On the Job by Anita Bruzzese A Recovering Amazoniac

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese A Recovering Amazoniac OK, this doesnt really have a lot to do with career advice, but then again, maybe it does. Its more a note to myself (and maybe someone else can learn something from it).When my book was published, Feb. 7, I did the first thing any author does: I checked my Amazon.com ranking. When I wasnt No. 1, I checked a few hours later. Hmmmstill not No. 1.Thus began my downward spiral on that cold winter day into what I called Amazonitis. For those of you who are not book authors, you may not be familiar with the term. Let me explain: Its the habitual, debilitating checking of your books Amazon.com rating at all hours of the day or night. Doesnt matter what else is going on giving birth, winning the Nobel Peace prize or having Oprah on the line you have the overwhelming urge to check your books ranking.Of course, the more smug book authors among us will say they never check their rankings, or only do so every once in a while on a whim. Theyre lying. No book author who cares about his or her w ork can resist logging onto Amazon.com from anywhere in the world and checking the ranking.Think Im making this up? Just Google Amazon book rankings and see the number of stories and opinions and philosophies devoted to Amazon.com rankings. The general consensus is this: The rankings mean NOTHING. Next to nothing.Hah.To book authors, they mean a lot. They represent what the world thinks of our endeavors, of our dreams to enter the realm of book authors, to be forever linked with the profession that turned out Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austen and Donald Trump.Still, after months of sneaking around to check my rankings day and night (Youre not checking that *^% ranking again, are you?!! my husband would yell from the other room), Ive finally reached my saturation point. I need help. I know I need help, and thus Im posting these 12 steps for anyone who becomes obsessed with his or her Amazon.com book rankings or any other work-related matter that really doesnt really matter a hoot.With ins piration from various 12-step recovery programs, here is the process for Amazonics Anonymous:1. I admit I am powerless over Amazon.com book rankings and that my life has become unmanageable.2. I have come to believe that a Power greater than myself can restore me to sanity. My book agent informed me that those rankings dont mean anything. If a New York literary agent says it doesnt matter, then it must be so.3. I have made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand Him. Well, at least Ill always rank No. 1 with God.4. I have made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself. OK, I admit it. Im pathetic. I bet J.K. Rowling never checks her ranking.5. Ive admitted to God, and to myself, and to another human being the exact nature of my wrongs. I told my husband that one night when I couldnt sleep I checked my ranking at 3 a.m. Youre a whack job, my soul mate surmised.6. I am entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Wa nt to hear something truly sad? I nearly ruined my computer trying to check my rankings while brushing my teeth. Crest doesnt remove easily from between the keys, let me tell you.7. I humbly ask Him to remove all my shortcomings. At the very least, take away my high speed Internet until I get more control.8. Ive made a list of all persons I have harmed, and have become willing to make amends to them all. That includes my family, the PTA, my dog, two cats and the two Jehovahs Witnesses I ignored at the door while feeding my Amazon.com addicition.9. I have made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. My family, the PTA and the animals all were gracious the Jehovahs Witnesses surmised I was a total whack job.10. I have continued to take personal inventory and when I am wrong I promptly admit it. I admit I also check Barnes and Nobles rankings, although they dont update as often and so dont feed my ranking fetish nearly as well. 11. I have sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God as I understand Him, praying only for his knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out. Hey God, it sure would be great if I knocked Harry Potter off the bestseller lists12. I have had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, and have tried to carry the message to other Amazonics Anonymous members, and to practice these principles in all my affairs.FYI: The next meeting place of Amazonics Anonymous has yet to be determined. There will be plenty of coffee, however, and a Wi-Fi connection.