I was fired and don't want to go back to the 8 to 5 life.

44 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 8,2023 at 4:17AM UTC

   I honestly just want a very laid back stress free job that doesn’t pay much. Life is too short.

2. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 2:04AM UTC

   My brother in law used to work for an auto dealership delivering parts. He was really stressed out and he found a new job paying more. He works for an assisted living facility driving patients to doctors appointments,etc . He said he loves it and is no longer stressed out.

3. AnonymousApril 8,2023 at 1:29PM UTC

   I feel your pain! I’ve been there with crazy managers and toxic work environments. It takes the life out of a good employee who just wants a decent job, supportive environment, and stable life! Good luck! ?

4. AnonymousApril 8,2023 at 9:40PM UTC

   I hear you. At 60, I've been in the rat race for 42 years. Although full retirement age is 67, I'm going to pivot and am currently looking for business opportunities. Best of luck to you! We can do this!

5. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 12:16PM UTC

   Narcissistic mainly attacks phscycholgocally ,some times physically, the solution is stay strong and focus on every event, being perfection is a key for expose narcissism,. You will be successful, I asure you do this perfectly ever event.

6. carolina girlApril 9,2023 at 12:21PM UTC

   Starting a business is a great idea! Wish you lots of success!?

7. Crystal HowellApril 9,2023 at 12:27PM UTC

   Contact https://www.score.org they will take you from the beginning and stay with you, it's free government service nationwide.

8. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

   I always wanted to start a nurse consulting business, but no funds to get it started. Specifically MDS consulting.

9. JanetApril 9,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

   Hi, my advice to you is to first and foremost do an honest review and reflection to see how in any way you may have contributed to the issues at hand, especially in the case of the last manager who felt you were insurbodinate. Deal with that first to help you become a better manager or business owner in future. Otherwise, you may find that you will become the toxic manager or owner that your employees want to run away from.

10. AnonymousApril 11,2023 at 2:03PM UTC

    I have done a lot of self reflection, too much in fact... it has deeply affected my mental health. Multiple people in the organization have confirmed that this supervisor is highly critical and wants you to fall in line. I had sent an email to her supervisor at the time and she called it "inappropriate". I was then faced with a witch hunt over a personal message I sent regarding the situation to a co-worker. I can post the messages. Neither were inappropriate or insubordination. She just didn't like that she couldn't control me. I then spent months feeling isolated, like I couldn't speak to anyone regarding my experiences. (She was the chief of HR and I was the only person in my department due to my director quitting due to leadership issues.) All this to say, I know the part I played in it. I know that my defiance of her led to my termination. And my mental health suffered because of it. Should I have just "let it go"? Probably. But being a higly empathetic and introspective person, I took it too personally and can't change the past.

11. Anna L KellyApril 9,2023 at 12:51PM UTC

    At 53 I threw in the towel and started working at a landscape nursery and taught ski school. Fast forward 10 years and started drawing my social security retirement and still do the same, only part time nursery now. Do what makes you happy.

12. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 1:01PM UTC

    Toxic workplaces and terrible managers are highly rampant and an underdiscussed, widespread issue. Over the past decade, we have witnessed elevated awareness on the topic. Surprise, surprise… more often than not the culture of the company and management is likely to be more to blame than individual employee performance when something is amiss.

    I don’t have any business ideas for you but while you figure it out, I encourage you to not be afraid to give it another go at a different company. No place is perfect, but there are organizations that place a premium on an inclusive culture, manager accountability, development and respect.

13. Anonymous 1April 9,2023 at 4:04PM UTC

    I agree with this that mental health in work place culture from people who are in leadership above us … IS ? underdiscussed. Well said.

14. LaurenApril 9,2023 at 1:05PM UTC

    It sounds like you are trying to start a business to escape and avoid rather than it being a passion. I would watch your intentions for this because it can have consequences if your intentions are based on fear. Also it sounds like there is a lesson to be learned as you appear to be stuck in a pattern. If you want to grow from this I would look for the lesson. Otherwise it will come back up again no matter where you run to. Lessons follow us because they are there to help us grow. You say it’s bad luck like it’s happening to you, but that’s not how it work. I would look within to see why it is that you attract or choose such bosses.

15. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 9,2023 at 1:36PM UTC

    i agree with this. I have owned my own business for 20 years but it was a natural progression as the companhy I worked for closed the company offices and kept the franchise offices. My take-a way in reading this is that the common denominator in all of this is you. You will always have a boss even if you own your own business because your clients become your bosses. The ability to get along with people will be critical especially if you don't always agree with them. Those of us who have started and maintained a successful business understand the responsibilities of it and it certainly helps if you have a career history of being a successful employee.

16. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 1:13PM UTC

    I would recommend seeing a therapist to talk this through. Being self employed can be extremely stressful and you will not turn a profit for 6 to 12 months and the income will not be guaranteed. I have been self employed in the past and I had/have toxic work environments to deal with but my steady paycheck, PTO , robust healthcare package which includes short term disability, long term disability, FMLA, and sabbatical are priceless to me especially since I am in my 50’s and not independently wealthy. I would suggest a therapist and taking resiliency courses on LinkedIn learning or maybe your therapist can assist in this area. Best of luck you.

17. AnonymousApril 11,2023 at 1:49PM UTC

    Thank you. I have an appt with a therapist this morning! I definitely feel my resiliency has been beaten down over the years... I will look into those!

18. GirlBossanova934974April 9,2023 at 1:15PM UTC

    It is difficult to figure out if you should start your own business or change your career path to another service or vocation without seeing your skillsets. Running and starting your own business is NOT for everyone. One has to be a real self starter, be able to stick with it, and handle employee issues etc.. A lot of people "talk the talk" these days. Taking a day off in many cases means that much more work the next day. As a business owner myself, I find myself spending my Easter Sunday cranking financial reports for the Q1 results and launching 2 marketing campaigns for next week. As for "bad managers", there are plenty these days. Most simply don't have the experience to do the things they have been asked to do. The biggest lesson I have learned over the years as a business owner is PATIENCE. It is best in many cases to simply shut one's mouth when things don't go as one planned. Let the employee sort it out by bringing it to their attention. THEN WALK AWAY! I think you may be best finding a manager or company who is HANDS OFF! I would look for more experienced people. The lesser experienced managers have issues these days with subordinates who speak up. A lot of these companies start that process in their interview process. They START OUT looking for TRAINED SEALS and they go from there. In the other direction, the HANDS OFF MANAGER starts with CAN YOU DO THIS JOB!??? Prove it...... Best of Luck!

19. Anonymous 1April 9,2023 at 3:58PM UTC

    Helpful context!

20. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    Okay, not a professional marketer, but I am a marketing graduate. What I will say is that, if you’re starting a business, then I would base that business on a task that I’m already very talented at. This way, it’ll be easier selling to people because people will think that your product looks nice. Plus, chances are, you’re really talented at something because you’re passionate about it. Building a business on a hobby that you love and enjoy can help a heck of a lot with staying motivated because it won’t feel like busy work. For example,

    -If you’re great at creating code for apps, then you could build a business on that.

    -If you’re great at teaching people unique skills like dancing or yoga, then you could build a business on that. -If you’re great at creating dolls, then you could build a business on that.

    -If you’re great at baking cookies, then I would build a business on that.

    -If you’re great at drawing and painting, then you could build a business on that. So on and so forth. You get what I mean, I’m sure.

    As far as trying to find a gap in the market, that’s a tough one. A lot of businesses are already meeting consumers’ needs. It’s often easier to create a business where there’s already competition because that means there’s a lot of money being made. You’ll need to figure out a target audience that you wanna sell to (their age, income level, etc). Then, you need to come up with a marketing plan that shows that target audience why your product/service is superior to what’s already available (healthier, cooler, faster, tastier, more fun, more environmentally sustainable, etc). To start with, you’ll probably want to come up with a test product/service to invest a little money in, so that you don’t break the bank on a product that nobody wants.

    There’re endless marketing channels out there. Local events, social media, blog website, other websites, TV spots, etc. You just need to figure out how to get your business featured on them. The way you market your product and get consumers excited about it is arguably more important than the product itself. You don’t need to spend tons of money on marketing. You just need to find a way to market your business in a way that will appeal to your target audience.

