Straight Gay Reviews
Welcome to SGR - Straight Gay Reviews! Yes, I'm Gay, hence the name. I'm Rumeal; it's like Ru Paul & a Meal you'd eat! Feel free to share this with anyone; SGR started as a movie review channel, which I did with a friend. However, it has morphed into something I love doing: learning from others and networking. There are many different segments; I hope you have time to listen to them when you can, and they provide value in your world. Oh, if you want the visuals check us out on YouTube.
Straight Gay Reviews
Career Centric: Hybrid Harmonies, Remote Revelations, and the In-Person Impact with a Dash of Lifestyle Liberties
What if the traditional office is no longer the best fit for everyone? Join us on Career Centric as we explore the ever-evolving landscape of remote, hybrid, and in-person work setups. With insights from our guests Moni and Lamar, we delve into personal preferences and the nuances of each model. Moni shares how the hybrid approach strikes the perfect balance, melding productivity from home with the benefits of face-to-face connections. Lamar, on the other hand, champions remote work for its unparalleled focus and efficiency. Together, we weigh the broader economic ripple effects of these choices, from commuting to supporting local businesses.
In-person collaboration brings a unique energy that is hard to replicate through a screen. We discuss the trend of returning to offices, especially in organizations with federal ties, and the creative ways businesses are adapting to this shift. Picture meetings in cozy restaurants rather than sterile boardrooms! We also touch on personal lifestyle changes remote workers are embracing, like downgrading to one car. Our conversation takes a light-hearted turn as we swap stories about consumer habits and the mixed emotions surrounding the latest tech gadgets and luxury products, such as Apple's latest releases and Beyoncé's new perfume.
As we wrap up, our focus shifts to the importance of aligning career choices with personal passions for mental well-being. Face-to-face interactions can be transformative, offering more than just a career boost—they foster genuine connections. Whether it's managing office return anxiety or ensuring your job doesn't drain your spirit, we emphasize the need for introspection. It's crucial to love what you do and remain true to yourself. Our guests and personal anecdotes serve as a reminder to prioritize happiness and mental health, encouraging listeners to learn from setbacks and stay passionate in their professional journeys.
Welcome to Career Centric. It's your boy, sgr we got.
Speaker 2:Monty.
Speaker 1:We got Lamar and we're here to talk about the lovely career Not necessarily where we work, because that would be awkward, because you guys pay attention a lot more than what I think you do but we're here to talk about something that is plaguing the world all the way around. I got a homeboy who sent out something and then calls me today. I'm like what's going on? He's like, yeah, so I've been requested to go back to work full time five days a week, no more. I'm a homeboy. He kind of lived here but worked there, and so he got to work there and not live here. So it kind of brings up our topic for discussion Remote working, hybrid or in-person. So we'll pass the mic to Mani and then we'll pass the mic to Lamar and then we'll go back to me.
Speaker 1:But, mani, before we get into the questions, what are your feelings? And everybody, let's go ahead and take a little libation. Y'all know I don't drink the alcohol, so shout out to y'all before we posh the throat, you know, because this is a really in-depth conversation. So what's your? Yeah, did you see? Y'all are got nice stuff. I got me some Waterloo orange vanilla. I don't know why they thought making orange vanilla would make sense, but I think they were thinking like creams. Anyway, molly hybrid remote, or like a both or in person. What say you? How do you feel?
Speaker 2:Personally, I like hybrid. Okay, while I have enjoyed thoroughly, and if they was saying in person or remote, I would say remote over in person, but for now hybrid for the position that I'm in. I sometimes want to see the people that I work with in person, and then other times I want to be at home. I feel like I'm more productive at home.
Speaker 1:Okay, passing it to Lamar.
Speaker 3:I 100% agree. I feel that I am more productive at home Only because you, essentially, I feel like you have less distractions. I know people think you have more distractions at home. I guess in some cases you can if you have young kids et cetera, et cetera, but for me, I have less distractions at home. So right now I'm only required to go in, at the moment, once a week. You know that one time a week we're all catching up. You know that's literally what it is. It's almost like hey, let's you know that one time a week we're all catching up. You know that's literally what it is. It's almost like hey, let's you know we are collaborating, but it's like water cooler talk. It's not necessarily business focused, as you know, as is intended. So at the moment I prefer straight work from home.
Speaker 1:I'll be honest with you, with the career path that I have and the abilities to work, remote work, in person, so on and so forth, I kind of like having that hybrid life too. Like there are days, for instance, my Tuesdays and Thursdays typically are remote days, because I do end up getting more done. I feel like you can manage yourself. I am the water cooler. I am the type of person who's like hey, okay, so, marnie, how was your weekend? Lamar, how was your weekend? Like that's the type I like, the camaraderie. But I also like the ability to come like and we do have huddle rooms or quiet rooms at the place that I work. That gives you the ability to like break away from people. But I kind of see both sides of the coin Because you know one of the things, without giving away too much history, I worked during COVID.
Speaker 1:I was considered an essential worker, and I use air quotes because I don't think communication is essential, because people don't use communication properly when we, you know, in life we live. But it's to me interesting how the world is now coming out of this post-COVID life and I really think I talked to another friend about this topic that this has to do with stimulating the economy. Again, I agree, people are looking at it like that, oh, you're making me go back to work.
