Dear Poor Lucky Me,
Today is Administrative Professionals Day and I’m very conflicted. On one hand, I’d like a nice gift from my boss. On the other hand, if he implies that I am an Admin and not an Assistant Account Manager, I’ll have to go key his car. The same car that I have to take to get hand washed once a week.
I suppose I’ll be offended either way. What can I do to help myself?
Yours,
Crawling Up The Corporate Ladder
Dear Crawling,
Always hope for a gift, no matter what it implies. The satisfaction gained from keying some one’s car will eventually be tempered by some guilt, and you don’t need that. A gift will bring pleasure, even if it is followed rage. In summation: pleasure and rage beat satisfaction and guilt every time.
I could be biased though, because I’m very pro gift. In fact, I’m pretty sure I spent the majority of this decade paying off debt I acquired using the credit cards I signed up for in college to get the free tee shirts and water bottles. Those water bottles were like gold. I was like a junkie for anything that said Capital One. I stopped seeing my friends and dropped out of all my business classes. Mid semester I found myself wandering the campus, vacant eyed, swathed in Visa fannie packs and Citibank flip flops. It was awful; I graduated with a degree in poetry.
But most gifts don’t lead to such deviant behavior. If you work hard and show up on time, your boss will recognize your efforts. Don’t get caught up in titles as long as you’re being treated with respect and paid what you’re worth.
Sincerely,
Poor Lucky Me
