A New Perspective – Adam Stupi

After selling my business in 2018, I’ve had a difficult time adjusting to both being an employee and a member of a team. Throughout my entire career, I’ve been very independent and have typically worked either by myself or with a very small crew. With the transition to my new job at ARV, I developed an overwhelming amount of regret and resentment. As time went on, I knew something needed to change.

At the beginning of 2022, after some unsettling arguments (at home and at work) it was more evident than ever my negativity was affecting everyone around me. I had been losing sleep and felt consumed. I felt that something outside of myself was to blame. I was encouraged and decided to seek therapy.

After several months of meeting with a therapist, some issues became clear. I was “hearing” things as personal attacks, and I reacted in kind: always argumentative, always agitated, always negative. My behavior went much deeper than the recent changes. I was faced with altering a pattern of response that had always been there.

In April of ‘22, we entered the 4-day work week experiment at ARV. At first, everyone was very skeptical. “There’s no way we’re going to get the same amount of work done in less time, let alone more work!” At the time, the only silver lining was an extra day off. I then shuffled my weekly therapy appointments to Fridays, my off day. This began a soft start to the long weekend.

We had split the shop, half of us off Mondays and the others off on Fridays. Ultimately, what this permitted was a veritable release of stress and anxiety about the upcoming week. I had only half of the people in the shop on Mondays. This freed me up to focus on the work ahead in a calm manner. I could now design and develop ahead of time. My responsibilities seemed to be easier to swallow.

The new schedule, coupled with therapy, helped me in a profound way. I realized that I was wasting so much energy being negative. My motives had now shifted to being helpful instead of critical, patient instead of irritated. “They” or “It” is not right or wrong, just different. I was putting some space between the situation and my reaction. At work, people began to notice an improvement.

After having identified some of my “peace management” issues, I recognized my negativity at home. It was explained to me that my wife and 3 daughters had been conditioned to expect a certain (negative) reaction out of me. I had created a toxic environment amidst my family. I have willfully tried to improve our relationships. I’ve only begun and know it’ll take as long as it takes.

With the undeniable success of the 4 day work week, it has been renewed for at least another year. Our doubt has been transformed! We have met and surpassed many of our goals at work. At the end of the day, I am most grateful for those who have supported me at my worst. Throughout the last year, I have cultivated better relationships. My attitude has improved enough to make better choices. I am confident that the smoother work week and extra day off will enable me to choose peace and continue to learn how to improve.

Adam is a concept and design developer at ARV where he helps facilitate production in the cabinet shop. He loves spending time with his wife and their three daughters, and enjoys cooking, being outdoors, and traveling. He began his career as a carpenter then cabinet/furniture builder at the age of 14, and he’s always been intrigued by all things mechanical.