Speaker 1:Why are you making me go back to work? Because you're going to have to commute. When you commute, you have to. You're not able to go to the refrigerator and say I'm about to snack on this.
Speaker 1:You have to go out to eat, so businesses are taking a hurt, and like there are a lot of things, that there is a chain reaction of sorts. But I guess, staying on the level of productivity, do you feel like you're more productive with a group of people or do you feel like you get stuff done? I already know your answer, so I'm going to pass it to lamar and then go to you and then me. But, lamar, do you feel like when I mean collaborative in person, because I know you can teach people, because we all have access to teams, we all have access to email we had, you know, companies use different messaging platforms and then I feel like when they figure out the security is not there, they're like no more, um, but like lamar, what say you?
Speaker 3:you know, that's almost uh like, like a six, one way, half a dozen. Another type of type of response. I'm gonna give you only reason. I say that is because I prefer working remotely. However, when you're in a group setting, let's just say you have a group project.
Speaker 3:I remember when I was a team lead some years back, I gave my group an assignment and I'm like it was meant to be like a fun, collaborative, think outside the box assignment. It because, once they did the research and we came up with the results, this is me saying, hey, this is how we'd be best in class once we follow the metrics and the response times for some of these other companies. So in situations like that, I think that a group setting can be very productive. However, I mean, obviously there are those other times where we're just sitting there just cat and mouse back and forth type of thing. So I mean, I guess it really depends on if you have an eject excuse me objective at hand. Um, and if you do, and if it's structured, I think it could be very beneficial. But if it's just, hey, a regular tuesday now I'd rather stay home because we just we're gonna shoot the breeze money.
Speaker 1:What say you?
Speaker 2:I agree, but in the work that we do we do need to have some time together. So for my staff we do get together one day a week in the office and we do really do just be kicking the breeze. But some of it is mental health. And in the work that we do we take on a lot of other people's things and it's good to be able to catch up with people who understand what you got going on. So sometimes those days are not my most productive days. I am not tapping away getting all of my notes done because we're in the office chit-chatting. It seems like chit-chat, but it's actually really productive when we weigh out the options of people could be preventing their own burnout by finally seeing someone else. For those of us who have kiddos and you're stuck in the house and you need another adult to talk to, those kinds of things come into place and you're able to just be able to vent. But for group projects I want to do them at home. Everybody do them when they can do them, because not all of us work at the same time at the best.
Speaker 2:So I am a 3 am 4 am. Knock out a 30-page paper, get up, go to the gym she always does, she always does and start a 8 o'clock job. That's me, though. Not many people can write at 3 am. Not many people can then go to the gym after writing that much. There is just some things in my brain that I work best. I have a staff member who's the same way. We do supervision outside of work hours, and if my job is on the clock at 8, so my job business, we do it before then.
Speaker 1:Allegedly. I was about to say truly.
Speaker 2:We do it at 6 am because for both of us our kids are still sleeping we feel the most at ease, we can get the most done, we're the most productive at 6 am. Am I going to take my two hours back later in the day?
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:That's believing the thing that people tell you sometimes I feel like and kind of like to give my opinion about it. It is it's a mix, because the root project I do like the collaborative. Like I finished a project last week. There was a problem. I got tired of people complaining about the problem. I didn't even know the problem was a problem. On that Friday I was like forget it, put together the solution, put out the problem, solve the solution. You know you're going to get feedback.
Speaker 1:Sometimes it's funny, like instead of me calling you SGR, I'm calling you Ramil and it's just like okay, they're the same thing. It's fine. Like you know, it is what it is. But is the data there? Data there? Does it work? And one of the things I like about doing projects is getting feedback back. Like I ask people straight up like okay, so what worked? What didn't work? What would you change? Well, I changed this. Okay, that's a minor, minor nuance and yes, I say minor, small nuance. That merge works again 2025. And if it does not truly impact the greater envision, it's fine. You know semantics, but I think that there's a multitude of reasons. Like don't get me wrong, I feel like hybrid makes more sense than full in person. That's one thing, because, um, where I'm working is about to go through a complete redesign and there are probably maybe 75 seats. They're about to double the space and make 150 seats, which you know, and people are like oh that's crazy.
Speaker 1:I'm like one. I can assure you not that many people are about to still be in this office. Two, they are going to make it Like I recently applied to a role that is not a remote. Like it's not remote. Apply to a role that is not a remote. Like it's not remote, it's in person. Where you know, if I join this team, all my peers are remote.
Speaker 3:So I will have a conversation with my manager like, hey, can I pop into?
Speaker 1:office to actually like can I go to the city and we meet up and we collaborate? Why can't you do it in person? I feel like it'll be a different energy. Or maybe once a quarter we bring everybody here in Frisco to have the conversation, or we bring everybody here in Frisco to have the conversation, or we bring everybody here in New York, or we bring everybody here in California. I don't know Like is that a conversation you have?
Speaker 1:Because in-person collaborations work differently than straight, remote, like, as much as I love doing this remote, it is cool to have you sitting next to me, monty, or being in your space and sitting next to you, lamar. It's a different energy, it brings a different energy and that's the part where I think, like I said, this is very much a double-edged sword. This is why I wanted to have this topic. I feel like we're going to see more of this trajectory of the return office, because there were people throwing up hands and fits and so on and so forth. So I wanted to ask that.
