This should’ve been my first full week of work, but I called in sick on Monday. Honestly, I wanted to call in Tuesday, too, but I was petrified they’d tell me not to come in Wednesday if I dared. My second day of work is one helluva time to grow a throat full of blisters.

I spent the rest of the week blowing solids out my nose and interrupting other people’s calls with my amazingly resonant cough. A Red Bull and DayQuil cocktail kept me upright more often than not, but I still spent a few lunches curled up on the floor with my office door closed.

Thursday, I had a 3 hour round trip drive with my boss. It was time for me to see a giant structural exhibit dismantled. He ran late, which not only meant none of us ate lunch but we also made it home an hour and a half late. Apparently, this is par for the course. Since I’m on the road with him again tomorrow, I’m packing my own lunch. I feel so shallow. One of the other salesmen needed to get home in time for his son’s ballgame. I needed to make it back for a group trip to Iron Man.

Friday, 3/4 of the city shut down in celebration of pony time goodness. My bosses are from New Jersey. They not only kept the office needlessly open (seriously - it’s pointless. You can’t make any money in Loiusville on Oaks or Derby unless you own a restaurant or bar) but they also sped out of town for the weekend to get away from it all. Alas. Some people don’t understand the wonder of local holidays.

In my interview, I cockily told them I can learn any software in 45 minutes. They seemed genuinely impressed when I proved it. Apparently, a couple of the older sales people are still using paper rather than the fairly intuitive database. My training has been well intentioned but haphazard, which has me a little anxious. Nevertheless, the sales boss seems pleased with my progress. After all my experience in the non-profit world, it’s strange and exciting to have someone say, “I know we can make a lot of money off you.” I really want to prove him right.

I have some clear short, medium, and long term objectives now. That adds a lot to my sense of confidence. The idea they’re going to shrug and send me away is wearing off. After so many months of searching for work, deep down I’ve been surprisingly afraid they’d walk in one morning and say they’ve changed their minds. Go home. Now that I have a better idea how much they’re investing in training me, that fear is finally ebbing.

This coming Thursday, I start on the phones. This will be my make or break point. It’s not merely my salary riding on this. They brought in another sales person because they need to make enough to pay the support staff. If I don’t do well, two other people’s incomes will be in jeopardy. NO PRESSURE.

Tags: work