Boss's Day

It's National Boss's Day. It has me thinking about all sorts of bosses and what they've taught me over the years. It's made me think about how I have become the professional person that I am today. It's made me think about what influence I have had in other's lives because of their influences.

My first bosses ever...my parents. They have certainly taught me a lot. Some of those lessons were about things I wanted to do differently when I became a boss parent but they've mostly taught me my core lessons.

Bob, my boss at McDonald's when I was 16. Every time he would see me he would say, "hi Sam I am!" Every time I would respond with, "hi, Bob. Sam I Am, Bob You Are." I had some pretty great bosses at McD's throughout the years. I worked at 3 different locations in 2 different states, 3 different towns for 5 years total.

Mark from Cabela's. He had a laugh that you could hear a block away and he pretty much always had a smile on his face. He didn't fire me when I was pregnant and my hubby had to have emergency surgery. He showed grace and compassion.

The nasty boss I had as a sandwich artist. Actually, I had two nasty bosses from two different sandwich shops. I wonder if it was in the air? They actually taught me a LOT about who I didn't ever want to become if I were ever another employee's "boss."

John O, from W&R. I can't say enough amazing things about him. He was the greatest boss I've ever had. He taught me how to stand on my own two feet, not just professionally but also personally. He taught me that I deserved to feel some confidence in my work. He showed me how to achieve the things I wanted to achieve. He was compassionate when I needed compassion, stern when I needed stern, an ear when I needed to talk. I cried in his office more times than I would like to remember but always knew I could count on him. He led. He built. He never gave up on me. He was there during some of my darkest days. He was exactly the boss I needed at exactly those moments in my life. Thank you!!

The boss I had that could only feel successful if she was tearing someone down. The emotional abuse she puts people through is insane but I'll tell you something. I learned a lot from her. I learned how to balance the feelings you can have about someone's good sides and bad sides. I learned numbers and budgets and grants like nobody's business so I'm thankful for that.

My current LADY BOSS! KBD leads by example. She is constantly there to build and empower and pushes us all to be better people, to never turn an eye, to never go nasty but stay firm. She allows me to grow and attend trainings and be a part of a community and allows me to feel the mission of the YWCA.

Are you a boss? Are you the boss that you needed when you needed a boss? Do you have a boss? What lessons have you taken from your bosses through the years?