tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165118504093345923.post8033841261889322323..comments2023-03-22T03:46:05.342-07:00Comments on One Finger Typing: Changing careersSteve Masoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03387484207819808962noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165118504093345923.post-6159721406682753122011-12-15T10:47:48.726-08:002011-12-15T10:47:48.726-08:00I'm pretty lucky to work at the library in a j...I'm pretty lucky to work at the library in a job that's fairly interesting and that has no lie-awake-processing-or-worrying component. I'm lucky, too, to be able to work parttime. Fulltime has half killed me before. <br /><br />As a kid I thought I ought to prepare myself for office work, thinking that would complement being a writer more than something more physical or intellectually demanding. When I say I prepared myself for office work, I mean I took typing classes in high school, even one called "simulated office." Simulated office was one of the most boring & frustrating classes I ever took - voluntarily, anyway. I remember on one invoice (or whatever) I used so much Wite-Out that I was afraid it would slough off in a big piece, taking all my work with it. Once I realized I sucked at office work (& hated it), I really couldn't imagine what I'd do for a living. Not until I'd worked in college libraries did I think, not only that I could do library work, but that I usually did it better than my coworkers. <br /><br />Having worked fast food and customer service and retail I can say none of those are calling me. I'm no good at sales; I want to connect a person with exactly what she's looking for. I have no interest in convincing her what she really wants is something else. I mean, I will gently suggest alternatives if what she claims she's looking for doesn't sound like it matches what she says she needs, but if she objects I'm fine with letting her go. Sometimes a person comes to the library with huge needs - a call from a hospital bed comes to mind, the caller wanting to know how to get her partner help who was in jail and having mental problems - and I feel for the person in trouble, but I'm damn glad it's not my job to jump in and get to work on fixing that life. <br /><br />Kent says he would like an ice cream shop. He likes to imagine the eyes lighting up as he scoops a yummy dollop. So simple, so friendly. I think how little I'd like to keep the books, hire & fire help, clean up the shop ...Glenn Ingersollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10674475308395975995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165118504093345923.post-9176917813787877962011-12-15T09:18:40.229-08:002011-12-15T09:18:40.229-08:00Steve - the label for this should be ruination, no...Steve - the label for this should be ruination, not rumination. It ruins me to contemplate what I should be doing for a living instead of what I'm actually doing. Like a speeding train, I'm heading for a marker of a birthday and so, I suppose it's expected to contemplate the "what ifs" and the "if onlys." If I'm feeling mushy, I'd say that it doesn't matter what I do for a living, it matters who my friends are, the books I write and read, the dogs I talk to :)Lindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06788620509792240128noreply@blogger.com