    If you don’t have much money for a marketing budget, then you’ll need to get creative. That’s where guerrilla marketing comes in: marketing your business in a unique way. Slapping a bunch of ads in a newspaper will just donate money to the newspaper. Devising inexpensive ways to market your business that’ll appeal to your target audience will go much farther, on the other hand.

    And, of course, you need to work on your business everyday to help it grow. You might need some outside help with sales and marketing, product development, etc because, quite frankly, running a business can take up a lot of time. You must be committed to it all the time. You need to be a confident problem-solver who’ll overcome any challenge that you run into, such as getting customers, maintaining cash flow, etc.

    I don’t blame you. The 8-5 life is soul-sucking. With that said, it’s generally safer to work for a company while you build your business. Of course, if you have enough savings to pay bills for at least 1 year (business success can take time, sometimes), then that’ll be alright, too. As long as you have a way to get you through the slow times as your business grows, that’s what matters. This is a long post, but it’s meant to discuss the kind of work that goes into launching and growing a business. It ain’t easy, but it’s absolutely possible to become a major success if you plan it well and put effort into it. Good luck!

21. Ann BraunApril 9,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

    There is a growing need in the elder care sector. Of course, it won't be easy and it won't be fun, at least not right away. I'm not talking about nursing care, although that would be a great idea if you have the skills. I'm talking about doing things that a daughter or son might do if they lived nearby. I have an elderly neighbor who lives alone and is legally blind but she refuses to move to an assisted living facility. Her daughters live far away and only come by once every couple of months. One of them offered to pay me to go over to her house a few times a week and spend time talking and helping with whatever she needs. If I could find a few more clients like that I could make it into a business.

    If you don't know anyone like that, go on Facebook or Nextdoor and find out if anyone knows of some seniors who don't want to leave their homes but need help with grocery shopping, rides to appointments, or finding housekeepers and other service people.

    You would probably need to get some kind of liability insurance and it would take a lot of planning and maybe even licensing, but I can guarantee that your client base is only going to keep growing. You could build it over time and eventually hire people to do the work while you run it from home.

    Best of luck to you! I know how awful it is to work for a psycho boss.

22. Focused721350April 9,2023 at 2:35PM UTC

    Good Morning,

    I hear you on all of that! In fact I did start my own small business. LIKE MY DR. SAID! NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR HEALTH! So! I listened and I've always been good with animals since I was a child. I started a Small Pet Nanny Service. I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND I HAVE ALL THE LOVE FROM MY FURRY FRIENDS!

    You can do this! What's your NITCH? Pursue it! ;)

    Good Luck and God Bless, Ms. T ;)

23. Chris RJuly 8,2023 at 12:39AM UTC

    This sounds like a dream!

24. Ramona CapellaroApril 9,2023 at 4:06PM UTC

    When considering starting your own small business I'd highly recommend getting set up with a mentor through SCORE, which was a great free source that was available to me when I first started my small business. They helped me figure out what the minimum start up costs for starting my own small business, and they also have a lot of free webinars and other resources online that are helpful.

    I'd definitely consider doing something that you enjoy doing and that you are really good at doing. Figuring this out can sometimes be difficult for some of us, and that is where talking to close family or friends can be helpful.

    Traditionally, people in my industry work 9 am to 5 pm. However, I work outside of those hours and work 100 percent from home, which I love getting to do. I work 100 percent remotely as a bookkeeper (I'm licensed and insured). Depending on what you are doing, even if you are working from home you want to make sure that you are licensed and insured, and you definitely want to make sure you are incorporated when you start your small business as it will protect you both personally and professionally.

    I hope this gives you some direction, as I've been where you are at in your current journey. I love working for myself now and wouldn't have it any other way.

25. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 4:34PM UTC

    Awesome topic. I just turned down 2 - 6fig jobs because a caught wafts of such toxicity.

    I am not responsible for my bosses mental health. Only my own and I dig deep and do my work!

    Real talk - our success is determined in whole or in part (depends on the scenario) by our relations with our Boss and others around us. Do choose widely.

    We cannot operate in a vacuum when we are an employee. Relationships with others is vital.

    I ran into a number of narcissistic bosses with varying degrees of impact upon culture and my success…. and an owner who openly admitted his mental health issues and blamed his bad behavior on his diagnosis (still NOT ok to rage on my team) and he had a very long history of doing this.

