And we're back in the workforce. As an HR Manager, it's a whole new world. There is so much to manage at once, and as a new HR Manager, I have to find my rhythm in asking questions, making decisions, prioritizing, taking actions, pacing, rest... There's so much to do.
It's very similar to swimming in the Long Island Sound, which I did yesterday during the Jarden Westchester Triathlon. It's amazing how intimidating something can be, and yet if you train hard for it, and show up, amazing things happen. I was fairly peaceful, even though two years ago this 0.9 mile swim would have been a crazy impossible thing for me to do.
Gently, over time, with lots of help, I got to yesterday at 7:24am. When the horn sounded, I stepped into the water with some confidence, some fear, and a decision to do this well. And I had moments when I felt lost, and WAS lost, and I recalibrated. There were times I swam alongside others, and I noticed it was easier to make a go of it. So it is in life.
The water is a fully pressurized situation, and lots is unknown. There were floaty things in the water, and I had no idea what they were, and in the moment that was less important than focusing my energy to move forward along the prescribed path of the race--the sooner I was out, the more energy I'd have for the remaining tasks. There were people who bumped and pushed, there were helpful folks who gave direction and support. I rolled with it.
There will be much I'll have to adjust to in this new role. I must be present for the first 90 days. It's a time of "probation" but moreso, it's a time to share who I am. The story of me in this organization will be writ in a few days and has already begun. It's harder to rewrite than to start the story well. It's in the way I show up each day, my temperament, the questions I ask--what's important to me inside and outside the organization's foci. I need to rest, learn, ask. Soak it all in as a sponge, and share what helps others to connect with me, join others so they see me as a good addition to the whole--someone valuable to the success of swimming ahead, rather than dead weight dragging all down.
Nobody wants to swim in the ocean of uncertainty for too long. We all prefer sure land. We know another dive into the ocean of life is on the horizon. Work well.
It's very similar to swimming in the Long Island Sound, which I did yesterday during the Jarden Westchester Triathlon. It's amazing how intimidating something can be, and yet if you train hard for it, and show up, amazing things happen. I was fairly peaceful, even though two years ago this 0.9 mile swim would have been a crazy impossible thing for me to do.
Gently, over time, with lots of help, I got to yesterday at 7:24am. When the horn sounded, I stepped into the water with some confidence, some fear, and a decision to do this well. And I had moments when I felt lost, and WAS lost, and I recalibrated. There were times I swam alongside others, and I noticed it was easier to make a go of it. So it is in life.
The water is a fully pressurized situation, and lots is unknown. There were floaty things in the water, and I had no idea what they were, and in the moment that was less important than focusing my energy to move forward along the prescribed path of the race--the sooner I was out, the more energy I'd have for the remaining tasks. There were people who bumped and pushed, there were helpful folks who gave direction and support. I rolled with it.
There will be much I'll have to adjust to in this new role. I must be present for the first 90 days. It's a time of "probation" but moreso, it's a time to share who I am. The story of me in this organization will be writ in a few days and has already begun. It's harder to rewrite than to start the story well. It's in the way I show up each day, my temperament, the questions I ask--what's important to me inside and outside the organization's foci. I need to rest, learn, ask. Soak it all in as a sponge, and share what helps others to connect with me, join others so they see me as a good addition to the whole--someone valuable to the success of swimming ahead, rather than dead weight dragging all down.
Nobody wants to swim in the ocean of uncertainty for too long. We all prefer sure land. We know another dive into the ocean of life is on the horizon. Work well.
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