Once upon a time, there lived a Boss named

Harry “the Harasser”

I always loved my profession and pride myself on a job well done.  I always wanted a career that proved successful and satisfying.  But one day my situation changed.

With new management came new challenges.  This new Boss was changing everything!

He was known for his aggressive behavior towards his employees and had a reputation for making their lives miserable.  Harry was a tough and demanding boss who always expected his staff to work long hours and produce results quickly.

At first, I tried to adapt to Harry’s management style, hoping that I could succeed in his workplace. But as time passed, I began to feel the weight of his constant harassment and intimidation.

I realized that Harry was not interested in my success or well-being, but rather in his own personal gain.

One day, I decided that I had had enough of Harry’s abuse and decided to confront him about his behavior. As a result, Harry was taken aback by my assertiveness and did not listen to what I had to say.

He became aggressive and started yelling louder than anyone I have ever heard before. His behavior was out of control!

To my surprise, Harry kept on screaming and yelling at me regardless of my now silence.  He began to belittle me and question my career capabilities and dignity. As my adrenaline began to pump through my body with pure anger I stormed out of the office.

My heart was pumping and I felt as if I would pass out as I swiftly ran to my desk to gather my things.

I am Out-of-here!

With Human Resources in tow – following me every step of the way, I was escorted out the door.  They barely let me gather my things saying my personal belongings will be ‘sent’ to me.

I was enraged!  I felt unfairly treated and used as an example in front of everyone that day.

My next question was, Did I quit?  What am I going to do now? I was terrified.  Then, How am I going to explain this to my husband? 

I felt as if I let everyone down.  

Then on a Tuesday, my friend invited me to go kayaking, and since I had nothing else to do, I accepted the offer instead of sulking at home. It was exactly the escape I needed from my worries.

We had a fantastic day in the sun, and while we were kayaking, my friend shared stories about her career.  She worked from home and loved her job, which intrigued me. 

I asked her, “what makes you love your job?”

…and that was when she changed my life.

She introduced me to new people and shared new options, proving that sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know that matters. You just need to know these people and learn from them.

Don’t get me wrong, I still work hard, but now I love my job.  I learned from the BEST!

In the end, sometimes it takes courage to stand up for oneself, but it can lead to a not-so-positive outcome.  And while Harry may have been known as “the Harasser”, he also pushed me out the door to become a better person.

I learned how to do it with this great support system. I create great things. I change lives! I love my career.  I am my own Boss.

I did it!