Today started on a bad note. It is a Monday morning and aside the fact that I hate Mondays, it is our meeting day at the office and what was discussed was our target. I am not a marketer in anyway but in the industry where I earn my daily living, marketer or not, you must generate income regardless of your job description which is how I found myself among other colleagues, a subject of ridicule…okay maybe not ridicule but for want of a better word, I’ll just stick to “ridicule”. So while we were on the hot seat trying to explain to our different superiors, creative ways through which we can increase our income as a branch, my “oga patapata” cut us short by saying he was bored with all the gist and blah blah blah and went ahead to read out the worst performers in the branch. Yours sincerely was mentioned even though I wasn’t expecting to be mentioned because I know my cabal had like N3m in savings account which is not bad for an operator, apparently he was looking at the current accounts performance where I’m not so strong. Imagine what the marketers whose major job function is to bring in accounts and fee based transactions, go through if a poor customer service lady like me is being shredded not for my error rates or anything but for my non-performance at the branch. I will do my best but Lord knows I won’t kill myself. While my other colleagues were droning on about how they intend to change the situation, I was trying hard to concentrate on what they were saying because I had to put it in the minutes but Lord knows all I really wanted to do was shut them out and think of my lack of a love life. Then again, maybe it was better to listen to them than to start wondering where I get it wrong in the world of romance.
After the meeting I could not help but make fun of the whole situation because that is the only way I know how to deal with stuff like that…I either make light of it or just get paranoid which would only work me into a frenzy.
It was only natural for me to expect my day to go from bad to worse but somehow it did not. Customers kept coming and going and I kept exercising my duties as best as I could. I mean since I “no fit” bring business, I might as well “service” our customers well abi? My day got better when Kaffy walked into the banking hall. Dressed in chinos pants and a shirt, she looked quite normal and she struck me as friendly and humble. She did not have makeup on as far as my eyes could see and she isn’t ugly. She walked up to me ( I know, I know… they always walk up to me) and asked to see our “branch prostitute” and the first thing I said was “can I have your autograph please” and she replied “of course”. So off I went to get who she was looking for. Our branch prostitute is this friendly guy who believes he’s God’s gift to women, he’s a TDH guy who probably gets loads of attention from ladies. Apparently Kaffy was directed to see him by one of our customers. You do know Kaffy right? The famous dancer who won the Nokia dance competition some years back, she is also one of the judges on Malta Guinness Street Dance Competition. She also made an appearance in Koko Mansion when it was running on Hitv, danced in Psquare “Roll it girl” video…the list is endless. If you don’t know who I’m referring to by now, you need to sit by your tv set more often. Anyways, I got a full frontal hug and an autograph on her customized autograph card. The banking hall was busy so we couldn’t pose for a picture like when Mr. Endowed made an appearance but it was fun talking to her. She even dropped her phone number and bb pin for those who were interested. As 4 me, the hug and autograph are souvenirs enough thank you very much and it was fun. She speaks well. She’s currently organizing a dance class for business class women who want to have fun dancing while exercising and toning their bodies. I can hardly call myself a business class woman even though I work a nine to five but if you are thinking work out and fun, then Kaffy is who you should talk to. She has a great toned body though. Wonder when mine will be like that. Maybe when I can lift my lazy thin frame and start working out again.
Also today, I met the smartest eleven year old kid whose mum gave us (being my fellow customer service ladies) some useful advice on marriage, parenting and our relationship with God. Now that’s something I wish I could hear every day.
Did you notice that it is the little things that made my day fun, a chat with Kaffy, a very expressive eleven year old boy and his mum? I may lose my job tomorrow on the grounds of non-performance but I will be forever thankful for the little things in between the jobs that made me smile, laugh and forget how desperately I want out of it. The little things that made me forget the hostile environment, the little moments that brought out the best in me as a human being whether management saw it or not. How best to end than to quote Ann Landers, whoever she is:
“Nobody says you must laugh, but a sense of humour can help you overlook the unattractive, tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected and smile through the day”
So no matter how bad things are for you, remember this and forge ahead. God dey.
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