I really enjoyed my sister’s visit. I hope she can come and visit again soon. I had forgotten how nice it was to be around real family. I say “real” family because one of my favorite techniques for coping with new situations and places is to create a surrogate family. I round up some close friends I have made and then assign certain roles. Undoubtedly the first to be picked are the younger brother and sister types. You see, I am the oldest of 4 kids; 2 sisters, 1 brother. I have become used to being the one looked up too, or the one that makes the bad mistakes to ensure everyone else can learn from it. In this role I am a psychologist, the listener, the one that gives superb advice. In this role I am almost without fault. It is good for my ego.
Next I choose someone like my father. I choose someone who reminds me of my dad, not someone to replace the father/son relationship; someone smart, wise, hard working, funny, conservative, someone who is able to push me outside my comfort limits. This is always the person I relate to the best. Someone I can talk to for hours and say some pretty absurd thing, and have them understand. These friends are the types of friends that stick around for a few years.
Next on the assignment list would be my mom. This person is also smart, like my dad, however is not quite as conservative. This person I can relate to for different reasons. I can commiserate with this person. I learn so much just from how this person’s life has turned out. This person can lift me up when I am down.
What is sad is that I admit to doing this. It makes sense to me though. I think anyone that goes to a new place should try to find parallels to their old life. It helps me understand the differences in us all.
The truth is, however, we don’t all fit in nice perfect packages. Sometimes the lines get blurred a bit. The trick is not looking too hard. Let people be who they are and not compare too closely to anyone else.
Easier said than done.
Things change back. No, not way back; not like I was. Not like before I moved out of my house in Southern California. I will never be that person again. I’m not changing, just my situation. I knew that business needs could change and that the position I was in might not translate into a permanent position. Sherman made that clear to me when I was upgraded.
Since January 29th I have been working hard to learn the way business is handled in all areas. I have learned how to handle certain situations that I never even originally made contingencies for. Most importantly I have learned how to pro actively remove “Trip Wires”; things that could be damaging to an employee or the business. I don’t think I have ever thought on such a Global scale before. Prior to my upgrade I did not spend much time assessing what kind of impact that a seemingly small decision would have, and now I can’t take a step in that building without wondering how it’s going to affect the people around me.
I have not been asked to go back to the floor yet, but I am one of few remaining of what’s left of the upgrades. I might not be out the door yet, but I am definitely being handed my hat and coat. At this point it is just a matter of time; a phone call asking me what call type I would like to go to. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the ACDT group. It has definitely been a learning process as everything has. I am sure something can be done to accommodate staying around ACDT for a bit.
For almost 2 years now I have wanted to be a team leader in that building. Now that I have had but a small taste, I can tell you that nothing has changed. Even after weighing my failures, I can say that I feel my successes more than make up for it. The responsibility and ownership that comes with the role is, for some, a tremendous pressure, one that overwhelms and consumes. Not me. I thrived on it. I ate it up; every last piece.
So what now? Nothing. Everything. I’m going to keep do what I have been doing, until I am told otherwise. Over the years I have learned how to very successfully lead from the middle of the pack, so to speak. If that is the only opportunity I will have for now, I will seize it. Most importantly I am going to remain positive in all of this. I have no need or desire to be anything other than positive.