How your career milestone can translate for the better into your personal life.
It’s been five years since I have entered the corporate workforce. I have learnt a lot, not just about the industry but a lot about myself.
When I walked into the office on the first day, I was a young and naïve not knowing what to expect. Although I was nervous on my first day — I cherish that feeling I had.
A sense of not knowing what I had to say about myself, other than the fact I was a graduate in banking and finance. Which doesn’t say a lot, except that I was open for everything this job had to offer me — in the monetary sense and otherwise.
I have always had a keen interest in learning, self-development and it’s fair to say I have a curiosity for everything new.
My journey has had ups and downs so far, there were days I didn’t realize what I was conveying to anybody — partly because I just was never confident.
I never understood what capabilities I had as a professional. I never scored past average in college. I didn’t push my limits all because I just never knew what I truly capable of and what I actually wanted. I just knew I liked talking about money, investments. But I never showed this anywhere else outside of work, and when I met like-minded people — I was happy to discuss and learning about investing the same everyday struggles in corporate, various aspects for career goals.
I was astonished by the industry leaders by their experiences. The way they carried themselves so professionally and what moved me the most of how supportive anybody who I came across- some even who had 10 years+ experience. Every person you meet, they leave an impact on you.
I wanted to almost mirror their qualities, mainly because somewhere my confidence grew, that I could be the smart person in the room. I could feel accomplished of whatever successes I had, no matter how small it may seem to others. My journey has been more about how I developed myself. My curiosity to learn never stopped, I picked every book on investing, I took in house courses at work and asked end number of questions. I just absorbed everything I did, because that’s what I liked, even today.
Eventually, after being tenured for some time, I came across young professional freshers — who were just like me, except they were not! I felt a little old to be honest!
I had to give them their first on the job training in the initial month. First, I trained 2 employees, eventually I had a batch of almost nine!
Everyday felt routine, but it felt good — it was a routine I liked.
Teaching what I knew, speaking to my mentors of how I could do better, sometimes I went for advice because I was so confused on some days. Until the training period was over, I didn’t realize how much joy I felt while teaching and building stepping stones into somebody’s career!
I can only be grateful for this experience so early on. This was something I can add to my professional profile, this was something that taught me more than I taught somebody else.
Looking back, I definitely feel I could have done few things differently — but then again it was all about the journey I was embarking on.
When the pandemic struck all of our work lives in a jiffy, remote work changed the dynamic of our capabilities in the environment. Meetings were no longer meetings, they felt like phone calls like you couldn’t participate in. (because you were just looking at the screen!) For someone like me, expression meant a core part of communication, but remote work changed everything.
Adjusting took a while, on some days I never felt the best. Although, I could understand the feeling was mutual with some of my colleagues.
My escape to creativity brought a new joy to me, my weekends were filled with paints, colors, A4 sheets and ink.
I let my creativity flow through the pen. This was a great way to relax.
Why and how did this impact my work? — Well, I was more relaxed, more patient in a high stress environment.
I now know, how I can deal with a challenge abruptly put across to us as a global community in an ever-changing world.
I don’t recall the last time I picked up my paint brush prior to 2020, The two aspects of my life unrelated to each other, somehow, directly impacted.
A creative spark entered my veins again and this is joyful experience I cherish. I was well aware this can change my overall well-being; but for someone who faced so much uncertainty in some aspects of the job, I had felt a new kind of joy and happiness I experienced in the four walls of my home. This further translated on my work, I was calmer, more productive. I have also learnt to be more patient
We often are so caught up to make the choices on what is right for various aspects of our career, forgetting that how does it benefit us?
How does it change us? Do the choices we make impact our career in the long term?
Are we really better at the same job than others? or is it our approach is just different?
Our work lives almost consume eight to nine hours in a day, you meet people — they leave an impact on you.
Some things I have observed and will carry with me through out:
· You may leave an impact on others.
· Success may not mean the same for you than what it does for your peers,
· Even tiny accomplishments are meant to be celebrated.
· Self-development is an ongoing process.
· Never stop learning!
