Seven Lesson's

The mid afternoon sun was starting to make my skin feel a lil hot as I lay on the reclined pool deck chair. I was relaxing on the roof of the Sinsity Mansion by the pool. The fully reclined deck chair allowed me to lie on my tummy.

My open writing journal was in front of me. I picked up the sun lotion and applied the layer to my already tan skin. The security guard stood still to my right, never flinching, but his sunglasses did nothing to hide his stare.

Wiping my hands on my towel I resumed my comfortable position in front of my journal and picked up my pen. Here I was being offered the role of Sinsity manager. A lavish island complete with residents, dance club, rooms, picturesque beaches, and a large marble finished resort style complex. It had thousands of VIP's, visitors to the island fluctuated had reduced from 700 down to 200.

I was being asked to re-establish the brothel, after my last experience I was unsure. However here I was enjoying the warm sun in quiet pleasant surroundings. I had two body guards on the front door of the mansion and another big burly guy dressed in a black suite holding a machine gun to my right.

I started to scribble notes on my writing pad, I needed to verbalise to myself what went wrong for me, what lessons did I learn. I took myself to the brink of insanity; I needed to learn from the experience. The place had all the look and feel of potential.

It mesmerized everyone who I gave a tour; its careful attention to detail was a testament to the architects of it, a true talent. I was initially there to help establish the place. I saw myself as like the club mum. Someone to nurture young talent give them confidence leaving the management to others.

As the club's doors opened I had girls working, for the shift two managers, I had a sense of emotional attachment to the place.

Lesson number one - keep the emotional attachment to a minimum.

As days wore on, I sensed increasing friction between me and one of the shift managers. I learnt quickly I was dealing with the CEO's partner. This wasn't going to be easy. I was later to be reminded by her that she was also my boss’s sister in law. I was dealing with family. Confrontation was inevitable it was me or her and she left or so it seemed.

I then resumed after much hesitation the role I was avoiding "General Manager". My approach was to lead by example, dancing, working with the staff, creating a fun and interesting place to work. I had two girls operating as shift managers; I sensed the seeds of emotional distress.

I wanted stability in management something I never obtained, without asking I knew something was wrong, I knew these two were emotionally attached to each other.
My careful use of intelligence and charm could see what was occurring. When one committed virtual suicide I knew the other would disappear, which was best for her to do.

Lesson number two - Hire Managers you can trust, you require loyalty.

I was all for not standing in the way of letting talent shine, I saw that in someone and gave her the opportunity. I still had one position left un-tendered. There were girls willing to step up; I was receiving offers from within.

Some inexperienced but all to keen to show their potential, I wanted someone who could work with my new shift manager. I had two choices; I also had the choice of a male manager with loads of experience but all to hard to catch. I was bouncing ideas and options around in my head, inviting my own manager and my staff inside it.

Lesson Number three - learn to be emotional intelligent.

Still with a vacant shift management position and having two girls keen on the remaining position I gave them a task each. One girl had the desire but lacked experience so I tasked her understanding what traffic is, how to be obtain it and how to we manage it.

The other was a stickler for rules and warned she would keep people to them. My experience was that rules are necessary but some flexibility on both parts is required. So I tasked her with the generation of a code of conduct.

In the blink of an eye one morning I woke to read the local paper to see oh no bad publicity. What transpired were stress, back room discussions, private conversations, and the support of the company or council of sorts questionable. It was now go it alone we had no community support. Our counter was to bring music to the place.

Lesson Number four - Know your Master.

Then disaster struck I was immobilised by an illness I was virtually hospitalised. I knew my task would become difficult now. My intuition that had sometimes guided me also had the potential to generate insecurities. Sometimes I could use these intuitive feelings that were hardly ever wrong, sometimes I knew there was really nothing I could do. It was a warning a sign.

I knew I would be out of action for a while, three weeks at best, I knew that with position I was in , unable to dance, spend time in the club, get the feel of the place and feel the vibe I knew I wouldn’t last.

My insecurities manifested itself at first with a barrage of "fire me",” I quit'". My Insecurities also allow my heroin like addictions to surface and take hold of me. My manager as lovely as she was saw this side of me.

In my solitude I was desiring attention, I was born on a stage I had a thirst for attention. The lack of it fuelled my insecurities even further. I tried a new manager and let her go just as quick; I sensed behind her "I know it all attitudes" was disloyalty.

I had one good shift manager, and in the blink of an eye was forced to accept another. I took my two shift managers and gave them the opportunity to back out; I asked whether they would work together, stability is what I needed. I was reassured but I knew it wouldn’t work; the tension between them was too much, I sensed it.

Lesson Number Five – Ensure you have role Definition with your manager

Within a few days my intuition was right, one offered I accepted and she left. Then my manager seemingly disappeared due to personal trauma. A quick chat to the CEO's wife, I now felt exposed alone without support, I had that with my manager.

I had one good shift manager, and was starting to receive reports of an aspect of her behaviour that needed correction, I ignored it.

I knew my days would be numbered now, here I was forcing the issue, and there was no business to be usual about. The money in the tip jars was at an all time low, our events failed, the girls stopped working. I wasn't able to lead still a week or more away from dancing being virtual hospitalised.

I was surrounded by the CEO and his key managers, I had my moment to speak, right then I had a call from Sami, I ignored her, our time together had become sparse. I shut my mouth, bit my lip, I knew I would take the fall soon.

I finally mustered the courage to say something to my remaining shift manager about her behaviour. I knew she would be upset, I misjudged by how much. With my manager momentarily by my side I gave the message. The reaction was at first as expected "I quit" nothing I couldn’t work with, a confident Ozzie seemingly no where to be seen would work her charm.

Within minutes I was contacted by the CEO's wife, she had a file on me, a list of complaints she'd obtained and now she had an employee threatening legal action, she had been busy in the background and now had everything she needed.

Lesson Number Six - Know your enemies and keep them close.

I now knew I would be fired before I woke up the next day. I set the wheels in motion, gave my remaining staff some much needed organisation, we established a nite of events.

The result paid off, we had our best nite yet, still I was waiting for the hammer, I gave my lovely manager the opportunity to release me, I knew the situation was out of her control, I knew should would fire me within hours, and I knew it would hurt.

A nudge on the bum broke my concentration. I had my six lessons, I also had my boss beside me, I knew my master well and I there was one lesson that I had learnt from him an perhaps the most important one of all.

Lesson number Seven – keep it fun.