I have grown to STRONGLY dislike people. Fortunately for me, I am in the hospitality industry. I dream of moments where I can unleash my true feelings of, “You are an asshole!”
Every day I encounter self entitled, manipulative, deceptive, arrogant, and/or egotistical assholes . Whatever happened to the golden rule “Do unto others as they would have done on to you.” Let’s bring that one back from the dead. —Golden Girl
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2018.
Did you mean to say “Unfortunately for me, I am …”?
Customer service is very difficult. I notice a lot of rude behaviours by the public when dealing with staff in cafes, restaurants, the library, etc. (Talking on a phone while ordering coffee is one of them. )
The problem is that most of us take all of the rude comments, impatience, etc. personally. It takes a certain type of person to be able to let all that wash off. Some people are very good at that. (I’m not one of them.) I know you don’t want to hear this but it sounds like you are in the wrong job.
Lately, I am in the consumer waste recycling industry. That’s an 8-6 shift on a conveyor line. Yep, there’s personality-driven grandstanding there as well. There’s always one (or more than one). So long as you believe in what you’re doing, that should eventually thicken your skin. Smile back, it’s a long game. “Hell is other people” (Sartre). Maybe working with them is a kind of purgatory, with something better at the end of the tunnel if you stick at it.
I hope you feel you can stand up for yourself and reject bad behavior. This doesn’t mean you are ‘taking it personally’ and it doesn’t mean you have to be rude or mean-so it shouldn’t affect your business if done properly.
It is very empowering to stand up for yourself and the more you do it the better you get at it, and the less abuse you will tolerate. on the flip side, it is very bad for your mental health to put up with bad treatment while putting on a friendly front (google cognitive dissonance).
Just something to think about! I work in an abusive setting too. Unlike anger, resentment, and cynicism-thick skin doesn’t just happen over time. You have to develop it through actual changes in your own behaviour and thinking.
Most left the province 😀