It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past.
There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day.
Thank you and the commenters for the excellent advice for what I now term “Jade’s Catastrophe, The Musical.” In the aftermath of the situation, I had to engage in a lot of damage control, which involved taking existing clients to lunch and sending out carefully worded notes to correct untrue information about my personal life.
Jade’s actions actually inadvertently helped me weed out and ultimately end contracts with two male clients who made inappropriate comments about my personal life. This experience also led me to reassess my view on my industry as a whole.
I reached out to Jade to discuss the aftermath of her actions and was met with a surprising lack of awareness on her part. She seemed completely confused and shocked when confronted with the trouble she had caused. Her beliefs about “sharing the gospel” and her views on secular business practices led to a clash in professional conduct.
I spent significant time explaining to Jade that her actions were not aligned with professional standards and that using religion as a justification for her behavior was deceptive. When I pointed out the industry’s dress code requirements, she reacted negatively, indicating that her priority was finding a husband.
Reflecting on this experience, I’ve come to realize that my values did not align with the industry norms, and I made the decision to switch companies and fields. I am now a technical editor for a global medical publication, where I am treated with respect and fairly compensated.
Jade’s actions ultimately led me to recognize the need for balance and to challenge industry standards that I had normalized. I no longer feel obligated to help people who are unwilling to help themselves.
In a strange turn of events, Jade reached out to me to ask for accommodation while she looks for a husband. I was happy to inform her that I have moved to a different area and am now in a different industry.
This experience has taught me the value of Alison’s teachings and allowed me to recognize my worth beyond industry standards.
