So, it's done!

[tamakun]

I can finally say this without worrying about surprising anyone at work (I had prevented talking about it on Twitter and Facebook as it would be poor form for my co-workers and coordinators to hear through my Social Feeds that I was planning on quitting), but I have put in my two weeks' notice at Bell, as I will start working with COBS Bread as an Assistant Bakery Manager, as of July 28, 2011. :D

This has been something I've been working on for a great amount of time. Back in March I approached COBS with wanting to go into their Manage-To-Own program. Some of their stores are Corporate-owned while others are Franchised. The Manage-To-Own gives people like me (with not a lot of money to purchase a franchise outright) the chance to train in the Management system, and Profit-Sharing until they have enough to purchase the store, at which point is becomes a Franchise store.

I've seen them springing up all over the place recently, and I'm impressed with their simplistic, "we bake bread and only bread" mentality. It's been a dream of mine to own a store where you work with the smell of freshly-baked bread every day, and this dream will finally be starting at the end of the month.

When COBS got back to me, it was revealed through the interviews that I don't have a lot of management knowledge, but I really have been eager to work with COBS. As such, I've been given a position at the Bloor West Village store as an Assistant Bakery Manager, where I'll be shadowing the current Manager there (Rachel), and I'll be handling many duties - being an Assistant Manager of a store means that some days I'll be in the back handling orders and balancing books, but I'll also have to work the front of the store (retail) and some days I'll have to be baking - essentially, doing what needs to be done!

Mark (the West End Manager for Toronto's COBS Bread Bakeries) has laid out a rough plan where my first week I will be working the front/retail to get a feel and knowledge for all the different products, then for the next few weeks I'll be working the Baker area, which means I'll be working the midnight shifts for a couple of weeks following the retail week. It's not in stone yet; in a week or two I'll sit down with Rachel and work out the first couple of weeks, and perhaps maybe I should get acquainted to my co-workers as well. :P

Their signs read "Baked Today. Sold Today" - they give the leftovers every evening to local charities. They have a small poster on their wall that lists all the charities they donate to every night (written in fairly small print)... it's really impressive. :) They've upped their signage and brochures a lot recently.

My final day at Bell will be on July 24th, a weekend shift. It'll be quiet and somber to leave on the weekend when no-one else is around, but I have a duty to finish up my work with Bell. It was kinda strange to have to tell my coordinator (Steve) that I was leaving (and there's not a lot of people above Steve right now at Bell, something's going on), and as I'm still kinda nervous about the new position and completely different direction for my life, I think Steve had more enthusiasm for my future than I did, when I was talking with him. ^^ I'm sure it will sink in eventually.

And once I got home after the whirlwind morning/early afternoon (meeting w/COBS, Strawberry picking, drop Christine off at work, hand in my resignation), I then made cakes for a Saturday delivery (it will be resembling Bullet Bill, hopefully! It's not complete yet), and Strawberry Freezer Jam, then later told my parents. I feel good. :)

Then, I realized, man, this is pretty worthy of a post, isn't it? XD

Comments

[sunhawk.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the new job, I'm thrilled you got the COBS job you wanted! :D

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm still kinda stunned that this is happening!

[woekitten.livejournal.com]

That is wicked! Way to go!

[zillabean.livejournal.com]

DUDE, did not know you were in cahoots with Tama here as well, small world! <3

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am so nervous about the position, but I'm sure I'll get used to it in time :)

[nophoto.livejournal.com]

Jason, I'm honestly really proud of you. You've been thinking about making baking into a profession for so long now and although a step like this might be scary, I think it will be life quality improving, as all long-longed for career switches are! I'm looking forward to reading your stories in the bakery! :D <3

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Nathalie! It's definitely been a long time in waiting, and I'm still kinda surprised it's all happening. I kinda feel like I didn't even give in my resignation at Bell, but I did - practically right after signing the paperwork for COBS ^^

[umadoshi.livejournal.com]

This is so, so exciting. *hugs hard* Yay you! It'll be great!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I'll have to see about where COBS is planning on expanding to in the next few years ;)

[umadoshi.livejournal.com]

*g* You do that!

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Oh, hooray! I totally understand your nervousness, but you've wanted this a long time. I hope it's great!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to it! I mean, baking bread every day... bliss. :D

Way to go!

[paulo-san.livejournal.com]

You're chasing a dream. That is very admirable and inspiring.

Re: Way to go!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Paulo. You're doing the same, and I have to admit, we're all starting to branch a bit into doing what we really want in our lives -- better now than when the midlife crisis kicks in! ;P

I had no idea you had an LJ. Or Friendster, for that matter. ^^

[zillabean.livejournal.com]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know if you need a new Layton icon <3

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm SO NERVOUS!

I'm thinking I would like a different icon (Layton baking bread, of course) but I can't ask that of you without compensating you as well :)

[zillabean.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say no to compensation, but hell, it's Layton, and I think I'd enjoy drawing that anyways <3

[shiroiko.livejournal.com]

This is fantastic news! Congrats and good luck!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Thanks! ...I have no idea where you're living these days but I was gonna suggest you check out the store. I don't think you're in the High Park area, are you? :P

[shiroiko.livejournal.com]

Nope... I'm out in Mississauga near Square One Mall.

That said, I think a group field trip to your store will be in order once you get settled in. :)

[kats-kradle.livejournal.com]

:D !!!!

Weird Al celebration concert! Whether WA knows it or not...

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I should get Al to write something on my CD ^^

Nice Going Jay!

[kinnonyee.livejournal.com]

Hey man,
All the best towards what you're going to experience in the next little while. I'm sure there's more upheaval in your future, and a whole lot of note taking.

If you have doubts, remember what at the heart of it made you turn to this decision. There may be times when you're down and out and don't know if you can handle the pressures of the job. Don't worry. At the core, you're a baker and you love this stuff. You live for it.

If you feel you can't be a manager, don't worry. That means that you'll manage with grace. Those that are too comfortable in the Manager position are the ones who will not be able to lead well and will not be able to connect with the the ones above as well as the ones below. Besides, you've had a little management experience at Bell taking care of new hires. :)

If you're not sure about the finances, come talk to me and we'll look at it together if you feel comfortable. We'll see if it all makes sense and if things seem suspicious, always investigate further until you have hard evidence. Sounds bad, but Phoenix Wright should guide you. People will try to get away with stuff all the time. Be observant. Be diplomatic. But most of all, be proactive.

Good luck my friend. There are many other things I'm sure you'll figure out as you go along, but I'm glad you're that much closer towards your dream.

Re: Nice Going Jay!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much a big change for me. Going from a non-management position into management; and from something I studied in to something my only training is home-based with a little night-schooling. It's a radical change, but every day, it's one more day closer and one more day that I feel more confident about my choice. :)

What I like about the COBS Managers and Franchisees is that they aren't just kicking-back and hiding in the back rooms, they have to get out front and talk with the customers, they have to bake, they have to fill-in where they're needed. It'll be wonderful to have such a variety of things to do, which will change every day, and sometimes over the course of a few minutes.

Money will be tight for a little while, but I've been saving my money recently and holding back on any extravagances, so having a reduced income shouldn't be much of a problem. I also realized/discovered that I'll be getting a small windfall from my Pension Plan, Group RSP, and Stocks, but I plan to hold onto them in my Savings until absolutely necessary - they'll also help me with the eventual Profit Sharing that comes with the Manage-To-Own program. :)

Thank you so much, Kinnon. I hope that we'll get some time together to meet up and chat about everything. :D