    Of course, I didn’t find that out until I was knees deep in the biz and offer letter signed. Talking with him simply wasn’t effective- he was not only unhinged but he was an owner … literally no one was above him… 100% submission was the order of the day.

    Needless to say, I tried to resolve and when I couldn’t … I resigned (at will employment state). I decided my health and stress could NOT be impacted by his lack of self regulation. While there were things I respected about him… I could not abide his treatment of my team (or me) and living in an at will state…. I resigned.

    And he went after me for leaving. He called my references- lied and destroyed my next steps - leaked my data points (ssn, dl, cell, email addresses) on the dark web, and had the balls to let me let me know this in a letter that it happened on his watch… I still have this letter. So I did some research and discovered that he closed his business less than a year after I left… but he tracked me for a very long time. He ruined 2 other subsequent opportunities. True horror story.

    Here’s my .02 - ya can’t fix toxic people. Ya cant.

    DO look within - DO dig deep on your passions and put that forth… DO figure out if you are more of a trained seal vs. self starter - no shame in either one - it’ll save time and money!! all EXCELLENT points by other readers and responders on this thread!! Super helpful!!

    Start as a side hustle while doing a full time something that allows you to explore passions and heal from noxious environments.

    Don’t run from - move toward something More fulfilling for you… but do keep moving and doing the inner work and take self accountability and you’ll land on the next best step.

    Good luck!! Keep us posted!!

26. M BaazaApril 9,2023 at 6:44PM UTC

    Woah that's awful, hope you sued him for damages

27. ANDREA RAGGAMBIApril 9,2023 at 5:23PM UTC

    Sucks that so many managers suck, doesn’t it!? Sorry to hear about your experience. If you have the luxury of figuring this out without needing to find full time work, start from a place that is internal- what drives you? What are your strengths? What are you good at? What do you love? Trying to cobble something together out of frustration or desperation and fear or exhaustion isn’t going to channel the results you want. What we resist persists so make time to really reflect on you and what you need. Reflect on whether you are getting in your own way at all by assessing if you are owning your part in the results of your recent events. Truthfully, we all play ‘some part’ in all the things we experience- good or bad so whatever you choose, make time to reflect on whether you are being honest with yourself about your expectations of others and if your attitude and energy is attracting the things you want.

    Find a mentor in an area of interest and make some commitments to yourself about what you can do differently to make the impact you want for yourself in your own business and in the lives of others.

    The most important relationship we have is the one with ourselves. You sound exhausted and fed up which is understandable. Take some time to tap into what you are grateful for and what and who brings you joy.

    I am happy to have a chat with you if you would like! Feel free to let me know if you’re interested.

28. Toni StokesApril 9,2023 at 7:34PM UTC

    That's a shame. I'm sorry you had to go through this. Best wishes on finding something you would like to do. And starting up your own business. Sounds good and only you can make it happen.

    God bless!

29. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 8:05PM UTC

    I’d be careful with idea of starting your own business as a solution. As others have mentioned, you give up a great deal when you don’t have an employer. Benefits, PTO, etc. and it’s worth mentioning that over half of start ups fail, losing the capital you may or may not have now only to end up needing to go to work for a company yet again. Of course, there is the obvious aspect of trading the 9-5 for the 8-8. It’s a great deal of work. If bad bosses are your only real reason for thinking this way, I’d rethink. If having a business has always been a goal, that’s something else - shoot for your dreams, but don’t just run from problems.

30. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 9:02PM UTC

    I don’t think she’s running away from anything, just tired of abuse. There are very few managers anymore that are decent.

31. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 10,2023 at 6:50PM UTC

    Hopefully this is the case and not that she cannot get along with authority. Of course there are some very good managers who are stressed out to the max by sub par employees.

32. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 9:20PM UTC

    Starting a business it is good Idea, a friend of mine and her husband after losing their jobs during the pandemic, they decided to start up their own business, with only couple hundreds, when someone has positive mind and persistency obviously can succeed. Moreover I heard the history of 6 or 7 years old boy, living only with his mom, not sure I guess his dad passed. One one the his uncles gave for his birthday as a present, 5 books, each book cost only a$1.00 . Hence, after he read all the books, he asked him mom he wants to sell them; his mom and intelligent woman decided to offer each book on E-bay, the boy price each book $8.00, he sold all of them, with the earnings after selling all five books, he asked his mom to invested again, and since he has built a fortune, actually that smart boy turned 17 years old. His mom until that success decided to sell as well as clothes, thanks to the positivism and intelligence, they have a stable future, doing business together. My business professor always he said, "money is there, everywhere" you need to be positive and persistent and you can built an empire, he said that based on his own experience, he owes. companies in NY, also he is a Business Management Professor. There are many histories of now wealthy people, who started up business with almost nothing, as sample a guy who lost his job, I don't remember if was in Puerto Rico or Miami, he sat one day on the sidewalk in front of his home, he saw a rubber band, started playing with it, suddenly an idea came to his mind, making multicolor wrist bands, today he made millions with his invention, how much he invest, only or $300 $200, so there is not and obstacle, when someone believe it self.

33. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 11:58PM UTC

    Holy crap, I never thought I’d meet someone with a similar experience.

    I see you and I hear you.

    Not sure what you mean with your questions. Are you trying to start a business?

34. AnonymousApril 11,2023 at 1:36PM UTC

    Yes, trying to start my own businesses and thinking about the things that might be in demand or help me as a future business owner.

35. Liz MilneApril 10,2023 at 12:31AM UTC

    I applaud your decision to set up your own business, but would add some questions to your list: What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning? What job would make you feel as though you've cheated somehow, getting paid to do...? (For me it's writing, proofreading etc) What skills do you have that others might pay for?

    Good luck!

36. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 11:28AM UTC

    You will need to learn what affirmation for different employees will look like, aka Love Languages. It's not a one fits all bucket. Get the book, learn how to relate and to connect with others overall. Then have that conversation with them. See if you've figured them out. There really is a large population of potential high performers if leaders would take the time to learn what makes their employee perform and stay around. Hands down it will be how they are made to feel. People work for people, never forget that and you have a great chance of thriving once you have their buy in.

37. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 12:21PM UTC

    Look into an options trading training course. No product/ service needed. No marketing needed. No employees/bosses. If your passion is time freedom, this is perfect

38. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

    I started my own business after working for companies (and managers) where my values did not align. The politics and bureaucracy left me burned out. No one can really tell you if you should start your own business or not (unless they are encouraging you because you can do it). But other posters have made good points - just make sure you're looking at being a business owner from all aspects. The 8-5 life doesn't really go away with your own business, since your brain will always be ON. BUT, you can be assured that those hours worked will be for your benefit. I looked at some of my strengths and what I really did well to create a new business (and a new industry). Still in start up mode, but so far its really helped me grow. Good luck to you! If you put your mind to it, you can do anything.

39. Kristie WhiteApril 10,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    I made a similar decision to start my own business after a string of bad managers. That was 20 years ago and I have never regretted my decision. One of your import questions is about risk, how well are you at tolerating risk? How about uncertainty? Can you reinvent when your business development is failing? Are you willing to try new things, be continuously learning? Can you take criticism from your loved ones? The entrepreneurial journey will teach you and test you. But it is rich with spiritual rewards, and sometimes financial as well.

40. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 6:09PM UTC

    Appreciating all the wisdom here and want to give a shout for SCORE as well …. Have heard good things about the support.

41. EMILY KIKUE FRANKApril 10,2023 at 7:10PM UTC

    I think you're approaching the self-employment angle wrong. Start by thinking about what you enjoy doing and what your unique gifts are. What would you enjoy doing? This is a much better choice than what the market demands are because those change all the time. If you focus on what you bring to the table instead, you can adapt as things shift and change, but the other way around is next to impossible.

42. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 7:24PM UTC

    First I just want to say that I am sorry about you being let go from your job and regardless of your next steps, I hope things work out for you very soon. You have received alot of great advice on this forum. I, along with others share your pain. We've all had our share of bad bosses. I started a new job last summer and my new manager wasted no time showing her fangs. I worked for a narcissist at my last job and stayed longer than I should have - I refuse to endure that type of treatment again, so unfortunately after spending a year job searching I will be jumping back into the job market again. But like you, I am fed up with working in toxic environments and for people who bring their emotional baggage into the workplace. Like you I started giving serious thought to how I can become my own boss and what type of service or product I could offer. I asked myself what do I REALLY want and the answer that came to mind was freedom and control over my life. Yes, I want to continue earning a lucrative income, however I read a quote on social media that freedom is the goal and money is the tool. For the past several years I have been spending a great deal of time as part of my family's caregiving network to elderly relatives and have spent a great deal of time in nursing homes. Regardless of how nice a nursing home is (not to be confused with assisted living communities), residents spend their days either watching TV or sleeping. It is a sad way to spend the last chapter of one's life. One night while washing dishes an idea came to me about opening a nursing home and offering daily activities to the residents. I was so excited about this idea, however once reality set in I realized that what I had in mind would cost in the millions and would take years to bring into fruition, however I'm still trying to figure out how I can earn a living being my own boss. Another quote I heard was regarding how one can find their purpose in life and the answer was your "pain is your purpose"; for example, a young lady in Texas lost her job. She used her stimulus money and the "cash stuffing" method to pay off $60K in student loans and she shared her journey on social media. People began to follow her and seeking her advice. She started a business teaching others how to get out of debt; her pain became her purpose (Google Jasmine Taylor Amarillo Texas cash stuffing to read more about her story). I am an overly empathetic person and experience others' emotional pain. I have a natural ability of offering encouragement and helping people get back on their feet (emotionally speaking, not financially). Perhaps I would've enjoyed a career in the ministry or social work, therapy or counseling, however I currently earn a six-figure salary and unfortunately as important as those jobs are, they don't typically pay salaries in the range I have enjoyed for many years. Lately, therapists are hard to find. Many of them are not taking new patients. I'm not sure where you are in your career, but if this area interests you, perhaps you can go back to school for therapy or become a certified coach. Graphic designers are in high demand. If you like computers, start learning about AI. Not to sound morbid, but the funeral business will always be in demand. There has been an increase in the number of people switching careers and going to mortuary school. Do you like cooking? If yes, maybe you could test the waters by doing some catering that could serve as a launching pad for a food truck and then a brick and mortar location - many restaurant owners started this way. Whatever path I decide to take I am going to make sure that I have multiple streams of income. While you're trying to figure out what you want to do, if you don't already, look at how you can earn passive income, such as by investing in the stock market. You don't have to have alot of money to invest. The beauty business is a billion dollar business. If you know how to do hair or nails, you might be able to turn that into a side hustle. Manicures, especially with designs are HOT right now and women are flocking to nail salons in droves. If you don't know how to do hair or nails but are interested in learning, take a class. Do you like dogs? From what I've read, there are some dog walkers who make up to six-figures annually. No matter what you decide to do, it's going to take time for you to grow your business. Maybe to help pay the bills you can look into gig work or work part-time somewhere to get a steady paycheck as you explore other possibilities. I am sending good thoughts and wishes to you - good luck!

43. JudithApril 10,2023 at 8:58PM UTC

    I'd like to offer you a perspective from a 4-time (and current) business owner: the personalities you are running away from will follow you into your personal business. Instead, the narcissists and gaslighters and bullies will be your CLIENTS. Life is about relationships, and the part WE play in them. We have work relationships, client relationships, friendships, family relationships, love relationships... reflect on why you keep finding yourself in these relationships? Whatever you discover, until it is unearthed and worked through, it will come up again.

44. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 2:18AM UTC

    A large percentage of bosses are toxic now, due to quick hiring and the fast pace that we live in. I cannot remember working for a great boss ever. I am a few years away from retirement and I do not want to start over somewhere else, and perhaps encounter the same problems. My goal now is to separate myself from the toxicity as much as is possible. If you remove yourself from it, and do not pay attention to it, they will find someone else to create drama with, because narcissists are attention seekers. Grey rock them. Yes, it is hard at first, but life is hard. But, once you get accustomed to ignoring the drama, it will no longer be there, at least you won't be as aware of it. Focus on your goals. I don't expect anything from the boss. If you expect something, and don't get it, you will be disappointed. Just know in your heart you are doing the best job ever and be your own cheerleader. It works.