The Squeaky Wheel

I was looking over a layout in one of my scrapbooking magazines; and the woman had done a page about herself. I have to say she did not sound like the most pleasant woman from the way she described herself; but the one thing that struck me was her last comment, "why do I always get the cart with the squeaky wheel?" I kinda chuckled (I didn't wanna give her a full laugh since I really didn't like her based on what I read;) but I thought to myself - I ALWAYS get the cart with the squeaky (or loose) wheel too.
Then it hit me - MAYBE the majority of the carts have squeaky or loose wheels. Maybe it's not that I have bad luck when it comes to picking carts - that's just how it is. That's what you've got to choose from; squeaky or loose because the people who work in the stores are far too busy to give the carts the proper attention that they need.

Hmm, well now this blog can go one of two ways. If I take the road that leads me to discuss positive thinking this could probably be my briefest blog ever- LOL; OR I can take the traditional bumpy road which would lead me to discuss mediocrity. OK, you know me, fasten your seat belts, mediocrity it is; and this is how we get there...

First, it is important to note that I CANNOT STAND MEDIOCRITY. I have always been an overachiever and I have no tolerance or understanding for those who are willing to do the minimum or accept the status quo. I just don't get it.
I've been running into mediocrity quite a bit lately and it makes me uncomfortable. Especially when the mediocre are complaining about the little that they have to do and how they want to do even less. My brain would stagnate if I was these people.
If I was working with carts (amongst other things,) and I had a free minute or twenty, I think I'd be trying to find a way to fix the carts that squeak or have the loose wheel so that when customers came in they'd be more relaxed, have one less thing to worry about or focus on, and hopefully spend more money which would mean more revenue for my store and maybe, hopefully, ultimately, more money for me. If not, more money then maybe I would just have the satisfaction of knowing that I was doing a job well, showing initiative, and using my (dare I say it,) brain. But no, this doesn't seem to be a common philosophy, so unfortunately WE are the ones who will continue to get the squeaky/loose wheeled carts; but it's not because of the dark cloud over us, it's because of the legions of the mediocre who just don't care.
The people who work in the stores who don't work on the carts, the people who work in the fast food restaurants but couldn't be bothered to check your order to make sure that they put the caramel in with your apple dippers, your boy toy in with your boy happy meal or even that you have the right meal for crying out loud.
Then there's my job. There are 3 people including myself who work in the accounting department; me and one other person who each have the workload of 2 people plus, and the third person works maybe 24 hours a week, looks to leave as soon as her few tasks are completed and complains any time you ask her to do something. To her I say, if you don't want to work "quit," otherwise you have nothing to complain about - this is what they pay you for.

It's amazing what we - the hard working, have to put up with. Mediocrity seems to be EVERYWHERE lately; but in the spirit of being positive, I will just remind myself that although sometimes it's hard to be the leader of the pack; the view is ALWAYS better from the front!
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING