Fire My Boss? Never. Unless…

Okay in 1980s dorm room. Not okay in cubicle.

I need to clarify: my new job is in addition to other work.

All the well wishes and congratulations is making me feel a slight bit guilty, especially since the many of my friends are still out-of-work.

I’m luckily adding to the hodgepodge of what I do, not taking anything away. I would never take anything away.

I’ve never gotten fired. Except by one jackass, but that was way back, and he was just pissed we (designer extraordinaire April Miolla & I, the lowly copywriter) weren’t his direct hire. Numbnut.

Okay, maybe he really, really didn’t like me, but he loved April. Personally, I think he got us mixed up and really loved me and hated her. But regardless, we were “released from our contract.” Right before we went to print which is a shame, cuz those were some mighty-fine, glamorous fancy-pants high-end marketing literature I would have loved in my book. But the jackass fired us.

A recent post on Huffington Post about When to Fire Your Boss is quite interesting, but really kinda irrelevant in today’s economy. Nobody today would volunteer to lose a paying job. But the article is excellent resource to reinforce we are not crazy questioning the leadership and decision making capabilities of certain fearless leaders. And while so many are either reentering the workforce after mass layoffs or mass children, this article has great tips on what to look for in a future boss. We all know who we’d like to fire, but to do so today? Well, then who’s the jackass now?

Lucky me, I’m a freelancer and permanent part-timer, and, if persistent and work like a dog, I can piecemeal small jobs to reach my goal. But I would never ever EVER fire a client, unless morally compromised. Like wants to play grab-ass, has anger management issues, or keeps a naked Patrick Swayze poster in his office. Or doesn’t pay me. But other than that, there’s room for everyone.

I have jobs. Today, I have work.

I have a permanent part-time gig, but max out at 5 hours/week. And that’s not a job, that’s a hobby.

I’m still officially on staff for a school that doesn’t call anymore, but was never quite sure what to do with me anyways. That and 172 snow days with roofs caving in all over the state, I think they must be pretty busy with other issues besides their blogs and newsletter. Although still on-staff, I won’t bill for hours not worked because that’s slimy.

And I usually have several quotes floating at any one time which may or may not turn into something. This is how I fly. This is how all freelancers fly: feast or famine.

However when hours dwindle, checks bounce, and resources evaporate, it’s time to fill the void. And I hit local advertisers. And Craigslist. And it’s worked out.

Each client offers me a chance to expand and think in new and different ways. And what I learn with each leads me to the next.

And this next one is ideal. This one is inspiring. And brave. And there’s no Patrick Swayze poster and if the checks clear, this could be a keeper for sure.