- by Dee Taonax

I've spent a good deal of my career on my feet and I'd never trade the experiences I've had for anything.
I'm leaving this little 'armchair wisdom' for those that have never worked a day in their life in retail, and for those that have come into it thinking it's a 'cakewalk', or an easy way to get an income.
I'm leaving this for those that only work a few hours at a retail job, and think: 'why should I care, I'm not here all the time'. That last statement has HUGE impacts on your job security, I'm here to tell you now.
Retail is not a desk job, it is not a job that gets a ton of appreciation. You deal with some pretty crummy people who dump their bad day directly onto your road. You do your best to step over their 'road apples', and yes, you make mistakes, you are human after all.
You are not 'allowed' to retaliate, because it's just not what the job is about. Your job is to make that customer feel like they are heard and their experience is the best it can be at that moment. It's not a 'give and take' experience, contrary to what every thing in your being says.
Customer expectations are high, and sometimes ridiculous, so you do your best to accommodate, and come to some sort of term that allows you to move forward when a situation is difficult.
You have to treat every customer as if they are spending enough to keep you employed, because word of mouth nowadays is as vital as any advertising that can be spent.
In a world where social media is a top priority in society, it is crucial for you as an employee to keep the company you work for in a positive light so that you don't lose customers, and eventually lose your job because of lack of business.
I write this today, to remind myself, and remind those that have not spend any time behind the counter, or those that think it's only a paycheque, that it's important to be kind to those that serve you, and to be kind to those coming to your business. Even if you are having the worst day of your life, you need to leave that in your car for 2 minutes, and not dump on the person with whom you are about to conduct business.

If you are having a schtako day, and you have no choice but to go to work...leave it at the door. Don't take it out on the customers coming in, because they are the ones paying your way.
Bottom line: you have NO IDEA what the other person is going through, so don't be an insensitive sot – on either side of the counter.
Done with my armchair wisdom...off to work.

GypsyDee Taonax is also a burlesque performer, designer, cosplayer, pyrate, seamstress, and mother of "an awesome cubling".