LoveSac Alternative Furniture Co.

Some of you might know this already, but as of last Friday I am no longer a web designer for LoveSac Alternative Furniture Company. Some changes were taking place and the need for my services were voided. It was a fun ride while it lasted, though! I hold absolutely no anger for their decision. When it comes right down to it, business is business, and I respect that completely.

When you sum up the job to a whole, it was basically Shawn Nelson (the owner) giving me a chance to learn as much as I could about the field I was in. I absolutely believe he saw the talent in me, but also knew I could grow much further outside the bounds I had developed myself. For that, I can't thank him enough. When you really think about it, there is really no one out there that will give you a chance to expand your talents while getting paid for it. I'm just glad I didn't let him down. At least to my knowledge anyway. But, who really knows, maybe I was just canned cause I suck.

LoveSac was my first "corporate" job. I wasn't sure exactly how things worked in the higher up world until I started working there. But, rest assured, it's pretty much just like every TV show you can imagine. It's no really even that bad to tell you the truth. The only thing that really brings it down is having to deal with soap opera shit. For instance, if you look at someone wrong, they will tell a higher up, saying that they feel morally defied, and uncomfortable with the way your soul rests within their personal space. Luckily, I didn't have many of these moments, only a couple. There were a couple of people there that understood, in basics, what I was about, and what I usually meant by anything I ever said.

For instance, Mike (the Director of eCommerce) took a lot of shit from me during my employment at LoveSac, haha. But, he understands that I'm just fucking crazy, and usually it's not really me that's talking. Realistically, he probably deserves a medal for having to deal with me. But, he would probably rather just forget about it...

Gabby had to take some of my shit as well. But, that was in the earlier days of working there. Not even completely sure why I would give her a slightly hard time, but, it was actually her that taught me about self control, forgiveness, and calming down without hurting anyone. She would probably have no idea why, but all I can say is that I watch how everyone acts, reacts, and adjusts to certain situations, and it speaks worlds of a person.

Either way, the point is that I've learned a lot from working there. Not only within the bounds of web design, but also a bit on how people's brains work. I suppose this can only help me to grow as a person. But, I have also realized how depressing it is to watch children play in their front yard together with a single toy, eagerly waiting for their turn. If they only knew how unimportant that toy was going to be when they grew up...

People Management

After working in a corporate environment for a while, it's really easy to learn exactly how people manage other people. For instance, you will be greeted as if you were their best friend. Then, small talk ensues in the same order it would everyday.

#1: "How are you doing today?"
#2: "What did you do last night / weekend?"
#3: "Did you hear about this news cast or sports event?"

It goes for longer sometimes, but you get the point. For those of you that don't work in an office environment and have no idea what it's like, no one you work with actually cares about you or what you did the weekend before. All they want to do is make sure you like them just in case they have a work related favor them may need to ask of you. Some people might argue that fact, but those are the people that are most guilty of this procedure.

Another great way to make people do what you want (if you are managing people) is to take them out to lunch. This gives you the chance to show you're really "one of the guys". Take my advice and don't fall for it! Whether or not you choose to go to lunch with these people is up to you, but don't think they are actually interested in anything you have to say. If anything, they will just take your stories and use them against you later.

Something that seems to happen all the time (at least within my experience), is the "way ta go bro!!" attitude to completed projects. You might do the smallest, gayest thing in the world and you be praised for it by a superior so that you will feel good about yourself and do more of what they ask. Don't fall for this either. Realistically they just want the most work out of you for as little spent time as possible to make themselves look better. Unless you are getting paid per project, there is no point killing yourself to get it done early or even on time if it's a really big project. Go by how long YOU think it would take to complete. Your boss doesn't give a fuck about your stress levels and he will plan the submission date to be almost a week (if not a month) earlier than it should be.

NEVER expect a raise for the work you're actually putting in. You could go years breaking your back for nothing. Do the minimum, unless the project is really important. Your boss will always tell you that you're on the fast track to success, when in fact, they are lining their pockets with your efforts. Why pay you more when your boss could be making more?

People management is basically a huge mind fuck designed to keep you in line and working hard. I can only hope that some of you out there got a good boss that doesn't act this way. For the rest of you, don't stand for it. Rip the skin off your boss and show the world the wolf that resides underneath.

Taco Bell, Beer, and Work

I was thinking about my life today. It's weird, 'cause I am not sad or anything. I guess I just started thinking about my daily routine. Every single day is basically the same. Most of you out there probably feel the same way. But, for giggles, let's take a look at a regular day for FASTERCHILD.

1: Wake Up - Yea, this definitely happens everyday, and I'm getting sick of it!

2: Drive to Work - This part isn't so bad. It gives me some good ol' fashioned alone time to think about new and crazy ideas.

3: Start Working - This part is ok, too. Work doesn't suck, I think it's the having to physically BE at work that sucks. I would rather be free to roam the streets and cause problems for hobos.

4: Go to Lunch - Every single day I eat at Taco Bell. I love it, but, it is probably going to kill me soon if I keep doing that. I think there is a Subway around here somewhere. I will have to think about changing this habit.

5: Go Back to Work - Same deal as before. I think it just sucks knowing that I'm stuck in a building until a certain time, and there's nothing I can do about it.

6: Leave Work - This part is not as awesome as you would think it to be. Basically, I am just leaving to go to another building that I can't leave until a certain time again. But it's cool, 'cause I can at least drink beers at that one.

7: Bed Time - Let the TV put me to sleep just to repeat the whole thing over again.

So, you tell me. Is my life really worth all that? Probably. It's definitely isn't worth any more than that. Oh well.

I want to know what your normal day is like! Comment this with the structure of your day. Let's be sad together :)