Speaker 1:But you brought up mental health, mami, and I have a friend, who will go unnamed, who works remote. I have multiple guys that work remote, like straight up, like similar to you, lamar, but what I'll tell you is multiple of the people that I'm talking about have one car. Both spouses work remote and they have one car. And I'm just like, how do y'all do that? I was like, well, we had two, but literally it sits in the garage. So it was like pointless paying two insurances, paying two gas, paying two maintenance. So we sold the other one and we just had the lease. I was like, oh, yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, but it makes sense. Yes, that's the conversation where you know, when we have those conversations, people are like, wait, what I'm like, if two plus two equals four in your life, why you got to explain this to the next person. Yeah, so how do you guys feel, like the return to office, or the return to work and again, I know it's not mandated across every job, but I know it more it's coming more and more.
Speaker 2:No, the elected president has mandated anybody who receives federal funding to return to office.
Speaker 3:I take it that's how you really feel about it.
Speaker 1:I crack up because on levels, on levels, and again there'll be stuff that I just don't talk about and it'd be funny because you'd be spilling tea that you don't even think you're spilling, like you in this room, and the kettle's in the kitchen and it's so some of us who are being, don't even think useful.
Speaker 2:I'm like you're in this room and the kettle's in the kitchen, some of us who are being forced back into the office because we do receive federal funding. It's interesting, because there are some who are in a similar field of me, that they sold their buildings because it made more sense for them to work remotely, for them just to come together for a team meeting. They can meet at a library for a team meeting because we do have to have in-person team meetings. They can meet at a library for a team meeting. They can meet in the world.
Speaker 2:I have done my staff meetings in the world where we've met at a restaurant just because I wanted to buy them lunch, because what we do is tiresome in training and I want to make sure that they are taking care of themselves and that they ate some of the days, because a lot of the times we all go all day without eating. But if I put a meeting on your schedule and just give you an address and you pull up and it's a restaurant, you're like what are we here for? Because you are about to eat. Take the rest of the day, because I need y'all to take care of yourselves, because I need y'all to take care of yourselves.
Speaker 1:I got a pinpoint there. There is a difference between supervisors like yourself and other supervisors. I think sometimes we live in this world where people aren't realistic, like I'm in sales and that's where I'll leave it. I'm in sales, so I kind of like was putzing around with some figures. I'm just like, oh so it ain't just me, it ain't just me, it's everybody thing, and I get that companies like. I kind of had a joking conversation with people.
Speaker 3:People like wait, they making an iPhone 17 this year.
Speaker 1:I'm like friend, apple is a business. No, I do not work for Apple, but Apple is a business. If they do not make new merchandise or products for you to purchase, apple will not be a business anymore. Wait, the S25. I just got the.
Speaker 2:S23. That was two years ago, not just Apple and communications. Think about the way I am a Beyonce fan, so, please, the way they released that perfume. And everybody was in the comments like ma'am, you just took all our money. You owe the IRS because you already got all our money. Ma'am, them Cowboy Carter tickets just took everything and you gonna release. Listen, the comments were hilarious. If y'all have not gone and read the comments on that post, you need to laugh. We will mark.
Speaker 2:Because the name of the perfume is Say and they was like say no more, keep it, we don't need it. No.
Speaker 1:I have that perfume Because I thought it was unisex. I'm not going to lie, I'm like okay, Beyonce, Run it up. You might as well come take it, because at this point in time, like it new lord, regurgitate them. It don't hit. And I spray a little bit of it and I'm like what's a pulse point? Popping products. Go check out that episode, y'all. And I did a review on it and honey, she know what she doing, she do the the alcohol she just released is really good, but Lamar says otherwise.
Speaker 1:Lamar, can you tap in and tell me?
Speaker 2:I'm not doing it, but I also can't do any liquor straight. I'm still a child.
Speaker 1:Lamar. So what say you about her liquor? Like we're talking about a career woman because for my. So so what say you? What say you about her liquor? Like we, we're talking about a career woman because for my I'm going to. I'm going to say this before you say this Beyonce has hit you on multiple platforms. Yes, she's going to sing.
Speaker 3:She's going to dance Like what she did acting in.
Speaker 1:Mufasa. She was in there for a little bit.
Speaker 3:Here's. Here's my theory, and this is not across the board. I feel like when most famous people come out with liquor, it's not really that good. And that's not across the board, because I know there are some that are really good.
Speaker 2:Have you tried Terramano?
Speaker 3:Yes, let's rewind back 20 seconds. I take that back. I just don't like hers because I feel like um, I don't know it, it I don't recall how long it was aged for, but there's something missing it is, yeah, it's hitting on something that ain't hitting right and it's just like all right.
Speaker 3:Well, you know what you're really trying to hit on. You're really trying to be your ride, you're really trying to be a wheat, I mean, like it's. It's a low, it's a low proof, but the low it still hit me here. It just ain't it.
Speaker 1:It ain't it you have to say something, beehive his socials is different than my socials, and her socials is different than mine is, and her socials is different than mine. I have not tasted it.
Speaker 2:No, but be honest with me. I understand that not everything is for everyone and, like I said, I can drink it, but I need to mix it with a lemonade. If you had to mix it with a fry with a lemonade, lamar, it's fire With a lemonade, no.
Speaker 3:First, I have to laugh and tell you this, when you said deny. Let me go back to my straight.
