I started 2020 without much optimism apart from looking forward to a new home to move into and have a tabula rasa moment with the family – to renew, restart and find purpose again in my life. Of course, things didnt pan out the way it was.
Covid 19 really changed my life this year. I have to admit I was extremely fearful what would happen to my career as a result of Covid. Having already missed one promotion cycle, would I miss another one in the coming year given the doom and gloom that was widespread everywhere.
Getting a promo at time where job cuts and layoffs were massively underway?
Those were my thoughts when CB hit and we were all forced to work from home. I wasn’t sure where my promotion would end up and I wanted out of my unit – but I didnt know what or how I would navigate this especially at such uncertain times.
Those were dark days for me. All I could do was just trust in God, do my best and just hope for the best. yes, hope for the best. In the midst of taking care of the little one during that lockdown period, I would wonder if I am doing enough to gain the visibility needed for my leadership.
Do they even know I still exist?
And so I toiled my way through it, making myself present and “visible” in a world where people were going to be remote-working for some period of time. How would I show my visbility and worth so that they don’t forget me I often wandered.
I had conversations with my leadership during this period remotely. But I honestly didnt know what to make of it other than just being honest with myself and hoping for the best. I was thankful I had a job yes, but I was also unsure and anxious of the future.
The months passed and soon the decisive November period drew near. Understandably there were no “sure assurances” on what my career would look like in the coming year, apart from the fact that I had made the move out of my previous unit. It was definitely a lifting of some burden for sure.
But then November would be the month that would decide whether I made the cut – whether I could move to the next level in my career. Flashbacks of the experience I went through 1 year ago when I got the news that I didn’t make it haunted me – the conversations I had with my superior, the anguish of knowing I slogged so hard (for nothing!) during the study phase will juggling the 2 projects at one go – the blow I had to deal with and at the same time console wifey. I think what made it worst was I got the news on the day of wifey’s birthday. That was really hard to take.
But during this period also the boss needed my help to start working on the CR submission of another new project. The PM that was assigned to this project was tied up in another project and so I was asked by the Boss if I could handle it, which I did and I really enjoyed working on it and making sure everything was in place for the CR to be accepted by the client. I even had the opportunity to present the project proposal to my internal leadership team over 2 rounds which was a great experience albiet nerve-wracking experience for me As the project was about to commence there was abit of sadness in my heart to let it go – I knew the project so well, better than the other guy, I should take the chance to instead be the PM for the new project.
And so, I engineered this move with the boss and convinced the boss to pass me the job. It was a big step for me, but something I truly thought I could handle given my recent success in closing off another smaller technical and long overdue project the months before. By October, the job was mine. With this job in hand, I felt I had done something to at least secure my job and move in my career, at least for the next 12 months. I need not have to worry that I was not doing something substantial enough..
Next was for me to get the car. The purple brinjal was giving lots of trouble and it was time to let go, but given the uncertainty in whether I would be promoted and the thought of having to deplete my savings to fund the down payment for the car loomed over my mind. And also the stress of dragging along the family as we car hunted – what was supposed to be an exciting endeavor ended up at times being a strain on the wifey and I felt bad during those times – But find a car we did, a beautiful but slightly above budget car we found and I extremely contended with the purchase. We got the car towards the end of October, 1 day shy of our Wedding anniversary (28th Oct).
And so with two items checked off, the final moment came in the first week of November. I anxiously glided through the first week of November, being anxious to know whether the good news would come but also preparing my heart for the worse. It was COVID year and expectations were not high across the board. I still had some glimmer of hope during this period that I would get the promotion, but I couldn’t and didn’t dare to be too confident.
On November 5th I finally got the confirmation that I got promoted. It was a bittersweet moment for me – God had come through and He saw me through this difficult year – i remember calling wifey at work – who had supported me during this turbulent year – to break the good news to her in the midst of a rough patch we were going through.
I finally got promoted. In a very unusual and particularly difficult period. It was mind-numbing to me to really comprehend the news.
We spent that weekend looking for a tree, and on the following Monday, my CC formally anounced the news including all the compensation details. I was just awe-struck and mind-blown by everything. I started the year with lots of uncertainty and challenges. I am ending the year with much to be thankful for and definitely a Christmas that looks very different from the year before.
Much to give thanks for, much to be grateful for.
