I can be such a lazy bum.

Most days -- actually, all days, I dread going to work. I get in my car and turn up my music (though there's nothing at all unusual about that) and pout the whole way to Seaside.

Why do I do this? There are not many things in this world that I have a grey outlook upon. I usually find most everything fun and amusing (trust me, it really doesn't take much.) It's not that I hate my job, because I don't. I actually enjoy my job and the people I work with... Well, most days. There are a lot of strong personalities at work, and it's hard keep a room full of any kind of women drama-free for 8 minutes, let alone 8 hours.

Dress Barn is an incredibly bizarre company to work for. The expecations that they set are ridiculous. We have this new program called "Steps 2 Selling", or more efficiently titled "S2S". The steps they give are not impossible, and actually they are relatively good ideas that do work in making a sale. The only issue, though, is that they forget that every customer is different. If someone walks in only wanting to spend $50, that's all they're going to spend, no matter how hard you work to convince them otherwise. Yet, if we don't go through every single step they give us with every single customer, our job is automatically on the line. We don't get taken aside and told, "Maybe try it like this next time," or "Perhaps you should have brought them an item that would have worked for a casual or dressy event." No, we get scolded and threatened. It's insane.

Oh, and let's not forget the time they tried to convict us of fraud because we were using a coupon code that was assigned to a store in Texas. Okay, A: We didn't steal their code -- it is what is printed on the back of our mall coupon. We read it and type it in. Whoever screwed up in making the coupon is at fault, not us. (We sent them a copy of our coupon so they could actually see that we were right, and it felt better than it should have to prove them wrong.) B: This coupon has read this way for 3 years -- we checked the electronic store journal as to how far back those numbers have been punched in. Why, just now, is this auditor finally realizing that it's wrong... Do your job, pal. C: We lose money every time someone brings in a coupon. Why would we steal a coupon code for customers when we get no benefit from it?

So anyway, my job is ever-stressful because of the strange ways of the company. I am hardly one to keep my opinions a secret, but in this environment I know I better keep my mouth shut... Even though I would love nothing more than to debate with them and be the victor! But I know that another huge part in why I hate going is just that I'm a lazy slob. I love staying up late and sleeping in. I love spending the day in my pj's, catching up on my Tivo and scrapbooking. And I know that if I were ever given the choice to do that or go to work, I'd pick my jammies every time.

I need to change my outlook towards my job. Once I actually get to work, I'm usually fine and have a great attitude (though not without having to constantly remind myself to keep smiling.) I need prayer for energy to get up and face the day and not want to hide under my covers. I need prayer for strength to get through the day. Mostly, I need prayer for patience -- patience with the company; with whatever drama goes down daily at the Dress Barn. It will be hugely appreciated.