the more I thought
20 months ago
I started to really look into being a manager and it was not going to work for me.
How to be a manager
It made me
Ecstatic & exhausted 
"Patience and hard work. Never stopping, even when you think there's no hope."
How I did it: I waited it out. I told myself that I wanted it within 5 years of starting with the company at the time. I almost left after those 5 years, but I could sense real growth in the division I was working, and halfway through the 6th year, plans to grow my department arrived. I was a manager by the 7th year, then it escalated two years after that, where I jumped two levels and am now managing managers. What a feeling! But I admit, it's not easy, and I've been working harder that I ever have in my life, since the responsibility is so much greater.
Lessons & tips: If you feel like your dead-ending, take a second look at where your headed, and feel out other jobs similar to yours. If the person above you isn't going anywhere or has roots in your city, you could be stuck, and while those around you are growing, you may not be. Good to always look and never take anything seriously until you get that offer to be promoted or to leave the company.
Resources: Research, networking with those in your similar field and position. Picking your boss' brain is a plus. Knowing the weaknesses and thriving on that. Showing strength where there's weakness.
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
well basically..
22 months ago
i’m asst. manager now (closer than i’ve ever been before) and I kinda see what a restaurant manager really has to do and I have decided its not the job for me. I worked more than a few “substitute” mgr. shifts for my boss and got to really experience firsthand. It seems like your hours are entirely too long and although the pay is good, you don’t have time to spend your money. Also it is high stress…my life is already stressful enough.
i can do it!
2 years ago
I want to be a maneger since i entered my high school ,and now ,i am striving with it!Although it’s a long and hard way ,i will carry on and make it come through!I believe in myself!
Management is not as easy as you think
3 years ago
It’s very challenging and very rewarding. I thought it was going to be gloriously easy, but I was really sadly mistaken. I totally agree that you just have to treat people like people and show that you genuinely care. There’s as much natural talent in it as there is skilled talent.
I’m still learning, so I’ll try to keep posting. I think the best way to learn is to ask the people that work for you if you’re doing a good job. You know you have a good relationship if they can tell you straight up.
The highs often...
3 years ago
...outweight the lows, simply because I can now look back and feel I achieved some pretty cool things. Those highs should act as a spur for the future of my career.
As an aside, I always felt the word “manager” was sort of weak, as in “I’m managing” or “I’m just about coping”.
Managing people...
4 years ago
I found that if you treat people with respect and if you really care about them, you will find the right words. I enjoyed managing people. I enjoyed the daily interaction, the guidance, watching them grow, seeing the small and large successes, and coaching them to be their best.
I didn’t mind the things that others find difficult because I knew I always had the person’s best interests at heart. And I did everything in my power to make sure they knew the same. This made the difference in difficult times.
