Perhaps you remembered that I was relieved of my management duties?

That story is long and a bit complicated but one part of it was that I agreed to be a temporary full time manager while a permanent one was found. I usually prefer to juggle a number of part time jobs so I can keep printing postcards and making art. I too the temporary spot to keep our little cafe open, so we could all keep our jobs and the money I would make would get me out of debt.

Have you ever worked at a place where, maybe the job mattered, but the people were exceptional? I kept in touch with many folks from that job. I still celebrate birthdays with one of them. I sometimes join a writing group with another. I liked working there. So I became the manager because I could. I had anxiety nightmares about paychecks and ordering but most things went as smoothly as they could for a number of months until I was told to prepare to train my replacement.

Later it would be revealed that this person was a plant, a friend of the person scheming to buy the business. They were terrible at management. They crossed personal boundaries and, in classic form, were defensive and accusative when it was suggested they touched folks too much. They made gross payroll errors. Eventually they left, I resumed my position as manager, which I never really stopped doing because my replacement struggled with so many aspects of it. I talked the owner into letting me promote two folks to be co managers and the three of us managed things the way two might in a more traditional setting. It wasn’t unionizing at all but it meant better hours and pay for most. And stability. Till we were fired.

In all this, the replacement manager had irksome sayings including “moving forward.” I think it bothered me because it brushed away my valid concerns. It dismissed whatever point I was making.

Maybe this sounds like a story about how great I am, and why not? I’m telling the story. No, seriously, there are many things about management I am no good at. But I can be hella organized and delegate and make systems for others and all that. And sometimes it was fun.

Letterpress printed with polymer plates on cranes lettra bright white with a borrowed Heidelberg Windmill Letterpress.

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