Thank you! I thought I was taking crazy pills

And I absolutely agree with your last point (and the rest of it)

We can only affect our own change before we can contribute on a larger scale

What a weird thing to fixate on. You don’t know one thing about my background or finances (or, to be honest, lack thereof)

I grew up in an ag town in Kansas. I went to public school, public university and have worked my ass off since I was 14

I’m a recovering alcoholic that nearly drank myself to death because of my career.

I am me and that’s it.

I don’t care whether someone started beneath me above me or the same as me. We all have to do it…it’s easier for some than others, that’s a fact of life.

Why would you try to discount the advice I’m giving?

Edit: I'm not saying you can't challenge me, again, I welcome that, but to make huge assumptions because "maybe you didn't consider you have an easier life than others" is such a simple way of looking at it....this isn't "get rich with these three easy steps", this is, "hey, you probably have some positive opportunities even in a bad situation, explore those options"

And please don’t quote the bootstraps thing to me…that isn’t even close to what I’m saying. I’m saying, we all have the same amount of time on this earth…instead of saying, I can’t do this because XYZ, think positively

Edit: also, talk about really missing the point, I never once said I was self-made….I have taken advantage of the opportunities laid in front of me….I stand on the shoulders of giants (we all do) and if you don’t take advantage of the work done before you, that’s on you

Edit: you being the royal you, not you specifically

One more reply, because I think it’s important. Look at the negativity in the answers…yeah, you’re right, the odds are stacked against you, but the resources are available (through the company or not, even) to expand skill sets and it just costs time that you’re already spending

Also, I have to add, maybe I do have a better situation than some or most, I didn’t start here….I am just repeating what I have done in my career to get here.

Just because at first glance it doesn’t fit, doesn’t mean it’s bad stupid advice as someone else said.

It takes work, but dammit, it’s fulfilling for once and I’m proof that it works, even if it takes time

I am not saying take on more responsibility for responsibility sake. I’m saying, take on responsibilities for yourself.

Want to learn excel? Spend browsing time making something that will make your job easier…does your company have excel training courses? Take them

I’m saying, use the time you’re stuck there to better yourself…that’s it…pretty simple concept that I think were trained to overlook

Bide your time, make the paycheck while you research companies…do things that YOU want to do because it makes YOU better…who cares if the company benefits in the short term

This is all about an individual making themselves better…they’re not going to pay you what they owe you, probably, use them until you can move on

It’s like a coach that works at a stepping stone team…make the most of it and move on

Edit: there’s this mentality of, “my job sucks, fuck them”. Ok, that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to better yourself along the way

Gut reaction is: “that will never work and here’s why”….I know those words, they were my mantra for years

Change the way you think, which isn’t easy, but it’s possible

Also to say that this is “stupid bad advice” is just disrespectful. You are more than welcome to disagree, I welcome that, but let’s keep our criticism constructive.

I value your input because you’ve lived a different experience from me, and I will absolutely take it into consideration.

My post wasn’t perfect, but it is my experience and I assure you, I’m living proof that it has merit….just like your comments have merit because it’s your experience

I knew that I’d get push back…and I’m fine with that, I was right there with you.

Let’s take the company itself out of it, because I agree that they’re exploitative, and they will squeeze every last drop out of you…I know it and I’ve experienced it.

My point is, if you’re stuck there, make the most of it…I’m not telling people to bust their ass for the company…I’m saying, bust your ass for yourself! Use the resources available to make you a better candidate and get out as soon as possible

It’s so easy to say, “they’re taking advantage of me and it sucks”….and it’s likely true…don’t stick around, don’t kill yourself for them…that’s all I’m saying.

Again, I’m not saying you’re wrong, I agree with you, but I don’t think you understood the point of my post

Edit: just to reiterate, none of this advice relates to the company, zero. I’m just acknowledging that resources are available to brownnosers and non-brownnosers alike…do one without the other, be selfish, it’s ok, they are too, and they won’t apologize for it and neither should anyone else

Sure, they’re going to benefit from your betterment, there’s nothing to do about that, but you’re just making yourself more and more marketable to where you can escape to a company that values you….or, you have the talents to take your skills on the road with you

I actually really appreciate this post because I totally understand the feeling.

I feel it to my core, and I’ve gone through a lot of my career thinking that.

I finally started applying myself at jobs that I didn’t believe deserved me, one of them actually fired me…I don’t care because I learned their accounting system, gave them improvements, and then I used that experience in my next job

I still flip their office the bird when I drive by….but I’m grateful for them because they taught me where I didn’t want to be.

This isn’t about bettering the company, per se, sure they might benefit from your increased skill set, but you can plan to leave any time….doesn’t mean you’ll get the job immediately, but the greater “lesson” if there was one….better yourself while you’re stuck there

I don’t care if you’re cleaning toilets at Wendy’s, not that there’s anything wrong with that, if that’s what you want to do….but you’re not limited to improving your role, you probably see things that management doesn’t, tell them!

This screams self help, I know, and I hate that I sound like this, but I really believe it

Ha, I'm not advocating stealing, if that's what you mean. I'll add that to my post to make sure it's clear.

I'm just saying different trainings are available, software that you wouldn't otherwise have access to where you could learn to be an expert or at least more than a novice....things like that

Again, not advocating theft

I love parenthesis (though I’m not sure if that’s plural, singular or what have you)

That said, your comment would be perfect for J. Walter Weatherman

Ha, or even worse,

"Change Engine, Cabin, filters are looking great!"

Lol, if we're changing the engine and the cabin, we might as well get the filters while we're at it!

Bonus story, since you're a kind person

I watch a lot of true crime youtube...my wife is a passive viewer while she does whatever she's doing in the same room.

We had both been into the devil's lettuce, full disclosure, but a few months ago, I was just laying there watching a show and she looks over at me and says, completely straight faced, "I will end you"

I just looked at her, thinking, did I hear that right?

I guess she could see the bewilderment,

"what did I just say?"

"that you were going to end me......????"

"WHAT?!"

As though I could fill her in on it....hilarious moment we laugh about still

We both laughed for a good 15 seconds after I explained what was going on. This is why I picked her! She keeps me young (if she doesn't kill me first!)

Nice! I have had clients in Wichita some and my brother worked there for awhile, I enjoy old town, or I used to!

Yeah, I can’t remember if it’s called Merchant Street BBQ or Bobby D’s, but it’s the best bbq in town, IMO….and their cheesy potatoes are great

It’s right by the 5th and 6th grade buildings and the post office

Erie sounds familiar, but I’m not placing it….I’m guessing Empo is “big” compared?

I drove through Topeka to Manhattan yesterday for work!

Small world….ever eat at Merchant Street BBQ in Empo?

Grew up in Emporia and now in the Kansas City area, you?

I think it was just cookies and water, still a nice gesture

I hadn’t thought about them in years! I hope it was a good memory unearthed!

And thanks!

When I was ~4, my family moved to a small town in Kansas from Southern California

We hadn’t found a house yet and were living in an apartment during that time. We were at a laundromat when the tornado sirens went off one day.

I don’t remember much, just being confused about what the alarm meant and why everyone was freaking out. Anyway, we noticed some folks across the street motioning for us to come over.

It was a McDonalds and we all ran over and went to the basement. I don’t really remember for sure, but I feel like they gave us cookies that were like shortbread maybe? They were the shapes of the McDonald’s characters if I remember correctly.

It’s kinda funny, thanks to that, my first tornado experience was a somewhat positive one, thanks to those McDonalds employees…which is kinda wild.

I’ll tell you, the real tragedy of the night was mom cutting us off at two packs of cookies each….we could have had as many as we wanted!