Work Woes
March is shaping up to be a rough month on the CSS, but I remain positive in the face of adversity. Want to know what’s been going on with me? Well, let’s see, where should I start?
For one: Red Suit Lady is officially my new boss. Actually, it’s kind of weird because my boss is still my boss. I will continue reporting to him and he will continue doing my performance evals, but she’s a layer in between us on paper – aka the “org chart.” The decision was made to protect me from an ugly alternative. I can’t go into detail, but I understand it – doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’ve heard some people confuse a title with power. Hmph! She doesn’t know me yet.
Second: I did not get accepted into the prestigious management development program. According to the decision letter, my credentials and accomplishments were impressive, but I need more field experience to benefit from what the program has to offer. Understandable. I’ve only been in the career field for 7 years, but most applicants have 15 years or more. I knew it was a stretch before I applied, but I’m honored to have been nominated. My boss (real boss, not RSL) was prepared to challenge the decision for me, but I told him not to worry about it. My priorities have changed and I’ve set my sights on different things.
Oh woe is me.
I decided to share this information, primarily for readers who email me about their problems because they think I’m “lucky” or they think everything in my life “so fabulous.” [direct quotes intentional] Oh how I wish they were true! I wanted to show you all that I do not succeed in everything I set out to accomplish. But that’s ok. Want to know why? Because I truly believe that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it. So however I choose to respond to either of these situations and where I plan to take my career as a result are COMPLETELY up to ME. I am the master of my own fate and YOU are the master of yours. We all have disappointments, but life goes on.
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“…life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”
That is excellent. I may have to use that quote. I’ll have to put this with my new mantra: My problems don’t happen to me, I happen to my problems (doggonit!).
Glad that you shared these disappointments. Helps me to know when these things happen, to move on, and get to working on the next plan.
Well I don’t think you’re lucky. I do think your life is fabulous. But it’s because of the attitude that you take toward your own life and the effort that you put into it. That attitude is within everyone’s reach, if we want it!
“life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it” Love it
The best attitude to have
Better set another goal, before you get bored like me, lol
Your page has helped me in so manys ways. Mainly, because how you handle situation/circumstances that come your way. Thanks for sharing your misfortunes. I love the quotes. It so true!
I’m really surprised you get comments/emails from people that believe your success is from luck. What I’ve gathered from your blog is that you don’t sit idly by and wait for “fabulous” things to happen to you – you make them happen. Take takes determination, not luck. People who wait to be the “lucky one” will always be stuck in the same UN-fabulous rut they’ve been in.
One of the reasons I like your blog is because it serves as inspiration – you’ve gotten to your level through hard work and dogged determination.
It’s a shame that some readers miss the inspirational story behind it all. I guess that’s the thing about being so fabulous, people don’t realize it isn’t effortless. Good job putting things in perspective for those who just want to make excuses for not being dynamic.
Oh, and I will be quoting you on lif being “10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it”
Well I, for one, am grateful that it’s determination and hard work that you credit for your success.
Honestly, though, I’m a little surprised that the management program didn’t accept you, given your track record. Your boss’s willingness to go to bat for you is clearly yet another vote of confidence in your abilities; I hope you’ll share your new direction with us when you’re ready. Keep on thriving, SM, some of us are here to learn from you!
Sorry to hear about the structural changes. Prior to my last promotion, I was placed in one of those chain of command situations where my immediate boss became my boss’s boss, and I hated it. It felt like I was going backwards rather than forwards. However, I realized that my work remained the same, and who I reported to did not define me. And, as long as they weren’t touching my salary, they could do whatever they wanted on the org. chart. I kept doing what I do (fabulously!), and shortly thereafter I was promoted to another department where I now report directly to the boss, my salary greatly increased, and I have more people reporting to me.
As far as the management development program, very few people are successful at everything they attempt. The key is in actually making the attempt, the opportunity the experience itself provides, and the personal and professional growth that can be attained as a result. You have the right attitude, and it’s great that others are motivated by you and learning from you. Thanks for sharing!
Seems like CSS all over the country are sort of like Titanics about to go down-no one knows what is going on and what is going to happen next. SM, sorry about the Red Suit, from what you mentioned about her, seems that she has an insider there, otherwise she would probably be gone by now-every corporation is trying to contain costs and that means eliminating extra layers, not adding them. You show her who the boss is!
My CSS is moving to “high performance organization” mode, which means they will soon lay off people right and left if there is no cost benefit and they are under performers.Truth be, they can stand to shed few complacent folks and inject some fresh blood or at least make changes internally.
Keep us posted.
No one’s life is perfect, but that does not prevent it from being fabulous…thanks for the reminder.
I would never put the word “luck” anywhere near your name, Single Ma. You know what you want, and you do everything within your power to get it. Seems pretty simple to me. I’m very happy to have discovered your blog and your “tweets”.
Folks who want to attribute things to luck are the ones waiting for someone to rescue them while they sit by and do nothing. So when nothing happens, they have “luck” as the scapegoat. It’s called personal responsibility folks!
(picks of megaphone)
“Please, for your own safety and sanity people, step away from the Haterade! There is no knight, no shiny armor, no fairy godmother. The revolution will not be on a reality show. If you want something, go get it. Period! That is all.”
Life certainly does go on. Thanks for sharing.
It seems “work woes” are the norm and the “do more with LESS” is definitely is the new motto. Companies are shedding excess for sure in the new economy.
My hubby always told me that if you wanted to move up in a company, you had to change companies *chuckle* I didn’t now that BEFORE I met him. It seems to work. But then he’s an advertising creative guy so maybe that’s different . . .
You are so cool, SM.
…and fabulous too!
Life for you may not feel fabulous right now (RSL, ugh!!), but you still are (fabulous)!!!
Well said. I cannot imagine how I would have turned out in life if I had given up when I was rejected for something (a lot of things).
Don’t let a decision like this bog you down. I’ve always felt admission processes can be completely biased and depend a lot on politics. Keep driving and I’m sure you’ll reach your goals, with or without the management program.