An Ode to October

Can you believe that November is finally here? I know most people are anxious to get the rollercoaster year that 2020 has been over and done with, but I personally enjoy reflecting on the months that have passed and truly internalizing all that has happened so far. What about you?

October has been a good month for me. I finally made the (frankly, terrifying and bold) decision to move on from a team that I dearly love, where I was doing meaningful #HumansofIT community work I am deeply passionate about. Instead, I’ve chosen to dive head-first into an exciting new job (in the midst of a global pandemic, no less!) to work on a new piece of technology that I currently know next to nothing about (having worked on primarily mature technologies to date) and would have to learn from scratch.

Most onlookers would probably scratch their heads, thinking, “Why would she go do this?”. I most certainly pondered that for a long time as well and discussed with many of my mentors before coming to my decision, but I’ll try to distill my reasons below and hopefully it will inspire you to review your own career journey, too. Remember though: No two people’s journeys are the same, so never compare yourself with others. Do what’s right for YOU in your current phase of life, and with your existing circumstances and unique challenges in mind. Check out this fantastic blog post by one of our Humans of IT Community members + MVP Megan Walker on this very topic, which I encourage you to read as well.

  1. Being uncomfortable is how you know that you are growing

Moving to a new job is never easy. Believe it or not, even for an extrovert, it can be super intimidating! Now compound that with the impact of the global pandemic, which means you could quite realistically be working from home from a full year and never getting to meet your new coworkers face-to-face during that time. You will not be able to recreate those surprisingly productive hallway conversations, experience grabbing lunches together in the building cafeteria to build camaraderie, or yell down the hallway of your office hallway to help one another with a quick question. That said, instead of focusing on the negatives and being mired in anxiety, try reframing the situation instead:

  • Give yourself kudos for taking the uncomfortable path and know that you are growing as a human because you are doing things you’ve never done before. A mentor once told me, “If you can do your current job with ease, then you’re already 6 months too long in role.” I’ve pondered on that piece of advice a lot since – it’s a good gut-check to know if you should be challenging yourself to learn and grow. This mentor of mine is very intentional about her career development, and sets up quarterly reminders for herself to stop, pause and reflect on where she’s at in her journey, and whether adjustments need to be made.
  • Be kind to yourself especially for making tough decisions in the midst of a pandemic. It is OK to feel anxious and afraid – after all, it’s only human. Take a moment to acknowledge those feelings, internalize it, then consider your next step on what to do next so you can move forward.
  • Celebrate the fact that we have technology to connect us, which means that you are free to schedule coffee chats with coworkers outside of the country, not just those you work in close proximity with. You can now be more intentional about gaining perspectives outside of your core circle of coworkers, and broaden your horizon by meeting with people you normally would not have scheduled time with because you were too busy caught in the day-to-day of your immediate circle.

2. Time is of the essence

I don’t know about you, but I’m a massive planner. While some people prefer the scenic meander-in-the-park approach to life and career (which is awesome if it works for you!), I believe in having a plan and not simply coasting aimlessly through life. If anything, 2020 has shown us that life is indeed unpredictable, and we are all here for only a very finite period of time. Make sure that you squeeze as many valuable experiences as you can out of it. Want to learn something new? Go for it. Want to get to know people in an area of technology or expertise you have zero clue about? Do it. You will emerge all the better from it. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Failure? Rejection? Embarrassment? Those are gifts that help shape you into who you are. The only thing worse than all of that is regret for not having given it a shot.

Be bold and dive right in – trust me, you will live to tell the tale, and inspire countless others along the way. This new job in the mixed reality space is coming at a perfect time in my life as I begin an exciting new decade in my journey (my 30s!) – perhaps there’s a big milestone age in your life coming up that you can aim to line up a new experience with as well.

3. Make a plan

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m a planner but that doesn’t always mean that plans magically fall into place for me either! It takes mindfulness to shut out all the noise, and consider what is important in these next few months as I begin on this new journey.

Things on my checklist include:

  • Who do I need to talk to/get to know in the next 30-90 days?
  • What should I read up on/learn to familiarize myself in this space?
  • How do I establish credibility in this area? Can I find allies to help me navigate the ropes and help me ramp?
  • When do I ask for help if I still need more assistance after figuring out as much as I can on my own? (P.S. contrary to what many people think, there is power in asking for help. People often want to help too, because it helps reinforce their own learning and knowledge of the subject matter, so don’t be afraid to ask!)

One thing that I always tell my own mentees is to be authentic and vulnerable. Treat others with sincerity and be earnest in trying to learn from others. People can smell inauthenticity and fake enthusiasm from miles away. Nobody likes a know-it-all; in the spirit of having a growth mindset (read this book by Dr Carol Dweck), strive to be a learn-it-all instead. When you’re genuine about learning and being better, you’ll know that you have experienced true transformation, and these are the lessons that will remain with you for life.

In summary, I am grateful for all the lessons and closure to a beloved chapter that October brings. As we go forward into November, I am excited to see what new learnings, friendships and life experiences await.

I wish all of you courage and boldness in discovering (and celebrating!) your inner discontentment, and may you chart own adventures in the path less travelled!

#NewBeginnings #CareerJourney

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