Road Warrior - Week 2

This week got off to a cool start and I packed all sleeveless blouses, go figure. The sky was clear and blue and uneventful (which was probably a good thing for me, my camera stayed in its case). I made it to Cedar Rapids in record time. Our first gig was at a beautiful Orthodox church in an very upper class neighborhood. Most of the members seemed to be related in some form or another. I had a positive attitude and high expectation that were quickly dashed. Not a bad selling day but not as good as I'd hoped. One family was very difficult and obnoxious but I hadn't given it a thought until my instructor had critiqued my performance in my notebook, saying I handled them very well. According to their standards, I have had several difficult customers but I suppose having worked with angry customers on the phone for nearly three years it never crossed my mind to label them as such, perhaps because they weren't angry and yelling. I saw them as being indecisive and impatient.

The remainder of the week was spent in Kensett, Iowa. It was a long trip to Mason City, where we stayed (120 miles from Minneapolis, Minnesota). I got lost several times (I swear only once was my fault). We were given the wrong name and address of the church in Kensett. Our district Marketing Rep had made the error. Apparently the pastor had two churches in the Kensett vicinity. I was very impressed when the next day he drove all the way from Waterloo to apologize in person for the mistake.

We stayed at Super 8 in Mason City, they skimped on their amenities, no ironing board, fridge, microwave (I'm getting spoiled already). I wanted to throw their little coffee pot, its not user friendly and there was no place to put it other than the spare chair because the desk was so small. My milk and yogurt went bad too. However they did have a pool that I didn't have time to utilize. The air conditioning unit looked like it had a rodent living inside it (ewwww). If I'm up this way again, I'll be finding a different motel. Their cleaning was more than under par; my toilet paper was nearly empty and wasn't changed, the hair I removed from the drain was still sitting on the side of the tub (I forgot to throw it in the trash), my coffee hadn't been replenished the entire time I was there and my ashtrays were still dirty. I had inquired at the front desk for a comment card to complain but they don't have any, the manager said I had to send an email..lol

Now, Kensett is a town with about a two block down town area with the usual a gas station and tattoo shop (yeah, a tattoo shop in the middle of no where). What struck me most about the little town was the telephone booth on the corner. For those who don't know what that is, a long time ago, before cell phones, there used to be small Plexiglas booths that you could stand in and for a dime, you could place a phone call to anywhere local and if you picked up the handset and dialed "0", you would get a real person to assist you. I used to call the operator sometimes for kicks and tell her that I lost my dime in the phone and a dime would suddenly appear. (is my age showing?) I remember when the price jumped to a quarter. I wonder if its a rotary phone or a push button. I asked one of the residents and they weren't sure.

One of the perks for me having a job where I am traveling are the little things I come across that strike me as interesting, out of the ordinary even the uniqueness of each individual community. I was most intrigued by the Wind Turbines everywhere up there and I can understand why, I was almost blown off the road several times by the wind. I inquired with one of my customers about them and it seems they sell the power to the Western states. I had to restrain myself from stopping along the road and taking photos but I did get a few shots while driving.

I began to feel a cold coming on midweek. My body just isn't used to this much activity, being on the go, go, go all day, every day. On Thursday, when all was said and done, after having a brief lapse in confidence, I wondered if I could really do this job physically and mentally, and do it well. I called in my numbers for the week and listened to the District Manger praise three people who had averages that were above 100 on "one" day this week and I realized that out of the four days I worked this week, three of my days were above 100 and Thursday my average was higher than those mentioned and I about went through the roof with excitement, that was the reassurance I needed to really know that I can do this job and do it well.

When I was arrived back at the motel and done for the week, standing in the lobby waiting for the elevator, in a suit, holding my briefcase and thinking to myself, "wow, I must really look professional, like someone with a great career" and it occurred to me that I "AM" that person and I do have a great career. Just that thought alone, I observed, compelled me to carry myself differently, more confidently. I'm 43 years old, a grandmother and finally, I have a career!

Peace
Liz