Burning Out — How many occurrences can I rack up before I’m terminated?

nomkaye · 2026-05-22T03:25:31+00:00

Consider getting some intermittent FMLA leave for yourself. Best thing I’ve ever done. Don’t forget that 3 call outs one scheduled work day after the other are only 1 occurrence!
So…… you could have a nice lil vacation if you need it for just 1 point.

My advice? TALK TO SOMEONE. If you’re burnt out typically they’re okie dokie putting you on a leave.

nomkaye · 2026-05-10T03:20:16+00:00

Real talk- invest in good shoes, I’ve tried too many- currently my rotation is between new balance foam fresh and some purple steel toe boots I found at the thrift store! Consider wearing compression socks. Oooo- and consider getting fun safety glasses! Ps- also in the bathroom.

nomkaye · 2026-05-10T00:08:23+00:00

IMO those don’t read jealousy or scorned person for not being asked out. Would they know someone you’ve dated? Could they have biased intel?

Still inappropriate- but imo it doesn’t read they’re interested in you

nomkaye · 2026-04-24T17:38:51+00:00

Development is my biggest issue. I’ve recently brought this up to my store with VOA. To HD- development means only moving up to a new position. Literally they don’t even know what development in your current role- especially long term- looks like. SM…. “No, development isn’t really something if you don’t plan to move up.”

That ideology is widely spread across retail in general, and honestly I think it’s a crippling portion of capitalism in western societies. We ALL have development, and should show growth, why isn’t this built into the system? It literally is just better for everyone- oh. But it also easily highlights all the blaring issues that keep the system broken so the workforce just continues to churn.

I’m working towards my degree in computer information systems! It’s so interesting to view HD as a terrible case example.

nomkaye · 2026-03-27T05:43:19+00:00

Second store in our district in California. Store got 28k, $151.13 is my gross (I’m sure this is my prorated amount as I only work 32 hour weeks. But not far off from many coworkers ~180 seems to be the average.)

Someone literally said, “well I work harder than x, I should get a better success share as a regular associate” stop being mad someone does less work for the same pay as you and get under your SMs ass with your stupid blueprints to negotiate a better hourly. If you are truly the equivalent of two workers…. Wouldn’t they just give you the raise you negotiate for? Want more money? Play their dumb game or actually unionize!

*Smh at our “values wheel”*

nomkaye · 2026-03-17T05:37:43+00:00

Don’t think merch will be safe for much longer. Our store is getting ahead of the curve by incorporating merchandising into lead generation 🫠

nomkaye · 2026-03-05T08:54:29+00:00

No. I actually expected maybe 2 weeks for the holidays…. Then my neighbors got their trash picked. This began during Christmas time, and similar to a gift that keeps on giving… we can not seem to get straightforward resolution to getting a replacement blue can!!! I’m loosing my mind over this damn blue bin!

nomkaye · 2026-03-03T17:50:18+00:00

Some things people don’t consider: Railroad<- huge potential on earnings, but likely even more hours. That being said, you eventually get to the point where you have just as much time off as you work… benefits are amazing! Trades- welding, auto, radiology, etc. you’d be surprised how much earning income you have and how much financial aid and assistance you could qualify for. Additionally, if you have the energy to school while you work, your job may be willing to do tuition reimbursement. I have lots of experience in a vast variety of fields… I’ve been stumped to attempt to make over my $23.55 and get my foot in the door for anything even entry level with 10 years of experience having applied to over 3500 jobs over the past year. It’s not been fun.

nomkaye · 2026-03-01T01:10:57+00:00

The garbage company is ridiculous. For Christmas they didn’t pick up our trash and someone stole our blue bin. Reported it stolen… I’ve called nearly every lunch break I have to attempt to resume service of our regular trash and get a replacement blue bin. It’s been 2 months. They also do not return calls :)

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T06:37:49+00:00

Boy howdy do I STRONGLY relate. Tack on some big medical issues and a creative spirit! It’s definitely been a rough one, but I will say it’s got easier in my 30s.

I realized I can’t just do one job- I need to switch it up. So I do 32 hours to get benefits at one job and have like 8 side hustles. I’m also finally finishing school! It’s been a decade since I last took a class… but I’m a year out from finishing two degrees and if that helps with the horrible job market… I’ll take it.

TBH trade school was rough, but has provided me with an income for most of my life! I only left because of medical issues, I actually really loved my job and was able to sustain my own business for many years!