Speaker 1:Listen, I'll never know, this will be me over here drinking my flavored water.
Speaker 2:But yeah but no, but seriously, in that same sense of like, you just have to deal with the flexibility, and Beyonce and Rihanna will teach all of us that you still just have to figure out what works best for you and then figure your niche and stay there and don't listen to what everybody wants you to do, because shout out to Cowboy Carter and winning. And I won't be attending Cowboy Carter this year because I'm not traveling to Chicago. Beyonce, you should have did the Detroit show.
Speaker 1:No, y'all got her high. Somebody smoking in here? I was up there like not your Beyonce.
Speaker 2:We gonna light up in the city. It's legal here, ma'am, to say people were.
Speaker 1:It was a 30 minute delay. She was supposed to come out at 9. She came out at 9.32. 34. People was like Beyonce was like she don't have to. The thing that cracks me up and say what you want to say truly and I say this to kind of laugh about stuff but say what you want to say about a Beyonce, about a Rihanna, about a black businesswoman like yourself. Marnie, you're going to figure out how to get it done woman like yourself, Manny, you're going to figure out how to get it done.
Speaker 1:So, like one thing that I love about this type of stuff that I'm doing right here, it's all about analytics and it's posting. I'm proud to say like we finally got double digits in YouTube.
Speaker 1:I know that sounds silly, but like double digits, like hey, the watch time is going up, like that's something else that I'm proud of. But it all starts by consistency. If you want something, you have to change it yourself and, um, you know, things aren't great every time that you do it. Things kind of suck sometimes and when it comes circling back to the career, you got to figure out what works good for you. Um, I don't into this topic, but I want to get into this topic.
Speaker 3:Wait, before you get into that topic. Look at my tagline. It says minor setback for major comeback. That goes for all of that. Think about it. That's deep.
Speaker 1:Because and again thank you, and I remember my point because y'all know how my brain works but straight gay reviews was never this Straight gay reviews was me and another person doing movie reviews and it was a straight guy on the gay side. That's what it was.
Speaker 3:And originally I had told I'm a straight guy.
Speaker 1:What?
Speaker 2:Even though everybody either thinks me and Ramil are together or that I'm really a lesbian. But it is what it is.
Speaker 1:My favorite had to be the reason why it's called relationship realism is because your relationship is so real. Yep, please, please, cheers, cheers.
Speaker 2:We're together.
Speaker 3:I'm a cheers anyway, even if I ain't involved.
Speaker 1:Well, I don't want to involve you, because they might think we're in an unholy trinity or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that would be the next part. That would be the next part because legit. Someone said that I was flaunting my new relationship all over social media, talking about how real my relationship is did they watch any of the clips?
Speaker 1:I mean, you know, I do have to say this and I and then I'm going to get back to my original point. People think I'm straight. I don't go for like. People think I'm straight. We came here, you know me, and we don't talk about him anymore, bruno, but we came to a party and y'all thought I was straight and they thought it was funny. But getting back to the original point in hand, sometimes you gotta fight for what you want, yeah, and you're laughing about something else. You know, lamar, you know it's funny. I'm there, I'm there. I thought you was gonna do it. Nobody does anything with me, ever.
Speaker 3:No, last time I did something, y'all was like, oh, that's for the gang. That was him talking about you putting you in the pocket.
Speaker 1:This right here. We both got beers. We can do this, twins.
Speaker 3:Nah, I ain't doing nothing, I'm just cheers. Look, I'm just cheers and not my empty glass.
Speaker 1:But on some real stuff. Going back to what I was talking about, like fighting for what you want, this is a grind. This is not something I'm paid for. I'm using my money to pay for this. I don't consider this a hobby. I consider this something that will make me money. One day I want to be Issa Rae or Quinta Brunson one day.
Speaker 1:I got tons of ideas, but again, my brain works like once you trust someone, you trust their ideas and you have one time to mess up trust. Trust is not easily given, but the moment I like that. You said that OK, I'm the type of person will talk to me about it. Not everybody wants to talk to me about everything. So what I was talking about, like fighting for what is right, Sometimes you can't Fight the system, but you can create a system that works for you, that betters you, and what I mean by that is. So what and I use the word so what if you got to go back to the office six days a week? Six days, Lord have mercy. Five days a week? It looks to you like I don't know who's doing that.
Speaker 3:I don't know about no six. We're going to have to look at a different career.
Speaker 1:But like five days a week don't know about no six, we're gonna have to look at a different career, but like by day of the week, if that's what it takes to do the job that you're doing, cool. If it doesn't leave and find a different job, and that's something like. I've been with the company. I've been with it'll be 10 years this year and I like the company because I like its values, I like everything, I like what it offers. But someone was challenged about something recently, like if you're not happy with your pay, leave and come back. I'm like what? Leave and come back, but that is that comes up in apartments.
Speaker 2:I have a friend who was renewing her lease and they were of course, they always upgrade your, your lease, but the new residents get the better deal. And so what did is? She just went online and reapplied for the same apartment and got it for less. Because they weren't thinking when they went to renew her lease they were like, oh no this. And she was like, but the same apartment is going for this price, why you can't give. I already live here. But then she went on in the portallied. Of course she got approved and they were like, oh, we see, you're ending your lease. She was like, no, I'm keeping it, but this is me, but I'll move downstairs. They want me to move downstairs? Right, change my rank. But you got caught. Y'all, not y'all, couldn't make it make sense but that's kind of the thing.
