I worked at a place that I loved for five years. This
was the place that I got my footing so to speak in my “what I thought
would be” my lasting career. I loved my co-workers, the people that
I serviced, and just overall fell in love with my job. It had come to the
point where I didn’t see anything higher than where I was because this one
corporation was the only thing in my sight.
To my surprise, the corporation was closing down due to many
problems but I was one of the first to be laid off due to personal
conflict. You can imagine how I felt after five years of pouring my heart
into a company that didn’t have their heart with me. When I say pour my
heart, I stayed late, came on weekends, worked at home, developed new
initiatives, a new program, etc. I was crushed because this is where I
had invested my heart and my time. The job had become an extension of who
I was. I was devastated!
A year later, after much struggle, difficulty and introspective thinking, a new
opportunity in a field that I worked in part time came whispering at my
door. Before I go on, let me tell you that the year before was very
difficult. A relationship with employment ended, a marriage ended, I lost
friendships, and came face to face with the little nasty things about myself
that I tried to ignore. It is always easy to hold a mirror to someone
else, but when it’s your own, somehow your arms become a little weak. It
was painful. I learned that I changed who I was to conform to the
environment around me just to get ahead. What I thought was being a
leader was nothing more than a glorified misled follower. These are all
the things that I learned when the door closed.
Okay, back to the new opportunity. So I was offered the position of
leadership at a new publication that required me to form a new staff, take
initiative on business relationships, form a new editorial direction, and build
PR alliances. You see, the past always matures you for where you are
going? All of the things that I have done prior was similar to what I had
done before. Also my past experience taught me what NOT to do as a
leader. In July of the same year, I was offered a huge promotion.
Then came all of these other wonderful opportunities along with meeting new
people and establishing new relationships. Amazing!!!!! Best part, I
learned that who I am was good enough.
When one door closes, you may feel a little twinge of pain for a while, its
okay. Endure it for its building character and stamina for where you are
going. Don’t be afraid of the reflection in the mirror. If you
can’t deal with you, you will not grow. A closed door always leads to
another door. Don’t cry; just keep walking fearlessly into the next knob
of greater opportunity.
Written by Featured Guest Blogger: Diana