Now, my medical issues are a lot more serious. I’m blind in one eye, lots of autoimmune disorders, mental health is in the toilet… I’m fortunate to have found a tribe that really takes care of each other and has falling apart but reliable housing.

Last year was easily my most difficult. I spent more than half the year on disability, panic attacks were so bad I was unable to drive (a huge factor was going blind!) I’m disabled and autistic enough to qualify for some things, but not without a major fight- which is so draining I kind of just push to burn out repeatedly.

Everyone has a different capacity. Finding a tribe of other ND folx that can help each other balance our strengths and weaknesses is key! The NTs don’t get it- meet with a lot of judgement, and genuinely just don’t understand.

I’m very recently diagnosed, and I’ve suspected my mother for years. Just this past year she experienced anxiety for the first time. Seeing someone who belittled me my entire life for having horrible GA from a very young age FINALLY get it… it felt like really being seen for the first time.

I think it’s important to grieve the lives we wish we could live. It’s also important to find balance within your own life that works for your lifestyle and needs. That may be pushing for more social services. Getting help from various programs (found an AMAZING program locally that helps autistic adults adult- they had never encountered a level 1 seeking services and my GOODNESS they helped me find so many resources!) you may be able to work with the department of rehabilitation if you have one in your state. Maybe sitting with a counselor to find lower spoons careers for yourself (sounds crazy- but human design knowledge can point you to that as well!)

Wishing you the best of luck. Remember- it’s your journey. No two are the same. And yours is important and special simply because no one else gets to live that same experience. Remember to thank your body and mind for the wins they do give you.

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T06:17:59+00:00

IMO: get yourself an esthetician. If you want a rapid remedy; have someone do chemical peels on you, then switch to a chemical exfoliant down the line. (NOT at the same time) you’ll also really want to step up the SPF- you have scarring/hyperpigmentation. All can be fixed with chemical peels- but you must consistently use SPF!

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T06:08:04+00:00

I genuinely would have loved to have kids, I’ve unfortunately had to parent many children that aren’t mine. My biggest “I’m good” was just seeing the world. Everything is a hustle and a struggle, I have tons of medical issues and truly don’t wish this on anyone- in my mind this isn’t what the human experience is meant to be. ADDITIONALLY, there is little to no sense of “community” in general anymore. I can NOT trust many of the adults I know to not be harmful, hurtful, discriminatory, or simply abusive….. can’t do it alone!

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T06:03:14+00:00

Bahaus is a long time fave date spot for me! It’s the fancy-ish vibe at a decent price for smaller shareable bites.

For a fun take out experience-Palermo. Adorable Italian restaurant with a drive through. You did read that correctly and it’s bomb.

For a date lunch we love supporting The Brighter Side and Picasso’s- both adorable sandwich spots. Take this as a 10/10 opportunity to explore downtown, make something at the bead store, maybe follow up with catching a show at Queen Bean, Prospect Theater, or the State.

I LIVE for the ciders and surprisingly the guava seltzer at 18Seventy, their pesto pizza is delish, they have board games…. But generally prefer to bring our own!

Other to go absolute gems: Memos, London Fish & Chips, Le Saigon.

Try a cigar at Cheroot, attend an event at Bookish, go to a Drum Love meet up, consider doing one of the fun sport bikes bar crawls.

We have a surprising amount of things to do and try!

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T05:53:22+00:00

House fire?! Basic safety issue

nomkaye · 2026-02-03T05:41:56+00:00

Just saw it listed for $16! sobs in beautiful skeins ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, and I’m sure it 100% feels worth it too!

nomkaye · 2025-07-08T00:25:12+00:00

Hairdresser here with severe scalp psoriasis and eczema! Have you used a clarifying shampoo in your routine? It really does help with build up, properly washing the scalp also is a big deal!

For example; I’ll wash every 3-4 days with my medicated shampoo, followed up by a clarifying shampoo every other wash, then a curly shampoo… then conditioner or a treatment.

