Alex_Allen

Are you actually rating the teas what you think they’re worth or are you just rating them bad because you don’t like the company?

Alex I am sure whatever you are going through is monumental and beyond just the stresses of this job if in fact you work for Teavana. I would however hope that if in fact you do that you realize you are the biggest fish of them all. I realize the economy is rough right now but surely you should seek other employment and not let any one company take away your power to this degree.
Its a bit alarming because your disdain is not only aimed at the company but also the consumers.
Posts like this are alarming because posts like this are often made right before someone snaps a gasket.
At first I found your posts interesting, well written and I could sympathize but at this point it looks a little frightening.
I do hope that you get some help with what is going on within you as there is certainly a huge internal struggle even if it is spiking your creative zeal.

Thank you Azzrian! I was at a loss for words last night, debating if it was my place to say something and feeling guilty that I helped fuel this. While it has been mostly entertaining to read and I can very much relate, heck this could be my internal dialog, all these things have certainly gone through my head, except I would never think of my guests as fish (it is a very poignant analogy though) and find it rather degrading. But that’s why I decided I couldn’t work there anymore and (attempted at least to) quit.

Alex I seriously think quitting would be better for your career than getting fired. I know you are trying to push as hard as you can to get corporate to react since you know they are watching now and of course venting at the same time but I never wrote a tasting note in anger nor gave in a lower rating than I thought it deserved. I know you are a bigger tea snob than me so that’s all relative and probably were before you started working at Teavana. I also know you have a dream of opening your own tea emporium (as do I) so I would encourage you to quit now so that it’s only two years before your non-compete contract ends, you can get a decent paying job in the meantime and not loose people’s respect on here, because we would love to buy tea from such a knowledgeable, conscientious and passionate member of the tea community. So please step down from the ledge, for the love of tea…

I debated as well but I feel being part of an online community in this day and age is similar if not equatable to a “real life” society and it is upon us all to reach out to those struggling. A spiritual side of me says let everyone walk their own path positive or negative as there are lessons for us everywhere no matter the direction we take. On the other hand to ignore someone’s struggle means we are not being true to our own if it be in our nature TO reach out. That is why I posted.
I value Alex as a member here, he has been here longer than myself to add to that but I fear that he is walking on the dark side of things and he would be far better off fulfilling his dream and educating people rather than knocking people down. Its unfortunate to feel the way you do Alex but your own internal compass IS guiding you AWAY from this job! Don’t let the COMPANY keep you in their hooks! We care about you!

@Emilie: it’s a little of both

@Azzrian and Autumn: I apologize for making you feel alarmed/guilty/frightened. My discomfort for acting out of accordance with my conscience at work has caused me to write this story. Although I regret my analogy of a customer to a fish (we’re all human here), I cannot lie to myself or to you and say that I did not enjoy writing this story and sharing it here. I will take advice from both of you. Azzrian, I will seek counseling for my internal struggles, as I already have a fine therapist that I work very well with. Autumn, I will seriously consider putting in my notice in the near future. Thank you both for your input, your care, and your concern. I promise from here on out that my posts will be more civil in their language, and positive in their message.

Good to hear Alex and best of luck! Writing can be very theraputic and like I said I did enjoy most of it, feel free to private message me if you ever need to vent/rage/talk.

so is it good or bad or in between?