Dawn's Evolution

I started a new job a few months ago.
I mulled it over quite a bit because, while I was unhappy with the management, I was pretty comfortable at my old job.
The pay was good, the work was light, I knew what was expected of me and they were allready impressed with my work.
I was comfortable.

And then I got this offer.
It was something new., bigger responsibility, better pay and a new challenge.
My old boss wasn't so happy with me leaving, but he could not offer me the same pay and he was a bastard, so I left.
My last day was on a Friday and I started at the new job on Monday.
Yep, no rest for me.

The first month on the new job was all about getting to know the new people, getting to know my new responsibilities and stressing about the change in my already comfortable routine.
Having a new boss and new coworkers meant I had to learn new work habits. I had to learn what this boss expected of me.
My old boss was a bit of a dictator and everything had to go through him. You had no freedom and no room to be creative. The new boss likes go getters, people that get things done on their own.
Call up clients, stay in contact and just keep him updated.
So it was a switch for me.

As the new girl I am still trying to find my place in all of this. I now have a better idea of what is expected of me and what my coworkers are like.
I now know their work culture a bit better now.
I know who I can turn to and for what.
I know who I have to hound to get stuff done.

It's fun, it's a new challenge, I'm scared out of my mind and it's my step forward.
I love this because I no longer feel like I am standing still, like I was in my last job. I am learning new skills and challenging my self to be better.
I was scared out of my mind to take this step, but I am happy I did.
It keeps me moving forward.

So here's to new challenges and growth,

There is no secret to success, there are no set rules on how to attain that wealth you have been dreaming of. There are just actions that one takes and certain circumstances that favor us.

Remember this: Success is 70% luck and 30% hard work. Yep! 70% is all luck!

I bet, like me, you wished that hard work played a larger role but the simple truth is that without just a little bit of luck we are nowhere. You can put in all the hours at work and take on all the hard projects and yet never get promoted to your dream position.
Why?
-That darn glass ceiling
-You can get lost in the sea of other hard working coworkers who network harder than you do
-Luck favoures your coworker
-Your employer prefers to keep certain high level positions within his circle of friends or family
-etc.

Please do not be discouraged by this post and remember to keep up the hard work as you may never know when you catch that lucky break.

The year is drawing to a close yet again, time to plan for the next year and to reflect on the past 11 months. Sitting down and thinking back to where I was this time last year, my frame of mind at that point, all the things that I had set out to do and all the things that I have actually done. It really makes me look forward to a new and exciting year but it also depresses me just a bit.

I have learned so much over the course of the year and have grown so much as well. I have actively pursued the development of new skills and I have also allowed myself to develop a few unwanted and unneeded skills.*sigh*

So what did I do this year?

1. I learned the value of good boss and manager,
2. I learned to stay away from hateful and spiteful people,
3. I saved enough cash to pay my tuition and buy the new school books I needed
4. I got enough credit points to qualify for this year’s classes,
5. I finally joined a public service club(been planning this for so long),
6. I bought my own laptop (still paying for it lol),
7. I learned to reach out and ask for help when I need it,
8. I learned to recognize when I needed help,
9. I am learning that I cannot save the ones I love if they do not want to be saved,
10. I learned that there are people out there who want to help me,
11. I learned to ask for what I wanted,
12. I learned to go after what I wanted,
13. I got experience in negotiating the price of my work,
14. I got a few new mentors in my life,
15. I finally (from firsthand experience) learned why some people succeed and others do not,
16. And so much more.

It was a hectic and stressful year; I remember my super emotional moments, the highs and the lows. I’m glad it’s almost over and though I have some regrets I am happy with the lessons I have learned.

This time last year I was so afraid of losing my job (didn’t lose it) and so scared of what my year would be like if I ended up unemployed.

And now 11 months later:
· I have left that employer on my own accord,
· I have a new job,
· a higher salary,
· nicer and more optimistic coworkers,
· a shorter ride to work and
· of course new tasks and more responsibilities.

It’s a new beginning for me, it’s scary but I believe that if one wants to be successful one must step out of one’s comfort zone and dare to do more. I know what the consequences are if I fail but I have hope that everything will be all right. I know what the benefits are when I succeed and I have planned accordingly.


Goodbye 2008, thanks for the memories, the lessons and life.

Since I have already defined what my ultimate goals are, it’s time I listed my short term goals. To do this I will be using the SMART method just to put my schooling to good use. Hehe
What is the SMART method? You may ask, the SMART method helps you properly define your goals. SMART is an acronym for:
S=Specific
M=Measurable
A=Attainable
R=Realistic
T=Time based

So here goes:
My Specific goals:

• Pay my school Tuition
• Receive my 2010 goal salary in 2009 ( I need $14 more, hehe)
• Build up an Emergency fund

• Save 2000 Euro’s by the end of February 2010, I still need 1500 Euro’s to pay for next schoolyear
• Get a great performance review and receive more than the minimal salary adjustment (+$14)
• Save up to $1400 and place this amount into a special account for my emergency fund

• Put 150 Euro’s into my school savings account for 10 months
• Educate myself in my new work-project and make use of my contacts. Network some more.
• Put $200 into a separate savings account until I reach the desired amount in my E-fund

• I can live comfortably off the money that will remain in my account.

• I will reach my tuition goal before February 2010 when I have to make my last tuition payment
• I have my performance review on January 23 2009
• I will reach my E-fund amount within 7 months

Good question, I have been wondering that myself these past few years.
In my career I have come across different types of leaders, all had their bad qualities and their good qualities, as do all people.

None of these people had, in my honest opinion, what it took be effective leaders because they lacked a few very important things:
- Respect from their subordinates. You lose respect when you yell and cuss people out in front of their coworkers. Yes; believe it or not I have experienced this childish behavior.

-Responsibility. A leader takes responsibility for the failings of his or her subordinates. He or she does not throw them under a bus and accept praise for good deeds.

- Teamwork. A good leader does not pit workers against one another but pushes them to work together. Believe it or not but some managers try to motivate workers by comparing them to one another. If one is skillful in one area then he will chide another who is not as skillful in that area.

- Communication. This has to be the most important skill a manager/leader must master. Your subordinates must know what your expectations are and you must know what their expectations are. The company goals need to be properly communicated and weakness need to be addressed, either one on one or as a group.

- Trust. Make sure your coworkers know you are trustworthy. Say things up front, treat coworkers like the adults they are and accept that you are not a tyrant. Give your coworkers no reasons to distrust you and they will respect you.

- Know thyself and know your people. Through proper communication and with time you will know your team's strengths and weaknesses. You will who to fall back on and who needs that extra push every now and then. You will know how to motivate and you will be able to trust that the goals are clear to all.

Want to add to my list?

This is my starting point:

Thankfully I don't have much in the way of debt.

-I right now owe $500 that I spent on a laptop.

-I am a student and trying to remain student loan free by working my way through college. I work full time and go to school at night. Tuition $2,545.

- I want to buy my very own car in 2009, price range $7,000. I'm on the look out for a fuel efficient car.

-I need to finish school in 2 years time, so I am hard at work.

-I just started my job this month, so I am a bit nervous about impressing the new bosses. I get along great with my new coworkers, now I need to focus on getting myself noticed as a hard/smart worker and line myself up for a promotion as soon as possible.

-After I receive my under graduate degree in 2 years time I want to start work on my graduate degree, a MBA. My new boss says that they may fund my tuition if I prove that I am worth it. I plan on doing just that :).