My first job was at Taco Bell. I was in High School and I made $7.25/per hour. I remember waking up and slipping on the black pants, black socks, non slip shoes, and the black Taco Bell shirt with the purple collar. Walking into the bathroom, putting my make up on, wrapping my hair in a low bun, sliding the hair net over my hair, and putting on the hat. I’d stand there, looking at myself in the mirror and think, why Taco Bell? Why not work somewhere else? As a High Schooler, saving up for my first car, the more I worked, the more I could save! So off I went.
Working in Fast Food
I worked the window most days. So once I clocked in, I’d put on my headset, get in front of the order board and start taking orders. Once I submitting the order I’d start making that customer’s drinks. As I was making drinks, I also had to be entering the order for the next car in line. While also greeting the first customer at the window, taking their payment, and handing them their food. I remember when I first started working the window, it would stress me out so much trying to do all those things at one time. After a while, it got easier and more fun as I made friends. This didn’t stop me from day dreaming about the day I’d become a full time artist! All I’d have to do is paint and sell my paintings. Needless to say, that’s not how it worked out at all. It actually turned out even better.
Looking for a New Job
Once I realized I had no interest in moving up the corportae ladder at Taco Bell, I started looking for something else that paid better. After a few Google searches I applied for a number of jobs. I remember an interview I went on to be a car sales person. They never called me back. Probably because I was in High School, had zero qualifications, and not very much professional communication skills. (I still laughing thinking about that interview!) The next interview was for a tech support company. Basically, all I had to do was talk on the phone and help people with their phones, tablets, and computers. That seemed easy enough. WRONG.
Tech Support
I got the job and I worked there for over 2 years. I even moved up and became a “Senior Advisor”. It sounds fancy, but the only difference was, when someone called into that company and said “I’M PISSED, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER!” or “I WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN CHARGE” well, those calls went straight to my desk. I even had an extension, this allowed customers to continue to call back until their original issue was resolved. The entire floor I was on was full of other Senior Advisors too. This part was really cool because I met so many people who were WAY smarter than me. If I didn’t know the solution I was able to look it up or ask a coworker and come back with a solution!
If all the surveys I received each month were 5 stars, I’d end up getting a $500+ bonus each month. The bonus’ and the friends I made is truly what made me stay there for so long. Side Note: if you ever speak to a customer service person and you get an opportunity to fill out a survey, do it! Make sure their good work doesn’t go unnoticed! We even had a board that our managers would print out really sweet survey notes we’d receive, so everyone could encourage each other to keep up the good work!
Hindsight is 2020
The things I learned working that tech support job catapulted me to where I am now. After I left the tech support job, I started working as a Virtual Assistant. This was such a fun position! I’d never been a virtual assistant and my boss had never had one. The beauty of this was that we got to make it up as we went! We met each week to discuss what was going on in her life and her business. She paid me hourly for 20 hours a week and I got to work at my own pace and learn as I go! I didn’t even really know her very well before I started.
I ended up meeting her through Rodan + Fields. I was a part of her team of consultants for about a year before I started working for her. The only reason she even thought of me as a potential virtual assistant was because of how much I was helping her team in their Facebook Group. Someone was having an event, so I made a little graphic with a pretty background, the event title, location, time ect. I started created graphics, helping them with their phones and computers, and doing anything I could to solve problems for them! It was fun! I honestly didn’t even think of it as work.
Becoming a Virtual Assistant
A couple consultants on her team had mentioned to me that they’d told her she should hire me as a Virtual Assistant. I remember asking, “What’s a Virtual Assistant?” They were like, “Everything you’ve been doing is basically what you could be doing for her, but getting paid for it.” Work doesn’t have to be something you dread. You can absolutely make money from things you enjoy doing!
Don't Ask for a Raise, Do This Instead
Ask yourself, what do you enjoy doing for other people? What do you enjoy doing, that people would actually be willing to pay for? In my case, I didn’t even know people were willing to pay for this. I was just enjoying being helpful. If you don’t like the job you’re in, get a piece of paper right now and write down every single thing you know how to do. I don’t care how basic or elementary it sounds. Write every skill down. Now start looking for problems that your skills can solve. This could lead you to your dream job or even starting your own business.
"You’re not paid by the hour, you’re paid by the value you bring to the hour." -Jim Rohn
My hourly rate at Taco Bell was $7.25/hour because that’s the value I brought to that hour. If I quit, they could easily find someone else to replace that position. As a High Schooler with zero work experience, this was a great first job! I don’t see anything wrong with them paying me $7.25/hour. That’s what my experience was worth at the time. Over the years, I’ve learned new skills and I’ve been able to make more money. I made $13/hour as a tech support agent, then $15/hour as a Virtual Assistant. Working as a Virtual Assistant allowed me to learn so much more about business, graphic design, websites, social media, non-profits… the list goes on.
Starting My Own Business
After 3 years of being a Virtual Assistant, I realized it was time to start my own business. I had already been working on a logo and website for a friend and she loved everything I was doing for her! It dawned on me that the skills I’d learned as a Virtual Assistant could be some of the services I offered in my own business one day. I remember spending hours in prayer, journaling, planning, brainstorming… day dreaming, but I wasn’t ready. When my bosses needs shifted, I knew this was my time to fly. We had a long talk and I finally put in my 2 weeks notice in May of 2019.
On June 1st, 2019 I announced I was starting (Create & Collab.) my own business designing logos, developing websites, and doing social media marketing. In just one month I had 63 people reach out wanting either a logo, a website, or help with social media. For 3 years people had watched me share posts about things I was working on as a Virtual Assistant! I had no idea that some of the people watching, needed my help until I finally had the courage to go out on my own!
Self Sabotage
All this to say, every single one of us has a special set of skills. You don’t have to own your own business to determine your hourly rate. If you don’t like your current hourly rate, start solving more problems in your current position. If they recognize it and promote you, great! If they don’t recognize the added value you’re providing, don’t devalue yourself by staying in the same position forever. BetterUp says when people do (or don’t do) things that block their success or prevent them from accomplishing their goals, this is called self sabotage. It can happen consciously or unconsciously. Self-sabotaging behaviors can affect our personal and professional success, as well as our mental health.
It’s difficult to recognize these things on our own! My favorite thing I’ve been learning in counseling lately has been mindset blocks. (I don’t think this is an actual term, it’s just how I reference it.) I’ll explain a scenario to my counselor and then I’ll explain how I processed it emotionally. A lot of the times that explanation ends with a “Why the heck do I do that?” or “Why does this make me so sad or so angry!” We actually laugh a lot together because I’m so honest with her! She’ll proceed to ask a few questions, then help me determine ways to process it next time in a healthy way.
Instead of asking for a raise, start showing up as a problem solver. Whether you work for a large company or a small business, problem solvers are hard to overlook. Problem solvers step up when no one else will, they go the extra mile, they know their personal value and their professional value. Either they'll recognize your worth and compensate you through titles, raises, or added responsibility – or you'll realize you're worth will be better valued in another company or as a new small business owner. Whichever path you choose, just remember, it's not about the money it's about who you're becoming.