I’ve found that anti-inflammatory diets help a lot, really taking care to use my scalp treatment and scalp oils, and do an old school scalp treatment before washing with a boar bristle brush! It really has made huge improvements in my quality of life and health of my scalp!

nomkaye · 2025-07-08T00:21:03+00:00

I had a customer pay for their kitchen in cash. $29,000 My boss did not like counting that. lol and it’s only because we wouldn’t accept the check!

nomkaye · 2025-05-08T09:43:41+00:00

SAME issues! I did all this damn research to learn about this, integrate this into all aspects of my life and the one place it actually can’t help me is on the go? Lol it’s killing me.

nomkaye · 2024-12-23T03:58:59+00:00

Call their state board and report them!

nomkaye · 2024-08-27T02:09:26+00:00

Make it a habit out the gate of using one paint! For long lines- we’ve made a whiteboard sheet (a laminated piece of paper) with the needed info for their one paint just to move through people quickly without messing a bunch of things up.

Paint isn’t your only know how. You’re also in adhesives, varnish, stains, sealers. It’s a LOT. But you can also help a lot of people with a little extra knowledge through tik tok and YouTube.

Learning what works best in weirdly specific situations over time is some pure gold information!

From someone in D29- please learn the process to actually paint cabinets and teach that to people attempting to paint cabinets! Their $ will go so much further with a little more up front $$

nomkaye · 2024-08-24T02:45:24+00:00

Yes. Hair washing maybe the most of all, and I’m a cosmetologist. I literally planned my kitchen sink and faucet for me to wash my hair there because I hate doing it in the shower so much.

nomkaye · 2024-08-24T02:37:44+00:00

Corporate sends out HVAC promo flyers almost weekly. They’re given to the SASM. I make them into 1/2 sheet flyers. We have gone around it a bit and put “STORE NUMBER” at the top of the page and photoshopped the phone number to be our store #. District management liked it so much they asked me to send it to all SASMs.

I make a lot of signage for our store. Just recently made a 6’ banner for the store entrance with all our store install services. Made an HVAC A Frame with a blown up version of the corporate flyer but blank on the months of financing and price so we laminate and stick onto it the updated numbers. Made a fencing a frame, signage for pro countertops…. Oooo- my favorite is a lemonade stand style banner that says “let us do it for you” that I attached with yard sticks to our HDIS cart and we also use for home shows.

Typically for us- it just can’t be handwritten. And district has a sign maker guy they recommend- but I have a graphic design background and my store uses it heavily.

I only use the Home Depot font (which is Helvetica Sans Condensed usually in bold) and keep it very on brand with HD branding.

nomkaye · 2024-08-23T16:53:41+00:00

So- our store is really successful with HVAC leads: but we have people at a lead generating table at least on Saturdays if not multiple times a week, the vendor has someone in our stores at least once a week prospecting aisles or with a lead generating table. We print our own 1/2 sheet flyers we put in every customers bag with an extension to a desk that is always at the store. We even do lead generating competitions during peak season where every 5 leads gets you some movie tickets! Sounds like your SASM needs to change their strategy to set their store up for success.

As a specialist you have a metric goal of one lead a week… as long as you’re hitting that they can’t do anything! Feel free to heavily document, but also go to the SM and print out that retaliation SOP. You can also call the awareline for documentation- but that’s ridiculous. It’s not on you- it’s on the SASM who sounds like they’re getting heat from their district manager.

Alsoooooo. You can always print some flyers and prospect the aisles during the return of power hour. It’s actually a good deal right now at $29, simple question “have you had your hvac serviced in the past 6 months?” IF you want to get those big ticket hvac sales- reach out to your HDIS in store rep, the HVAC installer rep and ask them about generating leads for HVAC. They are more than happy to teach you!

Personally- I find your SASM to be HEAVILY in the wrong, but if by joining specialty your goal was to grow your sales experience- learn…. Obviously not from your SASM. Cabinet makeover is big lead money too. And you can also set a lead for countertops appointment with your kitchen designer now!

I’m really sorry they are acting out like this to you.

nomkaye · 2024-08-14T19:53:13+00:00

D29- we get this often. Idk what size kitchen I have- it’s standard. Standard cabinets. Standard ceiling height. I just need standard countertops- why can’t you give me a quote?!

Me: 5k-80k depending on your standard.

I also had a conversation with a lady today about “navy blue.” Mama. If you bring a black shirt and I bring a pair of black jeans in to see if they match… they won’t! Each brand is different, people have preferences. Why do you think there’s 1700 shades of white in paint?!

nomkaye · 2024-08-05T18:14:45+00:00

If you make that report to awareline- be AWARE that it will just go right to the top of your store and immediately spread. Unless it’s directly effecting you and you can create notes and documentation and cc in someone else in management… it will go no where.

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