Bonny, what she proposed for the first list of tasks could be manageable, if not great. The teo parts together are easily a full time job and worth a lot more.

I like your go forward plan, but have to say that if it doesn't go well, or even if it goes okay but not just right, walking away without penalty to the friendship strikes me as optimistic. If you choose to do this, whatever parameters you establish, I think you need to consider that.

(also, her reluctance at the Doggy Lama mention is sending up red flags. I can't guess at her conscious motivations, but she is pretty clearly sucking you into a subordinate, administrative slot and thAt won't be easy to change once it's underway.)

Frankly, encouraging employees to go elsewhere after two years sends up my red flags. It's not enthusiasm for the job that flags then so much as enthusiasm for the entry wages.

Frankly, encouraging employees to go elsewhere after two years sends up my red flags. It's not enthusiasm for the job that flags then so much as enthusiasm for the entry wages.

Exactly. If I knew my dog-walkers were considered fungible by the business owner, I'd never, ever use their services. Walking the Wigglebutts or any other dog is all about the established relationship.

Danielle LaPorte

I love her writing style.

Frankly, encouraging employees to go elsewhere after two years sends up my red flags. It's not enthusiasm for the job that flags then so much as enthusiasm for the entry wages.

I can see the distrust of this, at the same time, I know that it is the rare individual who can maintain enthusiasm for mundane, repetitive tasks.

The owner wants enthusiastic, ambitious people (they walk faster, and are better at creating and maintaining good relationships with the pet people). It's like house cleaners (which she also employs) who become lax overtime because there is not stimulus.

It is also true that she has asked me to come up with a morale program, which probably means her process can't compete against the heat and drudgery the walkers are suffering right now.

Brenda, I totally take your point that the friendship will be changed. In fact, it's a bit like Shroedinger's friendship even now. So, I'll have to commit to being okay, regardless.

java, I really do understand about the established relationship and some of the individual walkers in the area are life-time companions. The downside of that is that, if anything happens with the walker (family emergency, illness, etc.) the pet family is screwed. My friend's 'deep bench' means every situation is competently covered.

The company offers the added value of walkers who are educated by me in behaviorism. They are much better prepared to deal with personalities and confusions.

Damn I love our collective wisdom. All hail the hivemind; we always roll deep.

I've made good progress on my cover letter and a bunch of notes on a hard copy of my resume and a printout of the job description. I've taken benedryl and am going to bed now in the hopes of a decent night's sleep. I've committed to being at the warehouse at 9:30, but I'm going to let the ED know I need to leave at lunch to finish this application. She made sure to tell me about the job posting, so I don't think it'll be a problem. Plus, I'm an angel sent from karmic heaven in her eyes, so yanno.

Brenda, I totally take your point that the friendship will be changed. In fact, it's a bit like Shroedinger's friendship even now. So, I'll have to commit to being okay, regardless.

we xposted, but I want to comment on this. The fact that you've shared that she has been using you for free counseling and business advice... have you gotten anything back from her other than this offer? Not that friendships are strictly quid pro quo, but there should be some kind of balance. I'm thinking of that other friend of yours who moved away and was not there for you at all when you really needed her.

Also, expect a quick email from me momentarily.

smonster, thanks for the historical memory and support.

What I've gotten so far is that both she and her walkers DO refer me. It's goodly symbiotic when she has a problem client that I can fix.

She occasionally puts a doggy lama tip in her email newsletter that reaches the people I want to reach in the neighborhood.

It raises my prestige to be associated with the most successful service on the Hill.

As for the 'payment' for the staff meeting lectures, she has offered to have my house cleaned. I have not taken her up on that yet, which is on me.

She encourages me and offers contacts when she can.

Speaking of the other friend, THIS friend had her people clean my house when I was in the hospital. She brought me food (along with a LOT of other people), she had one of her walkers take Bartleby for a midday walk for a week when I could not manage.

So, it's not nothing.

I think a partnership could be mutually beneficial. We both just need to take a HUGE breath, and imagine what that might look like in a realistic, forward-moving way rather than what I see now has been a knee-jerk, manic desire to suppress some anxiety that does not belong to me.

Damn I love our collective wisdom. All hail the hivemind; we always roll deep.

Seconded.

Or, should I say, "So say we all."

I'm still feeling verklempt at all the dismissal of $20/hour as being low-level wages. In Utah that's the kind of money that makes people go "Wow, you better not risk losing that."

it is low for what she is being asked to do, not "low" in absolute terms.