Lets be honest, I am struggling. My job situation is messed up, and that is really a major blow to me. I have been a part of this company for 7 years now. This is my greatest acheivement, this is the part of my life that I am most proud of. I want to convey why I love this job, why I am so proud of my accomplishments here. I want to share why it is such an important part of my confidence, pride, trust, and my overall happiness. When I came to Atlanta in 2001 I was a bum. I had poor work habits and bounced from job to job from the time I was 15 till I was 23. I never held a job longer than about a year. That changed when I came into the shop I work for now. I was able to work my way from part time grease monkey in 2003 to 20 percent partner in 2008. I had also been told that I would be taking on new responsibilities as the shop control was slowly transferred to me. Not as an owner but as a manager. My future is not clear now. Not only is my position unclear, I don't even know if I will have a position. I truly feel as if the next day could be the day that it all ends. Its a really difficult environment to try and work in. So far I have been able to cope.
Don't get me wrong, I know I am really talented. I have worked really hard and taken a lot of time to learn my skills. However I don't know if I am really valued the way I should be. So I am making one last push. This is my hail mary. I am proving to myself above anyone else that I have put my best effort into making the shop excel. There is too much time and talent between us for it to be wasted over an inflated ego. If it doesn't work, then I know I did my best. I will take my talents and utilize them somewhere else, or doing something else.
That leads me into another inner struggle. I am really good at building badass cars, but I don't think that in the grand scheme it has any importance. I want to be a part of something bigger. I want to contribute to a greater good. I have an idea that I would like to work with the environment or conservation. Funny considering what I do now contributes to the depletion of our natural resources and atmosphere. I even have figured out a way to combine the 2. However at 32 years old, schooling is going to be an issue. I have neither the time or money to try and be a full time student. Which hurts because I feel like I have maybe missed my opportunity. I spent too much time playing.
I just want to change. I want to have a fresh start. I want to make a difference. Small steps.
Well thought out and well said. If there is one thing I have learned over my 36 years on this earth, its that you can always better yourself. Never settle for less than you want or desire. Obviously keeping in mind that said acheivements must be realistic.
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Also keep in mind that the hard work never stops ;) no matter what you choose to do. That will always be part of success.
ReplyDeleteyes I know hard work never stops. I hear it all the time. Hard work also needs to be rewarded or even acknowledged. Not taken for granted and exploited.
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