Greetings!
You know life is never a dull moment! Just when you think you can fall back and catch your breath for a second, there are new and interesting “challenges” that fall right into your path.
The last entry was heavy, but it was cathartic. The outreach I received during that time was incredible and for that I am forever grateful. It was like a strong antibiotic – medicine for faster healing. As I began to forge ahead in 2008 I remain hopeful that this year will help me move in the right direction.
Seven days into ’08, my team at work and I were pulled into a conference room and told that our senior leader’s position was eliminated and our department was in essence being disbanded. This is the same department I was “invited” to join after my last department was outsourced to a vendor less than one year ago. This position was, for the most part a disappointment from day one. No one really knew what role I should play and never really had an opportunity to figure that out. In the mean time I was regularly using $2.00 skills to tackle $.50 tasks. For some that may be alright, but I understand that continuous underutilization would result in job experience that would shout “underachiever” on my resume. I continually called this fact to the attention of the numerous managers I had in my short time in the area. Each one of them asked me to remain hopeful, but the reality of it was they did not and would not have any answers. January 7, 2008 was the culmination of brief and less than impactful era in my career.
Now I struggle with my next steps – do I continue to stay in a constant state of career flux? Because no one can speak to my specific role in this “new organization” I am literally at a standstill. Do I try to secure employment within an organization that routinely compromises an individual’s livelihood or do I go out to another company and start new with a steep learning curve, particularly in the wake of starting graduate school? Just when I reconciled the fact that I would be relegated to mindless tasks in my current position, the rug was pulled from under me. So not only will I be trying to get adjusted to grad school, I will have to figure my way around a new work situation. This type of turmoil makes a sister want to throw her hands up! I can’t do that though - I have to keep it real. My next steps can’t be rash because there is way too much at stake!
One thing I am convinced of, and constantly tell anyone who will listen, that false moves have far reaching repercussions for people of African decent. Many people have lied, cheated, stole, maimed, and killed but have still been able to bounce back relatively unscathed (yes Britney, you will be OK!) In our community, the smallest wrong move may result in continued or sudden poverty, bad credit, and life altering criminal record information (CORI) records which will restrict an individual’s ability to vote, secure housing or to get a good job. Moves must be strategic at all times, with ourselves, our children and our extended family in order for us to keep moving forward.
So with all this said, know that the road may be filled with traffic, detours, road blocks, and pot holes. That doesn’t mean you should get out and start walking. It only means that you put your foot on the brakes and navigate carefully through it all until you get to your destination.
With that I wish you all the best today and always.
G
You know life is never a dull moment! Just when you think you can fall back and catch your breath for a second, there are new and interesting “challenges” that fall right into your path.
The last entry was heavy, but it was cathartic. The outreach I received during that time was incredible and for that I am forever grateful. It was like a strong antibiotic – medicine for faster healing. As I began to forge ahead in 2008 I remain hopeful that this year will help me move in the right direction.
Seven days into ’08, my team at work and I were pulled into a conference room and told that our senior leader’s position was eliminated and our department was in essence being disbanded. This is the same department I was “invited” to join after my last department was outsourced to a vendor less than one year ago. This position was, for the most part a disappointment from day one. No one really knew what role I should play and never really had an opportunity to figure that out. In the mean time I was regularly using $2.00 skills to tackle $.50 tasks. For some that may be alright, but I understand that continuous underutilization would result in job experience that would shout “underachiever” on my resume. I continually called this fact to the attention of the numerous managers I had in my short time in the area. Each one of them asked me to remain hopeful, but the reality of it was they did not and would not have any answers. January 7, 2008 was the culmination of brief and less than impactful era in my career.
Now I struggle with my next steps – do I continue to stay in a constant state of career flux? Because no one can speak to my specific role in this “new organization” I am literally at a standstill. Do I try to secure employment within an organization that routinely compromises an individual’s livelihood or do I go out to another company and start new with a steep learning curve, particularly in the wake of starting graduate school? Just when I reconciled the fact that I would be relegated to mindless tasks in my current position, the rug was pulled from under me. So not only will I be trying to get adjusted to grad school, I will have to figure my way around a new work situation. This type of turmoil makes a sister want to throw her hands up! I can’t do that though - I have to keep it real. My next steps can’t be rash because there is way too much at stake!
One thing I am convinced of, and constantly tell anyone who will listen, that false moves have far reaching repercussions for people of African decent. Many people have lied, cheated, stole, maimed, and killed but have still been able to bounce back relatively unscathed (yes Britney, you will be OK!) In our community, the smallest wrong move may result in continued or sudden poverty, bad credit, and life altering criminal record information (CORI) records which will restrict an individual’s ability to vote, secure housing or to get a good job. Moves must be strategic at all times, with ourselves, our children and our extended family in order for us to keep moving forward.
So with all this said, know that the road may be filled with traffic, detours, road blocks, and pot holes. That doesn’t mean you should get out and start walking. It only means that you put your foot on the brakes and navigate carefully through it all until you get to your destination.
With that I wish you all the best today and always.
G
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