What Kind of Boss Am I? by Alison Henderson

This month we're talking about Horrible Bosses. I don't think I've ever had a horrible boss - lazy, yes; ineffectual, certainly - but not horrible. To me horrible implies mean, arbitrary, or unethical. I was lucky enough never to have to work for someone like that.

Over the years, I had a couple of wonderful bosses, mentors who taught me more than they will ever know. When my turn came to be in charge, I knew that's the kind of boss I wanted to be. I spent the last eighteen years of my business career as the V.P. of Underwriting and New Business at a large insurance brokerage, where I managed a support staff of 15-20 clerks and specialists. My favorite part of the job was training and mentoring, and I hope I made a difference in several young lives. My greatest professional satisfaction upon retirement was turning over the reins to a woman I had hired right out of college and "raised" in the business for fifteen years, knowing she was fully prepared to meet the challenges she would face.

But now that I'm a full-time writer, I'm my own boss. So what kind of boss am I? Too lenient, I think. I know I could be much more prolific if I made myself stick to a strict writing schedule, if I created business plans and specific goals and worked toward them with the steady tenacity I applied to my first four books. But I haven't done that, and I have to ask myself why. 

One reason is burnout. The last year of my business career was difficult and left me exhausted and traumatized. I needed to give myself time to recover. Then we moved across the country and undertook a huge renovation project. More stress. My husband's health suffered and mine along with it. We've been in the house for a month now, and I'm finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For me, that light is a rekindled interest in starting a new writing project. I may not be a tough enough boss to crack the whip and set myself deadlines, but I'm happy to feel the spark of creative energy again. It's been too long. 

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com 

Horrible Bosses

I actually haven’t worked that many jobs to accumulate a collection of horrible bosses. My first job was at a law office answering phones for two lawyers who were pretty much total sweethearts. They didn’t get mad at me for mangling the names of clients who called. Instead, they’d try to guess who I meant. It sort of became a game. The job itself was cake. I was in high school at the time and at the end of the school day, I literally crossed the street and arrived at that law office. I worked from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. every other day and made enough money to gas my white Nissan 200SX.

My second job was at a women’s clothing store, Hit or Miss, which is no longer in business. It sold mostly pieces for the career-oriented woman and not much that I would ever consider wearing despite the 30% discount. Most of my bosses here were also nice even though I sucked at putting outfits together. If it wasn’t already matched on a hanger, I had no idea what to pair with what or what would look good on certain body types. Not a clue. But I could smile, ring people up at the register, and fold sweaters on the display tables like only an obsessive-compulsive sufferer can.

 

I did have one boss at Hit or Miss, however, who scored me low on a review in the category of “professional appearance.” She stated she wanted me to wear more of the store’s clothing and improve my style of dress. Hey, lady, have you seen my paycheck? I only worked three times a week, maximum, and for a few hours each time. Again, I made enough to gas my car and eat Taco Bell with my friends. I didn’t have cash to spend on clothing, let alone stuffy business-type outfits made of uncomfortable fabrics like linen. God, I’m getting hives just thinking of those scratchy spring blazers we used to have in colors like “chartreuse” and “plum.” Hi, I prefer black and…black.

I had a few stints working for summer camps and those were just miserable, but not because of the bosses. It was the general disorganization of the programs and the vast range in ages of the campers that made those jobs unbearable. One boss did make me take kids to a lake for a field trip though. I thought she was coming along and at the last minute, she decided to stay behind and “do paperwork.” I had to be in charge of twenty-something kids ages 4 to 12 by the water.

 
Did I mention I can’t swim? Yeah.

Once I started teaching, my bosses were at a different level. I’ve had the good fortune of working under the direction of two professional, educated, competent principals, both of which have been extremely supportive. **Insert I still work under one of them at present and think it in my best interest not to say anything horrible.**

 

Every editor, publisher, and cover artist I’ve worked with in my writing career has been wonderful too. I can honestly say I haven’t had any problems with any of them.

I don’t know where my working life will take me next, but hopefully my string of good luck in the bosses department will continue.

If not, perhaps I’ll give them a horrible employee story they can share. I can be evil if necessary.

What would your dream boss be like?

If you want to read about some horrible bosses, one of my books has a questionable one for you. KISSES TO REMEMBER includes a boss that not only makes passes at the hero, but she also…well, pick it up and you’ll see.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble     

 

Toodles,

Chris
www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

Horrible Bosses; We've All Had Them by Margo Hoornstra

You can't do that!

This will never sell!

Why bother?

She's so much better than you are!

That's not good enough!

Will you/this ever measure up?

Like everyone else, I've had my share of horrible bosses. The managers (there are two who come to mind) who sat back and let their staff (me) do all the work while they grabbed all the glory.

The supervisors, even an occasional college professor who, using a lifted brow, sly wink and Snidely Whiplash smirk indicated the job and or class would run so much more smoothly for me if only I'd open up and show them a little more 'friendship'.

EEEEEEWWWWWW!

Those anecdotes aside, since the bulk of my adult work life was spent in public relations, I had no real bosses per se. Only the public whom I endeavored to persuade to view my client favorably.

But that's not what I'm about today. Today, I'd like to discuss the very worst of horrible bosses in existence - our own inner critic. Which, in my opinion, probably takes up more space in a writer's psychological make up than the psyche of, say, someone from the general population.

I'm getting a huge, huge dose of my own internal horrible boss as I shop my latest effort, STOLEN TRUST.

This is the tag line: A parolee hides her past from a bounty hunter set on revenge.

Here's an excerpt:

At a rumbling sound out by the road, she glanced over then let out a strangled gasp as the Bridges for Hire truck stopped out front. Brad Collins opened the door and jumped down from the cab.

