Office Shoes’ Post

Earlier today, I shared the story of one of our team members leaving Modi Toys last Friday. We knew the day was coming for months so we had been prepared with his replacement, who was fully trained. In fact, this new hire seemed so promising that we began envisioning his path to promotion. But, as luck would have it, he pulled a 180 on us. Didn't show up to work last week, stopped responding to messages, and didn't return any calls. We spoke to his wife, so at least we knew he was well and alive, but she didn't offer much details about his whereabouts. Struggles like these don't get the spotlight because as small business owners, we're often busy putting out multiple fires at once (oh BTW, did I mention we're out of stock on 2 of our best selling items during Prime Day??!) And on that note, we're hiring an Operations Assistant in Edison, NJ, if you know anyone that may be interested! Must be reliable (we don't like surprises) and have great communication skills (because we don't like being ghosted either). Full job description here -

The sale’s not done until it’s done. It’s easy to get excited at that first “yes,” 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: a commitment isn’t the finish line. Deals fall through all the time, and nothing counts until the product is delivered, the customer’s happy, and you’re paid. Sharing the news too soon, only to feel deflated when things don't close stinks. So here’s my advice: keep your head down, stay focused, and get each stage of the process right. Finish the job, get paid, and then celebrate. That’s how you win without the letdowns.

February was a rollercoaster for Our Agency 🎢 We said goodbye to one of our OG employees, marking the first departure from our agencies in 4.5 years! It also marked another 1 year anniversary for a different team member Here are 3 principles that allowed us to grow and retain our team so well. 1. Self Fulfilment Principle 🙌 Our team members are welcomed on their first day and told “Job security is totally in your control, you will only ever get replaced if you aren’t fulfilling your potential.” From the off set, we aim to breed a culture of being the best version of yourself in and out of work. Just like a sports team, it’s competitive and you’re encouraged to be better - and there’s always someone chipping at the heels to get your space on the first team. 2. Our Growth Mindset Principle 📈 The team member who move on has experienced crazy personal growth over the time I’ve known her. Not only has she mastered the skills she first came to us with, but she has gained management, authority and confidence in loads of different areas. Now she is going on to create her own thing. The departure has been bittersweet, as we lost an awesome team member but the industry has gained another talented creator 3. Our Ownership Principle 🤝 At Life Like we have our infamous Friday morning training mornings. During these sessions, we hone in on a particular area of focus We remind the team that they can break barriers, get creative, and move outside of the norm. Not only can they- but this is ENCOURAGED. By constantly challenging themselves, some of the team will inevitably outgrow us. And ultimately as the Founder, that’s my goal. I’d like to wish her all the best in new ventures, can't wait to see where life takes you! We have a few openings available at the minute. Think you could fill the role? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eedbyYmF

Celebrate sending out the proposal, not landing the client. How many of the things we commonly celebrate are out of our control? Getting a new job, promotion, a new client signing, largest cash month, hiring a rockstar employee, the list goes on. Stop waiting on someone else's actions to celebrate your wins. Celebrate: raising your prices and standing firm on them when questioned, posting a kickass job description, pitching yourself as a speaker; the hard, daily tasks of showing up outside of your comfort zone.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 "𝗗𝗥𝗬" 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 Ah, the "𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻"! The corporate world's equivalent of being handed a fancy new title while being served a tall glass of...absolutely nothing. It's like being knighted, but instead of a sword tap on the shoulder, you get a gentle pat on the back and a hearty "Congratulations, you've been promoted to 'Assistant to the Regional Sub-Manager of Pencil Sharpening Operations'! Oh, and your salary? Yeah, that's staying as dry as the Sahara desert." Because who needs money when you've got a snazzy new business card to flaunt? Just think of all the doors it'll open for you! Okay, maybe not literal doors since you can't afford the fancy memberships, but metaphorical ones...kind of...not really. These "dry promotions" are like getting a brand new sports car, except it's just the chassis with no engine, wheels or seats. But hey, at least you can sit on the floor and make "vroom vroom" noises while pushing it around the parking lot! Experts advise seeking other opportunities if offered such promotions. But why would you want to leave the company that so generously bestowed upon you the honor of doing twice the work for the same compensation? That's just ingratitude right there. So, embrace the dry promotion, my friends! Slap that new title on your resume, strut around the office with your head held high, and when the bills start piling up, just remind yourself – you're not broke, you're just financially moisture-deficient. #DryPromotionLife #TitleInflation #BrokeButFancy

