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		<title>The Truth About My Job Pt2</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AveryTingle/~3/6fU-g3xago0/</link>
		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/28/thetruthaboutmyjob2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:50:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Journal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CenturyLink]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1054</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Batman: Under The Red Hood Reviewed</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AveryTingle/~3/fsQXKQBnbkU/</link>
		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/27/batmanundertheredhoodreviewed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[The Multi(Media) Verse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Animated Film]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Animated Movie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Animation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Under The Red Hood]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1050</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fluid, gripping, and utterly violent, Batman: Under the Red Hood provides a condensed telling of Batman’s greatest failure and the subsequent rise of one of his most tragic villains. Strikingly animated, with gorgeous action sequences and fight scenes that would do Yuen Woo Ping justice, DC’s latest entry into its animated portfolio is a very [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AveryTingle/~3/W1WCO4Vf04g/</link>
		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/26/beatingdiabetesandrunningdowndreams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:15:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Journal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beating type 2 diabetes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For the past couple of years, I’ve been trying to beat back type-2 diabetes. Either that or I’ve been trying to kill myself. Until a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure which.
When I first started, I quit junk food cold turkey and began a workout routine that would’ve given Clark Kent cramps. After a few [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
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		<title>Twittering–Weekly Digest</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[
Watching Brooklyns Finest. Wesley Snipes didn&#39;t have to do much acting for this role, but it&#39;s good to see him on screen again. #
Ellen Barkin NEVER EVER EVER needs another close-up. Ever. #
@brigitjackson hello!! I&#39;m good! Relaxing and watching movies! How&#39;re you doing? in reply to brigitjackson #
As far as crime dramas go, this isn&#39;t [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
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		<title>Part One: Red Morning</title>
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		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/23/pt1redmorning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:08:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Universal Warrior: Uprising]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1044</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Are you sure this is safe?&#8221; Bethany asked hesitantly, firmly gripping the outside rail of the bridge behind her. She dared to lean over, peering down four miles into the Atherean Sea below. Vertigo quickly set in as the water challenged her; rising and receding quickly. She leaned back against the cold iron railing, checking [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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		<title>Twittering–Weekly Digest</title>
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		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/17/twittering-weekly-digest-64/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[
&#34;I&#39;m just a soul who&#39;s intentions are good. Oh Lord; please don&#39;t let me be misunderstood.&#34; #
Promo for the upcoming #FridayFlash Universal Warrior: Atherean Defenders http://bit.ly/9FAlNC Enjoy! #
@blaquesaber thanks, man. Much appreciated.   #FridayFlash in reply to blaquesaber #
I think that may be the first deadline I ever made. #amwriting #
Won&#39;t lie. I know [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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		<title>Atherean Defenders: Red Morning (Excerpt)</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AveryTingle/~3/c5fQA2AoDrg/</link>
		<comments>http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/17/redmorningexcerpt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:49:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Universal Warrior: Uprising]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1039</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A deafening, bone-crunching impact was heard below as something hit the water with so much force that droplets shot several feet up. Instinctively, she Reached out to her brothers even as she turned&#8230;and could only feel Jayce. His attention was now entirely focused on Darryl, and Bethany realized with horror that she had been given [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
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		<title>Twittering–Weekly Digest</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
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@jaysubject almost didn&#39;t recognize you with the new photo!   Thanks for the shout! #WriterWednesday in reply to jaysubject #
@VampFaerie have you seen that before? Is it any good? in reply to VampFaerie #
@SaxonHenry @odellawilson  #WW Queryaddict  #WW jimbronyaur  #Writers raopal  #4THJuly #FollowFriday #FF #4THJuly #FollowFriday #FF #
is back online. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
