AGH! The boss wants me to go to a sales seminar in FL Jalopy Showdown weekend.....

and I'm deeply disappointed. I told him I have plans already to attend an out of state car event in PA with a bunch of friends. His reply was that I go to car shows all the time therefore I can certainly give up one weekend to attend this seminar. He then left the conversation with "We'll discuss this futher".

I need help "convincing" him that the Jalopy Showdown is special. He's been good about giving me extra time off for "special" events like the EgoRama but he's under the impression this is just another "car show".

I work hard all week for this company and feel the weekends are mine, no exceptions, especially if I've already planned something. I thought I'd copy the pages from The Rodders Journal, perhaps copy this thread from him, along with any other ideas you guys might have to prove my point.

How else would you guys suggest I try to convince a non-car guy the importance of the Jalopy Showdown?

 

Thats a tough one.. You may not convince him. Just dont forget jobs are hard to come by right now in michigan.. Real hard. Good luck. Remember its not the end of the world its just a car show
Dave

 

Whoa!

I think giving him a copy of The Rodder's Journal with your picture and photo credit may help him understand. At least he's willing to discuss it further. Are there any other seminars scheduled? Maybe a "cookie bribe"?

 

I went to work for this company 10 years ago and had to sacrfice so much for it (like the Round-up) but I have to admit that they pay pretty well in order for me to get the toys I have.
good luck...

 

It's the show of the year.

 

Noooooooooooooo

 

Have you made him any cookies yet?

Has he had one of your famous yummy cookies? Maybe explain it to him by drawing a parallel; is this any old cookie? NO, it's one of the best cookies on the planet....

If you miss the Showdown- how is he/they going to make it up to you? Or does he feel you "owe" the company already?

And I sure as ****ake don't (and I think you wouldn't either) go for the "you'll do it if you want to keep your job" ****...

 

Quit.
Sell everything.
Move to Tennessee.
Go to EVERY event you ever wanted to.

Nobody's living in my house right now(except the cat).

See? There ya go. Problem solved.

 

I'm with Earl! You GOTTA be here!!!!

 

Denise -

There are a LOT of folks out of work here in MI - and it's gonna get worse B4 it gets better; the prob with this is there are literally folks lined up to take yer place if the boss thinks you're not giving enough.

There are several car events I'd like to go to this year, but will be unable to due to scheduling conflicts. Family first, business 2nd - hobbies 3rd. In some instances, I'm missing shows due to work conflicts - that's my choice, and the right one at that - IMHO.

 

people build cars....just for this show!!
cant get much more important then that
see you there!
Zach

**chuck, hobbies & hot rods are different things....and fall differently on the priority level...hot rods are just slightly below family

 

It's the job that allows us to go to the events, and build the cars, we want. Missing one event, even a good one, isn't nearly as important as improving your job skills and your position in the long run. The people and cars will still be there at the next one, and everyone will understand your absence at one event, but the damage you can do to your job, and thus your ability to go to other events, is far greater. I HATE working weekends, but I gave up a whole summer one year to work Saturdays, and it paid off for years afterward. You will never convince a non-participant that it's more important to go have fun than it is to work at improving your skills for one weekend a year. Good luck.

 

nevermind all the company time you spend on the hamb!!! see if you can reschedule the seminar

 

^^^^^ So much for showing him this thread now^^^^

The date of the seminar is set in stone. Employees from all over the country will be there. I am the top earning sales person by far in the Metro Detroit divison therefore I feel I can miss this one and it not effect my numbers. I also know a good thing when I see it and have no plans on quitting. I just thought I could get some good or unusal ideas to convince the boss that me missing it won't be a detrament to the company.

 

As "disappointing" as this is, this is the guy who (more or less) signs your paychecks. Those paychecks are what gives you the money to buy/build/repair/drive/enjoy old cars. You DO get out to more events than the average person (color me jealous)... If you have a decent job, and like the people you work with, and make enough of a living... that's not something I'd want to jeopardize.

Maybe you can meet up with some car people in FL for dinner while you're there?

EDIT: sorry.. didn't mean to be a downer.... just trying to keep things in perspective. Even if the "hobby" is welded to the core of who you are (from what I can tell, it definitely is!) , you gotta have cash to support it.

 

Just tell him that the fella putting on the show told you he was going to cancel it if you didn't show up..

And if he say's your fulla ****, have Larry call him personally , even if it is a little white lie..

Wouldn't be the same if you weren't there..thats the truth.

 

Your making it to easy.......I suppose I could work for you as well doing body and paint

 

THIS is the type of idea I'm looking for!!! Get the boss laughing about the issue then maybe I'll get my way.........Larry, whats your digits again??

 

if you think you can afford to indulge youself in the car hobby without an income then go to the show

 

i think you answered your own question, what good is a sells seminar if you are already the leading seller, explain that by not sending you, you will be earning no less money for the company, and actually increasing their profits since they will not have to fly you to florida and pay for your room and admission to the seminar.
if he is not into cars, put it terms of something he is into, say golf (just a guess), compare the showdown to not only seeing the masters but getting to hob nob with tiger afterwards.

 

Just quit and start a cookie company.

 

Have your boss re-schedule the Seminar and have it AT the Jalopy Showdown!! How cool would that be? But we all know that would never happen..

 

well if u come down here to FL you can put together a meet and greet

 

As important as the Jalopy showdown is to you, if you don't tow the line on this one for him, he may make it more difficult for you to get the time to do other events. Maybe rocking the boat for one event isn't a good idea. Sometimes all suits have is their job and they can't understand why anyone would miss a company event for any reason. No matter how good you are at your job, no-one is indispensable. Think it over. Pat.

 

Most seminars I go to are usually scheduled elsewhere at another date. Usually within 150miles. See if you can attend one of those if possible................Or act real excied about the seminar.. then call in sick.

 

I have to paraphase (sp) but Jay Leno once commented about his situtation. "I would much rather hang out with car people that the Hollywood types, but they are the ones that provide me with the income to afford the caliber of automobiles that I have.
You might have to bite the bullet on this one.

 

Another GREAT idea and since he IS a golfer the ****ogy works perfectly. Tiger=Scary Larry

 

Live to work or work to live - your choice.


Like my buddy says, If you're gonna FIRE ME - let me know right away - I got somewhere to be!!!!

 

Denise, you need to decide how much you like the job and how fair they have been with allowing you to take time off (especially any without pay or on short notice to attend shows in the past). i had to miss last years show (and a few others) for the same reason, it ****ed but sometimes we have to be big boys and girls and take care of the jobs that allow us to play.. ( I chose to support work....)

If the boss is asking, even after you told him you were going to be out of town, it must be important to him...

If they are not good employeers, then that is a different story...

 

Denise, without being too much of an ***, you seem to be able to write a lot of great reports on the shows you cover during the year. I think you should be thankful you have a position that allows you to get to so many, jobs that good are not always available. Work sometimes does get in the way of good times, **** last year I was only able to get to Syracuse for half of the weekend so I know how screwed up work can be. You will be missed if you don't make it, that's for sure, but maybe you can make up for missing out at the Drags later in the year.