Optimism
BrinkofForever
Posts: 373
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” - Winston Churchill
I would be the first person to admit that optimism, in recent days, seems like a long lost second cousin, one who makes family appearances once in a blue moon - such as at a wedding or a 10 year reunion. Not that I am a negative person, for if you really get to know me well, you would realize that I am far from that. I have always tried to keep my head above water while seemingly stranded in an ocean of negativity. For me, drowning is not a viable solution.
In all honesty, I've never really understood the whole glass half empty versus glass half full allegory. Being the skeptic realist that I am, I would be inclined to call it like it is. A glass populated by 50% water and 50% oxygen. It is what it is.
That was then.
Over the past year, I've really learned what optimism is all about. I guess when you find yourself at the bottom of the well, all you really can do is look up, because your position can't get any worse.
It started back in January of last year when I left Chase after five years to work at a smaller company as a customer service representative. The pay was competitive and I was burned out in my position at Chase. I felt like there was no opportunity there to move up. At least at the new company, I wouldn't have to worry about my position being shipped to India.
Things were great there for a while. I made some friends and tried to learn the processes and procedures involved in the job. But, I became comfortable. I also stopped putting forth 100% effort. In short, I didn't give my clients the service they deserved and paid for. I made excuses. I missed deadlines. In the end, I lost the job. I tried to rationalize it in my head. I tried to blame the economy and the lack of adequate training, but looking back at it today, I fully realize that despite the economic struggles the company seemed to be having, if I would have given that job my full attention and 110% effort, I would still be there today.
In retrospect, it was a learning experience. One step in a process to redefine and remold me.
The week after losing my job, I took a position at Teleperfomance, working as a CSR for Verizon. Let me tell you how ridiculously easy it is to be hired at Teleperformance.
1. Show up at the HR office and fill out an application.
2. Do a short quiz asking what the components of a PC are, ect.
3. Your hired.
Teleperformance is the black hole of technical support. I was given training and knowledge that would generally demand at least $18 an hour to utilize. I, however, made about $10.50. This place was pretty much a magnet for Worlds of Warcraft gamers, geeks (oh wait, same thing), kids right out of ITT or DeVry, Juggalos (freaks that wear extremely baggy clothing, drink Orange Faygo, and have this strange love affair with some horrible white boy rap group from Detroit), and basically anyone with a pulse who can take a call and get TP a tax break for hiring them.
Working at this place was a blow to my ego. My wage was cut, my health insurance costs were insanely high for a very small amount of coverage. I spent 10 hours a day every Friday through Monday tethered to a phone. We were pushed to provide as little real customer service as possible in order to keep each incoming call short, even if it meant being rude to our clients. To be honest, I made more delivering pizzas some weeks. That didn't bode well.
Despite the shortcomings and wage issues, I stuck around for nearly 8 months. I looked for jobs in the meantime, but nothing came around that really suited me. I took in a roommate and reduced my costs as much as possible. Still, by February, I was digging a financial hole for myself that I didn't know if I could recover from. No one was hiring and the economy looked to be in a death spiral. Pessimism began to rear it's ugly head in my life and depression was setting in. I began to look at the option of moving back home, in with the parents.
Then, in early March, I got a call from Chase. They had taken a look at my experience with Syrus and Teleperformance and thought I would be a good fit for one of their mortgage customer service positions. It looked like a good opportunity, although I knew I would still be tethered to a phone and likely still be taking calls from angry customers. I went in and interviewed at their Easton office and instantly hit it off with the manager interviewing me. I was offered a job the next day, making roughly what I was making at Syrus to start.
During the next two weeks prior to starting, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. The skeptic in me told me that something would go wrong. I thought perhaps they would get either get negative feedback from my old supervisor or maybe they would see that I was running behind with several creditors (including my Chase car loan) and call the whole thing off. But, that never happened.
I started on the 23rd and haven't looked back since. What amazes me though is how easy it has been for me to learn the ends and outs of the mortgage business and what a natural fit I am for the job. Out of the 27 people hired (out of a pool of several hundred applicants), I am probably first or second in my training class. I've already begun networking with a few managers and AVPs, getting my resume out to a few higher ups in the building as well.
I hate to say it, but I seem to be suffering from full blown optimism at this point. Ironically, the mortgage crisis that has nearly destroyed our economy was the catalyst for Chase expanding their mortgage department and offering me employment. I feel that this opportunity is a gift, even though, in essence, I have come full circle to where I started. If I had never left Chase, I would have never moved up. If I didn't lose my job at Syrus, I wouldn't have learned how to deal with customers as I did at Teleperformance. Without that experience, as awful as it was, I would have never been hired into this position. I know it's cliche', but everything happens for a reason - our task in life is to figure that reason out and run with it.
So, I look optimistically forward. I'll be moving soon into a new place. I will be making enough to live comfortably and pay off my debt. I plan to give this position 110% and move vertically as quickly as possible. I plan on purchasing my own house in the next three years. I plan on saving enough to help my son through college. I plan on completing school myself. I've set these lofty expectations for myself, and I am optimistic that I can achieve them. After all, I've been to the bottom of the well and the view from below looking up is beautiful.
Make your life a mission - not an intermission. - Arnold Gasglow
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Comments
Guess that's a red pill/blue pill type question...
Make your life a mission - not an intermission. - Arnold Gasglow
Jesus, can't you just be happy for the guy?
Nice story, ChasingDogma. Glad things seem to be looking up for you.
I opt for the latter
The apathetic ones who shrug and give up are generally pessimistic from what I've seen.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
An optimist who is a daydreamer and doesn't do anything to help themselves will have what you are talking about. But I think most optimists I know are like that because they have done things to improve their life. I would argue that taking steps (just doing something) will make you more optimistic, while a pessimist will just sit back and think of a million reasons why something won't work instead of giving it a try.
I didn't read the novel that the OP wrote, but congrats if something good came to you and that's what you were describing.
well said.
also, one's attitude has been linked numerous times to longevity, overall health, etc. so yes, i'll take optimism, please. sure, anything can be *extreme* and being naively, blindly optimistic is probably as dangerous to you overall as being poisoniously negative and pessimistic.....but a healthy balance of being more positive than negative, overall...a good thing.
chasingdogma - excellent story and good for you! nowadays i like to say and think that i am 'cautiously optimistic.' overall, there is so much good in my life....and while the economy is quite scary, worklife may seem tenuous at times...so important to remain realisitc, it's also good to think positive, be prepared as best you can, but not worry too much about the uncontrollables. if you can't change it, why shorten your life with stress and fear? be smart, proactive, have some sort of plan...absolutely....but yes, still be thankful and enjoy your life. it IS the little things........
anyhooo....very happy for you and great post! just proves once again, no matter the climate out there, no matter the errors...things CAN change, for the better!
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Keep up the good work man, you've had a hell of a turn around and are making great progress for yourself. Way to keep your head on your shoulders.
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