The Resignation

 

I was finally fed up.  The pay, the drama, the mice, the 6-day work weeks once a month.  I took this job to get experience and with 2 years under my belt, the job I had wanted 2 years ago, was available again.  It was 2 minutes from my house in New Jersey and though it was only part-time, I knew the staff and loved the store.  When I saw the ad in the paper, I sent my resume over immediately and when the General Manager called, he said “what took you so long?”  I met with him, one owner, the Store Manager and a senior wine staff guy and after 2 days and 4 hours on interviewing, I got the job.  But, it wasn’t just any job.  They tailored the job just for me and my skills.  The part-time turned into full-time and besides selling wine, I would also help with marketing, PR, events and writing on our web site.  And, the best perk – one free trip to a wine destination each year.  The Store made promises to me of trips to Italy, but that was all a big, fat lie to get me on board.

When I got the new job, I told my best customer first.  I invited him and his wife to the Store for a great lunch with stellar wines.  It was the first time I had met him face to face and he was a really humble, genuine, down-to-earth guy who spent his money on three things: wine, dining and travel.  You’d never know this guy had the money he does. 

After lunch I said to him,”It’s been such an honor working with you and I can’t wait to continue working with you at the New Store.”  He did a double take.  I knew he was already a shopper there so I wasn’t stealing him or anything.  I told him, “I still want you to shop here though, because you can get wines here that you can’t get anywhere else.”  He said, “Like what?  Put a list together for me.”  So, I did and the next day and over $35,000 later I made a big sale.  Boss said, “no one remembers you for the first sale, only the last.”

By then I had a new boss who I hated.  I had no problems handing her my resignation letter with contempt, anger and the feeling of freedom.  Bitch #1 gave me my exit interview and I let everyone have it and finally aired all of my grievances.  By then, she had mellowed down to the point of being beaten down and actually sympathized with what I went through.  My exit interview consisted mostly of me shaking my head in disgust.  She left The Store eventually, too.

I remember the Boss’s reaction when I resigned.  He called the whole sales team in his little office to have me tell everyone why I was leaving and where I was going and what the new job entailed.  I glowed when I told them.  I was so happy to be leaving the Store and going to the new job.  It wasn’t what the Boss said.  It’s what he didn’t say.  The look on his face, the whole dramatic show he put on for everyone was enough.  He was making fun of me in his own way.  Even Bitch #5 said, “you know he was mocking you, right?”  I knew, but now it’s me mocking him.  I may not be a store owner, but at least I’m happy.

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