Speaker 1:Um, what I will tell you is, oftentimes policies and procedures are put in place by people who don't do this. That is a conversation we can, you know, stem for another day. But, like, I kind of crack up about that because it's like, okay, I hear where you're coming from and I understand where you see, and I hear this and I hear that, but like, what does right, look like we're having a conversation about and you know, I love good old Jasmine Crockett because I got to take a side, pivot side, deviate where she goes. You know, I will admit when I'm wrong and you know what. You are correct. Immigrants are taking our jobs, taking thousands of jobs from Americans. You know who she was talking about. Oh, I'm listening, manny, you know Elon Musk, he is an immigrant and he has taken thousands of jobs, but like, that is a smart black woman. And the reason why I have these conversations is I tell people that unless it impacts you, it doesn't affect you, and I say that oftentimes that people don't care about certain things. So those that have the ability of COVID 2.0 came out and granted, covid is still very real, but it isn't as impacting yeah, impacting powerful, yeah, powerful and impacting, as it was in 2020, but five years post-covid, which is about to happen in the next 30 days, I mean, granted, you know, I'm saying what it impacted us in the united states and they really shut down everything.
Speaker 1:What would it look like to go back to a world like that? What would it look like to where you can see your loved ones, where you know? You know, because essentially that does the. Does the caring aspect come back or does it not, like that's? I know I'm very much all over the place, but it has to do with career, because when that happened, everybody's answer was stay home and protect yourself. But, like the fast food workers, that's still one of the industries where people like why do I want to work here when I can make more money sitting at home? Why do I want to do this? Oh, people are lazy. Are they lazy? Or have they realized that they're tired of being treated like dog crap when they're trying to give everything in their last and it's still not enough?
Speaker 3:yeah, that single-handedly has changed the outcome of america. And when I say that I mean when people realize that, hey, you know, the government have put this assistance out here and I can make you know, I barely even had a job and I can get what was it like? A thousand dollars a week versus getting ten dollars an hour. I think now that is single-handedly. I hate to say it this way, I don't want to say crippled, but it has crippled the world, because you could barely get somebody that that want to work at the fast food joint if it's not a teenager, so it's, it's a different place, man, it's it's about.
Speaker 2:Elon said it the other day. He was like well, that was. The point is that most people were, are, who are older, and no, anyone who still works at McDonald's when they're older is that these jobs were meant for teenagers and meant for college students, but we have people trying to raise children on a fast food restaurant Because, let's be honest, they can switch all of that to to robots. Um, I do believe that most people should like their first job. It is plausible to be at a mcdonald's or a taco bell, or it teaches you you know great work, ethic, all of those things, and it can see it can. It does not equate to me ever to be paid as much like a livable wage, like I don't think it should be trying to work at McDonald's.
Speaker 1:But then you know, just to follow up, there's a reason. We all have our histories. You know what I'm saying. I've never truly worked in fast food. My first job was a restaurant job, then my second job was working with customer service and food service, and my third job was to trade customer service and sales, and I've been in sales since customer service and food service, and my third job was to trade customer service and sales, and I've been in sales since. What I will share with you is I do feel like there are two types of people people who want more and do more, and there are people who want more but can't do more based upon the circumstances. A third type of person which is like those. Again, I'm in sales and one of the things that I've noticed is okay, monica Enterprises Company, lamar Enterprises Company, sgr Enterprises Company I'm bringing on all my people. If I got a son or daughter, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah my dentist, his son, second-generation dentist I don't care what you do, you're being a dentist, you get all my patients. That's something that you know. I kind of I'm going to touch on this real quick and then get back to career.
Speaker 1:I was watching the Real Housewives of Potomac. Shout out to Dr Wendy Osefo Love that woman, strong black woman, love her to death. You know Might make me go, never mind. She married Anyway, my point being Lamar's face while I was waiting for you to catch it. Point being is she put something in her kids?
Speaker 2:Like my sons, my godfather did it to me.
Speaker 1:If you get a master's, you get more, and people were like this don't make no sense.
Speaker 3:Why would you do that?
Speaker 1:She was like oh no, there are requirements, not requirements. But what is the?
Speaker 2:word she did so all of her kids get and I'm a financial advisor so I don't need a disclaimer One of my jobs but in her will, in her trust, so the children all get a certain amount. So it's not that she's singling out children, it's not that she's not being fair. There are bonuses listed in these children's trust, meaning if you get a master's degree, you get extra money. If her daughter pledges her sorority, she gets a bonus. If they learn Igbo, which is their native tongue. If, um, they learn ibu, which is their native tongue, they get an extra bonus. There's just other incentives to learn different things.
Speaker 2:Oh, my child, his trust. If he makes it to being a doctor, he'll get more. And I was blessed with my father who said the same things that if I got married, there was money in there to pay for my wedding. If there, if I got um a master's, there was money in there to pay for my wedding. If I got a master's degree, there was money in there to get some things, which I feel like there's nothing wrong. As someone who does financial advising and teaches people about the importance of money and the importance of different things. All you're doing is kind of similar to power where he said he can't get this money unless he gets a four-year degree with a 3.5 GPA. It's the same thing that Ghost did to Tariq.