Great Opportunities

As you enjoy this holiday week filled with food, family, and friends, many of you might also find yourselves casually, or frantically, searching for your next career opportunity. With layoffs on the rise and job hunting a hot topic in professional circles, I’ve lately been making an effort to reshare and promote as many openings as possible. However, some job postings go above and beyond in their creativity (or absurdity) when listing qualifications or requirements. Here are a few gems I’ve come across recently: Head of Operations – "Achieving impossible timelines" Operations Chief of Staff – "Ability to run through walls to get things done" VP of Operations – "Foster a company culture that puts the 'right' focus on our team" Director of eCommerce – "Enhance every click and scroll" What’s the most over-the-top or funny job requirement you’ve seen lately? Share in the comments

1 week in-person at Backcountry, 4 weeks in my new Production Manager role. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. Don’t rush in. Take your time to learn the people, the products, the process. 2. You know more than you think. Sounds crazy, but you’re qualified for the job they hired you for! If the new role includes a promotion, find confidence in the fact that they see that you’re ready for it. 3. Your coworkers are not looking for flaws. Everyone is excited about the skills you bring to the team, and they understand that there will be missteps as you learn. 4. Your managers should and will say thank you. They will trust your know-how and will voice appreciation for your work on the small things (that’s where experience really shows!) 5. Dogs should always be allowed in the office. Non-negotiable happiness will follow 😊

When I think about my career path, the one word that comes to mind is unconventional. From an early age, I’ve had a strong work ethic—but I lacked direction. I went to college, but nothing sparked enough passion to make me stay. Instead, I shifted my focus to working and supporting myself. At 19, my family moved to North Carolina. I lasted only a couple of months living with my parents before deciding I needed my own place. Independence has always been my motivator. I started at a movie rental store in customer service, moved closer to Charlotte to work at GameStop (where I was promoted to keyholder within weeks), and then worked for PetSmart—still one of my favorite jobs. While chatting with customers there, I was recruited into sales. At 25, I became a car salesperson. The only woman on a team of 18 in an industry I knew nothing about. But I leaned in, learned, and thrived. From there, I transitioned to inside sales—my first “office job”—making 90 cold calls a day selling GPS tracking devices. Again, I entered an unfamiliar industry and made it work. In 2016, life threw me a curveball when I faced a personal loss. Sitting still at a desk wasn’t going to cut it—I needed to stay physically busy to keep my mind occupied. So, I left my office role and started waiting tables. It felt like a step back at the time, but it turned out to be the start of rediscovering who I was. I moved into bartending and eventually took on two jobs, often working 21+ days straight without a break. I clawed my way out of that dark period, finding joy in the grind and making it to a Taproom Manager position. But I knew this wasn’t my end goal. In 2021, I made a leap back into the office world, working in operations—a role I had no experience in, but that’s always been my routine: find a job I don’t know, learn it, and master it. Two years in, the CEO asked me to be his Executive Assistant. Some days, I still ask myself, “How did I get here?” The answer: by working hard, staying adaptable, and being open to learning new things, new skills, and new industries. I didn’t follow a “normal” career path. I don’t have specialized education or training. But I do have drive, resilience, and a commitment to forging my own way. If you’re feeling discouraged because your path doesn’t look like someone else’s, remember: the road less traveled can lead to beautiful places. There will be challenges and stretches of darkness, but there’s beauty in creating a journey that’s uniquely yours. Picture from 2018 St. Patrick's Day. I will always love seeing where I came from. #CareerJourney #WorkEthic #Motivation #Resilience

What’s up doc? 🐰 🥕 Anyone know what this is? No, this is not simply the humble carrot. This is the somewhat infamous HANGING carrot. That’s right that thing your current employer does when they realise you aren’t getting what you need from your current role and you start to weigh up your options or even getting another opportunity presented… Enthusiastic talk of promotions, a bump in salary, some additional responsibility, the promise of ‘bigger things to come ‘… or at a last resort the counter offer. I’m sure many of you will have had the carrot hung. As tempting as it is always remember the following… 🥕 Why did you start to explore your options? 🥕 Why has it taken you to secure another offer before the pay rise or promotion is offered? 🥕Will anything really change or will you be in the same position in 6 months time? 🥕If they can offer it now, why couldn’t they last week or the week before? Loyalty is great, but your loyalty should always be rewarded with recognition from the person you show it to. It shouldn’t take a sudden ‘oh shit we are going to loose them’ moment for your employer to start pulling out the big guns. And yes I did grow this carrot. Thanks.