A few months ago I celebrated 19 years of being a "corporate slave", just a year shy of our service center's 20th year of establishment. I was honored as one of the center's pioneers at the Gala a couple of weeks ago. At that moment, it felt nothing more than a loyalty award that highlighted my age (and everyone knows that's the first rule against successful female engagement ... tsk tsk tsk!). Looking around at everyone I was up on stage with, I felt my corporate achievements appallingly mediocre in comparison. It made me look back on all the years I burned the midnight oil, deliriously working to meet a deadline. For sure, whatever breakthrough initiatives I delivered then is now passe. A terribly melancholic thought on a day of celebration; to realize that ~20 years have gone by and I had nothing major to show for it.
Then it came to me: the ten million coffee breaks, ambush lunches and dinner dates. I would have left a long time ago had it not been for these. I realized, the best moments in my corporate life came from: (1) random emails from friends who were promoted, letting me know how I had been a huge influence; (2) skype (or whatever older versions we had) messages from familiar names thanking me for hiring them ... or coaching them out; (3) local and overseas calls at normal and odd hours for urgent career or life mentoring; (4) surprise visits from my old kiddos, braving south traffic and toll fees, just for a catch up; and (5) being asked to be a wedding sponsor (despite being young and SINGLE! Yes, this definitely takes the cake) .
I couldn't help but smile to myself, realizing how God knows the workings of my mind and heart enough to send me little shooting stars leading up to the event:
Then it came to me: the ten million coffee breaks, ambush lunches and dinner dates. I would have left a long time ago had it not been for these. I realized, the best moments in my corporate life came from: (1) random emails from friends who were promoted, letting me know how I had been a huge influence; (2) skype (or whatever older versions we had) messages from familiar names thanking me for hiring them ... or coaching them out; (3) local and overseas calls at normal and odd hours for urgent career or life mentoring; (4) surprise visits from my old kiddos, braving south traffic and toll fees, just for a catch up; and (5) being asked to be a wedding sponsor (despite being young and SINGLE! Yes, this definitely takes the cake) .
I couldn't help but smile to myself, realizing how God knows the workings of my mind and heart enough to send me little shooting stars leading up to the event:
- A friend telling me he kept an informal training I put together on my coaching and people management principles
- Another friend asking me how I turned around a non-performer into a top performer
- A number of previous "babies" who said they kept my notes and "tough love" letters as references they go back to until now (how odd they would tell me this around the same time, too!)
My heart is full.
That is why, when I was offered another Operations "gig", I said yes. I'm ready to get back to the saddle and run with my passion for organization shaking and building.
Happy 20th, MSC!
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