Speaker 1:But what is the difference with our community and I use this word and this verbiage with our community? And again, kind of deviates, but not. I had four options growing up. Y'all gonna laugh at this one, because my mom used to make me laugh Wayne State, wayne Community, any form in the military I'm waiting until you finish or COPS. They was like what's COPS? The homeless shelter downtown Detroit. Those are your four hours of meal. That's true, and that's what my mother taught me. And like, don't get me wrong, I have an associates that I'm proud of. Shout out to where we went to high school, I mean college, that's the one Shout out. But the point of what I'm trying to say is I feel and this is a feeling that everyone's path is different for a reason, you know, but no it doesn't limit them.
Speaker 2:So if they got the trade, they still got money.
Speaker 1:There's just more in different things, but she's to me it's one of those types of situations. You're driving your kids to be more in a positive direction. That's all I was trying to do. So the careers that we have, the only thing. I'm being honest, we do these careers because they provide us a lifestyle. That's it. If you told me a little lamar you, I thought you was froze. You just blinked real hard today. It's okay, blink twice if you're safe. But, like on some real stuff, the careers provide us the lifestyles that we like living.
Speaker 1:But I do feel like it was a conversation I had with somebody who's like oh well, you know when, because you guys speak things into existence, when you get promoted, you're going to be blah, blah, blah. Like no, I'm not gonna spit more buddy, like what. He's like oh, yes, you will. Oh, you'll see you go, I'm gonna be swirling away. We ain't going on a trip, one trip, ain't. Nobody got trip money. But it's one of those types of things that I feel like we live in a world that gives us. This is not, but it's the truth. Somebody broke this down where it's like why is it that people spend money on TVs, cars, clothes, all these different things and you don't have a home. Well, the prices of homes have went up, have they not? The home that my mother stays in is less than my apartment. Her mortgage is Her mortgage.
Speaker 3:I'm sure my mortgage and your rent is probably very close.
Speaker 1:Yours is more for sure. I'm being honest. You have a little bit more space than I do.
Speaker 3:Allegedly, I don't know man, allegedly.
Speaker 1:We'll take that offline. We'll take that offline because I want to prove you wrong. Oh, I do have to call out. Getting back to that original question in hand, what am I worrying about right now?
Speaker 3:Shout out to the Blue Ranger.
Speaker 1:Go go Power Rangers for those listening to the podcast. Yeah, I went somewhere today and I got to call out my homeboy, mo. I said okay, nothing, zero, zootch. And he was like I don't know, I'm like this. I know you was born in the 2000s. Because you don't know the Power Rangers. There's a whole Blue Ranger Power Ranger outfit and you don't know what I'm talking about. Shut up, mo. What is?
Speaker 3:going on At the Dairy Show. For sure Should have been the White Ranger outfit. But never mind that he ain't supporting that.
Speaker 1:Black, blue, red and green? Absolutely not. The White Ranger was a punk.
Speaker 3:But he had the white dragon though.
Speaker 1:That was incorrect. He had the green dragon sword and the white tigerzord. Don't do this with me.
Speaker 3:You're right. You're right. My bad Power.
Speaker 1:Rangers is my lions, Power Rangers is my Steelers. I can go up to the last season of Power Rangers. Don't do this with me. You're right. What's going to happen? They're going to lose their swords. What's going to happen, Power Rangers? Oh, they won. That's why I like Good and Evil, because the Power Rangers are like don't get me started.
Speaker 3:I'm going to bring this thing back home for us, for our viewers and our listeners out there. Basically, I know we're talking about mental, mental health. Going back to the office, you know, hybrid, remote, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So in my particular situation, um, I started working remotely in 2000, excuse me, 2020, 2020, my bad in 2020, since most people was March of 2020. So I was probably about, I was probably straight, remote, no, going in nothing for probably about three and a half years. Then my current position now I had to do this semi-hybrid, where I had to go in on wednesdays, um, or thursdays or whatever day we needed to go in, but now, in the upcoming month, we have to go in a minimum of three days.
Speaker 3:The amount of anxiety that I'm getting just thinking about that is driving me crazy, because what this work from home thing has done to me, it's made me a complete psycho, like on a sense of, I was already a germaphobe before then, but now, you know, my wife cusses me out because we're at, we're at dinner or something, somebody's sneezing or somebody coughs and I'm looking like oh, wait a minute, what's that? What's that still to this day? Um, I remember back in the day we used to keep tabs on who didn't wash their hands, like no, we can't shake their hand because homeboy straight just came right out the bathroom. So now for me having to go back into the office not and this has something to do, and I'm knowing somebody listening that can relate to this like my anxiety is going crazy because these cats I'm washing their hands, they don't be. I mean, I have to think about the amount of nastiness you said what I'm off record.
Speaker 2:I was about to say Monty about y'all men and what should happen in the bathroom. So just off record, oh.
Speaker 1:Lord, let's take a brief pause, okay. He who should not be maimed. I'm going to let y'all figure out who told me that was the cleanest part of my body and they would not wash their hands after that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I agree. I was already a germaphobe before and now it's worse to let somebody even my child if he sniffled two more times.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Bruh.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Go somewhere because I'm not taking it home. But no, I'm in a similar situation where I'm a supervisor, I don't have to be in nobody's office, but my staff is missing me, so I technically have to be there twice a week and they're trying to move us to a little bit more and I'm fighting it and I have plenty of reasons. I have staff that work better in the middle of the night. I have staff who have um, elderly parents they're they got young children. Like it's just not gonna be feasible for all of us to be in office at the same time. Plus germs prove that because the other supervisor she should not named made all her staff go in there one day and everybody got sick Her whole team.
