynthiana actually kept itself presentable. What a beautiful sight our little town might be. Might be? Wait, haven't I said things about how beautiful Cynthiana is, and why I love the community? Yes, I've claimed that our sleepy town has a certain air about it, but at the same time, I have said how terrible things are. This, apparently, is another one of those days... Have you actually seen the problems around town? How ill the city looks? Some time ago, I presented a link to "a flickr'd Cynthiana"; images from around town which showed her in the light that I like to see her. Well, now, I'd like to show you a different side--the ugly side--of Cynthiana. To accomplish this, I'm going to set out, with camera in hand, and take snapshots of her beaten, battered and neglected side. I'd also like to encourage any readers of this blog to do the same, and help me with this project (at the same time, feel free to take pictures representing Cynthiana's yummy goodness--i'd like to show that side again at a later date). "Dreamers are the success of the organization..." I'm not certain that I'm quoting that phrase properly, though I am pretty sure that it is what my ears heard. The phrase was said in reference to something that another person (I'm assuming another local person that Rick and Mr. Grayson either know or know of) had once said. The phrase had been stated in trying to help distinguish the differences between the "do-ers" and the "dreamers". I don't really know why, but that phrase struck me. A wave of emotion came over me. I was angered. I was joyful. I found the thought hilarious. I found it reassuring. I laughed. I nearly cried. Again, I'm not sure if what I heard was exactly what was said. As I think about it, I begin to believe that I'm wrong, and that I'm taking it well out of context. I must be. I simply must be mistaken, because thus far, in my short time here on earth, I've been shown that the opposite is true. I consider myself a dreamer. I've always considered myself a dreamer. And I've never benefitted from it. Strike "benefitted". It's not the right word, but it's close. Help me out here... what's the right word? Dreaming has seemingly led me only to disappointment, trouble and misunderstanding. Once upon a time, and for a very short stint, I had worked for a fast food joint in Georgetown. One evening, the assistant manager asked me to do something about the storage room and freezer--to clean and re-organize. I did just that. I moved products and items that were used the most to lower levels on shelves, and closer to the kitchen. I re-stacked boxes, and cut slots/openings in others, to allow for "dispensing" rather than pulling a box down, taking an item out and closing then reshelving the box. I received praise from the assistant manager, and the crews on my shift and the following shift. However, when the first shift came around, I received criticism, cursing, and complaints. The first shift returned everything to the way it had been, because it worked for them. The manager took their side, not because I violated any codes or regulations, but simply because that shift carried the store. Even though my thoughts, views and opinions were quite good (and admittedly better--the manager confided in me that my system actually flowed better), they simply weren't how "things were done." About six months later I began working for a local retailer. During my employment there I threw out several ideas, many of which went unrecoginized--those that were recognized were either done so through the aid of my coworkers and I implementing them without approval; or the ideas would become re-introduced weeks later as the manager's (later owner's) "own idea." To my knowledge, none of my ideas backfired or caused any harm to the business. I did, however, receive several reprimands or "disciplinary notices" for challenging the way "things were done." A couple of years ago, I had a factory job, which I eventually left because of differences I had with the person who operated the machine on another shift (who I had worked and been trained under). During my employment there, I began to challenge the other person's work-ethics, and attempted to show them how they were incorrect in some of there methods, how they violated company policies; I also made attempts to show them how easy it was to request changes in policies, practices and procedures. I did receive some recognition at this job, getting words of encouragement, pats on the back, handshakes, and pay raises (I believe that I was within twenty cents of my senior's pay--I had received a total of $4/hr in raises in two years, coming close to the pay of a man who had been there for 10+ years). Supervisors, managers, quality personnel and others in the operations recognized that I was different, that I thought outside the mentality of my fellow workers, that I was a dreamer. I drempt of better things. I tried my best to share my visions. Then, one day, my opposite, the man who I had worked under, the man who had trained me, the man who became my first shift counterpart (in my mind should have been my "counterpartner", though he seemed to see me more of a threat), decided to take issue with me and got his help to join his fight. I endured this for a few months, reporting my troubles to my supervisor and the managers. I commend the supervising and managerial staff for their support, and know they were doing their best in helping me. But, it became too much. After my returning from a leave, the issues came back with full force. Then, on a Tuesday (i believe) I became so angered that I quit. I went to my supervisor, said my apologies and goodbyes and left. A few months later I ran into a coworker, and was informed that the first shift operator and his help were fired for the very things I had warned them of. Perhaps my last story isn't the best fit for an example of how I've learned that dreamers fail to succeed. If anything, it shows that dreamers have the opportunity to bring an organization to the forefront, and allow the whole system to achieve more. It also shows how weak I am. How insecure and unsure I am. How pathetic and whiny I am--at least when it comes to blogging. Dreamers succeed? I certainly hope so. Otherwise, I've been teaching my children to believe in a lie that I've believed in all my life. ...but enough of that. I must get back to the housework, in the off chance that I might have company coming.
Tags: #coffeebreak, #cynthiana, #news, #opinion, #politics, #thoughts and stuff, #wcyn, #WCYN's Coffeebreak
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