Mean girls don't just reside in Middle School, High School, College. When you think you are grown and can have mature relationships with people, there comes along a woman that, for whatever reason, just doesn't like you... and won't let you forget it.
I'm about to embark on a little business venture that I'm very happy about, but it brings up a memory from a past venture that still stings. Hey! How about I tell ya' about it?
There was a time when I was the President of my daughter's Cooperative Preschool. I absolutely adored my experience. I loved the schools message, I loved Teacher Cheryl, and I loved those that were on the school's board with me for 4 years. But ya' see, for whatever reason, there was one gal that just didn't care for me. Now, I'm not the kind that needs everyone to like me, I just couldn't figure out what the issue was so her attitude really stuck in my craw. (No. I don't know what a "craw" is, I just know this saying, so I'm using it.)
There I was, President of the Co-op by day, a Southern Living at Home "Consultant" by night. I loved the items the company offered but I hated doing home parties. Hated it. I wanted to be a part of the party! I wanted to be drinking wine, eating appetizers from Trader Joe's and pretending I was going to buy something. I didn't like being on the sales end hoping someone would buy the "Item of the Month". Well, the charming lady who seemed to not care for me found out that I was a S.L.A.H. sales person and booked a show. Hmmm... ok.
I arrived at her house with the best of intentions. Maybe it's all been in my head and things are just fine. I unpacked my display and got ready for my show. My charming (have you caught on that by "charming" I mean "bitchy"? ) hostess welcomes her guests and away we go. Ahem... ladies? I'm standing here, trying to begin my sales pitch. AHEM... ladies?? I love to laugh and be a little gossipy too but I would also like to get going and get outta' here. *This is all inner dialogue -- I'm not brave enough to actually say these things. I just stood there and looked at my charming hostess hoping she would catch on.
After a few minutes she says highly annoyed, "Oh you guys, Ann's trying to sell us stuff. We should listen." A bit of laughter happens and more wine gets passed around. That's when I knew that she had no intention of this being a true shopping experience. She just wanted to show some kind of upper-hand and try to make me feel like an idiot. Lovely.
I lasted 5 minutes.
When I arrived home I couldn't believe it. What was going on here? I was a grown woman yet I felt like all the popular girl's in class were making fun of me. "Dear Diary, you won't believe what happened to me tonight!"
Our next board meeting wasn't the most pleasant. It wasn't my fault. It really wasn't! But I have to say, it pays to have friends on the board who have really big dogs, and the means to get the keys to charming people's cars.
I'm about to embark on a little business venture that I'm very happy about, but it brings up a memory from a past venture that still stings. Hey! How about I tell ya' about it?
There was a time when I was the President of my daughter's Cooperative Preschool. I absolutely adored my experience. I loved the schools message, I loved Teacher Cheryl, and I loved those that were on the school's board with me for 4 years. But ya' see, for whatever reason, there was one gal that just didn't care for me. Now, I'm not the kind that needs everyone to like me, I just couldn't figure out what the issue was so her attitude really stuck in my craw. (No. I don't know what a "craw" is, I just know this saying, so I'm using it.)
There I was, President of the Co-op by day, a Southern Living at Home "Consultant" by night. I loved the items the company offered but I hated doing home parties. Hated it. I wanted to be a part of the party! I wanted to be drinking wine, eating appetizers from Trader Joe's and pretending I was going to buy something. I didn't like being on the sales end hoping someone would buy the "Item of the Month". Well, the charming lady who seemed to not care for me found out that I was a S.L.A.H. sales person and booked a show. Hmmm... ok.
I arrived at her house with the best of intentions. Maybe it's all been in my head and things are just fine. I unpacked my display and got ready for my show. My charming (have you caught on that by "charming" I mean "bitchy"? ) hostess welcomes her guests and away we go. Ahem... ladies? I'm standing here, trying to begin my sales pitch. AHEM... ladies?? I love to laugh and be a little gossipy too but I would also like to get going and get outta' here. *This is all inner dialogue -- I'm not brave enough to actually say these things. I just stood there and looked at my charming hostess hoping she would catch on.
After a few minutes she says highly annoyed, "Oh you guys, Ann's trying to sell us stuff. We should listen." A bit of laughter happens and more wine gets passed around. That's when I knew that she had no intention of this being a true shopping experience. She just wanted to show some kind of upper-hand and try to make me feel like an idiot. Lovely.
I lasted 5 minutes.
When I arrived home I couldn't believe it. What was going on here? I was a grown woman yet I felt like all the popular girl's in class were making fun of me. "Dear Diary, you won't believe what happened to me tonight!"
Our next board meeting wasn't the most pleasant. It wasn't my fault. It really wasn't! But I have to say, it pays to have friends on the board who have really big dogs, and the means to get the keys to charming people's cars.