Speaker 1:You can ask your wife, but I ain't playing about that sick stuff. Go home, I'm feeling. Go home. That was me. Listen, first and foremost, during COVID. This meant six feet. I used to tell them. I said, man, stand on the square, you're getting too close.
Speaker 3:I remember when I used to go up there to see y'all, you'd be like oh, I need you to stand on the other side of that counter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and this was. I think this was less than a year. No, you thought I was crazy. You want to know who shut the store down with COVID? It's because I went to LA Fitness. I don't trust the LA Fitness. You're pointing the wrong way. You got to point the opposite direction. Again, you got to point the opposite direction. It's reversed.
Speaker 2:My side is pointing at you.
Speaker 1:She was pointing at the right one. I'm going to let y'all think that y'all are. This right here points at Monica, and this right here points at you because you want to know how I know. Because there you go, you know what. I don't have to prove you wrong, because I'm just going to show you the video so you can wave whichever way you want to, it works. I'm just telling you all that, okay, I don't go that way, I only go the other way. Mine is easy, is it my?
Speaker 2:point of what I'm showing is let's finish it. I really should have the beverages, but okay. What I'm trying to say is I really should have the beverages, but okay, I'm drinking water.
Speaker 3:Yeah, allegedly Don't do that, Don't do that.
Speaker 1:Don't do that. Too much, too much, too much, too much.
Speaker 3:Anyway, I ain't doing none of that.
Speaker 1:None of it. Listen, the funniest part is literally I network like a mother lover. So I was on TikTok again and I'm going to finish the statement and then go back to the original statement and then close this out. I was on TikTok and then, you know, befriending some people and it was like is he gay? Oh, we're bringing back the pound gay shirts tomorrow, by the way, do we need to mass produce them?
Speaker 3:Hey, oh, we're bringing back the pound gay shirts tomorrow. By the way, do we need to mass produce them? Hey, I tell you what I saw. You came across my timeline and I'm like yo, I made that shirt and that look good.
Speaker 1:It. Look fire on me. I'm gonna have my hoodie on. They gonna hate me.
Speaker 3:I'm gonna make a cross cut. I definitely had to shout out myself when I saw that.
Speaker 1:You did the dang thing. Now I didn't get as many likes because I don't think people like the gay, but it's fine, I'm a good black man. I don't care. Obviously, if I did I wouldn't post it.
Speaker 2:You said what about it? It would probably go really fast in June.
Speaker 1:Listen, we're going to pre-game because, just to let you know, I'm going to this place called Frolic in Juneteenth. We're going to have a whole bunch of shirts Medium. We're going to have to have a whole bunch of shirts medium. Largest extras I'm going to pack a bag. You think I'm playing? Oh, go to the website. I'm like dead serious. We're going to sit down and talk, brother, because this is the thing we talk about pricing. The second thing is but the hand-washing thing. I'm sorry to mess up your anxiety, but think about all the hands you have shaken in life.
Speaker 3:I don't, yeah, they have not washed their hands. So even at the Lions game, high five, shake hands, rah, rah, rah. And as soon as I sit down, I go right to our bag.
Speaker 1:Sanitize it, sanitize it absolutely not this me what up though, homeboy, I'm elbowing everybody because I'm the friend, okay, and this 42 minutes in, if somebody skips to it, I'm the friend that purposely does not do the handshake, or I'll do a fist bump, even if I know you cause. I'll be like oh, we're doing this.
Speaker 1:Oh, oh, oh, okay. Like, that's me. Like today I feel like stuff was in my hand and gave somebody an elbow because, because he tried to do a fist bump, I'm the person that's going to keep you guessing. I can say once a year I'm good. At least bringing you back to the topic at hand, what say you? Remote money, hybrid or in person?
Speaker 2:Hybrid, but once a week. Stop with this two, three too much Once a week just to sign some documents, only because they won't let me do payroll at home.
Speaker 1:And Lamar, what say you? Remote or in-person, Hybrid? Sorry, remote, in-person or hybrid, I have to in my current role, 100% remote.
Speaker 3:It's a global role. There's no reason. It's a global role. There's no reason for me to go in, Absolutely there's no reason. Now, once a month, let's say, hey, how you doing, let's go get a drink Rah rah rah, but other than that I going to be every day overtime. Six days travel, but it's okay, I'm signing up for that. It's about that time in my life where I'm ready to go back on the road.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, well, I'm going to be with you and make you laugh. What I want is an in-person consistent. Is an in-person consistent Like, funny enough, when I was stationary in one place, I felt the most productive because I knew what I had to do. The job that I have right now and the role that I'm in gives me so much of freedom and autonomy. Like I do like the freedom and autonomy.
Speaker 1:But like tomorrow is going to be a hybrid day for me. I'm going to start off at home, do some things, go into the office and come back home. Today started off at the office, did two things, went to the third thing, went back to the office and then came home. I do like that flexibility, but it's also one of those types of situations where it's like when I was stationary in one location, I felt like I was more productive because I was able to do more, I was able to collab. I feel like when you are stationary, you get that bond. One of the reasons why me and you talking Alomar is because of your wife you know what I'm saying Because we had that bond that we grew and it still flourished. We kind of called her, but she didn't like me. So it's fine. No, no, weird hanky-panky stuff ain't the right, monica, we don't allow in the marriage but see, I want to interject to so.
