$10 a month just might kill me 😔😔

ugh! it hurts to read and see you also going through this 😭 i was always being asked by baristas, shifts, and other store managers “why aren’t you a supervisor?” i had been at the store since it’s opening, i knew everything about the place, the customers, the patterns/ rhythms, and the regulars so i thought “why not?” then, my manager promoted 3 other fellow baristas ahead of me- nothing against them because i love all 3 of those now shifts and they do a fantastic job. so i was on the sidelines, there was no need for another shift but my manager and the other supervisors were still offering me advice, showing me the deposit/ money stuff, letting me do the pull, and even running the floor myself. i was so determined to try and work myself up. i had planned on even working with another stores manager to promote up all while still being in consideration to move up at my home store.

but one day, i was just tired of the back and forth and i realized my work, energy, and dedication to the store were all being exploited (especially because we are the highest selling store in the district but one of the lowest in connection so there was extra extra pressure to improve the store), i was tired of being told that i was good but not good enough.
my store was draining me and i hated going to work everyday, i wasn’t in a good financial position to quit so at the very least i needed to change my environment (transfer). but then my new job wanted me to start full time immediately, so i quit.

so sorry for the long speech 😭😭 but if you really want to still go for it, sit and talk with your manager and ask for a timeline/ breakdown- with clear examples of ACTION not just positive affirmations and words of encouragement- real steps and real actions.
on the other hand, if your manger is only reacting and making promotion moves when they’re in desperate need or when you mention you got a new job- you have to ask, do they really think i deserve the position or do they just want to use me for convenience?

this is happening to a former partner of mine right now. i’ve told her point blank, “they are not going to promote you” because she works so hard for absolutely nothing. it hurts to see her talent, spark, skills and commitment literally being used and abused.

i don’t mean to scare you i promise! being on the outside now just made me realize (and to put it bluntly), all my hard work for that store in the end meant nothing and i worked myself like crazy for no reason. it felt like that $16/ hour raise was dangling in front of me with everyone telling me i was so close yet so far away. i then decided to redirect all that effort and energy somewhere else.

the one thing i can say no matter which path you choose: don’t care more about the store than the manager.

good luck! 💚💚