What on earth are you doing here? The shriek inside her head startled out a different response. “I didn’t expect you here today.”

He hit the ground at the same time a stray gust of wind found its way into the yard to circle into a mini vortex—exactly where she stood.

“I tried calling on my way over but got your machine.”

The crunching of work boots on gravel mingled with the rustle of tree leaves blown by a strengthening breeze. Frantically working her hands, she did her best to smooth down her yet to be combed bed hair.

So much for just this once. “I must have missed it.” She made the inane observation as the bottom of her nightgown fluttered upward. Palms pressed against her thighs, she edged backward.

“All I need are some porch measurements. I didn’t figure you’d mind if I came ahead.”

“Of course not.” She gingerly reached one foot behind her in a blind search for the first step.

“It shouldn’t take me long to get what I need.”

“No. No. Take your time.” Step number one attained, she planted her foot on its top as the heel of her other foot sought step number two. A swirling wind was not cutting her any breaks. Arms straight down in front to preserve her dignity, she maneuvered onto the narrow surface.

Brad continued to advance. “Nice day.”

“Yes it is.” She nodded in agreement as her sole landed on step number three.

One more to go. Then, with a little bit of luck and unfailing coordination, she’d have both feet planted firmly on top of the rickety porch. Then what? Spin around and risk giving him an unobstructed view of my naked rear end as I scoot into the house? Or worse, walk backward and trip over one of many loose and jutting boards. Then fall, spread eagle, flat on my back.

Not the most attractive of possibilities.

And so begins the romance between bounty hunter, Brad Collins and parolee turned bed and breakfast owner, Jenny Reynolds. And, in the spirit of positive thinking, here's my take on the above quotes, transformed.

You can't do that!

I'm certainly going to try!

This will never sell!

It may. I think it will!

Why bother?

Why not try?

She's so much better than you are!

Bet she wasn't all the time either! I'll improve!

That's not good enough!

So I'll work very hard until it is!

Will you/this ever measure up?

If I do my best it will!

Horrible Bosses. We've all had them. Don't let yours get you down.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more information about me and my writing, please visit my WEBSITE



 

Horrible Bosses by Diane Burton

Oh, yeah. I’ve had ‘em. Some were only mildly horrible—like the principal who tried to hit on all the young teachers. Tried being the operative word. Then there was the principal who fired me. Yep. In fact, she let go all the teachers she hadn’t hired. Back in the day when teachers were in demand, we could teach (in some private schools) with less than full certification. Mine was in secondary education and I was teaching first grade. Even though I was taking classes toward an elementary certificate, it didn’t matter. I knew I was in trouble with her the first time she visited my classroom when my students weren’t at their desks sitting in straight rows. I don’t think she ever heard of learning stations. Anyway, I’m sure she got her wish with my replacement. That experience prompted my leaving the parochial system for public schools with contracts and tenure.

The one boss that stands out, though, was the one who changed the whole atmosphere of the workplace. From a relaxed, laid back office to tension you wouldn’t believe. I can’t say some of us ducked into the nearest storage or copy room when he walked by, but it was close. So I had two choices. Quit and lessen the stress in my life, even though it was at the height of the worst recession in recent history and meant losing health insurance my husband and I needed. Or sucking it up and staying. I stayed. My stress level went up. I had no energy left for writing and quit what I loved instead of the job. When we could afford COBRA to cover the gap until Medicare kicked in, I retired. What a relief. My energy came back and writing became fun again.

In my soon-to-be released science fiction romance, The Chameleon (an Outer Rim Novel). I exaggerate (slightly) my own horrible boss. When Jileena complains to her father (the company owner) about his new Chief Operating Officer, she mentions all I experienced and more.

Here's a brief blurb:

Legally Blond meets Mata Hari

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

I blog here on the 8th and 30th of each month and Mondays on my own site http://dianeburton.blogspot.com

Do Your Characters Have Horrible Bosses? by Jannine Gallant

I don't think I've ever had a horrible boss. Guess that makes me lucky. I've been a boss--hopefully not a horrible one! LOL Which led me to think about my characters and what sort of bosses I'd given them. Mentally going through my books, it suddenly occurred to me that NONE of them have had bosses! Self-employment seems to be a common denominator for my heroes and heroines. Creative self-employment.

For my Redemption cowboy books, I had a rancher (okay maybe not so creative in a cowboy story) and a woman starting her own catering business. Also, the owner of a daycare center and a man who carved animal sculptures with a chainsaw. (Now that's pretty creative!)

In my Secrets of Ravenswood series, my three heroes were a rescue dog trainer, a sports store mogul, and a contractor. The heroines were a disaster site relief worker (she was the majority shareholder for the charity), a genealogist, and the owner of a ballet school. No bosses in the bunch!

I could go on and on--okay, I will. Rock star, children's book illustrator, country inn owner, cosmetic queen turned dog treat entrepreneur, computer geek extraordinaire, and a commercial jingle writer. Those were the stars of my Class of '85 books.

Apparently I don't like having my characters work for people. Could be because I'm not very good at taking orders. I tend to be a tad bossy...just ask my kids. Obviously this has rubbed off on my heroes and heroines.

So, if you're a writer, what sort of careers have you given your characters? Do they have horrible bosses--or no bosses at all? If you're a reader, does it matter to you what the characters in a book do for a living? Do I wrack my brain to come up with creative and unusual jobs for no reason at all, or do I get kudos for going the extra mile to make my characters interesting?

For more information about my self-employed characters, check out my Website. Or, follow me on Facebook or Twitter.