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		<title>Twittering–Weekly Digest</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/07/03/twittering-weekly-digest-62/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
@140flashfiction just one; it&#39;s ok to hate what you write, it&#39;s NOT ok to stop writing. You can always go back and make changes. in reply to 140flashfiction #
Happiness is fresh, warm coffee and words yet to be written. #amwriting #
@odellawilson @cupcakes808  #gratitude thanks for the mentions, people! Much love and appreciation! #g #
One [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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		<title>Twittering–Weekly Digest</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/27/twittering-weekly-digest-61/</guid>
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@mazzz_in_Leeds no problem! in reply to mazzz_in_Leeds #
Hello, twitterverse! Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and their week is off to a good start!   #
I&#39;m #writing  back to work on #Universalwarrior  both the novel and the upcoming flash fiction series. #
I think I&#39;m gonna have to go the podcasting route, and soon. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s been about five months since my first post about CenturyLink. Since then, they’ve added a new team to the outbound floor. A lot more people have come and gone (mostly the latter, virtually every person I wrote of in the last blog has moved on). The center hasn’t changed all that much; we still process inbound and outbound calls.</p>
<p>Not too long ago, one of the higher-ups hurled a racial slur at me. Remarkably, I don’t think he meant it to be malicious; I really don’t think he knew any better. The matter was addressed privately; I didn’t want it escalated. I didn’t want to see anyone—<em>anyone</em>—put on the street because of me.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean I forget; I had to deal with this from a higher-up at my place of employment.</p>
<p>I still love what I do; I love the friendly, competitive, mildly snarky environment. This is probably the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with (outside of California), and while it’s definitely a sales environment, most people will pass along what they’ve learned along the way. You have to <em>earn</em> the right to brag, though.</p>
<p>Some of my issues with the job stem from my own faults; I don’t like being told what to do, and I have a <em>real</em> hard time following rules that don’t make any sense; such as being forbidden to surf the internet during work hours.</p>
<p>Granted, during inbound days, I’d understand it; we’re often slammed with back-to-back calls, so you don’t really have time to update your Facebook. But on some outbound days? When we’re waiting up to five minutes between calls? We’re supposed to “mentally prepare for the next call”. Times like this, I’d rather be physically preparing my resume, but it’s what it is. I’ve gotten into too much trouble for net surfing, so I don’t chance it anymore. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.</p>
<p>We also have these heavy-handed Quality Assurance scans that would make the job a lot easier, if they were handled right. They exist to ensure that we’re not doing anything unethical or illegal to a customer. But when someone gets penalized for telling a customer that a call may be “monitored” instead of “recorded”, it feels more like someone taking a power trip and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding position.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with change; I have a problem with blatant unprofessionalism. I have a problem with roughly thirty percent of my sales never going through and no explanation given. I have a problem being penalized for not selling leads that have been wrung out repeatedly (then again, to be fair, I get burnt out, so I miss a lot of opportunities on leads that <em>could</em> be sold). I have a problem for rules that change so quickly it’s nearly impossible to keep up at times.</p>
<p>A number of us had been promised for <em>months </em>that we would be moved into another capacity of the job. When the time finally came, we all showed up to work two hours early only to hear from each other (instead of our bosses) that the opportunity had been cancelled. Little instances like this are what keep me from referring people to this job. I prefer to keep things simple; I come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.</p>
<p>All of that said, I grew up on this job. When I initially started, it was supposed to be a temporary thing; I never expected to be good at it, I never expected to take it seriously, and I certainly never expected to learn so much about telecommunications here. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going to work, but there are worse ways to kill eight hours. Certainly less profitable ways, anyway.</p>
<p>Overall, CenturyLink is a job; for me, it’s a stepping stone and a means to an end. I will probably be here until/if my writing takes off. I manage to keep things simple, stay away from things I don’t need to be involved with, and do my job to the very best of my ability. That, in my opinion, is the best way to survive here.</p>
<p>That is the truth about my job.
<div id="apf_post_footer">
<h4>Related Articles:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1048">Beating Diabetes and Running Down Dreams</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/2010/06/16/the-trip-home/">The Trip Home</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=1001">Meet Me Halfway (A Blog About God)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.averyktingle.com/?p=894">I&#8217;m Going Home.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>(c) Avery K. Tingle for Modern Magic Enterprises LTD and Nomadic Productions LLC</p>
<p><font color="#B4B4B4" size="-2">Post Footer automatically generated by <a href="http://www.freetimefoto.com/add_post_footer_plugin_wordpress" style="color: #B4B4B4; text-decoration:underline;">Add Post Footer Plugin</a> for wordpress.</font></p>
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