If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “wow I should work on becoming a better person, and decrease my temper outbursts” you should try working at a hotel for a year or two.
Working in the hotel business for the past five years has been enlightening to say the least. While I do have stories, what has been most enlightening is discovering who I am as an employee. I have maintained my thirst to learn new skills, and challenged myself to learn new programs/systems quickly. I have discovered the importance of blending professionalism with my personality, which I previously believed to be mutually exclusive.
According to my coworkers, I have developed “the patience of a saint.” People are difficult, especially when they believe they have answers without any facts. I have successfully trained new employees who seemingly refused to absorb or even retain what they were being taught. I can solve the problem of an irate guest, without involving management. My tolerance for unexpected events and outrageous requests is exponential, it truly takes a lot to irritate me.
The general public believes that hoteliers are all about customer service. Which I’ll admit is true, however we still have to run a business. Those of us in the service industry are extremely skilled at reading people and negotiating. We are able to find the happy medium that works for the customer as well as the business. We know people.
To those who ask why I have not pursued a supervisor or manager role, my answer is simple. I realised that my ambitions do not lie with hotel operations. I am excited by the development of new technology. I find the mundane task of collecting data to produce patterns and results fascinating. No joke, I cried when I watched the keynote presentation for the MacBook Air. I want to help advance our world, I want to be a part of the innovation. I enjoy learning and mastering new skills and technologies. I have a need to know every capability a program has, so that I can use the tool to produce pertinent information.
Working at a hotel has confirmed that I am a people person, and has helped me refine my interpersonal skills. My current role has allowed me to push the boundaries of my knowledge. I have been working with a team that has given me confidence in my decision making skills. I have used previous knowledge and observation to help develop processes to aid my coworkers. I am ready to grow as an individual, and develop my career.
Some of my more creative writing.
COLORFUL
Every day at the end of my shift I write a “pass on email.” These tend to be pretty boring, so I spice things up a bit with creative writing. Doing so also ensures people actually read the email, thus necessary information is conveyed. The following are snippets from these emails:
Room moves – contrary to popular belief, we are surrounded by buildings. We will always be surrounded by buildings. Even in the apocalyptic world from the movie Divergent, we were surrounded by buildings. So unfortunately unless you’re Superman, you will not be able to look through the buildings surrounding us to see the lake.
ELAs – imagine, if you will, a majestic meadow that has willow trees, a pond full of coy, and a bambi sleeping in a nest. The birds are singing the song of spring, the morning dew is evaporating under the warm sun. when suddenly in the distance you see a figure, and that figure begins to multiply, however you somehow know not to be afraid. As the figures grow closer you find that almost within a blink of an eye you are surrounded by a menagerie of unicorns, pegasi, and griffins. Yeah, ELA is just as magical as that feeling.
ELAs – As magical and soothing as Ed Sheeran's voice, with the poise and grace of Kate Middleton, and as radiant and rare as the necklace the old woman threw into the ocean
ELAs – ELAs came into work today and saw the hoards of “adults” (cough cough teenagers) wandering through the streets picking on homeless people. So today ELAs decided to put their police training to good use and have become part of that private security team that is patrolling State Street. For real though all of these teenagers look Disney 12. Have you ever wondered to yourself, “hmm what would it be like if no one ever grew up, and we stayed babies forever?” Well, you are in luck! Go outside! After all babies are basically little drunk humans.
ELAs – As effortless as a curling stone gliding across the ice. So perfect that there was no need for a sweeper. Instead we sent the sweeper to go learn the Chimney Sweep song and dance from Dick Van Dyke. Hopefully that’ll be prove to not be a waste of time. Only time will tell.
ELAs – They’re out shooting people in the butt with arrows trying to make the world a better place
ELAs – Nicholas Cage is currently creating another National Treasure movie to find our ELAs because that is what they are, a National Treasure.
ELAs – Have you ever seen a perfect ice ball? One where it is so pure that you can see right through it? Well, ELA would put that ice ball to shame. The ice ball would roll back into the corner of the freezer and contemplate its life.
ELAs – They are so well done that even a Princess sleeping on 27 mattresses would feel them. Then she would climb down the ladder required to get on a bed that has 27 mattresses, then somehow look under them because who can lift 1 mattress let alone 27. Suddenly she would find herself in pure astonishment of their superiority.
Mobile – We were able to process over 40 mobiles today. The most interesting of which was a guest’s reservation seems to have been created tomorrow, and yet he is checking in today. INCONCEIVABLE! I know. What I’m thinking is that his reservation was made by someone on the other side of the international date line. However, there is no scientific evidence that says this is true. Thus we may want to ponder and hypothesize about this reservation further.
I will be spending the rest of the evening researching puppers. Then I will wake up with the sun and board the bus with all of my 6am bus friends. We will then have a 30 minute ride of pure silence because we are all on the same page and respect father time and this time of quiet.
I shall return tomorrow at 7 morning via majestic butterfly. Alex shall be here at 11, at this time I am unaware of his mode of transportation, but I imagine it to be pretty darn epic. Like a dragon or something.