IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY

it's about the principle.

i was recently demoted at work. demoted after being promised that nothing was changing with my role. demoted after being promoted only four months ago. demoted after working tirelessly in the past four months, often beyond my job description and pay grade. and demoted, again, after having this happen less than 18 months ago.

the reasoning? the owner couldn't justify my pay. couldn't justify the extra $100 a week i was 'costing' the business. from a business perspective, i get it - he has an assistant manager and a manager, why do they need a supervisor? from a human perspective? i do not.

the truth is, you can't treat people like that and expect them to stay. you can't use people when you need them and then cast them off to the side when you don't. your employees are more than just a number; they're more than just a 'cost'. they're people. and if you don't look after your people first? they definitely won't look after you.

this is the third time in the past three years where i have had pay taken from me. taken, despite me exceeding my value. so why does this keep happening to me? because i keep allowing it. because i understand. i understand when people are struggling. i care. but the problem with this approach? i'm then at a loss. no one else, only me. so i have a choice - i keep accepting this reality, this treatment, or i finally stand up for myself and say no: this is my value. this is my worth. if you can't see it and respect it, then i'll go somewhere that does.

it's not about the money. it's about the principle of being treated fairly. and if someone doesn't see your value? don't waste your energy fighting for it. spend that energy finding somewhere that does.

LOOK AFTER THE ONES WHO LOOK AFTER YOU

too often, we take good people for granted. these are the people that are like candles - the ones who burn themselves to give light to others. they're the people who go above and beyond what their job is. they encompass the company or organisation's values and they don't ask for more. but what they do ask for? is fairness.

we often take these people for granted because we think they don't need recognition. they don't need thanks. after all, why would they be doing something they didn't want to do? but this mentality is so wrong. these are the people that need the most thanks. the most praise. humans can only offer so much without recognition. let me be clear though - the recognition is not why they're doing this - they're doing this because they believe in the company; they want to see it succeed. but they're human. they need to feel valued. they need to feel like their efforts matter. and they need to feel appreciated.

so the next time you're looking at offering someone payment, make sure you've offered it first to the ones who have been there longer. just because they've done what they've done, doesn't mean they'll continue to do what they do, especially if they know their efforts are being overlooked. these are often the people who have shown loyalty when others haven't. these are the people who care about more than just themselves. but if you don't take care of them? they'll become like everyone else - only out for themselves. and when this happens, it's not the fault of the individual - it's the result of the culture and environment.

so what are you actively doing to take care of the ones who are taking care of you and your organisation?

WHY I UNFOLLOWED ALL OF MY CONTACTS

sparked by my thoughts the other day about the reason for sharing things on Instagram, i started to question why i follow the accounts i do. the purpose of my instagram is not to see what others are doing, but to express what i'm both thinking and feeling. so why then, did i follow 300 odd accounts?

how many times have you logged onto facebook or instagram, only to spend hours scrolling mindlessly? and how many times have you seen something someone else is doing, or has done, and it made you feel like shit?

the latter happens to me frequently. i'll see what friends or acquaintances are doing and it'll either make me jealous, deflated, bitter, or annoyed. i had no qualms about muting friends' stories and posts - and i found this helped. it allowed me to create separation between the things that triggered me (things i am still healing from) whilst still 'following' those people. despite this, there were still hundreds of accounts in which i was filling my brain with mindless information that i really didn't care to know.

so, i unfollowed all of my contacts.

instagram for me is not a social platform - my life is. instagram for me is a form of self-expression. it's a platform for me to share my thoughts and feelings with others in the hopes that they might be able to relate. and now that i've unfollowed everyone, i know that those who are following me are doing so not because i follow them back, but because they're genuinely interested in my content.

so be intentional about who you're choosing to follow. do you really care what your friend from high school is doing with their life? or are you allowing social media to distract you from what's important, from being present with those around you? from those whose lives you do care to know?