I find myself recycling a blog title from about six months ago. I am sitting on a Houston Metro bus headed downtown to my company’s new downtown office. I kept quiet during the search for a new office space, well as best as I can ever keep quiet. Secretly, I really hoped that we would move downtown, and we did!
For me personally, being downtown is a major life improvement because I can ride the bus, and I will not need to buy Little Chirp a car right away. He can drop me at the bus stop and then drive himself to school when he gets his license. This will give me a substantial savings on car insurance and the cost of a car. Riding the bus is also much cheaper than paying for gas and parking.
I addition, I get some “me time” on the bus ride. I would have worked while driving to work, so I do not feel the need to work while riding the bus. Instead, I have time carved out for reflection, creative hobbies (namely writing), and getting my goals set for the day.
Today’s major goals are finishing a huge project plan for a new project that is complicated and interesting. The plan is due next Friday, but I want to not be working this weekend, so getting it finished today would be amazing. The second major goal is getting my end of year review and compensation sorted out. We have a timeline for the typical milestones of year end, and I am way off on my timeline. I had an incredible last year, and I am poised to have another huge year this year. It is time to make sure that I am recognized for my contributions.
We live in a world where people that threaten to leave the company are given the big raises and bonuses. Those of us who remain loyal through thick and thin literally pay for our own loyalty. This is true about the technology sector as a whole, not just the niche industry that I work for. I think that there is a need for a balance between loyalty to one’s employer and making sure that one is rewarded for their hard work. My goal is to find that balance. Perhaps, this is an ambitious goal for a single day, but I can’t keep “sitting and waiting.”
I am feeling positive about the day ahead, and I feeling both positive and excited about the next five years that await me in my career.