Speaker 3:So what I prefer and what I like is not necessarily what's best for my career. I I feel that the one thing that being remote has done has hindered a lot of people's growth, development in their, in their said career, especially in my industry. My, my industry is definitely rubbing elbows, you know, talking, this talk. Sometimes you got to walk up to somebody's desk Yo, I sent you this five minutes ago and I'm sure it's like that in every industry. So I definitely think that it's very beneficial to be in person, not saying that you can't do the same networking remotely. But it's different when you can say, hey, let's just go get a coffee and let's have this talk, so that I do actually miss that, because I was the guy that will walk up to your suite.
Speaker 3:Hey, what's your poll number? Now I'm giving too much information. Hey, let me go to your suite. You know what's this, this, this? Oh, this is a grab a coffee real quick and we could talk about this. Or I'm interested in what you do for a living. We call it informationals. Let's just have this in-person meeting. Uh, in-person meeting was the best thing that ever happened to my career because I was very like when I was union. I didn't like my union position that I had, but I had a face-to-face uh, informational with somebody which allowed me to now cross across that threshold. And now I've been on this upward trajectory since then and that was just from that face to face, you know, you can watch each other mannerisms, you can actually, you know, smile, you can really check somebody's temperature and vibe, where you can't necessarily do that remotely.
Speaker 1:And I agree with that. It's the truth, it's so true. So I do want to let you guys know that we're almost at that lovely time where we have to say bye to the people. This week, mani Lamar, do you want to leave the people with anything?
Speaker 2:Definitely, like we've said already in the segment, do a check on yourself, check on your mental health and make sure that if that position is not fulfilling what you need to take care of yourself, find a position that does. If they're trying to bring you all the way fully in person and it does not fit your mental health that that's giving you anxiety.
Speaker 3:Find a position that better fit you and you can stay home and always, always, always do what you love so you never feel like you're working dude, I'm a lot about you get back to doing what I love, but my, like my tag line I'm gonna leave you guys with just always remember sometimes you have to take that minor step back to make that major comeback, and it's okay. Sometimes you gotta regress a little to to hella progress, and I'm sure at some point everybody has done that in their career. So don't be afraid to take two steps back, to take 10 steps forward.
Speaker 1:All I'm going to say is your career may not necessarily be what you want it to be at this moment, but you can always make it what you want it to be or what you need it to be at any moment. Piggybacking off of what Lamar said, and, as well as money, make sure you're doing something that you love and not something that people tell you you love. Make sure you're checking in with yourself, because one thing is going to look completely different than the next. One of the people that mentors me basically told me it's like hey, look, you know, I work for 45 or 55 minutes and I get up and walk around for five minutes. Okay, that's interesting, and that's when he's in the office or when he's at home.
Speaker 1:Because I recently started something different and I was standing on my feet for eight hours. I'm like dang, why are my feet hurt Back when? And I was standing on my feet for eight hours? I'm like dang, why my feet hurt Back when I used to stand on my feet for eight hours? I don't stand on my feet for eight hours now. It doesn't matter how comfortable the shoe is or what else it is. It's one of those types of situations If you don't do something, you don't.
Speaker 3:Uh-oh. Uh-oh, not the one to talked about everybody else, y5, but the point that he was making I'm with it. Do what you love. Don't let somebody else try to tell you that you love it. And that's where I need to now lock in and try to get back to something that I love make sure you're always, always, passionate about what you do, absolutely Love it so that it feels right.
Speaker 2:And once it doesn't move on, I'm doing anyone no justice to be in a position. I feel that way about all the people who have rushed to become nurses. Shout out to the nurses my mom was a nurse for 45 years. Anyone who's rushed into being a nurse now because of the money we can feel, we can feel it um, when you're not really in it for oh yes, I've had some mean nurses in my day and you're like wow, this is a people person job, not just medicine.
Speaker 2:This is a people person person and definitely just make sure you you love it. And that's the thing about for me. And I have an accountability partner right now. I was having a little bit of burnout and I said to her if I ever don't have this passion, tap me on the shoulder and tell me to go, because someone that works with me now I want to tap her a little hard and let her know that it's time that she move on. And it's okay. We all hit our breaking points. We all hit the part of no return and it's okay and it's just a lesson. I'm someone who doesn't believe in failures or losses. I'm someone who only believes in blessings and lessons.
Speaker 3:Amen to that. Blessings and lessons I like that.
Speaker 2:Blessings and lessons. There's always a lesson in anything that we are learning Lessons and lessons. There's always a lesson in anything that we are learning. And here you go, you finally back, but there's always a lesson in the failures or losses that we take in this world. So blessings and lessons are all that we have, and that's what you just have to live with. Always be optimistic. Welcome back. Sgr.
Speaker 1:Thank you all for holding it down, because I was like what Y'all disappeared and then I realized it was me, so we are going to end it. Thank y'all for continuing, because y'all shout out to y'all.
Speaker 3:She just dropped some bars, so we need to end it on that note.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, listen if you're messed up, I'm going to say your audio. Stay in the room.
Speaker 2:Bye y'all Bye.