We all fill our moments with one thing or another, often forgetting to reflect on the most critical question controlling us: what best to do with our precious time here? – Mark Boyle
I have spent the last year thinking about this and how I want to spend my precious time here on this earth.
A year ago, I was still at a very unfulfilling property management corporate job; although I was only there for two years, it sure did feel like an eternity. I saw a side of people I did not know existed; until then, my view of humanity was narrow.
It was a high-volume property. A lease-up is what the industry calls it. We were in construction building a 550-apartment complex; they called it luxury, but my take on luxury had a different definition.
Between staff employees, the construction team, the owners located on-site, daily prospect tours, and existing residents, I would average seeing and communicating with 20 people every day minimum; 20 people a day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, for two years, is 41,600 encounters with humans.
Like most life experiences, they make their mark on us; before this, I thought people mainly were do-gooders (I made that word up since we can do that now), respectful, hard workers, trying to come up in this world.
Over a few years, I learned that a small group of humans does not care to take ownership of themselves. I see it all over the news, which is just gossip for the most part.
~
I vent…
“My neighbor’s dog is barking.” -Resident.
“You live in an apartment building, directly next to someone.” -My thoughts.
“The construction is making noise.” -Resident.
“You willingly moved into a building with construction and signed an addendum agreeing to the terms.” – My thoughts.
“My neighbor is not wearing a mask.” -Resident.
“Okay, you took time out of your day to come down and tattle tale?” -My Thoughts.
“I can’t pay my rent due to covid.” – Resident.
“I saw you pull into the lot with a new Mercedes and shopping bags. Also, as I was digging a bit deeper, you owe another complex 10K; this was pre-covid.” – My thoughts.
“Can you waive this late rent fee? I was out of town and could not pay my rent.” -Resident.
“So you forgot your rent was due on the 1st? Please refresh my memory; what was last month’s excuse again? You have the latest iPhone and can pay rent in seconds; shall the owners waive all late fees since we must treat all the same?” -My thoughts.
“I got a ticket on my car; I am not paying it.” -Resident.
“You parked in a tow zone.” -My thoughts.
~
Besides the boatload of work that was to be accomplished in a day, most of the time, I took it home, sacrificing time with my family (not worth it), and I had to spend hours promoting our lifestyle on social media.
I had spent hours creating and putting out content that would show how excellent our property was. While simultaneously lowered my head when someone was walking by, hoping we would not make contact and have to chat or problem-solve because I had work to do.
What if I put a kibosh on social media, opening up time to give attention to the person in front of me, giving a good experience? Marketing organically? I missed having autonomy in my work. Humans were more important to me than creating fluff on social media.
~
Sitting in my property manager’s office, briefing daily as we do, per her request, I shared some of my concerns about a particular employee. Let’s set aside the fact that this employee did the bare minimum in a fast pace environment; they engaged in unethical behavior.
Note to self; next time, send this information via email; paper trails are essential in this workplace.
Her response was, well, it takes much work to build a case with HR to let someone go. So you mean someone can show up to work, act like they are working, break written and unwritten ethical rules, and say they are on the payroll due to HR?
~
9:15 am Did you get a lease? – Owner
I am so glad you ask me this repeatedly though out the day. Good morning; how is the start of your day going? – My Thoughts
As a top producer, my work always spoke for itself, numbers don’t lie, and this constant badgering of the same question became the bane of my existence. I appreciate capitalism; it’s the only system that has pulled millions of humans out of “True” poverty. Milton Freeman and Theodore Dalrymple’s works have changed my complete perspective on this.
I digress.
My gratitude for employment superseded the annoyance of the repeated question, and understanding the bottom line is what matters in a business; it gives us work. But I knew I had to go when I no longer cared about the “bottom line.”
~
After a year of working on this lease-up project, I received a Team Player award; I kept it in a box for a long time. I now have it on my bathroom sink as a reminder that we grow when stretched and tested.
I should have handed the award over to my colleague. He was the “go-to person.” You know, the person who never lets you down, the person you can count on, the one who puts forth all effort, the one who has the answer to all questions.
The ironic part about this employee, he was the first person shipped out when the budget was low. We were at a highly coveted property then; I am sure this tested him in ways I will never know. This confirmed that there is no such thing as job security.
People change you along the way. I was naïve about the business; I came from a small office and had autonomy in my previous work. I wanted something more structured, so I changed my career path. It’s funny how you want something, and then you get it and realize it’s not what you thought. I grow. I still grow.
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The mind-bending truth about humans is that we are far more tied to our destinies than we would like to acknowledge.
“Life is to be lived as a biography; not a series of disconnected moments, more or less pleasurable but increasingly tedious and unsatisfying unless one imposes a purposive pattern upon them.” -Theodore Dalrymple.
This job started to weigh on my spirit, and if life’s experiences were all connected, would this not have a role in my home life?
Staying meant I would become what I loathed; it meant I would not be taking ownership of myself. I would be dropping my misery on others rather than deep down knowing it was time to go.
I had a eureka moment; my time is precious, valuable, and can not be wasted. I no longer want a paycheck in place of my soul. Staying meant I would begin developing bad habits, which would impact my character. I stopped growing, and my attention to detail was fading.
~
How do I want to spend my precious time here on this earth? Doing the things that matter. I value times of growth, creating, and adding value to others. It does not have to be easy, it rarely is, but it has to be worth it. Knowing when it’s time to move on is one of the best things we can master.
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash