Hi Manstheorists,
This ones a guest blog that I received from a good friend who wanted to share his experiences through a year of contrast and reflection – to say the least. Thanks Andre.
And so it goes:
If someone had told me what 2020 was going to behold, I would have laughed and said “no chance mate you’re off your head”. Yet here I am a year jammed full of professional and personal challenges that I only pray are here to make me a stronger and wiser man, husband and father.
My professional career took an upbeat twist this year with a promotion and back in the game I love. Off I went to grow a business that was ailing but had great potential.
I’ve always been told my greatest asset was I get it done regardless of the challenge, ironically I’ve also been told this is also what hinders me as I’m not known for my patience with under performers. So here we go I thought, I have 2 separate businesses that are the same but have been told in no uncertain terms to keep them seperate (Qantas / Jetstar model).
So off I went on my professional journey only to discover some challenges that would test even the likes of Steve Jobs.
The start of my role in February saw the loss of both Managers with 1 facing a fatal illness. I remember thinking I should have asked for more money as at this stage, I was doing 3 jobs and trying to grow the business at the same time. As time progressed we filled one role and things looked up beat.
Oh and then our friend COVID hit and restrictions came in hard and fast. I know I’m not an island when so many businesses instigated cost down initiatives, except our business was actually growing not going backward. I thought it was a tough period as I worked harder to ensure everything went upwards. What I didn’t realise, my team was doing exactly the same, working longer and harder to grow an amazing business and through this a great team.
I look back on a guy I worked with and he talked about humility when he left the business. I probably didn’t know what that meant until reflecting on this moment. We had people on very low salaries working like 10 men to keep the business not only operating but growing during the world’s pandemic. To think as a manager you are the only one sacrificing and to then realise your team are doing the same, is very, very humbling.
During this period, we not only grew the business but rolled out a new IT system to the tier 2 business, moved premises (which included project managing a refurb).
With 2 new managers and a partial new team, new premises and an IT system, we survived it all (so I thought). Bang – like a big wet fish slapping you in the face, I was told in October we had 3 months to move again. Yet another program to uproot everyone in the team and project manage the refurbishment of an existing premises. Bugger it, I thought our team is the most resilient I have come across , so we are on song to hit the target.
My personal life was always going to be affected by this huge commitment to work. I was never going to think 2020 would also chime in though. My dear wife, who has been my biggest supporter, suffered a work place injury last year causing both mental and physical issues. She was unable to continue her duties as a teacher aide mid this year (great timing). She endured surgery through this period for it and one week later my daughter also had surgery for a previous issue. The road of recovery for both of them is quite long but they are still up beat and telling 2020 exactly what they think of it.
The positive was my first born graduating high school with his certificate even through the angst of COVID restrictions. He also got his license and his dream car during graduation whilst getting involved in a relationship. But hello – it wouldn’t be 2020 without a twist now would it? So weeks after graduation, the bombshell of the ‘my girlfriend is more important than the rest of the world’ conversation goes south with him leaving home to be with her (I’m sure they all know everything at that age).
So what’s the share from a year of turmoil, and let’s face it we all suffered both professionally and personally. Well it’s that in the face of turmoil we can all endure when we pull together. And with the challenges thrown at us through 2020, I’m more the wiser and stronger for it. But hey – I’m still happy to see the back of 2020!
As always , thanks for reading – RD
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